"Make sure you grab that one as well. I don't want any of them sneaking through the cracks."

"My liege-"

"No, I want to hear nothing of your complaints nor your doubts. I only want you to follow my direct orders and disappear before they return. If they ever find out that you were here, they would follow the trail back to me. And if my plans are to succeed we can't have that now can we?"

Instead of responding, the tall male bowed his head and proceeded to scoop up the wailing bundle in the corner. After a few cooing sounds mixed with a soft rocking motion, the child ceased its wails gurgling happily towards its captor. It wasn't old enough yet to know the difference between a stranger and its parent, but in this man's arms it felt safe. Small fingers made to grasp the beard curling over its face, but the man quickly wrapped those arms in another blanket on top of the first one. It was cold outside and despite the fact that this child's fate was already decided, he at least wanted it to be warm along the way.

"Now get out and make sure the other body was disposed of far away from here. Also, check with the others to make sure they succeeded in taking the other five. If they haven't been born yet, instruct them to wait. There will be no chances this night."

"I promise everything will go according to your plans. This child is only part one."

"Thank you Lowell. I knew everything can be entrusted to you. You have always been my most trusted servant and you know that once this kingdom is mine, you will be well rewarded."

"Yes my liege."

Lowell bowed once more before taking his leave. When he glanced down at the babe he was surprised to find that it had already fallen asleep in his arms so trustingly. Its little fists had pulled a corner of the blanket towards its mouth and drool leaked down the babe's cheek. He couldn't see what color its eyes were and he assumed they were a beautiful blue, but that didn't matter. This babe was to be in his care for only a short time. After that Eli would take over. At least he wouldn't have to watch.

Down the corridor he could hear footsteps echoing off of the stone walls and he knew it would only be a matter of time before they returned to this room. He was the last one to leave after having instructed the others to wait for the right moment to take the other five without being caught. Once the bundles were gathered, they would be taken far away from here and disposed of. It was easier to think of each of them as a bundle instead of a new life that has barely begun. If he began thinking of them as anything else, he would regret taking this job. In his line of work there was no room for regret. Inching down a side corridor, Lowell slipped into a shadowy niche as two servants hurried past. Neither of them looked his way nor did they notice when he slipped out of the shadows to press a small stone just below the painting of the countryside on the north end of the kingdom. The artist had painted the land before sunset and if Lowell had time, he would have paused to admire the skill with which the artist possessed. There were other paintings like it, but this one, Lowell had to admit, was his favorite. The stone wall upon which the painting was hung slowly swung inwards and before anyone could see, Lowell slipped into the awaiting shadows shutting the wall as a heart wrenching wail echoed through the halls. The babe had been discovered missing. Lowell closed his eyes against the urge to return with the child, but he had already come this far. There was no going back.

Without lighting the torch in the bracket nearest him, Lowell made his way down the corridor in the darkness. There were cracks large enough in the walls of the corridor that would give light the chance it needed to filter through. He wanted to get in and get out without unnecessary attention. Some of the servants were as dumb as rocks, but there were a few that Lowell felt threatened by. One of them almost caught him the first time he was scouting outside the first wall last week. As for why a servant was doing so far away from his comfort area was another mystery altogether that Lowell decided to save for another day. Once this job was finished, he would return to that one. Lowell allowed his feet to guide him through the darkness having memorized every nook and cranny of this passageway long ago. It was a passageway he had known about since he was a young child. He took advantage of that knowledge now. Keeping his ears peeled for any suspicious sounds, Lowell kept track of the movement of the servants and the guards happening outside of the walls. There was shouting in the distance and sobs echoed off of the walls. The babe hadn't been found and news was beginning to travel. By morning, everyone would know about the disappearances. Lowell ignored the pang of guilt splitting through his chest as he came to the end of the corridor and the bag full of gold in his pocket reminded him why he was here. Coming upon the exit doorway he paused listening for any sounds on the other side, but he heard nothing except for the whicker of horses. The majority of the guards had been called inside to search and attempt to keep the event quiet. Not likely. Servants talked and Lowell expected to hear the news of this evening's event in town the next morning.

Lowell searched the length of the wall for the loose stone near the bottom right pulling on it when his fingers grazed the smooth corners. Like the first door this one swung inwards revealing the empty field beyond. The wind stabbed into Lowell through the opening causing his body to shiver in reaction under the relentless barrage. Winter was close and already it was colder than it was this time last year. This winter was going to be rough and Lowell predicted that few would survive its chill. In his arms the child began to fidget uncomfortably as the cold seeped into the blankets biting into its skin. A few moments more and it would begin to wail. Lowell tightened the blankets around the babe as he hurried over to the only horse waiting near the wall. Two more blankets found the babe sufficiently warmed to its core and once again falling asleep in the arms of its captor. Lowell switched the babe from his right arm to his left and with a slight shift of his shoulder, his cloak fell farther over his left side covering the babe and cutting it off from the wind. Lowell proceeded to check the two packs tied to the sides of the horse making sure no one had been snooping around while he had been away. Nothing appeared to be out of place, but he had to move quickly. The guards had left this post momentarily, but Lowell couldn't predict when they would return.

"Who goes there?"

Lowell froze mid motion when he heard the voice cry out. Someone had returned sooner than he had expected. Glancing behind him, Lowell found three guards approaching from around the west wall with their swords drawn. No one followed them and Lowell hoped this would be the only obstacle he would have to face this night. Keeping half of his cloak over the babe, Lowell turned with his right arm raised in surrender. "A messenger sent from the Duke of Easthaven," Lowell responded lowering his voice purposely. If he could, he was going to at least try to leave without any blood on his hands.

