Nature of the Witch

by Helen T. Norwood

  “Are you Gwithiaz?”

  “I am.”

  “Where's the witch you're supposed to protect?”

  Kitto's expression changed, his eyes dropped to the floor as he said sadly, “Dead.”

  “Bang up job there then,”Jack muttered.

  “She died many years ago,” Kitto told him, “as did I.”

  “I don't follow.”

  “Now my job is not to protect witches. My time passed but I have been brought back and given a new role…to train you.”

  “Back? From the dead? Like Jesus?” Jack rolled his eyes. “OK, well, question number two.”

  Kitto nodded and waited.

  “If the Kasadow, or Creatures or whatever you call them are dead, what do you need me for? Seems to me I'd be a little redundant, I've got nothing to protect them against.”

  “We don't question our orders. It's true that the Creatures are all long gone but we are heading into unprecedented times. The world hasn't seen true witchcraft for centuries and we cannot know what dangers may lay ahead.”

  “Third and final question,” Jack leant forward and paused before he spoke again, “why would I?”

  “Why would you what?” Kitto asked confused.

  “Why would I devote my life to helping out some chick?”

  “Chick?” Kitto looked puzzled. “You've misunderstood me, witches are human, not a type of poultry.”

  “I mean why would I care? Let's pretend that everything you say is true…”

  “It is,” Kitto interrupted.

  “Let's say it is,” Jack continued, “I don't know any witches. Why would I, or anyone for that matter, want to spend their entire life babysitting some woman? Why would I be willing to die for her? I don't even know her.”

  Kitto pondered for a moment, “A fair enough question. All I can say is that you have been chosen for this life so I need you to trust me. One day you will just know, like I did. It'll be like a calling and your one purpose in life will be to protect. You see, this has been mapped out for you for many years. Your destiny was chosen before you were born. Members of the brotherhood of the Gwithiaz are created out of love and…”

  “Well, there we go then,” Jack waved a hand, “you've got the wrong man. That's not a concept I'm familiar with.”

  He couldn't believe he was arguing with this man about joining a secret brotherhood that protected witches.

  “Love?” Kitto watched him for a moment. “Actually you've had a great deal of love in your life, you just don't remember it.”

  Jack raised an eyebrow, “I have no family and, as of a couple of days ago, no girlfriend. I've never been in love, and don't have what you could call 'close' friends so if you're looking for someone born out of love perhaps you should try the guy next door. It's definitely not me.”

  “What about your mother?” Kitto asked him softly. “She loved you before she died.”

  Jack sat in stunned silence. OK, it was time for this guy to leave. He'd tried to be nice but this was going too far.

  “How did you know she was dead?” he asked.

  Kitto gave a long sigh, “A mother's love is one of the purest loves you will ever find. Your mother made the ultimate sacrifice; she died trying to protect you. You most certainly are born out of love, never doubt it. Besides you have all the traits of Gwithiaz; strength and courage, determination and above all a good heart.”

  Jack's hands tightened around his chair, he took a deep breath, “You're mistaken, you see, my parents were killed in a car accident.”

  “A car yes, an accident no. Don't you remember? You were there.”

  Jack shook his head. He closed his eyes for a moment to control the anger that had started to bubble in his chest.

  Mustn't lose control. Who does this guy think he is? Crazy or not you shouldn't just walk in to a person's home and make up stories about their dead parents.

  “Does it worry you?” Kitto asked. “That rage you have inside of you? It's just waiting to erupt and take control. I can teach you to master it, to use it as a weapon against your enemies, so that you are controlling it and not it controlling you. Where do you think it stems from? You're a Gwithiaz who up to now has had no purpose. You're a warrior, it's in your blood but you've bottled the warrior up inside, so it's no wonder he escapes every so often. You've kept your hands busy with wood where it should've been weapons. Let him out and become the man you're supposed to be.”

  Jack was silent. He took a couple of deep breaths before forcing himself to say calmly, “I don't know how you know these things about me but I'd like you to leave.”

