Witch's Handservant
Night had fallen on the peaceful town of Shordan, the buzzing and chirping of insects filling the quiet night air. Just outside the quaint little town was a dark forest, which surrounded a dreary swamp. As rumor had it, there was a castle deep in the swamp which was home to an old witch. She mostly kept to herself, but would snatch up a lost traveller or mischevious child who wandered into her swamp on occasion. On this night, three boys entered the swamp to see if the rumor held any truth. Only two would return to tell of their experience and how they barely escaped.
The boy leading the way, hacking away at the overgrowth with a stick, pressed on through the swamp as he looked ahead, eager eyes ablaze with a burning ambition. His blond hair swayed in the breeze as he went, paying no attention to how dirty his denim pants got from the mucky swamp.
"Slow down will you? I can't keep up with you in this sludge, Spitz!" one of the boys yelled from behind.
His dark hair was a complete mess, falling all over his face. His cotton shirt was punched full of holes, battle scars it wore after having a tussle with a nearby thorn bush. Brushing himself off, he tried to catch up.
"Why'd you even come, Deebs? You're always such a coward, never wanting to disobey mommy and daddy." Spitz teased.
"Yea, you never do anything." the other boy chimed, standing just behind Spitz.
He turned to look back at Deebs, his red hair acting almost like a guiding flame to lead the way. His chlothes were once somewhat presentable, but the swamp had dashed any hopes of ever wearing them for anything useful ever again. The boy was shorter than the rest, but his mouth made up for that.
"Well, I'm curious I guess. I want to learn more about her, see if she's really as bad as everybody says, assuming she even exists, and stop calling me Deebs, I've got a name you know. What about you, Gingerbread?" Deebs asked, addressing the redhead.
"Just along for the ride, Rick. What about you, Spitz? While we're on the topic..." Gingerbread asked.
"I wanna bring back something to prove she's real, and prove she's got nothing on me. I'll make a trophy out of her most prized possession." Spitz gloated, a pride filled smile on his face.
"You know, Rick, they say that old witch eats children who wander into her yard. She makes them into soup and stuff." Gingerbread said, trying to get a scare out of Rick.
Thunder boomed and lightning flashed, lighting up the swamp. The boys saw the castle ahead for a moment in the flash. It was a fairly small castle, but still elaborate, or as elaborate as one could get in a swamp. As they got closer, they could see the old gray stonework winding up the walls. With a final flash of lightning, the boys froze in their tracks. A shillouette stood at the uppermost window of the east tower.
"Let's get the hell out of here!" Spitz yelled, backpedaling as fast as he could.
Gingerbread followed in suit, running for his life. Rick took a deep breath and pressed onward, opening the small wooden gate leading to the front yard. Following the winding path, he made his way to the front door of the castle. Two gargoyle like door knockers stared at Rick with their beady little eyes. Hands shaking, he grabbed one of the door knockers and gave the door a light knock. He waited impatiently, deathly afraid of who, or what, might answer the door. After a few loud clicks and clangs on the other side of the door, it slowly swung open.
"I-I'm sorry to bother you but.." Rick stammered, the doors hardly even open.
Rick stopped, jaw open in surprise as he looked up. A groggy young woman stood in front of him, sleepily rubbing her eyes. She wore an elaborate night gown, which was covered in frills and lace trim running every which way. She looked at Rick and let out a slight giggle.
"What were you expecting? An old crone with a glass eye perhaps?" she asked.
Rick let out a nervous laugh, affirming the woman's suspicions.
"So, what do you want? There must be some reason you woke me at this ungodly hour of night..." she sighed, rubbing her head.
Rick hesitated, fumbling to organize his thoughts.
"Okay, you look like you're about what, seventeen? You came here with some friends to see if I really exist, and your friends ran off when they saw my coat rack in the window. Now that I've answered my own question, I'm sleepy. If you'll please excuse me..." she groaned, turning to close the door.
"Wait!" Rick said, stopping the door.
"So there's something more..." the woman said with a grin, opening the door again.
"What you said is only half the reason for my coming here. I want to know the truth, I want to know who you are and not what just what the rumors tell me." Rick replied.
The woman looked at Rick in shock, starting to blush from embarrassment.
"If that's the case, I guess you can spend the night here. The swamp can be treacherous, especially at night." the woman said, motioning for Rick to follow her inside. As Rick stepped inside, the doors slammed behind him.
"Might as well make yourself useful while you're here, I'm starving." she sighed.
Rick suddenly froze, petrified with fear. He made a break for the door, trying to open it with all his might, but it was no use. No matter how hard he pulled, the door refused to budge.
"I was just going to have you grab a loaf of bread off the table in the other room. So, it seems we have to clear up a few things. I'm curious what people say of me." the woman said, sitting down in a soft chair across from Rick.
Rick hesitated as he took a seat across from her, not wanting to offend her.
"Well? Spit it out boy. I know people can come up with some wild things." she prodded.
"People say you eat humans, and the occasional adventurer." Rick replied quietly.
The woman let out a laugh, amused at the thought of eating people.
"I would never dream of eating someone. Most people don't even make it through the swamp anyway, especially after nightfall." the woman replied.
"I also heard you turned someone into a squirrel." Rick said, starting to get a little more comfortable.
"That one's true, but he had it coming." she sighed.
Rick sank into his chair, trying to sink through the floor just to get away.
