Viridescent Shadows
By Daring D.D. Danger
II: The Liar With Cyan Eyes
"Mirabel, speak!" The mayor hit her across the face. "There's no cities anywhere near Trolberg! The witches have to be from around here!" Suddenly, the door opened and the priest entered. I'd never actually bothered to learn his name.
"The expert I contacted has arrived," the priest said.
"That was inconceivably fast," the mayor said.
"I am an expert, after all," A woman adorned in a black cloak and hood had walked in almost silently. She removed her hood, letting her long black hair fall. "I am Maven, the witch hunter."
"You brought a woman to do the church's work?" The mayor asked.
"She's the best there is," the priest answered.
"I bet she can't even aim that crossbow," the mayor continued.
"See that picture of you on the wall, behind the blue eyed girl?" Maven asked. As soon as the mayor looked she took a shot, which removed the mayors wig, missed Mirabel, and hit his portrait between the eyes.
"H-how did you know I wore a wig?" He asked, starting to stutter.
"I didn't," Maven said.
"...Well, it doesn't matter. We already have a plan," the mayor said.
"What would that be?" Maven was dubious.
"She has already told us one of the witches was tall and blond. That fits about five people in Trolberg, so we'll just test all of them," the mayor boasted as he gestured the priest out, leaving Mirabel and Maven. Maven grabbed the girl's face.
"I don't trust you one bit," She whisper-yelled before walking out. I stood up to walk away, but heard a thunk. As I took a step, I tripped. I looked back to see an arrow pinning my dress to the ground.
"You shouldn't snoop when adults are talking." Maven was still pointing her crossbow at me. "You can go talk to the deaf girl now. However, do not get in my way, or spy on me again!"
I ran into the building where Mirabel had been left tied up.
"You idiot! You realize what's going to happen to all those blonde girls, right?" I said to her.
"I didn't have a choice! They wouldn't believe me that those witches weren't from around here!" A tear ran down her cheek. "Can you let me out?" She begged.
"No, I'm pretty sure that witch hunter wanted to kill me."
Suddenly, the bells began ringing.
"It's daytime. Why are the bells ringing?" I inquired, mostly to myself. I ran to the door to see people gathering in the direction of the harbor. I slid into the crowd, knowing nothing good was happening.
The mass of Trolberg citizens eventually stopped near the dock. On the end stood the mayor, priest, and Maven. They stood with five bound blonde women- one was only fourteen, a girl I knew from school.
"Citizens of Trolberg!" The mayor yelled. "One of the five women before you is a witch!" The crowd filled with gasps and a few screams.
"Today we will commence testing to determine which one is the witch, using Trial By Water!" The crowd cheered again as the priest stepped up.
"As witches have chosen to reject baptism, the water too will reject them." As he spoke, Maven stood up and talked to the mayor, but I just barely heard him say 'shut up, woman' before she retreated. He immediately kicked one of the women full force off the dock and the crowd fell silent. I began sneaking to the front in the confusion. Now directly in front of me, only separated by the length of the dock, the mayor and priest were looking into the water.
"Guess I picked the wrong one," the mayor said.
"I'll get her, I guess," Maven said, jumping into the water and quickly dragging the unresponsive woman onto the beach. The remaining four women were now panicking and rather audible despite being gagged. The process repeated again and again until only the young girl remained dry. The mayor picked her up.
"The odds are not on your side. What sort of witchcraft were you doing in the woods, girl!?" He shook her a bit.
"I don't know!" She screamed through her gag as she cried.
"What do you mean, you don't know!?" Suddenly silence enveloped the townspeople.
"I was bewitched!" She screamed. The mayor threw her down.
"By who?" The mayor questioned.
"I don't remember!" The girl screamed.
"Perhaps she can't say because she is bewitched," the priest suggested, "a blessing from God would free her from the witch's grasp," he continued.
"Take her away, then," the mayor said. "Everyone!" He gestured to the town. "We will continue at dawn!" He began walking away, along with the citizens of Trolberg, all murmuring to each other about the events of today.
"Hey! You can't just leave me with four bodies!" Maven yelled.
"Yes I can, cleaning is your job!" The mayor laughed to himself as the disgraced witch hunter went back to her grim task. I also decided to return home, scared by the events of this day.
Mom cooked another wonderful dinner, and we ate alone once again. We talked of witches and death, and the future of Trolberg before I eventually managed to find sleep.
Christabella's dream…
"Get down!" Maven screamed, and I ducked into a corner as fire blew over my head, lighting the buildings behind me in a crimson blaze. I realized I was wearing a tattered cloak like Maven's, and felt a little dazed. I looked to my left and saw Mirabel behind a wagon, a crossbow in her hands.
"Come on, girls! Are we witch hunters, or not!?" Maven screamed as she leapt out from her cover. She ran into the blazing streets of Trolberg with a sword in her hand. That's when it came into view: a huge, pulsating, black mass. It swung down at Maven and she deflected it with her sword. "Help!" She screamed. I ran out with Mirabel, and she looked to me.
"This looks bad! The whole city is destroyed!" She said.
"My home is with you, Mirabel!" I said, and Mirabel smiled as she took a shot at the mass. I produced a sword and met up with Maven, swinging at appendage after appendage coming from the mass. Suddenly it reared up and swung down at us.
'This is how I die,' I thought to myself, as I was suddenly pushed from behind. I fell to the ground next to Maven, who got back up first.
"Thanks, Mirabel..." she trailed off. I turned around in time to see the mass rip Mirabel's head off with a snap, spraying blood across my face. I became light headed and fell backwards.
The Real World…
I shot awake just in time to see a faint green light disappear from the corner of my eye. I was drenched in sweat.
"Christabella..." My mom said softly as she opened the door. "Oh good, you're awake. I have some bad news."
"What is it?" I ask.
"Mirabel has been accused of being a witch. She stands trial today."
To Be Continued