"Where are your papers? Hold up your left hand."

"I left my papers back in Easthaven. I left in a rush and forgot to grab them. As for my left hand, it was horribly disfigured and scarred in a fight with bandits last spring. I do not have full mobility of it."

"I don't care. Let us see this disfigurement," the middle guard commanded as he advanced on Lowell with his sword dangling easily in his right hand. Lowell knew that stance. Should he make any movement to the left or right, that sword would be there blocking him. Moving to shift his cloak, Lowell grabbed the dagger tethered to the top of his left arm instead. Without warning he flung the blade sticking it in the throat of the center guard. The guard on the right was the one who reacted first. Charging Lowell, he swung downwards with his sword, but was surprised to find a long knife barring his blade. He hadn't even seen Lowell draw it from wherever it came from. Lowell blocked the guard's strike deflecting it to his right and slammed his foot into the side of the man's kneecap. A sickening crunch followed and the guard went down with a painful cry. The third guard came in from Lowell's left with and upsweep that Lowell dodged by stepping backwards waiting to make his move. The guard slashed towards Lowell's torso forgetting to keep his guard up on his left side. Blocking the blade with his knife, Lowell kicked the guard below his ribs on the left sending him teetering to the right. When the guard recovered and came at him again, Lowell dodged the first swing to get in under his guard before he shoved his blade up and under the guard's armor and into the man's chest. Everything seemed to slow down as the guard realized that this fight was over and he had lost. His sword fell to the ground with a dull thud before he soon followed dead before his head hit the grass. The movement shifted Lowell's cloak to the side revealing the babe to the wind and as soon as the breeze grazed over the babe's exposed face it began to wail. The guard whose knee was bent at an odd angle had been trying to crawl away, but when he heard the child he stopped to gaze at the man who they had been looking for.

"You."

"Yes me. And you won't live to tell about it unfortunately."

The guard tried to protest, but Lowell was already behind him with his right hand under his chin snapping it hard to the right. When he heard the crack signifying the death of the last guard, Lowell turned his attentions to the wailing babe. It only took a few shushing sounds and for Lowell to cover the babe back up for it to quiet again and fall back asleep. Lowell's hazel eyes surveyed the wall again making sure that the three guards lying dead at his feet were the only ones to notice he was the one with the child. Silence surrounded Lowell once again and it wasn't until a few moments had passed did he feel safe enough to proceed taking his leave. Gracefully, he pulled himself onto his horse without once jostling the child before he nudged the horse into an easy canter away from the wall. He kept his eyes and ears peeled expecting more obstacles along the way to his destination. The farther he got away from the outer wall, the more he expected to hear someone calling for him to return or to halt. Nothing happened. It wasn't until he breached the forest did he let himself relax and allow the remaining tension to flow out of his person. The guards would not venture into the forest at night for fear of what might be waiting for them and their master would not command them too. More than enough people had died in the past few months to warn them away. In the morning their search would continue and by then Lowell planned on being long gone.

Parting the mane on his horse, Lowell revealed the charmed chain encircling the beast's neck and with a gentle touch near one of the charms on the top, it began to glow illuminating the path before him while keeping any dark or stray creatures at bay. The soft light would not be seen from the castle through the denseness of the treetops and even if someone espied it, they would think it a crazy person entering the forest on a dare or whatnot. Either way it would be something they wouldn't concern themselves with.

When a piercing whistle split through the night, Lowell knew that the rest of his comrades had succeeded with their part of the mission and were waiting for him up ahead. It wasn't long before Lowell could hear the whicker of other horses mingled in with the quiet murmuring of the rest of the men. Breaking through the last layer of foliage, Lowell found himself in the same clearing he had met with the four men before him three nights ago. The same glow that illuminated Lowell and his horse surrounded the other four men and in each of their arms lay bundles mirroring Lowell's own. Two were squirming while the others rested peacefully as Lowell's did.

"Eli, Kosan, Pierce, Connor," Lowell murmured in greeting.

"Took you long enough Lowell," the man known as Kosan responded with a chuckle. He was a burly guy with rippling muscles from head to toe. Kosan was the type of man who took pride in his muscles and would take the time to show them off if he could. His child was one of the ones that was squirming in his grasp, but had yet to set to wailing. "Did your babe give you trouble? This one won't settle down no matter what I do. I tried bouncing it and rocking the thing, but nothing. I'm just glad it hasn't started cattle walling for its mama yet."

It was Lowell's turn to laugh. "It takes a gentle person to control a babe and you Kosan are not that." The other men chuckled quietly. The last time Kosan had tried to be gentle with someone; he had crushed their skull. He claimed it was an accident, but Lowell had his doubts. Sometimes the man didn't know his own strength and Lowell believed he didn't care to keep it in check.

"Hey Pierce, do you remember that time Kosan yanked a man from his horse and almost yanked his body from his leg because it got caught in the stirrup and the horse was trying to bolt at the same time?" The man called Connor exclaimed to his friend who grinned at the memory. "Didn't that day end with him face down in the gutter because he drank too much in the tavern that night with the same man he yanked from the horse? And didn't that man steal your money Kosan?" Pierce asked.

