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12 years ago...
Juleka's P.O.V
"Mama! I have finally done it!" I cheered, running up to my mother, "I have learned the floating spell without my wand!"
"How delightful, my little witchlet!" my mother expressed her happiness for me. She picked me up and held me in her arms.
"You will be an astounding witch one day, just like your father. I know he would be very proud of you and your brother!"
A giant smile overcame my lips. Father was a powerful and grand wizard. He won many battles and casted spells faster than any castor could. He was loved by all…until witchcraft became illegal. A group of special magic killers started to hunt us down.
Father went from the most famous to an entirely infamous wizard. He had fallen trying to protect us as we escaped.
I was only two years old when that happened. Me and what is left of my family have been on the run ever since. We have sailed to many places and explored different lands, trying to keep under the law's belt.
But I am a big girl now—eight years old! I only hope that one day I will follow in father's footsteps and be just as extraordinary as he once was.
My older brother is following mother's path. He, unfortunately, did not receive the gift of sorcery but he did gain some of our mother's pirate skills.
"Mama! I finished tying the sails!" my brother informed from the front of the deck.
"Excellent work, my young scalawag! You both have been doing a fine job and deserve a reward! How about we have some lobster tonight for supper?" Mother declared. My eyes sparkled with joy.
Lobster is our favorite meal but very tricky to get. We occasionally caught a few lobsters if we are lucky enough for them to fall into our fishing nets.
"Yes!" I cheered, "Lobster! Lobster! Lobster!"
Mother let out a hearty chuckle, "That is the spirit, lass. Now, let me get cookin'! Luka, I need you at the wheel to make sure we stay on course!"
"Yes, mama!" Luka responded, taking his place at the wheel. He perked up and dug his hand into his pocket, "Oh, Jewels! I almost forgot I found your spell marbles."
"Thank you!" I gratefully spoke, taking my pouch of spell marbles. I had forgotten where I had put them a few days ago and thought they were lost to the sea. Then, I turned to mother with enthusiastic energy.
"What about me? What do you want me to do?" I asked her. She patted my head, giving me a sweet smile.
"How about you continue to improve on your floating spell while you wait for me to finish supper," she suggested. I nodded and returned to my father's sorcery quarters.
Books and ingredients lined the shelves, filled with many spells, potions, voodoo, and more. A cauldron sat in the middle of the small area.
There is a table with papers and magical instruments to make potions. Unfortunately, I am unable to use any of those until I am of a certain age and have advanced my abilities better. After all, I do not want to make our home explode into flames or accidentally transform it into something else.
I walked up to the cauldron and placed a hand on it. I do have one memory of father though I was quite young. It is of us making a potion together. I do not recall what potion it was but I do know I had a grand time with him if it stuck.
My eyes are drawn toward the table full of equipment. There is also a picture sitting on it with our family. I walked over to it and picked up the photograph.
"I do hope you are proud of us, papa. I do wish you were here to teach me but I will learn and become just as great as you once were. I will do everything in my power to protect our family too from those bad SSS people," I said, placing the picture back on its spot.
"You will be just as grand, Juleka."
I jumped at the voice and turned my head to see Luka leaning against the doorframe. It is quite difficult to sneak up on a witch but Luka is skillfully stealthy. Not even my mother has mastered sneaking up on me. It is quite impressive for a young first mate like Luka to have this talent.
"Do you really think so, older brother?" I asked, timidly fiddling with my fingers. Luka walked over to me and knelt to my level, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"I know so," he confirmed with a smile. I felt the edge of my lips go up a little before realizing something. I raised an eyebrow in confusion and pursed my lips.
"Are you not supposed to be at the wheel?" I asked. There is something odd about this picture I cannot figure out. He should be at the wheel...and he did not call me by my nickname.
Luka's grip on my shoulder uncomfortably tightened. I stared into his eyes, seeing a different color flash over them for a moment.
I felt a weight sink to the bottom of my stomach.
This is not Luka.
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I grunted landing on my side. Pain shot up my arm before slowly sitting up and watching my captors close my cage shut. Tears of fear threatened to spill over, scared of what was happening. It was all so fast.
While Luka is the only human I know who can sneak up on me, other magic users can easily sneak up on me too. Nearly all magic users have a common ability to wipe their very presence off from other's senses, rarely are there any witches and wizards with a different ability.
In other words, that was not Luka I was talking to but a bad sorcerer.
Somehow, another vessel had snuck up near ours and a band of pirates took over my ship—my home. My worry only grew when realizing I do not know what happened to mama and Luka. Are they okay? What happened to them?
