The Witch and the Alchemist (closed)

[Cheshire Pup]

Dorelia felt the woman squeeze her hand back and then she was shocked when the woman stood up and spoke against the father in their town. He was the Holy Man, the highest authority here and she was speaking against him on Doreliaâ??s behalf. Dorelia was walking across a narrow plane of ice. There were so few places that she could go and even those places were dangerous. Despite the love that everyone showed for her she was still a Stanger, an outsider from another land. On top of that she had already been accused of being a witch and, while it was true, she could not risk the town believing that she was a witch. Truly being one meant that if they really started to look hard enough then they would surely find proof.

Even with the woman trying so hard the man was in his place of power. He was in church, in front of the people. If she didnâ??t know better she would say that he was drawing power form having the people there listening to him and being on that pulpit. Abigail was a very good woman but he was better with words then she was and in his place of power she did not stand that much of a chance. He talked the woman back into her seat but not without saying some things that burned in Doreliaâ??s ears.

Dorelia had a house, she had a house with Abigail and before long she would have a source of income. She was going to work with Beatrice and make cloths for the people of the city. There was no way she would let her child suffer because she would do anything in her power (and being a witch there was a lot of power) to make sure her child would be happy and healthy. Besides all of this there were plenty of people that did not have a father figure in their home, whether it is because their father was killed or lost to some disease there were plenty of ways for a father not to be there. Even without a father she was sure that her child would grow up just fine.

But as he went on something confused her. Was he saying that he would marry her to provide the father figure that he thought that the child needed. They why say the church? Why would the church be doing this while she learned what she needed to know? Surely he could not mean what she thought he meant. He couldnâ??t mean that he would actually take her child from her could he. He must be joking, no, she must be misunderstanding what was said. But slowly it dawned on her that was what he meant and a rage began seeping to her core. Slowly at first, tinting her mood from disbelief to anger. She felt her magic gathering at her finger tips, all to it. It was charging, pulling extra from the air, getting itself ready to let loose a mighty spell on the father that would horribly wound him if not kill him right there.

Landon would feel it, that father would feel it, but all the others would realize was that Dorelia was very, very upset. She struggled with herself to keep control of this. She had sworn that she would never let what she did to her mother happen again, not even if the man deserved it. If she killed him then even in death he would win. He would have proven she was a witch. He would have proven she was dangerous. He would have proven she was unfit to be a mother. He would have enough to make the people believe that she was against god. His death would mark the straw that would get her burned at the stake. Or, worse, they would hold her away somewhere until she had her baby then take it from her like he wanted to do now and then burn her. If she let loose then there was no doubt that he would win but that didnâ??t make it any easier. There had to be some way to stop him.

And someone found out how. Someone stood up and said that they would take her. She turned to see who it was and she was shocked. The magic that was gathering at her fingertips seemed to vanish at an instant, now with no need to use it the magic flew back to her reserves and the father and Landon would feel nothing form her again. Landon had been the very person to speak up and stop him from taking her child. Of all people there is was Landon. Old words form days gone past filled her mind. Even though it felt like years since they had been said they still stung. "I would never take a woman so untrusting of me and my motives and so anxiously prudish -when all I want to do is help--as my wife. Especially not you."

Why was Landon doing this? He himself had claimed that he would never take her as his wife. As he went on it made a bit of sense. He was not going to marry her, just take care of her. -when all I want to do is help- If he was going to help her like he said then that would be just fine. He had already been helping her a lot, though not with anything motherly or family oriented. When the priest asked if he would marry her she was sure that they were cooked, there was no way-... But he did. His eyes had moved her hers, her own eyes were filled with a cocktail of emotions. The anger and humiliation had not entirely drained away, fear had been added when the idea that Father Justin would take her child came to mind. The confusion that showed seemed to keep it all together. None of this was making any sense to her.

Father Justin was not finished talking though, he claimed her desires to be irrelevant. That man truly knew so very little about everything, especially considering he worked for an all knowing power. Landon was better with battles of words then Abigail was. Fighting like a knight come to save a prince form a dragon. The fact that it was a doctor saving a witch form a priest was almost amusing. Just as in the fairytales, the knight won. But there was no horse to be scooped up to and no kingdom to rule together and the battle was not over. It was far from it. At least morning mass was over.

As the people shuffled out of there Dorelia sat still, looking down at her lap. She was in a state of shock right now, her mind completely confused and practically fried by trying to understand what was happening, had happened, and would come to happen. Holding back that spell had not be easy either. Things like that are the reasons that witches had to train so hard. As easy as it is for a normal person to last out of someone that makes them mad it is even easier for a witch to do it magically. She was finally roused form this state when Abigail tugged her hand. She looked up at the woman, the expression on her face closest to that of a child, lost and confused.

The woman lead the way through the people, Dorelia kept her head down, responding to nothing that was said to her by other people, not that much was. Her eyes were towards the ground and they stayed that way the entire trip back to Abigailâ??s house, the entire time being towed behind much like a mother would do with their child. At this point her face was strangely void of all emotion. Like she had dulled herself to help her handle all of this.

Once they got into the house the first thing Dorelia did was go to the table and sit down. She them crossed her arms and buried her face into her arms, keeping it completely hidden from the others. Her mind was surging, she was thinking of many things, different pieces flying through as though she was putting together three puzzles at the same time. There were things that she needed to do, that list was steadily growing all too quickly. She heard what Landon said but she did not respond. For at least five to ten minutes she made no move of any kind. She stayed there until she new exactly what she wanted to do.

â??He isnâ??t going to take my child.â? She said to the two of them. Her voice was strong, full of steadfast determination. She was not saying it as something she would not allow to happen; she was saying it as something that would not happen. Saying it like it was a fact and there was guarantee that it would come to pass just as she spoke it. She turned to the two of them, her face showed the determination she felt. â??Abigailâ?? if you donâ??t mind,â?? I am going to go for a walk. I believe I am old enough to go un-chaperoned.â? She told Abigail, basically saying she wanted to go alone.

Without waiting for their response she went to her room. She closed the door then picked up her book, rubbing one of the edges the book shrank to a small enough size to fit into a pocket on the dress. After hiding the mini book on her person she left the room, walking past the two of them, she walked straight out the door. A minor spell helped her find who she needed to and she soon came to the door of an old man.

The man had an accent, he was not from around here but he had lived here for years, painting the breath-taking sunsets that could be seen only from the desert. The man invited her inside and attempted to talk to her about what had happened in church but she managed to sway him off the topic and about his paints. She managed to convince him to let her borrow some red paint and two paint brushes. Then he wished her luck and she was off again, this time headed for Susyâ??s house.

She knocked on the womanâ??s door and when the woman answered she smiled at her. â??Susy we have to talk, inside though.â? She told the girl and the woman, though she seemed reluctant, let her in.

â??I was talking with Landon. He wanted to take your plants away but donâ??t worry. I wonâ??t let him do that. These are you plants and you are the only one who has right to have them.â? She said to the woman with a smile, wishing to assure her that she was on her side. â??Now, we just need a clear table... there.â? She said with a smile, it seemed Susy managed to keep a table clear enough to eat at. There were still a few other plants on the table, spices that could be added to food. â??I got us some paint for your village painter. He is a very nice old man. Anyways, I got some red paint. I was thinking that I could collect the plants around here that are poisonous and we can put them on the table and them paint red rings around the pot so you donâ??t have to worry about accidentally poisoning someone again.â?

She said to the woman with a smile, happy to help. Even though she had already been planning to do this it was not the main reason for her coming here. She wanted to be around the plants. Much like the effect the church had on Father Justin, being around plants made her feel stronger, only difference between the two was they actually made hr stronger. Being around the plants long enough to allow her to gain back magic that she spent when she was looking up ways to sure Landon of his witch blood. She just had to hope that the woman would let her stay or take a plant or two home. She had paid enough to get quite a few.

This was the first thing on her list of things to do today. In order to complete the rest of the list she needed to be stronger so this was the first step to the second item, the only thing that could possibly stop her was Susy and she felt oddly willing to use a witchy suggestion spell if she had to but she hoped it would not come to that.

 

[Rudolph Quin]

Father Justin seethed inside as he watched the congregation get up and leave, everyone slowly making their way out the church doors, going back to their daily tasks and chores. Grinding his teeth, he glared menacingly from where he stood at the podium at the retreating form of the old nurse and the witch, his rage surging through him barely restrained. He wanted to shout out and stop them from leaving, especially the younger woman. During his sermon, he'd felt something emanating from the girl he'd been preaching about. At first, he'd disregarded it as merely anger and hate from her at his words, but as soon as Landon had spoken up, the feeling had disappeared and he suddenly knew what it had been. A queasy feeling came over him as he thought back over it: she'd been about to use her magic on him.

All at once there was a sense of validation that flowed within him, and it crashed heavily with a sense of helplessness as he looked around and realized no one else had felt it. Now Father Justin knew for sure, without ANY doubt that the woman was the bride of Satan, but was absolutely impotent to do anything about it. He breathed heavily, glaring at the two women as they left the building in the midst of all the others, gripping the podium until his knuckles were white. The hate and pure rage that filled him was close to bursting but he managed to keep a hold on himself for a whole hour as he stood there, looking out at the empty chapel, letting the emotions stew and wash over him. Then, his face contorting in fury and roaring in anger, he swept the candles and relics off of the altar with his arm, staring at them lying on the floor and breathing deeply trying to calm himself. This was far from over. And now that he knew with 100% certainty, there was no stopping him. Some way he would reveal her and he would have her child AND her blood shed upon the ground. He would watch as the life faded from her eyes and praise the Lord on that glorious day. Kneeling before the large cross that hung on the wall, he clasped his hands in front of himself in prayer and said, "I swear it," with all the darkness in his heart imbued within the promise and he crossed himself piously.

--------------------

Landon stood uncomfortably for several minutes watching the girl sitting at the table with her face buried in her folded arms. He couldn't imagine what this must be like for her. Since day one of coming to town, being persecuted at every turn by this man and him almost killing her as well. Then again, he assumed life wasn't easy for a witch anywhere, but for so much turmoil to happen in one town must be difficult for her to get through. Considering the magic inside him still, he shuddered and hoped he'd never have to find out first hand. And granted, he'd had his own problems with the priest, he'd never been the Holy Man's victim.

“He isn’t going to take my child.” There was a strength of conviction in her voice, not a shred of doubt in her tone, like the statement of an ultimate truth.

Lan nodded his head as Dorelia spoke and was about to say something himself, but she was getting up and telling Abigail she was leaving to go for a walk. He would have asked where she was going but the way she phrased it made him stay his tongue. Yes, of course. She was an adult and could go where she pleased whenever she felt like it without needing to tell anybody. Partly it was his concern for her that made him want to ask, but also he liked knowing where she was. But he kept his mouth shut and exchanged a look with Abigail as the young woman went into the other room for a minute. He still wanted to talk about this so when she came out, he said her name once before she'd walked out the door.

Letting out a sigh, Lan stood with his hands on his hips and looked down at the floorboards. He supposed it could wait for now. She'd had to deal with so much already, it would be best if he gave her time to herself to work through it and himself time to think about things as well. But Abigail was ready to talk about it now. She'd been stunned to see Landon step forward in church, not only because of his presence in the building--she didn't think in the whole time since he'd been in town that he'd ever set foot there--but also because of the things he'd said. It had filled her with pride and she'd offered silent prayer of gratitude that someone had the guts and willpower to fight the priest. But then her heart had sunk when he'd agreed to marry Dorelia. What was the man thinking? It wasn't like Father Justin had given many options--'either marry the girl or step aside and give me the baby' basically--but she was worried that Lan had made a promise he couldn't keep or that he was making it for the wrong reasons.

Abigail willingly let the girl go, with a small nod of her head and as soon as they were alone, she spoke up. "What are you going to do?" she asked, staring at the young man.

Looking up at her his eyebrows raised, he shook his head. "I'm...I'm gonna do what I said I would..." he said, a bit unevenly. "If she agrees, then I'll marry her..."

"Landon," Abigail said, empathy in her voice and concern in her eyes. "I know you want to protect her but you're going about this the wrong way."

"I won't force her to do anything she doesn't want to," he said a little defensively. "If she says 'no' then we'll just find some other way. I won't let him win and he won't lay a hand on her or her child, EVER." His voice got stronger as he went on, no longer unsure and embarrassed, but strong and confident. He knew what Dorelia had meant when she'd said the man would not take her baby--she would protect herself with magic if it became necessary. But he would do everything in his power to make sure it didn't come to that. He knew it was her mothering instinct and even possibly the instinct of self-preservation that witches had, but it would spell disaster for her if she ever did anything like that. And he couldn't let her hang herself.

"You think you have a choice?" Abigail asked her brow furrowing just a bit. "He won't let you get away with that and you know it. You made a commitment in front of everyone, to a man of God in the LORD'S HOUSE. Father Justin will fight you if you try to give her a choice in the matter and he will win if you decide not to go through with it."

"Then what do you suggest, Abigail?" he asked, getting a little angry at her words. He didn't like feeling helpless like this and the fact that the priest was the cause, made him feel a bit like he was being victimized by the man as well. He'd caught Dorelia in a trap and snagged Lan along with her. These things were always easier to fight on the outside rather than when one was involved like he'd become. "What do you want me to do? You say I'm going about this the wrong way when I say I'll marry her but when I say I'll let her choose for herself, you tell me I'm not going to win the fight. What the fuck, Abby?"

"Don't curse in front of me, Landon Cane," she said testily. "What I meant was that you've gotten yourself into a whole lot of trouble--"

"Dammit!" he shouted and turned away from her, anger filling him. "Don't you think I KNOW that???"

She pursed her lips and stared at him unwaveringly, and when she spoke irritation filled her voice. "Don't you dare interrupt me, Lan. I am a human being and deserve the common courtesy to finish a sentence!" She'd been verbally pushed around by Father Justin in front of the whole town and she wasn't in the mood to let Lan do the same thing. When she reprimanded him, he heard it in her voice and understood why and he looked down at the ground breifly as she continued to speak. "I know you think you could let her have a choice, and I know that no one else would stand up to him and I'm thankful that you did. But I fear you might be doing this for the wrong reasons. It's a noble cause, but you can't agree to marry every woman that Father Justin bullies. That's not a smart way to fight him and it'll just make you look bad."

Lan let out a breath, smiling without humor as he looked away and shook his head. When he looked back at her, he spoke in a quiet voice. "It's not like that...and you know it." He blushed as he realized what he was admitting and turned away, heading towards the door.

She knew and she heard exactly what he was saying and let out a frustrated sigh as he started to walk away. These young people and their drama; would it never stop and did she have to be right in the middle of it all? "Be good to her, Landon," she said quietly when he'd reached the door and he stopped to listen without turning back to her. "She's special." And without another word he left.

----------------------

Susy knelt in the dirt behind her house as she heard the church bells ring and ignored them as she tended to her flowers, pulling up weeds and dead heading the blossoms. She never went to church. After she'd been accused of being a witch and then been cleared, she'd tried to go a few times, but Father Justin's antagonistic sermons always made her feel like she was being put on the spot. He'd never spoken to her directly or even about her directly, but he had looked at her while he'd preached and the man's gaze was full of so much hate it made her feel like she were better off dead. When he looked at her that way, it made her feel like she wanted to stand up and take her own life right there in church. So, she'd stopped going. It didn't appear that people held it against her, but for all she knew it could just be another reason added to the multitude of why people hated her.

After she was done tending the plants outside, she went indoors and started to water all of the others. Working on autopilot she tried not to think or feel anything, just letting herself get lost in what little she knew about tending to the plants. That thought made her cringe as she remembered that it was only a little that she knew and that Dorelia knew so much more and was prettier and everybody loved her--! Then she stopped as she stood trembling and breathing hard in the middle of the room, trying to get a handle on herself again, and soon she was breathing easy and watering the rest of her plants with a blank look on her face and her insides completely hollow. After she was done, there wasn't much else she knew how to do--she had to fight the thoughts of self-loathing and hatred for Dorelia before they came crashing in again--so she sat down at the kitchen table and looked through her mother's notebook.

Sitting with her chin propped in her hand and her elbow on the table beside the book, she flipped through the pages forlornly, understanding a few words here and there but the rest clouding her mind with gibberish. Susy wondered sadly if Landon was right, if maybe she should do something else. She was such a failure, she couldn't help but think maybe her mother's spirit was ashamed of how she was running things now or if the woman had disguised her notes on purpose. But Susy shook off such thoughts. No, no, no! She'd grown up surrounded by her mother's plants all her life and had partaken of them as well. The only time she ever felt truly alive was when she was surrounded by green things and it was her dream to keep the business alive in her mother's name. She COULD learn! Lan would see! She would make him and her mother proud someday and he would love her then.

Susy cursed her younger self for not paying attention more when her mother had attempted to teach her. As a little girl, she'd been interested in chasing the boys and kissing them and playing dolls with the other girls in town. All her mother's attempts to instruct her about this or that tea or herb were met with rolled eyes and dull looks as Susy had let her mind wander in day dreams. It hadn't always been her dream or goal in life to be an herbalist, but now she was forced by circumstances and a sense of duty to her mother's memory. And now she'd spent so many years dedicated to it, nothing else filled her with a sense of purpose like this did.

She was startled from her thoughts when the knock came at the door and she got up and answered it not expecting the person she saw standing on her doorstep. When Dorelia asked to come inside, Susy hesitated, her shock making her stuck between her hatred of the other woman and her need to keep up the 'nice girl' charade. Finally smoothing out her features and shoving the loathing she felt back into the depths within her, hiding it away as she opened the door wider and stepped out of the way. There was also a bit of nervousness that the girl knew what she had done and she bit her lip as she let Dorelia inside and she closed the door. Then when she started speaking Susy grew alarmed. Oh God! Landon was really mad at her and was going to take her plants away! He couldn't--he just couldn't do that to her! There was a slight panic in her heart but as Dorelia went on it faded. She...she was here to help her? And as Dorelia described what she planned to do, relief filled her. Not only because the woman was helping her, but also because she had no idea that Susy had tried to poison her on purpose.

Overcome with emotion and putting on the charade, Susy let out a mournful sigh and wrapped her arms around Dorelia abruptly, holding her close and with her head over one of the woman's shoulders. "I'm...so sorry..." she said, with a small sob. "I didn't mean to... Thank you, thank you so much..." She let the tears fall from her eyes and sniffled some as she withdrew, smiling happily at the woman. "Yes, that sounds like a splendid idea and it will really help me a lot." Except now, she'd have to find a different way to kill her. She would have had to do that anyway, because it would have been too suspicious to try the same thing twice, but still...if it became a last resort, she wouldn't be able to use it now, because the plants would be marked and she couldn't play stupid. But she made a good show of being grateful and set about to help the woman with the task.

-------------------

Leaving Abigail's house, Lan walked down the street, mind abuzz with everything that had happened today and he started when he realized it was only 11 in the morning. Goodness, every day seemed determined to keep him on his toes bouncing from one foot to the other in an attempt to stay on his feet, but he always felt like he ended up flat on his back in the end. Sighing heavily he thought about Dorelia and what he'd done in the church. Could he really do this? When he thought about it, he knew he wanted to, have her as his wife and to care for her and her baby...to love them both. And he would; it didn't bother him at all that Dorelia was carrying another man's child, because what had happened to her wasn't her fault and it wasn't the child's fault either. He only worried that Dwane might come back into the picture one day, but it was all the more reason, in his mind, to be there to protect her as her husband. But he also worried about his ability to provide for her emotionally...if he could be what she would desire in a husband. Would she even agree to do this? He knew what Abigail had said was true, but still, he wasn't going to force Dorelia to marry him no matter what promises he'd made.

Feeling uncertain, he suddenly couldn't stand it anymore, not knowing what she thought or how she felt. He had to talk to her now. So, he stopped beside a building and stood very still and thought about her, wondering where she could have gone. Instantly his gut pointed him towards Susy's house, but he thought that couldn't be right. He relaxed and let himself feel her, and her blood coursing through him and again, was pointed in the direction of the herbalist's house. Shrugging to himself, he headed in that direction, feeling a bit hesitant to meet with the woman he now had more than just a strong dislike for. How would she be now? It had only been an hour or two since he'd yelled in her face and told her off. Would she have recovered by now and gone back to her ditzy oblivious self? Back to disregarding everything he said and stuck in her own little world? Thinking of her calling him 'Lanny' again, he swore he would frigging hit the woman and knock some sense into her that way if she called him that.

Susy's mood seemed brighter and she hid her anger well, behind a mask of delighted girlishness as she chatted with Dorelia about this and that, while they worked. "I use to work closely with Lanny," she said in a bragging tone. "He let me help him with the medicines in the hospital. We were always together and when we weren't tending the sick, he was showing me things in his lab. Stuff he never showed anyone else. Then everything changed when Father Justin accused me of witchcraft because of how well my herbs worked. People use to come to me for things back then and request plants that my mother had given them to help with minor ailments. When they worked, the priest said that I had cast spells and said I got my power from Satan." She smiled sadly thinking to herself for a moment then came back to the present. "He just gets mad sometimes. Lan does. I'm sure that is just what this is. He knows how much these mean to me and he wouldn't take them from me--"

She stopped when there was a knock on the door, and she looked at Dorelia worriedly before she set the plant in her hands down and went to answer it. Trepidation made her heart pound in her chest heavily as she opened the door and she felt the panic fill her when she saw Landon on her doorstep. "Hello, Lan," she said soberly, and noticed the slight relief in his expression when she'd said his name--he was thinking, 'Oh, good, I don't have to beat her. Maybe she's finally catching on...' "What can I do for you?" She tried to keep her tone unassuming and respectfully distant, not wanting to make him mad again. She thought he was here to take away her plants, but didn't want to act on that assumption if it turned out to be false. He didn't look mad right now, so maybe he was here for something else. What he said surprised her and she felt the hate inside her burn and sizzle.

"Is Dorelia here?" he asked, only noticing her mood in as far as it was not like how she normally acted towards him. "May I come in?"

Grinding her teeth briefly and making an effort not to scream, she said, "Yes she is. Of course, come right in." Her manner was cheery as always despite the rage that filled her body. Allowing him entrance she was hoping to get to see some drama between them unfold, but he turned to her again and spoke.

"Susy, would you do me a favor?" Lan hesitated and licked his lips. "Can we have a few moments alone? Do you mind?" His tone was polite and deferential and she wondered why, until she noticed the expression she had on. Without realizing it Susy had frowned and folded her arms under her breasts when he'd asked the questions. Smoothing her features with an effort, and unfolding her arms, she nodded and tried to act like it didn't bother her as she walked to the back door. She'd just play with her flowers while they chatted or made-out or had sex or whatever right under her roof! It wasn't enough that they had to push her out of their presence when she wasn't wanted but they had to come here and do it directly.

Noticing the young woman's deflated mood, he glanced at Dorelia and stepped towards Susy. "Thank you," he said sincerely. "It'll only be a minute and I really appreciate it." Then he hesitated and bit his lip and leaned in and kissed the girl's cheek.

Warmth blossomed inside Susy and her head got light as she felt his feather-soft touch brush against her smooth cheek. She blushed and smiled and blinked her eyes a few times, prettily. "No problem," she said swooningly, holding her cheek and walking on air as she went out the back door. Lan winced and sighed as the back door closed behind her and thought wearily Two steps forward and two steps back. You do it to yourself, you know... Turning back to Dorelia he walked towards her and said, "We need to talk about this. I need to know what you want to do." He paused and licked his lips before continuing. "I meant everything I said in church today. Whether I'm married to you or not, I will be there for you, to help support you and the baby. And I will go through with it and...marry you, if that's what you want. If we don't Father Justin will make a big fuss, no doubt, but I won't force you to do this if you don't want to."

He looked down at the floorboards briefly, and looked back up at her seriously. "That being said... I think we could make it work. Either way, I'll be by your side, whatever you decide." And he put his hands in his lab coat pockets and awaited her response.

 

[Cheshire Pup]

The woman seemed really relieved that Dorelia was going to help her out with her plants and even more that she was not going to let Landon take them. She knew that the woman would be happy but she had not expected the woman to be so overcome that she would hug her, buried her face into her shoulder and cry a bit. She was not sure what to do so she wrapped her arms around her and held her until she composed herself and pulled away. Dorelia was confused but kept a look of kind understanding on her face. Sometimes people just needed a friend and from what she heard Susy didnâ??t really have any. She wished that there was something that she could do for the girl.

â??Alright, now letâ??s start by clearing these herbs off the table.â? She told the woman and sure enough they went to work. Susy was clearing off the table while Dorelia was left to wander through the house. She was steadily feeling better, being surrounded by all these plants. She could heard them whispering as plants often do, just quiet enough so you really had to listen if you wanted to hear what was being said. She wanted to hear them because there were some things she wanted to know.

The plants spoke of many things. They spoke of Susyâ??s mother, telling Dorelia that her mother had been a good witch but she had not liked the Father. Some of the older ones spoke of Susy as a little girl, others spoke of how happy she had been when she had Landonâ??s love. They even spoke of her mother and her loves. They told her several surprising things, like her mother had a thing for the preacher, her mother had almost been a victim of the man that decided to go around and rape women he saw as witches but she had used her magic to get away. As they spoke to her she thought about how wonderfully it must have been to be a witch living with such chatty plants.

Then she meet the plant that Susy had used in the tea, she knew it was the plant because it told her so. Someone else had knocked at the door and distracted Susy while Dorelia found this one in a back room.
You have eaten of me yet you still breath? The plant questioned her as she picked it up.

â??It takes more then you to kill me.â? She told it.

Ah, you are a witch then, yes? Like the mother of the woman here now. The plant asked her and she nodded, then the plant went on. And you are the girl that has stolen the affection of Susyâ??s Boe.

â??Excuse me?â? Dorelia said confused. She had stolen no oneâ??s affection let alone the affection of Susyâ??s boyfriend. She was not aware that Susy had one.

The doctor. Susy is mad at you witch. Beware. Her motherâ??s notes are almost useless to her, the woman wanted to keep her safe from persecution like she suffered by making sure that the girl would not follow her but she did and was persecuted for it. Ask the Zinnia, they spoke with the woman more then I did. However Susy speaks to me though not the way the woman did. She does not think we hear her plans.

â??Plans? What plans?â? Dorelia whispered, wondering who was at the door and what this plant was talking about.

Plans for your death. She is not happy you stole the doctorâ??s attention, believes you carry his child, thinks you ill steal him away form her forever. Beware young witch, she hides behind an air of ignorance.

But before the plant could tell her more she ad arrived in the main room and it was just in time to see Landon kiss Susyâ??s cheek. She noticed how dramatically her mood changed from just one kiss as did the plant in her arms.

Hmm, perhaps you do not have his affection.

Dorelia glared down at the plant and put it on the table, a little more forcefully then she had to, with the other poisonous plants. As Landon spoke to her she knew the Nightshade was listening. Poisonous plants could be very irritating. This one seemed to have a special quality of being strangely blunt for a plant. Hearing what Landon said she had to think. Being here would likely have much of the same effect on Landon. He would feel as though he was happier, healthier, like he suddenly had more energy. Magic was always stronger when it was around itâ??s element and this house was full of it. She had a lot to thionk about with what he was saying but the plant decided that it had nothing to think about.

Oh, so either you have his affection or he is doing this for a sense of duty... perhaps he is just one of those humanâ??s that gets a thrill from cheating on their spouse.

That was enough for her. Dorelia swatted a hand at the plant, hitting it hard and making a few leaves drop. To Landon it would appear as though she had done it for no reason. She sighed. â??Part of being a green is being able to listen to what the plants say and this one is highly annoying.â? She said, though she directed the last two words towards the plant. She collected the leaves that fell into a neat little pile where she could take them home. â??Landon I donâ??t know what you are doing or why you are doing this. You yourself said that you would never marry me. Or have you forgotten?â? she asked him, reminding him of the day when he had tried to bathe her and she slapped him.

