Home | Thewitchinthemoors

1391, Italy

“Don’t go in the woods, there’s a witch that lives there,” and “She’ll eat you up and spit you out,” were phrases I often heard growing up. The murky woods and what was hidden inside was talk amongst the townspeople regularly; making sure not to walk too close and avoiding eye contact with it, as if they could see right through the trees to the object of their fears. Their gossip provoked an irresistible urge inside of me that grew more and more every time I ventured outside. They believed their warnings would steer the children clear of it, however, it only made my curiosity grow stronger. As if I were a boiling kettle of water and the temperature kept rising.

I remember seeing her once, the witch that resided in the moors. A black and white cat stood at the forefront of the forest, it’s eyes glowing and beckoning me to follow it further into the darkness. I was a slave to my curiosity, so I did as its eyes commanded; the moonlight serving as a faintly lit guide through the thick foliage. The fireflies danced around me as if to pull me closer to the “malicious” presence that took root here, however what I discovered was nothing short of an angel, at least in appearance. Her snow-white hair cascaded down her backside as it glistened in the moonlight so brightly that it was almost blinding and swayed along with every graceful motion she made. Her skin was smooth like porcelain and I almost thought what I was seeing was an illusion... how grateful I am that it wasn’t. I couldn't help but succumb to the inexplicable presence that exuded out of her. It felt ancient, almost omnipotent. As I got closer, it felt like a dark force was pulling me further into the forest against my will. Eventually the woman’s face became clearer and it served as even more evidence of her being a celestial creature. She was often described as a monster that lurked in the shadows, so hideous that she would send eerie shivers down your spine if you had the unfortunate experience of meeting her gaze, but she was nothing of the sort.

I was confident I was being as quiet as can be, but her eyes instantly darted in my direction. I was warned about the monsters hiding in the shadows but not the ones with the face of a divine being and a gaze so striking that it froze me in place. Was this the beginning of the end? I didn't mind. She was beautiful in a way that verbalizing it did her no justice.

“I’m sure you’re fully aware of the fact that you shouldn’t be in these woods, little girl.”

Her words pierced through my ears and echoed through my bones. It was both terrifying and exhilarating. I slid down the hill with a smile so large it almost hurt, but it only seemed to annoy her more. “Get out.” She demanded, finally opening her eyes to reveal an eye that was so golden in color that it reminded me of the rays that emitted from the sun. I inched closer to the edge of the lake before clasping her face into my hands and stared at her, in particular, the mysterious eye that hid behind an eyepatch. She slid her hands under my arms and picked me up, examining me up and down as if it was her first time seeing a child. “First, you interrupt my bathing time and now you stare. Have you no manners?” Her words seemed reprimanding, but she sounded more curious than annoyed. “Do you want to see it?” She asked with a hint of malicious intent in her voice, her lips forming a slight grin. My smile widened as I nodded, and she began to lift the eyepatch off only to reveal a color completely opposite of the one that I had already seen. This eye was crimson in color and it looked as if a sea of blood was placed into it. I could surmise by the look on her face that she expected me to react negatively and retreat out of the forest as quickly as I could, however, her different colored eyes and mysterious origin only served to intrigue me further; it only made me want to know every detail and secret that hid between what she said and didn’t say. Her plan had an entirely different effect on me. “Pretty,” slipped from my lips as I stared into her eye, captivated by the crimson color that felt like if I stared too long, I would be pulled inside.

My choice of words seemed to surprise the woman who had obviously never been told such a thing, especially by a child. Her confused expression quickly faded as a slight smile took over and she ruffled my hair. “I’ve lived many, many years and you’re the second person to ever tell me that.” She replied before turning my body to face the woods, pushing me to leave. “Now go, weird child. I’m an evil witch that eats children. You’ll do good to remember that.” She warned in a dishonest jest, but I plopped down on the ground to admire her further. How laughable to think I would leave after being in the presence of someone so…ethereal. She was none of the things the townspeople said, even if I didn’t believe them in the first place. It seemed like it should’ve been a sin for them to say things that represented her so incorrectly. She stepped out of the lake and draped a long cloak over her shoulders before tying it at the waist and strolling towards me. She picked me up in her arms again, but this time there was a look of sorrow on her face. “I want to stay here with you! I turned 10 today, I can stay out late if I want! I’m a grown up now!” I shouted, but my request fell on deaf ears. She chuckled and smiled at me before poking my forehead and before I knew it, I had fallen into a deep sleep. I awoke the next morning in my bed, wiping my eyes and reminiscing about last night, wondering if it was just a dream. It wasn't long before the excitement took over and I jumped out of bed before quickly changing clothes, eager to run to the forest once again.

“Where are you going, Lucia? You know very well that today is the day we attend the church.” My father said as I ran past him, not giving his words a second thought. The town was as lively as usual, the vendors trying desperately to sell their wares while children ran amok, playing and singing without a care in the world. I ran through the town square, but was abruptly stopped in my tracks after bumping into someone. I fell to the ground and rubbed my head before a hand was extended in front of me. “Lucia! I was wondering where you were.” The boy said. I didn’t realize who it was until I grabbed his hand and looked up at him, his smile as blinding as the sun. “Forgive me, Leo! But I’m busy today so I can’t play!” I yelled as I sprinted past him, my mind devoid of any other thought except her. The witch in the moors. I wanted to see her again, to learn more about her, I’m sure she would show me a world that wasn't as dull as this one. I scoured the woods, though the abundant amount of trees that looked like they extended to the heavens proved difficult to see past. I took my shoes off to feel the grass beneath my feet, its softness akin to a rug. What a lively forest, though in a different way than the town I lived in. Here, it constantly felt like I was being watched, but the stare felt familiar and safe. Sounds of animals breaking twigs beneath their feet and water trickling down the rocks from the creek filled my ears while the birds sang tunes, no doubt in the witch’s honor. It had to be her that kept this forest safeguarded and healthy. It wasn’t until I crossed through various small brooks and rocky surfaces that I came upon a small, warn cottage. The radiant arrangement of blue and purple flowers in front of the cottage offered a beautiful contrast to the domineering greenery in the area. The cottage was covered in moss while vines danced up the side to cover most of the windows. It looked a little old, but this had to be it. There was an aura around it that felt...otherworldly. I finally found it after what seemed like hours of searching. I knocked on the door, but there was no answer, only sounds of birds interrupting the silence. I pushed open the door and was immediately met by various scents of herbs and spices, the foreign smells lingering and clinging to my nose. The walls and ceiling were covered in numerous hanging herbs and flowers while baskets and books were making themselves at home on the floor and in the bookshelves.