"Where is my family?" I demanded, letting out a harsh yell at the two men lingering outside my cage. One was the sorcerer that kidnapped me and the other was a pirate. Both men looked down at me.
"Quiet!" my captor said, kicking the cage. I flinched back in fright, wishing mama or Luka were here with me. I whimpered, clutching my dark locks in my hands.
I can practically feel the wizard's magical energy radiating off of him. He is an average castor but still levels higher than me. I would be easily outmatched in battle if I challenged him. I do not even know any effective spells, only lowly ones for beginners.
"How can I protect my family when I am so weak?" I thought, hugging my knees close to my chest and burying my face in them.
The room's door opened. I peeked out from my fetal position to see who is entering. I perked up when seeing the familiar mop of black, cyan-tipped hair.
Luka was pushed in, hands tied behind his back. He looked over at me, my watery hazel gaze met vivid cyan. Another pirate followed behind my brother, continuing to jab him with a sword into a cage next to mine. The pirate unbound his wrists before locking Luka up.
The three men got to talking in hushed voices, not paying any attention to us.
"Jewels, are you alright?" Luka whispered in concern. I wiped my watery eyes before nodding my head.
"Are you okay?" I asked, "Where is mama?"
"Yes, I am okay but I do not know what happened to her," he answered.
"What are we going to do?" I asked, voice cracking in fear. If I know bad pirates, they will loot our ship and sell us into slavery for more money.
Luka pondered on that question for a moment, seeming to think of ways to escape. My brother is a very skilled pirate. I have seen him do extraordinary things with what little he has on him. Of course, the bad pirates had probably taken all of his weapons and tools.
He looked at me.
"Do you have your marbles?" he asked. I nodded, feeling silly for forgetting about my spell marbles. They can definitely help but they would be no good for getting out of these cages. We would need the key for that.
"Stay here and watch these shrimps," the sorcerer ordered the man who brought Luka and gave him the key, "We will report back to the captain of our success."
"Aye," the pirate agreed. The two men left, leaving the one pirate to sit on a chair and placed the key on the table next to him. It only took a few minutes until he dozed off and fell asleep.
I eyed the key, wondering how we will get the metal instrument to our freedom. The key was much too far away for me and Luka. We would need some sort of contraction to get it. But if we make too much of a ruckus, the bad pirate will surely wake up and make sure the key is in a more secure spot.
"Jewels," Luka called me, quietly. I turned to him with questioning eyes, "How well can you do your floating spell?"
I instantly knew what he was thinking and nervously bit the bottom of my lip. I still needed a lot of practice before I fully master it. I am not very confident that it will make it over without causing some noise.
I shook my head in doubt, replying, "I do not think that would be a wise choice."
"This is unfortunately our only choice. I do not see any other way we can possibly get out without causing too much distress," Luka said. I unsurely looked over at the key, scared to try this risky plan.
"I believe in you, Jewels. I know you can do it. You just need to focus. Do this for mama," he said. That is right. Mama is in just as much danger as us. For all we know, she could be dead or about to die. I cannot let that happen if we still have a chance to save her.
I took in a deep breath and closed my eyes. I held out my trembling hand and began to concentrate, imagining the key floating over into my hand. As a kid, I have little focus and can get easily distracted by the smallest thing.
So if I get distracted, the key will hit the ground and alert the guard.
It also does not help that I am terrified.
My emotions affect my magical abilities. It could either make the key fall or shoot off in a random direction. Who knows what it could do really? To master the floating spell, one must have full concentration and a calm mind just like many other spells.
"I am on Liberty, no other boat. This is my home and I am practicing honing my skills," I said in my head. I can hear the key sliding against the wood and winced at the noise. I nearly lost focus for a moment.
I continue to play out a scene behind my eyelids of the rusty key levitating in the air and floating over to my hand.
The air grows thick with tension. I can feel myself melting away into tiredness, having practiced the floating spell many times before our capture. The only noise is the creaking of the ship and the soft snores of the pirate guard. I can feel sweat form on my forehead. The key is nearly to my hand.
Thunk!
I lost my concentration, snapping my eyes open and my heart lurches in fright. I see the key floating in midair for a split second, barely an inch away from the cage. Then, it fell.
I scramble to catch it and quickly pulled my arms back into the cage, hiding the key in my vest. I paled as the pirate woke up from the noise. A box had fallen from a shelf.
The pirate lazily gazed at the box then at us. He grumbled from being woken up and dozed off back to sleep once again.
I let out a sigh of relief, thankful that he did not check for the key. I glanced over at Luka who seemed just as relieved before giving me a giant smile.
