Chapter 10
She screeched in a violent rage her hands contorting like claws. He was lost to her, Will Scarlett the hunter. The boys energy had revived him. She watched in the murky depths of her cauldron as Will Scarlett saved the boy from the giant. That was not how it was supposed to be.
She must take the boy's energy. She was keeping him at the village, saving it up for later but she must have it. More than anything she wanted to kill the boy, she wanted to kill him in front of Will Scarlett. She wanted to kill each of his friends slowly one by one so he would know her power and he would submit to her will. But she needed the boys energy. It would render her beautiful again. He was young, his life force so strong within him.
She gazed into the dust laced mirror and smiled at her porcelain skin and rouged lips. A sudden movement nearby cast her eyes downwards.
Tuck lay on the ground slumped against a large trunk. His face was translucent pale and sores had gathered crusting around his nose and mouth.
"You will not succeed," he said through laboured breaths.
She just laughed down at him.
"Please, You have me...let the others go, let them all leave,"
He grimaced writhing in pain as she inhaled even more from his life force. She did not care if she killed this one. She had others to feed on and if he died the girl would suffer. The corners of her mouth turned at that thought. The girl would be heart broken and perhaps that elegant child like face would not be so beautiful. Lines would gather.
~o~
The outlaws stayed a couple of hours at the village to rest. They hadn't slept in two days and Much's shoulder was really starting to cause him pain.
Will boiled up some water and mixed up a potion of herbs and berries for him to drink.
The boy smiled slightly as he took hold of the cup and drank the bitter liquid.
"You're a right little nurse maid aren't ye," John grinned.
"Shut up, I have to keep the little bastard well, he's the only one good at catching rabbits." Will reasoned.
Much grinned over at him, he loved Will.
"We should get going soon, we need to rescue the others. We don't know how that's playing out " John said.
"We've lost the light. There's no point in faffing about in the dark. It'll be light in a couple of hours," Will stoked up the fire as he spoke.
John had to agree. He leaned himself back against the support of a hut and closed his eyes.
Will cast one quick glance around at the surrounding trees, he reached over and took the cup from the boys hands as his eyes had begun to close and then he settled down himself. Before long all three were asleep.
~o~
They awoke three hours later. The first rays of dawn splintered through the trees but the fog lingered swirling around them as they prepared to leave.
They walked in silence. John and Will were mentally preparing themselves for the battle ahead Much was stiff, cold and barely awake.
Despite all this he managed to lead them straight to the large dwelling. They beat through overgrown brambles and gorse to get to it, Will and John the whole time complaining and cursing Much for an idiot.
But finally they stood looking up at the great stone structure.
"See, I told you it were here," Much told them, cradling his injured arm in his other hand.
Will put a hand to his shoulder as he looked up at it.
"It looks as though it hasn't been occupied in some time," he said.
"But that's where they went," Much frowned.
"I know," Will squeezed his shoulder.
"Should we go in back?" John asked.
"No, the direct approach. I've had enough of this. I'm fuckin ready John."
John nodded with a smile. "We go in the front door."
Will turned to Much. "Right you stay out here and keep watch?"
Much's face took on a look of horror.
"I'm not going to stand here arguing the toss with ye Much," Will told him sternly.
"But what if she comes back?" Much said.
"Who comes back?"
"The girl, the girl back at the village who turned to dust Will."
"Keep your voice down for God sake."
"Please Will, she might come back."
"Yeah well if she's turned to dust she ain't likely coming back now is she," Will reasoned, he hadn't time for this.
John looked over at Will and something passed between them.
"Much," Will pointed a finger at him then, "You stay behind us and do exactly as we say."
Much nodded with a foolish grin.
"One day we'll find him dead wearing that face," Will shook his head.
~o~
The great oak door gave way to a stone arch tunnel, an endless stone arch tunnel. They walked along listening to their own footsteps echo in the stones far above their heads.
As long as this tunnel was, their nerve began to slip a little with every step they took.
Much frowned at the carvings in the stones around him. They were elaborate etching's each depicting various scenes of death. As he drew closer he could see that the face of the person killed was the same in each of the scenes. The face looked a lot like his. He grimaced at a particularly gruesome scene where the victim was impaled on a stake above a fire.
"Much!"
He jumped slightly and looked over at Will. The two had gone on ahead of him.
"Come on,"
Much hurried to join them.
As he ran up to them, Will caught hold of his tunic. Much grinned at him but his face fell as he saw what Will was now staring at. Just up ahead Nasir and Robin stood with swords in hand. Nasir had two swords and was poised for battle.
"I'll take Nasir," Will told John as he drew his sword.
John swallowed hard.
"Much, run back the way we came,"
Much stood anxiously looking from one to the other.