The sound of windchimes echoed from the doorway, creating a melody that coincided with the rain and snow that started to fall. The cottage was both disheveled and well-kept at the same time, which only made me giggle to myself. I continued to look around, finding multiple things I’d never seen before until I came upon a woman laying slumped in bed with a book over her face. I removed the book which felt so archaic that it might fall apart if I even thought to handle it with anything but care and gazed upon her face. There she was. The mystery of a woman that sparked such a primal curiosity in me, however, my adoration was short lived. “I thought I told you to stay away from this forest, girl.” The woman said as her eyes began to open. “How long have you known I was here!” I asked as I crossed my legs on her bed and made myself at home. “Since you set foot into the forest. It seems I'll have to put up a barrier next time.” She replied. “So, you really are a witch that watches over the moorlands?” I asked, though I already knew the answer. It was unfathomable that this woman was a normal human, God forbid she even be compared to one.

“And if I was? Does that not frighten you?”

“Not at all!” I replied, but she just looked at me with curiosity.

“I’m Lucia. What’s your name?” I added, eager to learn the name of the woman that has captivated me so effortlessly. “Vittoria.” She replied, her words like a spell that bound me. Vittoria. Vittoria. Vittoria. The victor, the conqueror. What a fitting name to match someone that could only be described as heavenly. Her gaze left mine as she focused on my knee instead. “You’re bleeding. I will address your wound and then you must leave.” She said as she started to head outside of the room. I was in such a rush over here that I didn’t even notice the scratch. It didn’t really hurt, but if it could keep me here even a moment longer, I was grateful for it. I hopped on to one of the wooden stools in the kitchen that sat in front of a large table that looked like a sizable slab of wood with a bunch of different herbs scattered across it.

Before I could think of another reason to stay here longer, the cat from that acted as my guide last night jumped into my lap and startled me to the point where I almost fell over. “Oh! It’s you!” I gasped. The cat rubbed against me, and I couldn’t help but smile. I’m sure he was guiding me to her. “His name is Kalo.” Vittoria said as she pulled out a mortar and pestle before putting a bunch of herbs inside and smashing them into a paste. “Are you making medicine?” I asked, keen to take her mind from sending me away again. “Indeed.” She replied, without looking up at me. I pointed at a bright orange flower that laid beside the mortar. “What’s that one called?” I questioned. Half of it was my curiosity but I really just wanted to hear her talk more. About anything. She finally looked up at me before picking up the flower and handing it to me. “It’s called calendula. It has many healing properties, as does this one.” She said as she picked up a purple flower that she also used in the mixture. “This one is called lavender.” She exclaimed as she handed another piece of it to me. I put it up to my nose to smell it and was pleasantly surprised. “It smells good!” I replied before she added a few other things into the mix and came around the table to gently rub the paste on my wound. It no longer felt warm and the tingling sensation stopped. I twirled her platinum white hair that looked like the moon resided in it around my fingers while entwining my own dark brown hair in my other hand to compare. What a fascinating color…She really was a witch. How exquisite she was.

“If you’re a witch, couldn’t you have fixed my wound without herbs? Are the herbs part of magic?” I asked in confusion. She looked up at me and I could tell she didn’t want to talk about it. “I no longer practice magic. And the herbs can be used in conjunction with magic if one wishes, but I’m simply making medicine with them.” She replied. “Magic draws from and manipulates natural elements by using supernatural forces. There are no supernatural forces involved in what I'm doing.” She added, the look of sorrow she had from the night before showing up once again. By the tone in her voice, even I could tell not to tread further. Her words felt heavy and it made me feel helpless. “You don’t belong here. The townspeople will have a fit if they find out where you’ve been. They don’t take kindly to me, I’m sure you know.” Vittoria said with a hint of irritation in her voice. “The townspeople are idiots. They do whatever the church tells them to.” I responded without hesitation. It was true and though he took me in when my real parents died, my adoptive father was obsessed with the church and he practically groveled at the priest’s feet. Something always felt weird about the church…something ominous that I couldn’t put my finger on. “What a perceptive child you are. If the church has taken root in your town, that is even more reason to stay away from me.“ She explained but I paid no heed to her words. I wasn’t going anywhere, no matter how the townspeople or my father felt about it. I looked around the room at the rest of the herbs hanging around before one caught my eye. It was hanging upside down by a red ribbon and had several small, white berries along the vine. “What’s that one called?” I asked as I tried to reach for it but failed. She reached up to pull it down for me before setting it down on the table. “It’s called mistletoe, a decoration for Yule. People typically kiss underneath of it. Another leaf that’s used is this,” she pulled off another plant from the wall that looked similar to the mistletoe but had sharp edges along the leaves and the berries were red. “This one is holly.” She said as I looked on in interest. “Yule? What is that?” I asked while holding the leaf in front of me. “It’s the time of the winter solstice, also known as the longest night of the year. It is the celebration of the Holly and Oak king. During Yule, he surrenders his life to the young light Oak King, God of the Waxing Year, and his twin, who rules over the light part of the year from Yule to Midsummer. Both rule for half of the year and both fight for the favor and love of the Goddess before surrendering their life for the well-being of the land. Then there’s the matter of the Yule log.” She said as she picked up a small log adorned with red berries and acorns with 3 long red candles sticking out of the middle. "You burn it for 12 days in the fireplace, but this log is only to burn for 12 hours. I will need a much bigger one otherwise. I believe the Christians are now calling it Christmas, but they've simply taken our holiday and changed it to fit their narrative.” She explained as solace formed over her face, as though she was recalling memories from a past life. “Me and my brother along with our coven used to celebrate it long ago…” she added, though her smile quickly faded. I kneeled on the table before holding the mistletoe above both of our heads and leaning down to kiss her forehead. It took her by surprise but eventually made her laugh softly to herself, which only put a huge smile on my face. A smile suited her well, just as much as her usual scowl. “Silly girl- “was all Vittoria could get out before she instantly jumped in front of me and pulled me close to her chest. I almost blushed until I realized that she wasn’t hugging me, rather shielding me from something. I looked to the side of her to notice an arrow sticking out of her shoulder blade. “Vittoria…?” I said in confusion, not knowing what had happened. “Quiet.” She demanded as she pulled the arrow out of her shoulder. “I shouldn’t have been so lax. Stay in here.” She said before walking outside. I rushed over to the window as the rain started to pick up, only to see the priest of the church standing beside my father and a bunch of men armed with swords and bows.

