𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒲𝒾𝓉𝒸𝒽

Chapter 14
☽Women are stronger and that is a fact, darling☾

Trust is the very thing that bind people together and it has created empires which have risen and fallen. It should never be taken lightly and should always be respected and feared. Trusting the wrong one might as well be a death sentence for some. Juniper has never been keen on trusting anyone but herself. There are even things that the younger Witch does not know for secrets which she carries within are far too great to be shared and revealed to the world. Trust is based on the truth, but often the truth is the very thing that breaks trust.

The truth and trust balances itself on a very thing line and it can easily sway and reach a point where there is no coming back. Juniper pretended to fall asleep during the night, and when her friend had fallen asleep in the bed, Juniper slowly sits up. The darkness bothers her not as takes these silver scissors and walks slowly towards where Poppy soundly sleeps. So calm during this soft night. Her breathing is even and in motion. Her beauty does shine through despite the dark which is all around the two of them.

Reaching ever so gently towards her blonde hair, she brings the scissors closer. With a harsh snip, she takes a single lock from Poppy's hair and makes it appear that she had not done a thing. Walking out of the bedroom she welcomes the darkness in the house. She goes towards the kitchen and sets not only the scissors but the lock of Poppy's hair on the table in the kitchen. Gathering in her hands a book, a candle and a string, Juniper goes back to the kitchen and sits down by the table. There she sets everything down.

The smallest smirk comes to her face when she looks over all of the things that she has. Then her mossy green eyes find the bedroom door which she left ajar. Her eyes cannot find Poppy but she knows that she soundly sleeps there like there is nothing wrong in the world. "Forgive me, for I must protect you" She whispers as she then clears her throat and begins. She lights the white candle which brings her some light, yet the candle is not simply there to bring her some light nor warm, it serves another purpose entirely other than that.

With the candle in front of her, lit, she holds the book. It is the same book which she had taken from Zeke. While Juniper can read it, she is not interested in the reading material that the book holds. Rather she is far more interested in something else. Opening the book on a random page, she sets the lock of hair within that page and closes the book. Then she sets it down to the table in front of the candle. Juniper's voice begins to whisper. Barely audible to the world. Her words are in another language.

Then it becomes louder as she chants the same words over and over and over again. Still low enough to not wake her friend, yet loud enough for the air around her to be buzzing with magic. Purple mist lifts the book into the air as it surrounds it. Flowing around it as if it were a tornado and the book were in the middle. The book does not open, it remains closed shut. Her eyes violet as she stares at the book. Her words become sharper and deadlier and far more dangerous than they had been moments before in that whispering tone.

The mist becomes faster, lifting the book higher up into the air. It is floating in mid air as she speaks. Her words become faster and faster with each passing minute and yet she never says the wrong thing nor does she get confused. Juniper's chant than ends and the mist which flew around the book is absorbed into the book where it disappears from her sight, but does not disappear from the world. The book softly travels back down to the table in front of her. Juniper's eyes return back to their mossy green hue and she smirks when she sees the book.

Holding the book in her hand, she opens the book and looks through the pages until she finds the one which carries the lock of hair. There the lock of Poppy's hair remains still in the exact same spot as she had laid it in moments earlier. The only difference is the purple mist which has created a circle around the lock of hair and is like ink on the worn out page. Unlike normal ink, it is not permanent and yet it is strong enough to not be broken for a spell has given a command.

Satisfied with what she has done, Juniper stands up and places the book where it had been before, and then she walks back into the kitchen where she blows on the candle. Welcoming herself in the darkness once more. Putting the candle back and then the scissors, Juniper walks to the bedroom. Poppy still lies there in the same position she had been when she had left. Her beauty shining through but if one were to look closer they would see that there is something different about her, something which had not been there before. A mark behind her ear.

A single purple dot which is so well hidden by her hair that she will never be able to see it. And neither does the man which owned that book which Juniper had taken. For an identical mark is behind his ear as well. There they are connected. All the pain which happens to Poppy will happen to him and worse. To show that Juniper will not take any chances when it comes to the safety of her friend, the only one who will never harm, even the slightest creature, and not even to save her own life.

For this reason only, Juniper will have to protect the girl when she cannot do it herself. Juniper would rather sacrifice the whole world for her friend and she would give anything and everything to keep the both of them safe. Many of the things that she does are to protect the two of them from all harm, even the pyre which is waiting for them. Even if she has to preform a forbidden spell to bind two people together to keep her friend safe for there is nothing that she will not do to protect the sweet and innocent Poppy who has been born into a world that despises her.

Witches are creatures that the world needs and yet they hate them. For without them, the world will fall. Juniper sighs as she sits down on the bed. The darkness around her does not limit her vision of her sleeping friend, and yet at the same time it does. She will be able to sleep better now that she knows that Poppy will be safe. If her plans were to fail, at least Poppy will be safe and free from any harm. Even if Juniper were to meet the fire.