â??You do not need to worry about supporting me. I will not be staying here, remember? Even if I do stay that man will not have my child. That is something you can be certain of. That man will not stop coming after me, especially after today and if he needs to be... restrained... then I may have to do that. He is causing too much chaos here. Hurting people, dividing people. God is supposed to bring out the best in people but this man just brings out the worst.â? She told him, she looked down, balling her fists tightly as she remembered what happened earlier.

â??That man... he has a special ability that is treasured among witch hunters.... It is a certain trait, there is an origin myth of where it came form but I will not bore you with that right now. All you need to know is that this man has the ability to sense magic. However he was not trained to use this ability so it points him at even the slightest signs of magic, Susyâ??s herbs for instance. I could not help that her mother was once a witch and this house reeks of magic.â? She told him, wondering if he could smell it. This magic smelt of beeswax and roses.

â??In church today...â? Dorelia began and then she looked back down, sighing, â??Wielding magic is hard for many reasons. That hardest part is self control. Just like a normal human being can loose it and punch someone a witch can loose it and caste a spell. The difference is that a person can stop or pull a punch after they throw it. Once a spell is caste there is not stopping it or changing itâ??s power, not without another spell and it needs to be fast enough to stop the first one.â? She explained to him. â??Father Justin... what he was saying about me... what he was talking about doing... I almost lost it Landon. I almost hurt him.â? She looked at Landon, sorrow covering her features. â??I think he felt it, that I was about to caste on him. Had you not spoken up and broken my concentration I may have.â?

She confessed to him. The table was now covered with plants, she sat down and began to paint the red rings around their pots. â??Someone needs to go see him, talk to him about me, try and get a clue to see if he knows because if he does hen I am in trouble. He will be completely sure that I am a witch. Proving I am not a witch to other people is easy but it was hard enough with him without him being completely sure. I donâ??t think I can make him believe I am not. Not without magic. I may have to use it if he does not leave me and my child alone. I do not care what happens, he wonâ??t have my baby.â? She said firmly.

You underestimate the Father young witch. The Deadly Nightshade spoke. She glared at the plant again.

â??When I say he will not have my child I mean it. I do not underestimate him, he underestimates me.â? She told the plant, irritated it felt the need to constantly put in its opinion.

 

[Rudolph Quin]

Landon couldn't hear anything except for Dorelia when she spoke, but he did feel more uplifted and alert since entering the house. Of course, he didn't know about greens and the effects that plants had on them, so he excused the new burst of energy and brightening of his mood as just a chemical reaction to her--a side effect of being in the young woman's presence, maybe because of her blood inside him. Maybe because of the way he felt about her...

He watched in confusion as she hit the plant she'd set on the table and as she explained, he gave her a level look before glancing around the room with just his eyes. "The...plants...are talking to you...?" he asked in disbelief. After everything that she'd done in front of him, he was still skeptical when she stated things like that as fact. He smiled just a little bit, brow furrowed and eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Are you sure, you're not just crazy?" In a way he believed her, but not completely and what he'd said was meant to be a joke based on their previous conversations, back when he thought her belief in her own witchcraft was just 'confusion'.

When she brought up the bathing incident and what he'd said then, Landon's smile faded and he looked down at the ground. That had been before he had been willing to admit his feelings for her and he remembered very clearly the reasoning that had been going through his mind when he'd said those words. Most of his opinion about himself and the respect he demanded from people regarding the work he did was based on the way he'd been treated growing up. He wasn't going to explain to her how he saw people's questioning him as a reflection of how the men back home had treated him before he'd left, that it made him feel like a nobody again. But he could help her understand in a way.

"I take my job very seriously," he said, looking at her grimly. "A little too seriously sometimes. What I said to you that day..." He paused, trying to think of the words to explain. "It was more about me than it had anything to do with you or my true feelings on the matter." He blushed a little as he remembered the conclusions he'd reached afterwards about how inappropriate it would be from now on to put himself in those situations with her now that he knew how he felt about her. He coughed nervously as that brought to mind the dream he'd tried to forget. "I was just frustrated by the situation, that was all... I thought... I thought I was helping and I didn't understand... I'm sorry if I made you feel bad..." How could he even begin to explain the change he'd gone through since he'd met her? How could he begin to tell her how he felt towards her?

Then his heart fell as he heard her say that she wasn't going to stay and he stepped towards her with hand out to touch her. "Please, don't leave," he said as he stood closer to her, holding his hand out in a calming motion as if she'd said she was leaving right now. "We'll figure something out. I will admit he's never been this persistant with anyone before..." As she continued to speak, he realized why. This gift she said the man had, the ability to sense magic. He didn't believe it. Dorelia was real and what she could do was real, but there had never been anyone else like her and he didn't want to think that the priest had been right in any degree--even if the people he'd gone after only had slight magical tendencies, it made what the Father was doing somehow reasonable. Lan was not willing to accept that. The man was psycho and he just happened to be right about Dorelia, and somehow he knew it. That's all.

He listened to her silently, and even made an attempt to smooth his absent facial hair a few times, frowning in consternation. It came as a bit of a surprise to hear her say that Susy's mother had been a witch, but remembering the woman, he didn't doubt it. When she was done speaking he took in a deep breath and came over to the table where she sat. Watching her curiously for a moment as she painted the pots, Lan finally sat down in one of the chairs and spoke quietly and seriously. "I've been here for 10 years," he said looking at the plants on the table before looking at her. "When I came to this town, it was on the verge of destruction, these people driven by so much hate and paranoia that it would have been only a matter of months before they'd finally torn eachother apart and burned this place to the ground. In a year, just ONE year of my stay, the casualties and injuries caused by neighbors attacking neighbors decreased by 50%. In the next five years, people stopped spying on each other and throwing around wild accusations almost completely. 2 years ago I stopped getting regular visits to my hospital except for the occasional accident and illness and when a woman gets pregnant. The people of this town are no longer fighting amongst themselves. Sure there's the rumor fests that go on and people get isolated and treated bad and there are arguments and squabbles still, but from what I've seen that's normal behavior for any town of our size."

He paused and glanced down at his hands resting on the table. "They're good people and that priest is a poison they're slowly being cleansed of," he said. "I don't know... I'm the last person to talk to about this, but maybe you being here...is the hand of God. Father Justin is NOT a holy man in any sense of the word. He's a fraud, a hypocrite and plagued by madness and lust for power. The town doesn't benefit from him one bit--there is nothing that he contributes except keeping the people in fear. I saw what it was like in church today; if every Mass and Sunday is like that, then it's my belief that people don't go to his church to worship God, they go to worship him. And if I'm not mistaken--forgive me, I'm a little sketchy on gospel teachings--but idolatry is against the rules, isn't it?"

He shrugged and gave her a grim smile. "So, he's not here to save their souls, but here for himself and even any side-benefit people could get from his presence, like a spiritual boost or ensuring they're doing their Godly duty, is absent because of his toxically charismatic personality. My whole stay here has been a battle with the man, to fight for these people's sanity and souls. Maybe you're the key.You're right, I think. He won't give up on you. If he really is as certain as you say he is, we just keep up the charade and make sure he doesn't have any direct proof and maybe we'll discredit him completely. If his reputation gets damaged enough, people will stop listening and he'll lose his power and he'll have no further reason to stay.

"I think talking to him will be a bad idea. We'll just assume he knows and I'll handle any discourse with him if we need to confront him for any reason. I've had experience dealing with his insanity. It's much safer that way." Landon ran a hand through his hair and sighed then, thinking about everything.

"I want you to promise me you won't use your magic against him. We'll fight him with words and physically if need be, but it will surely hang us if you cast any spells against him--God forbid he figures it out no matter how discreet the spell may be. I want you to trust me to handle this but I won't be able to help you once the people have his testimony that you used magic on him. Promise me, Dorelia, that you won't use it against him." His eyes looked into hers and there was a deep concern and pleading within them. If she cast any spell against the Father, and he had this ability that she spoke of, then the man would undoubtedly be squawking about it as soon as he could to anyone and everyone who would listen. And if the priest said a witch cast a spell on him, people would listen and there would be no turning them back around.

 

[Cheshire Pup]

Whether he noticed it or not, Dorelia had put down her paint brush shortly after he began talking. Instead of painting she was looking out on the plants in the house. It didnâ??t seem like she heard a word that he had said to her, not matter how important his words of warning may have been they seemed to fall upon deaf ears. She just stared blankly out at the foliage covered house and didnâ??t respond to a thing that he said.

When he was finally done talking she got up and, without a word, began to wander through the house. She was looking for something but from the look on her face she was not all that concerned about finding it and the way she moved made it seem like it was not a big concern of hers that it be found. After some time she returned, without a word, but holding what she seemed to have been looking for. There was a plant, a flower, in a pot all by itself.

She walked back to the chair and sat back with the plant held in her lap. She stared out at the plants for a few more moments then leaned back, closed her eyes and smiled. Not having spoken a word in some time it may have appeared as though she had gone to sleep. Finally she decided to break the silence but she didnâ??t speak on what Landon had said, it seemed, in many ways, like he may as well have not said anything at all at all.

â??Landon...â? she began, her eyes were still closed. There was a certain look on her face, as though there were no trouble, no problems, like nothing mattered, just genuine happiness and peacefulness shining through. â??Donâ??t tell me you donâ??t feel it... the lift from just being here. Donâ??t lie to me Landon.â? She said, her voice had a certain calm, serene factor about it.

â??It must be small for you since you only have a little bit of green in you... but Landon... for me... I wish you could understand. Iâ??m alive. When I am surrounded by plants I can feel them, I can hear them. I get to be part of something big. I donâ??t have to feel small or helpless. There isnâ??t a priest that can hurt me or a fire that can burn me. Itâ??s like Iâ??m untouchable, almost invincible.â? Slowly she opened her eyes and looked up at him. Her eyes were filled with a calm joy as they met his. Looking into her eyes it was almost impossibly not to be calm and happy.

Then she closed her eyes and took the feeling they brought with her. She sat up and looked down at the plant on her lap. It was a single daisy. It must have been recently grown because it was so small. She stood up and held it up, spinning just once before holding the plant close to her. She turned back to Landon, smiling that same calm, joyous smile. â??Landon... Iâ??m a green. I told you what that means but I donâ??t think you understand.â? As she spoke her voice was quiet.

She took a step towards him, holding the pot in one hand she brought his hands to hold it. Once he had a hold on it she took her hands and put them on either side of his head. She brought his face close and her lips close to his. They were so close it seemed like she would kiss him but instead he would hear the magical words she spoke and feel the magic tingle across his lips. Then she tilted his head to the side and whispered more words into his ear, turning his head she whispered the same words into the other.

There was an almost erotic quality about the way she went about this. Her lips so close to his, her hot breath on his ears, the devious smile on her lips as she pulled away and released his head. â??There, maybe a little taste well help you to understand.â? She said with a smile as she took three steps back and looked at the little flower in his arms. For a few moments he would hear nothing and then he would begin to hear the giggling. Like a little girl had suddenly appeared in the room and he could not see her but he would be able to hear her very clearly and the sound was coming from in front of him, in his hands actually. The plant was giggling.

â??The plants laugh.â? Dorelia explain to him, still smiling a calm, happy smile. â??They cry and scream and yell but hearing them laugh is my favorite.â? She explained to him, the look on her face was that of a child telling someone a secret. Sly, mischievous, but full of joy in sharing someone they did not know. â??The plantâ??s have meanings for a reason, it reflects their personalities. White daisies and fun. They represent innocence. They always sound like children, usually little girls.â? She told him. The plant almost seemed to look up at him though it had not moved at all.

Why are you, the man of blood,
playing in the flowerâ??s mud?
Have you come here to see Sue
or have you got things to do?
Sheâ??d be happy, donâ??t you know,
but truly sad to see you go.
Sadness filling up your heart.
Somethingâ??s tarring you apart.
Is it the witch or is it Sue
that makes you not know what to do?​

The plant spoke in rhyme in the voice of a five year old little girl. As it spoke Dorelia could only smile, her eyes searching Landonâ??s face for his reaction. When the flower spoke of sadness filling his heart her smile faded but the look of calm hid a look of concern.

â??You canâ??t lie to a plant anymore then you can lie to a witch.â? She explained to him. â??Plants can see directly into your heart and soul and if you try lying to them they grow cryptic. They are very in tune with the earth and it helped to hear what they have to say so donâ??t lie to them. The Daisies are innocence but they know a lot about a lot so donâ??t cross them.â? She said, laughing slightly. She realized that she was speaking of daisies as if they were some enemy to fear. Daisies were gathered by little girlâ??s in love, in joy, in play. Everything about them was innocence. They just seemed to shine brightly with an innocence Dorelia was envious of.

The laughter faded as did her smile; both were replaced by a certain sadness that Landon could almost feel just by looking at her even without the link. She looked out at the plants that filled the house then out one of the windows. Her eyes ran across the vast, never ending sands of the desert before trailing back to him. â??Landon... Iâ??m a green witch... a witch of plants. I thrive in places filled with plants... with life... But this village...â? she told him, looking back out the window, â??for someone used to being surrounded by life everywhere... itâ??s so... Dead. There is not a tree out there for miles, the plants are spiked and selfishly steal all the water they can gather form a sky that does not want to give.â?

Her eyes found their way back to his, there was a certain emptiness to them for a moment before the life that he had gotten so used to seeing returned to them. â??It is so quiet here Landon. There are no plants jabbering about what they have seen. All these plants can speak of it Susy because that is all they ever get to see.â? She said with a sigh as she looked at all he plants around here.

Oddly enough all he would be able to hear was the little daisy in front of him. She had enchanted him to hear that flower but not the others. They said things that she didnâ??t want him to know. As she looked out at them she listened to them whispering of how she was stealing the doctor from Susy and of Susyâ??s attempts to poison her. She shook her head, almost feeling bad for the plants that they would only see the inside of this house and not be able to be a part of a vast forest or see lots of different people.

That witch is sad, canâ??t you see?
This is not where she wants to be.​

The daisy spoke in his arms and she could only smile a sad smile at the little plant. â??Plants donâ??t forget things. They are better then books but harder to keep. Susy will let me buy that one, she will probably just give it to you if you ask her for it. Take care of it Landon, give it a name and talk to it so it does not get sad or lonely. You can leave it in your lab and it will tell you what it sees when you are gone.â? She said with a small smile then she looked at the plants that she had put on the table and she whispered a few words and the paintbrush moved and painted a ring around each poisonous plant pot she put on the table.

â??If Susy asks I was painting while we were talking. Think on what I said Landon. You are asking me to stay in a place that I canâ??t thrive in. I am not the right color for this place Landon. I canâ??t even wear my color here.â?

She told him before she walked out the door. The paintbrush laying still on the table and the plant in his hands. She had other things to do today that she needed to attend to and she didnâ??t want to wait around for Landon to understand what she had meant. A witch would get it but Landon didnâ??t think like a witch. He would realize that she meant she could not wear her hat here, the witch hat. It was the same thing as saying she could not be who she truly was when she was here and not being able to be yourself would surely bother anyone. Yet as she walked through the door she seemed to have something special on her mind that she wanted to do. Landon would have gotten even a clue form the look one her face but, as Dorelia said, plants tend to know things.

Something will happen, something bad.
And in involves the churchâ??s dad.​

Dorelia had made no promise.

 

[Rudolph Quin]

He waited for her to say something and watched her carefully as she rose and started to wander around the house, turning in his seat, his gaze following her everywhere she went. Leaning in his chair he peered into the other room where she went briefly, but he couldn't see what she was doing. When she came back holding the flower in the pot, Landon's eyebrows bounced up in curious surprise. What was going on? He sighed frustratedly when she sat and closed her eyes, waiting impatiently for her to speak, but when the words came they were not what he had expected.

As she spoke the tone of voice she used and the way her eyes looked at him, he did feel affected by it, relaxed and with the urge to smile. But with his present concerns Lan fought against it. What was she going on about? Hadn't she heard a word he'd said? This was serious! He watched her interestedly as she got up again, not really understanding her words--he thought he HAD understood what she'd meant about the different witch colors--and watched as she placed the plant in his hands looking down at it and then up at her in question. Then he sat rigidly as her hands clasped either side of his face and she leaned in closely.

At first he thought she was going to kiss him and he blushed wondering what had brought this on. But her lips stopped just short of touching his and words were whispered against him, her breath and the magic in her voice sending a shiver through him, his lips filled with a tingling sensation. The action was repeated for each of his ears, shivers cascading down his spine and a heat building in his groin at the enticing quality of the movements. He held back a groan and pleaded with his body not to respond and blinked at her in confusion as she stepped back. Lan was about to ask her what she meant when suddenly he heard it.

It started softly and slowly began to build in volume until it had reached a normal speaking tone of voice. A little girl's laughter filled the room and he looked around for a moment wondering if someone had come into the house when he hadn't been looking. Then drawn by the direction of the sound he looked at the plant in his hands and stared, eyes narrowed. As Dorelia started to explain, he slowly shook his head still looking at the plant. No!No!No!No! WHY??? Why did she have to involve him in all her witchy business? He didn't ask for this!

Looking at her, he glared querulously in a scornful manner and was about to say something when the child's voice spoke up. He looked back at the plant immediately, his eyes wide, listening to the angelic voice utter a rhyme that ended in a question. Lan's mouth gaped open and he tried to search for words--how the hell did you talk to a plant? He felt the need to respond, but was at a loss of what to say.

His eyes drifted back up to Dorelia when she warned him about the plant but she seemed to find it amusing so he wasn't too worried about it. He did however grow concerned about the fact that the plant talked at all and was going to ask her 'Why?' and maybe try and convince her to take it back, but then he stopped. Right before his eyes her expression changed to one of sadness and he sat silently, listening to her describe the way the desert made her feel. Lan looked down at the ground for a moment before looking back up at her, feeling helpless to convince her to stay. How could he, now that he knew this? It wasn't just the priest that was being hard on her, it was the environment as well. Knowing that being around the plants made her feel full of life and complete--and feeling a little bit of that himself--he could understand somewhat what the reverse must be like. Even though as of yet, he hadn't noticed himself being affected by the desert since the blood transfusion.

But he couldn't just let her leave...not before he'd gained the courage to tell her how he felt. "Dorelia, I..." and then the Daisy was piping up again and he looked sharply at it, his gaze wary. Hearing what it said, he frowned and looked back at the young woman in front of him. Maybe it would be best if he let her leave? Lan still wasn't sure about his own ability to provide for her relationship-wise and the constant presence of the priest and the lack of plant-life; maybe this wasn't the best place for her... and suddenly he felt selfish for demanding that she stay.

When she started to explain what to do with the plant, he shook his head silently, an alarmed expression on his face, holding the plant away from himself a little like he wanted to give it back. That was until she mentioned it being able to see things in his lab while he was gone and telling him about them. He frowned and thought for a moment. Why would she say that? No one ever went into his lab when he wasn't there except those who were looking for him and they usually didn't stay. Did...was she saying she knew of something that had happened there without his knowledge? Was...someone going into his laboratory while he was gone? If so, why and what the fuck were they doing in there? Anger filled him at the possibility and he wondered if she actually knew something or if she was just suggesting it as a courtesy. WHO would dare disrespect him in such a manner??? He was about to demand answers from her but then the paintbrush started floating and his hair stood on end as he stared, unable to draw his eyes away for a moment.

Landon turned to her as she spoke and walked to the door, gaping. What did she mean by that? She could wear whatever color she wanted if they had the cloth and dye--although it probably wouldn't be smart to put on any black. But she was headed out the door before he could say anything and he sighed and slumped in his chair. He started when the Daisy spoke again and he quirked an eyebrow at it's words. Oh good, he had a plant to talk to but he'd need an interpreter to understand anything it said.

------------------

Susy sat in her yard, playing with the sand and drawing pictures on the ground, writing words of love between her and Lan and doodling a sketch of her wedding gown. She knew he hadn't been so mad at her as that witch had tried to make it out to be. He would never take her precious plants away; that Dorelia had just been trying to scare her. Ha! Well the joke was on her! The man had kissed her right in front of the other woman and if that didn't prove he'd chosen Susy over Dorelia then she was a blasted fool. She snickered at that, thinking of herself being a fool as unlikely as Father Justin wearing a dress. And the image that brought to mind got her to giggle some more.

She was roused from her thoughts of planning her and Lan's wedding when she heard her front door open and close. She crawled to the edge of the house and looked down the side towards the street, the front of the house unseen. She didn't see anybody, so she hopped up and dusted herself off, going to the back door and letting herself in, peeking her head in first. She had expected Dorelia to be the one still here and she blushed and smiled prettily when she saw it was Lan. Gosh! He looked so handsome without his mustache--not that he hadn't before, but now he looked younger and with his lips visible it added something to his appearance that made her heart flutter.

"I see Dorelia left," she said noncommittally, playing with her skirts and smiling. "Did you have a nice talk?" She assumed by him still being here that he had something to say to her and although she'd respectfully not eavesdropped, she was willing to bet that an argument of some kind had taken place between Dorelia and the alchemist. In her fantasy world, she imagined the argument involving her and the fact that Dorelia was now gone and he had stayed, she imagined herself to be the victor in the fight for the man's heart. He held a flower in his hands and Susy's heart pounded as she bit her lips, wondering if he truly meant it for her this time and if now he would finally come back to her.

Landon looked at the woman in surprise having forgotten all about her while he and Dorelia had been talking, despite the young witch's referring to the herbalist near the end of the conversation. "Yes, yes," he said nodding his head politely and standing. "Thank you for giving us that moment of privacy."

She blushed and looked down at the ground coyly seeing praise in his words that simply was not there. "You're welcome," she said, looking back up at him with bright eyes and a shy smile. Noticing the pots on the table she frowned momentarily at seeing the red painted rings. Somehow that didn't fit with her vision of them having an argument--that Dorelia would sit there painting while Lan destroyed her emotionally telling her how he loved Susy more. A brush of reality hit her then. "I see Dorelia painted the pots for me." Her tone was absentminded and her eyes had not turned away from the pots, looking off into space as she spoke.

Landon tried not to look at the young woman too much, knowing he'd totally given her the wrong idea by kissing her cheek and that she would probably be back to being her flighty, ditsy self. His gut clenched just waiting for her to call him 'Lanny'. How was she to get the right idea if he kept confusing her and manipulating her? He wasn't too guilty though, for playing upon her emotions was an easy way to get her to cooperate. He only regretted the way it effected him after the fact. When she mentioned the pots he glanced at them and looked back at her. "Oh, yes, Dorelia painted them...while we talked," he couldn't suppress a shiver as he remembered how the brush had moved and painted the pots on it's own. Then he stopped and looked at her curiously. "What is the paint for?"

Susy roused from her daydream of tackling Dorelia to the ground and ripping out her hair and looked at the man standing in front of her, putting on a fake smile. "Oh, Dorelia did that to help me identify which plants are poisonous," she said pleasantly, walking over to the table and touching the Deadly Nightshade lovingly. "It's so that I don't have any more accidents. Wasn't that thoughtful of her?" Susy looked over her shoulder at him batting her eyelashes prettily.

He completely missed her flirty as realization bloomed on his features and he smiled and nodded to himself. Ah, so that's what she had been doing. Very clever, Dorelia. She probably just saved Susy from his future wrath and he praised the young woman for her ingenuity. Afterall, Lan hadn't thought of any real solution to the problem; he'd mostly wanted to punish Susy and here Dorelia had come up with a way to prevent the herbalist from making mistakes and to allow the woman to continue to work with plants. Everybody was happy.

Susy watched as he got that look on his face and she pursed her lips. Then nodding at the plant in his hands she asked, "What are gonna do with the daisy? Do you want it for something or are ya just holding it 'cause it's pretty?" Again she looked at him coquettishly and her tone was slightly suggestive.

He heard the flirtation in her voice this time and instantly was put on edge, closing himself off from her emotionally and putting up a wall between himself and her. Susy flinched as she saw the change of expression and once again reality slapped her in the face. Things hadn't really changed at all, had they? "Actually," he said in a professional voice, looking down at the Daisy in his hands. "I would like to have this, if you don't mind...?" He would pay her if she said she wanted it--it was just one small flower though and he wouldn't offer to pay unless she insisted--but all she did was nod and smile.

Even though she was realizing that she'd set herself up for disappointment with her silly fantasies of an argument and new found love between Lan and her, she wasn't ever going to deny him anything. "Of course, Lanny," she said pleasantly, fiddling with her auburn braid.

He cringed and his brows went down in a brief scowl but he said nothing this time. Just wanting to get out of here finally. "Thank you," he said nodding politely and holding the pot in the crook of his arm. "I should be getting back to work now. I'll see you later, alright?" A crestfallen look passed over her features but she agreed and saw him to the door. Then she closed it and was left all alone with the breathing beautiful green things in the room. He was leaving her home with another flower, probably for that witch! And they'd spent time alone together while she'd been fooling around in the sand! From the looks of things, they'd had a nice enough chat that Dorelia had painted the pots and now Lan was bringing her more flowers! A destructive urge came over Susy then and she breathed heavily and went over to the table, picking up the paint jar that Dorelia had left behind, throwing it with a high pitched screech of frustration and sorrow. It landed with a crash on the floor some distance away and she glared at the red that had spilled forth from it like some wounded, bleeding creature on her floorboards. "I will kill you for what have you done to him, poisoning him against me!" she whispered darkly, rage shaking through her limbs as she stood staring off into space, her eyes fixated on the paint splattered on the ground. "Somehow...I will find a way..!" Then she set about cleaning the mess she'd made, letting the darkness in her heart consume her while she worked.

---------------------

Else sat in the confessional booth in the darkness, breathing a heavy sigh and looking hesitantly at the small slotted wall that separated her from the man in the other side. "Go on, my child," the deep voice said through the grate, calm and soothing in tone.

Taking another deep breath, Else fiddled with her dress as she spoke hesitantly and shamefully. "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned," she began biting her lips and tucking her long brown hair behind her ears. "It has been a week since my last confession." Then she sighed once more and put her hands over her eyes breifly before continuing. Mostly motivated by his sermons, Else confessed each week, as Father Justin always seemed to know when she had done something wrong and it reminded her that God knew as well. "There is a prized clock my father kept on his mantel piece in the main room of our house, that he paid a lot of money for as a gift to my mother several years ago. I was watching the children yesterday and we were having fun baking in the kitchen. My aunt had to leave for an hour and I was left alone with all five little ones."

She paused and thought back to yesterday afternoon and frowned to herself. "They don't listen to me," she said bitterly. "The eldest were running around screaming and laughing and being wild, and the toddler was making a mess...the baby wouldn't stop crying... I shooed the eldest outside with a broom where they continued to roughhouse in the back yard. The baby and the toddler stayed with me and I tried to clean up, but then Jacob--I mean, the two year old tipped over the basket of eggs and they all fell to the floor and broke...every single one of them...and the baby was crying..." She sighed sorrowfully.

"I was so angry and I was at the end of my rope..." she said sniffling tearfully remembering the stress and frustration. "I took that clock off the mantel piece and I threw it and yelled at the baby to just SHUT UP!" Then she stopped to weep for a few moments, nothing but silence coming from the other side of the confessional. One might have thought she was done, but the man in the other booth knew better and he waited for her to finish. Finally, she continued through tear drenched voice. "When my mother and father came home, they demanded to know what had happened to it... I told them Jac--the toddler had done it and the little boy was punished. They didn't question my word and assumed he'd gotten up on the mantel somehow..."

That had been what Father Justin had been waiting for and he smiled breifly, unseen through the partition. When he spoke, his tone was the same calming and soothing one he'd used before, his deep voice rumbling softly in his slight whisper. "Dominus noster Jesus Christus te absolvat; et ego auctoritate ipsius te absolvo ab omni vinculo excommunicationis et interdicti in quantum possum et tu indiges," on his side of the booth he crossed himself. "Deinde, ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen." (May our Lord Jesus Christ absolve you; and by His authority I absolve you from every bond of excommunication and interdict, so far as my power allows and your needs require. I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.)

