soulofawitch_463-9e1.htm

by Soul Of A Witch (lit)

  "I will see her."

  "This has nothing to do with her. It’s me you want to talk to--"

  A low, hissing laugh came from under the hood. "Beulah is here to find Hortra. It is to her I will give the name of the one who knows the way to Hortra’s planet. Her and no one else. Now summon her."

  There was no way Sinya could bring Beulah out to suffer the scrutiny of these vicious pirates, or the loathsome presence of this... being. But if it meant finding Wes...

  "I am here." Beulah’s voice came from behind him.

  Sinya swung around to see her coming through his pirates. Her face was serene, her gaze fixed on the robed man who waited for her.

  "Beulah--" Sinya began.

  "Ah, Beulah." The robed man lifted his head slightly. "Greetings, witch-woman."

  Stepping in front of Beulah, Sinya laid his hand on her shoulder. Her gaze switched to him.

  "I don’t know what’s going on here, Beulah," he said softly. "But don’t trust this thing."

  "Don’t worry," she replied. "Let me pass."

  "I don’t want you going too near him."

  "It’s a little late for that." She gave him an inscrutable look.

  Not liking the developments one bit, Sinya nodded tightly. "Very well. But I’m staying by your side." He looked over her head at his waiting crew. "Stay alert for anything. If I give the word, you grab Beulah, Ephim, and get her inside. Don’t stop for anyone. Everyone else, keep your weapons close to hand."

  They nodded their understanding, and he turned so that he stood beside Beulah. He didn’t have to look to know that Ephim had moved in position right behind her.

  Beulah walked forward and came to a stop with a large area between her and the robed man. "So, Phemar, you have come on a mission for someone."

  "You have heard of me. I am impressed." He gave another low, hissing laugh.

  Her gaze didn’t waver, and not a tremor came from her. Sinya had to admire her composure. He kept so close to her, his arm brushed hers.

  Phemar shifted, a slithering sound coming from him as he did so. "I but do the bidding of another."

  Beulah didn’t answer.

  Fredrico’s pirates were spread out, watching curiously. Many of them eyed Beulah with open lust, but a few were more interested in the events.

  "You seek in mystical realms beyond your means, Beulah." Phemar rasped.

  "You have no idea of my means."

  "You don’t know where Hortra is."

  "Nor do you."

  "But I can give the name of the one who does."

  "And you will give me the name, and I will know."

  "You cannot hope to match one such as he."

  A small smile curved her lips.

  "You are a fool, witch-woman."

  "So you came all this way to see a fool? I think not, Phemar."

  An annoyed hiss came from the shadows of the hood.

  "Tell me the name of the one I need to go to for information."

  Phemar angled his head to one side, and a vile stench filled the air as he lifted his arm.

  Sinya immediately stiffened, ready to step in front of Beulah. His gaze froze on the hand that extended slightly from the overly-long sleeves of the robe. The finger that pointed at Beulah was rotten, a mixture of black and pink flesh, and skin that hung in grotesque strings of varying thickness.

  "My master has asked that you prove your worthiness in knowing the whereabouts of such a great dark mystic as Hortra."

  "Worthiness cannot be proven," Beulah replied. "We measure that differently."

  "Then a test of your powers is required."

  "And what do you measure my powers against, Phemar?" Beulah held up her own hand. "The darkness of your powers against the light of mine? That proves what? How can I have a test of my powers?"

  "Your resistance," he replied, and suddenly flung his arm wide.

  Ready for something, Sinya made to grab Beulah, bumping into Ephim as he did so. But a howling wind suddenly tugged at him, throwing him back against the nearest of his crew, and he struggled to keep upright. Ahead of him he saw Beulah step forward and raise her hand.

  The wind blew hard enough to knock him from his feet, and he crashed to the ground in a tangle of arms, legs and curses with his crew. Groping for the laser, he drew it from the holster.

  The wind stopped suddenly, and the pirates scrambled to their feet, wielding their weapons. It was then they noticed Beulah standing ahead of them, her skirt whipping around her legs. Arms wide, she seemed to be absorbing the wind, for it blew directly around her, yet wasn’t going past.

