Chapter 2

The sun was beginning to fall on the eve of Muriel's defeat. A solemn quiet covered the forest where the siblings and their comrades gathered to lay Mina to rest. They stood by the large river that ran through the forest looking on as Hansel walked out into the middle of the river pushing a small boat. Inside lay Mina's body surrounded by flowers they had found in the forest. They had folded her fingers around her wand upon her stomach.

Ben had read in the grimlock that it was the wish of every white witch that when they died, they be allowed to float down the river into the sea where their body would be carried to an island surrounded by a sacred mist. If in life their deeds were worthy, then they would be allowed to pass through the mist to the island where they would wake up to new life and body and live in eternal paradise with the others of their kind. Should the witch's deed not be worthy, or if a dark witch tried to go to the island, then that witch would be lost forever in the eternal mist.

Hansel stood in the cool water, staring down at his lover. She looked so peaceful, as if she were only sleeping. She was a very beautiful woman. He felt guilt over the fact that she had died protecting him. He felt even more guilt in knowing that had she lived he would not have stayed with her. So in reality it was probably better that he died.

"Will you come to see me?" She had asked after their tryst.

"Yes," He had said in an almost annoyed tone before giving her a small kiss.

He had taken many a lover in his desperation for sexual release. But that was all they were to were simply objects he used to help him make it through another day of being close to the one he really wanted but could never had. He would always leave them the second his sister called for them to move on to find another conquest. Another wave of guilt washed over him. Ben had told them that only one whom the witch loved and who loved her in return could send her off in assurance that she would reach the island, and only her true love could bring her back if he wanted her bad enough. Though he did care about her...he did not love her.

He said a quiet prayer over her and then gently pushed her vessel into the current. He watched as the waters slowly carried her down the rapids until she disappeared in the distance. He wondered what would happen if he had decided to stay with her. Would they have had children? Would he have been happy not hunting witches? Would his sister leave him in this town? Would she settle down as well? Would she continue on in their war against the dark forces,... more than likely.

He knew she would haunt his dreams, torturing him with having let her go. He would see her face every time he made love to Mina. He would jump every time someone spoke to him, or brought him a letter...waiting for the day word came that she had been killed in battle or was married. He did not know which was worse. The thought of it caused his chest to hurt. No, he knew he would never be happy being away from his beloved Gretel...as long as he was with her he was happy.

Gretel watched as her brother send off the woman who had helped rescue her from the dark witches. She wondered what the woman had meant to her brother. Were they lovers? Did he love her? The idea of her brother being with some one else caused a feeling of dread to surge through her body. Would he have left her? She would have probably continued on even without him. But the idea made tears threaten to bubble up in her eyes. She watched as the boat drifted farther and farther out of sight. Then she made her way out into the water, heading towards her brother. When she reached him, she slowly wrapped one arm around his waist and with her other hand laced her fingers through his as she laid her head on his shoulder. Hansel released a sigh as his fingers wrapped tightly around hers and he laid his head on top of hers..

"I am sorry for your loss, brother." she whispered.

Hansel did not reply. Yes, Mina's death was a loss. But was it his?

"Did you love her?"

Again he did not reply. The guilt of knowing that in truth he did not weighed down upon him. His silence only seemed to confirm Gretel's fears that he did in fact love the woman. Finally, the boat went out of sight completely. Gretel turned her head to press her lips to her brother's shoulder before turning to walk away. However, when she was at arms length away and about release his hand, she felt his fingers tighten around her hand, stopping her. Slowly, she turned her head to look at him. He continued to look at where the boat disappeared for a moment, and then slowly turned to look at her. Their eyes connected. In that moment both siblings attempted to convey a message to the other. Their eyes were filled with emotion of things they wanted to say, but never could, because those words were forbidden to them. Then that moment was gone. Hansel was the first to break eye contact as he lowered his eyes to stare into the water. Gretel continued to stare at him for a moment before she finally turned and walked back to the shore where Ben and Edward waited.

"Is he going to be ok?" Ben asked as Gretel walked past him.

Gretel didn't answer. She had too much on her mind at the moment. There were other dark witches in the world to be destroyed, other covens to hunt down. Not to mention she was still in shock from discovering what had really happened to their parents, why they had been abandoned, and the fact that she was...a white witch. Gretel put her hand in her pocket to wrap her fingers around the wand of the dark witch. Perhaps she could use this wand to help defeat the dark witches and bring about peace to the world. She needed to get the grimlock from Ben.

Then there was Hansel. She could not deny that she was more than a little bothered by his feelings for the woman whom had died. She had noticed he had been taking many lovers in recent years. Did he want to settle down? Did he long for a wife and...children? She knew that he could never have those as long as they continued to wage war against witch kind. But he would never stop as long as she didn't. She knew he would never leave her as long as she wished to battle. She knew he would follow her to the ends of the world, because of a promise he had made to their mother and father that he would always protect her. If he wanted a family, she would have to find her own family first, and marry. Those thoughts almost made her sick to her stomach as she walked back to the town quietly followed by the others. But she could never deny her brother anything...and if making it so he could have a family would bring him happiness...then it was what she would do...no matter how much it would kill her...for him...

