THE WITCH

 

THE WITCH

II

Rivia

On this day the earth seemed to not rotate, Bravos, the greatest Knight of Rivia seemed to irk Clarice with great stature. His very existence exasperated her. There was an annoyance demeanor the way that carried him, the way he breathed; his low hum of inhaling air made Clarice go mad with anger. He was a kind gentleman, all the more which made her nauseous and want to throw up a little in her mouth.

Bravos had already retired from the Kings’ council and would live with Clarice in his Castle North of Rivia as that was the ceremonial matrimonial home. Clarice longed for the days where she would go out in the open: Feeding wild animals, taking long strides in the forest and looking after cattle.

But now being a wife to a noble born made those very tasks mundane and for mere peasants. Servants would tend to the cattle, make lavish meals and even helped her dress into elegant clothing made especially for her: dresses embroided with pearls and diamonds that stretched to her feet.

Clarice von Dyke was completely vexed by Bravos’ ancient ways for he was too kind and genial. And that made her very bothered. His parents, Clara’s parents in laws passed away when he was still young and left a huge impact in Bravos’ life. All this while not having children.

He saw Clara as the child he never had. When it came to making love Clara would become impalpable and would not touch her as if she suffered from a great plague. Their romance quickly died out within weeks of the marriage ceremony.

And was now a stranger in the eyes of her husband.

On this morbid day, Bravos had just come from hunting a wild boar together with his ancient mates for game. Clarice von Dyke so it as an opportunity to escape his kind clutches and live freely as the butterfly she always was.

How would she survive the dark forest?

What would she do if Bravos found out?

Wouldn’t her parents disown her?

Not now, not today.

All these scenarios played in her head like a beating drum until she mustered enough courage to plan the huge escape. She dared not flee while her husband was in the forest only for her to be sought and brought back into the castle. For this was not a good plan.

She waited for the right opportunity to represent herself and it did. She gathered her small clothes and a few provisions. She was careful to make sure none of the servants were watching her as she planned her great escape.

As the night slipped into existence so did Clarice von Dyke.

The dark forest was a shadowed labyrinth of twisted trees and whispers older than time itself- a cursed legend filled with haunting stories of witches, werewolves and vampires. It stood on the periphery of a great valley known as Prometheus like a wound on the earth dark and vile.

By day it looked like any other forest: trees tall and leaves thick as curtains that formed huge canopies that protected the wild life. But when dusk was born, a dark mist would form making it home to the evil vermin that lived in these very woods.

They say the dark forest was once ruled by witches before men came to existence and pushed them off into the dire forest, their gods came with fire and crosses banishing them into the dark forest where they all lived in harmony practicing dark rituals and black magic.

There in the forest flowers bloomed black and bled sap as red as blood. Owls cried with human voices and trees whispered vile things to the stray. No one who entered the forest returned whole. Survivors of the dark forest would quickly become insane after the clutches of the evil forest.

When the moon rises full and red, you can hear them sing, soft melodic voices that would weave through the branches promising freedom to the brave and torment to the gullible. The villagers would bolt their doors and pray to the risen Christ for protection.

For in the Evil Forest, the witches are always awake.
And they are ever listening.

Fate seemed to draw Clarice into the same ominous forest like a stray dog coming home after weeks of abandonment. There she would find solace and there she would be free to live among soil and life. A great wanderer, an adventurous feline and a curious soul.

Little does she know a wake of terror awaits her.