“Well it looks perfect. So, what do we do with it now?” Daniel asked curiously.
“I need to get it out of there and over here into the clearing,” she said glancing around to the forest.
“That doesn’t seem so hard. Your magic should easily be able to move it,” Daniel said with a smile.
“Yeah…” Alyssa said as she blinked a few times to clear her vision. She wavered slightly then shook her head more. Daniel noticed the girl’s behavior, how she seemed to be struggling to stand up.
“Hey, are you ok?” Daniel asked. She nodded and looked away quickly.
“I’m fine. Really, but getting it out here isn’t the hard part. I need to get it over to where we need to be, and that’s going to be… difficult,” she said before looking down.
“Well, you managed to get the other one there just fine. Why’s that so difficult?” Daniel asked curiously.
“I rode the other one out of here before; I didn’t transport it with magic. I’ve been on the road with that old carriage for a long time, I only pop back home to make more supplies and sleep then jump back out again. In order to transport this large of an object out I’m going to have to use a bit of magic out here,” Alyssa explained. Daniel looked at her puzzled then to the carriage.
“Ok, so is that a lot harder for you or something? You seem pretty capable of using magic well,” he said scratching his head. After a pause he looked back to see Alyssa trembling with her eyes closed.
“I need to concentrate on it to do so… but… my mind… isn’t focusing on that now…” she said shakily.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked. She started breathing heavily then glanced to him, her eyes glowing purple. Daniel looked at her curiously then started to feel his mind go numb. He shook his head a bit then looked to see Alyssa turning to face him, staring at him with a lustful stare.
“Daniel,” she said softly, her voice echoing around in his head. His mind went blank for a moment with only her being in his thoughts. For a split second she seemed like the most attractive and sexually appealing girl he had ever seen. He tried to move but his body became unresponsive, his arms and legs seeming to be frozen in place.
“What… are you doing…” he said shakily as he tried to turn his head away.
“I can’t fight it… I need you,” she said as she wavered slightly. Her eyes flickered red and purple briefly as she licked her lips. She blinked then shakily turned her head away.
“I’m sorry, Daniel… it’s too much. I… can’t fight this,” she said softly. Her heart started pounding as she felt her mind slipping. She trembled then looked again to him with her glowing eyes.
“My body… it needs you. Please… Daniel…” she said as she slowly walked towards him. Her eyes darted from his face to his pants then back again. She blinked and shook her head furiously as she stopped, striking her staff into the ground and holding onto it tightly. Daniel felt his arms loosen from an invisible hold while his body seemed to be frozen still.
“Alyssa… don’t give in to it,” Daniel urged. Alyssa growled with frustration then looked down as she closed her eyes.
“Run, Daniel… get out of here while you can. I can’t… I can’t fight what I am,” she said worriedly. She turned her head away, her body straining to get to the boy that was so close to her.
“I’m sorry, Daniel. I really am,” she whimpered as a few tears started to form. Daniel felt his body loosen as he was able to move again then watched the witch carefully as she trembled. She sobbed a bit then lowered her head.
“Please… get away,” she said quietly. Daniel watched her in awe as she was trying to fight her inner nature. She was trying to go against her desires to mate with all her might to spare the boy, her mind flooding with thoughts about raping and using him to get his seed however she could. Daniel looked at her worriedly then to the house. He could run for it, easily enough. Run up the stairs and far off before she lost it. He could even try to strike her down with his dagger if he felt so inclined.
“Daniel…” she said softly.
She gasped then looked ahead to see Daniel holding her close, the boy kneeling down in front of her with his arms around her and his head next to hers. She looked off into the forest with her glowing eyes as she trembled in his embrace.
“What are you doing? Get away from me!” she cried out as she tried to keep her body still.
“Fight it, Alyssa. You can do it,” he said softly as he held her gently.
“I can’t fight it, don’t be stupid. Get out of here now. Please,” she begged as her hand gripped her staff tightly. Her other hand held the back of his head and gripped his hair as she felt her body heat up.