  To his surprise Kitto didn't argue but instead rose to his feet, as though he had been expecting it, “I'm going to leave you my card,” he paused at the door and turned back, “I want you to remember your mother and when you do, you'll know where to find me.”

  Jack didn't reply. He sat very still as he listened to Kitto leave the flat. Then to his own surprise a tear slid down his cheek. It was the first time he had cried since…since he couldn't even recall. Stupid old man, didn't he know how hard he'd tried to remember her? It wasn't going to happen now just because a mad Cornishman had told him to. She had always been like a word on the tip of his tongue that he was so close to, and yet couldn't quite bring to mind. He had tried to remember but the fact was she was gone, and so was his dad, so what was the point? All the remembering in the world wouldn't bring them back.

  Chapter Four

  The car travelled slowly down the country lane. Jack was sitting in the back seat of a red mini. Inside was small and comfy. Jack felt sleepy. It was Saturday and it'd been a long day. He'd been swimming in the morning with mum, and then played with his cars all afternoon. They'd just been out for dinner and were returning home.

  He felt his eyes start to drift closed. It was January and, although it was only about seven o'clock, it was dark outside. There were no lights along the road, so dad was driving carefully. He could hear them chatting and was vaguely aware that mum had turned to him and smiled, “Sleepyhead.”

  She was beautiful with light brown hair that tumbled all the way down her back. A light fringe was swept to one side and she looked at him through dark eyes that were exactly like his own. She leant across and he felt her soft hand stroke his cheek, “we'll be home soon.”

  Just as he was slipping off to a deeper sleep he heard his dad's voice, it was slightly raised and it brought him back to consciousness.

  “We'll head for the nearest built-up area and make sure it leaves before we carry on home.”

  Mum turned around and looked past him out of the back window. Her features were agitated, but when she saw that he was awake she smiled reassuringly and Jack felt calm, “Nothing to worry about Jack. Go back to sleep darling.”

  “It's getting closer,” dad said, “what's he doing?”

  Mum turned again and looked out the back window, “If it gets any closer it'll hit our bumper.”

  Jack heard the accelerator and felt the car quicken. He turned in his chair to see what mum was looking at. He craned his neck. Was that a car he could see behind them? It was dark and he couldn't get a good view from his seat.

  “What's wrong?” he asked nervously.

  “Just a silly driver behind us who forgot to put his lights on,” mum was trying to sound cheerful, but Jack detected a note of concern in her voice. Then she gave a sigh of relief, “I think he's gone Steve. I can't see him anymore.”

  Dad was confused, “Where could he go? There are no turnings down this road.”

  Mum shrugged, “Must've pulled in. Perhaps he's having car problems or something. You don't think we should check do you?”

  Dad shook his head, “No, let's just get home.”

  Jack relaxed back in his seat but he didn't feel sleepy anymore. He watched a dark world pass by the window; he could just make out the shapes of bushes and trees against the black. Then suddenly the car was filled with light.

  Jack shouted out and covered his eyes
. It was so bright that his eyes hurt.

  “Mummy!” He cried in panic.

  He heard dad yell, “What on earth…”

  The car swerved violently across the road as dad tried to gain control and find the brakes. Then suddenly he was flying forward and he was upside down. Mum was screaming and he was trying to grab hold of something when everything came to a halt with a crash. He banged his head and was dazed for a moment before coming back to his senses. His whole body felt sore and he tried to move but he was pinned down. He was staring at the roof of the car, except the roof was now the floor. He felt fear rise up inside him, starting from his toes and sweeping through his body. He wanted his mum.

  “Mummy, daddy,” he attempted to shout but it came out as a whisper, “mummy! Daddy! Please!”

  There was no answer and the fear erupted. He became frantic and began to thrash his arms and legs when suddenly a hand gripped his arm and he heard his mum's voice, “It's OK Jack. Just hold on, I'll get you out.”

  He was so relieved to hear her and feel her touch that he began to sob gently. He pulled himself forward slightly so he could see her. A trickle of blood fell from her head but she was smiling at him and saying, “It'll be OK.”