"Enough you two. We can reminisce later once this job is done. Now give me the children so we can spend the remaining of the evening at the tavern drinking away our lives," Eli commanded alighting from his horse with two children already in his arms. They were sleeping peacefully as he nestled them both in one crook of his arm and took the squirming child from Kosan into the nook of his other. Giving Pierce a look, he indicated that the man get the remaining babes before he disappeared from the clearing heading north into the forest. Eli was the one in the group without a soul. He could kill anything and everything that stood in his path without flinching. It was why he had volunteered to take care of the job in the first place. He knew the others would hesitate. When Pierce came to collect the babe from Lowell's arms, Lowell was surprised to find it was hard for him to hand the child over to his friend.

"Come on Lowell, you know the job and none of us can afford to disobey," Pierce said gently with Connors kid and his own already nestled in the crook of his left arm. Lowell handed over his charge and Pierce nestled the babe in his other arm. His charge was already awake and staring up at Lowell and Pierce with stormy blue eyes, but it didn't make a fuss over what was going on. Pierce had three kids at home already and one on the way; he knew how to handle children. Lowell remained silent watching his comrade disappear deeper into the forest following Eli. He knew it had to be done as well as everyone else. If it wasn't, their lie would easily be found out and they had their own lives to think about. Pierce had a family and Connor was thinking about starting one of their own. What did it matter they were sacrificing six children along the way? They had sacrificed so many other lives. True none of them had been younger than twenty, but again it was either them or the babes and if they didn't do it someone else would.

It took Pierce about five minutes to find Eli. His friend had gone deeper into the forest than Pierce had expected and when he came upon him, he was withdrawing his blade from the last child in his bunch and rolled it off to the side. None of the bundles cried or squirmed. All of them were dead as instructed and now it was time for the next group. Gently, Pierce laid the three babes in his arms on the ground for Eli to handle while he began digging a small grave. They at least deserved that. Connor was the youngest of the bunch whereas Pierce was the oldest. Before his wife had been pregnant with their first child, he had had to bury two more before that; stillborn. This was something he should be used too, but as Pierce gently laid each bundle in their grave he couldn't help the tears trek down his dirt stained face and into his cleanly cropped beard. It was a hard world they lived in and Pierce believed he knew that better than anyone. Behind him, he heard the swing of the sword one more time before it stopped. Believing Eli was having trouble with the last two children, Pierce turned around to find his comrade frozen in place gazing down at them. His sword was raised above his head, but something held him there.

"Eli?"

Eli didn't answer and when Pierce came around to his friend, he saw that Eli's normally dark brown eyes were slowly fading to black. Pierce couldn't see the whites of his eyes anymore. Eli's mouth moved up and down soundlessly pleading for help and it wasn't until Eli's face began to change colors that Pierce realized the man couldn't breathe. Partly afraid to touch his friend, Pierce grabbed his arm and shook, but nothing happened and still Eli's face faded to a deeper shade of purple with every second. Wrapping his arms around Eli, Pierce wrenched his friend from where he was standing and threw him to the ground. It was then that Eli began to choke and cough and gasp for air again. "What the hell Eli?" Pierce asked adding on a few curses that would make his mother turn in her grave as he stood drawing his own blade out of fear. The only thing Eli could do was shake his head and point. Pierce turned back towards the children, but only found the babes lying on the ground squirming in their blankets. There was nothing near the children and none of the trees nearby rustled with movement. After having surveyed the foliage for the third time, Pierce was convinced that whatever had done that to Pierce was either gone or waiting, but why would it wait?

"Eli are you-"

"I'm fine. Just kill them," Eli rasped. Pierce frowned, but his friend wasn't moving from where he lay sprawled on the ground. Picking up Eli's blade, Pierce sheathed his own made his way over to the children trying not to think too hard about what he was about to do. Lifting the sword high above his head, he turned away from them deciding to get this down in one swing. He swung downwards and stopped. Surprised, Pierce turned to find his hand was frozen midair and no matter how hard he pushed it wouldn't budge. When he glanced down at the children, he gasped at the startling brightness in one set of eyes that captivated him. Those sparkling orbs never settled on one color and instead continued changing from blue to purple to pink to hazel and back again. At first he believed the child was the one behind it, but when the babe began to gurgle happily and twist in its blankets towards its companion who was thrashing its tiny fists, Pierce began to think otherwise. Something else was at work here. Pierce tried to call for Eli's help, but no sound came out. It wouldn't have done much good because as he tried again a strange bubbling feeling began in the pit of his stomach. It felt as if a fire was starting and continued to grow until each of his limbs were burning and tingling at the same time. Pierce turned towards Eli one last time pleading for his help before he simply disintegrated into the wind.

"PIERCE!" Eli cried hoarsely, but Pierce was gone. His clothing had disintegrated along with him leaving his sword and belt the only things left that fell into the grass with a dull thud. Eli's call brought the other three men running.

"Eli what is it?" Connor asked bending by his friend's side who shoved him off. "Where's Pierce?" he added.

Eli only shook his head and pointed towards the sword lying on the ground near the children who had rolled towards one another and were gurgling at each other curiously. Lowell followed Eli's gaze and picked up the sword watching as dust? fell off of the blade. Grabbing a handful, Lowell looked at Eli as he let it slide through his fingers. "Pierce?" he asked questioningly and when Eli nodded Lowell released the rest of the dust suddenly finding it hard to swallow. "What happened?"

Eli shook his head swallowing past the lump in his throat. "I don't know. I tried and he tried and suddenly he wasn't there anymore," he whispered.

