“No, you wouldn’t,” she argued shaking her head.
“I would,” Daniel asserted.
“No, you wouldn’t,” Charlotte said sternly.
“Yes, I would,” Daniel argued while crossing his arms.
“No, you WOULDN’T!” Charlotte yelled out.
“Yes, I would! I don’t judge others by their outer appearance, I don’t discriminate by what they are, and I certainly don’t victimize them just for following their inner nature!” Daniel shouted back. Charlotte looked at him with a scoff as he shook his head and gazed around at the crowd that was watching him with curious eyes now.
“Monsters need to breed, they have to, it’s what their bodies tell them to do, it can’t be helped; it’s just their inner nature. Well just because a monster is compelled to breed, just because they’ve followed their instincts and did what they deemed to be right for their own survival, that doesn’t make them evil. I don’t deem monsters to be evil just because they wish to breed, there’s nothing wrong with them wishing to do so, that’s how they are,” Daniel stated firmly. He then looked back to Charlotte as the witch watched him with a cautious expression.
“As long as the girl, human or monster, is kindhearted, isn’t a murdering creature that has no regard for life around her, and isn’t just interested in getting my pants off, then I could love them, I could be with them in life, I could have a family with them, on my own free will,” he stated assuredly. Kroanette watched Daniel with wonder then slowly stepped forward.
“Daniel,” she said carefully, with everyone looking to her as she approached the boy.
“Are you saying that, if a centaur, not me mind you, would be ‘kindhearted’ and nice to you, then you would find her, not me of course, to be attractive and even wish to mate with her, again not talking about me here, but her?” she asked carefully. Daniel nodded and smiled kindly at her.
“If a centaur, you or any other, was a kindhearted girl, and we truly felt a connection with one another, then of course we could be together,” he answered.
“You would? But, Daniel, look at me, I mean look at what a centaur looks like, we have the lower body of a horse. That would mean you would have to have sex with… with a monster like us. You would really do that?” Kroanette asked with shock.
“Kroanette, you’re a not a monster to me, you’re a very attractive woman,” Daniel pointed out, with the centaur jumping back with a squeak before shaking her head with a blush.
“I’m not talking about me! I’m talking about centaurs in general, I just said that, remember? Not me, not me at all, I’m just asking a hypothetical question!” she cried out. Daniel chuckled and shrugged as he saw the centaur getting flustered.
“Well, if the centaur in question was attractive like you, and we became very close, then I would consider her a perfect candidate to be my mate,” he reasoned. Kroanette looked to him with wonder then down while holding hand to her cheek as her blush slowly vanished.
“Are you serious? Even though centaurs look like this, you wouldn’t mind?” she asked.
“No, I wouldn’t,” Daniel answered, and then turned to Charlotte with a sympathetic smile while Kroanette glanced back up to him with a curious eye.
“You said before that no man would want to have sex with you because of how you look, that no man would willingly mate with you because you look like a little girl. Well, you’re not a little girl, you’re a witch, and far older than even myself am. There’s a difference between a human child and a witch, and I know that difference, I don’t see you as a child at all,” he assured. Charlotte eyed Daniel over briefly then tilted her head with a quizzical expression.
“Are you saying that you would actually mate with a witch? You would actually give a witch your seed on your own accord?” she asked carefully.
“I’m saying, that if a witch was kindhearted, and we came to know each other very well, I would of course see her as a promising candidate to be my mate,” Daniel answered. Charlotte watched him carefully for a moment then slowly smiled and shook her head.
“No, you wouldn’t,” she argued.
“Yes, I would,” Daniel said nodding. Charlotte stared at him with bewilderment for a moment then slowly looked down while eyeing her wand.
“So, if a witch was ‘kindhearted’ to you, you would actually take her as your mate in life? Even though she looks like a little child, even though she may have done some very, very, very bad things in her life, you would willingly take her to bed with you?” she questioned before glancing back up to him.
“Let me make something clear, if a witch were to be kindhearted in life, then I would hope she wouldn’t have anything very, very, very bad to speak of in her life. However, as I also said before, I don’t judge monsters from what they did in their past by following their nature. That being the case, should a witch prove to me that they could control themselves around men, that they would not harm my people, that they truly cared about me and not just wanted to use me to get pregnant with, then yes, I would see her as a lovely woman all the same as any other,” Daniel replied assuredly. Charlotte stared at him in silence for a while then walked away while looking around at the crowd of witches.
“Did you hear that? He says if we’re nice he’ll be just fine with having sex with a witch. I don’t know about you, but I’m having trouble believing him. What do you think?” she called out, getting only loud hecklings and hisses from the crowd in response while the witches scoffed and glared at Daniel. Charlotte nodded then snapped her fingers in the air, the sound echoing out like a deafening clap that silenced everyone, then slowly looked back to Daniel while shaking her head.
“Sorry, but we just don’t believe such a thing. You talk big, but the truth is we just can’t see you actually doing a witch on your own free will,” she reasoned with a shrug. Daniel sighed then rolled up his sleeve, the witches watching as he slid off Kroanette’s bracelet and tossed it over to her. The centaur caught it with a surprised jump then looked at him with wonder as he rolled his sleeve down and looked to the alpha with a calm expression.