Else bowed her head as she listened and said Amen after he did. Then he continued on to the post-absolution prayer. "Passio Domini nostri Jesu Christi, merita Beatæ Mariæ Virginis et omnium sanctorum, quidquid boni feceris vel Mali sustinueris sint tibi in remissionem peccatorum, augmentum gratiæ et præmium vitæ æternæ." (May the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the merits of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints obtain for you that whatever good you do or whatever evil you bear might merit for you the remission of your sins, the increase of grace and the reward of everlasting life.)

Then Else spoke when the man fell silent. "Oh my God, I am heartily sorry..." and she stopped to take a deep breath. "I have lied to my mother and father and broken something that did not belong to me, allowing another to take the blame." As she continued Father Justin listened and breathed deeply, pleased with the young woman for coming to him so promptly. It had been what he'd intended with his sermon, pointing out the flaws he'd known were there to the people who needed repentance most. Another gift he had was to see and know what those of his flock had done. It always worked to get those who had guilt on their chests to come to him and he saw it as his duty to relieve them of that burden.

He knew Else by voice, because she came when he openly suggested it in his sermons every week, and she often slipped during confession and called the children under her charge by name while acknowledging them as her siblings. The girl had a temper and occasionally lashed out in anger. So far she hadn't hurt any of the children she looked after, but without the deterrent of having to confess such a thing, he had no doubt that she would have by now. So each week when he saw she'd let her anger fly, he manipulated her into the confessional where she would confess in shame of what she'd done and it kept her from letting herself go any further than the occasional broken antique or crockery.

As she finished up, he allowed her to leave and she did with haste, feeling relieved and like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Leaning back in his seat still in the confessional, Father Justin closed the small sliding door on the grate between the booths and rubbed his eyes. This was the normal time that he left open for people to come to him anonymously and so far he'd only had Else visit him. Waiting on the others and feeling the cross hanging about his neck, he thought to himself about this morning's events and planned his next move. He contemplated waiting to see if Landon would keep his word, or maybe he should go after the man and make sure he kept it? If he put pressure on them to wed then maybe things would eventually work in his favor and he would get his hands on the child. He and the alchemist had been fighting for far too long for the man to just give up and leave. So if the witch married him, then it would cement her to this place where the priest could constantly watch her and wait for her to finally slip and reveal who she was. Making plans to visit Landon later this evening Father Justin sat back and relaxed, waiting for other penitents to come bare their filth before him, expecting him to wash them clean before God.

 

[Cheshire Pup]

Why? The word bounced around her mind like a child with far too much energy and none of it was good. Everything that happened drew a why lately. Nothing seemed to make any sense anymore. She needed to figure out what to do. She walked through town, trying to think things over, not noticing people she was passing and not even noticing where she was going. She tried to think of some way to make sense of all this.

What had happened to her, the children that she had seen and had sent her off, the people of this town who received her as a witch and changed their minds after the trial? She tried to think. How many times had she lied? How many times has her very presence brought insanity behind her? She didnâ??t know. She couldnâ??t could the numbers anymore. They were just too vast. Sure she had only done so in order to protect herself but was she so important that she had to cause so much trouble wherever she went. She looked down at her stomach then back out at the vastness of the desert and realized were she was.

She was standing at the point where she had collapsed all those days ago, looking out at the direction that she had come. She looked out and wondered if that wagon was still there and what had happened to the men who had been pulling it. She started out at the distance and soon became lost in her thoughts as she tried to think.

â??Are you sure you want to do this Noah?â? The man asked the boy as he looked form the boy to the woman who could barely stand on her own.

Morning had come and the birds were singing. Everyone was busy but most had stopped to take a look at the woman who was next to the boy and talking to the man driving the wagon. He was a big man with a brown, fussy beard that wrapped around his face. There was a certain kindness about him that made him look like a younger version of Santa.

â??I canâ??t convince any of the others to leave alone. We will have to wait until you can take all of us or under we get enough money to travel.â?

â??But Noah, this is your chance.â? Said the man. Clearly he wanted to help the boy.

â??I canâ??t leave them all behind. I am sorry Mr. Alkin.â? The boy said to the man.

The man looked form the woman back to the boy and he sighed. â??Alright, but Noah you have to tell me why it is so important that this girl get as far away from here as possible.â? The man said. Doreliaâ??s shudder was not lost on the man when he asked what happened.

â??I donâ??t know what happened exactly. I found her strung up in a barn, naked, bleeding, unable to move, gagged and covered in her own blood. There was a man not far off passed out in some hay. She wonâ??t tell me what happened.â? The boy told the man, noticing the color draining form his face.

â??My... my god...â? he gasped the words as he looked at Dorelia. She was now hanging her head, trying to push away the memories of what happened, wanting to forget everything that had happened but knowing she would never loose them. â??I-Iâ??m sorry. My Lady I will be happy to take you away form here. I know a place very far away, we stop in a town so far form here that the bastard that did that will never be able to find you.â? The man said before getting down to help her into the back.

Once she was loaded in she noticed the man hugging Noah. â??Son, please come home your brothers-â?

The boyâ??s face hardened. â??I am not going to go back home to those animals. I have a new family now and I have to take care of them.â?

The man looked down and released the boy, knowing there was no convincing him. For the first time Dorelia noticed how much the boy and the man that drove the wagon looked alike.

â??I miss you. I wish you would come home and forgive them.â?

â??I know you do but I canâ??t. Not now and not ever.â?

The man sighed and handed the boy a pack of coins and a bag of food. â??I just wish you would keep out of trouble. I know you try but...â? his voice trailed off.

The boy gave his father a hug them pulled away. â??I should get back before the others wake up. They will be hungry.â?

The man nodded but id nothing, to Dorelia it looked like the man was holding back tears. Then the caravan started moving. Dorelia stayed in the back an d listened to the sounds of the forest, her mind curious to figure out what had happened between such a kind boy and his brothers to make him leave home and love the way that he did with the other children.

â??What made you son leave?â? the girl asked him and the man smiled at her and laughed.

â??So you really are a witch them arenâ??t you girl?â? he asked, happily, as though enjoying the fact.

â??Yes but that does not answer my question.â? She said, annoyed.

â??Aye it doesnâ??t but I donâ??t see why I should tell you.â? The man answered, seeming to enjoy the conversation but not the topic.

â??How about because I asked.â? She answered, growing annoyed at his games.

â??Well how about this then? You tell me everything that man did to you and I will tell you what happened between Noah and his brothers.â? The man said, suddenly becoming serious.

Dorelia shuttered and pulled out of sigh so the man could not longer see her inside of the wagon. She was silent for a while before a man broke the silence.

â??I thought as much. Miss I mean no offense by my last statement or by this but please listen. There are bad people in this world, horrible people. Sometimes they are just born with something wrong and the right person can bring out all that wrong in them. Then they do bad things, things that are better left unsaid.â? The man told her, providing her with a bit of wisdom.

There was a long silence after that but before too long they were talking again about all kinds of things. â??Brona has had thief fair share of problems. It is a town full of thieves and orphans. It is a big trade post so it is prone to gatherings of both and disease steals many parents. There are small packs of children that spring up here and there. Noah found that one a few years ago. Well, it was only one kid at the time that he stood up for against a pack of teens. They both got the snot beaten outta them but the fact of how hard he tried put him in good with all the other kids there.â?

â??I donâ??t know how many ways I have tried to get my son back. Hell, I have even tried to higher a kidnapper but he still evades them. My son just is too smart for the, in some ways he is to smart for his own good.â? The man told her, watching his eyes grow distant told Dorelia that had something to do with the trouble he got into back home that made him leave.

â??Why canâ??t you just take them all?â? The girl asked, wondering why he could only take one when he knew his son would not leave without the others.

â??It is supplies. I have been fighting with the rest of the caravan. We can only care so much food and water. I fin ally got it down to a hard deal but it was worth it.â? The man said, looking forward.

â??What was the deal?â? she asked him curiously.

â??Well, everything you eat comes out of my rations. If I took the rest of the kids on that deal there would be barely enough to properly feed them and I wouldnâ??t get to eat. Now I just need to use this next ear to try and convince them to up my rations or save up money to buy enough for them and hope he does not take in any more kids.â? The man said

â??So where are we going?â? she asked him, seeing this subject saddened him and wanting to change it.

â??Well we stop at lots of towns along the way. We have already gone through a few. We go ion a circle that allows us to hit each town once a year. Our next stop is Dosne. It is a tribal town so the guys do not like to stay there very long. It is on the edge of the desert.â?

â??So then you turn around right?â? Dorelia asked, not looking the way the desert sounded. Being a green she did not feel comfortable going where there were no plants.

â??Of course not. There are towns scattered through the desert that need supplies. Three we stop in. Hateye, Tanya and Altara.â? The man told her.

â??Then we move on from there right?â? she asked him and the man nodded.

â??Yup, then there are more towns, eventually we move into colder climates. I hope you have some way of getting a coat or you will freeze in the places we are going.â? The man said with a laugh and the girl nodded, not looking the sounds of this.

As more time passed they talked about all kinds of things. On nights when the caravan stopped to rest the girl would perform her magic as a little show to entertain them with. Rather then pay her in money they paid her in food and it was enough so that she did not have to take from the manâ??s rations.

â??If you keep this up and stay with me then I may be able to support five children on your shows.â? The man said with a laugh, truly happy to have the girl with them.

As they finally crossed into the desert Dorelia felt her strength leaving her and she did not like it. She looked back out at the savanna they had to cross to get out here and wondered if she should jump out while she still could. Then she remembered the man and decided that crossing a desert was wroth it to get away form him.

By this time the people cared for her without all her shows and at night when it was cod they gave their extra blankets to keep her worm. She had a feeling that the man had told them how his son had found her and that was why she could see pity in their eyes. The didnâ??t like them knowing. She didnâ??t want anyone to know of how weak she had been and what had happened to her. It seemed that nobody knew then it would be easier for her to pretend like it had never happened.

But as they crossed through a town she realized that worse things happened in this world then what happened to her. The caravan stopped to look around. The sands were red with blood and birds had been picking at the bodies already. As they searched they didnâ??t find anyone alive and nearly all of the women and children were gone. Those that remained looked as though they had been raped. Even small children.

â??Slave traders.â? One of the older men in their caravan hissed. â??Those bastards!â? he yelled. People went around and gathered the bodies, redressed those they found naked and did their best to fix them up. The buried each and every one, erecting a cross to mark the head of each grave. Dorelia seemed to be the only one who had not knows what the man had been talking about.

â??How can you be sure it was slave traders?â? the girl asked, him. The man looked at her. He had one glass eye and lost most of his hair.

â??They come by towns that are cut off. Picking the most isolated places so that help canâ??t get here before they go. They murder then men and take the women and children, sometimes even play their sick, twisted games while the others round others up. Others they will sell as virgins. Sometimes they take some men but they prefer to take women since they claim they sell better.â?

â??How do you know so much?â? Dorelia asked him, not liking anything that she heard.

â??Me? Well I escaped the traders. I was just a boy at the time. My town was in the middle of the woods. Only a few of us got away. They rounded up some of the others but my buddy and I escaped.â?

â??Where is your buddy now?â? Dorelia asked him and they man looked sad. His eyes got that far off look and Dorelia knew not to press any further. She went back to the caravan and they were about to get moving. People began to go through the houses and Dorelia was appalled. She was about to go and stop them but Mr. Alkin stopped her.

â??Thieves will come steal this if we donâ??t. It is best not to let the items of these people fall to thieves. Go, find what you can and then we will depart this accursed place.â? He told her and sent her off.

She searched around, finding some jewelry and dressed. What interested her most were the books and she took as many as she could carry and even convened him to keep the books in his wagon. From there she spent the rest of her time reading. She found a few witch diaries. Even to none witches they were entertaining to read so they were kept. Dorelia transferred the words into her own book, this became her nightly show for the people since it was a beautiful thing to watch. The rest of the books were spread out among the others.

More time passed and soon the days and nights seemed to last for every.

â??We are almost there. Altara is just that way about a half a days trip.â? The man said as he pointed out over the sands but the moment he said that a horn could be heard coming from the front of the caravan and the manâ??s face got pale.

â??Whatâ??s wrong?â? The girl asked him, worried at the sight of his fear.

â??Bandits! Shit!â? the man cursed. Dorelia saw a man, another man from the caravan, running back. She watched the man pull himself onto their moving wagon.

â??Don thinks that maybe we can do this peacefully. He sent me back here to help you with the witch.â? The man told Alkin and he nodded and climbed into the back with Dorelia.

â??What is going on?â? the girl asked him, confused.

â??They usually just steal all they can carry and leave but they will take women if they find them. That is why our caravans are all men, in case you had not noticed.â? Dorelia had. â??So we need to hide you. Here.â? He said, letting down a large back form his shoulder.

â??You canâ??t be serious!â? she exclaimed and looked back at the driver. â??Iâ??m not going to-â?

â??God damn it Dorelia! Get in the fucking bag! These people kill people and even if you have magic to protect you they will just kill others among us. It wonâ??t be worth it. Just get in the sack.â? The man said, his tone was so harsh and serious that she found no room to argue.

She let the man help her into the sack and let him tie the top closed around her. â??We will let you out the moment it is safe. Just stay quiet. If they find you act dead.â? The man told her. Once he had her in there and the top tied tightly she felt him lift the bag and put it with the other sacks there, even lay some on top of her, trying to conceal her bag among the others.

It was not long before she heard the sounds and yells of the bandits. What happened after that was hard to tell. Things seemed to be going smoothly then shots were fired and she heard Alkin curse and felt the jolt as his horses took off.

â??Dorelia the plan didnâ??t work. These people want to kill everyone here and take everything! When did this damned world get so bloody?â? the man cursed the heavens. Dorelia could not see anything but she could feel her fear and hear the gunshots. Suddenly the carriage jolted to a stop and the man cursed. Soon other voices came in.

â??Itâ??s a shame to loose a horse but you wouldnâ??t stop. Donâ??t you know you should listen when others talk to you.â? A man said. It was a voice she had not heard before.

â??And let you kill me without a fight?â? Alkin hissed then spat.

The other man laughed cruelly. â??I suppose you are right. It is so much more fun when they fight isnâ??t it boys?â? the man said and she heard several other voices rise up and agree. Even if she wanted to she could do nothing. Fear paralyzed her. â??Check his stock boys.â? The man said coolly and she felt others step into the wagon and began to play dead, even weaving a spell or two to make her feel cold and to allow her to hold her breath.

Eventually they came to her sack, opened it and dumped her out. â??The manâ??s got a corpse in here!â? one of them called.

â??A corpse? Hmm... is it a pretty one?â? the man asked wickedly.

â??Aye it is!â? called another as he touched her cheek.

â??You canâ??t be serious! Honor the dead!â? Alkin cursed then grunted. Someone had hit him.

â??Out here you take what you can get.â? The leader of the group said coldly.

â??Itâ??s a witchâ??s corpse!â? Alkin said quickly and suddenly the group stopped moving.

â??A witch! Why the bloody hell would you be transporting a witches curse?â? the man demanded.

â??She said that if I didnâ??t her spirit would come back and lay a curse on me.â? The man said, it sounded very convincing. â??If you want to go a head and have fun with her body. Maybe she will get so mad at me her spirit will be too busy making each of your lives hell and torturing your souls that she may leave mine alone.â? Alkin told them. There was some mumbling and Dorelia felt on of them begin to lift her dress then heard him get slapped by another.

â??Do you want to bring demons upon us all!â? the man yelled and they practically pushed each other off the wagon to get off.

â??Fine old man. We will leave her here untouched but we will take you alive. Let her spirit torture you better then we can.â? The man said. The others stuffed her back into the bag and left her there. Sadly it took them too long to go and lack of oxygen caused her to pass out and ended her spell.

The day was growing hot and she was pulled back to her senses by the sound of children laughing. She looked out at herself. Soon she would have a child but would she have it here? A thought crossed her mind and she hurried to the first person she saw. It was a girl looking like she had just left the church. â??What is the name of this town?â? she asked the girl and the girl just smiled at her,

â??This is Altara. Are you okay?â? the girl asked her. Suddenly Dorelia realized how crazy her question sounded.

She laughed, this calmed the girl. â??The heat must be getting to me. I am not used to it being this hot.â? She admitted and the girl smiled.

â??It is not bad right now.â? The girl told her happily. â??I wish I could stay and chat but I have to go watch my little siblings. I just came form confessing and they are waiting for me.â? The girl said with a smile before hurrying off.

She thought of the father and rage filled her again. She wanted to hurt him, to make him suffer for trying to take her child form her but she held herself back. She would not hurt the man. That would give him what he wanted and for the sake of herself and her child she needed to hold herself back. She looked down at the golden cross around her neck. It was big and no doubt expensive. It was three inches tall and two inches where it crossed. It was heavy too but not too heavy. The thing had been a gift to her father and he was sworn not to sell it. It was hand crafted by a man who her father saved.

She walked into the church and was happy to see that the father was no where inside. She looked up at the large wooden cross and let the feeling of being in church overwhelm her. Not even that evil man could pollute this house of God. She walked forward down the isle and wondered if she would be walking this same stretch with Landon. Would she really marry him? She didnâ??t know if she would or if she would be able to leave this town before she had her child.

She knelt down before the large cross and got to her knees. She brought her hands up and clasped them together in prayer.

â??Dear Lord in heaven. Protect me. Keep me safe form those that wish me harm and keep my child safe so that my baby may come into this world. Let it be a world of love and happiness. Let my child never know the sorrows that I have known in my life.â? She said aloud so that god would be sure to hear then went only to whisper more prayers to people she wished safety of. She prayed for Noah and the other children, prayed for Alkin that he may be safe somewhere and not dead and tossed aside. She prayed for the joy of her dead family, prayed her mother would forgive her and that Baba was happy and watching over her. She prayed for her father and that she may never see that monster that did this to her ever again.

Lost in her own prayers she did not realize that there was anyone else in the building besides herself. She would not let thoughts of people like Father Justin disrupt her prayers with god.

 

[Rudolph Quin]

Leaving Susy's house, Landon walked down the dusty street and contemplated what to do next. He had no idea where Dorelia had gone and really didn't want to think about it. She was a grown woman and he had given her plenty of warning--if she went to the priest and had a confrontation... well, that was her business and there was nothing Lan could do to stop her, although he greatly disapproved. And if she cast a spell on the man....then it was over and he would be helpless to stop or change anything that followed.

As he walked he passed several people who nodded and greeted him and he smiled and uttered words of greeting back, polite and yet not staying to chat. Soon he'd arrived back at his lab, his feet working on autopilot as his thoughts ran and he remembered the work he still had left to do. Setting the talking plant down on a table he went over to the washbasin to get it some water. Spying the razor sitting by the soap he remembered that morning and thus remembered Joey. Suddenly everything clicked into place and he had a way to help himself stay focused on his work. Pouring some water into the pot for the daisy--which he'd dubbed Psyche after the Greek myth--he nodded at 'her' wondering if the flower could 'see' him or did he have to speak to it aloud. Feeling ridiculous but not knowing what else to do to ensure that what needed to be done was done, he spoke to it in uneven tones.

"You...you watch things...while...I'm gone...and I'll be back..." he said, looking around and wondering if people really did come into his lab while he was away or if Dorelia had just been trying to scare him. Not wanting to say much else, he blushed at himself for talking to a flower in the first place and left the lab once more, heading to the miller's house.

Menahem the miller was an upstanding gentleman in his late thirties, tall and thin and generally well liked by everyone. The man was home when Lan arrived and his wife Lori let the alchemist in. Sitting at the table, Menahem rose to his feet when Lan came into the room, offering his strong hand for a handshake and a welcoming smile.

"Good to see ye," Menahem said in an accent even deeper than his boy's. "We was there this morn' to see ye step for'd. Mighty honorable thing ye did fer the girl--and she deserves a good man to look aftar her. Congratulations to ye both." The man's smile was genuine and so were his words and Lan nodded hesitantly not sure what to say. "Lor, bring out the ale! Let's have a drink to celebrate this wonderful turn fer the future!" He slapped Lan on the shoulder as his wife brought forth the bottle of liquor and Menahem took a drink straight from the bottle with merely a hearty sigh before he offered Lan to do the same. He tried to shake his head and refuse but the miller's robust enthusiasm was hard to deny and he ended up taking a swig from it himself, drinking timidly.

Fire burned his tongue and throat and he nearly choked on the pure heat of the drink, coughing heavily as he handed the bottle back, his eyes tearing. Menahem laughed as he took another drink and offered Lan a seat at the table, which the young alchemist took with a grateful sigh. As he sat the older man spoke taking the seat he'd previously had before Lan had arrived. "Now, what canna I do fer ye, sir?"

Clearing his throat that still burned slightly, Landon sat up straight in his seat and looked at the man sitting across from him more seriously. "I'd like to talk to you about your son, Joseph," he said soberly. "As you know, he's been hanging around the lab a lot lately and--"

"What's he done?" Menahem asked, mistaking Landon's serious professionalism as more grave than it was intended. Then he turned his head and called out in an angry voice, "JOE!!! Get in here!"

Seeing the misunderstanding they were possibly having, Lan shook his head and tried to correct the error. "No, he hasn't done anything wrong--"

Then Joey was coming in from the back door, looking like he'd been running and playing outside, hair mussed and clothes dusty. Immediately Menahem turned on him. "Boy!" he said angrily. "Have ye been bothering the alchemist? What have I told ye? To stay out of his way and do as he tells ye without a fuss! Now ye force the man to come here himself!"

Joey looked at Landon worriedly wondering if the man really was upset with him--he'd seemed fine earlier. Oh, God! Maybe he was still really mad that Joey had shaved his mustache when he wasn't suppose to. "I'm sorry da!" Joey said sorrowfully and jumped when his father slapped his hand on the table to quell any more talk from the boy.

"Ye git up to yer room an' not anothar word!" he said threateningly and Joey jumped to obey as soon as the words were out of the man's mouth, scrambling over to the steps that led upstairs. "An' no supper tonight!" Menahem called after the boy's retreating form. When he turned back to Landon he was calmer and apologetic. "I'm really sorry if the lad has caused ye any trouble. It won't happen again."

"No, no, it's not that at all," Lan said hurriedly. "In fact it's been the exact opposite. Joseph helps me out a lot with the rabbits, helps me by tending to them when I'm busy. And this morning," he paused as he realized Menahem was clean shaven as well. "This morning I needed help shaving but Abby was busy and Joe did a very good job..." He felt at his own cheeks and the smooth skin that met his fingertips to illustrate. Menahem seemed to notice the lack of facial hair with a different light and sat back in his chair, his eyes looking at Lan intrigued. If he wasn't here because the boy was causing trouble, then why was Lan here?

"I've noticed Joseph has a very inquisitve nature," he continued. "And he's very smart as well. I was wondering if maybe you'd be willing to allow me to take him as my apprentice." There, he'd said it. He'd asked the big question. He waited, watching Menahem mentally chew over the request.

"Ye want me boy to...be an alchemist?" the man asked in considering tones rubbing his chin. "Do ye really think Joe can be a doctor?" The man looked at Lan with an open gaze, like he was amazed and filled with hope by what Landon was saying.

Pleased with this reaction, Landon smiled and nodded his head. "At this point it's hard to tell," he said. "He seems very interested and if he keeps up this level of interest then with enough hard work and dedication, he could eventually succeed me, maybe even surpass me." It wasn't necessarily a false hope, because right now he'd barely given Joey any access to the lab at all. Things were still up in the air about the boy's potential, but Lan was willing to make the case that the boy could be taught to convince his father.

Menahem sat rubbing his chin for several minutes thinking to himself and Lan glanced at his wife who busied herself around the kitchen and gave her a polite smile. Finally when Menahem looked up his jaw was set like he'd come to a decision. "Boy!" he yelled towards the stairs. "Git down here!" The upstairs room didn't have a doorway, so Joey had been sitting crouched at the top of the stairs this whole time listening. His heart was beating fast as he heard what Landon said and an excitement coursed through him. An apprentice! The alchemist wanted HIM to be his apprentice! Seemed like a dream come true and Joey was in the middle of slapping and pinching himself to make sure he wasn't dreaming when his father called for him. It startled Joey so much he almost fell down the stairs but caught himself as he stumbled down hurriedly and came to stand by his father's side.

Turning to the lad Menahem said, "Ye want to be a doctor, boy?" The way he asked and the way he looked at Joey said he wanted a serious answer.

"Yessir," Joey said quickly nodding his head eagerly.

Menahem sat back in his chair with a sigh and looked at Landon. "Well, then sir, it looks like ye have a new apprentice then," and he smiled and nodded his head as Joey looked excitedly at Lan.

Glad to see the enthusiasm from both, Landon smiled back visibly relaxing. "I'll need him for work at all times of the day, so it'll be easier if he comes to live with me for a while," he said, wondering if that would be alright. But Menahem seemed to have expected this and told the boy to go upstairs to gather his things. Then both men stood, shared another drink from the bottle--even prepared for the taste this time, Lan still ended up hacking and coughing, his nose running and eyes tearing while Menahem chuckled and took a few gulps like it was nothing. At the doorway, Joey gave his mother a hug and shook his father's hand, Landon giving the man a firm shake as well.

Then out the door they went, Joey walking along beside Landon with a bright smile on his face and his pack over his shoulder. And Lan felt good about this as well. Finally, maybe with the boy there to keep him occupied he'd be able to focus on work. And also he'd be able to teach the lad the trade and the town would not be left without a doctor if anything were to ever happen to him. It was a win-win.

---------------------------------------

Father Justin was sitting in the confessional contemplating what he would say to Landon when he went to visit the man tonight, brooding in the dark booth, fingers at his lips as he thought. Then he was roused from his musings by a voice, speaking softly and causing a small echo in the stone building. As he listened, his ears straining and his brow furrowed trying to decipher what was said, he realized it was a prayer. He also realized from the words who it was. And how could he have forgotten the voice of the one who had humiliated him in court?

As he silently stepped from the confessional, the young woman had started to whisper her prayers so he could no longer hear her. It was a shock seeing the young woman he'd grown to hate and see as pure evil kneeling at the altar. The sunlight cascading through the far windows pooled down around her and she almost seemed to glow with reverence and humility. The golden cross around her neck caught the sunlight and glistened as she knelt with eyes upturned to the cross on the wall, hands clasped before her. From this angle Father Justin could not quite see her face but from what he could glean from the expression she wore it was of devout and humble piety.

The man stood there silently gaping at the image before him. Surprise could not begin to describe the feelings he had at that moment and for the first time, he saw this witch, this object of hate as a woman. Seeing her from behind did not help this new perspective and he felt a warmth grow beneath his robes. Then he was shaking his head and straightening his back his mouth set in a determined line. No, he would not allow the bride of Satan to trick him or tempt him with her flesh. Clearing his throat loudly he stepped forward away from the confessional and walked up to the altar beside her where she knelt. With the way she looked at him he could tell that she hadn't been aware of his presence and that he'd interrupted her prayer as well.

But then he doubted the bride of Satan would have much to pray about and he even suspected it had been a show for his benefit. If she acted pious enough maybe he would forget all about the little burst of evil he'd felt course through her in church this morning. If she prayed and studied scripture and came to Mass every morning maybe she could convince him she was really a woman of God and not of the Devil? What a very cunning ruse. But her master must not know this priest very well to try to pull such a faint wool over his eyes.

Smiling placidly at her, Father Justin put a hand to his chest as he spoke in deep resonating tones. "Forgive me, my dear," he said smoothly. Despite what he knew, he would keep up the charade for now and see where it led them. "I was unaware there was anyone else here. I did not mean to interrupt." He bowed his head a little to her and glanced at the large wooden cross on the wall and then back at her. "The church is a wonderful place to come to feel the spirit of the Lord close to you and to have the worries and troubles of the world cast away, isn't it? I know we got off on a rough start, but it pleases me greatly to see you here." He smiled at her calmly, folding his hands in front of himself and picking up conversation.