"Is it the children?" Connor asked.

"Can't be. None of them had any magic or shape shifting blood in their veins. Their genealogies were human. I checked," Kosan grumbled out nervously drawing his own blade and turned to survey the edges of the clearing.

"Explain everything fully Elijah," Lowell commanded strictly. None of the men approached the children wary of everything in this forest. True they left their charms behind, but the magic should be able to protect them within a half mile radius on all sides.

"The first four kills went smoothly. I tried to kill the next one and something took a hold of me. I couldn't control my actions and before I could call out for Pierce to help me something began choking me and then I went blind. I don't know how long I stood there like that and I was sure I was going to die, but then Pierce tackled me to the ground and whatever it was left and I could breathe and see again. Pierce tried to kill the babes and he froze as I did. He tried to call out to me, but couldn't talk either. I was getting up to shake him out of it like he had done to me and he went… poof. It was like he combusted from the inside out slowly until his body couldn't take it and just disintegrated which is when I hollered and you came running. Jesus. I've never seen anything like it. What are we going to tell Elena?" Eli asked dragging himself to his feet refusing Connors help.

"We will deal with that when we return home. Finish the babes off while whatever it was that killed Pierce is gone and then we should leave as well," Lowell said. Kosan nodded and advanced on the babes, but he never got far. Two steps in and he froze. Eli moved towards him thinking it was the invisible force again, but shakily Kosan nodded his head towards the other end of the clearing behind the two children that were completely oblivious to everything going on around them. Eli, Lowell, and Connor followed Kosan's gaze and gaped at the beast emerging from in between the trees. The creature was the size of a bear covered in a thin layer of sleek black fur. It's snout was longer than the normal mammals and when it opened its mouth to growl there were two different sets of teeth shifting around its forked tongue. Instead of four legs, the creature had six and a barbed tail that whipped back and forth lazily. Easily, the creature breached the magic charms each of the men had brought with them and began circling around the group as if it had all of the time in the world. Its beady eyes shifted from one man to the other watching as each of them lifted their swords in defense. Fools. None of them knew what they were up against and would have been safer if they hadn't come to this sacred place. With a speed that surprised everyone, the beast leapt over Lowell and took a swipe at Connor throwing him into the nearest tree before disappearing into the trees.

"Check Connor and circle up. Form it around the children," Lowell ordered.

"Forget them. Our job was to kill them and get it over with. I say we let this beast finish the job and leave with our lives while we still can," Eli exclaimed backing into the small group while Kosan checked on Connor. It was clear by the grim expression on the big man's face that the kid hadn't made it. Lowell scowled at Eli knowing he was right, but a part of him couldn't do it. He didn't say that aloud though. If they made it through this, word would get out. Kosan returned to the other two placing his back to them as well and drew out another blade hidden down his spine. They were grouped around the two children despite Eli's protests and waited. The clearing grew quiet before the beast attacked again. When it rushed the group, Eli charged back.

"Eli wait!" Lowell called out, but it was too late. Engaging the beast, Eli struck its chest with its sword and was surprised to find how easily his sword sank into its skin, but no blood spurted out.

"What?" Eli gasped out before he found himself face to face with the beast.

'I am not like you human.' The beast's deep gravelly voice echoed around the clearing clear enough for all to hear before it opened its mouth to eat Eli. Eli darted away from its teeth, but not fast enough. The teeth clamped on his right arm tearing it from his socket before it darted away again into the trees leaving the screaming Eli behind. Lowell rushed to his Eli's side where he was kneeling on the ground gasping for air as he was going into shock.

"Damn it Eli. I told you to wait," Lowell growled out dragging Eli to his feet and pulling him back towards where Kosan waited with both of his blades watching the trees for any movement. Lowell had just begun ripping pieces of his shirt when the beast attacked again, but Kosan fended it off with a flurry of attacks before forcing the beast to retreat back into the trees. It gave Lowell enough time to tie off the scrap of cloth around Eli's shoulder. Hopefully, that would be enough to stop the blood, but Eli was no use to them now.

Lowell stood putting his back to Kosan lifting his own broadsword. "Where do you think it will come from next Kosan?"

"Your side. Attack it hard and fast. It can't turn as quickly to the left. Take advantage of that. It follows a pattern and if I'm right you can distract it while I move Eli back towards the horses. Maybe we need to be closer to the horses to fend off the creature. The creature will probably dart off like it did with me and that is when you should run."

Kosan had just finished talking when the beast leapt out of the trees in front of Lowell as Kosan had predicted. Lowell charged it hard and fast aiming for its left side. For a moment the creature considered Lowell, but unlike the others continued darting out of the way of Lowell's attacks until it leapt over Lowell and charged Kosan.

"Kosan!"

The burly man had pulled Eli's arm over his shoulder when the beast wrapped its jaws around Kosan's side and carried the screaming man into the darkness. What the hell had just happened? Seconds later, Kosan's screams stopped abruptly and Lowell knew he was dead. He returned to Eli's side checking on the man before lifting him the same way Kosan had done with his arm wrapped around his neck and began inching his way back towards the horses. He had made it four steps when the creature stalked out of the trees in front of him chuckling.

'Silly human.'

"Why are you doing this?"

'There are black hearts here.'

"What do you mean?"

'You are lucky human. I am not here for you this night. I am only here for the one in your arms.'