  “We're upside down,” he informed her.

  “Yes dear, I noticed,” she said.

  “Steve,” mum whispered and Jack looked across to his dad. To his horror dad wasn't moving. His body seemed to be hunched forward at a funny angle. Mum reached across and shook him gently, then placed a hand on his neck.

  “Oh god,” she breathed so silently that Jack only just heard it.

  “Is dad alright?” Jack asked fearfully.

  Mum didn't answer. There was a gap next to her that Jack could just see out of. Not that there was much to see, just darkness. Mum tried to wriggle herself towards it but gave up after a moment.

  They were both silent, the only sound was the car as it quietly creaked and groaned as though it too were in pain.

  Then they heard it, footsteps approaching.

  “Help!” Mum called out. “Please help!”

  The footsteps carried on coming but they didn't quicken, they remained steady, getting closer and closer until Jack heard them stop right near his head.

  “Hello?” Mum said. “Can you hear me?”

  There was no reply. Had they imagined the footsteps?

  That was when she screamed and made Jack jump. One moment mum was there stroking his arm and the next she screamed and he saw her disappear, pulled away from him and out of the car. He went to call to her but stopped when he heard a voice, a voice that was like nothing he'd heard before, it spoke in a whisper, soft and yet Jack felt his blood freeze at the sound of it.

  “Where's your son?” It whispered.

  “Why?” Mum stuttered.

  Then the voice must've spoken so softly that Jack couldn't hear it because all he heard was his mum's replies.

  “I don't understand, he's just a boy…”

  “Don't hurt him, please…”

  Then there was a scrambling outside and for a split second his mum appeared back in his sight. Her eyes were wide, “Run Jack, run!”

  Perhaps it was the fear in her eyes, but he instantly turned and started to push and kick with all his might. Metal scraped at his skin until he landed on grass and his mum's voice echoed around his skull 'Run Jack!'

  And then he was running. His legs were wobbly and he was shaking but he kept running until he paused and realised he had no idea where he was. He was surrounded by trees and beyond them the black night. He hadn't felt it before but suddenly he was so cold. He wrapped his arms around himself and sank shivering to the floor.

  “Mummy, daddy,” he whimpered softly.

  He wept quietly, wondering what to do next, and had just decided to go back for his mum when someone approached him from behind. He was too scared to move, and then a hand grabbed his shoulder and he spun round.

  “Mum!” He cried out and flung himself into her arms.

  “Shhh,” she stroked his head as she picked him up, “we have to get out of here. There's something out there.”

  She began to run. Jack clung on to her as they brushed past trees and crashed through shrubs. Twigs scratched at his arms. He looked over her shoulder as she ran. The trees were swallowed by the darkness as they passed.

  He strained his ears and felt certain hey weren't alone. Someone else was out there, moving through the trees, hidden by the night. It seemed that all around them twigs were snapping and bushes rustling. Mum could hear it too, she ran faster so that Jack was thrown about uncomfortably in her arms. He gripped tighter and was relieved when they burst out of the trees and fell back on to the road.

  Mum turned and scanned up and down, but it was in darkness, there were no cars. She was shaking and her breathing was noisy. Her felt her body sag as she realised there was no-one around to help them.

  “It's okay mum,” he said in her ear, although he wasn't quite sure why he'd said it because he knew it wasn't okay. He just didn't like to see her so afraid.

  The sounds that had followed them had stopped. Jack twisted round in her arms and they both stood and stared into the trees. They couldn't see anything so Jack closed his eyes and listened. He could hear the leaves rustling and the creaking of a gate or fence in the cold, winter's wind. He heard mum's breathing and the sound of his own heart crashing against his rib cage. And then he heard it, someone else was breathing. It wasn't like his or mums as they panted and gasped; this was calm and steady, in and out, in and out.

  He opened his eyes as mum started to step backwards across the road, always facing the trees where they knew their invisible stalker was watching them, watching and waiting, but waiting for what? Was it simply enjoying the fear it created?