"I would like to congratulate you and Landon for your newly made plans. The alchemist is an upstanding young man in need of a woman's touch just as much as you are in need of a man's guidance. The two of you will will make a great pair and I wish you both the best. I will of course perform the ceremony and am ready to do so at any time. I'm sure the women of town will want to help make preparations for the wedding, but if you wanted something small, I would understand and we could have the ceremony whenever you like. I will be speaking with Landon later and we will go over a date." By his tone there was an absolute certainty that the two were going to be married and he was waiting for her to deny or object--which when forced into decisions, strong, rebellious women often did fight against the course of events laid out before them.

 

[Cheshire Pup]

She had not known that the father was there. She had kept her levels down, further then she liked, since the incident of searching through the book. She still had some ways to go before she would feel comfortable feeling out like she used to. It was sort of nice not to always feel out all the time. It let one feel alone and being alone was a wonderful feeling after constantly being surrounded by everything. She was just hoping for some time between her self and her god so that some things may turn around and straighten themselves out but alas she could not even have time with god. That father was here.

She jumped slightly when she heard him cough and she turned to see him. This was the man who spent his time trying to make her life hell and now he was interrupting her prayers. She stood up as he approached her, not wanting to be on her knees before the man. But here he was, bring kind and smiling and saying nice things. She doubted that he had changed. She closed her eyes for a moment to feel out a little bit and realized that he was just putting on a show. He likely thought that she was doing the same thing and trying to play along. She couldnâ??t be sure. He could just be trying to get her to trust him. Feeling out told her what they were feeling but it did not read minds. There was magic that could do that but not only was it at a much higher level then she was but it, in her opinion, was much too personal.

But then he began to talk about the recent arrangements between her and Landon and she was not happy. He was the one that had pushed this to happen. Things would have been so much simpler, so much easier if he had just left them alone but this man could not do that. Dorelia was someone he could not use faith to control, Landon was another one and now he was going to try and tie them together this way if he could just find a way to take down one of them he could take down both of them. But she had to try and remain civil. Even if he had not sway over the two of them there were far to many people whom he did have sway over. She had to be careful but she could not remain quiet while he planned out the rest of her life.

â??Landon and I were talking about the very same thing earlier.â? She told him in a kind voice with a kind smile. â??You are right about Landon. He is an upstanding man indeed. He is so kind and careful with my current... situation.â? She paused as she thought of a way to put it. â??Being an unwed young woman about to be a mother, so many have been made mothers before I so this is an issue I worry for. In fact I worry for a lot of things lately.â? She admitted. She looked at her stomach before back at the man. â??But God has given me this child. He has given me the baby knowing that its father would not be around to take care of it and that I would have to find my own way. God believes that and as do I.â?

She told the man with a smile, relishing the fact that she was able to use god against him. â??As far as the date I am afraid I will have to set it far off. Forgive me father, I fear I have sinned. Or at least I shall. I wish but for one day where I can be vain, when I can take great pride in wearing a white gown of my own making and my own design. As you might imagine designing such a dress will take time. I have seen many a weddings as a young girl and dreamed of mine.â?

â??After such tragedy of my life I wish for one day when I can live out a child hood dream. Only things will be slightly different. I imagine my child will be born by then and have aged some time. Perhaps, if a girl, she can be the flower girl, if a boy he can be the ring barer. I have not yet spoken of this with Landon. I intended to as soon as I was done with prayers.â? She told the father as she smiled at him.

â??I need to speak with Beatrice, Abigail has told me the woman is getting on in years and I wish to help her to make cloths, perhaps while working there she may be able to help me come up with a beautiful gown to wear.â? She said with a smile. â??Now I have much to do today. I still have to visit the woman and find out what strange creatures she gets the threads form. But even if I have trouble making it you do have people that come through in trade routes donâ??t you? Surely this town cannot be completely isolated out here. Do you know where your traders come from or what they may be selling?â? she asked him, smiling and being kind all the while and acting as best she could like any other woman would in her situation. Whether the man believed she was innocent she could not be sure but she could do her best top look innocent for as long as she could, at least until she got out of here.

She was not thrilled on the idea of being forced in marrying this man. Even if Landon was always kind to her and accepted her witchcraft and even if he loved her. Did he love her? The question brought of that soreness she felt when Landon said that he could never love her. Even if those words had been spoken in anger they could not have been spoken long ago. What was it days? It felt like weeks. Out of all the men here Landon was probably her best choice but that is if she even wanted to marry and she was not sure she wanted to do that yet. Baba raised her just fine on her own and she was not even her mother. She just wanted to get her baby out of the sands before it was born so it could be a green like her. She could not teach her child a magic that she did not know yet.

She looked at the man before her. This man, if he had his way, should never allow her to teach her child to do any kind of magic. He was one of the reasons why she had to get out of here. She might be able to consider staying if not for him. If she could just learn when the traders came she might be able to get alone with them. Baba had told her that when she had been younger traders had been willing to pay witches for protection and some still did. Why get a gun when you have a woman who can call down the very forces of nature upon your foes? Of course that was if they were kind to witches and not all traders were. The ones she traveled with before had been but she wondered if she could have the same luck twice.

 

[Rudolph Quin]

Joey walked along beside the alchemist, smiling brightly and with excitement filling his bones. At the beginning of this year he'd started paying attention to Landon a lot more, since fall of the year before last, when Joey's mother had fallen ill. It had gotten to the point where they'd feared for her life and she'd been in the hospital for several days. Joey had stayed with her most of the time because his father had to work and couldn't leave the mill. Her fevers had gotten bad a lot and thus Landon had been there almost constantly as well. Lori's condition and how sick she got had scared Joey a lot. But then in came the doctor, calm and collected, knowing exactly what to do and swiftly tending to the woman, bringing her fever down and easing her pain. And even though, Lan had treated Joey like he was getting in the way through most of that ordeal, it did not stop the boy from idolizing the man.

He didn't like feeling helpless, just sitting by the bed when his mother had been sick, unable to do anything for her and then being shoved out of the way when work needed to be done. After she'd gotten better, Lori had made Landon a pie and sent Joey over to give it to him. The man hadn't been at home so he's gone to the hospital and eventually made his way to the lab. There he'd gotten a glimpse of the alchemist in his element, surrounded by tools and bottles and vials and books covering the walls--the most books Joey had ever seen in his life were the 8-10 his father had on a shelf in the main room. That so much bound paper and words could exist together in one place like that had been enough to awe the boy. But then the colorful liquids and multitudes of bottles and flasks littering the tables--he'd been curious to know what it was all about. He knew that Landon's knowledge allowed him to act as a doctor, and to give medical advice and help people with physical problems. But what did it mean to be an alchemist?

So ever since that first glimpse of the lab Joey had been coming back ever since, snooping around and inquiring after what the man was doing when he conducted different experiments. It seemed to bother Lan to have to explain, so Joey never asked much, but sometimes his curiosity got the better of him. But now, he was going to be allowed to ask questions and to watch the man while he worked. Joey glanced at Lan and smiled to himself in glee.

Lost in thought, Landon walked along, barely noticing the boy as he contemplated and planned what he was to do next. It was a little difficult pushing current concerns from his mind, but considering that he couldn't go chasing after Dorelia all the time with the responsibility of teaching the boy weighing over him, it helped him focus a bit better.

"Joseph," Landon said absently, looking ahead and thinking still. "Are you squeamish?" Joey was roused from his own excited musings and shook his long bangs out of his face as he thought about it. "Does the sight of blood bother you?" Lan elaborated.

Then Joey smiled and shook his head, his shoulder length hair swaying into his eyes a bit. "Me friend, Trent, broke his leg last summer and the bone was sticking out of the skin," he said brightly. "I watched you snap it back into place when they brought him to the hospital. Me da's face went white when he saw it, but I wasn't scared at all."

Lan nodded, remembering the boy Joey mentioned, but not remembering Joey himself being there. It was kind of iffy if the lad was just trying to impress him or if he really didn't have a problem with that kind of thing. It would make things difficult if he really couldn't handle it. But anyways, they would soon find out either way and hopefully through the course of his study with Lan, if the boy was squeamish, it would be cured in a year or two.

After the man fell silent, Joey thought to himself for a moment and finally asked, "Why? Is someone hurt? Am I going to be helping you in the hospital today?" There was an eagerness in the boy's voice and posture as he spoke. The idea of jumping right into things on his first day was very thrilling.

"No, we're not going to be working with that type of blood," he said and looked at Joey as they neared the hospital. The boy blinked in confusion, his bangs practically obscuring his eyes. That's annoying, Lan thought as he watched Joe jerk his head to move his hair. Then a smile slowly spread on his face as an idea came to him. Perfect pay back for what he'd lost.

Standing in the doorway to the hospital, Lan grinned and spoke in easy-going tones. "Joe, I need you to go to the hospital wings and get me some scissors," he held out his hand for the boy's bag and Joey took it off and handed it to him as he listened aptly. "They're in the cabinet against the wall behind the nurses station."

The lad nodded curtly and then was gone, fast as lightning sprinting down the hallway. Lan smirked to himself, holding the bag over his shoulder as he proceeded the other direction to his lab. When he got there, he frowned and looked around swiftly, feeling somewhat edgy. Had anyone been here? Everything looked just as he'd left it. Then he looked at the flower on the table by the window and he smiled, visibly relaxing as he approached it. He looked behind him to make sure Joey wasn't back yet as he spoke quietly to it. "Hello, Psyche," he said with a small smile, already feeling fond of the thing and comforted by it's presence for some odd reason. "Did you miss me?" And he gently caressed her petals between forefinger and thumb, the silk smoothness softer than anything he'd ever felt. Then he remembered caressing Dorelia's face last night when he'd found her asleep in his lab and he amended the thought--almost the softest thing he'd ever felt.

Running into the room with the hospital beds, Joey looked around hurriedly for the cabinet Lan had been talking about. There were several small cupbards behind the nurses station and he wondered frantically which one the man had meant. Quickly he went to the nearest one and opened the doors and started to go through the supplies and medical equipement housed there.

Abigail, who had been putting away some freshly washed linens in the closet against the far wall stopped as she heard the noise and looked over to the nurses station. Seeing someone crouched and looking through the cabinets, she immediately became concerned. "May I help you?" she asked coldly as she walked up behind him. Startled, the boy looked up at her and just gaped for a moment. Seeing who it was Abigail relaxed and her voice was a bit gentler when she spoke again. "Oh, Joey. What are you doing?"

"Am looking for scissors, ma'am," he said quickly, and meekly. He was worried because she seemed somewhat displeased with him.

"Scissors? Why?" It seemed unlikely that Joey had come to the hospital looking for a pair of scissors for his mother or someone--no doubt the boy was on an errand for Lan, but she still was curious about the man asking the boy in the first place.

"Landon asked for them," he said. "I'm his apprentice!" He spoke in bright tones and gave her a smile, her demeanor having changing from one of anger to being inquisitive and thus making the boy feel more at ease around her.

But then shock registered on her features as she heard the lad say those words. Apprentice? She'd just assumed he was acting as an errand boy for some temporary task, possibly because he was being a snoop around the lab and Lan wanted to get him out of his hair for a moment--he did that occasionally. But this. This changed everything. Suddenly a hollow feeling filled the old woman as she looked at the boy crouched in front of the cabinets and for the first time in years she felt her age like never before. There was no mistaking it what this meant and it wasn't like she'd thought she was ever going to be the alchemist's successor or anything--definitely not. But she had clearly been replaced.

Swallowing thickly and frowning to herself, she shook from her thoughts and stepped forward. Opening one of the other cabinets and reaching in, she handed the scissors to him and the boy stood with a grateful smile. Then he was rushing off and she sighed sadly at seeing how fast he could run. Probably for the best, but now she'd been wholly demoted to cleaning lady. At least she'd continue to be useful until Joey learned a bit more, but with how smart the boy was he'd probably pick things up quick--either way it was a limited amount of time she had left to be Landon's partner. As much as she tried to think to herself to make the most of it, her spirits refused to be lifted.

------------------

He watched as the Dorelia rose to her feet fluidly, so graceful and young and took a deep breath to stifle the urges that roiled within him. The Devil had sent quite te adversary. It had been rare that Father Justin had ever given into carnal urges and even the prettiest women in town did not phase him. But there was something about this girl, this foreigner, this WITCH. It was just the right mixture of innocence, beauty and seduction to get under his skin. He knew by the look on her face and her constant smiling that he hadn't fooled her with his little act--he hadn't really expected it to fool her, but for her to be angered by it. She was affected in the exact oposite way and the more she spoke the more the priest frowned.

First, she implied that it was God's will that she have the child and raise it without a father--as if the Lord ever intended such a thing, but more he'd used the whole marriage idea to snare her anyways, so really it just hurt his plan, not God's actual plan. Then she had the nerve to suggest that years pass by before she finally got married--the child would be her flower girl??? How dare she! The whole idea sickened him and he scowled at her, likehe was going to spit something nasty.

The only good thing she said was that she would be working with Beatrice, the town seamstriss. Normally he would be pleased with this if she were any other woman--but she wasn't. She was a witch and he was determined to see her dependent and helpless.

Suddenly, this little gamethe were playing wasn't fun anymore and he glanced around briefly making sure the were still alone. "No, I do not know about the traders," he said slowly, his deep voice in level tones. "That's something you'll have to ask the mayor." He siled unkindly. "Forgive me fo saying so, but let's cut the bullshit, shall we? I tire of this ruse and your little act sickens me." He let his eyes lok her up and down as he kept that mean smile on his face and spoke placidly. "You think you're so smart, don't you? Spreading your lies an filth, an yor little sob story--you may have fooled everyone else, but you haven't fooled me. I KNOW exactly what you are and I will stop at nothing to see you burn.

"You want to set up shop here, become a little seamstress and raise your baby here? Fine go ahead and think that. But remember, this is MY town. I am the reigning authority here. What I say is law and the people are quick to follow my orders. You want to wait a few years to fulfill your precious dream of a perfect wedding? Not if I have anything to say about it. You will be married within the month."

Then his smile disappearred into a threatening scowl and he grabbed her by the arm, his face hovering close. "God may have given you that abomination that now grows inside of you, but he also led you here. You will face his judgement eventually, my dear and remember," he leans in close, to whisper in her ear. "I'm always watching."
Letting go of her arm, he stepped back and looked at her with a sneer. "Now get out."

 

[Cheshire Pup]

As she spoke she noticed that the priest seemed very unhappy with her plans but she didnâ??t mind. She was hoping that he would be mad. She wasnâ??t here to make him happy. He was not the highest authority even if he seemed to think that he was. This man was misrepresenting God and she hoped that one day he would be punished for his crimes against people in his Lordâ??s name. When she finished she noticed he took a look around. They were alone but he was probably checking to make sure. This put her on guard. She knew what he did when there were people around but what would he do without anyone else there.

She watched the mean smile creep across his lips and she had to willfully force herself not to take a step back. When he cursed she was surprised, â??Are you so angry with my very existence that you would curse in the Lordâ??s house?â? she asked the man, surprised and a bit worried. If he was mad enough to do that then he would not hesitate to do other things. It seemed that the church would no longer be a safe place for her. He thought she was a liar that everything that she said was a lie and that pissed her off. The only lie she had told was telling people she was no witch. That was a lie of self preservation. God would not want her to die and even if she did she wasnâ??t about to let a lie stand between her living and her dying.

Then he went on and his words and tone worried her. He claimed that this was his town and for the moment it was. Sure there was not the madness that Landon had walked into but he still have enough control here to do some damage, enough to outcaste Susy and if he could do that to an innocent woman she did not want to know what he could do to a guilty one. Then he said that she would be married within the month and it was her turn to frown. She couldnâ??t let that happen. She would have to take Landon with her when she left then and she didnâ??t want him getting more involved then he already was. If only this was the least of her worries.

The man moved in. He grabbed her arm roughly, holding it tightly. She winced and tried to pull it free but he was holding her too tightly and she couldnâ??t get free. â??Let go of me!â? she yelled at him, both angry and frightened at the same time. Angry at him for doing this, harassing her just because she was a witch but the fear came form his actions. Here he was, cursing in godâ??s house, grabbing her, threatening her. Then he was close to her face, to close for comfort. He called her baby and abomination, called her â??my dearâ?? in the most malicious way that he could. Then he leaned in closer and whispered directly into her ear, sending child through her.

Iâ??m always watching you

And she knew he would be. He would be watching her closely, looking for anything and everything he could do to accuse her of being a witch and try to have her dragged back to trial. The last time nearly killed her but she was doing better, her body was healing but the stress of another trial wouldnâ??t do any good. The moment he released her arm she jerked it away form him and took a step back, watching him carefully like one animal watches another, waiting to see if it will attack or leave. When he told her to leave she wanted to go, she wanted to run and hide under a table or a bed or somewhere this man would not find her. Suddenly she understood how Susy must be feeling, persecuted by this man, only worse because she was innocent.

As much as she wanted to run and hide she knew that she could not, not just yet. She had to stand strong and be brave, stand up to the bully of this town and let him know that he canâ??t bully everyone anymore. Holding the arm that he hand grabbed she spoke. â??You are not the only one that is watching.â? She said as she nodded towards the big cross. â??God is watching. He is watching me and you and everyone in this town. I know I am not perfect. I do not claim to be a saint. But you do. You twist his name to suit your own selfish needs. You twist the minds of the people of this town to fear who they should love and hate who they should befriend. I may face his judgment but you will you and he will not be happy when he looks upon your sins. Sins more numerous then that if a witch.â? She told him.

She was angry but still scared. Yet as she spoke she knew it would anger him more yet she could not make herself stop talking. She just could not get her mouth to shut and her feet to leave. She needed to stand strong and say something but certainly not this. She just said he had more sins then a witch did and since he thought she was a witch he would take it as saying that he had more sins then her. Surely he would not be happy about that. This was bad, very bad and she needed to go before he totally lost it. Now with these words hanging in the air she knew that she had to leave. Not daring to delay a second longer she hurried from the church and back into their small town.

She didnâ??t know how angry what she said would make him and since he has already proven that he canâ??t be alone with her, even in church, she knew she needed to find someone. She didnâ??t want to go back and see Landon right now. She just couldnâ??t bring herself to face him at the moment so she needed to find someone else. Abigail! She thought quickly as she hurried to the womanâ??s house. She greeted many people along the way, freely saying that she had just been praying at church. If the man was going to try and use the church against her then she could try and use it for her.

When she finally got there she hurried inside. â??Abigail!â? she called, there was no answer and she began to get worried. Was the woman not here? â??Abigail!â? She called again this time a little bit louder. She began to look around the house but she could not find the woman anywhere. The fear was building inside of her, magic readying itself at her fingertips against her will. She didnâ??t know how anger the man would get but she thought he would be pretty mad. She was scared he would be mad enough to come searching for her. If he decided she needed to be â??punishedâ?? for what she said to him. She was hoping that Abigail would be there. Abigail would have never let the priest get close enough to hurt her.

She thought of leaving to go find the woman but if the man caught her in public the people there would not say anything. If he kept his calm, cool demeanor and kindly asked her back to the church it would not only be rude of her to refuse but it would look very bad on her part. She decided that her best bet was to stay here and hope that he decided to leave here alone and if he didnâ??t she could only hope that Abigail would get here before he did or at least that the woman would get here before there was a chance for her to cause any kind of real harm to the girl.

Already exhausted form the dayâ??s events and with no plans to wait for the man or woman to get here she went back to the room that was given to her. She hid her staff and her book underneath her bed and then climbed a top it. She just needed to relax a little bit, a short nap, but even with as tired as she was she could not seem to fall asleep. That man had gotten the better of her when she was sleeping once and she didnâ??t want it to happen again.

 

[Rudolph Quin]

He had been willing to let her go for now, because he was done saying what needed to be said. He'd also been willing to let her go because he'd told her to leave, expecting to have his orders obeyed and for her to leave with him having the upper hand. But this was not how it happened. She just had to get in the last word in their battle. If she was any other woman, it might have been a futile attempt to rile him up and he would have laughed in her face. But when Dorelia spoke, her words had the intended affect and Father Justin was desiring one more round in this fight.

There were no subtle implications in what she said, but came right out and stated that HE would have to face judgement from the Lord someday. Granted, no one was perfect, so it was true, but hearing it from HER as if she had any right to talk! And that was when she said it--his crimes, his sins were worse than those of a witch. All he could do was stand there, gaping like he'd been hit in the face with a brick. So when she turnwed to leave, she was free to go and he continued to stand there, fumbling mentally.

Slowly, he turned to the large wooden cross on the wall, breathing coming heavy as he stared with mouth agape. How could she suggest such a thing? These people needed him, they needed the Lord's guiding hand in their lives and he was there to facillitate that. There was evil in the world and Satan had his minions on earth, possessing bodies and using the natural evil in men's hearts against them. All he'd ever done was to protect those in this town from these destructive forces that would eat them all alive if they were left unaware to their power. And here, she said he was...

Suddenly, something snapped inside him, as the full intent behind her words came crashing down upon him. HIS sins were worse than a witches??? A woman who sold her own soul to the Devil, had sex with demons and used magic to tempt and corrupt the hearts of men. HE was worse than that, after all he'd done to help people? It was preposterous and insane and from anyone else, it would roll off his back. But it had come from HER. The woman who was hiding in plain sight, her evil slowly working to twist the minds of those in town--and he could do nothing to stop her. The impotence he felt and the rage at his own helplessness to bring her to justice filled him and all the anger he'd felt since day one filled him to the breaking point.

He couldn't let her get away with this. She only had the nerve to speak to him like that because she knew he couldn't touch her yet. She KNEW and it was her own design to make him a useless threat and she deliberately danced in front of his face, passing judgement on him because he had no power or influence to really attack her directly. He could not let her get away with this, he could not let her win even one little battle.

So, scowling darkly, Father Justin turned from the cross on the wall and stormed after her, several minutes behind her but he knew exactly where she would go. Stalking through town, he was blinded by rage and ignored all those whom he passed, everyone giving him a wide berth when they saw his facial expression, several whispering to one another and others hurrying off to spread the news of the angry priest. As he neared Abigail's house he felt that familiar tingling on his skin and turning in his gut--she was using magic or she was going to! And he ran the rest of the way, eyes wide and intense and a hateful grin on his face.

He didn't bother to knock as he burst into the house, uncaring if Abigail would actually be home, so fixated on the young woman he was pursuing, so intent on catching her casting a spell, he probably would have barrelled right over the old woman even if she had been here. But she wasn't, so his search was unhindered as he scoured the house for the object of his hate.

Into the back room he went, hackles raised as he glared at the woman upon the bed. "Go ahead," he said in his deep voice, loathing filling every syllable. "Use it. Right now. I know you want to. Wouldn't it be so much easier, just to give into it? That evil urge inside you, to let it loose? I'm the perfect target, wouldn't you say? Go on. I DARE you."

Impatient as he was, he didn't wait before striding forth. Maybe he could give her a little incentive and the rage inside him filled every limb to the point he couldn't contain it. As he neared the bedside he reached out, his large slamming into her face his knuckles splitting on her teeth. Then once he began, hurting her, it became impossible to stop, his hand flying back again and again into the tender flesh of her pretty face.

At one point, he was able to stand back, breathing hard, his usually smoothed back hair falling in his face a little and sweat glistening on his brow. Glaring down at the woman upon the bed, and her body twisted helplessly, haphazardly from his assault, he felt that warmth begin to grow beneath his robes again. Looking at the small length of her bared legs and the dip of her skirt between her hips, he felt a deep revulsion stir inside him, even as he became aroused.

"The Devil couldn't have sent a more perfect adversary..." he said quietly as he continued to gaze down upon her. Then his hand was at her ankle and slowly moving upwards and she was immediately shying away from him. His inhibitions flown out the window some time ago, he moved down upon her, holding her in a tight grip even as he knelt upon the bed beside her hovering over her. A gasp from the doorway made him freeze and his head whipped around to see Abigail standing there.

Trembling and eyes wide in abhorred shock, she merely stood silently as he rose from the bed and sought to straighten himself, suddenly remembering who and where he was. He cleared his throat and smoothed the hair from his face and took calming breaths before speaking in even tones. "We were just talking..." he said. "The girl is like a wild animal and cannot be reasoned with. I was merely holding her down to keep her from hurting herself."

Abigail, having finally found her voice stared at him hard, her face still painted with shock but with a determined look dominating her features. "I know EXACTLY what you were doing," she said, a strength filling her thin reed-like voice. "And I am appalled that a man of your station would debase himself so."

Pursing his lips unhappily, Father Justin looked down at the ground as he walked forward and stopped as he stood in front of the older woman. "I can see why you'd have an affinity for her," he said soberly. "I'd be careful with whom I stepped forward to protect, if I were you. Might end up being brought down by the same arrows in the end." He stared at her intently, the challenge plain in his eyes.
"If that's your way of telling me you want me to keep quiet," she said, undaunted by his tone or his threat. "Then I would suggest you are worrying about judgement from the wrong source."

The priest breathed deeply and frowned before moving past her and leaving the room. Abigail waited until she heard the front door slam shut behind him before rushing over to Dorelia.

"What happened?" she asked as she came to the young woman's side. "In all the years he's been here, NEVER have I seen that man lose himself so! He almost...!" She stopped, unable to say it. "Maybe I should get Landon..."

 

[Cheshire Pup]

She heard someone burst through the door of the house and realized that the man was here. He fear had become a reality. She realized that she pushed him to hard, she said too much and now the man had completely lost himself. He was just a skin filled with rage. She should caste something. She knew it. Everything in her was screaming to caste something, to knock the man out, to knock him back, to magically seal him to one side of the room and away form her but she knew that none of this would end well. Any magic that she used would just be more proof that she was a witch. It would be all the proof that the man needed to kill her and then her child would be left in his hands. She knew what it was like to be tormented by the person that was supposed to care for you and she knew that he would not be kind to her child. She couldnâ??t let him get his hands on her.

She sat up when she heard his voice, she turned to face him, eyes wide with fear, magic ready at her fingertips and so many different spells all on the tip of her tongue and waiting to be caste. But here he was, telling her to do it, telling her to caste, to give into the â??evil urgeâ?? inside of her. He dared her and all she could do was try and reason with him. â??Eve gave into the urges of the snake and got herself and Adam caste form the garden. God warns us against giving into evil. Father, donâ??t give in!â? she pleaded with him. This was her only chance. In his hatred of her the man lost his faith. Maybe if he remembered, just for a second, she could have a chance. But sadly he didnâ??t.

As he neared the bed she tried to get up to flee but he was faster then her this time. Just a second later her face blossomed with pain and she found herself lying back on the bed. The man had hit her and the hit knocked her back, she fell back onto the mattress and before she even had a chance to move there was another hit. She opened her mouth to scream but instead of calling for help a different set of words exploded form her mouth. â??ربط بÙ?دÙ? سحرÙ?Ø© Ù?ساعة اÙ?Ù?ادÙ?Ø©!â? She could not help herself and she regretted the spell the moment those words left her lips. Her body suddenly felt heavy and she felt sick to her stomach. Suddenly it was like she was wearing a full body suit that was to tight for her skin. Of course there was nothing to be seen and nothing would happen to the man above her. The spell had not been for him, it had been at herself. It was a spell to bind her magic.

This was to keep her safe yet ironically it would end up hurting her more. Without her magic she was not as powerless as any normal human female and right now he was still beating away at her face. She cried out with every blow, heard herself screaming for help. She screamed for Abigail, for Landon, even heard herself screaming for her father and Baba. Yet no matter who she called for the blows kept coming, focused on her face. Her head throbbed and her jaw hurt. How many times had he punched her in the mouth? She felt warm blood trickling down form her face. A split lip, bloody nose, there was no doubt one or even two black eyes there.