It wasn’t until I looked closer that I noticed Leo standing among them, pointing at the cottage. “I believe this is yours.” Vittoria hissed. She threw the arrow that was launched into her shoulder at their feet as all the soldiers hesitantly placed their hands on their swords that were still hiding in their scabbard. “We know you have bewitched the mayor’s daughter, demon! Return her and accept your fate.” The priest insisted as he clutched a rosary and bible in his hand. “There is no girl here. Leave this place.” Vittoria said, though it sounded more like a threat than a statement. “Kill her. In the name of our lord and savior, Jesus Christ. He who demands that we cleanse his holy lands of Lucifer’s whores.” The priest commanded, his words enticing the soldiers. Vittoria snickered to herself. “How like humans to use religion to justify their violence. It’s quite pathetic, really. Your God abandoned these lands long ago. I can’t say I blame him.” She added with a menacing smile that only served to fuel the priest’s irritation. The priest glared at her before grinning, though it was obvious that she was getting to him. “The demon mocks our religion and our sympathetic God! Further proof of its blasphemy!” The priest shouted. His words easily influencing the armed men as they began to get riled up. Another man pointed his sword at her and began to charge at her. I ran out of the cottage as fast as I could, without a second thought. “Please, stop!” I yelled. I will beg and plead on my hands and knees for as long as it takes if they didn’t hurt her. “Lucia! There you are!” Leo yelled. He must’ve been the one to call the church here and tell them where I was. He had to have followed me. “Lucia. Come over here, child. We’ve come to save you from the demon witch.” The mayor said, motioning his hand for me to come over.

One of the armed men swooped in and grabbed me, but I kept reaching for Vittoria. She didn’t reach back; she just gave me a look full of grief. “Go.” She mouthed to me before one of the men with swords plunged it right into her stomach. She coughed out blood and fell to her knees as tears fell from my eyes as I realized what I had done. This is all my fault; they wouldn’t have been able to find her if it weren’t for me. “Vittoria! Vittoria!” I yelled, desperate for any God out there to hear me and allow me to go back and change my actions. “Burn it down.” The priest demanded as men walked over to her cottage and began throwing their torches inside of it. It only took moments for the entire cottage to become engulfed in the flames. It was surreal, everything was gone in a matter of seconds. Vittoria held her stomach where the sword had pierced her moments ago and smiled. “How oddly comforting to know that humans never change.” She stated before she vanished right before our eyes. “The witch has escaped!” The man who stabbed her exclaimed, his eyes searching vehemently for any sign of her. “Fear not. With a wound like that, she’ll die before she can use her devilry to heal.” The priest replied. I couldn’t stop the tears as they violently fell down my face as if they were a river escaping a dam.

1400, Italy

I woke to the suns rays caressing my cheek, reminding me that it was yet another day that had passed since that fateful night and that my dreams were the only place I could see her again. It’s been 9 years since then and I have gone out to the moors every single day to look for her, to no avail. I know she’s still out there; I can feel it. “Lucia, it’s time for your mother’s medicine.” My father shouted from the other room. I hopped out of bed and pulled a forest green overdress over my chemise before pulling a wool cloak over it. I placed the notebook that Kalo brought to me after that fateful night that had a record of all the herbs Vittoria found into a basket and headed out to the moors. It was the only place I truly felt safe, and a part of me believed that if I stayed there long enough, she would miraculously appear in front of me and scold me. I smiled at the thought as I entered the woods, most of the grass turning brown and the herbs have been dying off more and more every year. It misses her presence as much as I do. I began combing the ground for the herbs I needed, hoping that there were still a few around.

Before I knew it, an hour had passed. “Alright. I have thyme, sage, and mint. All that’s left is…” I thought aloud before opening the notebook to see which herb I was missing. “Ah, rosemary. Contains iron and calcium. Alleviates muscle plain and boosts the immune system. Perfect!” I say before continuing to search the ground until my hands brushed against it. I stood and stared into what used to be a lush sea of greenery that's now turned to sun burned floors. The creeks have run dry and the birds no longer sing. I can't say I blame them, without her around, hardly anything seems worth it. I trailed out of the forest but stopped just before I reached my house as I noticed a crowd of people in front of the door. It wasn’t until I distinguished Leo perched on a horse that I realized what was going on. I gently pushed through the crowd to get to my door in hopes that he wouldn’t notice me, but my efforts weren’t rewarded. “Lucia!” He called out to me. I turned around to greet his large smile with a hesitant one. “Leo! I hadn’t realized you returned from your time at the church.” I said, hoping this conversation would go by quickly. He hopped off from his horse as he stood quite taller than I, he had grown up more than I expected while he was away. “I finished a little while ago, I serve the pope directly now.” He exclaimed. He must be doing well to have such a position so early after he finished training. “He’s actually the reason I’m back in town. His niece is sick, and I told him of your knowledge with medicine. He requests you treat her.” He said as he hopped back on to his horse and held out his hand. I nodded as I handed my father the basket. It sounded more like an order than a request. The church’s roots had sunk deeper into society these last few years and they were thriving better than ever.