"Go back the way we came " John roared pushing him off in that direction.
Much moved away from them but Instead he backed up putting himself against the wall. He bit his lower lip as he watched them prepare for battle.
With a yell of defiance Will Scarlett charged forward, Nasir was ready for him and parried his strike with ease. He looked through Will with black glistening eyes.
Robin too had little trouble countering John's moves. He moved like a cat as he worked to deflect his strikes. Robin wore hollow lifeless eyes and he fought with a viciousness previously unknown to him. Before long he got John with a cut just above his elbow, a good deep cut with sudden searing pain. John grimaced as he took hold of the wound. Blood seeped through his fingers. Will beat Nasir back with all he had. He reigned down blow after blow which Nasir easily deflected.
John was starting to gain ground. He got Robin with a good rip to his side. It was actually just an accident, Robin swung his sword broadly and turned to his side. In reaction John's blade found the side of his torso. Blood spilled from the wound and down the side of his tunic. As crazed as Robin was he meant to fight on. He swung at John even as he was bleeding out.
Will threw an eye on what just happened even as Nasir was trying to bludgeon him to death. Blood was starting to run down Robin's pants leg,
In an unspoken agreement between them Will and John stepped back and threw down their swords.
"We ain't fightin you," Will told his friends. "Kill us if you have to, we're done."
They didn't kill them, Nasir came between the two and pushed them forward with his sword.
With black repellent eyes, Robin beckoned to Much. He staggered as blood loss began to take it's toll. Much tried to help him but he pushed the boy up ahead of him.
~o~
Marion knelt by Tuck, her eyes glistening in tears.
"Don't cry little flower, it'll be alright," Tuck tried to smile cheerfully. To him Marion would always be a child to be protected.
"What has she done to you," she whispered as she put a hand to his pale cheek.
"His energy is strong, surprising for such a fat insignificant little man,"
Marion turned eyes on the woman who had brought so much unwarranted pain.
In a rage she got up and went to her. The witch took a step back.
Marion had meant to attack her but she turned as Robin and Nasir entered the chamber with the rest of the outlaws.
"Robin!" She ran down the few stone steps and stood by him wedging her hand in the wound to staunch the blood flow.
"Oh Robin," she sobbed as she looked into his unseeing eyes. With John's help she took him off to one side and laid him down on a wooden bench. He wasn't in a position to argue as his strength was all but gone.
"Ahhh you have returned to me Scarlett the hunter," the witch purred as she went to him.
"And you've brought for me a gift," she stood over Much and ran a long nail down his thin cheek. He looked up at her, innocently thinking her very beautiful.
"You keep your hands off him," Will went and stood in front of the boy.
She smiled a simpering smile at him completely unfazed by his reaction.
"I could be more beautiful than you ever imagined Will Scarlett. The boys energy is pure, it's virile it could sustain me for the whole of your life. Together we could be invincible."
"I'd rather lie with a dead maggot than lie with you again," Will told her.
She only smiled. With little effort she inhaled, drawing herself up to her full height.
Will could feel the strength drain from his body. He collapsed, hunched to the ground at her feet.
"That's better," she said as she ran a hand through his hair.
She sighed deeply. "I have missed you Scarlett the hunter. Missed your attentions in my bed. With the boys energy sustaining me I will have no need to keep you in this submissive state. I will be stronger than any man."
She moved towards Much, smiling down at her coveted prize. On instinct he began to move back away from her.
"I can feel your energy from here. Your life force burns within you. It is wasted on your lowly worthless life boy."
Marion watched as the woman intimidated their youngest member. She looked down at the blood still pouring from Robin's wound. As her eyes moved about the room they found Tuck still on the floor, his frightened eyes gazing up at the wretched woman.
"Enough!" She yelled suddenly.
All assembled turned to her.
"Enough damn you, you selfish, selfish woman. You've had your life, lived it in vast luxury I dare say and yet you seek more. You have drained our energy, stolen our life force and claimed it as your own. You selfish..."
Marion stopped. Her eyes stared straight ahead of her as something suddenly dawned.
The witch was laughing.
"I'm not done yet. I haven't even begun. With Scarlett by my side I shall rule this land. We will be the richest most powerful couple,"
The witch lost her smile as Marion turned to her.
"Why did I never see it," Marion said . She stepped past the other outlaws and stood to face the witch.
The woman took an unconscious step backwards.
"You have drained their energy, kept them as possessed slaves but you have done nothing to me."
"I was saving it. Saving it up. Once I was done with the boy you were to be next. I was saving your essence for last," the witch smiled but it was hallow.
Marion shook her head. "No, you were not saving it. You cannot reach my energy. You do not hate me, you fear me,"
"Wretched insolent girl, how dare you," the woman growled. "I could carve you to pieces where you stand and annihilate all belonging to you. Doubt not my power."
