The Dark Witch And Her Knights

33

"Your vow," I rasped out.

His eyes seemed to widen with realization and his grip on my throat slowly began to loosen. If he went against his vow to a witch. He would be cursed for the rest of his life. Doomed to constant terrible occurrences or worse. He could be struck down by lightning at any moment.

"You tricked me."

"I ensured my safety. I knew letting you die would be the smarter choice."

"Why are you helping me?"

"Because!" I waved my hand at the spikes. "Lacus." The spears jutted from the ground and slammed into the walls of the pit creating a poor stick stairwell.

I reached into my bodice looking for the last potion I had saved for myself in direr need. "What is that?" What do you think you're doing?" he began questioning franticly.

"It is to heal you. Or would you rather not make it back to your castle alive, My Prince?" Placing my hand over the one he used to apply pressure I tried easing off his grip. Reluctantly he let go glaring at me with the fire of retribution in his eyes.

"Fucking witches." He grunted.

"It is only a witch with the power to save you." I poured the contents of my potion over the hole in his thigh. "Sana, Sana, Sana," I whispered watching the flesh slowly knit back together as The Prince screamed through gritted teeth. "You must know that your power of sight and the strength from your hunter's mark all come from the blood of witches running through your veins."

"You lie," he seethed.

"Maybe you should ask your father what secrets his blood truly holds." His expression put the fear of God in me. I held my resolve knowing the truth.

"You know nothing of my father." He knows nothing of his father.

"Wouldn't I." Breaking my eyes from his I focused back on his injury. The hole had healed leaving behind a large gaping scar. The muscle and tendons will take much longer to heal leaving The Prince with a limp for some time.

"Who are you?" he asked looking at his thigh.

"I am Lady Sable of the country."

"The captain is not your cousin is he?"

"No, not at all. He knows my secrets so I am at his mercy." It wasn't a complete lie.

"Is this so. The captain has captured a witch and is using her powers for himself. How intriguing. I would have never thought Gavrial slayer of witches to also be a keeper of pets." He snickered at me.

Evading his gaze I hoped I looked shy and dismayed. I could not reveal my lover's true identity at this moment.

His hand wrapped around my wrist tugging me closer. The Prince's eyes sparkled with mischief and delight. The heels of my boots dug into the ground trying to keep my balance. I noticed him eyeing up my physique. I tried hiding the roll of disgust sweeping through me.

"What would happen if I were to take you as my pet?"

I glared at him feeling my stomach plummeting with fear. If this man does not let me go, I will call down the devil on him.

"Or I could burn you as the witch you are."

I snarled at him lunging. He effortlessly snagged my fist raised to strike, pulling me into his lap, wrapping his arms around me, and caging me in. I struggled, throwing elbows, and chanting trying to incapacitate him. My magic had turned silent, there was nothing, not even a spark. It was gone.

"Did you know in the hands of a hunter a witch can cast no spell?" The shock had me frozen stiff. I had allowed myself to grow too cocky, to believe I had the upper hand. The sigil on the pagoda flashed in my find, the mark on Donte's chest. They were the same marks.

"This is going against your vow," my voice trembled.

"I think not," he whispered in my ear, his hands finding uncomfortable places to explore. He doesn't know, I reminded myself trying not to break and tell him my secret. "I think I like you very much, Lady Sable." His hand found its way to my bare thigh. "I want to keep you for myself and that is not against my vow."

"You will be cursed." He stood with unbelievable strength holding me in his arms and shifting my weight so he could support me against his chest. Using the stairs I made he carried me out of the pit to his waiting horse. He dropped me to my feet and I tried to run and separate myself from him. "Nuh-uh-uh," he sniggered tugging on my wrist.

"You can't be this dumb-" he swung out striking me in the face. I spit out the blood pooling in my mouth and grinned wickedly at him. "You'll have to let go of me eventually."

Using his grip against him, I leaned back dropping my weight and lifting my leg to kick him as high as I could. He stumbled back but his grip didn't falter. A chuckle passed his lips and at first, I swore I was mistaken.

"You are mad," I declared with elated surprise.

His face construed with disbelief. "Coming from the witch in a Lady's clothes. Need I point out the rest."

"Do you not care for your fate. Once you let go I will do all I must to protect myself."

"Then I shall do everything in my power to show you that you are safe with me. I will not hurt you."

"You just struck me. Why take me at all, if not to kill me? You are the most renowned witch hunter alive. A prince, the next King, son of a man who has burned thousands of witches with you right by his side, helping. I'd have better luck reading fortunes in the streets of the city or casting spells in plain sight for all to see. I am no fool."

"Then why did you come here, Lady Sable?"

I could never tell him the truth.

"Captain Halstead required my company."

"Surely he did not intend for you to join the hunt full of witch killers." His thumb had started to gently caress the skin of my wrist. I hid my revulsion with anger. "Tell me the truth and I'll let you go now."

"I have a brother. He does not know of me but I know he is a participant today. I dared to meet with him, to discern what type of person he is. As a witch, I can not reveal myself to a hunter. It is forbidden and I have already broken many rules with you. All punishable by an appalling death."

"You have risked a lot by trespassing here. Well did you find the brother you were looking for?"

"Yes. Now, will you keep your word and release me?"

"I have just one more question."

I glared impatiently at him.

"Was your brother that much of a disappoint?"

"Why would you think he disappointed me? Maybe he met every expectation I had already formed in my mind of him."

"Then why did you remain in the hunt and not have your brother save you from Gavrial?"

He paid too close attention and my acting wasn't good enough to mislead him sufficiently. "He's a hunter and I'm a witch. If I did, how would I know I wouldn't be trading one master for another?"I shook the hand tightly held in his broad grasp to emphasize my point. "I have answered two questions of yours Prince Carver and I remain your captive. Your company is not one I would like to remain in."

Begrudgingly he released me. Slowly I backed away ready to cast a spell if he changed his mind. "I'm sorry I hit you."

"No, you're sorry you made that vow and probably wish nothing more than to watch me burn or be dragged behind a horse till I died." I turned on my heel and retreated behind the cover of the trees.

***

Sana ----- Heal

Lacus ---- Transport