soulofawitch_463-9e1.htm

by Soul Of A Witch (lit)

Beulah closed her eyes, trying not to cry. She didn’t want to leave, either. She didn’t want to leave Petras, or her safe valley. The hut was her home.

  "Little witch." The voice whispered from the air around her.

  Opening her eyes, she looked straight at the giant Acceli who stood before her.

  Immediately she bowed her head. "Sire."

  "Petras, your mistress speaks true." The Acceli held out his hand. "Come, faithful one. Beulah has a duty to fulfill."

  Petras hesitated, slowly unwinding from Beulah’s wrist. Beulah swallowed the lump in her throat as she felt her friend leave her hand.

  The Acceli looked gravely down at her. "We will care for your little friend, Beulah, as we will care for Wes."

  "I have never doubted it, Sire." Beulah blinked rapidly.

  The Acceli looked at his wrist, and Beulah knew her pet was wound around it. "There are times, little faithful one, when some have to walk alone. Your witch needs to do this now. But she will be comforted, knowing you are safe. You will not be safe if Hortra knows of your presence. You are precious, and must stay within our protective boundaries. Now say goodbye to Beulah, for it is time for us all to go."

  A fierce breeze blew around Beulah, tugging at her clothes, and she felt Petras hug her fiercely.

  "Hurry back," Petras whispered.

  "I will miss you, my little friend." Beulah rubbed her cheek against the vague substance she felt against her shoulder. "I will come back as soon as I can."

  The Acceli held his hand out again, and Petras left her to go to him.

  Moving forward, the Acceli bent down and kissed her gently upon the brow. "It is time, our little witch. You will face great adversary, but stay true to what you are."

  That was all he said. Beulah nodded, then closed her eyes as the golden glow around him brightened. When she opened them again, he was gone. And so was Petras.

  Sniffing, she wiped her hand across her cheeks, then turned resolutely to the bed. Folding the gowns neatly, she held them in her hands, picked up her hairbrush, soap, a small, potted bush, and a little pouch of powders, then left the hut.

  She walked past the still body of Wes without looking at him, strode out the door, and down the steps of the hut.

  The spaceship was where it always stood, but this time she really looked at it. Sleek, black, it was built for speed and stealth. Laser guns manned each end of the ship, as well as atop and underneath it. The ramp came from the side of the ship, halfway down its length. Narrow, it had room only enough for two people abreast to go up it and into the doorway leading into the depths of the ship. Near the front of the ship was another ramp, wider, and this led into the front of the ship. That ramp was now up, and only the side ramp was down.

  Beside the ramp stood Sinya. Hands on his lean hips, full sleeves billowing in the breeze, he looked every inch a pirate. The thin moustache and goatee, combined with the thick, dark brown hair pulled back and fastened at his nape, gave him a rakish air. But his eyes reflected his seriousness.

  His gaze had been trained on the hut, and as she emerged and started down the steps, she thought he’d come across, but he didn’t. Instead, he waited, his gaze never leaving her.

  When she came to a stop before him, his gaze went from her face to the hut, and back again. "Everything all right?"

  "Wes is safe, don’t worry."

  "I know." Taking the potted bush from her hand, he moved aside and gestured to the ramp. "Let’s go."

  Beulah was glad that Sinya had no idea how nerve-wracking it was for her to enter his ship. Not sure what to expect, she was relieved to find that she had stepped straight into a wide corridor. Walls and floor tiled in pale grey, it ran the length of the ship, and directly opposite were wide stairs leading up to the next floor.

  "Upstairs," Sinya said from directly behind her.

  Obediently, she crossed the wide corridor to the stairs. Putting one foot on the bottom stair, she looked back to see Sinya ensuring the ramp was up and sealed. There was no last glimpse of her home, and she was glad. It was hard enough stepping into unfamiliar territory, without a reminder of what she was leaving.

  Trees, grass, the river, her hut... open spaces.

  Pulling back her shoulders, she looked up the stairs to see another floor above her.

  "Are you all right?" Sinya came up beside her.

  "Yes."