When he was finally finished she didnâ??t have the strength left to call out. The whole time she had been fighting against him, trying to push him off her, kicked him away... but now she just could not focus. Her body felt heavy and her head continued to throb. She couldnâ??t coordinate her movements and all she could do was lay, sprawled on the bed before the man, whimpering in pain. She wished she had not caste that spell to prevent her form casting. She needed to caste, now more then ever, to make him go away, to make him stop and leave her alone.

She heard what the man said and his words worried her. Was he going to finish her? Was he going to kill her while she lay there helplessly beaten and without her magic to aid her? She felt his hand on her ankle and she wondered if he was going to drag her off to have her burned at the stake. She whimpered and struggled weakly, fearing for her life. It was when she felt his hand trialing up her leg that she realized he had something so much worse in mind. He was hovering over her, evil intentions in his lust filled eyes. â??No... Please...â? she whimpered pathetically. She tried to pull away form him but she was just to weak.

Then suddenly he froze. She didnâ??t know why, she didnâ??t hear what he did over the throbbing inside of her skull. She wondered if her pleaseâ??s had suddenly gotten through to him. It was then when she realized that someone else was here... but who was it? Who could have come to stop him when she needed help the most? Not thinking clearly she called the name of the woman who had always been there to help her. â??Baba?â? she questioned, praying that somehow the woman had arrived and would make the man pay for everything he had done and intended to do.

Who ever it was Father Justin tried to reason with them, he tried to put it on her and right now she was in no state to argue with the man. But she heard the woman speak. She knew that she heard that voice somewhere before but she could not place exactly where she had heard it. She knew it was not Baba. But then who was it? Who would stand up for her against the man who held such control over the town? Then suddenly the woman was hovering over her. She had trouble focusing on her face but when she did she smiled. It wasnâ??t Baba, it was Abigail.

She looked up at the women weakly. She asked her what happened and Dorelia was not sure how to answer her. She heard the woman say to get Landon and Dorelia reached up to take hold of the womanâ??s hand. â??N-no...â? she said weakly. â??H-hospital...head... ouch...â? she told the woman. Landon would already know that someone was up but she didnâ??t want to stay here, not after what just happened her. Right now she just wanted to be anywhere else, anywhere but here.

.:~:.:~:.:~:.:~:.:~:.:~:.:~:.:~:.

Back in the lab the plant giggled when she saw the man bring the boy with him. She seemed so happy when Landon greeted her. Landon would be able to feel this joy in the plant and it might cheer him up as well.

Miss you I did
When youâ??re not home.
Unlike you
I do not roam.
Here Iâ??m stuck
To where I sit
To be moved
Where you see fit.

The plant said to him. It giggled more as he caressed its petals. The plant was so happy to be here, to have this manâ??s attention. She was happy that the witch had convinced him to take her home.

â??Being here
Is so much fun,
Even away
Form everyone.
This place is busy
Through here they pass
Many others
But do not ask.
I know not names
Only face
After being so long
In Susyâ??s place.â?

The flower told him. It seemed that the plant did see others in his lab but the young flower did not know who the otherâ??s were. The plant explained to him that since she had been at Susyâ??s place that she did not know anyone who had not been there since she grew and considering the state of that women that would be the only people she knew were Susy, Landon and Dorelia and according to the flower none of them had been there. The flower giggled more but suddenly the giggling cut out, the joy he was feeling form the flower was cut off and suddenly it would just feel like a normal flower again, nothing special about it.

Then Landon would get a headache and a sick feeling in his stomach, on top of all that there would be a profound sense that someone was deeply wrong. Something connected to where the magic inside him came form and that could only mean one thing. Dorelia was in trouble.

 

[Rudolph Quin]

As Father Justin left the house, he took several calming breaths trying to compose himself. What had happened? What had he done? Realizing at how far he'd let himself fall, he felt a surge of dread overwhelm him. Oh no...and the old woman had seen him... he might have been able to get away with it by declaring all the girl said as lies if she told anyone, but now there was a second witness and someone other people trusted. And really, that was what was foremost in his mind as he slammed the door behind himself--not worrying about what he'd done from a spiritual standpoint, but from how it would affect his reputation with the townspeople. How could he continue to do God's work if they found out what he'd done?

Then that brought up an interesting question of "why" had he done that? He remembered the tingling on his skin and like a flash of light in his eyes when she'd uttered those words. And he knew deep in the pits of his being that she had cast a spell at that moment. Then his reasoning, trying to figure out what she could have done, led him to think that she had cast a spell to seduce him. At first it didn't make sense with how she had reacted towards him when he'd touched her, but then when he thought of the big picture and how it would make him look to everyone now, he understood. She'd planned the whole thing...

Still somewhat stunned from this realization, he blinked as he stepped from Abigail's stoop and saw several people standing around and watching him. Not a crowd, just as if everyone had been going about their daily business and had suddenly stopped to stare at him. Feeling self-conscious and wanting to put on a dignified affect, he squared his shoulders and held his head high as he walked out into the street, ignoring the burning, stinging pain in his raw knuckles.

-----------------

Abigail stopped as she was turning away and Dorelia mentioned the hospital. Seeing the cut on the girl's upper cheek and knowing she'd need stitches, the older woman nodded and came near again, helping the girl up, supporting her on her shoulder as she helped her walk from the room. As they walked her mind raced worriedly. What had happened? What had she done to make Father Justin snap like this? Not that she blamed the girl--it wasn't her fault; there was no excuse for the man to have done this to another human being, let alone what he had been planning on doing. She just wondered what the situation was and what had happened to set him off. Normally so composed and level-headed(as level-headed as a man like him could be) she was astounded to see him lose control so completely. She'd always known the man was unstable, but had he finally lost it?

Another thing tickled at the back of Abby's mind as they made their way through the house and out the front door, several minutes behind the priest. What had Dorelia said when Abigail had come into the room? Had she said...Baba? Had the girl, known her mother? She tried to reason it out that possibly she'd misheard the girl--maybe she'd said "Mama" instead--but she knew that hadn't and something like hope and curiosity tickled inside her before doubt snuffed it out. Alright, so she had said Baba, but it was a common name. It was probably not the same person, and she shook her head at herself and her flights of fancy.

Walking through town, there were people standing around in the streets, some still looking in the direction the priest had gone. As heads turned and they noticed the newcomers, gasps and murmurs rose at the sight of the young woman on her shoulder. Her face was a mess of welts and darkening flesh, blood streaming from her mouth and nose from a nosebleed and split lip. Her head bobbed barely able to stay up as they walked along.

The Father's torn knuckles and the way he'd been in a rage chasing after the girl, not to mention her being fine when she'd walked through town just moments before--the townspeople who were watching and had been around for these events were able to figure out what had happened. And that was when anger mixed with the sympathy and concern in their faces. The priest had beaten the woman's face to a bloody pulp! There was no excuse for that behavior from any man--husband's beat their wives occasionally and what happened under a man's roof was his business, but it was generally frowned upon when he completely savaged her appearance. And the fact that Father Justin was a priest was enough to make people talk as well--they knew there had been tension between the young woman and the Father, but they had expected him to be of a higher moral standing than anyone else. That he could give in to his rage and apparently his hatred so thoroughly lowered their esteem for the man greatly. Especially with the way he'd walked away from it--he might have been able to salvage a few hearts if he'd attempted to help her to the hospital.

Standing in the crowd as well, Cain looked around at the people just continuing to watch, before he sighed and stepped forward, genuine concern on his face. "Here, let me help," he said softly as he came up beside Abigail, who was still supporting the girl as they walked along together.

She didn't feel all that fatigued and was worried about the attention of the people standing around, wondering what kind of rumors would be spread about this. All she wanted was to get the young woman to the hospital as quickly as possible. So when Cain stepped forward, Abigail shook her head and politely declined. "No, thank you, Cain," she said continuing to walk along. "I've got her alright."

But Cain cocked his head and gave her a disbelieving look, before wrapping his arm around Dorelia's waist and picking the girl up bridal style. He walked along more quickly than Abigail had been going, the young woman's weight not seeming to bother him at all and after the initial startled exclamation, Abigail hurried after him.

---------------------------------

Landon smiled down at the little flower as it spoke and giggled, seemingly so excited to see him there. A good feeling burst through him as he listened to it talk, and heard Joey re-enter the room. Then his smile fell as he heard it mention people coming and going in his lab. Many others, through here they pass? What did she mean by that? Who? And he cursed internally when he realized what Susy's isolation of the plant had done to it--it could see and watch things for him, but if and when people did come through, Psyche wouldn't be able to tell him directly who it was. Thinking he could probably guess from a physical description, Landon licked his lips and said, "What did they look like? What did they do while they were here?"

"Who?" Joey asked and Lan jumped as he realized the boy was back and he shrugged trying to cover up his blunder.

When the man turned back to the flower though, he suddenly felt an absence of something and a dread that filled his stomach spilled over into his limbs. Suddenly not caring that the boy was there, he stared at the flower and frowned worriedly. "Psyche?" He touched a petal tentatively expecting her to laugh or to say something, and started to get fearful when he was met with silence. Then something else hit him, something even deeper than the plant's voice was missing. Feeling slightly ill and dizzy, he leaned forward, gasping a bit and blinking harshly, holding onto the table for support.

"Sir?" Joey said, alarmed and set the scissors down as he came to Lan's side, his eyes intent and filled with concern. Breathing deeply through his nose several times, his brows furrowed as he thought wildly, he slowly stood up straight.

"Something's wrong..." and he turned from the lad and hurried from the room blindly. He didn't have a clue where she was but hearing voices and noises from the hospital wings, he hurried in that direction, Joey following quickly on his heels. When he entered the room, Abigail had set Dorelia on a bed and was holding a cloth to the young woman's face, staining it red. The old woman was in the middle of directing Cain to hold the cloth and as the man took over, she hurried to the nurses station and dug through the cabinets looking for some needle and thread. When she saw Landon she merely hesitated before continuing on as she was doing.

"What's going on?" he demanded in a worried professional tone. He didn't stay to address the old woman even as she started to answer, but came to the bedside, brushing Cain away forcefully, his eyes fixated on the young woman who lay there. Lifting the cloth a bit, he was able to see her face more clearly and especially the cut she had on her cheek. Sorrow poured into his heart as he gazed upon her broken and bleeding face, his own features fully articulating the absolute grief he felt.

Sensing his mood and the fact that he might try and take over, and possibly trying to ignore the fact that the young man would be very upset by this, Abigail came up to the bed holding the needle and thread to stitch up the girl's wound. "Just a minor cut, that's all," she said, trying to affect a routine tone, hoping he would remain calm about this. "I can handle--"

"What...happened?" he said in uneven tones, his voice quiet and filling with anger. He turned to the old woman, eyes shining wetly even as rage filled his gaze. "Who did this?"

Immediately she heard that growing note of anger in his voice and she hesitated about telling him it had been the priest--there was no telling what he would do, so she delayed a bit longer. "Lan, just calm down for a few moments. Let me stitch Dorelia up and then we'll talk--"

"What the FUCK happened???" his breathing was coming quickly and deeply and his eyes glared at her boring into her demanding answers. Why wasn't she telling him? Who could have possibly done this? But in his heart he knew and he was just waiting for her to say it.

"Hey, easy, doc," Cain said, standing off to the side. He glanced at Joey and the two women in the room pointedly, but when Lan looked at him, the alchemist gave him a 'Who the hell are you?' scowl and turned away as if he were inconsequential.

"If you're going to be here, then I suggest you shut up and let me do my job," Lan said testily, not even looking at the other man as he spoke. "Thank you." But it was said in a way that suggested he was not grateful.

"Hey, don't get pissy with me, doc," Cain said, interrupting Abigail as she opened her mouth to speak. "I ain't the one who beat up your girlfriend." He stood with arms crossed nonchalantly, with an air of arrogant superiority, even as his comments seemed directed to jab and prod a response. "In fact this would be number two wouldn't it? That priest sure has a habit of going after your women, doesn't he?" Lan had turned to him and was about to tell him to get out of his hospital until the other man spoke of the priest. Then Lan stared silently, waiting for more. "If I were you, I'd be worried about getting into another relationship after this one--it looks like he's escalating." And Cain smirked a little nodding at Dorelia with her cuts and bruises.

Lan stood straight like someone had just run an electrical current through him, his hair standing on end, and he quickly turned back to the young woman upon the bed, his eyes wide and intense. Heart pounding fiercely, breath coming rapidly and grinding his teeth, he suddenly turned away and started to walk hurriedly from the room.

"Landon, wait!" Abigail said worriedly. "Where are you going?"

He didn't answer her and as Joey started to follow him, he stopped and pointed at the boy. "Stay here and help Abigail!" he said harshly, eyes burning with a raging fire that seared everything that came into it's path. Shrinking away from the alchemist Joey stopped and stared after the departing man.

After he'd left the house, Father Justin had gone to the church and sat in the back of the building in his private chambers, wrapping his hands in bandages and contemplating the days events. Despite it being the witch's influence, he would still need to do penance for what he'd done and it was next on his list of things to do even as he raged inside about the fact she'd used magic on him. It was worrisome whether or not anyone would believe him if he told them the witch had cast a spell on him, especially when word got out of what he'd done to her. Who would they believe? Who would they side with? It was his last card to play in this fight and if it didn't measure up, then it would only work to further discredit him. The words of the judge echoed in his mind and he wondered if he really should have just left the girl alone.

Then a loud booming sound echoed through the church and he turned towards the door that led into the chapel from his rooms. He heard a man scream his name and he calmly rose from his seat and walked out into the church. Having burst through the front doors, Lan stalked angrily up the aisle between the pews, searching feverishly for the priest, fully intent on tearing the man limb from limb.When the Father came into view from his back rooms a look of curious serenity on his face, Landon instantly rounded on him.

"You son of a--!!!"

"Hold your tongue," Father Justin said chidingly. "This is the Lord's house afterall. If you've come here for a screaming match, I'm sorry to disappoint you. You cannot yell in church either."

Snarling fiercely, Lan surged forward and grabbed the man by the front of his robes and slammed him up against a wall, hate filling his eyes as he locked gazes with the priest. He breathed heavily, panting and ready to hurt this man who had caused such misery and pain. He'd gone too far this time! He had to be punished for this.

But he waited, standing there holding firmly to the more physically imposing man, as he gazed placidly down at the alchemist. Why wasn't he saying anything? Why wasn't he fighting back? Then it suddenly occurred to him that the man was probably hoping Lan would beat the shit out of him. After what the man had done to Dorelia's face and how people would find out, if Lan did something just as morally appalling it would discredit him along with the priest--so then neither of them would win. Trembling and grimacing in the man's face, he pushed his fist tighter into the man's throat before releasing him and turning away.

"Yes, go on then," Father Justin said in that deep, calm, reverberating voice. "I knew you didn't have it in you. In the end, you're just as pathetic and easy to push around as she was."

He'd been willing to just leave, but he stopped in the middle of the church and turned back to the Father, continuing to glare, his eyes shining brightly. "You're not gonna get away with this," he said unevenly, voice choked with emotion. "I will...destroy you..." and the look in his eyes and the firm set of his jaw said that he meant to do exactly that. Then he was walking away and Father Justin was left alone in the church once more.

 

[Cheshire Pup]

Abigail felt someone touching her and for a moment she was worried but she reminded herself that it was just Abigail and she told herself not to panic. She smiled weakly as she looked up at the woman. Things kept fading in and out of focus but she could see enough to tell the difference. It was a slight difference though, Abigailâ??s face showed more age on it but she wondered if Abigail had look like the woman when she was younger. Dorelia smiled weakly at the woman as she was lifted form the bed. â??You..... youâ??re not... Baba...â? she said weakly with a smile. Abigail had taken her arm around her to allow Dorelia to lean on her.

She needed to get to the hospital but she was not focused on that right now. Still smiling â??and possibly somewhat delusional- she brought up her hand to touch the womanâ??s face. â??But... you look like her... your eyes... and nose too...â? The girl said weakly, she seemed to have completely forgotten how hurt she was. It wasnâ??t until they got outside that she was reminded. She winced, the light hurt her eyes and trying to close them hurt. They were swollen form the pounding that she took, as well as the rest of her face, she realized then that she must have looked. She heard the whispers of people around her and turned her head towards the ground. Her face felt hot but she quickly realized that was not from blush. She watched blood fall to the ground and she spit some from her mouth. All she could taste was blood.

She heard someone come up but couldnâ??t place the voice. She just knew that she had heard it somewhere before but she could not place exactly where. Then she heard Baba talking to him. No! she scolded herself mentally. Itâ??s not Baba, itâ??s Abigail. Abigail is here, Abigail is helping you. Abigail. Abigail. Abigail. She told herself. The woman holding her, whoever it was, kept going, she didnâ??t seem to want the manâ??s help but she must have agreed because a moment later she found herself lifted off the ground. Dorelia whimpered weakly, gently pushing against the man that picked her up before clutching tightly to the fabric of his shirt. It seemed like she was not exactly sure what she was going to do.

The man walked with her now, holding her like a man would carry his bride. Her mind concluded that it had to be Landon. Had father Justin convinced him to marry her now? No, that was silly. She knew it was silly but she couldnâ??t think of another explanation. Blood gathered in her mouth form her lip and she turned her head to the side to spit it out. Blood. She was hurt.; She remembered that she had been hurt. Landon must be carrying her because she couldnâ??t get there on her own... but the man was moving fast. He must be carrying her to get her there faster. Did she need help that badly? How hurt was she? She didnâ??t know. Things faded in and out from being clear to blurry. The only thing that kept the same was the throbbing in her skull.

Then the sun was no longer beating down upon her face and she was vaguely aware that they had entered a building. Where was Landon taking her. She realized that he must have taken her to the hospital and she smiled gratefully up at him. Landon would know what to do, maybe even some pain killers to make the pain go away. Wonâ??t that be nice she thought weakly. Right now she would think anything was nice if it made this pain go away. He laid her on the bed and she was happy to be someplace she knew she was safe. No one would even dream of hurting her while she was in the hospital, especially not with Landon watching over her.

She heard Landon at the doorway but she was then very confused. Landon was standing beside her bed. What was he doing at the doorway? Then the second Landon pushed the first Landon away. He lifted the cloth that the first Landon had held to her face. She was happy to have it gone, not liking it pressing against her nose and mouth. She had heard of people doing that to knock someone out and she really felt she should stay awake. Then she heard Baba talking to the second Landon and things just seemed to get even more confusing.

All at one the world was clear. Abigail was talking to Landon, the only Landon, a glace at the other man told her that he was not Landon, in fact it was Cain that had carried her here and had been holding the cloth to her nose. They werenâ??t trying to make her sleep, it was to stop the bleeding. Landon was getting madder and madder by the second. That much she could see but she wondered why she couldnâ??t feel it. She felt so isolated, so cut off from the rest of the world. That was when she remembered the spell that she had caste; The spell to keep her form casting anything on Father Justin and to keep herself as normal as any normal human being would be without magic.

Abigail kept trying to calm him down but the man just would not relax. Then Abigail said something that worried her. â??Stitch?â? she said, only it sounder much weaker then she wanted it to. It was then that she realized what the woman had meant. She must have some cuts on her face from the beating and the woman had a needle and thread in her hand and was planning on stitching them up. â??No... No... stitch.â? She told the woman, hoping that they would listen to her. Her face hurt enough; she didnâ??t need them poking her with needles. Landon didnâ??t seem to hear her. Dorelia barely heard herself. Her voice was so weak and moving her mouth hurt. She could still move it which was a good thing. The man had not broken her jaw.

Then Cain began to speak and the moment he finished his first sentence she knew letting him go one would be a bad idea but she didnâ??t have the strength to make him stop. What the man said shocked her. This man clearly had no class. Even so he was right. First it had been Susy and now it was her. She realized that the man was trying to make a joke but wondered if he knew how bad his taste was right now. All at once she felt Landonâ??s eyes on her again and she turned her head to meet them. She watched to give him a strong look but she couldnâ??t. Her face was bruised, bloody and swollen and her eyes betrayed the pain she felt. When he turned to leave she opened her mouth to speak but Abigail spoke for her.

That didnâ??t make the man stop. He just went right on and left her with Cain and Abigail. Things started to loose their clarity and she tried to fight it. She heard someone say to hold her down but she couldnâ??t place who. Fade out. Fade in. She couldnâ??t move. A blurry figure was on top of her holding her hands and her legs down to the bed. She was pinned, trapped and there was nothing she could do. â??No!â? she cried out, trying to struggle form the bad as best as she could but he was to strong. She couldnâ??t get free. Someone was yelling at someone to do something. What was it? She didnâ??t know, didnâ??t care. This man was on top of her and as far as she knew he would take advantage of her in this weakened state.

Fade out. Fade in. Pain. There was pain. Her face hurt before but now it hurt more. Someone was stabbing her. But who? Who would want to hurt her? She looked up and sat her mother holding a needle, the thread connected to her cheek. She watched the woman bring it down and felt it stab through her flesh. She cried out in pain and tried to pull away but felt the wait on her again. The man was still there. What was he waiting for? But after a few more stabs the woman was done. Looking up at her she saw a little bit more clearly with ever stab of the needle. This wasnâ??t her mom. It was Abigail. Things were fading into focus again. Cain was holding her down, probably to keep her from thrashing. Seeing the pain of scissors getting close she realized Abigail must be done.

Then she faded out and came back to hearing someone calling her name. It was Abigail. She was talking to her but she could not make out what the woman was saying. â??Iâ??m fine.â? She assured the woman, unsure if that was the question being asked but thought that it was the likely question considering the situation.

 

[Rudolph Quin]

Abigail sighed frustratedly as she turned back to the task at hand, letting the alchemist go. Let him leave angry, then! She just hoped the man retained enough of his reason not to do something stupid. But for now she needed to focus on helping Dorelia, being the only one here right now to deal with this. Seeing Cain still standing there with a smug look on his face, she frowned at him chidingly.

"Hold her down please," she said to him harshly, not liking him being here but needing his help anyways. From the inspection she'd done of Dorelia's face she knew the girl had been beaten pretty badly and although it was mostly focused on her face, the damage to her head was extensive. Abigail knew that sedating her with these head injuries would not be a good idea--she couldn't stay unconscious for too long or it would become hard to assess her condition. As it was, she seemed somewhat delusion and kept on coming in and out of consciousness. What that said for the severity of the head injury, Abigail didn't know.

Watching the doctor's face fall like that had been very satisfying and Cain watched the man go with a slight air of superiority. Try and push me around just because this is your hospital and you're hot shit, he thought to himself. Well look at you now, gotta run to protect her honor, little white knight. Cain's smile disappeared as he was brought back to the present situation by Abigail's words and he stepped forward to hold the young woman down. Placing his hands upon Dorelia's arms using the rest of his body to weigh down her legs a bit, he stared down at the young woman uncertainly while Abigail used a flame to sterilize the surgical needle.

Watching the young woman beneath him and feeling a sense of empathy for her injured state, Cain was about to mutter some calming words to her before she started squirming and struggling frightenedly. She put up a good fight, but with just an adjustment of his weight and how he held her arms he was able to keep her from moving too much.

"Keep her still!" Abigail said irritatedly as she came towards the bed with the threaded needle in hand.

"What's it look like I'm doing, grandma?" he said sarcastically and she frowned at his disrespectful address. "Can't you see, I'm trying?"

The old woman merely sighed irritatedly in response as if he were a bother and stepped forward and settled herself in a position where she could begin to stitch up the cut on Dorelia's cheek. Annoyed at the way he was being treated--first the doctor, now her--he shrugged nonchalantly. "If you want me to leave...?"

Clicking her tongue in annoyance and not taking her focus away from the needle as she pierced Dorelia's skin, she spoke in preoccupied tones. "Pssht. You're fine," she said and made a small noise as Dorelia seemed to rouse again and shied away from the needle, struggling a bit more. Cain had been somewhat distracted by the conversation and applied a bit more pressure into restraining the girl. She seemed a little out of it and Abigail wondered what must be going through the girl's mind at that moment--was she reliving the rape again?

As Abigail had sat down and started to work, Joey had wandered back over to the bed, somewhat dejected at having been reprimanded by the alchemist. His first few minutes of being under the man's charge did not seem to be going well. And that made Joey wonder if this level of drama was normal for the alchemist's life. Afterall, Joey had been in church this morning and seen the way Father Justin had drawn all that attention to the new girl who was apparently pregnant.

Joey didn't really understand all that had gone on or why it was so important that the woman be married--although it was unusual that a girl be pregnant without a husband, Joey understood that she'd been forced into relations with a man before she'd arrived to town. In his mind that made it an exception to the rule, because forcing a woman into relations was not a good thing to do and he could understand the man not being around anymore--would Dorelia want the father of her baby to marry her? he wondered. But he supposed not if she had not wanted relations with the man and had to be forced in the first place.

The priest and the alchemist were always fighting it seemed but never before had Joey been this close to the actual events as they were taking place. It was always seen from afar with the priest accusing people of this or that in public, people getting angry and then Landon would step forward and say things that made people not mad anymore. And most of the time, Joey would hear about it after the fact as word spread of events. So now, would he get to see Lan fight the priest head-on? Not likely if he was told to stay behind all the time.

As he neared the bed and saw Dorelia's wound up close and the needle piercing into the girl's skin over and over, he suddenly felt his stomach turn and all the blood left his face. The reddened and torn flesh showing the depths underneath the skin and then the needle poking into it and sliding through... Thinking of it and his eyes latched onto the scene before him there was nausea and he felt like there was a rushing wave coming from his gut. Holding a hand over his mouth, the young boy ran from the room stumbling along trying to keep his stomach contents from releasing themselves from his body. The lad's presence had been barely noticed by the other two people in the room and thus his departer caused just as much attention.

As Abigail continued to close the wound in Dorelia's cheek the old woman remembered what she'd said as they had made their way here, just as they'd been leaving the house. She'd continued to talk of 'Baba' and had even compared Abigail to her, saying she looked the woman she knew. This set a fluttering within Abigail, a curiosity that niggled at the back of her mind and she really began to wonder if Dorelia had known her mother. But that was impossible. Dorelia couldn't be more than 20 years old--Baba had been dead for 35 years. But something about the recognition in Dorelia's voice when she'd spoke of her features being similar told her that it was the same woman. Whatever this was she was definitely going to ask the girl about it later.

As Cain held the young woman down with his body positioned over her, he let his mind wander as the girl faded in and out of consciousness, not loosening his hold on her at all. Being this close to her he started to wonder about her baby and what had made Father Justin go so crazy that he'd beat the poor woman up. In his mind there had to be something she'd done, because he knew women were never without blame in situations that involved them. Thinking about this morning's events in church he wondered if maybe she didn't want to get married and had told the Father no. That might make him a little mad, but he couldn't see the town priest going nuts over just that.

And as he wondered about these things and the baby in her belly, he started to think of her body. Wondering if he'd be able to woo her quick enough before she began to show--at least if he did end up taking her to bed while she was pregnant, he wouldn't have to worry about accidentally getting her pregnant. As these thoughts ran through his head he looked down upon the girl beneath him with eyes half-lidded with arousal. But then Abigail was snipping scissors and he coughed nervously to cover what he'd been thinking about as he rose off of the girl's body. Abigail didn't seem to notice, too preoccupied with Dorelia and cleaning up after the stitches. But someone else did.

"What are you doing?" Landon asked as he came walking into the room. He cradled Psyche in his hand, having stopped by his lab to get the flower. The sound of the other man's voice made Cain jump a little and he looked at the alchemist guiltily. Abigail did not notice as she gathered the thread, scissors and bloodied cloth.

"I was just..." she started but then stopped as she realized Lan was looking at Cain instead. Looking at the other man, she wondered what was going on. Was he being super paranoid towards every man that came near the girl now? "Lan, Cain was helping me." She wasn't fond of Cain but she wasn't going to let Lan tear into everyone for no reason and she didn't understand the problem.