“Put these in a cup of hot water and serve it to her twice a day.” I explained to my father before hopping onto the back of Leo’s horse. I tucked my notebook into my cape pocket before Leo took off. An hour passed by before he broke the silence that filled the air. “Where did you learn to make medicine like that anyway? You’ve helped so many of the townspeople, but I don’t remember anyone like that around before you.” He asked. His words brought me back to my favorite memory, the ones where she resided. I sniffed into the air as if it would make my memory strong enough to smell the scent of spices and herbs that once permeated her cottage. I smiled to myself as I thought of something to say to dodge the question.

“Is it really that odd? I’m simply happy to help people when they need it.”

“That’s what I like about you. You always put others first.”

Leo has always been a nice boy and he would make the perfect partner for a nice girl. A few hours passed before we reached a sizable town with various high stone walls and buildings, much larger and more bustling than ours. I set my eye on the larger building in the middle of the town. The Lateran Palace, where the pope resided. I looked around as we rode through the town and took note of the large quantity of people that inhabited it. People were interesting to watch so I didn’t mind that this town was so busy. My curious wandering was cut short when I noticed a black and white cat. It looked at me like it knew me, but it was impossible that it was Kalo. I left him back home, it would have been impossible for him to follow me here. “We’ve arrived. The pope is out of town, but his niece lives just here.” Leo said as he jumped down from the horse and extended a hand to help me, but I jumped down after him before I noticed it. We entered a home not too far from the Lateran Palace and into the room with the child’s parents hovering over her bedside like vultures. “Oh, finally you’re here! Please help my little girl!” The woman shouted at me. I walked over to the girl to examine her before pressing my head to her chest to hear her breathing. “Hello. I’m Lucia.” I said to the girl, ignoring the loud cries from her mother. The mother clasped her hands together as she looked up to the ceiling. “Oh, please don’t let it be witchcraft at work!” She pleaded. I suppressed a sigh and turned to look at Leo. The ignorance of the people in town’s that blame common illnesses on devilry or witchcraft irritated me. It’s like they didn’t even care to think of another alternative. “I’ll need the room and some herbs.” I said before pulling out Vittoria’s notebook and scanning it for the child’s symptoms and the necessary herbs to help her. “There’s an apothecary in town I can go to and see if he has the necessary herbs. He came by here a few days ago but couldn’t figure out what ailed her.” Leo exclaimed. “I’ll need mullein and peppermint.” I told him before everyone vacated the room. The girl grabbed my hand and held on to it tightly. “Am I going to die?” She asked with a look of helplessness in her eyes.

I gave her a reassuring smile. “I won’t let that happen. You’ll be just fine. I have a magic book to help me.” I whispered while holding Vittoria’s notebook tightly in my other hand and giving her a wink. “Magic book?” The girl said as her eyes widened, and she smiled softly. “I bet the lady the palace guards locked away had a magic book too.” She added. I cocked my head to the side in confusion. “Why would she have had a magic book?” I asked, eager for her to answer. “They said she was an evil witch!” She replied excitedly but it only caused her to cough profusely. I rubbed her head as my mind wandered to thoughts about this “evil witch.” It couldn’t be her, but my God did I want it to be. “It’ll be a while before Leo comes back with the herbs I need, are you fine on your own for a little while?” I asked her, once again unable to break free from the shackles of my curiosity. She nodded as she began closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep. I placed a glass of water at her bedside before pulling my hood over my head and venturing out to the town. I set my eyes on the palace, taking note of which entrances were guarded and where was more likely to be the place they kept the prisoners. I noticed two guards walking and tailed behind them quietly in hopes they would talk about something of importance. My efforts were rewarded not too long after following them. “Apparently the witch in the cells is giving everyone trouble. She’s set to be executed tomorrow though, so we won’t have to deal with her much longer.” One of the guards said.

The other chuckled at his statement. “Good riddance. Those in league with the devil deserve nothing less.” He replied. I raised my hand to hit them but slowly lowered it and let out a huff. I still didn’t know exactly where to go, but a cat that resembled Kalo caught my eye. It was lingering around a side door on the palace, looking at me as if to talk to me through its eyes. What a familiar feeling. Two guards positioned themselves in front of the door and it didn’t look like they had any plans to move for awhile. “Doesn’t look like they’re going to just let me walk in.” I said to myself quietly. I thought for a minute before smiling to myself and taking a breath. I swiftly stumbled over towards them, holding my hand out as if to desperately grasp on to one of them. “Oh, please help! I beg of you! The pope’s niece is being attacked!” I shouted as they both began to panic, and worry took over their face. I almost felt bad for the made-up scenario that caused them to hurriedly leave their post.

I picked up a rock to hit the lock on the door as a poorly lit stairwell descending into a black abyss stared back at me. I walked for what felt like an eternity before I came upon some cell doors. I quickly looked through each of the cells until I came upon one that was weakly lit, but I could tell there was someone inside it. I grabbed a torch from the wall and held it closer to the cell until it illuminated the person inside. She was shackled to the wall by metal cuffs and her dress was ripped and dirtied along the bottom while her legs and feet were riddled in cuts and bruises. Her long white hair flowed over her shoulders and I would’ve fretted over it being sullied by the dirt on the ground if I wasn’t busy trying to think of a way to open the cell doors. “Vittoria! It’s really you.”