"Let me explain. Before I had a reputation around town as a witch, I used to go to the taverns for fun. One night, there was a fairly obnoxious drunk sitting next to me. As usual, I ignored him and kept to my own business. He didn't take the hint, and decided it was a good idea to cop a feel. Seeing as he wouldn't stop, I played along, and led him out back. I turned him into a squirrel back there. After a few minutes back in the tavern, I started feeling sorry for the poor sap. I returned him to normal on my way home. Who would have thought anybody would believe him!" the woman exclaimed, letting out an exasperated sigh.
She stood up, running her fingers through her messy black hair in a futile attempt to make it somewhat presentable. She looked over at Rick, letting out a sly smile.
"I don't believe I ever got your name..." she said, extending her hand.
"Rick." he replied, shaking her hand.
"Elaria." she said with a grin, pulling Rick to his feet.
"I'm getting kind of tired. Where will I be staying?" Rick asked.
"Oh, my room always has room for two..." Elaria teased.
Rick laughed, hoping she was just kidding.
"Your room will be upstairs in the western tower. It's the third door on the right." she said, motioning towards the staircase on the right.
Rick walked up the stairs, desperately needing sleep. He made his way to the third door on the right and opened the door. The room was elegantly decorated with a blue and velvet curtains. A royal blue fitted canopy bed sat in the corner. A young woman was hunched over the bed, fitting the sheets. She was dressed in a velvet maid outfit, her straight red hair hanging down her back. As she heard the door open, she looked over her shoulder to see Rick standing in the doorway. Letting out a startled squeak, she faded into thin air. Rick shakily made his way back downstairs, questioning what he just saw. Elaria was straightening up a few things in the main hall when Rick approached.
"What is it? Is the room not to your liking?" she asked.
"The room is fine, but..." Rick replied, hesitating before moving on.
"What's on your mind?" Elaria asked again, concerned.
"Is this castle haunted?" Rick finally asked.
"Oh, you must have met Anna. She's my maid. She knows this place much better than I do. Apparently she was killed by an unfaithful lover years ago and has been trapped here ever since. Would explain why she's so shy around men. Just give her some time, dear." Elaria replied.
"I see. I'll keep that in mind." Rick said, trudging back towards the stairs.
"Good night." Elaria said, getting back to her cleaning.
Rick stopped for a moment, turning back towards Elaria.
"Is it true you can see the future, just thought I'd ask." Rick said.
"I'm a witch, not some crackpot gypsy." Elaria laughed.
"I'll see you in the morning." Rick said, continuing up the stairs.
He walked to his room and laid down in bed. He quickly fell asleep, exhausted from the long trek through the swamp. He awoke in the middle of the night, overhearing some commotion downstairs. He slowly made his way downstairs, trying not to disturb Elaria as he walked down. He noticed Elaria sitting in her leather chair, engaged in deep conversation with someone. Whoever she was talking to was concealed by the back of the other chair facing away from Rick.
"This has been an unexpected visit. What brings you here?" Elaria asked.
"Just thought I'd stop by and see how you were doing." another woman replied.
"I'm fine, and yourself?" Elaria asked.
"I've been doing well, though the nights are growing shorter this time of year. It doesn't leave me much time to get out." the woman replied.
Elaria noticed Rick out of the corner of her eye. She nodded her head, motioning for him to go back up to his room. As he turned to leave, the stranger turned and saw Rick at the top of the stairs.
"Who's your friend?" she asked, a smirk coming across her face.
"Who, him?" Elaria replied, beckoning Rick to her.
Rick walked downstairs, making his way over to Elaria.
"He's my newest servant. I needed some extra help around here anyway. Anna can only do so much." Elaria sighed.
Rick went to protest, but Elaria simply put her foot against his side and shoved him into the kitchen.
"Fetch me a sandwich. The ham is on the counter." Elaria yelled from her chair.
"Bring me a glass of wine if you would." Elaria's guest yelled in addition to Elaria's order.
Rick grumbled as he made Elaria's sandwich.
"Look's like he could use some breaking in. Mind if I try my hand at it?" the woman asked.
"No need, Rosalia. It's only his first day here. He'll get the idea soon enough."
"As you wish. He just looks so... good..." Rosalia groaned.
"I'm sure he does..." Elaria sighed, rubbing her head.
Rick returned from the kitchen with the sandwich and wine. He handed the sandwich to Elaria and walked over to Rosalia. She was dressed in a long red and black gown, its low cut top showing off her chest. Her curly black hair ran down her shoulders as she looked Rick over with her cold red eyes. Her skin was pale, aside from her blood red lips. As he handed her the wine, he felt her hand was cold to the touch.
"Thank you. Here, let me give you a little something in return." Rosalia said, leaning in to kiss his neck.
Elaria shot Rosalia a cold look, burning with rage. Rosalia backed off, a dissapointed pout coming across her face.
"That will be all, Rick. Good night." Elaria said, shooing him upstairs.
Rick trudged grumpily upstairs, shocked at the way he was just treated. As he climbed into bed, he heard the front door slam shut. Rolling over, he quickly fell asleep.
The sun shone through the window the next morning, the bright light in Rick's face waking him up. He trudged downstairs to see Elaria sitting in her usual chair. Slumping in the chair across from her, Rick simply glared at her.
"I suppose you want me to fetch you another sandwich?" Rick spat.
"I am truly sorry about last night, but it was for your own protection." Elaria sighed.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Rick snapped.
"Rosalia is... dangerous... and if she knew you didn't belong to me, I'm afraid she would have done something terrible to you." Elaria said.
"So you care that much about me?" Rick asked.
"You are my guest, after all." Elaria sighed.
"I see. My back is still a little sore from when you kicked me though..." Rick groaned.
"Sorry, I'll have Anna take care of that for you." Elaria replied.