"I won't hand him over," Lowell stated fiercely taking a step backward for each one the creature took forward.

'You have no choice human. One way or another I will get him. Your charms will not stop me no matter how close they are to you.'

"Why? Aren't you a creature of this forest?" Lowell asked.

'Yes and no. Now give me the human. He deserves this fate.'

Lowell took another step backwards only to find that he had been backed up against a tree. With Eli's weight hanging onto him he couldn't go anywhere quickly and with the way he saw this creature move, he knew it wouldn't matter.

'In time you will understand human.'

Lowell felt Eli's weight slowly lift off of his shoulders and he knew he should protest, but what else could he do?

'Take care of them.'

With those parting words, the beast disappeared into the darkness taking the partially conscious Eli with him. Lowell tried to listen for the creature again, but he heard nothing. Eli never called out once and none of the others came stumbling back into the clearing having miraculously escaped. He was alone. When Lowell glanced at the two children his brows furrowed in confusion when he realized that, through all of this, the babes were unharmed. They were still bubbling happily in the middle of the clearing as if they didn't have a care in the world. Lowell slumped to his knees as the full force of what happened hit him in the face. His four closest friends were dead and some beast had prevented them from killing the last two children for reasons left unsaid. If he returned, his own life was forfeit if he was found out. What was he to do now? How was any of this possible? It didn't take long for the babes to begin wailing into the night anxious for some human interaction that didn't come for some time. Lowell was still trying to piece things together. What was he to do now?

2: Chapter 1

A small dark shape darted across the street hurriedly before anyone could see disappearing into the side alley. The sun had yet to rise and it was likely that the precautions being taken were unnecessary, but when the entire village feared your presence the precautions were needed. Clear violet eyes peered from beneath the hood of the cloak covering the delicate frame to peer back into the streets from whence the figure had come, but the only person about was the baker stoking his ovens in preparation for the day. In the distance, those same clear eyes focused on the looming towers one village over waiting to greet the day. The kingdom was far enough for the threat to be slim, but still close enough that the architectural beauty of the castle could be admired. A flock of sparrows took flight in the distance reminding the small figure what this morning was about. Sneaking farther down the alley, the same precautions were taken as the cloaked head peered out into the next street over making sure that no one was around. When the streets were sure to be deserted for a bit, the small figure darted towards one of the shops near the outer edge of the village and slipped inside quietly. The apothecary shop was the only shop that remained open at all hours of the day. The store was stacked top to bottom with jars filled to the brim with strange substances. Some of them moved when the small figure moved past while others remained as dead as they were when they were put inside their eternal prisons.

At the front desk, a small tan hand slipped from beneath the cloak gripping the small bell and rang it once. Immediately, the curtains separating the front of the store from the back parted revealing a woman in her early forties. Strands of rich gold hair curled about her heart shaped face while the rest of it was piled high atop her head. Glittering emerald eyes surveyed the customer standing before her counter so early in the morning, but when she heard the familiar tinkle of the bell she knew who it was.

“What will it be today darling?”

Mistress Elena was one of the few who did not fear the person standing before her. It wasn’t the child’s fault for what its parent had done when it was young. She never saw the point in punishing it for another’s mistake. Elena leaned on the counter casually waiting for an answer knowing she would get one eventually despite the fact this one preferred to remain silent.

“Hawthorne if you please ma’am.”

Withdrawing the hood from her head Eileithy blinked up into the kind eyes of the woman before her, but still she did not smile. It had been some time before she had a reason too. Beneath the cloak, Elena saw that the girl’s dark hair had been pulled back and braided half way down her back in a fishtail braid. Her face was dark from the sun, even darker than Elena’s own, and Elena knew that if she were to grasp one of those hands she would find rough calluses underneath. This child worked hard for her keep despite the odd color of her eyes.

“As you wish child,” Elena said with a small smile still trying to coax something out of the girl. Eileithy didn’t flinch and instead laid the appropriate amount of coins on top of the counter before turning to peruse through the other strange things about the shop. Elena had just turned her back when she heard a muttered grumble behind her.

“I am no child.”

Elena disappeared into the back room laughing under her breath. Despite anything else that could be said about the girl, no one could call her docile or tame. Eileithy turned away from the counter to continue examining the other specimens in the shop. This wasn’t her first time here, but every time she was able to find something new and interesting to occupy her time while she waited. Near the far corner to her left, a round spiky ball like creature bobbed up and down in a jar filled with something Eileithy was certain it wasn’t water. Edging closer, Eileithy cocked her head to the side curiously watching the ball for a moment before with a start she realized it was staring back at her. It had one eye on its side that blended in with its sunburn orange coloring and Eileithy wouldn’t have noticed it if the thing hadn’t blinked. What was it?

“Don’t touch that dear. It’s a nasty little beast I had ordered for another customer. They want the acid the creature secretes when frightened. As for why, I never ask,” Elena said with a shake of her head coming back through the curtains with a small jar filled with the herb that Eileithy had requested. “Here is your Hawthorne. Tell Yelinna I said hi?”

