The Witch Born to Burn

by Tanya Milne

  ‘Greetings, people of Melas, and what a pleasure it is to see you all here.’

  Rather than continue, he fell silent, making everyone return his greeting. A smile slowly filled his face, and he reminded me of the evil joker in Batman.

  ‘We’re here tonight to mark the auspicious season of autumn as a community. Today we gathered the mushrooms and tonight we shall feast on them.’

  A few brave people called out cheers, but Orpheus narrowed his eyes and sought them out.

  ‘I wish I could agree with you and toast our town, but it seems that a dark shadow has fallen on us all,’ said Orpheus.

  The sky was now inky black, and with the fire behind Orpheus, he looked like the dark shadow he was referring to.

  ‘On Easter Sunday, I spoke about the devil’s work poisoning our fish. Since that time, I have eagerly waited for you to come forth and tell me who it is amongst us that poisons our waters, turning our fishes’ bellies to heaven. Every day I wait while more fish die, but still no one comes.’

  A log fell into the fire, the burning wood creating fresh flames, startling everyone.

  ‘The smell of death presses heavily upon us, and I fear what this sin may do to our community.’

  I swallowed and dared not look at my family. Months ago, I would have laughed at what this madman was saying, but that was before – before he’d tortured and nearly killed my brother.

  ‘Sin is like the spilling of ink on paper. It spreads and seeps into all in its path.’

  The friendly, happy vibe we’d been enjoying only minutes before disappeared with the smoke that swirled into the dark night. Only his poison remained, spreading through the people he was supposed to protect.

  ‘There’s evil here, probably right here. Maybe it’s your neighbour, or the teacher of your children at school. Perhaps it’s the child you teach. Or maybe it’s you.’

  All around me, people gasped and stared at each other, not with smiles in their eyes, but with fear.

  ‘But rest assured, I will not stop until I have found and rooted out all evil from our town. Today, we sliced the heads from the mushrooms we’re about to feast on. Perhaps such acts are the only way to deal with evil like this.’

  Sweat bubbled up all over my body as I pictured my family being rounded up and taken away. Perhaps he would burn us at the stake, or would he do as threatened – cut our heads off?

  Stop it, Eva. Like that will ever happen.

  ‘I implore you, watch your neighbours, your family and even your children – closely – and come forth with your suspicions and allegations. No detail is too small, and everything will be thoroughly investigated.’

  All around us, people shuffled where they stood. I wanted to shout at them, to remind them that Orpheus was a lunatic who needed to be arrested, but I clamped my mouth shut and looked away.

  There, in the corner of the crowd, was Ezra staring at me – the one person outside my family who knew our secret. The secret that if ever exposed, could see us killed.

  Orpheus left his stage in front of the fire and did the rounds, talking to people as though he were the nicest man in the world. It took my family a few moments to compose ourselves and place our masks back on.

  ‘How was the foraging, dear?’ Mum asked quietly, taking my hand and squeezing it tight, pushing some heat back into my bones.

  ‘Successful,’ I blurted out. ‘Although we did find a death cap.’

  ‘A death cap, here?’ she said, her hand now clutching mine.

  ‘It was hard to spot, as its yellow pigment had been washed away in the rain.’

  Mum gazed over to the central cooking area. ‘Did you tell the cooks?’ she said, her words rushed and a red stain spreading on her neck.

  ‘Well, yes, I told the main cook, who I assumed she would tell whoever was sorting the mushrooms. Surely they would know how to sort mushrooms?’ I said, looking over to the communal cooking area where several women were making the mushroom sauce for everyone’s meal.

  ‘If it’s not your Aunt Ethel sorting the mushrooms, you can’t assume anything. You should know that,’ snapped Mum. She stood and strode to the cooking area. Dad quickly followed, leaving Elijah and me alone.

  ‘You okay?’ I asked.

  He let out a long sigh.

  ‘That bad, huh?’

  ‘That bad.’

  Elijah stared at Anna, whose eyes were glazed as she watched the fire.

  ‘It’ll be okay. You guys love each other too much for anything to get in the way.’

  He lowered his voice. ‘It’s a pretty big thing standing in the way.’

