Hi everyone!

Thanks again for tuning in. So, Ada's boyfriend is a hunter. Uh-oh, this may not go over well with Rowena.

Hope you all enjoy.

Cheers!

Rowena sipped at her glass of gin, sitting comfortably in the living room rocking chair, she kept her eyes fixed out the window. The evening continuing to roll on, the stars visible in the clear inky black sky; winking down at her in their infinite glow.

From what Rowena could make out of the alignment there were no bad omens, in fact, she could not read anything. Perhaps that was a good thing, but still. Even the stars could not always predict things so accurately.

To think Ada could possibly be seeing a hunter, but why should she care? Ada was not her child. Quite frankly Rowena should not have been there. She had spent too much time lingering. More than once she had left the farmhouse and gone out to investigate the whereabouts of the Black Grimoire. All were rumors, of course, and she bitterly came up empty.

Another issue she faced was there didn't seem to be any witches' in the area, and the few she met claimed the book had either been destroyed, or was just a myth.

So, with no new leads nor a place to go, Rowena always found herself wandering back to the farmhouse. The emptiness she felt when all alone subsiding every time she laid her eyes on Oskar, who would always enthusiastically greet her. The boy; however, would never ask where she went. Never would he jump down her throat like Fergus would.

Oskar would allow her to be her. Accepting her for who she really was. That boy. Every time she thought of him she felt her spirit lift, a serenity covering her like a giant cloak. Rowena knew once her time would come to finally leave, it would be the hardest farewell she'd ever have to bid.

The door connected to the kitchen suddenly squeaked, announcing Ada had returned. Amazing. How had she not heard Ada approaching? There was no sight nor sound of the man she had met with from where Rowena was seated, but that was no longer her concern for now. Resting her glass down on the floor, Rowena rose out of her chair, stiffly walking to the kitchen; catching Ada tip-toeing in the direction of her bedroom.

"Ada?"

The girl stiffened, though she kept her back straight, turning to face Rowena with a blank expression, but it was easy for Rowena to guess what Ada had been doing. Her skin was glowing; cheeks flushed pink, and those sapphire eyes were luminescent.

Ah, yes. Rowena recognized that all too familiar look in herself during her youthful festivities.

"Rowena. I was just out checking the barn."

"Were you." Rowena raised her brows. "For what reason?"

"I heard Clobberfoot whinnying. I figured it was either a prowler or a wild animal disturbing him."

"A prowler you say. Hmm, and was this prowler the man I saw on horseback?"

Ada's complexion paled considerably. Her face contorting as she tried to come up with a quick reply, but her thoughts seemed to be stuck in neutral.

"Who was he?" Rowena's voice dropped into a harsh tone.

"That is not your concern." Ada turned away from Rowena, and started to walk in the direction of her room again, only to have Rowena block her path.

"Get the hell out of my way!" Ada snarled, getting right up into Rowena's face. "You can drop the act. You're not my mother and you never will be! And if you—"

"What's going on in here?"

Both turned their attention to Oskar, who released a great yawn, rubbing his eyes in an effort to get the sleep out of them.

"Oskar." Ada took the opportunity to get away from Rowena by taking her brother by the hand and leading him back to his room, whispering to him in rapid Polish, which Rowena could not understand.

This was not over. Not by a long shot.

{…}

Rowena had remained in the living room the remainder of the night. Having past out in the rocking chair, she was harshly awoken by the sound of someone knocking forcibly on the door.

Wincing at the feel of a kink in her neck from her awkward position, she slowly rose to her feet.

"I'm coming!" Rowena threw open the door, her eyes falling onto a short man with a bushy black, greying mustache and a short dark grey hair. Rowena had no idea who the frog-like man was, though she could surmise by his well pressed suit he was of some class.

"You are not Ada." The man spoke with a high, whistled voice. Eyeing Rowena over with suspicion. "Who are you? And where is that incense child?"

"Perhaps you should start by givin' me your name before I start answering your questions."

"/I/ am Humphrey Rose, the tax collector." Humphrey said importantly, adjusting the front of his suit as he spoke. "Now, madame, you will do well to get Ada for me. She is a week overdue for her payment, and unless she wants to find her brother and herself living out in the woods, she needs to start paying me her dues."

Rowena eyes glinted dangerously at the taxman's words, taking a steady step forward, and though she could not loom over him, the shadow she cast engulfed him. The man visibly shuddered at this, backing away and continuing until he was far from the doorway.