“Always,” Eileithy murmured grabbing the jar and pulling the hood of her cloak back up and over her head before she left the shop with the jar clutched to her chest.  Looking both ways down the street, she was pleased to find that the streets were still sort of deserted. A few people were up and about, but they were too busy with their own affairs to notice her presence. This was usually how every morning started if Yelinna wanted something. Eileithy would try to run the woman’s errands the night before, but Elena had her own family to attend too. While she rose early to open the shop, she also closed early as well. If Yelinna didn’t want anything, Eileithy went out of her way to avoid the people of this village. It was easier for everyone if she did. A few turned their heads when she was near while others taunted and mocked her for what she was. Neither of that was compared to the ones who feared her outright. Everywhere she went mothers pulled their children out of her way and warned them away from her. Husbands tried to shield their wives from her not even knowing if that would do them any good. Still they tried. Friends were something Eileithy never had and even she had to admit it was for the best. Those she got close too, she hurt. Turning around another street corner, Eileithy forgot to watch where she was going when she bumped into the hard backside of a tall man sending her stumbling backwards. A large hand reached out to grab her right arm steadying her and when Eileithy glanced up into the smiling face of the man she watched the transformation take place when he realized who he had just helped. He wrenched his hand from her arm as if he had just been burned and took a step back, the disgust clear on his face.

“What are you doing here freak? Have you come to finally kill us all?”

Eileithy bowed her head taking another defensive step backwards hiding the way she flinched under his biting words.

“I have errands like everyone else,” Eileithy muttered bitterly.

“For that old hag you mean,” the man scoffed. The change in Eileithy was swift. Rushing the man she stopped inches from his body rising off of the ground until she was eye to eye with him on an even level; her violet eyes blazing fiercely. “You may insult me all you like, but if you ever talk badly of Yelinna again, I will personally rip out your tongue, use it in a potion and continuously torture you until you attempt to beg for mercy. For which, I will have none. Understood?” Eileithy asked softly. Her voice never rose above a harsh whisper, but the threat was evident in her tone and by the fear flickering through the man’s eyes she knew he recognized it. It did help that she was now levitating off of the ground to come face to face with him. When he nodded quickly, she continued to examine his facial features pretending that she had control over what was happening right now. Honestly, she couldn’t tell if she would ever sink back to the ground again. Thankfully, as her anger died as quickly as it had come, she slowly dropped to the ground where was now face to face with the man’s chest as before.

“Good day,” Eileithy murmured politely stepping around him and continuing on her way.

“Cursed bitch.”

Eileithy stilled for a moment, but after a quick breath forced herself to continue walking. She knew that everything she had said to that man was an empty threat. Her heart would never allow her to go through with something so terrible. The guilt and regret would kill her first. Yelinna on the other hand was a different story. When Eileithy exited the village she continued walking until she entered the forest. Thankfully, she didn’t encounter anyone else on her way out and the remainder of her journey was one of silence and paranoia. When her anger sparked, something more usually happened than just a simple levitation. Three steps into the forest it happened. The tree next to her exploded. Eileithy never jumped, but instead she stared as the flames licked up the sides of the tree trunk while the smoke from the burning wood floated higher and higher. No one would come running to help. This forest was believed to be haunted or at least just as cursed as she was. An exhausted sigh escaped through Eileithy’s lips as she proceeded to set her jar down on the forest floor and journey to the nearby river. It took her a moment to find the right tree, but once she did she withdrew three buckets from the tree branches. Scattered about this forest were more buckets similar to these because this wasn’t the first time she blew up a tree. This was more like the fiftieth maybe? Fifty first? She lost count. An hour later found the burning tree smoldering and Eileithy continuing on her journey deeper into the forest.

Once upon a time, Yelinna used to live near the edge of Sarin village. She made a living assisting Elena collect herbs from the forest. Eileithy still had yet to find out what happened to her family, but whatever it was it happened a long time ago. Yelinna only said that she was the only one left and she was happy. She was one of the few who volunteered to venture into the forest to help find some of the more elusive herbs. The creatures of the forest respected her because she respected them in return where others showed fear and ran. The people of the village respected Yelinna for what she did to help Elena. On multiple occasions when illness hit, both women saved many lives. They acted as midwives as well and had a skill when dealing with physical injuries. Things were going well for them both until Yelinna began showing signs of a seer. It happened when she was sewing a child’s knee shut after the boy had fallen out of a tree. She saw him playing near the forest with a few friends when something dark lashed out of the trees dragging the child into the shadows. Yelinna tried to warn the mother, but a month later when Yelinna learned that the child was missing she knew that her warning had gone unheard. After that the visions came every time she touched someone. Sometimes they were small and unimportant and other times they were life changing. At first when Yelinna told the people about her gift they accepted her. All they saw was the same woman that had saved so many lives earning a gift that would help save many more. With time, things changed. It started when Yelinna foresaw a future for the butcher that he didn’t like. He was going to lose his left leg in a fight with a boar the next time he went hunting. Despite Yelinna’s warning, the man still went hunting the next weekend and returned with both legs intact. The rumors began. Eventually the rumors began to affect Elena’s business and despite her expertise along with Yelinna’s, the villagers began buying herbs less and less. They preferred to buy from caravans traveling through. Elena’s business came close to going out of business when Yelinna left. Without conferring with Elena she disappeared and moved into the forest that the villagers feared. It was the only place left for her to go. Some villagers still visited her under the cover of darkness for a reading on their future, but they would never tell anyone the truth about where they were that night when confronted. Yelinna had become an outcast and was shunned even further when she took Eileithy under her wing as an apprentice.