"Stunning work, Jewels! I could not be any more proud of you," Luka complimented me in a whisper, "Quietly now unlock your cage and shut it with ease. Then do mine."
I nodded and followed the instructions swimmingly. There is no room for errors, especially in this predicament we are in.
After I freed myself and Luka, Luka grabbed some rope. He carefully tied the pirate up to the chair and gagged him without waking him up. Once my brother finished, he opened the door enough to peek into the hallway. He silently gestured for me to follow, slowly opening the door.
I winced at the creaking sounds. My hands clutched onto Luka's baggy shirt, wanting to be close as possible to him. We carefully navigated our way through the ship until reaching a ladder leading up to the ship's deck. Luka climbed up a little and peeked his head out.
I tugged on Luka's shirt, earning his attention.
"Are we searching for mama?" I asked.
Luka's face fell into one of dread. He stayed silent, eyes shifting uncomfortably. I stared at him in confusion, wondering why he looked so troubled by my question.
"Brother?" I asked.
He opened his mouth to speak but swallowed his words down hard. He blinked his glassy eyes and took in a deep breath.
"We have to find a boat," he mumbled after turning away from me.
"But...what about mama?" I asked, growing worried that we are not-
My hand clenched into tight fists and felt distress starting to rattle me. I sniffled, tears sliding down my face, "We cannot leave mama behind! We have to save her!"
Luka shushed me, trying to quiet me down so none of the bad pirates hear us.
"As much as I want to save her too...we cannot. I promised mama that you would be my top priority when in dangerous situations like this one...even if it means abandoning her," Luka told me, voice cracking a little at the end. I shook my head in denial.
"No! I am not leaving mama!" I declared in a loud whisper.
"Jewels, we have to get out of here before they find us," Luka said, sternly.
"Too late."
I jumped and scrambled closer to Luka. I twisted my head around to see our kidnapper, the sorcerer. He smirked. Luka pushed me protectively behind him and glared at the sorcerer.
"Well, what do we have here? A couple of breaker-outs," he said, chuckling.
Luka turned to me with a frantic look on his face.
"JULEKA, RUN!"
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I stared down at my shackled wrists and ankles, listening to them clank with my every movement. But I paid no attention to them. My mind was off in a different world.
Luka stood in front of me in a line with other people in tattered clothes or dresses, varying from old to young. There are a few males and a lot of females. Many are terrified—crying and stood with fear etched in their features. Some stood with neural looks on their faces, completely stricken of emotion.
My ears canceled out the yells of the first mate calling out bids to the wealthy class. The only time I snapped out of my stupor was when we moved forward, closer to the stage and where we would be sold for labor.
I jumped when hearing a gunshot then the sounds of clapping in the area. I grabbed onto Luka's shirt again, burying my head into his back. I felt him turn a bit and place a hand on my head.
"Move along!" one of the bad pirates yelled, making the line move forward. It took nearly an hour until Luka and I were on the stage. I looked out to the crowd, seeing all the rich wearing masks. This is an illegal auction.
The first mate went down the line, showing off potential candidates for fighters, servants, entertainers, or laborers.
"This little girl," the first mate introduced me, "is a young witch who can become any of the above choices you choose. She can bring honor to your family name and show off how powerful you truly are. It comes with a hefty price though."
The rich seemed skeptical about me. There are some problems with obtaining a witch or a wizard.
If the SSS found out a rich person is hoarding a witch, I would be killed and they would be arrested (bringing shame on their name). A magic user could betray them and would have no problem doing harm. Depending on who the rich class socializes with, it might be seen as disgusting since magic is illegal.
Plus, I am young. I could accidentally rein havoc upon the household. I am very inexperienced, after all.
"Sold to the renarde!" the first mate said.
My eyes landed on the female with her number raised. She is wearing a vixen mask over her face and a stunning yellow dress. She is the only brave soul to buy me.
"Sold to the renarde again!" the first mate called. I perked up, wondering who else she bought moments after me. My gaze shifts over to Luka, seeing a dumbfounded look wrinkling his features. He turned to me with amazement sparkling in his eyes.
I joyously smiled.
I thought this would be the last time I see my brother but I am somehow lucky enough to stay with him. Maybe, we could find a way to escape and find mama.
Our master stood from her seat, seeming to have all that she came for even though the auction was far from over. I found that quite strange.
"You two! Come along now!" one of the bad pirates ordered us, pushing us to move. Luka and I obediently walked over to our new master. Luka kept a straight face, keeping close to me.
