Chapter 11

Beautiful Day, Beautiful Girl

Luke

I woke up on the couch in the Witch's house, with no recollection of what had happened between drinking the potion and then. The room had dimmed significantly, the only light coming from the candles around the room since the sun seemed to have set. Long legs crossed casually and arms draped across the arms of her chair, the Witch was the picture of composure as she sat across from me. "How do you feel?" she asked with one brow quirked and the shadow of a smile.

I swallowed, trying to get rid of the dry feeling in my throat, and the bitter taste of vomit registered on my tongue. "My mouth tastes like barf. Again." I said with a dry chuckle. This was quite reminiscent of my first time in the Witch's house, but at least this time I knew why I was here and I wasn't soaking wet. The Witch tried to hide the little smile that burst on to her face from that, but I saw it. I wondered briefly if that devious expression meant she had something to do with the recurring flavor. "So the potion?..." I prompted. I assumed that it hadn't work as expected, since I was waking up a few hours later with no idea what had happened to me; it hadn't exactly woken me up.

"It was too strong for your weak mortal body." The Witch Princess said with a roll of her eyes. "Oh and not to mention your total failure as a potion tester. You have to control that tiny brain of yours and actually tell me what you're feeling when you take a potion. Not just start babbling and keel over. Idiot."

"Um… Sorry?" I said simply, reaching up to adjust the knot on my bandana. It wasn't quite tied right, it was resting too high on the back of my head and felt tight. I wasn't really sure what else to say to the Witch so I settled on muttering "I wasn't ready, geesh." Idiot. She sure was harsh.

She looked down her nose at me and let out a little harrumph. "I'll have to reduce the potency significantly if I have you test it again. Anyhow, you've been knocked out for hours so you might as well be on your way." She rose gracefully from her chair and strutted over to the door. She had a little tear in her tights and I eyed it, my interest piqued with the single flaw in the woman's appearance. She held the door open with one hand and had the other on her hip as I got up from the couch and approached her. "I'll expect you back tomorrow, of course."

My brows drew together and I threw the Witch Princess a sideways glance as I passed her. She sure was brusque. "Alright. See you, Princess." I waved over my shoulder and took off down the path to head home. She was an odd one, I hadn't even started to figure her out over our handful of encounters. She was right, it really was pretty late; Pops would probably be a little worked up.

I woke up feeling pretty great the next day, and it was Saturday so Pops let me have the day off after I helped sand down some tabletops; I had been working hard lately. It was late summer and the weather outside was beautiful. Fall wasn't far off and a pleasant breeze blew over the peninsula, still warm but without the sweltering heat that came with a lot of the summer days. It was great work weather and even better weather to be free in.

After lunch I decided to go down to town and take a walk around the peninsula from there, enjoying the weather and the landscape too. Bo had fixed the mine cart so I rode it down to the church grounds at a breakneck speed, a method highly preferable to creeping on foot down the track like I had a few months ago. The rush of air on my face put me in an even better mood than the weather and having the day off already had. I leapt out of the mine cart and jogged down from the Church grounds to town, smiling and waving at everyone I saw on the road. Candace, the tailor with pretty light blue hair, ducked into the shop at the sight of me, she always was shy, but Kathy waved back and shouted in my direction. "Hey Luke!" I made my way over, signature grin fixed firmly in place. "Haven't seen you around much. Things been busy at the carpenters?"

"Yea things can get pretty crazy in the summertime with monsoon season and all. Plus you guys have to get your firewood from somewhere come fall!" I laughed and patted my axe where it hung from my belt. "Pops gave me the day off so I figured I'd come down."

Kathy laughed, green eyes sparkling, and gave me a light punch to the shoulder. "Don't work yourself too hard, ya goof. I'd better be seeing you in the bar sometime soon! Did you hear we picked up a dancer?"

My eyebrows just about jumped off my face. "A dancer?" I questioned, my interest piqued. There hadn't been any sort of live entertainment in the bar Kathy's father owned for a long time.