“If you don’t go… I’m going to do something both of us are going to regret. Please… save yourself,” she said shakily, her breathing increasing as her staff started to glow slightly. Daniel saw green vines start to emerge from the ground around them, knowing she was going to try to take him by force if need be.
“I’m not going to abandon you, Alyssa,” he said gently.
“You idiot… do you have any idea what I’m going to do you if you don’t run?” Alyssa whimpered, feeling her mind slipping. She had to have him, to use him, to mate with him. The desire was burning up within and only getting stronger. She felt the more she resisted the stronger it grew.
“I can see you fighting it. You’re not like those other nameless monsters out there. You’re Alyssa the witch, and you’re one of the monsters we can trust with us. I know we can,” he said softly.
“What… makes you so sure about that?” Alyssa asked as her eyes started to flicker red and purple quickly. He glanced to the girl as he held her close to him.
“Because I trust you, Alyssa, I’m willing to place my life on that line,” he said calmly. The green vines whipped around and wrapped around his legs and arms, the weeds ready to pull him down at a moment’s notice. Alyssa shakily looked over to him as her eyes glowed purple, her mind swimming with thoughts of having the boy any way she could.
“Why?” she asked with a quivering mouth.
“It’s part of coexisting with monsters. Trusting each other, helping each other, being there for each other,” he said kindly.
“You can’t… help me with this though… you can’t…” she whimpered as she shakily ran her hand along the back of his neck to his cheek. She felt her power flowing around her as she started to slip out of control, her arm raising her staff to give the command to bind the boy down to the ground.
“Stop trusting me Daniel… I’m just… I’m just another monster,” she said as a tear dropped from her cheek. He shook his head and leaned in close to her, his nose touching hers.
“I refuse to believe that, Alyssa. That’s why I’m out here in the first place. To prove that monsters can control themselves; that you can coexist with us. That we can live together peacefully without conflict,” he said gently. She whimpered and closed her eyes, feeling the control over her arm dropping.
“Daniel… I can’t…I can’t,” she breathed out, her staff trembling as she was ready to take him by force.
“You wanted me to consider you, didn’t you?” he asked curiously. Alyssa looked at him with wide eyes as she gasped, thinking she heard wrong. He was looking at her with a gentle smile as his arms and legs were ensnared with green vines. She nodded slowly as he smiled at her.
“Then prove to me that you can control yourself, that you can control your inner nature. Prove me right, Alyssa,” he said calmly. She looked at him with wide eyes as her mouth quivered.
“If I do… if I do that… would you really… consider me?” she asked shakily. He nodded at her as he leaned back.
“I’ll consider it, Alyssa,” he said softly. She looked at him with wonder as she trembled a bit, her eyes gazing deep into his. After a moment she looked down with her hat covering her eyes, growling loudly as the area around them started to rumble. Daniel looked down to see the vines slowly letting go of him and slinking
down into the ground.
“If there’s a chance…” Alyssa said through bared teeth. She gripped her staff tightly and raised it up slowly.
“If there’s even a chance…” she said with determination. She yelled out and struck the staff into the ground, her eyes glowing with a deep purple as a light erupted from the grass below them.
“Then I won’t fail!” she yelled into the air. The ground around them rumbled as a bright light seemed to come up from the grass. Daniel looked around at the light then to Alyssa, the witch who had a focused expression. She growled then aimed her staff at the carriage in the shed with a determined face, focusing all her power on her goal. Daniel looked at the witch with wonder then over to see the carriage rolling out on its own onto the clearing, the wooden wheels turning slowly as the ride was pulled by the witch’s magic. It came to a stop out on the grass as the light beneath them seemed to slide over towards it. The rays of bright light shined up underneath the carriage as Daniel stood up, watching the sight with amazement. He looked to see Alyssa focusing her magic on it, the girl determined more than ever to remain in control.