  His gaze was keen, but he said nothing. Instead, he placed one hand in the small of her back, and guided her up the stairs.

  The strength in his hand was comforting, his presence a welcome one.

  Beulah was relieved to see that the second floor was just as wide as the one below it. Directly opposite was a large open area. Big armchairs were arranged around the area, and a small table with a clear container attached to the side of it, stood at one end. Four stools sat around the table. A library containing a few books and other paraphernalia she had never seen, stood against the wall.

  "This is where we relax, play cards, read, whatever." Sinya led her past it and stopped.

  This was obviously a dining cabin, again completely open to the corridor, a wall the only thing separating it from the living area. A U-shaped table was in the center of the room. Along the back wall was a counter of some kind. Beside it, right in the corner, was a tall cabinet with an urn on the middle shelf. The shelf beneath that had mugs behind glass doors.

  "We eat here." Sinya turned her back the other way and led her down the corridor to a closed door at the end. "This is the control cabin."

  He opened the door and she looked into the cabin. Again, it was bigger than she’d expected. A floor to ceiling control panel was on the left of the cabin, and a huge map of the galaxy covered the wall on the right. In the right hand corner against the far wall stood two chairs with a small computer before each.

  In the chairs sat two of the pirates. One was Drake, who gave her a strange look. The other pirate she’d seen around, but didn’t know his name. Barrel-chested with a grey beard and wild eyes, he grinned at her.

  Sinya merely nodded to him, then pointed to the wall behind them. In the middle of the wall was a closed door. "That’s the stairwell leading to the front ramp. It pays to have a couple of entrances--or exits, depending on what’s happening."

  "I guess so." Beulah looked up at him. "For boarding victims’ ships?"

  He didn’t so much as blink. "That and other things."

  "Mmm."

  He grinned suddenly, almost boyishly, and his eyes sparkled. "Maybe you’ll get to like a pirate’s life, Beulah. I’m sure we could teach you the ropes."

  She looked him up and down in disbelief.

  Chuckling, Sinya turned and pointed down the corridor to the end wall, which had a wide staircase leading up to the next floor. "The sleeping quarters are up there. Come on, I’ll show you to your cabin."

  "Where are your crew?" She asked.

  "Some are in their cabins. Some are manning the laser guns. They’ve got things to do."

  The corridor they stepped into was not as wide as the one they’d just come from, but had room for three people to walk side by side comfortably. Like the floor below, it ran down one side of the ship, with cabins on the other side. The doors were open, showing her large cabins, comfortably furnished with wide beds, a table against a wall, shelves, and personal things each pirate had put in.

  "I’m surprised," Beulah commented. "I thought pirates lived rather mean lives, and only the captain had luxuries."

  "Not on this ship," Sinya replied. "We all risk our lives, and we all reap the rewards. This ship is our home away from home. The crew are free to do whatever they want with their cabins."

  Some of the pirates were in their cabins, a couple lying on their bunks reading, one sleeping, and one typing on a small computer he had on the table.

  "How many pirates do you have?" Beulah asked curiously.

  "Fifteen."

  "That’s a lot of men."

  "Numbers count in a fight."

  "
With the law?"

  "With anyone." Sinya grinned.

  Stopping before a cabin, third from the end, he opened the door and waved her inside.

  Entering, she looked around her. A large bed was in the middle of the cabin, a plain blue quilt covering it. A table was against one wall, a large, ornate mirror above it. Reflecting the room, it gave the illusion of being even larger. A painting of a naked couple entwined in an embrace was positioned above the bed, and clearly reflected in the mirror.

  Sinya pointed to a door in the far wall. "The bathroom is in there. Towels and soap and anything else you might need is all in there. Make yourself comfortable."

  Beulah watched him place the small bush on the table, then walk out the door.

  Stopping just outside, he glanced over his shoulder at her. "My cabin is beside yours, at the end. Now if you need anything, just find me, or ask one of the crew." He left, closing the door.

  Slowly Beulah lowered her few things onto the bed and looked around once more. The ship was decorated with a casual richness she’d never imagined. In fact, this was the first ship she’d ever been on, and it awed her. All the walls were soft grey in color, as was the floor. Everywhere. The furnishings were the finest she could imagine.