Coming to the major fork in the road, Eileithy peered up at the two signs nailed to the wide oak the separated the two paths. One had danger painted on it and the other had witch. Eileithy scowled at the second sign withdrawing one of the long swords sheathed down her spine. With a clean strike, she hacked the sign off of the tree trunk before continuing on the right path and sheathing her sword again. People were immature. It didn’t take long for the path to open up into a large clearing that Yelinna had cleared out when she first moved here. In the center of the clearing a small wooden hut stood tall and proud with smoke lazily filtering its way out of the chimney in the roof. Yelinna was awake. Without bothering to knock, Eileithy walked in the front door and immediately ducked when a jar flew over her head shattering on porch outside; another mess to clean up later.

“Yelinna, it’s me!” Eileithy called out casually shutting the front door behind her. Every time the door opened, Yelinna always feared it was an intruder so early in the morning. None of her clients, that had remained loyal to her, ever showed up this early. Eileithy was now standing in an open living room of sorts separated from the kitchen by a doorway where Yelinna had hung a curtain. It was from behind that curtain that the jar originated from. In Eileithy’s opinion neither was really a living room nor a kitchen, but the way Eileithy saw it, the living room was for guests who wanted their palms read while the kitchen was for potion making. It was hard to do both in the same place when they were happening at the same time. Some of the things that Yelinna stirred in her cauldrons had the habit of creating nauseating smells.

“Where have you been child? Did you get my Hawthorne?”

Once a light soprano, Yelinna’s voice had deepened with age and taken on a sort of gravelly tone. Like her voice, her face had aged as well, but still held a bit of a gentle and lovely quality to it. Yelinna once claimed to Eileithy that her hair used to be darker than her own when she was young, but no matter how hard Eileithy looked all she could see was the thick white mass floating down Yelinna’s back. If it had once been as dark as the seer claimed, that had been years and years ago.

Slipping off her boots by the door, Eileithy maneuvered her way through the clutters of junk that had gathered through the years and into the kitchen. Yelinna was hunched over the fireplace when Eileithy walked in and gently set the jar of Hawthorne on the table that was slightly off center in the middle of the room. “Yes I got your Hawthorne. What is it for? Are you going to hex that woman’s husband like she asked you too? Or perhaps punish the butcher for calling you a haggish toad last week?”

“I am not a witch Eileithy. I am a seer. I do not curse the people of Karii village; I heal them should they need it.”

“Well that’s no fun,” Eileithy grumbled dropping her chin into the palm of her right hand as she leaned on the table watching Yelinna’s backside. Another jar flew at Eileithy’s head, but prepared for it, the girl caught the jar and settled it gently on the table before her.

“You’re getting quick.”

Eileithy rolled her eyes. The old woman hadn’t even bothered turning around. Instead she grabbed a ladle hanging on the wall nearest her and began stirring whatever it was in the cauldron that she was making. “You’ve been throwing jars at me for six years now. If I wasn’t getting quick, I would think there was a problem with me.”

“There is a problem with you.”

“Yea yea I know I’m cur-”

“You have no respect for your elders!” Yelinna exclaimed as she turned around, icy blue eyes blazing next to pursed lips as she waggled the ladle at Eileithy while throwing drops of whatever around the kitchen. Eileithy ducked and was thankful that when some of the droplets landed near her they didn’t sizzle. Two weeks ago, Yelinna had forgotten she had been working with dangerous ingredients and accidentally spilled some on Eileithy’s shoes. Whatever it was had burned holes right through to the bottom and into the wood of the kitchen floor beneath. It had missed her big toe by a hair’s breadth. “You need to learn to be quiet when I am talking to you and to stop sass talking. Some of the things I say are- Oh! Is that my Hawthorne?” Without waiting for Eileithy to confirm whether it was or wasn’t, Yelinna grabbed the jar next to the one she had thrown at Eileithy not five seconds ago and began dumping some of the contents into the cauldron humming under her breath. Eileithy sighed watching Yelinna work. There were multiple stains littering the cauldron and the dress Yelinna was currently wearing. Despite the apron she always wore to protect her front side, somehow whatever she was making always found a way around it. Eileithy tried to buy her a new dress, but the woman refused to accept anything she didn’t earn herself. Yelinna was proud and Eileithy believed that to be her greatest flaw. All she wanted to do was help and repay Yelinna back for everything she had done for her, but Yelinna was having none of it. Eileithy had tried sneaking things into the house, but Yelinna had a way of knowing and by the next morning it was splayed on the grass outside.

“Finished!”

Eileithy glanced up as Yelinna ladled some of the liquid into a small cup and took a sip and sighed contentedly. “Hawthorne tea is always the best to start the morning off.”

“Tea? Tea?!?! You had me run out for an ingredient for you to make tea??” Eileithy exclaimed incredulously.

“Why of course dear. I ran out of Hawthorne last week and while I tried to replace it with lemongrass it just wasn’t the same. It was too lemony,” Yelinna explained making a face before taking another sip. “Hawthorne also helps keep my heart strong. Would you like some?”

“No! I thought I was doing something important for you. Not… not… not… your grocery shopping!!” Eileithy blurted out, but Yelinna was unaffected. She shrugged off Eileithy’s complaints and pulled out a stool to sit on that Eileithy hadn’t noticed before. “You were… are a great seer. You should be out there flaunting your talents and proving to those people you are more than what they say! And here you are making tea? I thought you were helping a customer or yourself.” The heat was starting to rise in the kitchen and along with it, Eileithy’s temper. A gentle tingling crept up Eileithy’s spine preceding what would come next and as quickly as Eileithy felt her temper rise, it slipped away to be replaced by dread. Yelinna watched the emotional change and sighed. Here came another spat. The old woman slipped a hand beneath her collar gripping the charmed necklace she always wore and waited. It didn’t take long for the curse to take effect. The shelves to Yelinna’s left shattered at the same time one of her pans flew across the room and slammed into the wall. Next came a strong flare of the flames behind her before they died to a smolder. The pan would have glanced off of Yelinna’s head if she hadn’t had her charm. Instead the pan had altered its course and hurt something that couldn’t feel.