  Phemar watched in silence, lowering his hand. Fredrico stood to the side, eyes narrowed, while his crew waited in watchful silence.

  It struck Sinya then that this kind of mystical phenomena was nothing knew to the cut-throat bunch, and he wondered then how far they’d fallen down the black hole of hell known as the center of the Outlaw Sector.

  Concern for Beulah whipped the thought from his mind, and he started froward, intent on reaching Beulah’s side. Wanting to call her name, he bit the temptation back, not knowing exactly what she was doing.

  He’d just come behind her when, in a movement so fast it caught everyone off-guard, Beulah snapped her arms straight before her, her hands clapping together with an almost deafening sound.

  The wind blowing at her vanished, leaving them all standing bewildered.

  Except Phemar, who said, "Impressive. You absorbed my wind--"

  It appeared from almost nowhere, a rushing sound of gusting wind, that blew through Fredrico’s pirates, sending them spinning backwards. Phemar half turned to see, but it was upon him before he could stop it, slamming into him.

  He didn’t fall, but he did bend over, letting loose a roar of pain.

  "What the hell?" Ephim growled.

  Reaching Beulah’s side, Sinya placed his hand near the small of her back, wanting to touch her, yet afraid of interfering in something he didn’t understand, and bringing harm to her.

  The wind vanished, and Fredrico’ and his crew stood slowly. Angry glares were directed at Beulah, though some expressions were openly cautious.

  Beulah waited, the stillness so much a part of her at that moment, that it almost seemed to isolate her from everyone.

  "Very impressive." Phemar straightened up slowly. "You didn’t absorb my wind after all."

  "Your powers are dark," Beulah replied quietly. "You can have them back."

  "Hmm." He stared at her from beneath the depths of the hood.

  "I am tired of this foolishness," Beulah said. "This test is childish, beneath us. Tell me the name of the one we seek."

  Phemar stood in silence for several seconds, then moved swifter than Sinya thought possible.

  In one lightning move, he spun around and sent a shower of gleaming, razor sharp metal shards at Sinya’s crew.

  Beulah simply raised her hand once more, and the shards dropped with a clatter at her feet.

  "You are fast," Phemar mused. "Very fast."

  "This is stupidity and ego-tripping at its worst, Phemar." Beulah lowered her arm. "The name. Now."

  "I don’t take orders well."

  "You are here by command of your master. How many more useless, petty tests do you want to throw at me? How--aaahhh!" She fell onto one knee, doubled over, one arm across her stomach, the other braced on the ground.

  In the same instant Sinya crouched over her, his laser aimed at Phemar, he saw that the robed man was also on his knees on the ground. A grunt of pain came from Phemar, but whereas Sinya and his crew hovered protectively around Beulah, Fredrico and his crew stood back warily.

  "Beulah?" Sinya laid his hand on her shoulder worriedly.

  She didn’t answer, and he saw why when he bent down closer. Her eyes were squeezed tightly shut, and sweat beaded her brow. Her teeth were bared in agony, and when she opened her eyes to squint up at him, they were pure black. No irises, no whites of the eyes. He would have withdrawn if it had been
anyone but his witch. Her head dropped down again.

  "Turn it off!" Phemar cursed, pain making his hissing voice rasp. "Damn you to hell, Beulah, stop it!"

  "Make her stop," Fredrico demanded sharply. "Sinya, call her off!"

  "She’s not doing anything," Sinya snapped back. "It was your demon or whatever it is that’s caused this!"

  "Phemar has named her," Fredrico snarled. "Now, Sinya!"

  The whining of lasers was loud in the sudden stillness, and the threat of death, held back in uneasy alliance, was suddenly in the fore. There was the whisper of daggers and machetes sliding clear of sheaths, a shuffling of boots as pirates faced each other.

  "Beulah wouldn’t cause this, Fredrico. You know of her--she’s never caused pain! Phemar, however, I have no doubt wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone!" Sinya glared at Fredrico.

  Scowling, Fredrico raised his hand in silent command to his crew. They lowered their weapons, but remained alert.

  "Damn you, witch!" Phemar screamed. "Stop!"

  Uncertain, everyone eyed the two kneeling figures, both wracked in pain.