  Running her fingers over the quilt on the bed, she marveled at the softness of it. Silky smooth and vibrant in color, it was a delight to the senses. The furniture was dark wood. Her gaze went to the couple entwined in the painting. And the pictures were vibrant, too.

  The bathroom echoed the richness of the cabin. The shower cubicle was enclosed with frosted glass. The cabinet contained towels, soap, a hairbrush and comb. Another large mirror above the sink reflected her face, and the cabin behind her.

  Beulah didn’t spare herself a glance.

  Returning to the main cabin, she sat on the end of the bed, and her eyes fell on the small, potted bush. It was green, portraying life as she knew it. And suddenly, as beautiful as her cabin was, as rich as the furnishings, as new as the wonders were, she was immediately homesick for her little hut, and her natural surroundings.

  Picking up the pot, she lowered her head and breathed deeply of the dark soil and green leaves. A small semblance of peace seeped into her senses.

  Yes, her cabin and this ship had the finest things she’d ever seen, but it was man made. Nature was a gift from God. She knew which one she preferred.

  It also brought her back to reality, and her duty.

  Placing her two day gowns and nightgown into the big cupboard behind the door in the wall, Beulah left her cabin.

  She met one of the pirates in the corridor. Thin, gangly, and with a mournful face, he eyed her morosely.

  "Franc," she said.

  "That’s me," he returned. "Cabin not to your liking?"

  "It’s beautiful. I want to know where Wes’s cabin is."

  Franc frowned. "Why?"

  "I want to go in there."

  "I dunno about that. Sinya said you were to have free run over the ship, but he didn’t mention the lad’s cabin."

  "I need to go in there, to concentrate on him."

  "Can’t you do that without going in there?"

  "His aura has been in there, and he’ll have left traces of himself in the room."

  "Uh-huh." Franc eyed her dubiously. "Right."

  She raised one brow. "So, where is it?"

  "I think I’d better ask Sinya first." He started off, stopped, looked at her and frowned. "Stay right there."

  "Aye-aye, Cap’n." She saluted smartly.

  "I ain’t the captain." Franc frowned even more.

  "I know." The man has no sense of humor.

  Franc narrowed his eyes at her, then hurried away down the corridor. Seeing him disappear down the staircase, Beulah shook her head, turned and surveyed the cabin doors.

  Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and waited. Concentrating on Wes, she felt a faint pricking of her skin, then a sure trace of his presence.

  Opening her eyes, she turned and walked to the cabin at the end of the corridor. It wasn’t a surprise that he’d have chosen this particular cabin. It was the furthest from the others, with a blank wall on one side.

  Standing before the closed door, she focused her attention on the traces coming from within it. A definite warmth that was Wes, a feeling of confusion, also his. An essence of terror lingered, and the smell of blood assailed her nostrils. Pin pricks of pain came to her, and she blocked them easily.

  So that’s how it’s going to be. Time to stop playing around and get serious.

  Turning her focus inward, Beulah concentrated on the protective white light, building it up around herself, insulating her against the traces of Wes’s terror, and the terror from other people.

  Only then did she push the door open and enter Wes’s cabin.

  The rush of sensations and feelings, the absolute terror and helplessness he’d faced in his last few minutes of consciousness, rushed at her with primal savageness. It was strong, stronger than any feelings she’d experienced before, but her light was a protection, holding the wave of feelings at bay.

  Sitting on his bed, she looked around the room. A large, green potted plant sat in the corner of the room, and a set of shelves held an array of curios collected from different places. Frowning, she walked across and picked one up.

  Immediately she felt the traces of its previous owner. Fear and resentment. The next object, a little figurine of a person, held hopelessness. Yet another curio emanated traces of happiness. A little spaceship gave out vibes of anger.

  "This is not good, young Wes," Beulah murmured.

