A Different Kind of Witch

by Carol A. Robi

  You’ll die! The wind whispered bitterly, pinching at her cheeks.

  “No,” she said firmly, clenching her fists. “They will pay!” She said, tapping the admission letter folded carefully in her pocket.

  Her heart beat faster, and her skin tickled as it always did each time she thought of her plan to go to Drachenburg School for the Supernaturals.

  “Promise me,” her grandmother had urged over six years ago. “Promise that you’ll never go there, not even when the letter arrives. And that letter will arrive one day, I promise you, for a day will come when they’ll detect your magic and come for you.”

  “When they come for you, promise me that you’ll remain at home. They can’t touch you here, no one can. The magic of our ancestors will keep you safe within the Mong’ena circles, and those strong enough to break such magic are long dead.”

  She’d promised her grandmother to stay away from the Supernatural Realm, but here she was breaking that promise.

  Her ancestral spirits were disappointed with her, that was evident by the constant clanging and breaking of pots and pans, and by the writings on the walls. Her grandmother's spirit was unhappy with her decision, as was her great grandmother and great-grand-uncles, and all her ancestors buried within the Mong’ena circles. They haunted her day and night to voice their displeasure, attempting to stop her. But she was determined. She would avenge her mother.

  She’d journey up North, find her mother’s murderer, and..

  And then what exactly? Kill him? Expose him? She hadn’t quite thought out that part yet. After she found him, she’d know what to do about it.

  “I must go,” she said to the wind. “I must avenge this wrong.”

  She gave the lanky three-legged beast a quick hug before any more doubts could assail her, pulled the strings of her coat tighter around her neck, and then she increased the intensity of the wind with a few more words uttered in her native tongue and ported from the home she’d always known, to lands unknown, and a future equally unknown.

  Chapter 3

  Sophie was exhausted, they all were. They’d been travelling for over twenty three hours- from Sydney to Dubai, and from Dubai to Hamburg Airport where they’d now just landed.

  ¨Honey, there is your suitcase!¨ Her mother called out, snapping Sophie out of her thoughts.

  Sophie grabbed at the small suitcase just in time. It felt odd to carry so little when she’d be away for more than five months, but her parents had informed her that the school was very strict about any personal items brought to the school. Everything was standardised at Drachenburg, soaps used, lotions, toothpaste, towels, beddings, pyjamas- in fact the only thing she carried with her was a framed photo and a pack of under things.

  It felt odd that all her things here on would resemble those of her schoolmates, from bathing slippers to her toothbrush.

  “However would we tell the difference?” She’d complained to her mother.

  “Surely Sophie, I’m sure you can think of a way to tell apart your items. Like, I don't know, write your name on them,” her mother laughed.

  Her parents lead her into a Burger King to wait for her pick up. Her stomach rumbled as they queued, and she was only too happy when they finally made it to their seats, balancing their meal trays with their free hands.

  ¨The school confirmed that you’ll be picked up from here at 4pm,¨ her father informed her.

  ¨We only have about an hour left,¨ her mother added quietly.

  Sophie felt slightly guilty that she wasn’t as sad about it as her mother. She’d miss her parents, that was certain. However, she was just so excited for it all.

  Sophie wrapped her free arm around her mother’s waist, scooting closer to her on the leather booth they shared.

  ¨I’ll really miss you honey,¨ her mother whispered.

  Sophie didn't answer her though, as her attention was suddenly arrested by a girl that simply materialised in the restaurant’s doorway. One moment, the doorway was empty, but in the next instance, there stood a girl!

  Sophie almost cried out aloud, but managed to stifle it and stare ahead stunned.

  No one else in the restaurant seemed to have seen the girl materialise there, but now as she walked in, everyone stared at her. She looked very out of place with a large animal hide coat on, an odd choice considering it was summer time here.

  Everything about her was wild- her clothes and her mass of unruly hair that mightn’t have seen a scissor or a comb in the last decade.

  Her coat appeared homemade - as though different hides had been sewn together. Her footwear contrasted her warm coat, as she had on leather strap sandals. Handmade, if Sophie were to guess, and she got the feeling that this strange girl had made all her clothes by herself.