"Here you go, Lady Renarde!" the pirate politely said, handing us over to Lady Renarde's guards.
"I am quite delighted. Guard, please give this man my full gratitude," the rich woman ordered. Her guard handed over three rather large bags brimming with coins. The pirate's eyes sparkled with happiness and greed.
"It has been a pleasure doing business with you," he said, not giving the woman any more attention.
"Come now, servants. It is time for us to return home," Lady Renarde commanded. Her guards "persuaded" us (pointed their weapons at our backs) to follow. We were soon sitting in a wagon with a tent drawn only over the wealthy woman.
Luka and I stayed silent, watching as she pulled her mask off.
She has auburn hair that stopped at her shoulders and a mixture of hazel-green coloring her eyes. Her skin is a beautiful tan tone, complementing her yellow dress.
She is a very pretty woman.
"My name is Dae Sphinx. I was told you both are newly recruited slaves but I do not want to treat you as so. I would like you to be much more," the woman explained.
"You will not be servants in the household but my lackeys outside it. You will go on jobs I assign you and just to make sure your plan of running away is inevitable..."
Dae reached into her bosom and pulled out two small pieces of paper. I raised my eyebrows at her method of storing things and blushed a little. That was...weird.
My uncomfortableness was immediately replaced once seeing the symbol on the papers. It is a spell but I am not familiar with what it can do. Yet, I was very appalled that she has magic spells. Did she buy them...or make them herself? Is she a human who learned to create magic with paper and ingredients? Or is she a witch?
"Guards, hold out their wrists," Dae commanded, standing from her seat. The guards walked over to me and my brother, forcing our wrists out on display. Dae placed the spell on our wrists.
Suddenly, it began to burn. I screamed in pain while Luka grunted. I tried to reach for the paper and tear it off my skin. Yet, the guard kept me from doing so. I started to cry, wanting this torture to end.
Finally, my wrist slowly cooled down with the mark from the paper now embedded on my wrist.
Dae smirked before returning to her seat. The guards let us go and stood back in their spots.
"Those marks are what will keep you in check. If you fall out of line, one snap of my finger and you will instantly die," Dae explained, "I am sure the young witchlet knows of this spell. Right, youngling?"
I shook my head, not wanting to talk to a monster like her.
"Oh dear," Dae was trying to sound empathetic but it turned out to be more fake, "I would have thought the child of an extraordinary wizard would know. I suppose the apple fell far from the tree."
I bowed my head, knowing she was right. I will never live up to my father's greatness. I am feeble and useless. I have only proven to be a weak link rather than a team player. Now, Luka and I are slaves and we have no idea what happened to mama.
All because I am worthless.
"You are wrong!"
I turned my head toward Luka in surprise when hearing him speak. He glared at Dae with fire in his eyes and gritted his teeth.
"She may still have an ocean of a journey between herself and her goal. But she will one day reach that land and be the next greatest magic user in the world," Luka spoke in a raw, genuine tone. A small smile spread on my face.
I should not be listening to a wealthy class woman whom I met minutes ago. I do not care about her or anyone else's opinion so long as my older brother believes in me. That is enough in my book.
Dae hummed, her smirk having not faded.
"I like your spirit," she complimented, "You will be an excellent asset. As for the young one, I want you to be my witch apprentice."
I scolded Dae. I would rather never be taught by a full-fledged witch or wizard than be under her wing. My father was the one who was supposed to teach me...but alas, those plans are no longer doable.
Of course, it is not like I have a choice in this either. Besides, Dae might treat us kinder than her other servants.
Dae returned it with a devious smile.
I could be wrong though.
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Five and a Half Years Later...
"Happy birthday, Jewels!" Luka congratulated me, "I cannot believe my baby sister is now thirteen years old! Where has time gone?"
Luka and I have been working under Dae ever since she bought us. Luka has gone on odd jobs while I stay inside the mansion to assist Dae with her magic. I have learned how to cast many spells and create potions just by watching from the sidelines.
Although I can say I improved, I still do not have a solution for getting our markings off our wrists. I learned that the magic she used is called "Blood Oath." A bonding spell that is used for loyalty in many cults or religions. If one leaves the group with that marking, or their leader dies, then they die.
There is a spell to get the marking off but I do not know it.
Luka lit a match he found while on a mission. He lit it up and placed it near my face.
"Make a wish," he said, earning a raised eyebrow from me.
"Do you not think I am getting a little old for this?" I asked. Luka chuckled, "You will never be too old in my book."
A soft smile adorned my lips. I closed my eyes and made a wish. Then, I blew out the small flame. I hope my wish comes true.