“Do you agree or not, that witches would have an easier time surviving if mankind welcomed them in their cities and kingdoms rather than forcing them to live out in the outerlands like this, if they treated them like equal citizens of Eden?” he asked as he started walking towards Charlotte.
“What are you doing?” the alpha asked as she turned to face him.
“Do you agree or not, that witches would have an easier time getting pregnant if they didn’t have to use force and trickery to get a man to be with them, that if mankind accepted them the prospect of having actual husbands in their lives would make having a family much easier for them?” Daniel questioned, with the witches in the crowd looking to each other with confusion from that.
“Did you really just remove your only protection from me?” Charlotte laughed as she shook her head at the boy.
“Do you agree or not, that your numbers are dwindling, not just from humans being your enemies but also from other monsters that prey upon you witches out in the wild, attacking and killing you while nobody comes to your aid?” Daniel accused. Charlotte looked at the boy cautiously as he walked up to her and crossed his arms.
“Do you agree, or not, that there could be benefit for both our races if we try to live together in peace?” he asked firmly. Charlotte smirked and aimed her wand at him, the boy keeping his eyes focused on her while Kroanette bit her lip nervously as she watched the human standing before the alpha with no fear or any kind of magical protection.
“What are you thinking approaching me like that without your little enchanted bracelet?” Charlotte mused.
“I told you, I’m not here to plead for my life, I’m not here to fight you, I’m not here to trick you, I’m here to ask you an honest question, and even though witches are known to be deceptive and misleading, that they lie and manipulate others with their magic as they please, I will not hide or cower before you with this. I stand be
fore you on my own free will. So, answer me, Charlotte, can there really be no peace between our races? Is this truly the life you wish for your people?” Daniel demanded.
Silence filled the plaza as Charlotte just stared at Daniel while having her wand aimed at him, the boy waiting for her answer while the witches around the area also waited to see what their alpha would do. Charlotte tilted her head slightly while keeping her wand pointed at the human, her fingers lightly drumming on the wood for a moment before she giggled to herself.
“Let me get this straight, you honestly believe that witches and humans can live together, you claim that you could actually love a witch on your own accord should that witch be kindhearted to you, and you seriously think that I’m not going to kill you right now after you removed your only protection from me?” Charlotte called out with a laugh. To her surprise Daniel merely held his hands out at his sides, opening himself up to any attack while watching the witch with a focused expression still.
“I’ve said what I needed to say, I can’t make you choose to do anything, I can’t tell you what to do or think about any of this, you have free will too after all. What happens next, my grace, is up to you. So, what’s your answer?” he asked. Charlotte looked at the boy with wonder then slowly shook her head.
“You really are serious about this, aren’t you?” she questioned.
“Yes, I am,” Daniel replied. Charlotte slowly lowered her wand as she eyed the boy over with a curious glance. She laughed a bit then looked around at the witches who were all watching with wonder.
“Well, I’m at a loss for words. This human actually believes we can live together. He really thinks that could work. And even more twistedly, he claims that he could choose a witch as a mate, that he would willingly give that witch his seed if that witch were kindhearted to him. Sisters, is he crazy or what?” she called out. The witches around cheered out in agreement while Daniel watched Charlotte cautiously, the alpha then raising her hands to calm the crowd down before turning to him with an amused smile.
“Tell me, how did you plan on this little idea of yours coming true? Even if I were to agree to such a thing how would that help you in the slightest? Enlighten me, what comes next in your little plan?” she mused playfully.
“I’m traveling the land right now to gain support from any monster races I can for this. An ant girls nest has already agreed to talk peacefully about a truce, and your race would be the second,” Daniel started.
“Just to be clear, you do realize that my say doesn’t go for all alphas and witches in Eden, right?” Charlotte interrupted with a raised eyebrow.
“Yes, I’m aware of that, however you are a respected ruler and able to enforce change in this region with your kind. My plan is to gather as much support for this and then speak to the queen of Rockhelm, ruler of humans in this region, to show her that there are monsters that want peace and are willing to talk things over. If I can show her enough proof that monsters are capable of controlling their inner nature, that they aren’t truly evil, then perhaps my kind would see reason as well,” Daniel explained. Charlotte just stared at him for a moment then burst out laughing, with the boy watching her with a tired expression as the witch held her sides and shook her head.
“Alright, ask a silly question, get a silly answer!” she laughed before trying to catch her breath. Daniel held in his sigh as the witch breathed out slowly then looked at him with an amused smile again.
“Daniel, let me be clear, you are incredibly foolish to have come here like this. I could kill you right now, I could charm you into doing anything I wish, and believe me there’s plenty I could think of to make you do right now if I had the mind to do so,” she scolded playfully while shaking a finger at him. Daniel showed a worried expression to that before the alpha eyed her fingernails casually while with a shrug.
“But, you’ve piqued my interest. Yes you have, yes you have,” she mentioned nonchalantly. Slowly her eyes shifted back to him as a sly smile returned to her face.