  She must have come straight from an African jungle, Sophie thought to herself amused, now that her initial shock was receding. But she immediately regretted it, for the wild girl turned her way with the most unsettling yellow-brown eyes Sophie had ever seen. The eyes of a jungle cat.

  Did she just hear my thoughts somehow? Sophie wondered to herself, the hairs on her skin rising. She then noticed that her mother was also staring at the strange girl with a stunned expression on her face.

  Was she a supernatural too, on her way to Drachenburg? She appeared to be Sophie’s age, if not younger. She was at least a head shorter, and the wild dark brown mane crowning her head did nothing to make her appear taller or older. She had a single leather shoulder bag over her shoulders.

  The girl finally turned her gaze away and walked slowly forward with her head held up, her eyes sweeping through the room perceptively. She placed herself on the booth in front of theirs, facing Sophie, then placed her shoulder bag carefully beside her.

  People stared at her openly. It made her uncomfortable, Sophie could tell. It’d make anyone uncomfortable. And though she closed in to herself with her shoulders protectively, pulling her bag even closer, her face remained held upright, and her eyes met those eyes staring at her, forcing them to turn away.

  Unsettling!

  Sophie both pitied and respected her with equal measure, as she never once lowered her head with embarrassment.

  A waitress then walked over to the strange girl with an offhand expression on her face.

  ¨Möchten Sie bestellen?¨ The waitress said in rapid German. The girl looked up, shaking her head slowly.

  ¨If you want to order something, you need to join the queue there,¨ the young waitress spoke up again, disdain clear in her voice as she pointed towards the now near empty queue.

  ¨No, thank you. I don't want anything,¨ the curious girl answered in a quiet but controlled voice, choosing her words carefully- her accent unmistakable. English was not her first language.

  ¨Then you can't sit in here,¨ the waitress responded. Sophie didn’t know if she was being plain rude, or if it was the German way of speaking. Clearly the girl appeared disoriented and in dire need of rest.

  The wild girl didn’t argue however. She picked up her bag and walked briskly out of the restaurant.

  ¨Was that a Witch?¨ Sophie whispered, turning towards her mother curiously.

  ¨Yes, I think so,¨ her mother said in a strange voice, her eyes fluttering about weirdly. Sophie’s father caught her gaze, and the two seemed to be having a silent conversation of sorts. Sophie hated it when they did that!

  ¨She too must be going to Drachenburg School,¨ her mother continued when she managed to regain control of herself.

  ¨Do you know her?¨ Sophie asked puzzled.

  ¨No, but she reminds me of someone I used to know.¨

  ¨Who?¨ She asked, her curiosity spiking.

  ¨Just an old schoolmate. It definitely wasn’t her.¨

  ¨It could be her daughter,¨ Sophie suggested.

  ¨I highly doubt it,¨ she answered quietly.

  ¨Do you know where she is from?¨

  ¨I'd guess Africa!¨ Her mother said, and they all began to laugh, for that would of course b
e the obvious guess. Sophie was hoping for more specifics.

  ¨Where are her parents?¨ She asked a while later, as they dug into their ice cream cups. Her parents shrugged, staring down into their own cups.

  How sad, Sophie thought to herself. Had she travelled all the way by herself? Was she an orphan? That would explain her odd clothes and having come alone.

  They rose from their booth with fifteen minutes to spare, and made their way with her small luggage out of the airport to the parking lot.

  Chapter 4

  Among the vehicles at the parking area, they found a grey minivan with the words Drachenburg School spelt on either of its sides.

  As they approached it, Sophie made out the peculiar girl’s face through the window, seated inside and peering out at them. Her mother’s guess was correct, she was a new supernatural student too.

  ¨You must be Sophie!¨ said a sickly looking woman walking towards them. She was tall and very skinny, her face oddly pale, considering it was summertime.

  She must be an Avalon, Sophie noted to herself as she remembered her parents’ description of them. They were supposed to appear malnourished and weak, as they were almost always hungering for blood. Her parents had warned her not to be fooled by their appearances, as they were very strong physically.