  ‘Well hello, Martinez twins,’ came the booming voice of Orpheus, who’d silently walked to stand behind us, making both Elijah and me jump.

  ‘Didn’t mean to disturb your cosy little conversation,’ he said.

  What exactly had he just heard?

  I found my smile and put it on. ‘Good evening, Mr Blackthorn.’

  He nodded and smiled at me. ‘Eva…’

  Elijah stood and as he shook Orpheus’s hand, every part of me cramped together.

  ‘I was sad to hear you already had plans today and couldn’t meet up with Ezra,’ said Orpheus, his piercing gaze on me as he spoke.

  I focused on keeping my breath steady, my voice even. ‘I know, it was such a shame. We had only just made plans when he called.’

  ‘With Anna and Noah, I believe.’ He glanced at where they sat. ‘I thought you would all be together tonight, and yet here you are, Eva, all alone.’

  I forced myself to look into Orpheus’s beady blue eyes, which bulged rigid and red. ‘Just while we eat, sir. You know how parents can be.’

  He laughed then and his face relaxed. ‘Touché, Eva, touché. I know exactly how protective parents can be, never wanting their children to be let down or hurt in any way.’

  I heard the unspoken threat in his voice, but I smiled and said, ‘Hopefully, we can catch up with Ezra again soon.’

  ‘Hopefully,’ he said, looking over at Noah. ‘If you’re not too busy.’

  ‘I won’t be,’ I said.

  ‘Well, I had better do the rounds. Hope to see you both, very soon,’ he said, winking at me before he walked away.

  ‘What was that all about?’ said Elijah.

  I quickly told Elijah about my phone call with Ezra.

  Elijah let out a low whistle. ‘You sure know how to get yourself into trouble.’

  I nudged his arm. ‘I swear I’m behaving. I’m surprised you can’t see my halo.’

  He laughed. For a second, he sounded exactly like his old self, and warmth filled me.

  ‘It’s not you I’m worried about, just those poor boys whose hearts you break.’

  ‘Oh, do shut it,’ I said.

  Mum and Dad left the cooking area and strode towards us. I knew by the way Mum walked, stiff and fast, that something was wrong. They sat down across from us in their camp chairs and tried to make themselves look relaxed.

  ‘What happened?’ I asked, keeping my voice low.

  Mum smiled. ‘It seems there are no mushroom experts in Melas. Never had a problem before, so not about to have one now.’

  ‘What!’ I said, a few heads turning our way.

  Mum laughed. ‘That’s exactly what I said.’

  Our closest neighbours lost interest and turned back to their groups.

  ‘So, there could be a death cap in the sauce that every single person is about to eat,’ I said.

  ‘Eating, the sauce they are already eating,’ said Elijah.

  ‘You have to be kidding,’ I said, a wave of nausea washing over me as I surveyed the groups.

  ‘Let’s stay calm,’ said Mum, her voice not betraying the fear in her eyes. ‘We don’t know for sure the mushroom was in the sauce. If we make a big deal now, it won’t make any difference, but it will draw attention to us.’

  I remembered back to Mum’s warnings about eating death caps – what started out as stomach pains, vomiting and diarrhoea
turned into jaundice and, without intervention, could lead to liver and kidney failure and often, death.

  ‘I’ll be back,’ I said, then headed straight to Ezra, while Elijah walked to Anna and her family.

  ‘Eva,’ said Ezra’s mum, Gretel, when I arrived at their table. ‘How lovely to see you.’

  Ezra stood up to greet me.

  ‘Hi,’ I said. My heart thumped in my chest as I looked to see what they were eating, but thankfully, there was no food in sight.

  ‘Everything okay?’ asked Gretel.

  I swallowed and knew that Mum would kill me, but I had no choice. ‘I wanted to let you both know that I saw a death cap mushroom in the woods today. I just…assumed…that someone would check the mushrooms before they cooked, but…apparently not.’

  Ezra gazed past me at all the people eating, blissfully unaware of the poison they might be consuming.