"Well, I'll be back! You hear? If Ada thinks she can hide from me, she is sorely mistaken. I will be bringing some friends with me later on. Mark my words. I will get my money, or the land…"

Rowena watched the man storm away. She wasn't frightened by his threat. Accustomed to dealing with men like he. All bark and no bite, but still. It made her wonder whom these 'friends' were.

Closing the door behind herself, Rowena turned to find Ada standing right behind her. Rowena didn't say a word, anticipating Ada to rip right into her, the girl instead quietly walked into the kitchen and slumped into a chair. Rowena slowly followed in after her, continuing to patiently wait for Ada to speak.

Grabbing a kettle from one of the cabinets, she started to put together some tea, occasionally throwing glances at Ada who had a distant look in her blue eyes.

"My father tucked away a vast amount of money. You know, just in case something were to happen to him. It should have been enough to last Oskar and I for years, but that Mr. Rose. He just takes and takes, promising me all source of benefits, but that was all just a big lie. Before I knew it. Oskar and I had nothing. We were scraping by. We had to sell off most of our animals…" Ada swallowed, releasing a shaky breath as tears filled in her eyes. "And now Oskar is getting sick. I can't… I just can't take him to the doctor and acquire the proper medicine. That's why I've taught myself how to create remedies, but I know it's not enough. The herbs keep the sickness at bay; however, they cannot fully cure him. I'm so afraid Oskar is going to die… He's the only family I have left."

Ada's tears dripped off her chin and hit the table; unrelenting. Rowena placed the girl's teacup in front of her.

"How do you take your tea?"

"Honey and a splash of milk." Ada sniffled, wiping away the tears.

"Hmph, me too." Rowena retrieving both finally took a seat at the table. "Are you going to allow that little troll to ruffle your feathers so easily, Ada?"

Ada silently stirred her tea.

"That man is obviously one who can not be negotiated with, but he also has no backbone. You heard him, didn't ye?" Rowena then cleared her throat, mimicking the man's voice. ""I will be bringing some friends with me'."

Ada sprouted a thin lipped smile, which made Rowena grin lightly.

"Well, I don't fear a man who throws around threats so tactlessly. He uses his powers and privilege as both a shield and a sword that he draws with ease, because he is so accustomed to intimidating others, when in fact it is /he/ who has the most fear. Darlin', imagine if you were the spark to ignite the flame of a revolt. A revolt to change the way of the land, hm?"

"No, I couldn't do that." Ada took a sip of her tea. "I mean, I've already got Peter who has promised to help me. I'll just inform him of Mr. Roses' recent threat and he'll confront him."

Rowena's expression darkened at the ridiculous response, taking a long sip of her tea to prevent herself from bursting out and putting a curse on her foolishness, she slowly set the cup back down on the table, picking at a hang nail as she for the moment stared hard into Ada's face.

"This Peter. Just who is he?"

"He's a knight; apart of a group known as the British Men of Letters." Ada said in a dream-like manner, her cheeks flushing pink. "He's promised to help us, and eventually he's going to marry me."

"Please, do ye honestly believe that gobbledegook? That boy only wants you for one reason. Then he'll toss you aside like common trash and find another ignorant girl like yourself to sucker." The words just flew right out of her. The memory of Thomas. Oh, she knew first hand. The pain she never thought would cease. It was paralyzing. Day and night that was all she thought about. Why? Why? Why? Never could she formulate an answer to that why, and now she sat and listened to this child about to make the same mistake… "You cannot rely on him for support, Ada. What if things don't work out? It's just foolish!"

Ada launched right out of the chair, and looked about ready to punch Rowena in the face. Instead, she ran right out of the kitchen and in the direction of her bedroom.

{…}

The day went on as usual. Ada made sure to stay as far away from Rowena as possible, while Oskar got right to work outside. Amazing. He was such a little trooper. He did not complain. He just worked, and always had a smile ready for her. God, could he somehow sense her distress? Even when she cut his hair poorly, making him look like a poorly sheared sheep, he would thank her and go on his way.

Rowena had just returned into the house after going outside and giving him a cup of water, she stood in the kitchen and watched Oskar walk back towards the house, though she noticed he was limping. Odd. She hadn't noticed that until now.

Could he have hurt himself? Perhaps one of the animals had kicked him. Hmm. Deciding to go back outside and meet him, the alarm bells were ringing louder than ever when she found him seated on a lone stump. He was as pale as wax and his body was shaking, as if he had just walked through a monstrous snowstorm.

"Oskar?" Rowena placed her hand on his shoulder, kneeling down so she was eye level with him. "Oskar." She said again, for he didn't appear to even notice she was there.