  Sophie met her outstretched hand in a firm handshake, wincing at the icy cold but steel hard grip.

  ¨My name is Frau Eberhart, a teacher at Drachenburg, and your chauffeur for today,¨ she said with a smile that was more like a grimace. She then shook her parents' hands.

  ¨Lachlan, Siobhan! How is life treating you down under?¨

  ¨You know each other?¨ The grownups smiled before answering.

  ¨Frau Eberhart was our physics teacher back in time.¨

  ¨Oh! You don't look that old!¨ Sophie said before she could stop herself. Frau Eberhart chuckled in answer, a dry unsettling sound that Sophie didn’t wish to hear again.

  ¨Thank you,¨ she said before turning to lift her suitcase effortlessly, stuffing it into the van's trunk.

  ¨Say your goodbyes, we are leaving in three minutes,¨ Frau Eberhart announced.

  Sophie turned to hug her mom, fear seeping into her now that she was about to be separated from her parents. Five months suddenly felt like a lifetime. Her father’s arms came around and enclosed them in a tight hug, and Sophie was finally overcome by her tears, which now spilled down her cheeks.

  ¨Time to go,¨ Frau Eberhart announced. Sophie was already tired of her mechanical voice. She mustered all her strength and pulled away from her parents' arms.

  ¨Keep in touch!¨ Her mother called after her, even as the Avalon hustled her into the van.

  ¨I will, mom!¨ She managed to say, right before the door was pulled shut after her.

  She sat on the seat nearest to the door, right behind the driver’s seat, and pressed her palm against the window to wave goodbye even as the van began to pull away. A tear or two escaped as she lost sight of her parents. She eventually leaned back against the seat, and tied her seatbelt preparing for the unknown as a new member of the Supernatural Realm.

  Sophie had completely forgotten of her presence, until she suddenly moved, her hide coat making a scratchy sound against the leather seats.

  Sophie instantly turned around and found the girl leaning her forehead against the window pane, with her eyes pressed shut. She seemed to be whispering something, and when Sophie looked closer, her hands seemed to be glowing.

  Curiosity got the better of her.

  ¨What are you doing?¨

  The girl’s unsettling eyes snapped open at the sound of her voice. Her eyes were even more intense this up close. Sophie had never looked into the eyes of a tiger, but she had a feeling that they look just as these girl’s eyes did.

  ¨You have beautiful eyes,¨ the girl said softly.

  Sophie found herself smiling, for she was just about to tell her the same thing. Sophie’s eyes were a fiery green - emerald pools, her father termed them, similar to her mother's.

  ¨So do you,¨ Sophie replied. The odd girl smiled back shyly.

  ¨What's your name?¨

  ¨Boke!¨

  ¨Hello, Boke. I am Sophie.¨ She remained silent, but her eyes still burned lively under Sophie’s gaze.

  Sophie looked back down at her hands, but noted to her disappointment that the glowing was gone.

  ¨What were you doing with your hands?¨

  ¨This?¨ Boke asked, before folding her hands together into a ball, and then what appeared to be a flame glowed from the center of her palms.

  Sophie watched mesmerized. The flames didn’t even seem to burn her!

  ¨How?¨ She asked incredulously.

  ¨I'm a Witch.¨

  “It’s magic?”

  “It’s magic,” the girl assured her. She never seemed to blink.

  ¨I think I can do magic too! I'm a Faery, but I haven’t learnt any tricks yet. How old are you?¨ Sophie questioned. She must have just gotten her powers too, but how could she have learnt to use them so fast?

  ¨Thirteen.¨

  Sophie’s mouth fell open at the words. No way! Then how could she..? Her parents had clearly said they all got their powers at fourteen. That’s when supernaturals fledged.

  ¨How can you..?¨ Sophie questioned again baffled, and then drew off, not sure how to phrase her question.

  ¨I'm a Witch,¨ she repeated.

  ¨I know,¨ Sophie answered her with a frown. ¨You already said that. But how could it be that you have your powers and are yet underage?¨ She tried again puzzled.