But Cain understood and he locked gazes with the alchemist as he neared the bedside. "I was just helpin' restrain the girl while Miss Abby stitched her back up nice and pretty for you," he said with a slight mocking smile trying to downplay the situation. "Just keepin' her from bouncin' about, that's all."

Landon did not shift his gaze away, staring the other man down, no expression on his face. And when he spoke finally, his voice was just as dull. "Of course you were," he said dryly the look he gave Cain, deep and knowing. "She's done stitching and I do not think your...services will be required any longer. You can go now." There was a slightly threatening note in his voice even as disgust painted every word. He'd seen the way Cain had ben looking at her while he'd been on top of her and he didn't like that the man would get aroused when the young woman was in such a savagely weakened state.

Frowning a little, Cain took the hint and nodded his head a bit as he turned to go. "Nice flower," he said with a smirk as he passed the alchemist and left the room.

When the man had gone Abigail turned to Landon, even as he came towards Dorelia, setting the flower on a small table by the bedside. "What is wrong with you?" she asked angrily. "Have you completely lost your mind? I know you like her, Lan, but that's no reason to get so defensive."

Standing by the bed looking down at the young woman lying there, he ignored Abby for the moment, not willing to argue and not wanting to explain what he'd seen in Cain's eyes. But Abigail was not content with silence. "What happened after you left?" she asked. "Did you go to see Father Justin? Did you--"

"Abby, please go wait by the door," he said quietly, yet effectively interrupting her.

"What? Why?" the old woman asked, concerned. What was he going to do?

"Because I would like to talk with Dorelia alone for a few minutes," he said still not looking at the old woman, but gazing at Dorelia instead. "I passed some people on my way here and they were concerned over her condition and desired to know how they could help. Some might be coming by and I do not wish to be interrupted while we speak."

Abigail realized she wasn't going to get him to talk about this right now and nodded her head, sighing resignedly as she turned to leave. "I sent Joey to get some water and ice," he said before she'd gone too far. "When he comes, let him in, please." And the old woman nodded her understanding at that as well and went to stand watch at the door. Turning to Dorelia he said, "It seems my new apprentice has a tender disposition. Came upon him outside, spilling his breakfast upon the sand. Apparently he couldn't take seeing your injuries." He smiled a little but it did not last long as he looked at her face, sadness growing in his eyes. It was then that he really started to notice her somewhat out of it state and grew concerned.

Then Landon was leaning forward and peering at Dorelia's face closely, slipping smoothly into doctor mode. Gently he touched her newly made stitches and the young woman flinched from his hand. "Let me just see," he said softly yet firmly. Then continued to inspect her sutures. "She did a good job." There was a slight touch of approval in his voice but it was lost in his somewhat morose mood. Joey came bustling in then, lugging a bucket of water and ice, his face looking flushed after being so pale before. He hesitated when he saw Dorelia, but since the wound was stitched now and the needle was nowhere to be seen he stayed on his feet and brought the bucket forward, setting it on the ground by the bed.

"Get a towel from the cabinet," he instructed the boy as he continued to inspect her injuries. Touching her face lightly here and there he felt at her cheek bones and her jaw, asking her if this or that hurt and making her move her jaw for him to make sure nothing was broken. When Joey returned with the cloth, Landon took some ice from the bucket and wrapped them in the towel before placing the bundle against the worst area on the opposite cheek which looked like it would swell pretty bad. From the looks of things it didn't appear that too much trauma had been done, internally, but he wouldn't know until a few hours from now. All he could do right now is to keep her alert and talking. "Tell me what happened," he said. Joey stood nearby, watching all that the doctor did in his examination and wondering what was going to come next.

 

[Cheshire Pup]

Dorelia did her best to stay focused on the world around her. Without her magic she couldnâ??t feel anything. It was difficult holding onto a world that she could not feel herself as a part of but she did her best. It was then when she noticed Landon at the door, even before he spoke. She noticed he was holding the flower she told him to get and she smiled, happy that he brought it with him and happy that there would be a plant close by for when her magic finally came back.

She still could hardly believe what she did. There were so many other things that she could have done. She could have given him a heart attack, she could have used a spell to make him fall asleep or simply to put a force field between the two of them. She knew that none of those would or, well, except killing him and she really didnâ??t want to kill with magic again. She swore not to do that after she accidently killed her mother. That didnâ??t make sitting through the beating any easier.

But it should be okay now. She got through it alive; he didnâ??t focus any blows on her stomach so her baby should still be okay. Landon was here now so things would be okay. But why was he mad at Cain, the man had only been holding her downâ?¦ hadnâ??t he? She was to out of it to be completely sure of anything and almost grateful for it. She didnâ??t want to be there enough to feel herself getting stitches. Abigail vouched for the man but that didnâ??t seem to be enough for him. Even Cain tried to proclaim his innocence and that still was not enough. Landon didnâ??t act on it but it was pretty easy to tell that he was angry and that he didnâ??t believe that holding her down was the only thing that the man had been doing to her and whatever that other things was he was pretty pissed about it.

Dorelia didnâ??t understand what had been done to her to make Landon so angry with Cain but the thought was difficult to hold onto. She realized that she was slipping again and got a little bit worried. She looked to the flower and tired to draw strength from the plant only to find nothing she did working and it was then that she remembered the spell that she had caste. She frowned and winced slightly, her frown pulling at the stitches. There would likely be a small scar on her cheek form this, a reminder every time she saw her reflection. She knew how to heal up wounds but being in this town she would have to let it run itâ??s natural course of there would be even more suspicion of her being a witch. She didnâ??t know how the town would take her getting beaten but she didnâ??t want to chance anything right now.


She was still fading but she was still there enough to hear a certain set of choice words. I know you like her, That was all she needed to hear. Landon liking her? Like a friend at the most maybe. She thought she was just a trouble maker for him. He tried so hard to bring this town back to their senses and here she was bringing back the madness. Surely he couldnâ??t like her like that could he? She managed to convince herself that it was just repeated blows to the head that made her even consider it. She looked up at Landon as he looked down at her. The confusion she felt didnâ??t show on her face, the only thing that did show was pain and bruises. She hated being like this, feeling so weak and helpless. There was nothing she could do right now. She couldnâ??t even use her magic.

There were few other times when she went without her magic; that was when Baba was training her to defend herself. She wished that she could have used something on the father but nothing came to mind soon enough and in this state she wouldnâ??t be able to fight anyone. She was aware that Abigail was questioning him but she didnâ??t exactly understand what the woman was saying anymore. She could tell that the man cut her off but not exact, clear words. She heard her name mentioned and turned her head slightly to get a better look at Landon. He was looking down at her as he spoke. She wondered if he was speaking to her but he didnâ??t seem to be worried when she didnâ??t answer so she decided that he must be speaking to Abigail instead. She managed to fight fading all the way out and came back to find the woman leaving. She looked slightly confused then she heard what Landon said.

She let out a weak laugh. â??He best get used to worse... if he is going to be... a doctor...â? she said quietly. It was an amusing thought for a second but then it saddened her. She was in such bad shape that the boy had gotten sick from just seeing her injuries. Was she really that bad? Would her face ever get better? She had heard of people magically changing their appearance but that was not the specialty of a green witch; she wasnâ??t quite sure which witch to go to for that kind of thing. She was happy that her face didnâ??t make Landon sick. If it did then she could be sure that it was going to be forever horrible. After the things that this man had seen she knew it would take a lot to get him sick and was grateful that she had not reached that level.

Landon was able to hold himself enough to get closer to her face for a better look at it. When he touched her stitches she winced. It hurt. Still, he spoke to her in a soft but firm voice and she realized a little bit. Then the boy came in. She turned her head to look at the boy and then she turned it away. She didnâ??t need the child to get sick again. Landon had finally been willing to accept the boy and that was wonderful, she didnâ??t want to wreck it by proving him to be an unfit assistant. Landon didnâ??t seem to worried about the boy right now though, he seemed to worried about her to care. He poked and prodded her face, drawing a wince every now and then as he touched the sore flesh. The cold cloth felt good on her face and it drew a slight smile out of her. If he could just have a cold rag for every part of her face that would be wonderful. Instead he asked her what happened.

She looked at the boy then she looked at Landon, the look in her eyes said that there was magic involved but she would tell him that part when they were alone. She looked at the ceiling, trying to focus on how it all started.

â??I-I was mad.â? She admitted, speaking quietly. â??I was mad at you for trying to trap me here... and mad at Father Justin for trying to take my baby form me. I didnâ??t know what to do... or who to turn to... so I went to church... to pray...â? she told him, she looked at Landon and smiled weakly. â??Even if I was mad... at the father of the church... that didnâ??t mean... I was mad at the church.â? She told Landon, then she paused, she seemed to be fading a bit. At this a memory would be pricked in his mind, a recent one. It had not meant anything at the time to Landon but now it meant everything.

Something will happen, something bad.
And in involves the churchâ??s dad.

The daisy had warned him. She had told him something would happen involving the churchâ??s dad. Landon had not connected it at the time but dad was another word for Father. Father Justin was the father of their church and the only church that the flower would know of. Right now the flower sat silent and motionless. Neither of them could hear nor feel the plant anymore. The warning had gone unheeded and Dorelia had paid the price for this ignored warning. She had told him to listen to the flower, told him how helpful it could be and even though it did all it could to stop this Landon had dropped the ball, allowing this to happen by not thinking longer on what the plant had said.

â??I just wanted to know... I had to support of god...â? she told him. She was smiling as she said this, knowing that even if Father Justin hated her that God and her own Father didnâ??t feel the same. She reached to her neck to feel for her cross, wishing to hold it close to her like she had done many times before. It had become a sort of habit whenever she thought of her father. It was his last gift to her. She had never seen a more beautiful cross like it and was happy to have it. The smiled turned to a look of concern and she used both hands now. â??M-my cross.... Where is my cross?â? she asked worriedly, it was then that a memory came back to her. Shortly after the beating Father Justin said something about her not deserving to wear the lordâ??s mark.

He eyes widened with shock and horror and then narrowed with rage. â??He stole my cross!â? she somehow found the strength to yell it. The rage soon mixed with a great amount of sadness an she looked as though she was going to cry. â??He took it after he finished beating me! He said I didnâ??t deserve it! Landon that is my fatherâ??s cross!â? she exclaimed, her hand reaching out to get a tight hold of his shirt. â??My father gave me that cross as he lay dying.â? She told him, â??That man is so mad at me, what if he breaks it? What if he destroys my cross?â? she asked him, sounding panicked. She needed to get that cross back; she didnâ??t know what she would do without it.

 

[Rudolph Quin]

Susanne sat alone on her bed with her knees pressed against her chest and hugging her pillow as she thought of murder. Not being very creative or bright most of her musings devolved into just fantasies that were ridiculous and implausible in nature. As she sat brooding over these violent imaginings, the plants filling her bedroom watched, whispering to one another in voices she could not hear.

She smiled wickedly and pleasantly to herself when she envisioned all her mother's plants come to life and obeying her every command and them all attacking and killing Dorelia with their leafy vines and thorny claws. Then she was roused from her fantasy when she heard a knock on the door. Startled and hesitant she wondered who it could be--certainly not Landon or Dorelia or Abigail, the only three who ever visited her these days. But then who? Getting up from her bed she walked out to the main room and peeked out the window to see who it was. Even more confused by who she saw on her doorstep, she went to open the door.

"Mrs. Coplin," she said with a pleasant smile on her face and Maggie, the baker's wife, returned it with a polite nod of her head. "What can I do for you?"

"I'd like to ask you for a flower, please," Maggie said with a determined air. "Something bright and cheerful, with pretty leaves."

For a moment, Susy just stood staring at her. Maggie...wanted something...from HER? It shocked the young woman so much to have someone come to her like this that at first she didn't know what to do. Then she was smiling brightly and nodding her head. "Yes, of course," she said happily. "Follow me." And she led the woman through the house and out to the back garden where her flowers were.

Instantly seeing all of the pretty little plants arranged behind the house, Maggie's eyes widened and she gasped happily. "Oh, my," she said in delighted shock. "How long have you been growing these back here? Where did they all come from?" Before she'd died, Maggie had come to Susy's mother a bunch of times for herbs and spices but to her knowledge the woman had not grown flowers. Then again, Maggie had never had reason to buy flowers before...

Susy shrugged shyly at the woman's questions, blushing and smiling. "I don't know," she said in modest tones. "I just collect them from around here, where ever I can find them. Most of these are annuals that I just found this year but a few have been here for a while." She held her hands behind her back and watched Maggie looking over the flowers. "Do you see any that you like?"

Maggie looked up from her perusal of the garden and looked back with a considering gaze. Then she nodded to herself and pointed to a small sunflower. "That one," she said. "It's perfect." And she clasped her hands in front of herself cheerfully. Nodding happily, Susy stepped forward pulling her garden scissors from her apron pocket. "No, wait!" Maggie said putting a hand on Susy's arm. "It has to be potted..." She smiled apologetically and Susy nodded although quirked an eyebrow at her.

As Susy set about moving the flower to a pot which was a medium height for the rest of the sunflowers with it, she asked, "Why potted? If I may ask. You want to keep it around longer?"

Maggie shook her head with a smile and a shrug. "I don't know," she said. "Landon just said the flowers had to be potted."

Landon? Why was Maggie bringing Lan a potted sunflower? "What does Lan need with a flower?" Susy asked as she continued to move the flower to it's new, mobile home. "Did he say what it was for?" The man had taken the daisy with him; was he starting up his own garden?

Maggie shook her head. "Not for Landon," she said. "For Dorelia while she's in the hospital." At the confused look Susy gave her she started. "Oh, you haven't heard? Dorelia's in the hospital after Father Justin beat her up." Susy nearly dropped the pot in her hands as she stood and heard those words. What??? Never before had she heard of anything like this happening. It seemed like everyone had gone insane since the young woman had come to town.

Intentionally ignoring the shock on the young herbalist's face Maggie went on. "I saw Landon on his way to the hospital and asked him what I could do to help and he told me to bring her a flower." Seeing that Susy was done moving the plant into the pot, Maggie held out her hands for it with a pleased smile on her face. As she held the pot cradled in one hand, she reached into her apron pocket and fished around for a few moments while Susy continued to stand there stunned at the news.

Why would the priest beat her up? Had she done something to send the man off the deep end? Had the mad priest finally snapped? What was going on? And suddenly, Susy was both jealous and felt pity for the girl. She was glad that Father Justin had never gotten that mad at her, but now it proved how much more loved this stranger was than Susy who had grown up here, when the baker's wife was bringing her flowers just because she was in the hospital.

Then Maggie pulled out some coins from her pocket and offered them to Susy, bringing the young woman back to the present. "Will this be enough?" she asked, placing the coins in Susy's hand. Looking at the two coppers and the silver penny, Susy closed her hand and nodded.

"Yes, thank you," she said trying to keep smiling as she led the way back through the house and closed the door behind the other woman. Then she stood there for a moment and glared at the money in her hands. It was somewhat nice having had a customer for once, and someone she'd thought had hated her. But she couldn't help feeling bitter about it and the woman's reasons for buying a flower.

She pursed her lips thoughtfully and started to walk away from the door when another knock came. Again, she was startled and turned towards it hesitantly. Opening the door to reveal Isendre on her doorstep.

"Isendre," she said with an uncertain smile. "Can I help you?"

Isendre, the architect's wife nodded and smiled. "Good afternoon, Susy," the plain blond woman said cordially. "I need a flower..." Then once she was let inside, what had happened with Maggie was repeated and Susy learned a bit more about what had happened with Dorelia and the priest. Isendre had been there to see the man leave and then the young girl being escorted to the hospital by Abigail soon afterwards so it illuminated a bit more the gravity of the young woman's injuries. Taken out back, Isendre selected a flower and asked for it to be potted, repeating what Maggie had said about Landon's suggestion. Then she paid Susy two silver pennies and left with three pansies in a pot.

Standing at the closed door once more, Susy looked at the money in her hand and suddenly felt giddy. Two customers in one day! And both were women who had been the first to ridicule Susy in public and spread rumors about her to make everyone hate her. Maybe things were starting to change...

She didn't even take her hand off the doorknob before there was another knock this time. Smiling to herself, Susy pocketed the money and opened the door to be faced with several women on her doorstep. Neighbors and old friends of her mother's clamored to come inside, asking for flowers to give to the girl in the hospital and offering money to the herbalist. There was no hesitance in their eyes, no held back suspicions in their voices. After all, if the priest could be wrong enough to savagely attack a woman, then he could be wrong about other things as well. Susy stood awestruck for several minutes a smile slowly spreading on her face. And for once, there was nothing but genuine happiness behind the expression.

-----------------

Landon studied her face as she spoke, trying to gauge how bad her injuries were by how well she focused on the conversation. She responded well to what he'd said about Joey and that was a good sign. Also, the look in her eyes when he asked her what had happened, was one he understood the meaning of immediately. So she'd gone against what he'd told her... but then it occurred to him that he actually hadn't gotten a promise from Dorelia before she'd left Susy's house. So he sighed and listened, trying to think of a reason to send the boy away so he could talk to her privately.

He frowned as he listened, hearing her say that she'd gone to church. To him he didn't understand why it was important for her to enter what he considered enemy territory, especially alone and unprotected and he grew angry with her for being so foolish. But he grew even more angry with Father Justin for what he assumed was violence in the "House of God". Lan automatically assumed at this point that what had happened had occurred in the church itself and it cemented even more in the alchemist's mind what a hypocrite the priest was. Thinking of the conversation he'd had with the young witch in Susy's house made him remember the words of Psyche just as the woman had left. It all came together, the cryptic rhyme he hadn't understood before now made sense. With understanding came a sense of guilt that filled his stomach with a sudden queasiness as he looked at the face of the woman before him. She'd told him. Psyche had warned him and he had just shrugged it off as nonsense. Then he got to wondering if he'd figured it out when Psyche had told him about it, then maybe he would have been able to stop the priest from doing this. Maybe he could've been there in time to save her.

Then he was shaken from his lamenting thoughts by Dorelia's sudden distress over losing her cross necklace. Vaguely, he remembered her wearing it and although he had his own bias against the "Holy" man, he did doubt somewhat that the man had taken it. Not because he didn't think Father Justin would steal it--he knew the man was capable of such hypocrisy--but Dorelia's condition made him doubt. He was caught off guard though when she started yelling and grabbed the front of his shirt. Looking into her eyes and seeing the sadness and anger there, as well as hearing it in every word, he knew it meant a lot to her. "We'll get it back," Landon said trying to sooth her and gently taking her hand off of his shirt. "If he has it, I'll get it back for you. Don't worry." There was a firm serenity in his voice as he made the promise. Then he remembered Joey in the room and an idea popped into his head.

So far, Joey still didn't know much about what had happened except that the priest had beaten Dorelia. But now the man was stealing things? That was not right! His heart went out to this young woman who had lost so much already and the mean priest just kept picking on her for no reason that he could see.

"Joey," Landon said, and the boy was shaken from his thoughts. "I need you to go to the church and look for it. See if maybe the cross came off in the struggle. If you see Father Justin or if he talks to you, just leave. Come right back, understand?" The last thing he needed was the young boy confronting the insane priest and getting hurt as well. Joey was eager to help and stood on his toes as soon as Lan said he wanted him to go somewhere, but frowned when the alchemist told him to leave if he saw the Father. He could get it back for Dorelia! If Father Justin had it he could make him give it back just as well as Lan or anyone else could. Seeing the look on the boy's face and the start of an argument there, Lan jumped in. "Just. Come. Back." He said firmly staring into the boy's eyes sternly, letting him know this wasn't up for discussion. "I mean it, Joseph. Don't talk to Father Justin." The lad scowled but nodded his head and then ran quickly from the room. He WOULD get Dorelia's cross back, no matter what Landon said.

Lan stood and watched the boy leave, not without a little trepidation. Father Justin had definitely lost some of his inhibitions with the way he'd treated Dorelia, and Lan did worry about the boy's safety, but not so much. The way he saw it, Father Justin probably hadn't meant to lose control--it had been a mistake. So the priest, who was a strategic planner, would likely take this time to reassert the control he'd lost over himself. It did not seem likely that the man would hurt the boy out of anger. But then again...if this was a mental breakdown... He'd just sent Joey to the lion's den either way.

As soon as the boy was gone from the room, Landon turned to Dorelia, his eyes bright and angry. "What did you do?" he asked angrily. "You used magic, right? Does he know? What did you do to him? Didn't I warn you???" He turned away from her with a frustrated growl. How could she do this? If the priest knew, if he felt it, then that was one thing he could use against them, probably destroy them with it as well. But deep down, his anger at her was just an attempt to shift blame from himself, to ease the guilt he felt over having created the situation in the first place. Still fuming he turned back to her and stared at her harshly. "Tell me EVERYTHING that happened. Leave nothing out. If I'm going to help you clean up this mess, I have to know everything he knows and more."

-----------------------

Joey darted from the room still planning what he would say to the priest if he saw the man when Abigail stopped him. "Where are you going?" she asked, curious about the determined look on the boy's face. Also, she was feeling a bit left out just standing guard at the door and wanted to be a part of whatever errand Lan had the boy running on.

Roused from his thoughts, Joey stopped and looked at the old nurse, glancing back at the room he'd just left. "I'm goin' to look for Miss Dorelia's cross," he said firmly. "Landon thinks she may have lost it when Father Justin hurt her, so I'm goin' to look in the church." Having finished explaining, the boy started to speed away before Abigail stopped him once more.

"He didn't hurt her in the church," Abigail said and the boy stood looking at her, brushing the hair out of his eyes with a shake of his head. "It happened in my house. Come on, I'll go with you and help you look." The boy seemed hesitant to take the woman along--if he went to her house instead, then he wouldn't get a chance to confront Father Justin. But on second thought that might be best...he wouldn't want to upset Lan by disobeying him. Abby walked up beside the boy, the tall boy's head coming up to her chin in height and he stood looking at her for a few moments longer. "Let's go," she urged with a smile and Joey sighed and shook the hair out of his eyes as they started walking at a brisk pace.

Outside in the heated, dusty street, they passed two women carrying flowers in their arms. One of them addressed Abigail and the old woman stopped to speak with them, issuing forth an impatient sigh from Joey. This was no time for chit-chat!

"Oh, Abigail!" Isendre said, with a concerned look on her face. "How is she? I saw her face right after it happened, and it was awful. Will she be alright do you think?" Maddie stood next to the blond, homely woman and listened attentively to what Abigail had to say in response.

"She's doing well for now," Abby said with a polite smile. "I had to stitch up her cheek and she seems rather disoriented, but I think she'll be alright. The doctor is with her now."

"Oh, poor thing," Maggie said sympathetically, holding her potted sunflower with one hand as the other went to her mouth in astonishment.

Isendre merely glanced at the woman standing with her before she continued speaking. "I wonder if Father Justin should go to the hospital too," she said in wondering tones. "His knuckles were beat up pretty badly..."

"I wonder if he'll say something about it in Mass tomorrow," Maggie said. "Maybe offer some sort of explanation."

That's when Abigail got angry and walked towards the two women. Joey itched to get going but he listened just as alertly as the women did when Abby spoke. "I couldn't care less if that man was alright," she said fiercely. "And there is NO explanation he could possibly offer for what he did. The man didn't just disfigure the poor girl. I walked in on him as he was attempting to rape her." Isendre and Maggie both gasped harshly, astonishment filling their eyes and Joey's mouth dropped open. The priest had...tried to force relations with Dorelia? "I don't know about you ladies," Abigail continued in bitter tones. "But I'm not going to another one of that filthy, hypocrite's sermons. I'll worship God on my own rather than listen to any of the words of that heathen!" Then she was striding away, leaving the two women standing there in shock. There, that should throw a wrench in whatever story the priest might try to tell to cover himself.

-----------------------

Father Justin rubbed at his neck where the alchemist had pressed his fist against him and thought to himself about what his next moves were. All his plans from before, to make the young woman get married, to take away her child if she refused to obey God's law--all of it was rendered weak and useless now. Now he'd stained himself beyond repair and no doubt Abigail the little gossip had already started spreading news of what he'd done and almost done to everyone in town. Worriedly he wondered if anyone would come to Mass tomorrow. He did have one final card up his sleeve--the spell the witch had cast on him, but if he used it right now, it would just seem like a futile attempt to shift public opinion(which, in reality it was). So far, he didn't know how much he'd ruined things for himself, but he'd possibly destroyed any hope of saving these people. They would take the stories about him and judge him based on his actions while under a possession spell by a witch.

From his pocket he pulled a small golden cross on a necklace and held it up before his face, letting the light from the windows shine upon it. As he stared at the precious symbol of God, in his mind he envisioned it around her neck as she'd knelt praying. Looking so humble, innocent and beautiful. Trembling with the image in mind, he held the cross close and kissed it softly...

 

[Cheshire Pup]

Landon thought the thing came off in the struggle but she knew differently. Then again it was easy to see why he might not believe her, still, being doubted hurt a bit. Still, with the boy gone they would be able to talk freely, though the moment Landon opened his mouth he wished that he was still there. He was practically yelling at her. She was upset enough as it was without him yelling at her. He was even growling he was so mad. She felt his gaze piercing her. Yes, he was pissed. â??I had to caste.â? She told him, trying to defend herself. â??He forced my hand.â? She told him as she looked away shamefully. She was not proud of any of this, in fact she was very disappointed in herself for not being able to hold. Baba had taught her that people would do things like this to force a spell out of a witch. They would hurt, beat and torture and if they could get them to caste then they could prove they were witches and they would be killed. Baba was going to train her when she got older but she never got the chance.

Dorelia sighed and looked up at Landon. â??Alright, this is what happened.â? She began and then she went on to tell him everything. â??I went to pray but Father Justin sort of snuck up on me. He came out and congratulated me on the wedding and said that he was going to go to you to talk about the date. If you could have seen him, he was trying to make me mad! But I was better than that. I told him that we may put off the wedding until I could have everything I wanted for my perfect wedding day and perhaps had my child, if a girl, be a flower girl, if a boy, be the ring bearer. â? she told Landon, a small blush coming to bruised cheeks at the talk of weddings but she went on anyways.

â??That is what started to tick him off. He said â??letâ??s cut the bullshit,â?? yes, he cursed,â? she told him, giving a dry laugh as she went on, â??He told me that my act sickened him, that he would stop at nothing to see me burned.â? She paused and looked down, â??He was so mad... he grabbed my arm and held it. He wouldnâ??t let me go until he was done saying what he wanted to say.â? She told him, keeping her eyes from meeting Landonâ??s. The way she said this he would be able to tell that Father Justin had managed to frighten her and he did it very well. â??He said he would make sure we were married in a month... called my baby... an abomination... claimed that God lead me here to face his justice... he said... he is always watching then he told me to go.â? She said, even sounding slightly frightened just remembering it.

â??I should have left, I know that now and I knew it at the time but I just couldnâ??t, my damned pride wouldnâ??t let me go after being stomped all over like that. I was so mad at him for what he was doing to me, Susy, and how he was dirtying Godâ??s name to fit his own selfish needs.â? She told him, then she sighed and continued. â??I told him that he was not the only one watching, god was watching and that I knew I wasnâ??t perfect and that I donâ??t claim to be some kind of saint. Then I said that he did... then he twisted godâ??s name and the minds of the people in this town to fear t5he ones they should love and hate those that they should be friends with. I told him that I would face Godâ??s judgment but so would be and that God would not be happy seeing everything that he did...â? then she looked down and bit her lip just slightly. She tasted blood, he must have split her lip during the beating.

â??Then... I told him... I said that his sins were more numerous than that of a witch...â? she said, she knew that she had been wrong to say that, if anything else to prevent something like this from happening. â??That was when I knew I needed to get out of there; that I needed to find someone to help me be safe from him. So I went to Abigailâ??s house to find her... but she wasnâ??t home...â? she looked back up at Landon, there was a sense of helplessness there that she couldnâ??t hide. â??I knew he would show up and I needed to figure out what to do... but when I get scared... natural reflex prepares my magic for a quick spell... but I think he felt that... I laid down, trying to calm myself, suppress it and make it go away so he wouldnâ??t but he burst into the house, didnâ??t even knock, came right to my room and told me to do it... he told me to let â??that evil urgeâ?? loose. Saying he was the perfect target. He dared me to do it but I wouldnâ??t. I knew tht if I did anything to hurt him it would just be the proof that he needed.â?