Sleep does find her quickly when she lies down and goes under the covers. Juniper had not known how chilled the air had been until she is under the warmth. Her body shivers from the cold and tries to get warm. And when sleep does find her, she realizes that the warmth has found her as well and that the night will not only be safe but she will be warm and comfortable under there. Waiting for the day to appear to her and when it does she softly wakes upon her friend getting up and walking around.

Poppy dresses herself upon the new morning. The smile on her face can rival the rising sun. Juniper eyes her when she stirs awake, does not show Poppy that she is awake. Poppy is softly humming some song to herself as she dresses into her gown which is a simple tunic gown which she had crafted herself and sew together from some fabric that Juniper had gotten her and an old tunic. The gown used to be white in shade but with the days, it has become slightly brownish yellow mixed with white. The gown does have some holes and rips here and there which she does her best to patch.

The girl is a good seamstress. Teaching herself all she needs to know about it, still she is not as good as other women that are in town and neither does she want to be. Poppy simply sews when she wants to and when she needs to. She does enjoy every second of it. For she can be with her mind and her thoughts and have a whole new world when she creates something new. Often she uses pieces of fabric which are not whole nor to her liking, yet she is happy with what she has.

She does dream of having her own place at the market where people would come from all of the island to see the clothing which she has sewn and they would be eager to buy it. A dream which Poppy knows might never come true for she is not meant to be around people. She is meant to stay hidden until she grows old and leaves this world. There is nothing that tells her that she cannot continue to dream and to hope that one day the world will accept her and love her for who she is, Witch and all.

Juniper eyes her friend. Her cherry mood is not because of the spell which she had cast. It is because of something else entirely which she cannot figure out. Though, perhaps it is because she had told her that their lives are about to become much better. Their future will be much better now that they will have a chance to have wealth beyond their wildest dreams. When the girl leaves the room, Juniper sits up on the bed. She walks over to the window of the room and looks outside.

The world is as it always is during the mornings. There have been times when Juniper thinks they might be living in the same day over and over again. Then she realizes that she is the one in control of her days and there is nothing and no one that has any say in that. The world however will change soon enough and if it does not do it on its own then she will force it to. For Juniper will make it so that she, Poppy and all the Witches in Deathen will never have to fear showing their power around others ever again.

People are going on about their day, not knowing what she now knows. That the hunt for her kind will take place tomorrow. Perhaps little over 24 hours. The warning that he had gave them had been true, that she knows. Juniper had heard it in his voice when he spoke those words. He warned them to stay inside in order to keep their lives and that is what the two of them shall do. Juniper does have leverage over him now that her friend is bound to him and if she gets hurt, he does as well.

☽ 𓆱 ☾

"You appear to be lost in thought" She says. Eyeing the man whom she simply saw yesterday lean against a wall of a house, his eyes staring off into space and did not notice her walk towards him. Juniper's mossy green eyes stare into his cornflower blue eyes. "One might say that is a good thing" He tells her. She smirks. "I would say it makes one mad" She tells him. Juniper walks over to him and leans against the wall beside him. "What has your mind going mad?" She asks. He chuckles and turns his head to the side to look at her.

He raises an eyebrow. "What makes it so that it is not you has me going mad?" He asks her. Perhaps a question that he himself might have been thinking about when she had appeared before him. Juniper shrugs. "If I have made you gone mad, believe me, you would have known. Your mind would no longer be your own and you would be raving mad where all begin to fear you" She says to him.

He rolls his eyes. "If I were mad because of you, I would enjoy every second" He says. The man does make her annoyed yet she cannot help but smile slightly at his words. "Now that we have a deal. Shall we discuss it further or do you wish to disappear on me again, which seems to be all which you are good at?" Carter asks her. His blue eyes stare deep into her green ones. Juniper shrugs at his words. "What is there to discuss? I stay with you in your castle and in return you shall earn my trust and my name and lessons. It all seems rather straight forward to me" She speaks softly.

Carter takes a step forward and then turns to face her as he stands in front of her. Almost trapping her by the wall where he can make certain she cannot escape from him. Juniper is however far more equipped to escape if she wanted to. "We have not discussed during what days you will be staying with me, and neither have I shown you where it is that you shall we staying" He says. "It is such a fine day, it would be a waste if we do not take a tour around my castle" Carter suggests.

Taking a step closer to him, Juniper puts her hands on his chest and lightly pushes him away from her. "We could, of course. I am quite eager to see the place which you call home. I wonder what kind of chaos I can make happen. It shall become enjoyable, at least for me" She says and smirks. Then she walks past him. "Lead the way or shall I stumble across it on my own?" She says. Clearly enjoying herself. Hearing how he follows behind her, he walks beside her. "You are going the wrong way" He tells her and laughs.

