Bewitched

Chapter 6 - Malise

We reached the town but didn't enter it. Elvira led us deeper into the woods, farther than any sensible human would go without reason. She'd been smart about hiding herself and her sister, I had to admit that.

The cottage itself didn't become visible until we were close to it, its walls camouflaged by ivy. In front of it was a flourishing garden. I recognized many common ingredients of potions. I wondered if Elvira saw the irony too: her trying to ban magic out of her sister, but relishing in the pleasure of studying it herself.

Before we could reach the door, it flew open, and a teenaged girl ran out. She looked very similar to Elvira, but I knew there was one critical difference between them.

"Asha!" Elvira caught her sister in a tight embrace.

"You came back!"

"I did. I managed to escape." 

"I didn't know what to do! I wanted to follow you but I didn't think I'd make it to the trials in time, and I didn't know where they'd take you after."

"I'm glad you stayed here." Elvira held her sister at arm's length and looked her over. "Did anyone come here while I was gone?"

"A group searched nearby, but they didn't find me. And I was too scared to leave the house."

"Good, good... Come on, let's go inside."

Asha looked at me, and then at Elvira.

"That's Malise," Elvira said. "She helped me escape, and she's going to help keep you safe now."

"I'm a witch," I added, because I wasn't going to let her omit that information.

She sighed. "Yes, she's a witch."

Asha's eyes grew big. I wondered if she'd ever met a witch before. She opened her mouth, but Elvira took her inside.

I followed them through the door into what appeared to be the kitchen. The forestation around the cottage blocked the only window in the room, leaving the cottage dim even in the middle of the day. The counter was lined with jars. I presumed not all of those were cooking ingredients.

"Is there anything left to eat?" Elvira asked.

"We stocked up lots," Asha said, "and I picked things from the garden, too. Here, sit down."

"In a moment." She turned to me. "I need to step into the back for a bit..."

"I will sit still and not touch anything," I said.

"Good." She glanced between me and her sister.

"I won't say a word, either."

She nodded. "I'll be right back." She disappeared through a door on the other end of the kitchen.

Asha put a pot over the fire. She cast a look at the door before moving closer to me. "Are you... Are you really a witch?" she whispered.

"I am," I whispered back.

"Are you always on the run, too?"

"Now, yes. But not when I was still with my coven." This was the moment to introduce her to her future.

"You were in a coven?" She stirred in the pot without looking at it.

"I was."

"What's it like?"

"Oh, it was great. I learned all about magic and my sisters - the other witches - were always there for me. You're never alone. There's always someone keeping an eye on you." Even during your weakest moments, biggest failures, parts of you that were never meant to be seen by others.