The walk the next day was followed with less silence than the night before. The forest was vibrant and alive, the sounds of birds flooding the air. A town could be seen on the horizon, looking large in size from even far away. On top of the noise of all the forest animals and the sway of the trees in the wind was Ash. He flooded Serena with quite a few questions about witchcraft, but only to find out she knew almost as little as him. For a witch, she was useless in the ways of magic. Completely. Her comment back at the bar beginning to hold less value to Ash. Hell maybe men could know more, he knew more than her on witches!
Serena felt lost from the amount of questions he’d thrown at her. She knew little about being a witch, but she left her family quite young she’d told him. She had no teachings from anyone, the only thing reminding her of her family was this.
“I only have this magenta cloak and the green broach, it was my mother's. You say that my family was full of evil, though my mother was the only one with kindness in her heart.”
Ash looked at her, walking side by side.
“Was?”
Serena sighed heavily, she didn’t want to look back, though she would. She needed to talk about it, at least she felt like she needed to.
“There was a fire, the time you said the Lights died out. People came and flooded our home, burned it to the ground, and slaughtered the family bloodline. I’m the only one that made it out, though I hardly remember how I did so. Not even hardly, I just don’t remember at all.”
Ash bowed his head. Thinking for a long moment.
“I understand the pain, in a way. I had to flee my home. Leaving behind the Queen of my land I worked closely for.”
Queen? Serena’s interest was sparked. She looked up from where she was watching her brown boots hit the ground. Glancing at Ash and watching his silver-lavender hair blow in the wind.
“What Queen?” She asked with curiosity behind her voice.
Ash smiled and shook his head.
“A story for another day, Serena.” He then pointed ahead of them, adjusting his rifle on his back. “Look, we’ve just about made it.”
Serena looked just ahead of them, how fast time had passed while they chatted. Now before her, the town that once looked so small they were now on the doorstep too. The sun setting on the town they stand at. The buildings reached high, stacked on top of one another with wooden stairs on the sides for one building to lead to another. It seems that this town didn’t have an outdoor market quite like the other, but shops! Shops stacked on top of each other like pancakes. Sure there were still vendors about but this also wasn’t the main attraction. Besides the market there were people out and about, dancing in the street and the sound of music and the sweet smell of food were in the air.
It was a large festival! People dressed in bright colors and there were the sounds of yelling and singing. Serena’s eyes lit up and she grabbed onto Ash’s arm and started dragging him into the town. She wondered what the festival was for!
Ash on the other hand looked a bit uninterested, he didn’t want to deal with all the noise, and just wanted to grab some food and get some more sleep. He was exhausted from all the walking, and dancing wasn’t on his to-do list.
Serena pointed to the center of all the celebration, a town square with a fountain in the middle where everyone was dancing… A band was playing instruments right in front of the fountain. Serena grabbed ahold of Ash’s hands and started pulling him to it all.
“Come on! We deserve some fun after all the walking and the arguments in the last dry town.”
Ash tried to pull his hands away, but Serena’s grip was stronger than he expected.
“I don’t dance, Serena, I think we should focus on getting what we can from here and moving on.”
She shook her head and pulled him into the crowd with her.
“You said we have no destination, we can stay as long as we wish, and have as much fun as we want! Come on!”
Ash wanted to protest further, but it was impossible, Serena had already pulled him into the thick of it. He sighed and put an arm around her waist, after a minute spinning her around. He listened to the fast-paced music and watched her spin. Pink hair flying about and her magenta cloak, and blue dress, were all out in the air as she spun. For a moment, he thought she looked quite pretty.
Then as he was about to take her hand again another person came around and took hers, then a woman came and took his hand! The duo got separated in whatever celebration was going on. Ash kept trying to look for Serena in the crowd, but he didn’t have to look hard. She was the brightest out of every person there. So vibrant and her smiling and laughter made her all the brighter. Not long after he finally got to her, but before he could grab her hand and waist the music stopped. He dropped his hands and looked around, watching the people disperse and going off to food stands.
Serena laughed and looked at Ash with the brightest smile, and he had to admit to himself that he had fun in that moment. Another woman walked to them but went straight to Serena. Serena looked at her and tilted her head to the side.
“What a lovely dancer you are, miss!” The woman announced with glee. “And your hair! How did you get it to turn such a gorgeous pink?”
Serena didn’t know what to say, she just smiled at the compliments and responded with a question instead.
“Pray tell, madam, what is this celebration all for?”
The woman blinked and stared at Serena for a long moment.
“You don’t know? It's the thirty-first of October! We are celebrating All Hallows Eve, warding off the spirits of evil with our dance!”
Ash raised an eyebrow and looked at Serena, Serena just smiled.
“I see! This celebration sounds lovely! What events will be in store?”
The woman shrugged, “This tradition is very new! We are the first town to do this I believe! So we are open to all suggestions for the event, do you have something in mind?”
Serena was about to speak but Ash grabbed her arm gently and went to pull her along.
“No ma’am.” He said. “We are just passing through, going to get some food and find a place to stay for the night.”
The woman just walked along and went to meet up with other people. Serena gave Ash a nasty expression.
“That was rude, I had some lovely suggestions!”
Ash shook his head.
“These people seem a bit off their rockers Serena, I never heard of such a celebration and they say they are the first, who knows they may even try to make satanic sacrifices.”
Serena rolled her eyes.
“Let’s just get some food like you said.”
She held out a hand.
“May I have a couple of coins to grab something to eat?”
Ash grumbled and reached into his pocket. Now this woman is demanding his money? Well, he did offer to buy her food, and not like she has an- Wait. Oh no. No no no… He looked at Serena, and she instantly got a bad feeling.