  ‘I feel terrible,’ I said, tears welling up in my eyes. ‘I should have double checked the mushrooms myself. I just…’

  ‘It’s okay, Eva. The sauce may not even be contaminated,’ said Ezra, putting his hand on my arm. ‘Does it make any difference how much people eat?’

  I wiped away a tear. ‘No, and cooking it won’t get rid of the poison either. Oh God…’

  ‘Sit down, dear,’ said Ezra’s mum, standing. ‘I’ll go make sure no one else gets any mushroom sauce. It’s probably…for the best…we don’t make a scene.’

  I plonked myself down in Gretel’s seat, and Ezra thrust a soft drink into my hand. ‘Here, drink this.’

  I took a few sips, the sweetness reviving me. ‘Thanks.’

  ‘You okay?’ he asked from the seat across from me.

  ‘Your dad,’ I croaked. ‘He’s going to think someone did this – he’s going to think my family did this.’

  ‘Don’t worry about my dad. What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him.’

  ‘But your mum.’

  He raised an eyebrow at me, telling me everything I needed to know.

  ‘Families,’ I said.

  In the firelight I surveyed the people who might wake up in a few short hours, the onset of their horrendous sickness only starting. The only people not eating were Anna, Noah and their family, and my family. At the central cooking area, Orpheus was eating some slices of meat – covered in mushroom sauce. He picked up a glass and raised a toast, beaming at me and Ezra.

  ‘Your dad is eating the mushrooms,’ I whispered.

  ‘You’re kidding,’ he said, turning to stare at his dad.

  ‘This is a nightmare,’ I said.

  ‘It may not even be poisonous, and it’s not your fault.’

  ‘But it is…’

  All of a sudden, being here with Ezra, but not being with Ezra – the acting –

  the possibility that my negligence allowed most of the community to ingest a poisonous mushroom felt too much. I had to get as far away as possible, and I knew the exact place I wanted to be. I stood up.

  ‘Sorry, I need to go.’

  ‘Where are you going?’ he said, standing next to me.

  ‘Tell my family I’ve gone home.’

  I turned and slipped into the darkness of the woods. Ezra continued calling my name, but I blocked him out and walked away – to the one place I hoped would bring me some comfort.

  Chapter Seven

  It was dark and misty as I strode through the woods. I reminded myself that I was more familiar with the woods now and I was unlikely to get lost, but I couldn’t quite shake the feeling something was going to go wrong.

  It was so quiet, unnaturally quiet, but I told myself it was getting late and the animals were tucked away, fast asleep. After a while, the overwhelming feeling I’d experienced at the bonfire dissipated, and I was left with the cold reality of what I’d done, what I promised I wouldn’t do – make a scene.

  My parents would be furious and worried about where I was when they realised I wasn’t at home. I checked my phone to text them, but there was no service. I was close now, but I stopped walking, debating whether to turn back.

  I was looking at my watch when my skin prickled. I glanced up and around, but I couldn’t see a thing in the mist. I swallowed and was about to head home when a twig snapped, sounding like a gun going off.

  ‘Who’s there?’ I asked, sounding far braver than I felt.

  No one replied, and every nerve in my body strained to make out who or what was nearby. I couldn’t see a thing in the mist, and I listened intently. At first, I heard nothing but the slight movement of leaves in the tops of the trees. But then, almost like a vibration, I heard the sound of breathing – not human breathing – an animal – a beast. I turned in that direction, my heart thumping.

  ‘Boy?’ I asked, my voice loud in my ears.

  Slowly, an enormous set of emerald-green eyes came forward, glowing in the mist.

  NO! The panther! How could I have been so stupid?

  I screamed, turned and ran. I could hear it gaining on me. Any second, it would pounce. From nowhere, words formed in my head. You are the Fire Queen.

  I took a deep breath, stopped and turned. The panther sprang forth and leapt into the air, its sleek body launching towards me. I raised my hands and flames burst from them, searing the panther, who roared and twisted against the flames before dropping to the ground. The panther rolled until the flames were out before turning towards me, glowering at me with those hypnotic green eyes.

  This time I was no longer afraid. I let the fire build in my hands. I felt the desire to release fire onto the panther and watch it burn. My hands shook, and it took everything in my power to keep them by my sides. The panther hissed as it walked slowly towards me.