“Daniel, you say that witches and humans can get along, that we could live together in peace. Well, I don’t believe you! I don’t believe humans and witches can ever get along!” she yelled out with a stern expression at him, with the witches around the plaza watching Daniel with harsh glares as he feared this was where his life would come to an end. Charlotte closed her eyes for a moment then smiled curiously while shaking her head.
“Still, you seem so adamant about this, so sure that we could get along, so much in fact that you actually dared to approach me without any protection from my power at all to plead your case. Hell, you even insist that you could actually love a witch willingly, should she be kindhearted to you of course, isn’t that right?” she mused. Daniel nodded slowly, watching the witch carefully as he couldn’t really tell how this was going to go for him. Charlotte giggled then looked around at the crowd while waving her wand up in the air.
“Sisters, this human here says he could actually love a witch on his own accord, that he would actually give a witch his seed if he cared about her from the heart. I don’t know about you, but that’s just so touching I might cry!” she called out, with the other witches laughing and feigning loving sighs at Daniel. The boy glanced around at them with a quiet sigh then looked back to Charlotte as the witch turned to face him with a coy smile.
“Daniel, you come here, all on your own, claiming that witches and humans can get along, that we can live together in blissful harmony. Well, I’m afraid words alone just won’t prove such a thing to us, will they?” she called out, with the witches around the plaza shaking their heads and mocking the boy with sneers and scoffs. Charlotte pointed her wand towards Daniel, with the crowd falling silent as the alpha slowly started walking towards the boy.
“So I dare say a demonstration is an order. I say that you need to prove to us, Daniel, that what you say isn’t just complete bullshit!” she shouted out. Daniel watched her worriedly as the witch tilted her head slightly with a sly smile on her face.
“Tell me, are you willing to prove to me that humans and witches can truly be together peacefully? Are you willing to prove to me that what you’ve said so far is indeed true?” she questioned.
“Yes, I am. What proof do you need of me?” Daniel asked.
“Why, only for you to show me what you preach,” Charlotte quipped before lowering her wand. She started to walk around Daniel while waving her hand around, the crowd of witches then slowly walking closer while giggling as Daniel looked around at them with a careful eye.
“Daniel, I don’t believe any of what you’ve said so far, after all why should I? Humans all think we’re evil, as you say, and frankly we’re not too fond of how they treat us either. I dare say that our way of life will have to continue, that humans must be raped and maybe even killed for us to survive,” Charlotte mused, showing a saddened smile at the end with a small shrug. She giggled then glanced to Daniel with a smirk on her face.
“But, I’m going to give you a chance, Daniel, a single chance to show me that mankind is ready to coexist with us. That maybe, just maybe, the fighting between us really can stop,” she said casually, with the boy looking to her with wonder as she walked around him in a circle. She stopped before him while watching the boy with a sharp eye and presented her hand to him.
“So, here is my proposal. We’re not going to stop what we do, getting pregnant however we can and doing what we must to live, it’s our inner nature after all, you understand, right? Yes, I’m afraid nothing will change with us at all in the meantime, but perhaps you could give me a reason to think it all could change. And to do that you’re going to have to show me that you can love a witch, and by love I mean love her,” she purred, with the witches around them giggling as they gathered closer, with only a few feet now between them and Daniel as the boy watched Charlotte with growing concern as to where this was going.
“And just what do you mean by that?” he asked carefully. Charlotte chuckled then looked at him with a knowing s
mile.
“Daniel, there is a witch among you and your friends, one that you travel with and claimed to have taken a liking for. In fact, if memory serves, she even claims she loves you, you know the one I speak of?” she questioned, with Daniel slowly nodding to that. The witches around them looked to each other with amused smiles then back to the two as the alpha kept walking around Daniel.
“My grace, there’s actually a witch that claims to love this wandering idiot?” a witch asked with a giggle.
“Yes, there is. Maybe she just took a liking to her pet more than another, or perhaps she herself had a very bad potion and isn’t quite right in the head anymore. Either way, she will help this human prove his point, should he choose to do so,” Charlotte replied then showed Daniel an innocent smile.
“Well, that witch, and I know you know who I’m talking about, I want you to fuck her brains out,” she requested.
“WHAT?” Daniel exclaimed with a jump. Charlotte laughed and nodded with an amused smile at him.
“You heard me. Make love to her, give her your seed, prove that you could actually mate with a witch on your own free will. No potions shall be involved, no hexing, no tricks, no lies. Oh, and no, you’re not being forced to do her, you don’t have to if you don’t want to after all. But, I know how much she means to you; after all you were so worried about her before, so I dare say she fits nicely for being a ‘kindhearted’ witch that you care for, yes?” Charlotte reasoned with a twitch of her eyebrow. Daniel stared at her with shock as an image of Alyssa smiling at him flashed before his eyes, the girl having a loving smile on her face before the image vanished with Charlotte casually flicking her hair back behind her shoulders.
“Wait, you want… me… and her… to…” Daniel stuttered nervously.
Chronicles of Eden - Act 2 Page 76