  "Now what?" Ephim queried uneasily.

  "I don’t know," Sinya muttered.

  Glancing up, he saw the same uncertainty reflected in Fredrico’s eyes. They were both out of their depths.

  A sickening sound of slithering was accompanied by a wet, splattering sound, and he glanced across at Phemar. His horrified gaze saw bits of bloody flesh lying on the ground at Phemar’s knees, and the sleeves of the tattered robe were wet with blood.

  Alarmed, he looked closely at Beulah, relieved to see that nothing appeared to be happening to her.

  Phemar screamed again, a spray of blood coming from the depths of the hood. He bent forward, clawing at the ground with ruined fingers, leaving tiny trails of blood and flesh in his wake.

  "What the bloody hell is going on?" Fredrico roared.

  "I don’t know!" Sinya snarled. "I don’t bloody know!"

  While Fredrico’s pirates moved further back, watching Phemar writhing on the ground, Sinya’s own crew gathered more tightly around him and Beulah, horrified but watchful.

  A distant crack rent the air, and the pirates looked up to see a fiery orange blaze zip past the space station, a flare of light that vanished as suddenly as it appeared. Uneasily, they looked at each other.

  "Let’s get the hell away from here," Ralfis suggested.

  Not knowing what else to do, Sinya could only think that getting Beulah away from Phemar’s presence might help. He touched her elbow, only to jerk back his hand at the heat emanating from her skin.

  God above, is that bastard cooking her alive? Jerking up his laser, Sinya pointed it at Phemar.

  "Don’t!" Fredrico swung his own laser around to cover Sinya.

  The actions made the violence simmering just beneath the surface swell up again, and weapons were lifted in readiness for a battle.

  "No!" Beulah cried out.

  Her cry made them all freeze, and every eye lowered to see her pushing painfully to her feet. Sinya immediately grabbed her elbow, relieved to feel her skin temperature back to normal.

  Once standing, he held her close to him with one hand, keeping his laser trained on Phemar with the other hand.

  "What happened?" he asked.

  Without answering, she looked across at Phemar. Sinya followed her gaze to see the bloodied, robed man still kneeling. Around him blood trickled, little chunks of flesh sitting wetly amidst it.

  "The name," Beulah said unsteadily.

  Phemar lifted his head weakly. "We will lead you to him."

  "Lead us?’ Sinya scowled. "Tell us his name, or I’ll blow you away!"

  A low, wet, rattling laugh came from Phemar. "We will lead you to him directly."

  "Goddamn you, Fredrico!" Sinya exploded, glaring at the other pirate. "You wasted our time! You could have simply led us--"

  "I do what I’m told," Fredrico returned, holstering his laser. "He wanted Phemar to test the witch and it would appear she’s passed."

  "Passed?" Sinya swore savagely.

  "It is not for me to ask questions." Fredrico gestured to his crew. "You might want to prepare your witch for the inner sanctum of the Outlaw Sector, Sinya. It’s not pretty where we’re going."

  "I don’t care to simply follow you anywhere," Sinya snarled. "You could be leading us into a trap."

  Fredrico grinned. "I’m your only option at this stage. You won’t find anyone who knows Hortra as well as this person. Be thankful he has decided to see you, rather than ignore what is happening."

  "Who is he?"

  "You will find out." Turning on his heel, Fredrico snapped out orders to his crew.

  Cursing to himself, Sinya turned his attention to Beulah. Pale-faced, she was gazing at nothing, her eyes unfocused.

  "Beulah?" he queried softly. "Are you all right?"

  Blinking, she brought his face back into focus. "Yes. Let’s leave this place."

  Supporting her faltering steps with one hand under her elbow, Sinya led her back to the ship. His pirates parted before them, closing ranks behind them so that they sheltered Beulah from the departing pirates of the other ship.

  ~ * ~

  Hortra gasped, doubling over as pain seared through his stomach. Falling to his knees, he cursed and waited. It wasn’t the first time he’d felt this pain. It was the second time. By the time it faded, he was drenched in sweat.