"A-Auntie Ro-Rowena?" He then fell forward.

"No." Rowena gasped, managing to catch him just before he fell face first into the dirt. "Oskar." Using her magic to give her some extra strength, Rowena carried him back into the house and to his room.

By the time she had gotten him comfortably into his bed, he was shaking. Sweat pouring off his body. His complexion had changed significantly as well. His lips now turning blue.

Taking in a deep breath, Rowena used her magic to close the door. She had no other choice. She would have to use her magic, but she could not afford to let Ada barge in unexpectedly and catch her in the act.

"A-Auntie." Oskar wheezed out, his eyes firmly closed; teeth gritted in silent agony.

"Shh," Rowena cooed, running her fingers through his sweat soaked hair. "I'll make you better, my sweet boy." Removing his shirt, Rowena kept one hand on his forehead and the other over his heart.

It was then did she begin to chant in latin. The boys' breathing quickening and then growing faint. Back and forth, back and forth. His breathing would change and at one point it appeared he wasn't breathing at all.

The hours ticking away, and Rowena felt as if she were standing still. She was making absolutely no progress, and what was worse she couldn't concentrate. She was keeping her ears out in case Ada made a surprise appearance. Every little noise made her jump. Unable to take it anymore, Rowena used her astral projection to locate where Ada was.

No surprise the girl was wandering around the fields aimlessly, her arms folded tightly against her chest, though her attention was cast in the direction that Peter had appeared the night previous. What was she looking for? What could she be thinking?

Rowena returned back to her body, staring back down at Oskar who was stable. He was no longer shaking, but his fever was still very high. Taking a seat on the bed, Rowena stared off out the window. Watching the birds fly past, and there a deer stood off near the edge of the forest with a young fawn by its side.

"Ma…"

Rowena turned back to look at Oskar, as he continued to call out the word in both English and Polish. Rowena said nothing for a time, listening as the boy's mutterings went further into full length discussions with his mother. He would then reach out his arms, his hands trying to grasp out and latch on to whatever it was he was seeing in his dream.

Rowena couldn't take it anymore. Scooting closer to catch Oskar's hands into her own, she began to hum a gentle tune. Never had she ever done this for Fergus even when he had grown seriously ill. She couldn't have cared less if her son had died, but Oskar. No. She did not ever want to lose him…

That is when the idea struck her. Immortality. She would give him that. Nothing would be able to kill him, except for one person: Herself. Only she would be able to take his life, because she truly loved him.

Closing her eyes, Rowena began the incantation in latin. The words passing from her lips at first in a low whisper, growing louder and louder as the words came out faster and faster.

So focused was she on the task, Macleod hadn't heard Ada's footsteps right outside the door. The young redhead reaching to open the door, she stopped midway and placed her ear against the door.

She didn't know what to make of what she was hearing within. She knew it was latin. Her grandmother would speak it quite often, but by the tone of Rowena's voice it sounded dark and evil.

Something in her bypassed the fear gripping at her heart. Of course that 'something' was Oskar. She had promised her mother no matter what, she'd protect him. It was like her feet had been set aflame, for she grew the nerve to quietly open the door, poking her head through to witness Rowena making a small incision to her thigh with one half of a broken scissor.

From there a strange purple substance leaked out, which she quickly caught in her hand, and then guided it carefully down Oskar's throat.

Ada could move no further from where she stood between the doorway and the hall, her eyes averting over to Oskar, who's eyes were wide open and glowing violet. His skin no longer waxy, but a healthy peach, in fact, he looked healthier than he ever did before.

What had she done to him? What exactly was it that poured out of her thigh?

Backing away, Ada raced down the hall and straight out the door. There was no mistaking the facts that had presented itself clearly in front of her. Rowena had to have been a witch. Peter had told her a little of the signs of what witchcraft looked like, and that violet substance, it must have been magic.

"But…" Ada slowed her pace, now standing in the middle of the trail leading to the center of the village and back to the farmhouse. Was it guilt she was feeling? No, that was absurd. Rowena was a witch and dangerous. Yes, but if she was dangerous, why does it appear she has helped Oskar? He no longer looks sick, but cured of his ailment. She had saved him…

Ada growling angrily at herself for her own indecision took one step forward and then a step back. What the hell was she to do? Unfortunately her decision would not be one she would decide, for the sound of Peter calling out her name grabbed her attention, and when she turned, her body immediately went stiff at the sight of him and two other soldiers' along with the taxman on horseback headed right for her.