"What did you wish for, Jewels?" my fifteen-year-old sibling asked.
"Sorry, it would be unwise to tell or it might not come true," I replied.
"There you are, Lackey 2," the personal servant of Dae sighed in relief, "I was looking all over for you."
I frowned at the sight of his presence, knowing what it meant. Dae has requested to see Luka for another quest. Depending on how long the mission will take, who knows when he will return. It could be hours, days, or weeks. He was nearly gone for an entire month two different times. It is not like he has a choice though.
"Can it not wait a different day? I would like to be here to celebrate my sister's birthday," Luka requested. Dae's personal servant frowned upon the request.
"Lady Sphinx would not be pleased with your lack of cooperation, Lackey 2," he said, urging Luka to come along. My brother sighed. I placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Do not worry, brother. I understand," I reassured him. Luka gave me a sorrowful and guilty look.
"I will bring you a gift to make up for this unfortunate circumstance," he declared. I was about to say he did not have to but my brother and the servant were gone in a flash of light.
A teleportation spell.
I left the area and went to start my daily chores for the day. I was barely an hour in and cleaning Dae's secret sorceress's room. It is next to Lady Sphinx's office. I heard a lot of clattering and shattering next door, wondering what in all of Paris is going on in there.
"I probably should go in there and clean the mess since I am the closest servant," I thought, bitterly grabbing a broom and dustpan. I made my way out of the secret room and stood outside of Dae's office. I softly knocked.
"Lady Sphinx, may I enter?" I asked for permission. No answer. I narrowed my eyes suspiciously before opening the door a smidge. My head poked in, about to make my presence known until seeing the scene before me.
Dae had a maniac smile spread from cheek to cheek. Her eyes were full of sick joy as she stared down at my brother, five daggers penetrating his abdomen.
A large puddle of blood continues to grow and grow and grow vaster around his body. His shaky, ragged gasps slowly drowned out and replaced with more of the crimson liquid spilling over his lips. His dull gaze stared at the ceiling, gradually going deeper into the fog of death.
My body trembled in place, stiff and unmoving. It is like the entire building crumbled upon me and buried me alive to live in a world of torment.
The only family—only person—I have left in my life is dying on the floor a few feet away.
I could not save father from his death, our ship from raiding pirates, and now, I could not protect my own brother from his awaiting death. He is all I have left in this world...and I did nothing to protect him.
My veins begin to burn as a shockwave of rage shoots throughout my body. My hands clench into tight fists, feeling my mana starting to boil over. My magic power increasing tenfold.
Before I blacked out, I remember charging straight at Dae with flaming fists.
When I awoke on the floor, I looked around Dae's destroyed office with hazy memory. That is until I spotted Luka. A bit of my memory returned, quickly crawling over to him. I searched the room for Dae but saw that she has disappeared.
"Luka," I called out desperately, "Please, open your eyes. I...I do not want to be alone. You...You have to be okay. You have so much of your life to live! Luka...brother..." I said, voice cracking.
I tried to nudge him awake but it does not work. His chest has stopped going up and down. There is no sign of life in his eyes.
He is dead.
He is gone.
I wanted to wail my heart out but I heard the sounds of people coming closer.
I wish I could bring him with me to give him a proper burial but I am not strong enough. I can feel my magic has nearly depleted nor do I have a lot of energy to carry him.
I looked at Luka, trying to memorize his face knowing this will be the last time I see it. I cupped his cheek, mindlessly rubbing circles on it. Tears run down my cheeks and occasionally sniffle from my runny nose.
"I am sorry, brother. I was not strong enough to protect you. I hope you can forgive me but I must go," I informed, "Farewell, and I love you."
I shot up to my feet and sprinted toward the window. I have to survive for him. He would want me to keep going on.
"That murdering witch is in there!" I heard Dae dramatically call out. She truly is vile. I opened the large window and jumped out just in the nick of time. The doors burst open just as I escaped.
I used the floating spell on myself, safely landing on the gravel.
For a moment, I wondered why I have not died yet and looked at my wrist. The mark is gone. It is no wonder Dae has not kill me with the snap on of her fingers. She no longer has control over me...but how?
With all that heat built up in my body, it could have been burned up. Possibly. That is the only explanation I can think of.
"She went out the window!" a male's voice called out.
I quickly placed a camouflage spell over me before running deeper into the city streets of Paris.
"Well, it looks like my birthday wish came true..." I thought, regretfully, "It looks like we are both free from our enslavement, Luka."
I wish I could take it back, even if we still were under Dae's control.
At least, my brother would still be alive.
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