  The other girl looking back at her seemed just as confused. Maybe she didn’t understand her question.

  ¨How long have you been practicing magic?¨ Sophie asked instead.

  ¨Since I can remember,¨ she answered.

  Sophie found the girl’s answer rather puzzling, and even suspected her of lying. She must be fourteen at least. Many people manage to look young for their age. Sophie now felt a certain resentment towards her for having lied. She didn’t like liars.

  And so she determined not to be very nice to this lying girl.

  ¨Aren't you hot in that coat?¨ Sophie wrinkled her nose, for it did smell a little, like goats or such-like farm animals.

  “A little,” she said with a shrug.

  “Why don’t you take it off?” Sophie asked amused.

  Boke hesitated, before yanking the monstrous thing off. Sophie stared back in surprise as all Boke had left was a bare chest, covered with various crude tattoos rising from her neck, crisscrossing over her chest and disappearing to her lower body. But also most noticeable was the fact that this girl was undoubtedly bare chested. How was that even possible at thirteen? Or had she been mistaken into thinking her a girl?

  “Are you a girl?” A stupid question, but Sophie asked it regardless.

  “Yes,” she said. Now she was the one peering back at Sophie warily, as though it were Sophie that was strange in this setting.

  “You don’t have boobs.” The words spill out of her mouth without her knowledge, and then she flushed apologetically, but Boke didn’t seem bothered.

  “What are those?” And then Sophie found herself spending two awkward minutes trying to explain or gesture what boobs were. It felt like a very bad game of charades.

  “Oh,” the girl’s voice was quiet. “I’m only thirteen. They’ll grow, eventually.”

  Sophie restrained herself from her next comment, which was that a girl of thirteen ought to at least have a sign of boobs, however small.

  The tattoos caught her attention again. How did they ever let her through security? No way she came by plane, so she must have indeed appeared here just as Sophie had initially suspected.

  Sophie rose a little on her seat so as to peer over the backrest and check what Boke was wearing on her lower body. She had a pair of boy shorts on. Sophie was certain she’d never met with so odd a person before.

  ¨Where are your parents?¨ Sophie asked, very cu
rious to find out if they too had attended Drachenburg as teenagers. Surely they would have warned her of the typical dress code in areas outside the village or jungle where she was from.

  ¨Dead.¨ She said the statement so simply, that one was almost sure to have misheard her. There was neither remorse nor regret in those words.

  ¨Oh!¨ Sophie responded, unsure of what to say next. Ought she to offer her condolences, considering the manner in which she had said it? It had sounded as though Boke was not sad they were dead.

  ¨I am sorry,¨ Sophie finally said after debating with herself.

  ¨So am I,¨ Boke answered quietly.

  She is quite unusual, Sophie thought to herself while hiding her smile. It was as though every word leaving her mouth was mechanically conjured. Sophie wondered if she’d ever lived with humans before. She might even be a Mowgli case. You know- like jungle boy, living in a jungle with a bunch of wild animals until one day a messenger ran through the forest with a letter of admission from Drachenburg School for her. It is probably why she had no idea how old she was. Maybe she wasn’t lying, and probably just couldn’t count. But then again, if she was indeed fourteen like Sophie, then where were her boobs or signs there of?

  ¨Where are you from?¨ Sophie asked curiously, as she tucked one of her stubborn long locks that had slipped out of her bun behind her ear.

  ¨Mong’ena,¨ she said.

  Sophie’s smile grew even wider, fascinated by how Boke just simply mentioned the place as though assuming its location well known.

  ¨Where is that?¨ Sophie asked again, trying to picture the map of Africa in her head so as to be able pinpoint exactly where she was talking about.

  ¨Maa,¨ she answered, or something to that effect.

  ¨Is that a country?¨ Sophie asked her, unsure for she didn’t know most of the names of African countries.

  ¨Maybe,¨ Boke said unconcerned, and Sophie burst into a laugh that had been threatening for a while.

  Boke looked up at her then, her face still unreadable, but her eyes quite disconcerting. Sophie’s laugh died instantly.