Bewitched

Chapter 22

It was actually nothing to really worry about. The lady just wanted to see if we were alright, and after explaining to her that we had just fallen off the bed and were heavy sleepers, she walked away with the men (although she did not look all too convinced). However, one happened to stay behind.

When he asked us if I was Susannah Simon, I instantly was seized with fear. It had finally come back - the fear - after being gone for so long. What if he was here to turn me in? He figured out who I was? But how? I had never seen this man in my entire life.

But then I realized, as Jesse took hold of my upper arm protectively, that he did look a tad bit familiar. Like someone I had seen in a picture, but never really met before.

When the man saw the look on my face, he smiled warmly and said, "Do not fret. I am just here to ask you about Madame Zara."

I blinked. Madame Zara? How could he know who she is? Unless…oh, my goodness. I realized then who he was.

"Benjamin?" I asked hesitantly. Jesse, I noticed, was quite confused when I said that. But then he realized who I was talking about and looked curiously at the man before us.

I decided then it was time to stand up and get up off the floor.

The man nodded. "I assume she told you about me, then. Yes, I am Benjamin."

I blinked again. Then I was astonished. How was he here? "Wha - I thought you were -"

He nodded again. "I know what she told you. But I was never actually a ghost. I was - am - an angel that fell in love with a human."

I just stared at him. Then I looked to Jesse to see what his reaction was. It was pretty much the same as mine. "You - you're an angel?" I asked hesitantly.

"Yes. I was actually sent down to protect you. But what nobody realized was that you already had someone to protect you." His gaze fell on Jesse then.

I turned my head to look at Jesse. He smiled at me and slid his arm from my shoulders down to my waist and held it there. I looked back at Benjamin.

"Well then what are you doing here?" I asked. It came out sounding very rude, but I did not mean it that way. Benjamin, I could tell, did not take it offensively, which was good. I did not want an angel being upset with me.

"I am here to tell you that there are some men that are following you. While they have not caught on to where you are yet, they will soon. It would be wise if you left this town and moved on to another. Your best bet would be Dorchester, which is quite far from here." He then dropped his gaze and slipped his hand inside his cloak, pulling something from it. It was a painting, I soon noticed, when he pulled it out. I was confused, though, as to why he would be showing me a painting.

"This is the church of Dorchester. It is very unique compared to others in the surrounding area. This should help with your shifting to the town. Walking would take far too long." He handed the painting to me and I took it, my eyes falling onto the beautifully painted church and landscape.

He spoke again and I looked up from the painting. "But I advise that you wait until midnight and shift behind that tree there," he said, pointing to a rather obscure tree near the church. "There is a forest behind the church, and a cottage lies within the forest. Use your instincts. It should notbe hard to find."

I nodded and he smiled. "Thank you," I said. "For helping us."

He smiled warmly at us. "Its my pleasure. Now, I must get going. If you need anything, just call my name." He was about to disappear, but I said, "Wait!" There was something I had to know.

"Yes?"

"Well…what about Madame Zara? If you are…well, alive, then why don't you go to her?" I asked hesitantly.

He half-smiled. "I wish I could. But I have already ruined her life enough. Although….I do watch her sometimes and see that she is very alone….but to go to her…it would ruin things even more."

I was beginning to see how alike Benjamin and Jesse were, then. I was able to prove to Jesse that I did need him, so maybe I could do it for Benjamin, also.

"Benjamin, she needs you, can't you see that? You have not ruined her life. You've given her something that she needs and now you have to fulfill it. She loves you and you're the only man she will ever love. Now you have to go to her."

He seemed to consider this. "There are things I must do, duties that I cannot abandon to be with a human. I just… I can't."

"You are not abandoning your duties, Benjamin. Besides, don't you think she has the right to know what exactly happened to you? She thinks that she was the cause of your disappearance."

His eyes widened as he gasped. "She does?"

I nodded woefully. "Yes."

He looked down and then nodded to himself. "Alright. I…I will go see her."

I smiled, greatly relieved. "Great. And…thanks again for helping us."

He smiled and started to fade. "Anytime."

I just hope everything goes alright with Benjamin and Madame Zara. They both deserve to have a happy ending, even if one is human and one is an angel.

- § -

It did not take me long to shift to Dorchester. While I was not able to get there on my first try, I still ended up there. With Jesse's hand in mine.

We took Benjamin's advice and waited until midnight and shifted behind the tree. We were unseen and were able to slip into the forest, unnoticed.

The forest, I have to say, did frighten me a little. However, I realized that I had Jesse with me and I knew he would never let anything happen to me. He was there to protect me and I felt safe. Safer than any time in my whole entire life.

Benjamin was right, though. The cottage was not hard to find in the forest. It was deep within the forest, but I suppose these new powers that I now know I have, have come in good use.

When we reached the cottage, Jesse stopped in front of it. I tried to urge him to go in with him, but he just looked at it and would not budge.

"What?" I asked, fear starting to creep into my voice. "What is it?"

He shook his head and blinked. "I…I do not know. It just…this all seems to easy. Does it not to you, querida?"

All fear was lost from me then. I smiled at him and took his arm. "Is it not supposed to be that way? We have been through quite some trying times, Jesse. Things should start to be getting easier."

And, for once in my life after I had said something like that, things did start to get easier, and they did not get more complicated.

He smiled back at me and said, "I suppose you are right."

"Of course I am."

He chuckled and led me into the house. Surprisingly, when we first walked in, we were met with a nice, fresh pine smell, which I supposed was delivered from the forest itself. Also, I noticed that the large bed, to accommodate both of us, I assumed, was made nicely and there were trunks of clothes for us in the corner.

Benjamin had really gone out of his way for us. I was not sure if it was just because he was sent to help me (and Jesse, too), or if he was just grateful that we had, in a way, helped the woman he loved.

But whatever the reason, I was grateful. It felt so refreshing to be in a fresh, pine-smelling room with clean clothing, and a nicely made bed (and also one comfortable enough to sleep on).

There was also a small fireplace and pot for us to do cooking should we need to, which, believe me, we would need to. We may have gotten nice clothes and a made bed and a shelter over our heads, but we still needed to catch and cook our own food. And there was also a small washroom in the corner of the cottage. It was tucked away so much, that I did not even notice it when I first walked in. And, of course, somewhere to do our business outside, but no one needs to know about that.

Weeks went by as we stayed in that little cottage. Occasionally, about once every two weeks, Jesse and I would visit Father Dominic, letting him know of our current position, which really had not changed since the previous visit. And also to see if it was alright to come back yet.

It was about six months later that we heard that the witch trials were finally over. Father Dominic had said that they were dying down, that people were starting to realize the absurdities of them the past few times we visited him. But, finally - FINALLY - they were over and done with.

And that meant that we could go home.

So sorry this took long. And, I am also sorry for the pathetic shortness of this chapter. I really am. And I admit that it was more of just a filler than a chapter, so I could do the next - and final - chapter.

Yes, this story is coming to a close. After about a year and four - almost five - months.

Then that means I can work on Inf. and get that done and get to work on My Queen! I'm really excited for that story: )

Happy exam week (for New Jerseyans (sp?), at least),

Nicole