Chapter One: The Young Witch
Nexi knelt on the forest floor as she held a small creature in her hands. It was a brown rabbit, and its leg was hurt badly.
Nexi knew the rabbit would die if she didn't help it now.
"Hashuma…Garahi…" She spoke a few soft words. The words were old and hard to speak, but the words felt right to her.
Then a small light came from her fingers, and it went over the rabbit's leg. The weak magic always felt like a tiny push of air, and never a strong heat.
The rabbit shivered but stayed still.
Nexi watched the magic work. She hated how weak it was. She was the last witch, and her power felt smaller than a candle flame.
Still, the light made the bones mend inside the rabbit's small leg.
When a soft brush of air touched her left hand, Nexi held her breath and looked up.
A small blue butterfly landed on her finger…. Nexi frowned.
Butterflies didn't sit like that unless something was wrong. They didn't stop near witches unless the magic was strong.
She knew the hunters were near. They often used small tricks to find magic.
However, Nexi didn't waste another second.
She grabbed the mended rabbit and pushed it inside the deep pocket of her rough cloak. Her magic vanished in a silent puff.
The hunters moved fast. They wore black leather, and they rode horses. If they saw her now, they would kill her fast. They wouldn't ask her name.
The only thing the hunters would see was the weak magic, and they would call her a sinner.
Nexi stood up straight. She pulled the hood over her head and ran.
She ran deep into the woods. She didn't run to hide.
She ran toward the wall of the city that she knew the secret way out.
Luckily, Nexi knew the narrow hole in the stone wall where the river water came out. She pushed through the wet vines and heavy bushes.
She reached the cold, smooth stone wall…
And finally, Nexi came out on the other side. She was inside the city walls. This city was safe from wolves and demons, but it was not safe from Prince Kaelen's men.
They hunted witches inside the walls, too. She stood up and started to walk fast, keeping her hood low.
Nexi walked through the busy streets toward the rich side of the city. No one looked twice at a small, dark person in a heavy cloak. They all had things to do.
She came to a large, grey stone house that was her home now.
Quickly, Nexi walked up the back stairs. She went to the small, cold room next to the roof and opened her cloak, pulling out the rabbit. It looked at her with wide, wet eyes.
Not wanting to use her magic since it was too risky, Nexi took a small glass bottle from under the floorboards.
The bottle held a thick, dark green liquid…it was the healing potion she made with herbs.
And then, carefully pour a few drops onto the rabbit's leg. The wound closed up tight and fast and the little animal jumped from her hands and ran across the cold floor. It was completely well.
Nexi smiled for a second, feeling a small peace. She put the glass bottle back under the floor. Then she changed her clothes.
First, she took off the muddy cloak and threw it into a dark corner.
Then, she took off the old, plain dress she wore underneath and put on a thick, clean white silk dress. This was the dress her adoptive mother told her to wear tonight.
When Nexi was done fixing her hair and wiping the dirt from her face, her mouth formed a wide smile.
"So close…"
Knowing that the dinner was going to be ready, Nexi left the small room and went down the wide, clean stairs.
When she descended and saw her parents already sitting at the long, dark wood table, Nexi managed to notice how they didn't even look like her.
They adopted Nexi when she was small, and gave her their name and their money, but they didn't give her their love.
Nexi never told them about the magic since they both hated magic, too.
"Nexi, you are late," her mother finally spoke in a hushed voice...
"I am sorry, Mother. I went for a walk and lost the time," Nexi lied.
"A walk in the mud?" her father asked. He looked at her clean white shoes.
"It started to rain just as I came back," Nexi lied again.
She sat down at the table and kept her hands in her lap so they wouldn't see the fading green mark on her skin from the potion.
"The Duke will not like you to be late, even for a walk," her mother gave her a glare.
The mention of the Duke made Nexi's heart feel like a stone.
'Duke Alaric…' She called his name in her head.
He was the man she was promised to marry. He was powerful, and he was safe. He hated magic more than anyone, and so the duke was her key to survival.
"I know, Mother. I will be on time tomorrow," Nexi rubbed her hand.
Her father coughed and then put down his fork. "That brings us to tomorrow, Nexi. Your mother and I have news."
Nexi looked at him.
"The King's announcement came this morning," her father said. "It is settled now. The royal ball is tomorrow night. It will be the biggest ball of the year."
"That is nice," Nexi already knew about the ball.
Her mother gave her a thin, tight smile. "It's more than nice, my dear. It is your future. Tomorrow night, at the ball, your engagement to Duke Alaric will be announced to the entire court."
Hearing those words, the room went silent...
Nexi felt the color drain from her face. She knew it was coming, but the speed of the news still hit her hard.
'Tomorrow…' Her freedom would end tomorrow. Her life would be sealed forever.
"Tomorrow?" Nexi asked innocently.
"Yes, tomorrow," her father looked very proud of himself. "The Duke wished to waste no time. This is a very great honor for our family, Nexi. You will be safe and powerful. You will be a Duchess."
Her mother reached across the table and patted Nexi's arm. "You must be perfect, dear. We can't afford any mistakes now. Prince Kaelen will be there. High Priest Lucius will be there. You must show them all that you are completely clean of sin. You must show them you are worthy of the Duke's name."
Nexi nodded slowly….
She was going to marry the man who hated magic most of all…
And tomorrow night, she had to face the Witch Hunter General himself.
The final hunt for the last witch had just started…