"Yup, Selena from Toucan Island. She just got here on the boat earlier this week. She's pretty damn good too."

"Oh now I've definitely gotta stop by!" I said, grinning and adjusting the knot on my bandana. It was always exciting when someone or something new came to the peninsula, the daily routine could get pretty boring. I often spent nights off in the bar anyway, like many of the adults on the island, and the news of a dancer was sure to shake things up.

"Well duh!" Kathy said with a roll of her eyes. "Anyway, lots of stuff to get ready at the bar, Saturday and all. See ya, Luke!"

"Later!" I called as she turned and breezed back through the doors to the bar, long blonde ponytail swinging. Kathy always had a way of making people comfortable; her friendliness made her dad's bar a really successful place in town. Her looks probably didn't hurt either, I thought with a subdued chuckle. I turned my face into the breeze again and took a deep breath before heading down towards the beach. The day really was just too beautiful. In that moment, she caught my eye.

I know I said the Witch was a babe, but this girl was all woman. She had curves in all the right places and her loose clothes showed expanses of her tan skin. The waves were crashing on the sand and she was dancing in time with the ocean, her body undulating and her arms sweeping through the air in wide graceful movements. It was pretty mesmerizing, so I just stood there and stared. She finished her a dance a few moments later and on her final turn caught sight of me. Purple eyes widened and caramel skin blushed a little bit; she hadn't heard my approach through the sand.

"Very nice!" I said with a wide grin and clapped for her performance.

"Was that supposed to be a compliment?" She asked, one brow quirked and one hand on her hip. The edges of her mouth quirked up in a smile almost as mischievous as the Witch Princess's. She looked so expectant; I fought the urge to laugh right then and there.

I gave her a long look, holding the amused smile on my face. "… Well, see ya!" I said with a little wave. She knew darn well it was a compliment and I wasn't about to give her more just because she was asking for them. Pops always said you should tease a girl a little.

"That's it?" She asked incredulously. "Don't you want to know my name? Or where I'm from? Or… anything!?" She pursed her lips a little bit. Man, she sure did have a personality. But I guess it hadn't really occurred to me that I should ask her, since Kathy had just told me who she was anyway. This had to be the new dancer from Toucan Island.

"I'm Luke." I said with a smile.

"Hmph. That's not a question." She quipped before I could say anything else.

"Hey I wouldn't be a gentleman if I didn't offer you my name before asking yours." I said with a little wink. She sure was flustered; it was pretty funny. The slight blush of frustration on her cheeks suited her.

She tossed her bright red hair at that. It was bound into a complex up-do, but her long bangs still flicked over her shoulder and the gold hair ornaments jingled. "You've got a point. I'm Selena"

"Well Selena, where's your regular hangout?" I asked. It was pretty obvious that she wanted me to ask her questions; she seemed like the kind of girl that wanted to be paid attention to.

"The bar." She said simply. "You should come see me dance there sometime." She smiled slyly, then started to walk past me.

"Maybe I will. See you later, Selena." I grinned and gave her a little wave before continuing my way around the island. She would definitely be good for Kathy's business; she had talent and she was beautiful. The guys wouldn't be talking about anything else for a few weeks. I dug my hands down into my pockets and considered how I'd be spending the rest of the day. Heading down to the bar later on would be fun, not to mention I'd get to see Selena dance again. But the Witch was expecting me back. Maybe if I showed up early in the forest then I would get to leave early so I'd get plenty of time to enjoy myself in the bar? It felt like a fair enough plan, so I turned and made my way towards Fugue Forest, wary of whatever it was the Witch Princess had in store for me and excited to see the gorgeous redhead dance again that night.

Author's Note: A rival appears? DUN DUN DUN! (Did you just get deja vu for Chapter 5, because I know I did.) Apparently the secret to getting reviews is whining? Don't worry, I'm not normally a whiner. Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter and I hope you continue to do so (even when I'm not whining for it). I'm glad there seem to be so many reviews on the story, over 50 views last Thursday! Thanks guys! The next chapter will be up later today! Please review 3