The Grey Witch

AvalonReeseFanFics

A/N: A/N: I know it's late and I'm sorry but I've been super busy recently. So for those of you who were worried you'll get to see what happened to Hansel and what Gretel plans to do. And for any of my readers out there, what do you think is going to happen? Review and tell me!

Chapter 6

Hansel's POV

My eyes opened, my lungs were burning. I could feel the fire with every painful cough. There were stars in front of my eyes, blinding me, keeping me from seeing clearly. All I could see was a fuzzy grey. I was really starting to hate that color.

The only noise I could hear over the echoing of my desperate coughing was the lapping of calm waves and the dripping of water. Then came the voices.

"He has the mark my sisters," A soft but slick purring voice said, cutting through the thick atmosphere. I held myself still hoping that the voices weren't anywhere near me but I could feel them hovering above me.

Maybe if I pretended to be dead they'd go away.

"We should call Lady Lornalei," another voice added, this one lower than the first and to my right.

"But he looks so tasty!" This voice was higher and accompanied by an unsettling petting. Slimy clawed fingers raked down my chest sensually and a whole different kind of fire ignited in me.

I would have like to say my vision was clearer, but it seemed to be getting worse. I hadn't coughed but my throat felt closed and it was harder to breathe than I would have liked to admit. I was going to black out again and this was the good part... or the party where I got eaten. I couldn't tell which one I was closer to.

"No... no, send for our lady. We will find something else to devour," the first voice said.

Then it was above me. I could tell because my blurry vision got darker, as she was silhouetted against the fuzzy grey, all I could make out was sea green hair and then a pair of hands covered my eyes shrouding me in darkness.

"Shh... young warrior. It's time to meet our Gods."

And then I fell back into the heavy silent darkness.

Gretel's POV

Carol's little dinghy had made it through the storm and come upon the rocks of the short at some point in the night. I kept trying to dry my tears but I was mourning my brother and I was going to murder every single siren in existence. Starting with the ones at this island.

Ben came up to me and put a hand on my shoulder. "I'm sorry about Hansel."

I refused to look at him as I tried to brush my newest string of tears from my eyes. "Tell me what you know about Sirens, you know that thing you told me last night."

To be fair Ben had been talking a mile a minute after Hansel had been stolen from me and I hadn't been listening to any of it. I know he was only trying to comfort me but I was too distraught for that. Still something he had said stuck with me, it kept looping in my mind, giving me hope.

"You mean... about where they take their victims?" Ben asked.

"Yes."

"Well, siren's don't eat in the water. It attracts too many predators that could steal their prey or kill them. So they take their prey back to their out of water hide out. It usually has an underwater entrance and then leads up to a cave or something like that," Ben said.

"So he could be alive for now?" I asked. Well I said it more than I asked. I wanted him to be alive, I needed him to be alive.

"Well maybe. There have been tales of fishermen surviving and being tortured in the cave. I think if Hansel survived he could probably best them," Ben said.

I nodded sharply and picked up my weapons bag. "Then we're going to find him."

At this point Carol, who had been hanging back, approached us. "And how do you plan to do that? They could be anywhere!"

I turned on her, a wild look about me. I was in no mood for her attitude and I was seconds away from punching her if she tried to tell me that I couldn't go looking for my brother.

"You said that the Grey Goddess unleashed the sirens after her return to the island. That means they live and are fed somewhere here."

"I don't see how that can be true!" carol growled, folding her arms over her chest.

"Because if they were being held here to keep them from attacking your fishermen that means there is somewhere on this island where they can swim safely and eat plenty," I explained. "We have to find that place."

"We should go to the temp and confront the Gods! It's the only way to get revenge for your brother and my husband!" she snarled. She wasn't being truthful, I could see it in her eyes. There was another reason why she wanted to go see the Gods, I had a feeling it had something to do with that one night of pleasure she had with one of them. She wanted to see him again.

"No way!" Ben cried. "Even if we went there first it is never good to run in weapons lazing. We don't know what they are, we would have to do some surveillance first... right?"

I nodded to him, thankful for his back up and then turned my glare back to Carol. "If you want to go to the temple, be our guest. But I'm going to find my brother with or with you," I told her and then stormed away, grabbing a hold of Ben and taking him with me.

Carol may have had the decision to stick with us, but I wasn't giving Ben the chance to walk away. I'd need him for this, especially if I came across my brother in a state I couldn't bring myself to think about. It was scary just how important Ben had become to me.

Hansel's POV

When I opened my eyes next all I could see was gold. Everything was covered in it, the ceiling, the walls, the floors, even the bed sheets had golden embroidery. The golden filigree was carved into animals, suns, moons stars or people ad hanging from the walls and ceilings were hanging ivy and lavender springs blooming their light purple scenting the room with their sweetness. I was starting to hate that smell too.

I could feel her presence in the room. She had said nothing, but I knew that she was there. I groaned loudly and covered my eyes. I did not want to see her.

"Do not groan at me! I did not call you here. You came of your own free will," he cool voice reprimanded.

I rolled over and found that she was sitting in a chair across from my lavishly soft bed. She had changed. Her bangs of her black hair were pinned up in a braided circlet, the rest of it hanging loosely behind her shoulders. She was no longer in a black dress, but in a deep purple flowing robe with a low cut front and a golden belt around waist.

She looked so foreign compared to her previous reserved and demure self. I hated that she looked so beautiful and vibrant when I probably looked as I felt. Like death warmed over.

"I didn't know you were here," I growling forcing myself to sit up. It was a lie, I had known that she was most likely here before I got on the boat.

"That is not my fault," she growled. "Still, if you are here, your sister cannot be far behind. There are people looking for her, and when you are better and she is found I will send you two back to the main land."

I tried not to look disappointed. I had thought that she would have maybe tried to make a move on me, but she seemed to have no inclination of doing that. There was a knock on the door and someone called out: "Lady Lornalei your presence is requested."

She stood from her chair and crossed the door. As she went I took in the way she moved, still like she wasn't touching the floor but merely gliding. I couldn't stop myself from asking: "Are you truly a god?"

She turned to me, the look on her face plain and devoid of any emotion. "I told you, I go by many names."

She opened the door quickly and left; the door locking behind her. I had no choice but to sit there dumfounded by my own emotional response to her. As soon as she was there, as soon as I had her within arms reach I wanted her. I wanted to be in her arms, pressed to her chest, between her thighs. I wanted to hear her voice calling my name in that soft manner as her back arched and her nails dug into my back.

Why couldn't I just let her go?