It was her first time seeing outside without the barrier of the small window. The warm air felt comforting as she waited for Sybil. She had finally made her decision. She intentionally delayed her response to irritate Marie. It worked for a while.
She waited and waited while the other witches taunted her. She received minimal food and barely got to shower. She had already begun to lose weight. Dark circles began developing under her eyes.
This side of being a witch is what she avoided her whole life. She wasn't like these witches. Hurting innocent people was not something she could do.
Marie's stomach was in knots as she anticipated the worst. Not having her powers was so difficult. She couldn't feel anything. She couldn't sense danger or ill intentions. She was numb. Is this what being completely human felt like? She wondered.
"Be careful what you say. Your destiny is determined by her mood." A young witch standing nearby warned her.
She was not much younger than Marie, but she seemed very reserve and wise. Her energy felt peaceful and pleasant. Perhaps she had an old soul. She seemed like someone Marie could have been friends with under different circumstances.
"The Gods determine my destiny." Marie said keeping her stare straight.
"That is true. Some people feel they are above the gods." She said, picking flowers and herbs and placing them in a basket that hung over her arm.
Marie directed her attention to her with a look of bewilderment. The young woman smiled sweetly. There was something about her that was different from the other witches. She returned her gaze forward into the horizon. Enjoying a short time of good energy around her.
The fields went on for what seemed like an eternity. The grass and trees were the brightest green she had ever seen. For a brief moment, the gravity of her situation disappeared, returning almost as quickly as it left like a wave washing up on the shore.
The young woman was ordered to keep an eye on Marie so she wouldn't try to escape. Where would she run to, though? She had no idea where she was. She had nowhere to go. She left behind everyone she loved and trusted. She couldn't put them in danger any longer.
"What is your name?" Marie asked the girl who was patiently waiting. She had no reason to use any magic to keep Marie from leaving. She wasn't trying to run away.
"I am Abigale."
"What are you doing here, Abigale? You don't seem like the others."
"I never knew my parents and my grandfather died a couple of years ago. He raised me. He did a pretty good job too." She said proudly as Marie smiled while she straightened out her garments.
"Sybil asked me to join her when she had begun to seek out new sisters. I had no one, so I thought it was a good idea at the time. She was powerful and could offer protection. I also had much to learn." She spoke as though she had no fear in her. She must have been a free spirit. People like her lived life as the wind blows.
Marie sometimes felt like a free spirit but it would never last with the responsibility of being 'the chosen', hanging over her head.
"Do you still think it was a good idea to join her?" Marie asked curiously.
"Well…" Abigale began to speak slowly.
"That is enough!" Sybil scowled as she walked towards the two before Abigale could finish her response.
"You cannot help yourself, can you?"
"What do you mean, Sybil? We were just talking." Marie said with a blank stare.
"Stop poisoning people's minds."
"I cannot poison anything that has already been poisoned by you. Is she not allowed to speak?"
"She speaks when she is spoken to. You should learn to do the same with that mouth of yours."
Marie looked back at the horizon and enjoyed the view, completely ignoring Sybil and her intimidation tactics.
"Do you not want to know what my decision is?" She asked with a ridiculous grin painted on her face.
"I no longer care. You will tell me when you feel you should." She said.
She could tell she was angering Sybil, but she enjoyed it now. She was tired of being afraid. She was tired of trying to figure things out. Whatever was to be would be.
"That is an interesting response, 'Chosen one'. You are very brave for someone with no powers." She said as she forced Marie down on all fours with the snap of her fingers.
"I should get you a collar. You look better as a dog. You love them so much anyway." She chuckled.
"Abigale, you may take your leave."
"Yes maam." Abigale said, giving Marie a worried look as she left the two.
"Marie, walk with me. Oh, wait one moment." She giggled, then released Marie from the spell, allowing her to stand up.
"I quite enjoy having 'the chosen' in the palm of my hand."
"I am sure you do." Marie replied, not giving Sybil the satisfaction of an emotional reaction.
"I want to show you something. Sit here."
Sybil placed Marie in front of a tree in the center of a circle made of stones and stepped back. Marie's heart began to thump so loudly in her chest, she could almost hear it. Sybil must have found a way to take her power without her having to give it up. Maybe that is why she seemed so eager to share her decision with her.
"No, I am not ready to kill you. I know what you are thinking. I would like to show you something first." Marie was slightly relieved at her words.
"What is that? Why are we here?"
"This is where they used to burn witches after they captured us. I still remember many of the witches who died at the hands of wolves." She said as she placed herbs into a dish and set them on fire, circling Marie with the smoke.
"I already told you, you do not know those wolves you claim are so dear to you. Close your eyes."
Marie reluctantly did as she was told. She had no reason to believe anything Sybil had to say but she couldn't help but be curious.
Images flashed through Marie's mind rapidly as soon as she shut her eyes. At first, she couldn't make any of them out but they eventually the images became clear.
The field lost its bright green color as smoke and the smell of death filled the air. The dreadful screams of women echoed in her ears, sending shivers through her body.
In the distance, a witch was tied up to a post as fire burned beneath her. Marie's heart stopped. She tried to run towards the witch but it was as though she ran in place no matter how fast she ran. She couldn't reach her. She couldn't help her.
A man held the torch that was used to ignite the fire. Marie recognized the symbol on the man's garments. He resembled Sargon but it wasn't him. It had to be his father or grandfather. She had never seen his father but she knew it had to be him. The resemblance was too striking.
Beyond the burning witch was lumps of darkness. "No!" She shouted as the lumps became lifeless bodies of dead witches as her eyes focused.
"This isn't real! This isn't real!" She screamed. She knew Sybil had to be playing with her mind.
"This is very much real my dear. Your lover, his father, and every king before him murdered witches. It did not matter their age or what they did. They simply had to be witches. Children were not even safe."
"You are lying! Sargon would never do that!"
"He would, and he has. He will do it again."
The images switched suddenly. Marie was in Sargon's office. He sat at his desk with a glass of whiskey. Marie began to call his name when a woman walked right through her.
Dezerae walked behind him and kissed him on his neck. He didn't stop her. Marie's heart ached as she touched him. She didn't want to see anymore.
"He wouldn't." She whispered.
"My dear, he is not your kind. A wolf would never be loyal to a witch. He was never yours. She is his match."
"But I am his mate. She isn't!"
"Yes, you are, and I don't think you are ready to change that. He can only mate with another if you break the bond. Are you ready for that? From the thoughts running through your mind and the emotions pouring out of your heart, I feel you are not ready."
Marie remained quiet for a long while. The images slowly faded as the bright green fields returned.
"I am ready." Marie said as her tears stopped and she wiped her face with her garments.
"Break the bond."