"That isn't really magic…"

"…this is…."

The witch twirled out of the room

and slammed the door behind her.

Chapter 28

"I Went to Hell!"

Wicca hadn't thought of what she would do after her little antics of slamming the door on the King. Not like he's the all powerful, ruling leader of the Underground or anything. She'd be fine. In fact, she was doing fantastic. Undyne hadn't skewered her yet.

She was alone in a tremendous hallway. Chandeliers made from thousands of sparkling crystals were placed at regular intervals along the ceiling. Thick columns of white marble added to the hallway's length, and vast paintings were placed along its walls. Painted glass spanned the walkway, creating a beautiful scene cast in purples, blues, and reds.

The witch casually strolled to each portrait, noticing that they all involved a sullen king. Wicca squinted at the wall next to one such tragic painting and touched her hand to a very faded section of the wall. A different painting used to hang where the portrait now stood. Wicca turned away and looked more closely at the walls. The paintings were replacements, but replacements for what?

"Please, don't touch." A low voice murmured across the hall.

Asgore stepped into the painted glass's light as Wicca stepped away from the wall.

"What are you hiding?" The witch asked, her tone smooth.

"I don't think you'll find-"

-a thunderous clap shook the house and Wicca lost her footing. Without thinking, the King reached out and stopped her from falling. Caught off guard, the witch, without thinking, sliced a card through the King's arm. She stumbled back and her hands flew to her mouth, card still in hand with a streak of blood. She let out a string of curses as she lightly touched the cut.

"I didn't mean-"

"It doesn't matter, go back to the antechamber and lock the door, now."

The King straightened up and ignored the injury. Before Wicca could move, or understand anything about what was happening, the palace doors blew open and her worst nightmare stepped inside.

Gaster, in his impeccable suit and with his terrifying beasts, stalked towards the duo. The witch felt every hair stand on end. Everything she had ever witnessed or done back in that world with Little Red and the wrong Papyrus could not prepare her for this skeleton.

"I apologize for arriving unannounced, but I do believe that you have something that belongs to me, dear friend." Gaster straightened the sleeve of his suit jacket and cocked a grin large enough to get a Jack of Spades slicing it's edges. All amusement fell from his expression as he turned to look at Wicca and wiped the blood from his face.

She already had another card in her hand, eyes blazing a brilliant orange. The King placed a hand on her shoulder and whispered in her ear.

"You need to leave."

"You don't get it, My Liege," She rolled her shoulders to get his hands off of her and tipped her head back, "he's also a dear friend of mine."

Gaster cocked his head as he watched the exchange, "The last time I held the honor of being in your company, your eyes did not glow my dear. Someone's learned new tricks."

Wicca's cheeks flushed red and her hands shook in anger. If he called her his "pet", he wouldn't be walking out of the palace in one piece.

"I learned a few things on vacation." She said, but she held herself in check from showing him just what those new "tricks" were. A magician, as the saying goes, isn't stupid enough to show a crazy stalker and magical skeleton every card in the stack. However, she couldn't help herself from throwing another card at one of his amalgamations that had strayed too close.

"Wicca, you need to leave. I can take care of him." The King pulled out his sword and held it with an expert strength.

"Love it, but no thanks. He's not just yours." Asgore wavered and turned to look at the witch. Her eyes, although glowing, were hard and calculating.

"I would appreciate it if you did not harm my pets." Gaster stepped forward in irritation.

"And I would appreciate it if someone hadn't chased me through the woods." Wicca edged closer, daring the skeleton to attack.

"That rather-" Gaster paused as he caught sight of the witch's blacked finger tips, the blood trailing down her thigh, and the scarlet spattering across her dress and skin.

"What happened."

The King frowned and looked down, the question burning in his eyes as well.

"I-" Her voice cracked as she tried to find her voice.

This was silly, it was ridiculous. She didn't owe either of them an explanation. In fact, who were they to her? Certainly not anyone close enough to ask a question like that and illicit her nervous response. But here she was, giving one.

"It just happened."

Gaster gave her a stern look and shook his head slowly.

"Blackening fingers don't 'happen' spontaneously, a gash in your thigh doesn't occur without it being inflicted, and being soaked in blood, whether or not it is yours, does not 'just happen' as you so diffidently put. What did you do."

The witch sucked in a breath at his words.

("What did you do.")

Wicca looked down.

("What did you do.")

Her eyes settled on the tile and closed.

("What did you do.")

Her burned fingers curled in.

("What did you do.")

And clenched into fists.

("What did you do.")

"What did I do?" The witch echoed, "I am a witch, and I went to Hell" She looked up and a shimmering bronze card whipped into her hand, "And you can stay or you can go, but you are not taking me with you and you are not going to harm the King."

The skeleton's eye twitched, and the room filled with tense silence. Without a word, he walked out.

Wicca stared on in astonishment. She hadn't meant for him to leave, in fact, she badly wanted to tear him a new asshole and dance on his bones.

"Was it what I said?" The witch relaxed her stance and caught the King looking back at her, "What?"

Asgore sighed, "Don't leave the palace until morning, I'll have a room made for you."

The witch winced, "How about a raincheck, I'd much rather-"

"Please, I'll answer all your questions."

Wicca looked up at the King, waiting for the other foot to drop.

"And in return," Asgore continued, "you must answer mine."

The witch let out a huff of air.

"Fine."