That night in their room the siblings silently prepared for their final night in the town before moving on. They had not really spoken since Mina's funeral besides Gretel mentioning the location of a nearby town that was having witch problems. Hansel only grunted in agreement as he was lost in his own thoughts. Gretel turned to look at her brother as he took off his shirt. He was facing away from her giving her a view of his strong broad back and shoulders. Her heart began to race. She wanted nothing more than to touch his skin, and run her finger nails down those rippling muscles as he atop of her, plunging into...

"Gretel?" Hansel asked looking at her with one eyebrow cocked.

Gretel was pulled from her mind's eye. She looked back at her brother now facing her, and instantly turned red.

"Sorry," She stammered as she turned to put away the rest of her clothing, "I'm tired." she continued as she grabbed the wand from her bag, and then crawled into bed.

Hansel watched as his sister scurried beneath her covers. He had been a bit surprised to turn around to see her staring at him as she was. He had felt his heart start racing, and a familiar heat surge into his body as she gazed over him. If he hadn't known better...but no...that wasn't possible. He heaved a sigh and blew out the candles before climbing into bed.

(Later on that night)

Slowly the window latch pulled up releasing the catch and allowing the window to drift open. A dark shadow suddenly slithered into the window and down the wall. It traveled across the floor until it reached the bed. Then it began to grow upwards until it shifted into the form of a person and finally into the shape of the witch from the forest. She stood above the sleeping Gretel in her true witch's form. Like her mother, her skin was the color of ash. But unlike her mother, she had burning red eyes, that glowed with an evil that could have only been formed in the depths of hell itself. Her teeth looked like broken jagged knives sticking from bloody gums. Her nails looked like sharp blades sticking from bloody nails. Her body was hunched over with what looked like giant nails sticking into the hunch of her back.

She stared down with an evil smile at the sleeping girl. She could feel the power radiating from her mother's wand clutched in Gretel's hand.

"Awaken," She whispered, waving a hand over the wand, causing it to glow red.

She took out her own wand which held a black gem and glowed a deep purple and touched its point to her mothers. Then she whispered in a low voice,

"Let her scream, let her cry, let her wish that she would die. Poison seep deep within, begin to kill the heart within. Let the dark destroy her light, prepare her for the blue moon's light. Kill her soul and destroy her life, so her body will give the grand witch life."

A light purple mist flowed from her wand into her mother's before flowing over Gretel and disappearing into her body. With her work finished the witch put away her wand and sank back into her shadow form to disappear out of the window. Now all she had to do was wait. The witch hunters would come to find her, and by then her mother's new body should be ready.

Th two children stood holding hands as they helplessly watching their mother being burnt at the stake in their front yard. Her screams echoed all around them. But neither child could move to help her. Suddenly, some of the towns people grabbed the children from behind and pulled them apart. Hansel screamed as his sister disappeared into the crowd. Then the screams from his mother began to change causing Hansel to look up towards the great fire. His mother was no longer tied to the pyre. Instead, there stood adult Gretel screaming in agony as she was engulfed by the flames.

"HANSEL!" she screamed in terror.

Adult Hansel screamed her name as the towns people held him fast. He reached for his gun hell bent on killing every person there to get to Gretel. But his weapons had been taken. Gretel continued to scream for him as she burned to death upon the fires. Hansel screamed helplessly back to his sister with tears streaming down his face as he watched her die. The towns people suddenly let him go causing him to surge forward.

Hansel sat up so quickly that he hit his head upon the ceiling of the room. He grunted in pain as he awoke and looked around realizing he was back in the room. The house, the fire, everything was gone.

"Gretel," He said suddenly sliding off the bed and hitting the ground hard.

He saw his sister sleeping peacefully on the bottom bunk. He sighed with relief and leaned his head against the bottom bunk. The night mare had scared him so badly he had to concentrate to stop himself from shaking. It seemed so real. He vividly feel the

heat from the flames and the smell of burning flesh. He opened his eyes to watch the gentle rise and fall of his sister's chest as she breathed. He knew he should climb back up to his bunk and rest. They would have a long day tomorrow dragging the giant wagon behind them. But he couldn't take his eyes off of her, or bear to leave her side.

He slowly pulled the covers aside and gently scooted her over allowing himself room to slide onto the bed beside her. Gretel instantly wrapped her arms around him instinctively. Hansel scooted closer and wrapped his arms tightly around her, breathing in her scent as he nuzzled into her neck. He then began gently kissing her neck, and up her neckline. He continued leaving a trail of gentle kisses on her cheeks, forehead and nose until he finally found his was down to her lips. He added pressure to her lips, kissing her so her head slightly tilted backwards. Suddenly, her eyes fluttered open.