  ‘Go!’ I shouted, and in response it lowered its head and hissed.

  My hands were trembling, and the flames in my hands grew into fireballs. The panther stopped a few feet away and crouched back, its white fangs bared, lusting for my blood.

  Inside me, I fought the battle to release the fireballs onto the panther. As the panther moved towards me, I forced my hands together. The fireballs in my hands collided, sounding like a cannon going off. The impact pushed me to the ground and the fireballs exploded in a stupendous bang, sending flames like fireworks in all directions.

  The panther turned and bolted into the bushes, leaving me alone in the dying flames. The heat seeped from my body, and the coolness from the night leached onto me. With shaking legs, I stood and stumbled back into the misty woods, blindly following my instincts.

  Before long, I found the entrance to the round clearing. Taking a quick look around, I slid through the gap in the trees until I was inside. The moment I was through, I felt as though a heavy weight lifted from me. Slowly, I walked to the exposed tree trunk – the altar – in the middle of the clearing. I placed my hands there, closed my eyes and let its gentle presence restore me.

  I’d almost found my equilibrium when the bushes where I’d entered stirred. My heart leapt as I opened my eyes to see not one, but two sets of eyes staring directly at me.

  ‘Who’s there?’

  ‘It’s me,’ said Ezra, walking forward until I could see him clearly. Boy, who was beside him, sprinted to me.

  I held out my hands and Boy ran into them, nudging me gently with his nose. I leaned forward to pat and hug him. ‘Oh, Boy, I’ve missed you.’

  ‘I don’t know who’s more excited to see who,’ said Ezra, coming to stand in front of me.

  ‘Oh, Ezra,’ I said, then stood and launched myself at the one person I was trying to stay away from, needed to stay away from, but never wanted to stay away from.

  He took me in his arms and held me as tightly as I held him. Eventually, Boy nudged our legs and we pulled apart.

  ‘Are you okay? What happened out there?’ he said, his face scrunched up. ‘I heard a massive explosion and saw flames.’

  Part of me knew I shouldn’t be talking to him about the panther and my powers, but a bigger part wanted to. He’d already proved I could
trust him. So, I told him everything. When I was finished, his face was unreadable.

  ‘Are you…scared of me now?’ I asked.

  He laughed. ‘Scared…no. In awe…hell yes. Although, what’s with the panther?’

  My face burned. ‘It’s not the first time.’

  ‘What? You’re kidding.’

  I told him about my first encounter with the panther.

  ‘Once would be strange. Twice, well, that’s no coincidence.’

  The truth of his words struck me. There was something more to the story that had nothing to do with the problems in Melas. I remembered back to my parents telling me about the prophecy of the Fire Queen – that a dark force would try and claim the female twin. First the snake when I was a baby and more recently, a panther – not once, but twice.

  ‘I know what you mean. I’ll talk to my parents, see if they know more,’ I said. ‘Hey, do you think anyone else at the bonfire would have heard anything?’

  ‘It was pretty loud,’ he said, confirming my fears. ‘And that light show, well…’

  ‘Crap! Do you think they’ll suspect me?’ I said, my voice a whisper.

  ‘Everyone thinks I’m walking you home, so no, I doubt they’ll suspect you. They’ll probably think it was kids setting off fireworks.’

  ‘We can only hope, although everyone’s on a knife’s edge…’

  Looking for someone – anyone – to blame.

  Ezra let out a long sigh. ‘I’m sure it’ll be okay. Let’s take it one step at a time.’

  I inhaled deeply. ‘Hey, how did you find me? Let alone find the gap in the trees?’

  ‘After you…fled…I spoke to your parents and mine. Would you believe it was my dad who told me to go after you, make sure you made it home safely? Almost as soon as I started looking for you, Boy found me and led me to you.’

  ‘Your dad said what?’

  Ezra nodded and laughed, an ironic laugh. ‘He thinks you’ve dumped Noah for me, and you’re understandably upset.’

  ‘Huh?’

  ‘And he’s thrilled.’

  ‘Are you kidding me?’