His laugh makes her roll her eyes. "Says who?" She asks him and takes his hand and makes them turn around. "Now we are the right way. Yet, is there a right way?" She asks him and smirks darkly. Amused at how his lips part but he says nothing. "I must warn you of one thing when we do get there..." He trails off which makes her look at him. Juniper forgot that she was still holding his hand so she is quick to let it go when she realizes. Notices how a frown comes upon his face once she does.

Ignoring that she listens to what he has to say, wanting to strangle anyone else that says they have a warning for her as she does despise those very much. "The castle is covered in darkness. It is somewhat of a curse" He tells her. All that the dark browned haired girl can do is laugh. "You think little darkness frightens me? Do you even know me at all?" She asks him. Her questions not meant to be answered. He does answer. "I do not know you just yet, but I will" He says in a vowing tone.

"I suppose I better bring some candles with me when I do stay there. I would hate to fall right on my face. You should truly do something about that darkness. How your face is not battered with bruises and scars is beyond me" Juniper speaks softly, though the sarcasm is true within her tone which she hopes that he can sense. Carter looks down at her and smirks. "Then I will hold your hand and lead you" He speaks. When she looks up into his eyes, he sends her a wink. This annoying warmth runs through her when he does do so.

"After the day tomorrow, I shall stay with you in your castle for three days and three nights. Now, I wish to see where I will be staying. If you ask me why I will not come tomorrow, you will get a punch in the face. Do not believe my stunning eyes, for I will not hesitate to punch you. I have been said to be quite violent and rather chaotic" Juniper says. He sharply nods. "And when will I know of your name?" Carter asks. The girl shrugs. "If you behave today, you might learn it before I leave" She says.

They walk through the town and then when they reach the edge of the forest, she freezes as she realizes it. "You live in Athaeryn Castle?" She asks him, her voice almost shaking when she speaks those words. He nods. "Yes. Unfortunately that is the place which I call home. I take it that worries you?" He asks her. Juniper shakes her head, and tries all she can to hide the fear within her eyes, yet has a feeling he can see right through her. "I have heard the Beast lives within the forest and stalks the castle" She speaks.

Carter laughs. "Do you fear the Beast?" He asks her playfully. There is a look in his eyes that Juniper cannot understand and neither does she want to. Scoffing, she laugh. "Of course not. I worry for your safety. After all, you are my only source for wealth. If you were to get eaten, I would have to steal once more. I would hate to have to drag your body through the forest to give you a proper burial" She simply says and then she walks into the forest. Almost holding her breath while she walks there.

"Let us not forget that you are the girl between the two of us" He calls after her as he catches up to her. A mistake on his behalf. Turning and glaring at him, Juniper raises an eyebrow. "Does my ability to give birth limit my ability to protect myself or does your shaft between your legs protect us when we are in grave danger?" She asks him with narrowed eyes at him. Carter gulps when he looks into her eyes. The rage which can be seen can frighten anyone upon looking deep inside her eyes of wildness.

Without speaking, Carter shakes his head. He should fear her. Juniper has had many men (so she says) bowing before her in fear and in the future that number will only increase. "Now, which way is that castle of yours?" She asks. Slowly, he points in a direction and she nods and walks there. Leaving him there. Juniper would find it on her own. Wary of all the dangers which might be hiding in the forest. The girl is aware that the Beast must be there somewhere and will not hesitate to strike her down and kill her right where she lies if it were to see her.

Which is why she has to make certain that the Beast does not see her nor can strike her down. The forest is even darker when walking through it and she notices that the trees are afraid. They do not fear her because of her magic, and neither do they fear the Beast, rather what the trees and all around her fear is the fear for them. Because whoever does walk into Athaeryn forest will not return. It would appear that she is going to be one of those that will walk into it and return whole.

"Why is it that you live in a castle in Athaeryn forest?" She asks him as he does catch up with her. He is walking slightly away from her, for he is afraid. It does make her joyous to know that he fears her. "It has always been my home. I was born within the walls of that castle. Before the... Beast came here, many lived in the castle. I have been told the castle belonged to royalty once before it was abandoned and my family bought the land and the forest and therefore the castle" He tells her.

The way that the forest grows darker makes it seem like a reasonable choice to have left it. And now that the Beast is said to live inside this forest, it would be better to avoid it all together. Juniper does have a strange habit to venture where others fear. Some have even called her fearless and those some would be Juniper herself. "Does anyone else live in that castle with you or do we have the whole thing to ourselves?" She asks him suddenly, knowing the answer to her own question, but he does not know she is aware of Zeke.

"Yes. I have servants at my beck and call, and I have... a friend... He is the Keeper of my Study. A long tradition in my family to keep and being the last of my line, I will not break tradition... any more than I already have" He tells her. Juniper nods her head. He speaks highly of Zeke. It is a good thing that she had shook on it, otherwise Zeke would have blurted out the truth. "Oh, how wonderful. I cannot wait to meet him" She speaks with a small smirk, it shall indeed be a strange moment.

☽ 𓆱 ☾