Chapter 10: Heart
Duchess stormed down the stairs to her basement. The heavy doors shut down behind her with an empty boom. She fell to her knees and tore a wooden chest open, then threw every single book and object out in desperate need of finding her answer.
The books, white and black magic. Her real treasure, the reason of her existence. They will know, they will explain.
She sobbed as she was going through every single tome. There. She found it. Her contract and spell. Brushing the tears and stray hairs off her face she quickly jumped into the middle of the room. Lit the candles, drew the circle and runes and began incantations.
The words rolled smoothly off her tongue, almost song like. She could feel the wind around her, even though she was underground, and felt the cold fire of the candles.
The light grew filling the dark room, washing over her, banishing shadows from every corner of the chamber, blinding Duchess.
"I seek thee. Answer me." The woman whispered and the light began to stir, gaining colors and clarity, dulling its strength and retreated back into the circle of candles. It formed an elliptical mirror right in front of the witch.
In there she saw another woman. She was half undressed, a heavy diamond collar being the only thing she had on her milky torso. Her blood red hair was spread on the white pillows, emerald green eyes were half lidded, a lazy smile on her red lips. She was stroking the head of a man who had pressed his lips to her chest. The red head appeared to be a bit older than Duchess.
"Mistress." The witch said and the woman in the mirror snapped her head toward the direction she stood.
"Pet. What do you want?" the red head asked completely unfazed at the state she was caught in. She relaxed even further into the cushions she was laying on, running a hand through her locks. Her male companion seemed completely oblivious to what was going on.
"Mistress, I'm in distress, I need your help." Duchess tried very hard to keep her voice steady, but every now and then it would waver at the end of the sentence.
"What is it child? What had happened to shake you so much?" Mistress' eyes narrowed, her beautiful face had taken the shape of concerned. "Has someone discovered you? Is your life in danger?"
"No, Mistress. It's about a man."
Now the other witch frowned. "Pet, have you… No, that's impossible…" red haired woman bit her lips and shooed away her companion. The unhappy man grumbled, but retreated as his lover sat straight up on her bed. "Pet, have you fallen in love?"
"I'm afraid so, Mistress." Duchess dropped her head ashamed, twisting her fingers like a schoolgirl caught kissing a boy. Which was almost the truth.
Her teacher's voice became cold after those words.
"Foolish girl! Have you not been taught enough that men cannot be trusted?! That all they do is hurt and betray us! Ha. Should have known you'd end up like that. You always have been weak… It must be your grandmother's influence; she was stupid, just like you are." The woman scowled and Duchess felt herself shrink inside, her cheeks burning.
"What can I do?" she almost sobbed.
"There's only one thing you can do now, child. The heart. It's always about the heart. Rip it from his chest, do a ritual and beg whatever Devil may hear you to return your powers."
Mistress waved her hand and the spell ended, candles burned down completely, the basement colder than ever. And Duchess lonelier than she was before.
Oh, snap (said the bartender) anyway. Sorry! took me too long. But I bet you guys are used to that... Anyway harrylee94 had pointed out to me two comics. One by cherubim101 on deviantArt called Fear, it has a similar thematic as the chapter... err... me and my weak memory...chapter 9. Go read it, because I think it's only fair. Awesome work. A bit scary but fluffy at the end!
Also... review? Pretty please?