The carriage rumbled steadily along the road. It's wheels thumping softly over stones and ruts. Inside, the passenger jostled with each bump, their shoulders brushing as the couch rocked. Dust filtered through the open window and the smell of grass and horses filled the air. Dydra sat upright, hands resting in her lap. Her blue eyes stayed fixed on the road ahead, watching the fields and trees slide past as if the world outside held a secret only she could see.
Oryen sat across from her, her gaze steady on the young girl. She still not over it? The events of a dawn past slowly enveloped both women's mind.
Dydra woke up late in the morning still in her black dress. Her head ached lightly and her throat felt dry. Her blue eyes swept her surroundings as the memories of the previous day dawned on her. She hurriedly jumped off the bed going straight to the door— she truly hoped that whatever the old lady did to keep her in the room has worn out. Her heart thumped gently in her chest, her fingers reached for the doorknob, turning it slowly. With a faint click, the door budge open slightly, she let her blue eyes peek through the open space, capturing the view that could see. The small passage was empty and dark, the only source of light coming from the few lit candles. A sigh escaped her black pink lips, and she withdrew her gaze, opening the door fully, she hesitated to take a step.
What was she to do if she appeared back in the room? Would she yell and waste her strength again? She bit her lower lip in frustration, with her brows drawing close. She never knew things would end up like this, she never expected to be told she was a witch. How was she a freaking witch? She can't cast spells or do any form of magic, why would the woman say that?
Taking a deep breath, her bare foot landed on the threshold, with the other following suite. She shut her eyes tightly, taking another step, her fingers slipping from the doorknob. She really didn't want to end up back in the room.
Her lashes flattered as her eye peeked open, the view that she met brought a relived smile on her face and the other eye open. She stepped out of the room, her heart pounding against her chest with her feet touching the wooden floor as softly as it could. She made her way to door opening that led to the main room. Her head peeked through it as her eyes wondered around trying to spot the old lady, a relaxed smile enveloped her lips when she couldn't find and her. Stepping into the main room, her eyes shot for the door, with her ears keen to any form of sound. A trace of victory manifested in her eyes as she closed in on the door. She was finally getting out of here!
Her fingers reached out to the doorknob, as it turned a calm voice came from behind her that chased both the smile on her face and the trace of victory in her eyes.
"Oh, dear. You're up." A pleasant smile with a hint of mischief hung on Oryen's face. She had sense the girl's energy when she woke up. She knew the young witch wouldn't waste a second when she realizes she could go out of the room, wanting to know what she'll do after that, the old lady followed quietly behind her.
Dydra hesitated to face the old witch. What should she do? What should she do? The young witch panicked inwardly. She bit her lower lip and a crazy thought sneaked into her head—run!
Without consideration, she twisted the knob and flung the door opened sprinting out, but as her bare foot came in contact with the dampy earth, it switched to a more dry one and she found herself back in the room. Her heart skipped a beat—not again, not again. This creepy old lady was doing it again!
"O-oryen, you have to stop doing that." She managed to say, her eyes avoiding the gaze of the old lady. For some strange reason, she felt scared to hold gazes with the aged woman. It wasn't like her to not stand her ground, but why do she feel scared when it comes to this particular woman? Was it because she's a witch? Could that be it?
"Doing what, dear?" The old witch played dumb, she wanted a reaction from the girl, perhaps it could trigger whatever force took over her the previous day.
A displeased frown formed on Dydra's forehead and she inhaled, exhaling sharply. She stepped out again, finding herself back in the main room with in seconds, she did it again and again and again, and stopped drastically.
"I don't know who you are and why you're doing this. Give me a reason for this." She voiced out, though timid within.
Oryen didn't reply immediately, her eyes were fixed on the dark skinned girl as though she was in deep thought. Her thin lips pressed together and she left where she stood going to seat on a couch.
"You have to know who you are, Dydra," she began, her voice stern and audible "if you choose to believe it or you choose not to, it doesn't change the fact that the blood running through your veins is the blood all witches, including myself, carry."
Dydra didn't let Oryen's word settle in her before rebuking it. "I can't be a witch. I'm not a witch." She strongly disagreed. How was she a witch? W-was she? If she was wouldn't she be able to cast spells and all? Wouldn't she have known if she could all that? This old lady is truly mad.
"Look, Madam. I'm not a witch, if I was wouldn't I be able to cast spells? I do believe you are a witch, but I'm not." Her eyes pleaded with Oryen to set her free, but the look in the aged woman's eyes said other wise.
With a calm delemor, Oryen instructed. "Hold up your index finger and mutter this words, Ino koi jaide lutu owo mi."
The raven hair woman's words left the young witch at a loss. "Oryen, you see—" Dydra didn't get to finish her sentence as Oryen's sharply cut her off.
"Say the words and if nothing happens, it'll prove you're not a witch and I shall let you leave."
Though still confused, Dydra agreed with a thought of, "whats the worse that could happen?" She raised her index finger and muttered the word with an annoyed look, but what happened next knocked the annoyance off her face.
As the words left her lips, a candle-flame appeared, hovering above her index finger, flickering but never burning.