  He didn't argue as mum slowly bent down and placed him on the ground. She picked up a heavy branch from the embankment and grasped it between her hands. And that was when they saw it, headlights; two sets of them.

  They were still in the distance, maybe half a mile away but Jack's heart lifted. He looked up at mum and saw her eyes dart down the road and then back nervously to the trees. Then she whispered to him, “They're after you Jack, I don't know who and I don't know why. Run to the headlights. Run and don't stop until you reach them.”

  “Mum,” he shook his head confused, “I…”

  She looked down at him and smiled, the smile that normally reassured him, but not this time, “Run now, don't stop and don't look back. I'm going to make sure you're safe but I'll be right behind you.”

  She straightened herself and gripped the branch harder, “Go! Run!”

  Jack hesitated but only for a moment, then he did as he was told. He took off down the road at full pelt. He just needed to reach the cars and then the people inside would help. Mum said she'd be right behind him.

  That was when all hell seemed to break loose. He heard mum's footsteps as though she were charging across the road and then a crashing sound, wood splintering and mum screamed.

  “Don't look back,” he repeated to himself, “I've got to get help.” It became like a mantra and he carried on running, tears flooding down his cheeks.

  He waved his arms as he came closer to the cars. The vehicle at the front didn't see him at first and had to slam the brakes on. It stopped within inches of him and a middle-aged man climbed out looking shaken, “Goodness, I almost hit you!”

  “Help! “Jack cried. “Please help her!”

  A woman climbed out of the passenger seat, and then from the car behind an elderly man emerged. The next thing he knew the woman had pulled him into her arms and was helping him into the car.

  “Get back in the car dad,” she told the old man behind, “we need to get this boy to a hospital.”

  “Where are your parents?” She asked him kindly. The man that he supposed was her husband closed his door and began to drive.

  “Mum i…is j…just down here,” he panted, pressing his face against the window, but w
hen they came to the point where he'd left her, the road was empty. He realised that the sound he'd heard was a tree which had snapped in two and now lay across the road.

  “She was here,” he tried to open the door, “something was after us, following us…”

  The woman pulled him away from the door. They peered out of the windows and into the night, but all seemed still and calm.

  “Let's get you to safety,” she said anxiously, “the police will come back and find your mum.”

  The man carried on driving. There was just enough room to circle around the fallen tree. He paused momentarily to wait for the car behind to do the same and then they continued down the road.

  “No,” Jack wailed and began to throw himself at the car door, “please don't leave her.”

  The woman dragged him back and held him tightly in her arms. He fought against her at first until all his energy left him and his body went limp, and even then he continued to scream for his mum all the way back to town.

  Jack shouted out as he awoke. He was sweating and panting as he bolted upright. He jumped out of bed and realised his legs were shaking.

  “Just a dream,” he gasped, but even as he said it the words sounded hollow because deep down he knew it wasn't a dream; he was remembering.

  Chapter Five

  After waking, Jack immediately retrieved Kitto's card from the bin. He was disappointed to see that all that was on it was an address in Cornwall. What was Kitto thinking? That he'd travel all the way to Cornwall to speak to him? It was five or six hours from Coventry which was a long journey to make to see someone he met only yesterday.

  What kind of person doesn't leave a telephone number? He sat at the kitchen table with his head in his hands and remained that way for several hours. He didn't move and he didn't notice the cold. He replayed the events of his dream over and over. It had felt so real, the sensations and emotions, and it took a while for his heart to stop racing.

  Kitto had told him that he would remember her. How had he known? Was it just a strange coincidence? How could he be sure they were even real memories? But in his heart he knew. He had spent years trying to recall his parents' features and he knew it was them. He held their image in his mind for a moment; his mum smiling at him, a face that was familiar because it was so much like his own. He had her big brown eyes and dark hair. He pictured his dad, fair haired and slim built; he could see him looking relaxed and happy as he chatted animatedly to mum.