I said in a loud whisper. Her hair looked shorter, but it still touched the floor as her head was bent down. She picked her head up and bawled her hands into a fist as her bright golden eye glared at me. “Still just as curious of a child as you used to be. You may have grown up physically, but still a child nonetheless. That fool Kalo, allowing you out of his sight. What a useless familiar. You should never have come here, girl.” Vittoria snapped, but the way she looked at me when our eyes met told a different story. I smiled so wide that it felt like the ends of my lips were reaching my ears. I hadn’t heard her voice for years; how bittersweet it was to be reprimanded. I pulled at the cell door in frustration, but the sound of footsteps caused me to clam up. “Leave, now!” She shouted, but I paid her no mind. I wasn’t going to leave her now, not when I was so close. “You! What are you doing down here?!” The guard said as he pointed his pike at me. Vittoria pulled against the shackles on the wall, causing a clanking sound that echoed throughout the room. “Leave her alone, you filthy human.” She warned as a black, static-like substance flickered from her fingertips. Before I had time to think, Kalo quickly ran down the steps and instantly attacked the guard, latching his nails into his face. I used the diversion to quickly snatch the keys from his waistband and unlock the cell door, taking note of how easily she broke the shackles off herself, as if she could’ve gotten out at any time. My anger flared as I noticed the bruises left behind from the shackles being tightened around her wrists and ankles, but I quickly pushed it down as I helped her up from the ground. “We have to go.” I stated, putting her arm over my shoulder, and promptly escorting her up the stairs but I stopped as I looked over at a cell not too far from hers that a group of women resided in.

They didn’t look startled and there was a resilient air about them. I quickly unlocked their cell door as well and nodded at them before they greeted me with a grateful smile. I hurriedly guided Vittoria up the stairs and it wasn’t long before I felt the cool night’s breeze hit my face as soon as we stepped outside, indicating that we had finally escaped from the prison. It was a stark contrast to the heat on my cheeks from my adrenaline pumping. I had never done something so reckless, but I quickly shoved my excitement to the side and looked around. I didn’t know where to take her to address her wounds and hide. I knew she could sense my worry because she pressed her finger to my forehead before pointing into the distance. “Go there.” She ordered. A large, worn castle sat on the outskirts of town, in the middle of the forest that I'm almost sure wasn't there before. I nodded and quickly made my way over, just in time to escape the guards’ sight. Before long we reached the castle that looked as though it was just barely standing. “Are you sure this place will be alright?” I asked cautiously. The outside looked as though it could collapse at any moment. She didn’t reply and instead glared at me which caused my sigh to melt into a smile. I pushed open the door and was in awe at what stared back at me. The interior was a stark contrast to the exterior. The wood on the floors was polished so perfectly I almost didn’t want to step on it and the lush, red velvet drapes swathed across the floor elegantly.

The fireplace and candles from the chandelier offered ample light, but what excited me the most was the smell of herbs and spices. They smelled like her. Like home. I pushed my nostalgia to the side as I quickly set Vittoria down on a chair. I got on my knees and examined her wounds, though she didn’t care for my sentiment. “I don’t need your help.” She stated but I shot her an annoyed look which made her eyes widen in surprise. It wasn’t until I noticed her décolletage that my glare turned into a blush. I thought of my own bust and instantly looked away to shake away the fact that she heavily outweighed me in that department. "Why did you allow yourself to get caught? I know you could easily evade them if you wanted to." I said, unable to hide the irritation in my voice. I don't understand why she wouldn't care about her own life. She refused to answer me, but the desolation that took over her eyes was all the answer I needed. “I can make a paste to heal your wounds. Lavender and calendula, right? Where do you keep the herbs?” I asked as I got up to look around, still in awe of my surroundings. My eyes drifted back to her, as they always do, her eyebrow lifting in surprise. As I took my cloak off, her notebook fell out of the pocket and she picked it up off the floor. “So, this is where it went. Have you been making good use of it?” She asked. I tried not to fixate on the tone of approval in her voice, or how I really wanted to react to it.

Instead, I nodded in excitement before grasping both of her hands in mine. “I’ve helped so many people because of you!” I exclaimed. Her expression softened as we stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. Even that wouldn’t have been long enough. “So, have you gone back to using magic?” I asked as I looked around. It had to be magic that kept this place so clean on this inside opposed to its deteriorating exterior. Her expression slowly shifted into a poignant one, reminding me how sore of a subject magic was for her. “I have not. The woman that uses magic is dead and I do not visit her grave.” She replied sternly. “This place is Kalo’s doing.” She added as a shadow appeared behind me.

I turned around to see a fair-skinned man standing before me, his height causing him to tower over me. His body was slender, almost to the point where it looked elongated. His long black hair with hints of white throughout it curled and clung around his neck while his pale green eyes looked at me with kindness and familiarity. Where had I seen these eyes before? There was a dignified air around him, his gaze commanding respect. “A pleasure to see you again, Lucia.” He said. I looked at him up and down, trying to place where I knew him from. “You seem so familiar.” I said in a curious tone while looking at him from every angle. He smiled before bowing slightly. “Kalo. At your service.” He replied. I quickly turned around to look at Vittoria for confirmation that it really was him in human form. She nodded and my smile widened. “Kalo! I can’t believe it’s you!” I said while grasping his face in my hands and squishing it, my affection catching him off-guard.

