The Sorceress, Part 1

Anahi rode along the beast’s back, it’s long legs stretched down to the forest floor, it’s strength effortlessly carrying her with all of her belongings. The beast had a long snout, which she assumed provided enough room for deadly fangs. Her heart was racing at a swift speed, her body bouncing with each clop of the beasts hooves, mighty enough to trample and kill any being. Varro, the man who’d retrieved her, was riding upon his own beast. His gaze shifted back to check on her, amusement creeping upon his face. This made her nostrils flare.

“It’s a horse, it won’t hurt you. Nothing like your wolves.” Varro assured with a grunt.

Anahi bared her sharpened yellowing fangs, a warning to stay away. Varro received the message and looked ahead again. They had reached the town, the collection of houses stretched far out, the castle a far distance away upon a hill. The people were traveling to and fro, but once they saw them arrive they had paused. The people parted, making room for the beasts to travel on by. They weren’t staring at the beasts but herself. Anahi glowered, her hooded eyes darkening as they skirted around, her lips curled a little in a growl. Her defenses were going up, she hadn’t seen this many people at once since she was a small child.

Varro slowed his beast, causing her own to slow, this only made the experience that much more excruciating. She stared ahead, to the castle, it was their destination.

 –

“You’re here!” beamed King Xylander as Anahi stepped into the lobby of the castle, she tracked in the dirt that clung to her bare feet. The King paused as his eyes passed over her, he was suppressing an expression of disgust. “I should get you right to Acelia, follow me.” The King’s voice had grown serious. He turned away from her and scuttled off down a hallway.

Anahi was staring around, in no hurry like the King was. She lifted a hand, absentmindedly sticking it into her nose as her gaze shifted around the room. Everything seemed to be white or gold. It made her dizzy. Beautiful portraits hung in the hallway that she walked down as she followed the king. “This is her bedroom,” the King explained to her, she wasn’t really paying attention though, more so to the mucus she’d dug from her nostril. It hung on the tip of her finger. She glared at it, for it was a stubborn one and wasn’t coming off her finger so easily. She wiped it on the wall before following the King into the room.

A small girl laid upon a bed so large it looked as if it would swallow her whole. Large puffy blankets and plump pillows encircled the tiny child, her cheeks and nose bright pink. “Acelia dear,” the King rushed over to her side, assuring her with a touch to her shoulder. “This is Anahi. She is going to help you,” he explained, adjusting one of her blonde locks delicately.

The child’s gaze drifted to Anahi who still stood in the doorway. That movement alone looked like it took a lot of effort, it was obvious the girl was very weak and exceedingly sick. Anahi approached her like she had the beast that had acted as transformation earlier. She bent down, her fingertips grazed the child’s forehead, her long nails were grown out and somewhat curling, they scraped softly against the girl’s soft skin. She muttered a rambling of sorts under her breath and the little girl let out a gentle breath of relief.

“You did it.” breathed the King, his eyes focused on his small daughter. Never had his daughter looked this way; she had never looked without pain. Tears sprang to the King’s eyes and he turned to look at Anahi who’d stood up straight, “thank you.”