"Hansel?" She whispered sleepily causing him to freeze.

Hansel stared at her for a moment before he launched himself forward pressing his lips hungrily against hers. Gretel's eyes widened in shock as her brother slid his warm tongue against her lips. She opened her mouth to speak but was quickly silenced as his tongue came into her mouth to mate with hers. She lay there for a moment unsure of what to do. She knew she should push him away and chastise him. But his lips were so soft and warm against hers and his divine tongue caused her entire body to tingle and a strange heat to surge upward from deep within her. She raised her hands to push him away. But he reached up to grab her hand and put it around his neck as he continued to passionately kiss her. Gretel was still for another moment before she completely lost her senses.

Suddenly, she began to hungrily kiss him back. She reached up to grab a handful of his hair and push his head down harder on hers as their kiss deepened threatening to send them into madness. He moaned against her mouth as he rolled until he was on top of her. Gretel ran her fingernails down his bare back. Hansel broke their kiss and moved to suckle on the side of her neck causing her to moan which sent Hansel into a frenzy as he began biting on her neck. He trailed kissed down her neckline until he reached the edge of her shirt. Then he moved the shirt aside revealing on of her beautiful full breasts. He began trailing kisses all around them until he reached her nipple. Then he closed his mouth over the taunt mound and began gently suckling, causing Gretel to arch her back against him and cry out.

"Hansel," She whispered her voice full of passion.

He leaned back up to kiss her cheeks and then left a furious kiss on her lips again.

"Hansel,"

He sat up and began attempting to unbutton his breeches. Out of nowhere came Gretel's hands to gently grip his wrists. Hansel froze and looked up into Gretel's eyes.

"We can't," she whispered quietly, her face full of misery.

Hansel instantly came back to his senses in a full fury as he realized what he had just done. He quickly jumped off of her and the bed, and set about getting dressed. Gretel sat up.

"Hansel, where are you going?"

He didn't answer. He was to furious with himself. He could not believe what he had just done. It was forbidden. They could be put in jail or worse for such a violation of the laws should anyone find out what almost happen. He had put his sister into danger and what was worse...he wished she hadn't stopped him.

"Hansel?"

Again he did not answer. Gretel jumped from her bed and walked over to where he was violently putting on his shirt. He pulled his shirt over his head a second before she caught his wrists again.

"HANSEL!" She all but shouted.

"GET AWAY FROM ME GRETEL!" He shouted in anger as he pushed her away and stomped towards the door.

"Hansel...please..." She whispered so quietly he almost did not hear.

Her words caused him to pause for a moment. He wanted to turn around to face her, to apologize. But he could hear the tears in her voice. He knew that if he turned around and saw her crying, he would not be able to leave, and more than likely they would end up in the position they found themselves in only minutes before. Only he knew he would not stop a second time. He needed to get away, to breathe, to regain control. He pressed his head against the door closing his eyes for a moment and sending up a prayer.

"I'm so sorry." He said in a low voice before he disappeared into the night.

"HANSEL WAIT!" She called after him. But he was gone.

She stared after him for several long minutes. Why had she opened her mouth? She looked around frustrated, fighting back tears. Her body shivered, still in an excited state. She had to force the words from her mouth to get him to stop. She only sought to protect him. She did not want him to do something she knew he would later regret. She never meant to anger him or hurt him. She could not lie to herself that she had wanted more. She could have begged for more. But she knew it was wrong. She did not want to put her brother into danger. She wanted to rush after him, but she was afraid she had done enough to anger him for one night.

Sadly, she walked back to the bunks her body still tingling from his touch. Suddenly, a flash of red caught her eye from beneath the bed. She knelt down and saw the witch's wand laying beneath. It must have fallen as she slept. She reached to pick it up. But as soon as her fingers wrapped around it, a searing pain shot up through her arm, and through her body. The pain as so intense that she cried out in pain and released the wand causing it to drop and slide beneath the bed again. She fell backwards as her body was flooded with fire. Hot tears instantly began streaming down her face stinging her skin. She opened her mouth to scream for her brother but no sound would come out. She could not take a breath to scream. She felt as if she were on fire and suffocating. Her eyes began to roll back into her head as the pain rose high and higher. Finally, she couldn't take the pain any longer. She took one final breathe and managed to quietly whisper her brother's name before darkness over took her and she slid into blissful unconsciousness.

Author's notes:

Wow I am so happy for the response I have had for this story . Thank you all so very much! I was expecting to get alot of hate mail. But all of your kind words have given me inspiration to go on. I can't wait to post again. I really want to go and see the movie again. I have to say I am quickly falling in love with Jeremy Renner. I also realize that there are probably alot of mistakes. But it is 430 am where I am and I do have to sleep for work. So I will be back to edit this chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it please RxR Much love