I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him tightly. “I’m so glad you got out of that underground prison. You’re a lifesaver. And to lead me to Vittoria in the first place, you’re like fate personified.” I added. He grinned at me before ruffling my hair, a hint of something in his eye that I couldn’t really place. I turned around to find that Vittoria was gone, and I began to scan the room. Kalo nudged his head in the direction of a side door. “She is fluent in unsaid words and suppressed sighs. If there are things you want to know about her, I’m afraid you’ll have to be persistent.” He advised. I planned on it, so he didn’t have to tell me twice; I was going to know the depths of this woman if it killed me.

I walked into the side door to immediately be greeted by scents of various flowers. The room was entirely glass and it was filled with numerous amounts of flowers and greenery. In the middle of the room sat Vittoria being adorned by the moon as if they were lovers. How envious I was that it could so effortlessly caress her skin when I couldn’t. I stepped in closer and sat on the bench next to her. “What is this place?” I asked, never having seen a building made entirely of glass before. “It’s called a greenhouse, though they typically aren’t made of glass and are instead made of stone. I felt like glass would do a much better job for the plants.” She replied. Her knowledge and care for plants made me smile to myself but I needed to remember to get to the task at hand. “Will you tell me why you don’t use magic?” I asked, eager to learn why she refuses to use such a gift. We sat in silence for a while before she turned to look at me. “Your curiosity will get you killed one day.” She finally replied.

I laughed softly knowing she was probably right but was surprised by her joining in. Her gaze traveled back to the ceiling where it felt like you could see every star the sky had to offer before she began talking again. “My peace had always depended on all the ashes in my wake. Destruction and vengeance were the only things that calmed my raging heart. And destruction is exactly what I caused, everywhere I went. So much hatred... and my magic only served as a tool to solidify the monster I knew I was.” She explained. As her mismatched eyes bore into mine, I saw a flicker of helplessness and pain, but it was short-lived and was quickly replaced with her usual apathetic scowl, though she could tell my facial expression begged her to continue. “I had a coven once, with my younger brother. We honed our magic for good and we spent our days in peace in the woods, bothering no one. It wasn’t until I fell in love with a man from the neighboring town that we were reminded just how temporary peace was.” She added as her eyes flared with vexation. “He betrayed me and killed my entire coven, spouting how we were really demons sent by the devil to wreak havoc upon the lands. So, I returned the favor and I reduced him and the entire town to nothing. My brother and I were separated in the havoc and I haven’t seen him since.” She said as she smiled to me to see my reaction, once again hoping to scare me off. I didn’t give her the satisfaction because she didn’t scare me. She looked away once she didn’t get the reaction that she assumed I would give her and continued. “Destruction was never what I intended for my coven, but this is what happens to all who follow in my stead. It wasn’t until it was too late, and the damage was done that I realized my own power…So I vowed to never use magic again.” She added. For a woman so adept at killing, her eyes were extraordinarily soft. “You know that madness is my first language, and you still sit there in front of me?” She asked, almost irritated, and confused. Rather than that of the usual woman filled with anger and hatred, she seemed like a tired child that had more than their fill of tragic events. “I don’t care what you’ve done. The only thing I know is that the wind has been softer since I met you. You have burned for so long and so quietly that you must have ached over if your coven forgives you. I’m sure they do, your brother too. I’m sure he’s out there somewhere thinking of you.” I replied. It didn’t feel like my place to say something like that to her, nevertheless I know it’s something she needed to hear.

Her opening up to me only fueled my desire to show her that love isn’t meretricious, and she needn’t run away from me, because I would only continue to chase her. “I did not realize that kindness was a color until I saw you wear it so well.” She said as she bent down to move the hair from my nape. As if pinned to the bench by nails, my body refused to move even an inch. I stared spellbound at her eyes, mesmerized by the color that still surprised me. I know she was teasing me by the look in her eye, but I didn’t care. I swallowed the lump in my throat and wrapped my arms around her to pull her into a hug. I didn’t have to see her face to know how surprised and taken aback she was. She didn’t hug me back, but she didn’t pull away either and we sat there in the silence, only the gentle hymn of the wind rustling against the flowers and leaves filled the room as if attempting to play a melody for us. Kalo broke the silence as he stood in the doorway and coughed to let his presence be known. I quickly released Vittoria from my embrace and laughed nervously before standing up. “My lady, I need to address your wounds. Lucia should also get some rest.” He suggested, but it didn’t sound like I had much of a choice. We both walked into the foyer of the manor, but this time I noticed various odd symbols along the walls and on the door. “What are those symbols?” I asked as I ran my finger over one of them. “They are sigils. For protection.” Vittoria replied, but I could tell she wasn’t expecting them to be there either. “Just a precaution, nothing to worry about.” Kalo said to try and reassure me, but the look they both exchanged told me a different story. She shot me a soft look to try and comfort me. “No harm will ever come to you as long as I exist on this earth.” She stated.

Her words were like music to my ears and I could only smile at her because I felt the same. I headed up the staircase and down an elongated hallway. The moonlight shining through the windows served as my light as it illuminated the various paintings on the wall. I ran my fingers along them as I made my way to the end of the hallway and was immediately met by large double doors. I pushed them open and intuitively knew I was in Vittoria’s room. Her scent of lemon and bergamot lingered on every item while the moon shyly peeked through the velvet red drapes. The dark wood canopy bed was home to intricate embellishments with uniquely twisted pillars as a black sheer veiling draped across the sides and I threw myself onto it without hesitation. It was completely different than the bed back home, but that’s not what made me feel at ease. This was probably where she resided for the past decade and I could only wonder if she thought of me while laying here on sleepless nights like I did; staring at the stars because they felt closer to me than she was. I yearned for her and she invaded my mind effortlessly and I couldn’t stop it even if I wanted to. I engulfed myself in the sheets and quickly drifted off to sleep.

