Erzsébet suppressed a small chuckle. Humans were so simple minded.
- It's not funny! – the hunter glared at her.
- You surely took your time to connect the facts… - she giggled in her low, quite voice.
- And of course you find this amusing.
- Should I hide it as well? – in an instant everything "human" died out from her, her voice, her aura, her breathing.
- No… it was just… surprising.
- One would think you are prepared to fight against witches specialized in mental powers. Or was it real new information?
- Of course we mention these possibilities on the training but how do you think we could actually prepare for those?
- Of course... I forgot how pathetic humans can be. With all your knowledge and none of real wisdom it's a miracle you could capture any of us.
- Are you suggesting that we mean no real harm for you witches?
- And if I do?
- It's more than ironic coming from you.
- So is it from the hunter sitting across me.
- Then we are nothing more than a bunch of pathetic creatures sitting and growling at each other.
- That seems to be the truth. – she smiled and the hunter felt a little victorious.
- Now that we cleared this up what should we do?
- Starting over would be quite too much, and personally I would love to spend my last hours in peace.
- Why are you afraid of a little talk?
The look that she casted towards him spoke with thousand words. Only the hunter ignored it completely.
- Why are you so eager to talk to me?
- Curiosity… and possibly much more… And you know you can't escape…
- Try me.
- Then I'll just talk and talk and talk until you reply.
- And if the guards find it more irritating?
- Then I'll convince them to help me.
- Realistic…
- So… How does your mother look like?
The witch stopped every movement of her body, including breathing and her heart for about five seconds. Her face went blank and the hunter was afraid he managed to cause a heart attack. That, despite make him laugh hysterically would be an ugly end for his journey. He was about to crackle up in maddened chuckles when the witch casted him a long look.
- You actually wish me to answer?
- They call me a dreamer a lot you know. – he smirked eventually.
- What about you talking first? Or better, stop talking at all and go to sleep?
With every quite word the hunter could sense the witch tense and tighten up somewhere on the border of fury and incredulous bewilderment. She was frightened and desperate to end whatever this thing was. On one hand it was amusing and thrilling just as any hunt was and will be, yet right now his prime objective was to decipher the enigma in front of him, the which who became an almost forgotten legend, hiding from everyone in the coats of myths and fairytales of elders nobody believes. She escaped reality by erasing her name, her acts and her real persona from the common knowledge, by entering the world of legends and ancient stories.
Right now Vlad was sitting across the most deadly witch of history and he wasn't going to let her end all started conversation just because she was panicking. He was better than that. Moreover he was the only one capable of doing it.
He was the only one rightfully questioning her…
What about the inquisition?
- If you wish to talk why not use the normal ways? – he smirked towards the witch feeling a small headache coming. A familiar sense of deja-vu hit him with the smallest force. He just knew something was up.
- What do you consider normal?
- Define normal.
- It's a weak comeback, asking the same.
- I would prefer our little chat voiced out in the authentic way, using our mouth.
- Afraid you couldn't think fast enough for a witty comment?
- Looks like you got yourself fired up. Did you find something interesting in my handsome and glorious mind?
- If you just love to analyze me, why don't you take some wild guess. – her smile was fidgeting, and he couldn't decide if it was from anger or fear.
- I'm flattered. You actually admitted to enjoy this game.
- If you call this a game I'm afraid to ask what do you take seriously.
- Suddenly curious, aren't we?
- How about your headache? Afraid you'll forget something?
- It only threatens you as far as I see. Panicking are we?
- You know nothing, and your selfish wishes will bring only unsolvable problems to everyone.
- What would be my selfish desire then?
- As a sentenced creature waiting for execution I have my last wish for you. – her face was determined but he could see some hesitation or… fear. – Let me go to my grave with all my secrets.
- I cannot grant you that, regarding you weren't even sentenced.
- Only because you consider yourself healthy curious, this doesn't mean your petty inquisition will think the same.
- As I said I'll convince them-
Pain entered his mind forcing him to scream in agony. He couldn't keep his eyes open but he swore he could sense the witch smirk.
Watching the man's chest rise and fall across her in silence she let out a deep sigh. She lulled the hunter to sleep getting fed up with this pointless game. She knows the rules time is ticking, she have to come up to a decision at one point.
Genuine smile plays on the hunter's lips. He looks happy, safe and normal. She smiles at her with her own bitter-sour smile that's exactly why she fights against this. She may have been the most brutal witch on earth once that's why she promised to lock up, to disappear, to erase all chance of that happening again.
With her this nightmare will be over.
At least that was her intention.
Then this little arrogant yet completely normal human came and ruined everything. So maybe she had two reasons to keep everything to herself.
She could open up and explain what she needs to, yet…
Yet the look in the hunter's eyes told her he wouldn't get it.