‘I’ll be your proof, Daniel… I’ll show you we can be together… I won’t fail you.’
She growled as she focused her mind, pushing past her basic instincts to rape the boy on the spot. The thought of him willingly choosing to be with her was more than enough motivation to get her mind on track. He wasn’t like any other human she had ever encountered before; he had a pure heart and was the only one that wanted to actually trust her, that wanted her to be near him. It was that thought, that belief, that fueled her desire even more; her desire to protect him and stay by his side. She yelled out as the ground below the carriage seemed to shift around. Suddenly large green vines whipped up and around the wheels and axels of the carriage, the thick green weeds holding tightly to it as the light beneath grew even more.
“Alyssa…” Daniel said in wonder.
“Just remember, Daniel,” Alyssa said simply. He looked to see her smiling at him playfully.
“You need to think hard about it. Ok?” she asked happily. He smiled and nodded.
“Sure, it’s the least I can do after all,” he said with a shrug. She looked at him curiously for a moment then tilted her head.
“Are you thinking about it yet?” she asked with a purr. He smiled weakly and nodded a few times.
‘Not really, but whatever makes you happy, Alyssa.’
“Thank you Daniel… for not leaving me,” Alyssa said looking down with a soft smile. He smiled at her as she glanced to him timidly.
“Can’t leave a 72 year young witch all alone in the world can I? That wouldn’t be the gentleman thing to do,” he said playfully. She giggled and shook her head.
“Nope nope!” she cheered. Looking down for a moment she smiled softly, then glanced back up to him.
“I won’t let you down, Daniel. I promise, I’ll be your proof,” she said gently.
“Thank you, Alyssa, and no matter what I won’t abandon you, I promise,” he assured her. She giggled and hopped up and down playfully.
“Good! Then let’s get going then!” Alyssa said as she looked to the carriage.
“Um… how are we getting that up the stairs through your home anyway?” he asked looking back to the house. Alyssa laughed and shook her head.
“You’re so silly, Daniel, it wouldn’t fit through there,” she said with an adorable smile at him. He nodded slowly then looked to the carriage.
“Then… how are you going to…” he asked puzzled.
*****
Triska was running down a hill towards the spot where Daniel and Alyssa had vanished into the witch’s home, and was being chased by a dark haired horse with red eyes and skeletal wings. The horse screeched at the girl as it charged after her, the frightened teen then dodging to the side and rolling away as the beast ran by. She rolled back onto her feet to see the horse turning around and staring her down with its red eyes.
“C’mon, Lucky… I didn’t mean it. Honest,” Triska said shakily as she backed up slowly. She tripped over a weed and dropped to the ground, staring with wide eyes as the monstrous horse slowly walked towards her.
“Easy boy, easy, Lucky. I’m a friend, really,” she said nervously. The horse screeched out at her with smoke coming from its mouth as she scooted back on her rear. She stared with wide eyes and trembled as the beast walked closer to her. After a pause she shakily grabbed the handle of her sword.
“Down boy… I mean it. Don’t… don’t make me…” she threatened weakly. Before she could unsheathe her blade the ground nearby started to rumble. She looked over to see large green vines erupting and swarming around a patch of dirt as a bright light seemed to shine up from the ground.
“What… what’s happening now?” Triska asked shakily.
She watched with wide eyes as the ground around the vines started to flicker a bright light. The green weeds were swarming about in a large circle with the vines covering the ground and slithering around wildly. Suddenly the round spot of ground covered by the vines seemed to break apart around the edges and lift up. Triska watched with shock as the ground appeared to flip around like a spinning lid, with the other side having a carriage secured to it with green vines. The ground flipped around and slammed down as light shined brightly from the edges while dust flew up around the area. Sitting on the front seat of the carriage were Alyssa and Daniel, with the boy looking around with shock while the witch was giggling happily.
“Daniel? Alyssa?” Triska asked in disbelief. The horse looked over to the carriage then calmly trotted over to it. Daniel looked around with wide eyes and an open mouth as he tried to comprehend what just happened, then jumped with a yell as he saw the demonic horse heading over to them.