She paused, looked up at him and then looked away at the flower. â??He didnâ??t even wait, he punched me, mouth first, and the blows just kept coming. The magic kept gathering at my fingertips and I knew that if I didnâ??t do something while I still had control I would caste something on him... so I caste a spell on myself.â? She said these words very sadly as she looked at her hands. â??I caste a spell to cut me off from my magic, for at least an hour... I am normal as anyone here. I canâ??t feel the flowers or hear them... it so strange to be close to a flower and not hear it chatting away...â? she told him â??It was some time during the beating that he took my cross, I didnâ??t notice it at the time, the only thing I could focus on was the pain... Abigail showed up... stopping him from doing the next thing he wanted to do with me...â? she said, alluding to something horrible.

She brought her hand up, covering her one eye as her fingers rested on her forehead. â??He... he was so close... he held me down... his hand was trailing up...â? Dorelia seemed to be growing even more distressed with every word. When she could say no more she closed her eyes tightly and shook her head, biting her lip and again tasting blood. It was a few seconds before she could bring herself to speak again. â??HE must have heard her at the doorway, he stopped and looked and got off me real fast.â? Landon told him. She let out a bitter sounding laugh, â??Then, he told her that I was the animal. A wild animal as he put it. That I couldnâ??t be reasoned with. That he was- he was holing me so I wouldnâ??t hurt myself...â? she told him, the bitter laughter died and left her with a silent sadness.

After that she was quiet, she didnâ??t say anything, she could find words to say anything more. The man no doubt knew that she caste. But he should be able to feel that he was not the target. She doubted that mattered to him. No priest had ever bothered her so much before, n one ever got to her this much. Now this man did and as much as she was trying to keep it hidden she was beginning to fear him.

 

[Rudolph Quin]

As he listened to Dorelia speak, Landon stood by the bedside watching her and hanging on every word. As she spoke about her conversation with the priest in the church he could just see how it all went down and was waiting for the moment when she would have said something to provoke this kind of reaction. It shocked him that the Father had cursed in church, especially after he himself had been reprimanded for almost doing so. The two-faced hypocrite! His entire stay in this town, Landn was constantly doubting that Father Justin was even really a man of God--sometimes wondering if he was just a con-man as well as an impostor. The high esteem the man had from those who occasionally visited town especially authority figures like the judge and a bishop, all made it clear the man was who and what he portrayed himself as. But the priest never failed to provide examples where Lan could continue to doubt and question.

Landon smirked angrily about that but folded his arms and kept silent. There was no doubt that the man wasn't as righteous and holy as he made himself out to be--at this point, the list of hypocrisies would only continue to grow. But it didn't stop Lan from being angry about it, especially when the list was full of a bunch of small things like cursing in church. Hopefully, with this beating Landon could convince the church authority to have the man stripped of his station.

Dorelia went on recounting the conversation and Lan noticed her lack of eye contact wondering what was to come next. Obviously she'd done something to provoke the priest into a rage, but even so...Lan wasn't going to blame her for the man's lack of control. Looking at the stitches now marring her cheek, the black and blue and red and purple swollen splotches covering her eyes and cheeks and the split lip--there was no excuse for what the Father had done. But he knew the man--had fought with him countless times and he was not easy to get riled up. Not in a sense where he'd ever used physical force. So there had to be something she'd said to set the man off. As soon as he found out what it was, it would not only help him understand the situation better, but he'd also get a bigger clue to Father Justin's twisted mind and how it worked.

As soon as she said how she should have left the church after Father Justin had grabbed her, Lan knew it was coming and he prepared himself mentally for it. But when it came and he knew it had with the way she bit her lip guiltily. And he was left wondering That was it?

"Wait...you just said that his sins were more numerous than a witches?" he asked incredulously. "I tell him that all the time. Not those exact words or phrasing, but basically I tell him on a regular basis that he's going to hell for what he's done." Lan stood with furrowed brow thinking for a moment. Maybe it wasn't what she said... maybe it had something to do with her being the one saying it? It made sense. The priest had put a lot more effort in persecuting Dorelia than anyone else. Usually when Landon shot down the Father's claims and accusations, the man moved on to a different target. For some reason he'd become fixated on Dorelia--possibly because she was a real witch whereas everyone else the man had ever accused had been innocent of his charges against them. It was understandable that anything Dorelia said to him in defiance of his authority would cut him deeper because he'd so far been unable to prove anything despite her magic being the real deal.

Although this illuminated things a bit more clearly, it wasn't really new information. They'd known for a while now that the man had it in for her. What this did provide though was a depth to the man's hatred. He could be provoked and was likely going insane because of the power he felt from her and not being able to do anything about it. Remembering how he'd gotten angry at the priest in his church, Lan surmised that if it was so easy to get the man to lose his cool over the young witch, then it would be better if he kept a handle on his own emotions. Yes, this definitely made the game easier when you could anticipate the other side's moves and you knew their weakness.

Listening to her still, Landon was a bit surprised to hear that she'd left the church. Seeing the helplessness in her eyes as she described arriving at Abigail's house and not finding anyone, he felt his protective instincts rear up. She must have been so scared... this priest, this man of God was terrorizing her. He'd chased after her and came into one of the places she should be safe from him and he'd brutally attacked her. Disregarding his holy station, disregarding common courtesy, disregarding common sense and self-control, he'd beaten her while she'd been trying to hide from him. That really made Lan angry and it also made him sick with guilt. Not just that he'd been warned before-hand by the flower but also that he should have been with her. He could have protected her if he had been. He'd been too busy concerning himself with continuing his work to have paid attention while all this had been happening.

When she described the beating Landon felt himself get angry even as he grew sad about this and how he'd played a part in her getting hurt. As she got to the part about her casting the spell, realization and understanding bloomed on his face and he glanced at Psyche feeling a bit relieved. He'd been a bit scared that whatever had enabled him to hear her had been turned off permanently. But then he began to wonder about the spell and Father Justin. If the man could feel Dorelia casting magic, then he wondered what the man thought had happened since no harm had been done to him. It was slightly worrisome having this one hole in the internal map he'd made of the man's mind, but he'd find out sooner or later. The man would not let this go away if he was as serious about killing Dorelia as he appeared to be. Father Justin would use the spell casting against them if it would benefit him.

Hearing that Abigail did show up, Lan's heart filled with love for the old woman, glad that she'd been there to stop it from going further. But then he was standing alertly when he heard her say something about the "next thing" he'd wanted to do to her. A feeling of dread filled him and his hackles were raised as he listened to her go on and he stood staring at her in shock. The man had tried to...rape her??? At first Landon had trouble comprehending it--how much lower could the priest fall?--but when he had a grasp on his mind once more he was filled with rage. If he had known that before he'd gone to the church a few minutes ago, he would not have held back. He likely would have killed the man for even laying a hand on her that way. Even as the emotional part of him went wild with wrath, the reasoning part of him knew he had to hold it in. They'd definitely won some great ground with these events, but they hadn't won completely. The priest obviously had little to no restraint when it came to Dorelia and they could win this if they kept their cool while he continued to slip further and further into the mud. Especially hearing how the man had tried to spin it when Abigail caught him, helped to give an idea on how the man would continue to try to justify his actions--he would try to put the blame on Dorelia of course.

And amidst all of this, Lan was filled with a protective sadness and watched the young woman before him with sympathy in his eyes. The guilt at his own shortcomings in this and how much she had suffered through overwhelmed him. He stepped closer to the bed when she fell silent and moving on instinct alone wrapped his arms around her and held her close. His arms cradled her gently, his body close to hers and warm and his hand caressed her back.

"I'm...so sorry..." he said softly, sorrow filling his voice. "I promised to protect you and I failed..." He glanced over at the daisy sitting silently on the table right by the bed. "She warned me...but I didn't listen... Psyche told me it would happen but I didn't pay attention. Maybe if I had I could have stopped this... It's all my fault..." He pulled away a little bit and looked down at her, his eyes filled with a loving sadness. Despite the damage done to her face, her beauty was still evident and the bruises only emphasized a sense of fragility about her. Of it's own accord, his hand drifted up and caressed the side of her face, his fingertips brushing the skin lightly. The urge to kiss her came over him and he started to lean in--

"Hello? Anybody home?" Maggie called playfully into the room. Immediately Landon jerked away and stepped back from the bed a few steps looking at the two women who were now standing in the doorway. Landon coughed nervously and adjusted his lab jacket while blushing but it didn't appear that Maggie or Isendre had seen anything. Where the hell was Abigail? She was suppose to be watching the door!

Seeing that there were people in the room, Maggie entered with Isendre following close behind, both holding their potted plants and smiling brightly. Pity and sadness filled their eyes when they got closer and saw Dorelia.

"Oh, my goodness," Isendre said in concerned tones. "You poor dear." Then both women were rushing forward and shoving Lan out of the way as if he were a door to pass through.

"That awful man!" Maggie said in distress. "I can't believe he did that to you!"

Isendre stood with a snooty look on her face. "A priest no less!" and she set her flower next to the daisy on the bedside table. "I'll tell you what, this morning is the last time I'm ever going to one of that man's sermons!" Maggie gave her a small scowl--not just because she was obviously copying what Abigail had said, but that as they'd walked here, they'd both decided to not take their families to church anymore. thing was, Isendre had been hesitant to do so and now she was acting like it had all been her idea.

But then Maggie turned back to Dorelia and smiled before putting the sunflowers on the table in front of Isendre's pansies, the tall stalk of the yellow flower obscuring the smaller squat purple flowers. Isendre glowered at the back of Maggie's head but she ignored her. "There," the baker's wife said pleasantly. "I brought you a nice, bright flower to help cheer you up and make you feel all sunny inside." Isendre sighed impatiently and folded her arms.

"And I brought you some beautiful pansies to make the room smell nice," Isendre said with a happy smile. Maggie didn't look at her but frowned to herself.

Then more women came into the hospital, one by one streaming into the room and Landon was pushed back several feet from the bed, watching quietly as all the women clamored to see how the poor girl was doing and to offer her their sympathies. Every single one brought a flower with them and the table by the bedside was soon overflowing with pots. Some of the women even talked to Lan asking about the girl's condition and how soon would she be better. In his most professional tones he tried to address their questions but found himself a little flustered with how aggressive they were all being. It was as if they expected him to perform magic and make it so Dorelia could hop up from bed right now and it was disconcerting having all these middle-aged women so judgmental of his work as a doctor. "Ladies, please," he said at one point, blushing and trying to stay professional. "I've done all I can. Now we just have to wait for her to heal. She'll be back on her feet soon, I promise." They seemed resignedly happy with that but still demanded to know if he was giving her anything for the pain and suggesting he get some remedies from Susy. He sighed frustratedly and shrugged helplessly the more they badgered him.

--------------------

"It's not here!" Joey said frustratedly throwing down a blanket that he'd taken off the bed. "I TOLD you, Landon told me to go to the church!"

Abigail sat up calmly after looking behind the bed and looked at the boy patiently. "And I told YOU that Father Justin didn't attack her there," she said firmly. "He attacked her here. So it's most likely the cross fell off here, Joey."

Then Joey continued to look around the room, lifting things up roughly. "Not if Father Justin took it offa her," he said impatiently. "She said he stoled it from her."

At that, Abigail stood staring at him for a moment and the boy suddenly realized he'd forgotten to mention that. Looking away he continued to look and got on his hands and knees to look under the bed. Seeing the things under there he reached under and pulled the staff out. His eyes went wide as he looked it over, curious and awed by what he'd found. "Whoa," he said as he let a finger trace on some of the markings.

At the boy's mention of Father Justin stealing the cross Abigail had stopped looking for it here and tried to plan out what she should do. Then when she'd come to a decision she spoke. "Joey, go back to the hospital," she said absently. "Tell him I'm still looking for the cross."

Hearing what she said, Joey was shaken from his inspection of the staff and set it aside as he looked her. "Why? Where are you goin'?" he asked as he stood up, shaking the hair out of his face with a jerk of his head.

"Just nevermind," Abigail said sparing enough attention to look him sternly in the eyes before waving him away. "Just go. He probably needs you."

"I'm not goin' no where's," he said stubbornly. She was going to go to the priest, wasn't she? Not without him, she wasn't! "Lan told me to find the cross for Dorelia and that's what I'ma gonna do!"

"Joey, PLEASE!" Abigail said angrily, her jealousy of the boy and his new place at Lan's side coming to a head. She would not be rendered useless and she did not need the help of a 13 year old! "Just go back to Landon. I can take it from here. You'll just get in the way."

Now that really pissed Joey off! She wouldn't even had known about it if he hadn't told her! This was a task set to him by Landon--how would it look if he came back empty handed and said that Abigail had taken over. It would make Joey look incompetent and lazy! "I don't get in the way!" Joey said in a determined voice. "Not any more than you do!" He'd meant it imply that he had just as much value as she did but the way Abigail heard it was that at this point despite her experience she was just as useless as Joey was with his lack of it. Maybe even more so because of her feebleness. Seeing how she wouldn't get the boy to leave her and knowing that fighting for this spot by Landon's side was not the way to go, she decided they needed to reach a common ground.

"Alright," she said seriously. "You can come. We'll help each other, okay?" She held out her hand for the boy to shake it. She didn't want to get left behind and she hoped he would accept this truce between them. But Joey bore her no ill-will, in fact had just wanted her to not leave HIM behind, so with a smirk he gladly shook her hand. Together they proceeded to the church, walking swiftly side-by-side.

--------------------------

Father Justin continued to caress the cross that belonged to the witch as he wandered to his private chambers and continued to think his unholy thoughts. Filled with despair at what he'd let himself do, he let himself wallow in the uncleanliness for a while longer. Kneeling at the side of his small bed, he continued to stare at the wooden cross in his hands, thinking of her wearing it and nothing else. He let his thoughts take him further to what he would have done if Abigail had not stopped him in her house. Tears streaming down his face, fully aroused by the fantasies, as well as sickened by them, he continued to kneel at the bedside, trembling as he caressed the cross in his hands.

He was jerked from his internal thoughts by the sound of the church doors opening, the heavy booming sound echoing in the building. Guiltily, he stuffed the cross under his mattress and stood, righting himself and wiping his face free of tears. When he'd composed himself, he put on a fake smile and stepped into the chapel. The smile faded somewhat when he saw who it was.

"And now you come to protect her honor?" he asked Abigail in mock cordial tones. "What Landon couldn't do, you've come to finish for him, the coward."

"The only coward I see," Abigail said calmly with a smile that was just as fake. "Is you. What kind of man attempts to rape a woman? A pregnant woman no less. Certainly not a brave man. And certainly not a man of God."

"How many people have you told?" he asked with a barely concealed frown.

But Abigail saw it and smiled haughtily. "Enough to get the ball rolling," she said calmly. "And just think of tomorrow's Mass how many of your congregation will come to listen--"

"What do you want, Abigail?" he asked darkly, stepping towards her threateningly.

That was when Joey who'd been standing a little ways back stepped forward to stand by Abby's side. There was a cold look in his eyes as he looked at the priest. Seeing the boy, Father Justin's eyes widened and he felt himself shiver. The boy had heard... Well it couldn't be helped now. "Why are you here?" He addressed the old woman again, impatient for her to leave.

"Dorelia is missing her cross," the old nurse replied. "I was wondering, since you were the last one to see her, if you know where it might be."

His face remained neutral all through her question as he stared at her, their eyes meeting. But something just under the surface flickered. "No," he said unassumingly. "Now if that is all, then I'd like to ask you to please leave--"

"You have it!" Joey said angrily. Abigail had been willing to leave for now, despite knowing the man was lying, but apparently Joey had seen that look as well. "You took it from her! And you tried to force her into relations!" There was hate in the boy's voice and he pointed at the priest angrily. "Her father gave her that cross! And you will give it back, right now!" Abigail tried to put a calming hand on the boy's shoulder but he ignored her.

Father Justin was caught a bit off guard by the boy's sudden outburst. "And why are you here?" he asked confused at being addressed so disrespectfully. How was the boy involved.

"I'm Lan's apprentice!" Joey said proudly, daring the priest to say anything about that. "He wants me to find the cross for Dorelia and I'm gonna bring it back to her!"

Ah, so that was it. These two had been sent on an errand, no doubt the girl's condition didn't allow for Landon to come himself. "Well, then Joseph," Father Justin said with a serene smile. "You'd best find it for her. Afterall, every witch needs a symbol of the Lord to put on a holy air when around those who would kill her if they knew how evil she was. Go with God's grace. I do hope you find it." And with that he started to turn away from them both, intending to leave them to chew on that insinuation.

"Oh, yes, it's all just a big conspiracy against the church!" Abigail said, suddenly angry about the man's words. "She hasn't done one bad thing since coming to this town, in fact she's filling everyone with life and love! A lot more than you've ever done! And she's only been here a week--!"

Turning back to them both, fury warping his features, Father Justin strode back towards them menacingly. "You insolent bitch!" he said fiercely, his deep voice filling the chapel. Slowly he walked towards them both, his imposing form towering over them. "You think you see so clearly, you think you know everything that's going on. But you trust your senses and the world of science to tell you about the world. If you saw with your soul and your spirit you'd see that there is evil all around us! What you call life and love created by this woman's presence is nothing but a false sense of happiness created by pride! She's drawing the people of this town away from the word of God and putting corruption in His place. You will all slowly rot away, feeding on eachother until there is nothing left, and die with blissful ignorant smiles on your faces. Because you deny God you will be left in this darkness!" By the time he fell silent, he stood with his face inches from hers, his eyes wide and peircing into hers and for the first time in her life, she feared for her life at the hands of this man. He really was mad.

"Where is Dorelia's cross?" she asked softly, her voice timid as he stood ready to snap. "I know you have it. Just please, give it to me so I can return it to the poor girl--"

"Poor girl???" he yelled angrily, almost laughing in her face. "You were one of the first to fall from the Lord's grace since I came to this town. How far have you fallen that you would blindly follow her word over mine. No better than your mother was. Get out of my church..." He stared her down until she she looked away and he continued to stand in the middle of the church as she and Joey left together. There was a cold emptiness that filled him then and he returned to his private chambers to do penance for the evil thoughts he'd had earlier.

In the street once more Abigail stalked along filled with rage. The man was not only insane but a liar and a thief as well! And he knew exactly where to strike to hurt people. Not far from the church, Abigail had to sit and take a rest, the anger inside her making her feel sick and tired. Joey stood silently beside her, resting a hand on her shoulder wondering if she were alright. Someone passing by stopped when they saw her and inquired if she was okay. She shooed them off and tried to tell them she was okay but then an idea popped into her head.

"Are you sure you're alright?" Bili, the old man who had stopped, asked her in concerned tones.

"Yes, I'm just sickened," she said in unassuming tones. "I'm sickened by the fact that our town priest is a thief and a liar." Having regained her strength she stood and started to stride away but Bili stopped her.

"What now?" he asked suddenly very interested and curious.

"Well, nothing," she said, shrugging as if it were no big deal. "I just find it horrible to know that a man of God isn't above stealing a young woman's cross off of her and then lying about having it in his possession. That's all." When he inquired after it more, Abigail smiled to herself and explained the situation to him in full. Joey looked on not understanding why she kept on telling everybody about Father Justin, except assuming that old women were terrible gossips.

 

[Cheshire Pup]

Dorelia nodded at his question. She knew that she should not have said it the moment that the words left her mouth but by then it was too late and they were already in the air. When he said that he said the same but differently, she shook her head. â??No. Father Justin thinks that witches are evil things, brides of Satan. Much different then what you probably told him. I donâ??t even want to know what he thinks a witch does.â? Dorelia confessed sadly. She had heard some people say witches do some dirty things. Eating children was a popular on, sex with demons was another. The idea of both made her cringe. When people heard those things about witches it was no wonder they didnâ??t like them. They just needed to hear the truth.

After she told him the whole thing he had the strangest reaction that she could have imagined. He stepped forward and pulled her into his arms. She was confused and she didnâ??t understand why he was doing this. After her past horrible experiences being close to any man she wanted to push him away but she hesitated. He held her close, cradling her in her arms and gently rubbing her back. The urge to push him off faded as fast as it had come and she found herself nuzzling her face gently into the crook of his neck. She inhaled his scent, he still smelled of pseudo-magic and she was growing to love that scent. Why did she feel safe in his arms? Why did she want him to never let go?

Things were perfect, until he spoke. At first it was just more confusing. What reason could he have to apologize? He couldnâ??t have done a thing? He couldnâ??t have known... but he did! It didnâ??t click at first, she was to lost in the moment. He pulled away but he didnâ??t let her go, he just looked at her. Looked at her face. She looked down, thinking that she must but such a mess after what she went through. But his hand came up and tenderly touched the side of her face. Her eyes met his and then his face was getting closer. Was he... was he going to kiss her?

A voice at the door effectively shattered the moment. She looked up and saw Maggie coming in. She smiled kindly at the woman, happy to see them but not so happy to see the look in their eyes. Pity and sadness, those werenâ??t what she wanted people to feel. She looked away as the women got closer. They began to fuss over her, calling her a â??poor dearâ?? and saying how they couldnâ??t believe that Father Justin had done this to her. A small smile came to her face when she heard that they wouldnâ??t be going back to church. That man had said that this was his town but he wouldnâ??t keep it for long. When she heard that they brought her flower she wasnâ??t so happy, flowering being beheaded for her sake, but looking up and seeing them still potted made her smile. â??And they are potted! Oh thank you so much!â? she exclaimed happily. She was still feeling down that she couldnâ??t hear them but she would be able to hear them soon enough.

Thinking of hearing the flowers she remembered what Landon had said. Psyche, the name of the flower she told him to get, had told him that this would happen. It was then that the full impact of what he said dawned on her. Landon had known! He could have prevented it! Kept her from being beaten! From being almost raped! If Abigail had not been there she would have been raped... and it would have been his fault! Something in her told her to give him that flower and make sure he could hear it. No doubt he was supposed to get that message but why didnâ??t he listen to it? If he did there would be no fear or pain or throbbing inside of her skull! She would still; have her fatherâ??s cross and she wouldnâ??t be so terrified of the man like she was now.

As more women pushed their way into the room she didnâ??t get the chance to say what she wanted to say to him. They were loading him with questions and her with concerns. She did her best to assure them. They still kept coming and pressing and asking exactly what happened.

â??As Abigail, she will tell you everything. She stopped him from doing more than this to me.â? She told the women and instantly they were loading her with questions of what else he was trying to do to her, all fearing the worst but the worst in their minds still wasnâ??t close to the truth. Then someone said it. One of them must have spoken to Abigail. She cringed hearing it said aloud and all the women instantly felt even worse for the girl in the hospital bed and even cursing the manâ??s name. She could hear the man losing his hold over the village. That part made her happy but all the talk and gossip and questions.

â??How are you feeling?â?

â??Are you okay?â?

â??Do you need anything?â?

â??How far did he get?â?

She didnâ??t know who asked that last one but that was enough to push her over. So many questions, so much chatter, so much noise. The throbbing in her head was getting worse and worse until.

â??QUIET!â? she yelled and suddenly everyone stopped to look at her. She looked at them, unsure of what to say. It was at that moment when a wave of weakness struck her and she fell backwards into her bed. Some of the women ran forward but she put up her hand to stop them.

â??I am sorry for yelling. Please forgive me.â? She said, her voice sounding quiet and weak. A dozen voices instantly forgave her and she smiled. â??If you could... I thank you all for your beautiful gifts... but I am tired... Landon was going to give me something for my head... which really hurts... and with so many people here talking... Iâ??m sorry but the noise just makes it hurt worse.â? She told them apologetically. They all apologized profusely then caught themselves and whispered their appoligies. The room was quiet enough for them to hear her stomach growl. They all froze then she could see the looks on their face.

â??It is getting to be about lunch time.â? She heard one of them say.

â??After everything that she went through today she must be starving.â? Another woman said.

â??Wait you donâ??t have to-â? Dorelia began but it was already too late. The women were putting down their flowers anywhere they could find a place for them. Running off to make a dish for Dorelia. She could already tell that there would be more than enough food for her and everyone would expect her to try whatever dish they had prepared.

When they were all gone she turned to Landon, looking at the flower then back at him. â??I donâ??t know how much clearer I could have been.â? She began, an undertone of anger ringing in every word. â??I told you that they know things. To listen to what they say. Or did you not hear me?â? She asked him, her anger building, if she were stronger she would likely be up and yelling at him. â??She told you this would happen and you didnâ??t listen to her? Do you know how rare it is-... no. No you donâ??t get it. Plants hardly ever give warnings about future events. Witches can go three like times before hearing even one warning and you get one within the first day of being able to hear one flower.â? She told him, not even looking at him since she was so mad.

â??You could have listened to the plant. You could have prevented this!â? She said angrily. â??Landon, what if it had been worse! What if he hadnâ??t been so focused on my face that he attacked my stomach? What if Abigail hadnâ??t shown up in time to stop him?â? She demanded angrily, knowing that he didnâ??t have an answer. She wanted to say more, to yell at him, scream at him, maybe even hit him if he was closer but she didnâ??t have the energy to do anything else. The anger made her head hurt worse. All she wanted to do was sleep. She sent him one last glare, furious at him. Not only did he not listen to the plant but he didnâ??t listen to her. His inaction could have cost her another rape, or her life, or the life of the unborn child still defenseless in her belly. After that last glare she turned to her side, her back facing the doctor. Right now she was so mad she didnâ??t want a thing to do with him.

 

[Rudolph Quin]

The room fell silent as Dorelia yelled and everyone stopped to look at the young woman on the bed. As she fell back, Lan was one of those to rush forward but was stopped by all the women in the way. Listening to the young witch explain her sudden outburst in such a weak tone of voice, Landon tried to scoot his way through to no avail. It would not be polite nor smart to put the necessary force into it to get to her though, so he waited and watched her worriedly. He should have said something in the beginning about there being too many people in here--of course they were tiring her out!

Then a small bit of conversation picked up again and the women were talking about Dorelia being hungry. Landon couldn't help but smile crookedly at that as all the women rushed to leave the room. When he turned back to Dorelia he continued to smile. "I hope your ready for the Altara Buffet, 'cause these women are gonna give it to you," But then the humor in his eyes and his smile vanished as she began to speak.

Instantly he knew what she was talking about and looked at her somewhat guiltily. "I didn't know what she was saying!" he said defensively. "It was so vague and the wording she used--after everything else she'd said and her voice... how was I suppose to pick out that one thing as important at the time?"

Then she was voicing aloud his own insecurities about the situation-all the things that could have happened because he hadn't taken the time to give Psyche's warning more thought. For someone who's business it was to save lives he'd done a piss poor job of it. It was good he was there to clean up the messes and to fix things when they were broken, but it negated the work he did when he was the cause of the situation or when he failed to act when he could have prevented it. Damage control didn't mean shit then. Not having an excuse for what he'd failed to do, he watched as she turned away from him, with sorrow in his eyes. Giving a glance at Psyche amidst the other flowers, he turned and walked from the room. Lan had no defense, no explanation for why he'd let this happen and he did blame himself for all of it.

As he was walking down the hallway towards his lab he met Abigail and Joey coming back from their search of the cross. Seeing Lan, Joey stepped forward tossing his hair out of his eyes with a shake of his head. "Sorry, sir," he said resignedly. "I couldn't find it. I looked all over Miss Abigail's house."

Landon looked at the boy with furrowed brow. "Why did you go to look for it in Abigail's house?" he asked. "I told you to go to the church." It was actually a good idea to have had the boy look for it in the house where she'd been attacked but at the time he'd given the boy orders he hadn't known that. Mostly he was confused as to why Joey had disobeyed him.