I soon awoke after a couple hours and instinctively reached for Vittoria, assuming she’d be lying next to me. I blushed and shook my embarrassment off as I was met with an empty bedside before gasping as I remembered the little girl I had met previously. “How could I have forgotten!” I thought aloud to myself as I promptly left the room. The manor was eerily quiet and there wasn’t a trace of Vittoria or Kalo. It struck me as odd, but I didn’t have time to think about it. I wondered around for what felt like hours as the house felt like a maze until I found the kitchen where Vittoria had stored many of her herbs. They were all familiar to me now, unlike when I was a child, and the apothecary world was still a wonder to me. I grabbed the mullein and peppermint and crushed them in mortar and pestle before pouring the remnants into a cup and rushing out the front door. “I’ll be back before she notices!” I assured myself, knowing that I will undoubtedly get scolded if she found out I left the manor without telling her, especially with the concerning looks her and Kalo were exchanging. I looked around to make sure none of the soldiers were lurking around but only the sounds of some drunkards in the town tavern filled the night. I quietly snuck through the window of the girl’s room. Her excess coughing only fueled my guilt for leaving her here for so long without treatment. I grabbed the pot of water over the fire in the next room and poured it into the cup, but it nearly fell out of my hands as a voice startled me. “Lucia? Is that you?” The little girl asked as she rubbed her eyes. I smiled and returned to her room before helping her to sit upright. “It’s me. Forgive me for being so late.” I pleaded but she shot me an excited look. “It’s okay! You were out helping the witch, right? I hope I get to meet her one day, I bet she’s beautiful.” She said, much to my shock. I ruffled her hair before laughing lightly. “She looks like an angel. I’ll help you meet her one day, okay?” I said as I recalled Vittoria and the fateful night that I met her so many years ago. Being reunited with her now, it feels like it was only yesterday. “Do you promise?” She asked as she looked up at me with anticipation. I put my pinky up as she locked hers with mine and we both giggled. “It’s a promise!” I said before grabbing the cup of medicine and handing it to her.

“Now drink this up so you can feel better again.” I added. She drank the medicine and settled back into bed before closing her eyes. She reminded me of myself when I was younger, and life seemed so foggy and colorless. Vittoria was my beacon in that fog, the color in my life back then. I snapped back from my daydream as I heard a couple soldiers, the very ones that locked Vittoria up like an animal, not far from the house and my mood instantly turned sour. I quietly exited the room and attempted to leave from the house, but was abruptly met by a couple of soldiers, Leo being among them. They instantly grabbed me and put my hands behind my back. I struggled before looking to Leo in desperation. “It’s okay, Luci. They just want to question you about the witch, and then they’ll let you go.” He said in shame. He betrayed me and he knew what he was doing was wrong and I couldn’t bear to even look at him anymore. The soldiers ushered me to the town square before a man wearing a scarlet red ferraiolo as well as a matching galero, indicating that he was a cardinal of the church. The soldiers forced me on my knees as the cardinal turned his nose up at me and looked at me with disgust. “So, this is the witch lover I’ve heard about. You’ve done the entire town a great disservice by allowing that witch loose. She is evil and must be dealt with.” He stated. The air around him was drenched in supremacy and corruption so much that I almost gagged. “She isn’t evil, you don’t know anything about her.” I replied but it only irritated him more.

“Tell me where she is, and I might consider your punishment to be less severe.” He said as the soldiers hardened their grip on my wrists. I spit at the ground in front of him before he extended his hand back and slapped me so hard that I could hear a ringing sound in my ear for a few seconds. Leo immediately reacted and attempted to run to my aid but stopped in his tracks as soon as the cardinal turned his attention towards him. “You better stay right where you are boy, unless you want to be excommunicated.” The cardinal shouted. I spit the blood out of my mouth and scowled at the cardinal and he seemed to back off slightly because of it. “You can hit me as much as you want, but she’s long gone by now.” I said, failing to suppress a smirk. I noticed Leo was no longer around, but it didn’t surprise me. He was clearly a coward; all these people were. Vittoria has never done anything to them but because of their preconceived assumptions, they automatically rule her as dangerous and try to kill her. I hate it, I hate this world. Everyone so blindly following the other without any thought for themselves. “Fine. We’ll find her without you, but since you don’t want to help, then you’re no longer of any use to us.” He stated with a grin as he motioned his hands to the guards. “She is a heretic. Kill her.” He added. Before I could even react, one of the guards instantly plunged his spear right through my stomach and all I could feel was excruciating pain. I looked down to notice a pool of blood on the ground and all I could do was smile. If I had to die, dying to keep her safe was exactly the way I wanted to go. What a pity I couldn’t have spent more time with her; what a tragedy that I couldn’t tell her that it was a pleasure to know the roses that lay beneath her thorns.

I know I’ll find her in another life -I’ll find her in every life. I felt my consciousness slowly leaving me as I began to pass out, but I could feel the warmth of another just before I did, and how I hoped it wasn’t Vittoria. It felt like an eternity had passed before I sprung upright and gasped as hard as I could to try and catch my breath. The sounds of people screaming echoed throughout the night and the stench of blood and smoke filled the air. I looked around before shivering slightly as I noticed my entire body was wet and there were unfamiliar women all around me. It wasn’t until I looked closer at them that I realized they were the group of women in the cells with Vittoria. I put my hand over my stomach where my wound should’ve been and I felt nothing, though it still ached. “What is this? What happened?” I demanded from any of the women around me. “Who are you?” I added as they looked at me with concern. “I am Nadia. Fear not, Lady Lucia. We saw what happened to you at the hands of the cardinal and we quickly used healing magic to close your wound. I use the water because it helps strengthen the healing process. Forgive me for any pain you still have, my magic still isn’t all that strong but if I waited any longer, there wouldn’t have been any saving you.” She said as she wrapped her fur shawl around me. Her dark, curly hair framed her face perfectly and her forest green eyes reminded me of the moors. The various freckles on her face complimented her dark brown skin as she flashed me a weary smile. “Master Vittoria saw you moments before we could get to you and…” Nadia said but she drifted off as though she was afraid to tell me the rest. “Where is she? What’s going on?” I asked as I tried to stand up no matter how much pain I was in. She peered out from the thin woods and I followed her gaze to see various buildings on fire and multiple large, black spikes sticking up from the ground. It wasn’t until I walked more out of the way of the trees that I noticed the people on the opposite ends of the spikes were the church’s soldiers.