  Climbing weakly to his knees, he stumbled to the chair and sprawled into it. Closing his eyes, he rubbed his forehead, and wondered where it came from--it was eerily familiar.

  ~ * ~

  Looking out into the semi-darkness, he listened to the grunts of ecstasy, the groans of pain, and the shrill laughter of the others that made up this churn of living bodies around him.

  Seated high up, he could watch safely, undisturbed by anyone unless he chose to be. He felt the pain in his stomach, but it didn’t bother him. He felt the pain, but it wasn’t a part of him.

  "Ah, Phemar, what have you found?" Idly he played with the glossy mane of hair of the woman who knelt at his feet.

  She made a low sound of pleasure, then delighted pain when he fisted his hand in her hair and jerked slightly.

  "So interesting. So very interesting." Releasing the woman, he said, "Go."

  Pouting in disappointment, she left, disappearing into the gloom and mass of bodies.

  Leaning back in the chair, he contemplated what he already knew. It’s all very interesting.

  I can’t wait to meet you, witch-woman. There’s more to you than meets the eye, I think.

  ~ * ~

  The water in the bowl turned a deep, murky red. Steam sizzled from it, rising up in a spiraling twist to vanish in the air.

  "It is not good." The voice whispered from the walls of the cave.

  "The little witch needs to be cautious." The golden Acceli touched the bowl, and the water turned clear once more.

  "What she holds is lethal to her as well." The second golden Acceli gazed out the opening of the cave, to the green grass that covered the slopes of the inner valley.

  "All we can do is wait."

  A hush descended on the cave.

  ~ * ~

  Nausea roiled around inside Beulah, and sweat dotted her brow. What had happened? What is going on? Wiping her hand across her forehead, she dried her palm on the skirt of her gown. I felt it...

  The ramp closed behind the pirates, and Sinya turned to look anxiously down at her. "Beulah, are you all right?"

  "Yes." She lied. Lied because she wanted to return to her cabin and try to sort out what had just happened.

  Sinya gave her such an odd look, but merely nodded. He gave instructions to the crew, and she took her chance to move away.

  Reaching her cabin, she stumbled gratefully inside, shutting the door behind her and hurrying across to the plant in the corner. Even as she neared it, she could see the leaves tremble and draw back a little.

  "No, my precious,"
she whispered. "Don’t fear me. I need your healing. I need your touch. I need the touch of earth."

  Gently she placed her hand flat on the soil in the pot, sighing with relief to feel the coolness against her palm. Dropping into a sitting position, she leaned her back against the wall and closed her eyes, replaying the events in her mind.

  The pain that ripped through her was felt by Phemar as well. It was a pain that, for some reason, affected them both. Who had sent it? Hortra? No, she would have known if it was him. The master Phemar worked for? No, there was no need.

  Opening her eyes, she stared unseeingly at the far wall. There were things going on now of which she had no knowledge. Things that were alien to her.

  Flexing her fingers in the damp soil, she rested her head back against the wall, and focused inside herself for some answer.

  Almost without thought, she slid into her sanctuary, entering her spiritual plane with the ease of familiarity. The white fog was soothing, caressing her skin, drifting through and around her.

  There was no disturbances here. She could see the white light surrounding her plane, see it in the distance in a shining arc. Floating freely, she drifted through the planes, but saw and felt nothing odd. It was as she would expect, for her spiritual plane had strong barriers, she’d seen to that as soon as she’d been aware of her plane.

  Concentrating, she let herself slide free of her spirit plane, and out into space. From a distance she watched the two pirate ships, Fredrico’s ship leading Sinya’s to the mystery man’s place.

  She would have liked to have drifted into Fredrico’s ship, but she could see the barrier around it. Visible only to another spirit’s eyes, the barrier was Phemar’s--black as pitch, and throbbing with menace.

  Shaking her head that she could have been so stupid as not to have thought of protecting the pirates inside Sinya’s ship, she quickly created a barrier of white light around his ship. Indiscernible to the human eye, but easily seen to the spirit eye, the ships increased their distance from each other.

  When the dark spirit of Phemar slid out of Fredrico’s ship, she watched calmly. He came within the distance she allowed with her barrier.

  "What is the source of your power?" Phemar asked.