In the end no one understands the truth, the whole meaning of this tragic comedy, this cruel joke.
There's still the possibility to keep him in the realm of dreams until the inquisitors arrive. She can still escape…
- Mama, tell me the story about the fairy and the prince!
- All right, all right… But get in the bed. Good boy. So, do you want to hear it from the beginning again?
- Of course!
- Okay. – she chuckled.
Once upon a time, when fairies and humans lived together, there was a handsome and young prince, who didn't want to become king yet. He said, he's too young to rule over a whole kingdom, and he had no desire to sit on the throne, especially alone, since he had no fiancé, that could meet his expectations. All the girls, princesses and maidens were not good enough for him, every one of them had some strange habit, or they were just simply not pretty enough. His father didn't say anything, thought he will grow up and forget this, but it really seemed like the next king will have no wife, so one day the old king called for his son.
" Son, you can't continue this. I can understand you couldn't find a girl for yourself in this country but you should look around, maybe there's someone who can match you in other kingdoms. Don't come back until you find yourself a wife."
With this, the young prince left his kingdom to find a girl suitable for him. His path crossed a huge dark and endless forest and he couldn't find the way out. The night fell upon him and he was completely lost.
" What will I do? I wasn't able to at least visit other countries, but I'm lost in this forest and cannot find the way out. I don't want to die yet."
" I can help you, if you can pay the prize." Came a rusty and scary voice from the woods.
" Who are you? If you want to help me, show me your face!"
" Hah! Foolish human. You're lost in the darkest forest of the world, alone far from anyone and yet you don't want to accept the help I offer you?"
" If you really want to help me, show me your face. Or you have something to hide?"
For a long moment nothing could be heard, then an old, wrinkled witch came out from the woods. The prince was not someone who could be scared easily, but even he stepped back in surprise and disgust.
" Here I'm." the witch crooked a smirk.
" What would be your prize?"
" Oh it's nothing for someone like you. All you have to do, is just bring me one flower. One tiny little flower from a long abandoned garden. I hope you don't mind doing this little favor for an old woman." She smiled with her broken teeth and the prince could feel the air froze around him.
" Okay, if I can find it I will bring it to you. Now will you help me out?"
" Of course, of course" creaked the old hag " Just follow me and you will be out in no time."
And so was it. When the prince could see the light from outside he didn't even turned back to thank the old witch her help.
As he continued his journey he arrived in a dark city where everyone was wearing black and grey, and everyone looked really gloomy and sad. The prince rented a room in the inn and asked around why are these people so depressed.
" Didn't you hear? Today is the birthday of the king's daughter who disappeared before she turned 5. It's a national day of mourning. Where did you come from that you don't know it?"
" I came from a far away kingdom." Answered the prince in hurry because he decided to rescue this princess. Maybe she worth it. He went straight to the palace to ask out the king and the queen.
" It's noble from you trying to save our daughter, but many tried before you and many failed. If you still want to go, our wizard will help you."
So the prince went to the wizard to ask for help.
" Oh, a new candidate to save the princess. I can tell you where is she most probably but you have to get there on your own. She's in an ancient ghost town where once a legendary dragon lived, protecting the world's most beautiful maiden in its castle. One day a brave knight came, killed the dragon and took the maiden. The dragon couldn't forgive itself to have lost its treasure so it remained as a ghost, searching for the maiden and kidnapping beautiful young girls, as it thinks they are her."
" So there are more princesses there?" asked the prince a little confused.
" Most probably. But no one knows for sure what happens after they are brought to the ghost castle. I can show you where it is and give you the weapons you might need, but I cannot guarantee you will survive and achieve your noble goal."
With these words left the dark city the young prince…
Vlad jolted up. Not that his sleep wasn't comfortable or nice for a change it was the sweetness of the dream that alerted him. He looked around in hurry letting out a sight of relief. The witch looked at him with unreadable eyes.
- For a moment I thought you disappeared.
- As much as I hate it, rest assured. These are still the same ropes that you used.
- You sound much more talkative and friendly… did you sleep as well? – she just looked at him with hollow eyes. – I guessed so…
Strange silence fell on them. The hunter had nothing in mind but he was desperately searching for any topic just to get the witch to talk. He could feel she erased his memory again yet his wish to know her motives proved to be a way deeper desire of his mind. Or hearth.
- Let's play.
She didn't even blink.
- I guess we are equally bored so here's my idea. We play a little chain of thoughts where you say one word and the other has to say the first thing that comes up in their mind about that expression. It can be anything, a color, a place, a feeling… So?
- Okay.
- I'll start. –he closed his eyes. – Smoke.
- Fire.
- Bright.
- Sun.
- Heat.
- Summer.
- Wind.