“Ahhh! What is that?” he cried out.
“Lucky!” Alyssa said happily as she hopped off the carriage. The vines around the cart receded and sunk back into the ground as the witch giggled at the horse. Lucky headed over to her and nuzzled his nose against her cheek, the girl laughing and petting him playfully.
“There you are, Lucky. Hee hee, I’m glad to see you too boy,” she laughed as the animal nudged her with its nose.
“That’s… Lucky?” Daniel asked with wide eyes as he stared at the demonic horse, noticing the drastic change in appearance from the horse he saw the other day. Triska scrambled to her feet and looked with disbelief at the sight.
“How… what…” she said shaking her head.
Alyssa giggled and looked at the horse with a cheerful smile.
“Are you ok, Lucky? Did those bad men scare you? I’m so sorry,” she said sweetly while brushing his nose. Daniel slowly got off the carriage and stared at the sight with wonder as Triska ran over to him.
“Daniel, watch out, that horse is crazy!” she cried out. Alyssa laughed amusedly then glanced to the girl.
“You were rude to Lucky, weren’t you?” she asked with a knowing smile. Laughing again she looked back to the horse.
“He only changes into his demon form to scare away those that are mean to him. Was that human girl rude to you, Lucky? I’m so sorry, I told her to be nice to you and she just didn’t listen, did she?” she mused sweetly to the horse while nuzzling against his nose. The horse breathed out calmly as its flaming tail waved slightly behind it.
“What? Demon form?” Triska asked with surprise. Alyssa nodded then gently brushed the horse’s nose.
“He’s such a sensitive horse, I told you didn’t I? If he doesn’t like somebody he’ll change into his demon form to scare them away. Don’t worry though; he wouldn’t have done anything to you. He’s actually a very shy and timid horse, all show and no bite,” she explained calmly while she pet the demonic horse’s nose. After a moment its hair shifted back to white as its wings retracted back. His tail’s fire extinguished as his eyes returned to a normal black color. Alyssa giggled and looked to Triska with a smirk.
“You scared him didn’t you? Naughty,�
� she said shaking her head.
“Scared him? He scared me!” Triska yelled out.
“I warned you,” Alyssa pointed out.
“Why didn’t he scare off those villagers then?” Triska asked with bewilderment.
“I told you he’s all show and no bite. He saw their torches and pitchforks and got scared,” Alyssa said simply. Daniel and Triska just looked at the witch with wide eyes then to the horse that, a few moments ago, scared the hell out of Triska. Alyssa calmed her horse down then gently grabbed the straps around him.
“Ok, Lucky, we’re going for a ride now. Be good, ok?” she asked sweetly. Lucky licked her face and nodded with a small snort. She laughed then walked the horse over to the carriage, glancing to Triska with a smirk on the way.
“Be nice to Lucky from now on,” she warned. Triska nodded then looked to the horse worriedly. She then shook her head with disbelief then looked to the carriage that seemed to have come up from underground out of nowhere.
“Wow, you weren’t kidding about the carriage. But… how did you… and the ground… it’s…” she said in bewilderment. Alyssa giggled then looked to Daniel.
“I’ll do anything for Daniel,” she said softly. He jumped a bit then smiled nervously at the witch while Triska glanced to her with a dull expression. Alyssa laughed then playfully skipped towards the carriage with Lucky following after. Daniel smiled at the horse then looked to see Triska staring at him with discontent.
“What?” he asked.
“What was that about? Did she do anything to you?” she asked as she leaned in closer to him. Daniel laughed and shook his head.
“Nope, smooth sailing,” he said weakly. Triska narrowed her eyes at him then looked to the witch. Alyssa sat at the front of the carriage with the reins in her hands, with Lucky set to pull them on their journey. She had her staff sitting next to her as she waved to Daniel.
chronicles of eden - act I Page 12