I didn’t see Vittoria anywhere until my attention was turned at the sky and a woman with long, black hair gazed down at the town below. Her body looked as though it was covered in a black substance that acted as clothing that was so tight it looked like a second skin and black lightning surrounded her, blocking attacks from the soldier’s crossbows. She looked completely different, but I knew it was her. I could feel it. “Witness me!” She yelled, as a sinister smile formed over her face, her eyes vying to destroy everything in its field of vision. “Never again will I let small men take the people I hold close. Never again will you be allowed to do as you please.” Vittoria stated while she conducted her hands to bring about more spikes from the ground to strike the remaining soldiers. “P-please stop! I’ll give you anything you want! I can give you money! Power! Anything!” The cardinal whined, but his pleading only irritated Vittoria as she drifted back down to the ground in front of him, grabbing him by his throat. She looked like a God punishing her creation. I’m not entirely sure she wasn’t. “There are no bargains between monsters and men, I will rip your heart out and make you eat it.” She said as a grin formed across her face, but I could tell how much she was hurting. “You took away the only thing that meant anything to me, so you and the rest of this miserable town will pay dearly for it. If you so badly want to paint me as a monster, I will show you one. You preach of the devil; I will send you to him. Give him my regards.” Vittoria stated as she squeezed his neck so hard that I could visibly see it snap, the bone sticking out of the side of it for only moments before she broke off the sharpest piece and stabbed him in the head with it. She dropped his lifeless body on the ground as one of the soldiers that wasn’t either dead or terrified attempted to come at her from behind with his sword. Before the soldier could even react, she grabbed his face so tightly that the skin beneath her fingers had indents from her nails and a burst of black lightning zapped from her hand, causing his face to burst like a balloon. “It’s too dangerous, Lady Lucia. We should go.” Nadia said as she placed a hand on my shoulder. I understand her sentiment, but I wasn’t going anywhere. I took off the fur shawl and handed it to her before offering her a reassuring smile. Without hesitation, I ran to Vittoria and hugged her from behind as the bolts of black lightning surrounding her struck my skin. I flinched in pain, but I forced myself to endure it. I had to stop her before she did something she regrets as images of the pope’s niece and her praises of Vittoria flashed through my mind. She turned around and grabbed me by the throat and I could tell she didn’t recognize me.

I didn’t know how to get through to her and it pained me to see the grief in her eyes. I clasped my hands around her face and wiped away the tears that started to fall. The terrified child in her started to peak through once again, begging for someone to reach down and grab her out of the suffocating darkness. Her grip around my neck tightened but I didn’t care. “It’s okay. I'm right here.” I softly repeated over and over to her until eventually she let go of my neck and slid her hand up to cusp my cheek. “Lucia? Is that really you?” She asked as her hair slowly started to transition back to white and the black substance over her body faded, leaving her naked body exposed. I blushed but nodded as I tried not to look down. She pushed me away as she looked around at the carnage she caused. “I told you nothing good would come from being with me. I almost killed you…I’m a monster.” She declared. “I don’t care if you’re a monster. Not if it’s you.” I said before hugging her tightly for what felt like hours. "I do not remember a time before you and I do not think of a time after you. I'm the witch but it seems I'm the one under your spell." She whispered softly, causing me to blush profusely. I don’t think I would’ve let go until Nadia came up behind her to wrap a cloak around her body, reminding me she was still naked. As Vittoria turned around, the women all got down on one knee, looks of determination and respect taking over their faces. We looked at each other before looking back at them in confusion. “Who are you?” Vittoria asked, her relaxed position quickly stiffening. It upset me for a moment; how long had she lived on guard, always looking over her shoulder? How heavy it must have been, carrying burdens that were not solely hers. “They’re the ones that saved me. They’re the only reason I’m still alive.” I replied in their stead as I pulled Vittoria’s hand over my stomach as proof.

“The wound is gone.” I added. “Healing magic?” Vittoria thought aloud. “We are witches from the north in search of you. You are Vittoria, the woman who bites back with sharp teeth and a silver tongue. The woman who was defiled and broken and built herself back up to be stronger than she ever was before. We want you to lead us.” Nadia explained. Vittoria looked at them all with interest but quickly turned away. “I am not fit to be your leader. Find yourself another.” She said as she grabbed my hand and attempted to walk away, but I stayed in place. I know she doesn’t want to, and I know why, but I think it would be good for her to have another coven even though I want to lock her up and keep her all to myself. “I think you should at least try.” I said before squeezing her hand tightly and smiling at her. Vittoria pulled me closer. “If that smile is my reward, then I shall give you anything you want.” She replied, leaving only inches between us. I didn’t have time to be embarassed or excited before Leo appeared before us, stabbing his sword into the ground, and getting on one knee. “Luci…I-“Was all he could say before I hit him upside the head. “You’re an idiot. And yes, I forgive you. I know you didn’t know they were going to do that, and I know Vittoria wouldn’t have known what happened if you didn’t go to get her.” I said as I smiled at him. He continued to hang his head low as his grip around his sword’s hilt tightened. “I’m weak and a coward, but I promise to you I will change that. And I will work on changing the corruption of the church. I swear it.” He stated. I hugged him like the child he was before looking back at Vittoria. I don’t know if she’s a good person or a bad person; all I know is that she’s my person and it didn’t really matter to me either way. She wore her darkness so well; you can hardly fault me for falling for it. What am I going to do with a love like this?

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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