- Straw hat. – he chuckled and saw her raise her eyebrow in question.
- Nothing I just imagined you in one.
- And you found it…? - he felt as if she suggested something nice.
- Why of course.
- You think it's ridiculous for me to wear one?
- I think it's surprisingly normal. And it made me smile.
- I don't like this game.
- Why?
- Do I have to testify and explain every statement I say now?
- I'm just curious but if you are willing to continue anyway I won't pry.
- Like I seem just as a person who enjoys uncomfortable situations.
- Then tell me why don't you want to play. I know you are bored. – she just looked at him with a dead expression and suddenly he remembered that she won't make it our alive… So maybe bored wasn't the best way to phrase it. – Look even though it is insane for me I really wish to talk with you.
- And I still have no desire to join.
- I can talk for both of us. You just have to agree or not with my suggestions.
- How would you know I'm not lying?
- Why would you lie about your family?
- You're not this naïve.
- So maybe you have some reason to lie but right now I'm offering you a last chance to clear yourself and your motives.
- That's sweet but you know the inquisition won't ever forget for a witch. – he couldn't come up with another reason. – Besides I don't have to save myself in your eyes. I did what I did, I have no guilt or problem with them.
- Your eyes tell me a different story.
- Honestly I don't have to endure this. – she muttered to herself.
- Don't you dare put me to sleep and escape!
- Like I could…
- The conversation. You may trance me again to dreamworld but I will come back and continue so it's quicker if we just…
- Just what? The mighty hero of the century has no idea what he really wants other than fame and a strange thrill. Yes I admit talking with the 'enemy' can be interesting even addicting to someone but I refuse to be your amusement in my last hours. So. Make up your mind and come up with one question before I knock you out for good.
- You just said to be unable to do anything…
- Are you seriously questioning my powers? – her eyes started to gleam darkly. He chuckled.
- I can't get why are you trying to force this "I gave up it's over" when you clearly have more energy than last night.
- I'll just ignore this…
- I meant our actual combat. You purposely didn't hit me accurately am I right? – she just stared at him with numb eyes. Well.. numb eyes that burned with anger and so much more underneath. – So if I have to ask one thing right now, here's my question: Why didn't you use all your powers? You wouldn't be here now, I would be dead and this whole problem of yours wouldn't even exist… And you known this the second I attacked you.
He was patient. He could see the gears slowly clicking in her brain but couldn't even guess what was their meaning.
The question surprised her a little. So even the hunter could feel that the force he was fighting was repressed. One hand she was proud of herself, this meant every single enemy of hers could feel it as well giving them the sensation she's not taking them seriously and could easily wipe them out with her little finger. That is power.
The other hand they wanted to test her just how much is that real whole. That meant they were restless and she couldn't get one day to relax.
But all of this problem was in her past the only question before her eyes was how to accept death. Should she fear or feel relief?
- You wonder why did I keep myself back… - she started slowly as if to feel the taste of her words. Sure her voice sounded strangely calm. The hunter felt irrationally alert. – Because of an old promise I made years and years ago not to kill anyone.
She watched him blink in confusion as her words sink in. She felt a headache coming. Of course they wouldn't understand…
- Like a penance?
She felt herself blink in confusion.
- Just because I'm a hunter and your enemy that doesn't mean I'm super dumb. Actually I'm offended by this, since I'm the only one who could get you into this situation, a cell waiting for the inquisitors…
She still couldn't come up with anything to say so she kept her sarcasm to herself.
- So out of regret you promised not to kill again… I assume it was after the year.
- Congratulations. Are you happy now?
- This doesn't mean anything. You could have at least aimed at me!
- Are you seriously angry about that? – she casted him a tired look but he was flamed up.
- Yes! I was looking for a decent fight between us, do you have any idea just how long I waited for that day?
- That's cute but before you forget even this way I made you sweat.
- In the worst way.
- Does the country's greatest witch hunter feel himself humiliated?
- Absolutely!
- To the point he won't talk about his greatest hunt to anyone?
- Why wouldn't I?
- … nevermind. – she was tired, she was collected, she had the upper hand, she wanted to sleep, she wanted silence.
- So you made a promise to not kill anyone yet you don't even fight seriously.
- Why is it a problem to you?
- Did you ever dueled honestly?
- And if I did?
- When?
- None of your business.
- Then why did you humiliate me?
- Do I look like a good person to you?
- Yes.
The reply came way to quick and way to determined for both of them.
A.N.
Hello again and thank you for reading hope you liked it, yes the story still plays an important role in this story... kind of.
I'm trying to find an outcome for this story that will fit perfectly... and what I have in mind is... a little too far away from our current point. So after my exams are over I'll try my very best to write it.
So again leave anything you have to say (scold me if you want :P)
and have a nice day :)