“Do you feel better now?” Yelinna asked calmly taking another sip of her tea when silence reigned in the kitchen once again save for the dying crackle of the fire. Eileithy’s face had paled significantly as she looked over the damage that she had done.

“I-I apologize,” Eileithy whispered bowing her head obediently.

“You need to learn my dear that while I hide away, I am not hiding. Patience is key in this situation and you need to find some. Now before you go, please clean this mess up. I am going to see if I can find some lemongrass. It seems I am craving that lemony taste again.”

Eileithy watched as Yelinna left the kitchen with the cup in hand and knew by the sound of the front door opening and closing, she had left. A cool breeze filtered through the open window above the cauldron sending chills down Eileithy’s back. Tightening the cloak about her shoulders she grabbed the broom resting near the doorway that led into the living room. There was glass everywhere on the wooden floor and some of the contents of the jars were starting to ooze out over the shelves. Some of the items were familiar to Eileithy, but there were others she had never seen before. Those were the ones she decided to remain wary of. Slowly and carefully, Eileithy began sweeping the glass into a pile at the bottom of the cabinet with a sigh. For the most part she was starting to believe that the only she was learning as Yelinna’s apprentice was how to clean up messes she was the cause of. Rarely did Yelinna challenge her with something more and it was either go get this or go look deeper in the forest for that. When customers came Yelinna always rushed her out of the house and Eileithy wondered if the woman was starting to grow embarrassed by the fact she was still there. Bending down to see if any of the glass ended up beneath the armoire, Eileithy was surprised to find the corner of a piece of paper peeking out at her. Pulling the paper out, she found it was longer than she first thought and was neither a list of ingredients nor customers. It was a portrait of a man and a young woman. She was gazing towards the artist while the man holding her hands in his own was gazing at her. The artist had managed to capture the love in the man’s eyes and the pure joy in the woman’s. They looked happy and Eileithy had the odd sense that she knew them. Pocketing the portrait, Eileithy decided that she would ask Yelinna about it later that night. When Eileithy glanced down at the floor she paused trying to understand what she was seeing. The pile of glass and herbs that she had been making was gone and now that she thought about it, the sound of goop dropping from one shelf to another had stopped. Eileithy turned in a full circle searching for the mess she had made before she realized that all of the jars that she had been cleaning up had somehow pieced themselves together and returned to the shelves where they rested before she had lost her temper. There was no trace that somehow else had come and gone and Eileithy had been looking at that portrait for maybe five minutes. She was sure that she would have noticed the jars began reassembling and moving on their own. And yet, she didn’t. Furrowing her brows in confusion, Eileithy kept her questions at bay knowing there wasn’t anyone there to answer them and if someone was, she wasn’t she sure she wanted them to answer. Eileithy backed out of the kitchen slowly placing the broom against the wall. She wasn’t ready to deal with whatever this was right now. Eileithy hurriedly slipped her boots back on and left the hut expecting to find Yelinna somewhere nearby studying what she called herbs and what Eileithy called weeds. Oddly enough, the woman wasn’t anywhere in sight and Eileithy guessed she wandered further into the forest following some train of thought without realizing how far she was going. Unlike the people of the village, the forest accepted Yelinna and for some reason it accepted Eileithy as well. Eileithy understood why it accepted Yelinna, but she was surprised it hadn’t tried to scare her off yet considering how many trees she had blown up in the last couple of years. Maybe it was because she apprentice to great and wonderful seer? Either way, Eileithy tried not to think about it too hard and decided to leave things as they were. She was somewhat happy, why question it?

Circling the hut, Eileithy crouched near the back right corner searching for the panel of wood that she had loosened two years ago. When she slid it aside it revealed a small arsenal of weapons that Eileithy had collected over the years. There was a weapon for every occasion. Eileithy unsheathed the long sword down her spine and placed it gently next to the crossbow gathering dust. Instead she pulled out the twin curved blades near the front of the group and four daggers. The daggers were strapped to each of her calves and hidden by the height of her boot while the curved blades were sheathed down her spine in a different scabbard. The last weapon she grabbed was a pair of hakais. They were a birthday present to her years ago and were one of her favorite weapons to use. Two chakrams had been taken and through each a ribbon had wrapped and tied off. It gave the fighter the ability to use them as either close range or long range. The ribbons provided and easy grip for the bearer without slicing into their own skin and Eileithy could also sling them towards an enemy while still staying connected to the weapon guaranteeing that it would return to her. They were perfect. The hakais were just bigger than a grown man’s fist and Eileithy was able to tie them off to her belt without worrying about them falling off somewhere or getting in her way while she was running.

The wood board was replaced and Eileithy took off into the woods circling around Karii village. Today, she had bigger fish to fry and a friend who was waiting for her. Hopefully, the guard would give her more of a challenge today. It was never any fun when they practically rolled over and asked her to take advantage of them. While on some days that was just as fun, today she was looking for something that would give her that familiar rush. Today, she was looking for the thrill of the hunt.