In a desperate bid she ran past Marion. She stood over Robin. She took in a massive breath, closing her eyes in relish as his energy flooded her soul.
"I will take them all in turn. I will become more powerful than you could ever imagine," she hissed as the outlaws energy washed through her.
John held Robin as his life force began to drain from him. His eyes returned to their normal state but his face paled significantly. He winced in pain as sickness began to attack his weakened body.
"No," Marion shook her head. "Your parlour tricks won't work anymore."
She pushed past the witch.
"John, take Robin we're leaving."
A look of horror came over the witches face as Marion brought Will to his feet.
"I will make slaves of them all..."
"No you will not," Marion told her as she stepped up to face her.
"You will stay right here in your evil little hovel and you will not move. Come on Will."
Much dodged past her and bent to help Tuck up from the ground.
She watched in growing dismay as they all filed past her.
"I will annihilate all of you," she screeched after them. "You will suffer, suffer at my hands. Will Scarlett, Will Scarlett."
They walked quickly through the tunnel, it seemed endless.
Much cast an anxious look back as the screeching continued.
"Much face front," Marion told him "Don't give her your fear,"
The screeching went on as they exited the building and ran for the forest. Much helped Tuck as John and Nasir carried Robin.
As they walked along Tuck found he was soon able to walk under his own speed. The colour soon returned to Robin's face also as the wound to his side dried up and faded to a scar.
"I don't understand," Tuck said as he lumbered along. "Why could she not harm you Marion."
"All I know is that in life she was able to manipulate men through her vast unwavering beauty. In death she sustained herself by doing much the same except this time she found herself capable of touching their very souls and raking from them that which she thought was her due,"
"How did you know?" Robin asked.
"She spoke many times of being a beauty in her youth, more beautiful than any woman, I didn't think much on that until she spoke of coveting Much's energy. I'm not much older than Much, it made me wonder why she had never tried to take mine."
"She didn't because she couldn't," Robin finished for her.
Marion nodded with a smile. "Yes she couldn't. And somehow I knew that the energy of a live woman was far more powerful than all the energy she had stolen."
"A woman pitted against a woman," Will nodded. "In a strange way that makes sense."
"I vote we get out of here and back to Sherwood," Robin smiled.
They all agreed and began moving off.
"No we can't," Marion told them, "At least not yet."
They all turned to her.
She stood with her hands clasped in front of her, looking a little embarrassed.
"I feel there's something else we need to do. I mean I could be wrong but..."
Will nodded, "Lead the way Marion,"
~o~
They soon found themselves back at the village. The celebrations were going on in earnest with much dancing and singing.
The villagers came up to greet the outlaws as before but when they saw Marion they cowered back away from her.
"No don't be afraid," she smiled. "My fight is with your hostess not with you."
"Join us, join us in our blessed feast." The old man cried as before.
"No, the feast is over. It is time for you to go home." Marion smiled.
"Home?" The old man cried.
"Your people are waiting for you."
They looked fearfully towards the dwelling which housed their illustrious hostess. And looked back at Marion with uncertainty in their eyes.
"Do not fear, I will protect you. You can go home now," Marion told them.
They looked from one to the other. Then the old man dropped his ribbon on the dirt floor and took his wife's hand. The others watched as the couple walked off towards the light flickering through the trees. A young girl pulled the ring of flowers from her hair, she walked off behind them. With much laughter and relief they all began to move towards the light which had finally come for them. Much watched with a frown as he recognised one face among the crowd. Before walking through she suddenly spotted him. She graced him with a smile and blew a kiss before entering the light. Much watched as two taller beings within the light hugged her and held her hand as she entered with them.
One by one they all gained courage and moved off to join their long dead loved ones in salvation.
Once they were gone the world became dark. The village was once again a ruin torn apart by years of neglect.
The outlaws were about to move off when a blood curdling scream cut through the air. It was so loud they all ducked down and covered their ears.
"Look," John pointed as in the distance a streaming light shot up from the earth. Within its depths she screamed in terror and outrage. And then she was gone. The light swirled and evaporated into nothing.
They got slowly to their feet.
The ever present fog suddenly seemed to swirl in a direction away from them. It flowed past their legs and swirled upwards until it was gone.
They walked on through the forest, nobody speaking, all lost in their own thoughts. Marion looked up as the sky showed the tiniest rays of sunshine breaking through. They left the dark shadows of the forest behind and came upon an open field. They walked with the sun at their backs and the many trees of Sherwood Forest scattered below on the horizon.
As they walked in silence Much's voice suddenly cut through the air,
"Marion?"
"What!"
"Are you a witch?"
"Yes Much!"