The lad pointed at Abigail who stood just a few steps behind him. "She said Miss Dorelia was attacked in the house so we went there," he said not realizing yet that the alchemist was displeased. "I told her the priest stoled it and we went to the church. I tried to get him to give it back but he just got really angry and said he didn'a have it." Joey scratched his nose idly as he told Lan what had happened in the church.

Now Landon was really angry. The boy wasn't shaping up to be a very good listener. "Why did you talk to him, Joe?" he asked sternly, glaring at the boy with hands on his hips. "I specifically told you NOT to talk to the priest! If you can't learn to obey me then I'm going to take you back to your father and tell him things aren't working out."

Immediately Joey stood up straighter with a worried wide-eyed look on his face. Oh, geez! No, no, no! He could obey! He COULD! "Miss Abigail said we should talk to him," the boy said, not looking at the old woman. "She wanted to try and make him give the cross back."

Watching silently up to this point, Abigail stepped forward. "Yes, it was my decision to go confront Father--" But then as soon as Lan turned to her, he was interrupting her and practically yelling at her.

"Why would you do that?" he asked loudly. "I told you to watch the door! While you were gone a bunch of people came in and now this--the man is psychotic, Abby! He could have hurt both you and Joey!" There was some relief that at least this problem if things had gone bad, it wouldn't be his fault... but thinking that made him remember how he'd failed to protect Dorelia and it stung internally.

He glared at the old woman and then looked away with a frustrated sigh. "Look, I know you don't listen to me when I tell you to do things, but try not to get my apprentice involved," his tone was bitter, condescension dripping from each word. "I don't want your bad habits to rub off on him."

Abigail watched the man guiltily as he ranted at her. She was just trying to help... "Landon, I-"

"Look, Abigail," he said interrupting her yet again, starting to turn to continue down the hallway. "Go tend to Dorelia, please. Can you do that? A bunch of women came while you were gone and overwhelmed her a bit. Give her some skullcap seeds for her headache. Come on, Joe." And with that he turned and walked down the hallway towards his lab, dismissing the old woman completely from his mind. Joey glanced at Abby once, shaking the hair from his face before hurrying after the alchemist.

It was no surprise that Abigail had not listened to him--it seemed like lately she was doing it more than usual. But on top of everything else it made today not a very good day at all. Hopefully his threat to send the boy home would keep Joey from following Abby's example when it came to following his orders. When they got to the lab, Landon set a stool in the middle of the floor and found the pair of scissors he'd had Joey fetch earlier. "Now, we're going to get to work, but first there's something we need to do," he said, checking how dull the scissors were and finding them sharp enough for this task.

Joey shook the hair from his eyes and smiled excitedly. "What are we going to do?" The lad's eyes wandered over the tables, covered in books and vials and flasks full of chemicals and could barely contain his eagerness.

Welcoming this distraction from his troubles with Dorelia and Abigail, Lan watched the boy with a smirk on his face. "Sit," he said, indicating the stool.

Quick to obey the alchemist, Joey did as he was told and squirmed in his seat. It was only when Lan draped a sheet over him from the neck down did the boy realize what the scissors were for.

---------------------

Abigail came into the hospital room filled with hurt anger. Now more than ever she felt completely useless as Landon brushed her aside to go do things with his new apprentice. Keeping the tears from her eyes, the old woman searched through the medicine cabinet for the seeds Lan mentioned. Her efforts became more impatient as she didn't see the bottle of them anywhere, the little glass bottles in the cabinet clinking together roughly as she shoved them this way and that. Finally she couldn't take it anymore and she stood leaning upon the cabinet as silent sobs wracked her body. Her shoulders shaking as she let the tears fall, she cried for several moments before regaining control of herself. Get a grip, woman! she thought to herself. It's not the end of the world. But that's exactly what it felt like. Her whole life she had dedicated to the medical profession and now she was no longer in her prime years and all the years of experience couldn't make up for her physical frailties any more. Being a mediocre domestic, there was nothing else for her. It was too late in her life to pick up a new skill and start over.

She was getting left behind not just in profession--delegated to doing the tasks that required the least amount of effort--but also in this drama. Since day one of Landon's arrival in town she'd stood by the man's side. Abigail had seen the way he stood up to Father Justin and the way people listened to the alchemist and over the years she saw the things he did to help these people get their sanity back. She'd been his support through this battle since the beginning and now from both sides, she was basically told that she had nothing to offer. Father Justin certainly didn't consider her a threat and Landon saw her only as a potential victim getting in the way.

Sighing sorrowfully, Abigail searched through the cabinet some more, a bit calmer now and found the small bottle that held the skullcap seeds. Closing everything up, she tried to put on a smile as she came over to the bed where Dorelia lay. "Here," she said, clearing her throat to get rid of the emotion that threatened to choke her voice. "These should help with your headache. I heard you had some over zealous visitors..." Trying to pull out the cork in the bottle she struggled for a few minutes, the plug wedged so tightly into the small hole. Not wanting to fail with even this small task set to her, she gave it her all, grabbing the top of the cork and pulling as hard as she could. When it came loose the force of it made the hand holding the bottle fling backwards and all the seeds went spilling from it, scattering over the floor.

A heaviness weighed on her shoulders then as she looked at the mess and she sighed and sat on the bed beside Dorelia. Then she was crying again, her skinny shoulder shaking as her face cracked with sadness. "Just great...." she said sadly. "This one thing and I can't even do it right. Maybe I AM useless. Maybe I should just quit now before I really start to screw things up. Afterall, these old hands can't provide the support they use to and Joey is so much younger and faster...and most certainly stronger." She looked at the bottle in her hands forlornly and sighed. Then she glanced at Dorelia on the bed beside her.

"I'm sorry, my dear," she said trying to cover up her mood with a smile and wiping her tears away. "Putting my troubles on you like that... You've been through so much worse...seems kind of petty to worry about these things..." And she looked down and tried to laugh it off.

 

[Cheshire Pup]

Dorelia must have fallen asleep because the next thing she knew Abigail was at her side. She looked up at the woman confused and then rubbed the sleep from her eyes, wincing slightly when she pressed against her eyes. She knew that both eyes would likely end up to be black ones. Looking up at the woman she wondered how long she had been out. It looked as though Abigail had been crying. Had she been crying while Dorelia had been asleep? She felt instantly guilty for not being awake to comfort the woman but her attention was diverted to the small vial in her hands. She recognized the seeds and knew they would help her with her pain and she smiled, looking forward to getting some. Though, it seemed that Abigail was having some trouble with the cork.

Dorelia decided that she would sit quietly and wait for the woman to get it open but she saw the way that the woman was pulling and she knew that it would end badly. â??Abigail I-â? but before she got to offer her help the woman managed to pull the cork from its bottle... and send Doreliaâ??s chance to escape the pain she was feeling scattered all over the floor. A part of her wanted to be mad but she just couldnâ??t be mad at the woman especially not after all she had done for her, not mad over something as little as then when the woman looked like she had just been crying. Then the tears seemed to start themselves back up again and Doreliaâ??s mood saddened. She hated to see the old woman crying.

â??Itâ??s okay, they are just seeds.â? She tried to comfort the woman but it seemed like that was not the issue here. Hearing what the woman said she was confused. You are not useless! Donâ??t even think that! Where would I be right now if you hadnâ??t done all youâ??ve done for me?â? She asked the woman, this lady had done so much for her she didnâ??t want the woman to forget it. â??Abigail... I donâ??t understand... what is this about?â? she asked the woman, wondering what had happened to draw this kind of change form the woman, she thought and thought and then it finally came to her.

â??It is Joey isnâ??t it?â? she asked the woman quietly as she sat herself up. When there was no answer she knew it was drew. Sadness filled her features as she leaned forwards to hug the woman. â??Oh Abigail!â? she exclaimed as she held the woman, â??I am so sorry! I had no idea!â? she told the woman, then she explained things. â??The whole reason that Landon has Joey is because I convinced him to take the boy on. I kept seeing the boy hanging around the lab. He looked so fascinated by everything in the lab and he would always hang around until Landon demanded that he leave.â? She explained to the woman, feeling terrible for the way she made her feel.

â??I could see how much he wanted to be like Landon and I figured they got was old enough to begin a trade and a town can never have to many doctors and since Landon doesnâ??t have any children someone would need to carry it on. I thought he would give you more time to yourself, not make you feel unwanted.â? Dorelia explained, feeling horrible for the unexpected turn of events. â??If I had known 9it would upset you so I would have never suggested it. I am so sorry, the last thing I ever wanted to do was make you cry.â? She told the woman, now feeling even worse than before.

Not only had her baby been threatened to be taken from her, not only had she been forced into an engagement, not only had she been beaten and nearly raped, she couldnâ??t heard the flowers for who knows how much longer, her cross was stolen, she got mad and yelled at Landon ad now she had made Abigail cry. There wasnâ??t much more that could happen to make this day worse.

 

[Rudolph Quin]

Joey sat on a stool next to the work table, a book in his lap as Lan stood looking out one of the windows. Several rabbits were in the room with them in a crate off to the side of the room, untouched as of yet. Joey ran a hand over his head feeling the long line of hair that went down the middle of his scalp now, the rest cut close, and he smiled a little. It was a lot easier to handle now that it wasn't in his eyes, but he wished the alchemist had cut it all off instead of leaving the long bits of hair that he did. After he'd finished, the man had smiled at him and said, 'People have been looking at me and making me feel awkward without my mustache. Now they'll be looking at you as well. We're even.' and slapped the boy on the back as Joey had inspected himself in the mirror.

Glancing at the alchemist he wondered what had gotten the man into such a somber mood. As soon as he'd finished cutting Joey's hair he'd had the boy help him bring a few rabbits into the lab. He'd readied a syringe and had been about to take some blood from one of them but had stopped before he'd put the needle in. Then the alchemist's mood had changed and he'd given Joey a book and instructed him to read. He'd gone to pour over his notes at first, but eventually had stopped, seemingly unable to concentrate. Joey noticed this and wondered what was bothering the man. Probably all this business about Dorelia and the priest. And that made Joey remember the way Father Justin had acted in the church when he'd gone with Abigail. The book forgotten on his lap, Joey bit his lip and hesitantly spoke. "Landon," he said, and the alchemist turned a little from the window. "It's...it's not good to curse in church, is it?" The boy was new to this drama and didn't quite know how to approach the subject and the questions he had. How much disrespect could he show for the priest?

As soon as he'd started to work on the blood types problem, Lan had been overcome with sorrow, remembering what he'd done. He'd tried to push it away and had even brought the rabbits into the lab to do tests, but it all reminded him of Dorelia and thus he was reminded of the current mess he'd created. He didn't like being dominated by these emotions, so he'd tried to just go inspect his notes and see if he couldn't try and work on another experiment for now. But the thoughts would not go away and he'd finally given up on working for right now.

Standing at the window, all he could think about was her and what had happened to her. Ever since she'd come to this town, she had suffered from one tragedy after another. Being the only one who stood up to the man, Landon felt responsible for Father Justin, especially after he'd told her he would protect her. And everything seemed like it was his fault as well--her becoming injured at the trial because he didn't come before they took her away; her almost dying when he gave her the blood transfusion; being forced into marriage with him because he had been the only one to step forward; and now this because he'd been to self-absorbed to listen to Psyche's warning. Once again he considered the possibility that it might be better for her to just leave town if he and the priest were going to rip her apart with their war. But at the thought of her leaving he felt like something gripped his heart in a vice and suddenly he was breathing hard and holding back tears. No, he couldn't let her go. He couldn't! He loved her...

When Joey spoke he became aware that he was not alone and turned to the boy, relieved for some minor distraction. "No, Joe," he said morosely. "It's not good to do that. Why? Did you hear someone curse in church?" Lan thought for a moment. "Father Justin?"

The boy shrugged a little guiltily. "He got angry," Joey said, looking down at the book on his lap. "And he said some things to Miss Abigail..."

Now the boy had his attention and Lan turned to him fully. "What kind of things?" he asked, looking at Joey with furrowed brow. "What did he say to her?"

Joey continued to look down at the book and bit his lip slightly. "Crazy things..." he said glancing up at Lan hesitantly. "He said Miss Dorelia is evil and that everyone in town is going to die..." The boy couldn't remember the man's exact words but he knew that what he told Lan was close enough to it.

Hearing that, Lan sighed and pursed his lips briefly before responding. Typical Father Justin psychotic babbling had gotten the boy scared. "Well, you've met her, Joseph," he said calmly. "Does Dorelia seem like she's evil and trying to destroy the town?"

Joey looked at Lan and shook his head. "No! Not at all," he said brightly. "She's the nicest prettiest--" the boy paused after saying that and got a sad look on his face. Then he looked at Lan with a confused squint. "Is Father Justin going crazy?"

Seeing that look on the boy's face when he'd started talking about how pretty Dorelia was made the vice gripping his heart clench reflexively. He just couldn't deal with this right now. So, he sighed and stepped forward and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I'm afraid, Joe," he said seriously. "That the man has been insane from the beginning." Then he gave him a grim look and patted his shoulder. "Keep reading those books I gave you. I want you up to speed on the basics before we get started working together." Then he started to walk past the boy. "I'm going to go out for a while. I'll be back later to check up on you and see how far you've gotten." Joey sighed as he watched the alchemist go and turned once again back to the book on his lap trying to read through it despite the thoughts buzzing in his head.

Walking out into the street, the afternoon sun beating down on him instantly, Lan put his hands in his pockets and trudged along, heading home. He just needed to be alone for a while to get his head on straight about this whole mess and figure out what he was going to do.

"Landon?"

So lost in thought as he was, Lan didn't realize anyone had been speaking to him until the man was standing right next to him. "Kennar," Lan said with a smile of recognition and shook the man's offered hand.

"I was in church this morning," Kennar said with a smile. "Congratulations. Here, why don't you let me buy you a drink." And he put an arm over Landon's shoulders and started to walk towards the tavern with him.

Lan shook his head politely. "I can't... I'm busy right now..." he said trying not to be so obvious with his lie.

"Ah, well you're always busy," Kennar said undaunted. "I'm sure you could use a break." When it seemed like Lan was going to decline again, he spoke over the alchemist. "Is it an emergency? No? Then what's the harm? Come on, have a drink with me." Feeling influenced by Kennar's good nature, Lan finally nodded his head and followed the man to the tavern.

The building was small and cozy with a sign hanging over the door that depicted a bunch of palm trees and greenery surrounding a small blue pool, with the words "The Oasis" beside it. Inside there was barely anyone else there, it still being early afternoon and all the men hard at work. Even so the atmosphere was comforting in a homey way, with smells of cooking coming from a door leading to the kitchen. The barkeep saw Kennar and he held up two fingers as he nodded. Then a barmaid came up to them and escorted them to a table in the back of the room, upon Kennar's request. Sitting down with a satisfied sigh Kennar looked at Lan sitting in the seat across from him with a smile. A few minutes later the barkeeper brought by two mugs of ale. "Anything I can get for you gentlemen?"

"Nope, I think we're good, Wil," Kennar said. Then the barkeeper smiled and returned to cleaning the bar in the front of the room. The two men sat silently for a while, Kennar seemingly happy to just be quiet and Lan itching to fill the void. Kennar was a good man, a family man with a lot of children. Working in the school, Kennar dedicated almost all of his time and energy to helping the children of town learn in a safe and comfortable environment. Whenever the school house needed repairs, Kennar always provided for the expense right from his own pocket and was the first one there with hammer and nail to fix the problems. And the man wasn't rich, with his own large family to provide for. But he took his job seriously and considered it one of the foundations of the community. The man was in his late 30s and had a very self-assured manner about him. Laid-back and easy-going, taking what life gave him and doing the best he could with it.

A few years back, Lan had opportunity to speak with the man at length after he'd injured his back while roofing on the school house. The man had a very well-grounded view of life and Lan had been impressed by his ideals. Feeling kind of helpless and hopeless about the situation he was currently in, Lan wondered if he could talk to him about this, since avenues for advice were lacking elsewhere. "You know," he said looking down at the mug in his hand. "I don't think I'll have to marry her now. Father Justin attacked her and I think he'll be discredited enough that people won't be listening to him anymore."

Kennar took a drink from his mug and set it down on the table before responding. "I know," he said seriously. "I saw it happen."

Landon's eyes widened in surprise. "What?"

Kennar ignored Lan's shocked gaze and answered calmly. "I saw her come running through town," he said as if he were talking about the weather. "I greeted her and she told me she'd just been praying in church. Several minutes later, I see Father Justin come stalking in the same direction, fire in his eyes like the Devil himself. I was talking with Han, the smith, and we were watching when Father Justin came walking back with his knuckles torn to shreds, like he'd been pounding at the gates of Hell." Kennar shrugged. "I had to leave then, but I heard later about what had happened to Miss Dorelia. I can tell you right now, I'm not taking my family back to church so long as that man is the priest in this town." After he was finished explaining, Lan sat back and calmed down, nodding his head sulking as he stared into his drink.

Kennar watched the alchemist's facial expressions closely and finally said, "Something on your mind? You seem troubled." When the younger man looked at him, he offered a smile but Lan did not return it, drifting back into himself immediately. "Come on, talk to me."

Lan hesitated a few minutes longer unable to resist the need to confide in someone. "I hurt her," he began, feeling that vice clenching his heart spasmodically as he tried to get the words out. But the more he talked the easier it was. "Everything I do to try and help her, it seems like it causes something terrible to happen to her. I try to protect her and I fail, constantly letting her down. One of these times, the priest is going to kill her and I would have been able to stop it...if I could just let her go..." There were tears in his eyes as he spoke but he swallowed thickly pushing them back, not allowing them to fall.

Kennar listened calmly, his brow crinkling as he tried to understand. "Wait...start from the beginning." With a heavy sigh, Lan began again, telling him everything that had happened so far. He left out the parts about her magic being real and how Psyche had talked to him, merely stating that he'd known before hand that something like this would happen but he'd ignored it.

"I told her I would protect her, and it's my fault when these things happened to her," Lan said sorrowfully, holding his head in his hands. "All I ever wanted to do was help people and the one person I want to help the most I end up hurting every chance I get..."

Kennar sat watching the young man sitting across the table from him, and rubbed a hand over his chin while he thought for a moment. "You love her, don't you?" he asked quietly. Instantly Lan's head came up and he looked into Kennar's eyes before nodding his head. "I figured. It's the way you talk about her. Does she know?" Lan shook his head sadly. Then Kennar was silent for a few more minutes thinking over everything he'd been told.

"It seems kind of foolish," he said finally. "For you to blame yourself for Father Justin's crimes. She'd be dead already if you hadn't been involved. Plain and simple. The fact that she keeps getting hurt isn't your fault and you shouldn't blame yourself. Father Justin is a grown man, not a child or a wild animal--he is in charge of his own actions and the choices he makes. And he is the one causing all this damage. You can't protect her completely all the time. You're not God, Landon. Don't fret over things you can't control." Kennar paused to finish the ale in his cup. "Besides, the bad things that have happened don't outweigh how much good you've done for her and you've probably saved her life more times than anyone else in town." Kennar stood from his seat then, and dug into his coin purse at his belt, pulling out a few coins and tossing them onto the table. "The current situation and your fault in it may have been a mistake but it sounds like she feels let down by you. I'd give her time and space for the time being. If she eventually decides to leave town, you need to support her, not try and trap her here before it's too late. And if you love her, you need to tell her before she goes or you'll regret it for the rest of your life." Then he smiled and turned to leave, as Lan sat alone thinking things over.

--------------------------

Sitting on the bed next to Dorelia, Abigail felt her get closer as she asked her about Joey. But the old woman sat silently, upset with herself for even bringing it up and not wanting to burden the young girl anymore than she already was. hat would she say anyways? Would she tell her that she was jealous of a 13 year old boy? That Landon didn't need her anymore? How much more petty and frivolous could she get? And then Dorelia was hugging her and Abigail blinked at the young woman in surprise. She smiled kindly starting to say it wasn't her fault but stopped as she listened to what Dorelia said. Oh, well that definitely changed things. It was strange that Abigail hadn't really noticed the way Joey felt about Lan although she had seen the boy hanging about the lab occasionally.

Listening to Dorelia's explanation Abigail started to feel silly for all her selfish worrying. The girl was absolutely right about the boy being old enough for a trade and he would definitely fill the need for doctors in the town. And Abby laughed ironically when she said it would give her more time to herself. "Oh, yes, I'll definitely have more time for other things," she smiled sadly. "This has been my whole life for so long... I don't really know what to do with myself." Then she laid a hand over one of Dorelia's and patted her comfortingly. "It's quite alright, dear. You did a good thing bringing them together. Landon will love having a mind to meld especially that of someone who thinks he's the greatest thing in the world. It's alright... I'm crying because sometimes change is hard, that's all..." And she stood up from the bed and sighed looking at the seeds scattered across the floor. Then as she thought to herself, she wondered if Lan had been right to suggest the skullcap seeds for a headache.

Still thinking, she walked back over to the cabinet and started to go through it again and pulled out a small packet of feverfew leaves. Smiling to herself she walked back over to Dorelia and held out a few. "Chew on a few of these," she said. "I think they'll help with that headache a lot better." Then she set about cleaning the seeds on the floor up bringing over a broom from the corner of the room and sweeping them up. For some reason just talking about it and knowing the real reasons behind the boy's sudden apprenticeship, Abigail felt better about things. She still didn't know what she was going to do with her life, but it didn't hurt so much that the boy was taking her place.

As she worked though, an old concern came up as she remembered where she'd gotten her knowledge of plants. When she'd swept the seeds into a pile off to the side of the room, she set the broom aside and came back over to the bed. "Dorelia," she said hesitantly, biting her lip a little as she thought of the best way to ask this. "When I was helping you to the hospital...you mentioned someone..." Then she smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to pry but...could you tell me about Baba?" She held herself very stiffly, waiting for the girl's answer, wondering if somehow the woman she knew was actually her mother. Then there would definitely be more questions, especially considering the old woman died before Dorelia had been born.

 

[Cheshire Pup]

As Dorelia explained what she had done to Abigail she noticed the woman seemed to be calming down and while that made her feel slightly better she was still really upset with herself for not considering how Abigail might feel about all this. She thought that the woman would be happy to have the spare time but it seemed like she had only felt like she was no longer needed in her age. Dorelia hated when people disrespected the elderly. If anything they deserved the most respect. Those that live to be so old to gain the title of â??Elderâ? must have done something right in their life. She held so much respect for Abigail and the idea that she had somehow hurt the woman hurt her deeply. She had not considered that this had been the womanâ??s life, and thanks to her a little boy would be taking all that away.

Dorelia released the hug and apologized profusely, feeling horrible for what she had done and at the same time she was torn. Joey must be beaming now that he gets to be with Landon so much and at the same time he was unknowingly hurting the woman but if they went back to the way things were Joey would feel as though he had done something wrong to get dropped from his apprentice ship. The young witch knew that must be such a horrible feeling and shame to carry that she didnâ??t want to do that to the boy either. Abigail patted one of her hands and pulled her from her thoughts. She heard what the woman said about how Landon must love it and she laughed slightly. She had thought of how much of an ego boost it would be for the doctor to have a boy who practically worshiped him.

Abigail had been very right about one thing, change is hard. With all the change that she went through as a child you would think that change would be easy for Dorelia to accept but it was still a difficult concept. As a child Baba kept them traveling a lot so Dorelia would make friends and then she would move and have to start the process all over again. At first Baba wouldnâ??t tell her why she decided to move them a lot but later she told her that witches tend to root. If they stay in one place for too long they wonâ??t be willing to leave for anything. This was where they got stories of witches being on the edge of the village or out in the woods close to a town. It was likely that the woman grew up in the town and when the people cast her out she could not bring herself to leave. The changes of scenery and people were good for her but there was more behind Babaâ??s choices, unfortunately this more was not something that she would be able to hear about since the woman seemed to have taken it to her grave.

After imparting that great bit of wisdom onto the girl in the bed she went to get the seeds that had scattered over the floor. Dorelia knew that they would be a bit dirty but still good so she didnâ??t mind taking them. The pain was slowly going away but she wanted it gone faster so she could rest a bit before the â??Feast of Altaraâ? came. Though the woman didnâ??t ask her to eat one of the seeds, instead she went back to get some leaves. At First Dorelia didnâ??t recognize what kind of leaves they were, she is a witch not a genius, she soon was able to name them and recall their usage. It was for pain, severe pain. Some people used them to not feel anything at all and became addicted to the feeling but for medical purposes it was fine.

She put a few of the leaves in her mouth and began chewing. She was not very fond of the taste but slowly felt the headache fading and that part she loved. She thanked the old woman and laid back to relax in the bed. When the woman came back and sat beside her she seemed to have something on her mind. She wondered what it was but she hadnâ??t been expecting what she heard to ever leave the womanâ??s mouth. Dorelia looked shocked and dumbfounded, unsure of what to say. She blushed just barely and looked off to the side.

â??Baba... well... the relationship is complicated...â? she began, trying to think of a way to put this without mentioning magic. â??After my mom attempted to kill my father and I the town was in a mess. It was such a close knit community that everyone was like family and when my mom died and my dad came up with all these stab wounds people werenâ??t sure anymore. People didnâ??t know what to think and my father was too weak to guide them after the attack. A man came to town, telling us that we had a witch and it had been the witch that killed her. He claimed to be her brother and he stayed with us, talking to all the people in town and they told him how my mom had been slipping and accusing her own child of horrible things. People started to look at me funny, kept their kids away. It was only a matter of time and my father knew so he set things up.â?

Remembering this made her sad, she hatred these memories but they were a big part of who she was and if this hadnâ??t happened she wouldnâ??t have met Baba. â??Someone set a horse loose in the town. No one could catch it and my friend was in its didnâ??t move and it looked like she was going to be killed so I jumped in front of her. I guess me jumping in form of its path startled it because it stopped just before us a reared up. Then it came down and I managed to calm it down but by the time the people came out so had the witch hunter. He yelled, saying that I was the witch, that I had put a spell on my mother so she would murder my father, the village Priest, then killed my mother, his sister. A year had passed by this point and he had been feeding him these lies for a year so after those events their minds were so poisoned by him that they believed him and came after me.â?

She bit her lip slightly remembering how frightened she had been. â??My father came out and stopped them. Then he took me to his arms and said that â??the lord had a special way of dealing with witchesâ?? in a stern and commanding voice. He was really scary, I thought he had turned on me too. But he just needed to separate me from the people. He brought me down into the basement of the church then showed me a secret tunnel out. He went with me and at the end of the tunnel there she was.â? Dorelia smiled and laughed slightly at what she said next. â??I remember thinking she was the strangest woman I had ever seen. He had long white hair but she still looked so young, she had an air about her that made her seem so old. She had a stern yet understanding gaze and she wore all black, her pale skin practically glowed in the moonlight. Sh reached out a hand to me, her fingers practically covered with the strangest rings that I had ever seen and she told me that we needed to go.â?

â??I didnâ??t understand what was going on, my dad handed me to her, I think he may have been crying.â? Dorelia admitted sadly. â??He told me that I had to go with her and she would keep me safe. He told me to never return to the village and that he loved me very much....â? she said, seemingly growing sadder with the memory. She reached at her neck for the cross only to be reminded that it had been stolen form her. She clenched her fist at her chest. She would get her cross back no matter what. â??After that Baba took me in. She taught me everything I know about plants, she had a thing for tea and a different color cup for every kind. She used to say that using the same cup changes the flavor.â? Dorelia said with a small laugh as she collected the tears that had been gathering in her eyes.

She tried hard to think of more, and then she smiled. â??Oh yeah, and Baba loved to dance in the moonlight. She was a strange woman but I loved her very much. She took care of me and raised me as her own the way my mom should have.â? She told the woman, wondering why there seemed to be so much weighing down on the decision. â??Why do you ask?â? Dorelia decided to ask the woman, wondering if she could have possibly met Baba.