  Palms outwards, she turned in a slow circle. Wes’s confusion, his own fear and hopelessness, mixed with the traces left by the creators of the figurines. In fact, the traces of every item in the cabin resonated the creator’s feelings. It pulsed resentfully against her white light, drawn by the purity.

  "A cleansing, Wes. You need to learn to cleanse the vibrations of anything before you touch it. You’ve surrounded yourself with things that hold emotions."

  Wes had been spiritually and emotionally poisoning himself.

  Inspecting the plant closely, Beulah saw the yellowness of the under leaves. Too many emotions had affected the tender plant, draining it of vitality.

  "Poor little thing." She gave one of the leaves a gentle stroke. "I will remove you from this cabin later. But not just yet, nature’s child. Not just yet. I still need you."

  Closing her eyes, Beulah focused on Wes. Concentrating, she picked up on vibes in the cabin, then allowed her sense of feeling to follow the trail.

  It was faint, but the more she sought outside herself, the stronger it became. She soared from her body, slipping outside the ship and into space. The stars glittered brightly, and space was huge. Infinite. It was filled with wondrous things, but her attention was focused now on Wes.

  ~ * ~

  Beulah! Wes spun around in the darkness, his senses picking up her faint essence. He recognized the warmth, though it was dim with distance now. Her natural warmth was not to be mistaken, though.

  Hope soared through him.

  "Ah, the witch is trying to focus on you." Hortra laughed.

  Wes couldn’t see him through the blackness surrounding him, but he heard the derisive amusement in his voice.

  "Maybe I’ll meet her part way."

  ::No! Leave her alone!:: Wes started to panic. ::Beulah! Go! Go away!::

  "She comes for you, boy, but it’s me she’ll find. I’m coming, witch. I’m--aaarrggghhh!"

  Wes couldn’t see, but he clearly heard the gasp of pain. He also felt an answering pain from far away.

  Then Beulah was gone.

  ~ * ~

  Gasping, Beulah leaned forward, one hand on the sharp little pain in her side at her waist. It wasn’t a crippling pain by any means, but it caught her by surprise, sending her hurtling back into her body.

  The only thing she could think of, was that Hortra had set a barrier of some kind aroun
d Wes, one that would warn him of the presence of someone seeking his prisoner.

  Straightening as the pain faded, she frowned. Well, that wasn’t going to stop her. She would try again later. Hortra would be on the alert for another try right now.

  For now, she would clear the cabin of the dangerous vibes that resided here.

  Retrieving the bag of herbs from her cabin, Beulah returned and sat cross-legged in the middle of Wes’s cabin. Taking out a small vial, she pulled the stopper out and sprinkled a sparkling shower of powder into her hand.

  "Powder of life, taken from nature’s heart, cleanse this room," she said softly. "Cleanse everything, and leave it shining and untouched, waiting for it’s owner to come and brand it with his vibes. Cleanse, my sisters, cleanse it all."

  Stretching out her hand, she blew gently upon the powder. It swirled upward in a spiraling strand, then suddenly scattered in a gleaming, sparkling array of silver. The tiny particles settled over everything, slipping down the curios on the shelves, over the bed, the table, and everything else that was in the room.

  She laughed delightedly as several particles danced around her head, then tinkled lightly across her face. They came through her protective white light in minute rays of colored sparks. Joy emanated from them, a happiness that swept away the negative vibes from the cabin. Drawn to her, they shot around her in joyful abandon, before slipping away from her to float about the room, joining the other cleansing particles.

  Finally the particles gathered before her, heavier now, a darkness dimming their bright iridescence.

  "You have done well, my sisters," Beulah said. "Now release your burden to nature."

  Immediately the particles floated to the potted plant, and dropped with a suddenness into the soil of the pot.

  She waited, sitting in peacefulness.

  Minutes later the bright particles rose from the potted plant and came back to her in a gleaming shower.

  Holding out the vial, she said gravely, "Well done, my sisters. Return to your brethren, that you may rest. I thank you."

  In a brilliant stream the powder spiraled down into the vial, and she put the stopper back into the top of it. Looking around the room, she felt nothing but newness, and vibrancy. No vibes remained in the cabin. There was no trace of anything.