“What’s the matter?”
Ash bowed his head.
“It seems we are, temporarily finding ourselves… Without coin.”
Serena looked shocked.
“What do you mean!?”
Ash grumbled.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
“I was supposed to hand that angry merchant from the last town a bag of thin rocks, that would feel like coins.”
He raised his face and pulled out another bag, dumping it onto the ground and thin rocks spilled out.
“I gave her my bag of actual coin.”
Serena had no idea what to say, she was forever grateful he saved her hair, and what hid her neck, but she also felt sick seeing that they now had no money! She bit her nails trying to think of just what to do in this situation, Ash stroked his chin and thought with her.
He then snapped his fingers, catching Serena’s attention to look at him.
“This is a festival, all the people are here in the town! You are a witch.”
Serena thought he was speaking utter nonsense.
“What’s your point here Ash?”
He grabbed ahold of her shoulders.
“Let’s put on a magic show!”
Serena raised an eyebrow.
“You must be joking.”
He shook his head.
“No no! Think about it! You can do those sparks, what if you made those, but.. In… In the air! We can make a show of it, they’ll throw all kinds of coin at us. Then BAM! Enough for food and a place to stay, and maybe for another town too!”
Serena gave him a side-eye and pushed his hands off her shoulders.
“What would we even call such a spectacle!?”
Ash put his hand on his face again.
“It's in the works…. FIREWORKS!”
Serena scoffed.
“What a ridiculous name.”
Ash continued to coax her.
“Come one, please! Think of it as repaying me for saving your hair.”
She sighed and began to walk to the fountain
“Very well, but you must buy me something pretty after for such a scene.”
Ash followed after her.
“That's not how repayment works Serena-”
She smiled at him.
“It is now.”
He chuckled and shook his head, “Fine fine.” He took her hand and helped her stand up on the side of the fountain. Looking around on the ground he picked up a small twig and handed it to her.
She took it and gave him another of her strange looks.
“For dramatic effect.” He said.
Serena giggled and looked at the twig, it was small and thin, and quite pathetic, but she supposed it would do. Gripping onto it she looked to Ash, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw a light! The twig in her hands began to glow, and a blinding light shot out from it... This caught the attention of people all around, without them even having to try… Once the light faded back into the twig what was left behind was not the same piece of wood.
What was now there was a much longer spiraling wand, with engraving designs all over that matched her corset. And a small twig swirling around the wand with little leaves poking out from it. Serena couldn’t believe what just happened! She looked to Ash again, and he gasped audibly.
“What is it?” She asked.
He was about to speak, as he pointed to one of his eyes. Then someone from the crowd spoke up.
“What was that!? We are here to ward off people not bring it!”
The crowd rose in chatter of agreement, and Ash quickly moved in front of Serena to address the crowd that had gathered.
“Ladies and Gentlemen! This! Is the good witch Serena!”
The people began to chatter again, an uproar of questioning amongst themselves. Never have they heard of a “good” witch. The disbelief among them was quite noticeable, and Serena was nervous about it. But Ash went on!
“Don’t believe me!?” He said in his proud announcer voice. “Well, she has a show for you! A display of magic and beauty without harm! I give you, Fireworks!”
He stepped aside and people started to grumble and yell.
“Fire?! We don’t want fire here!” One man yelled.
“Witches are the definition of evil and hate!” A woman pointed at Serena. “We don’t want them here!”
Ash looked back to Serena and nodded. She hugged her new wand to her chest. She didn’t know what to do about this, she knew she was supposed to do these “fireworks” but how!? She’s had no practice! Panic rose through her, as she watched the faces of the angry crowd, she wanted them to go back to the smiles and laughter. Not contortion of anger and hate. She closed her eyes and looked away, holding up her wand into the air straight up above her.
Ash held his breath.
Serena held her eyes shut tighter.
“Mother, give me your strength.”
She heard something, faint, a voice in her ears… A spell. She opened her eyes, as they widened and shrunk in focus in the air.
“Let the sky light! With color and wonder from the spark of thy heart!”
She flicked the wand and from the tip erupted sparks that shot high up into the sky!
The crowd gasped, taking a whole step back all at once. Ash practically fell onto his ass.
The light climbed higher and higher into the air, till it reached a point over the town, and EXPLODED! Vibrant colors of yellow, red, blue, pink, and gold! All erupted in the air and expanded out into bursts of stars. The crowd couldn’t believe their eyes.
Serena looked at them all.
“I bring blessing, a blessing to the celebration of All Hallow’s Eve, with the spark of my fire to bring you joy! Let the celebration continue till the sun arises!”
The people cheered! Ash regained his composure and began clapping. Nearly forgetting to try and get coin from the people here. He pulled out a pouch and stood in front of her.
“Please! People! If you enjoyed the amazing Serena’s performance then spare a coin or two for her to eat and sleep.”
The crowd tumbled over themselves to come forward, coin after coin falling into Ash’s pouch before it was overflowing and he had to grab a whole other.
Serena lowered her wand, the fireworks continuing above in the air for another minute. She couldn’t believe what she’d done. And she’d done something non-destructive. Something beautiful. Her heart beat fast with excitement. She looked to Ash, taking the coin with a bright smile, and that heartbeat changed to another tune. Her thoughts were broken by a familiar female voice.
“Seems like you had some suggestions after all.”
Serena looked over, it was the lady from earlier after the dance. She got down from the fountain side and smiled at her.
“I just wanted it to be a… Surprise.”
The woman giggled, it was soft and pleasant. She had white hair and purple eyes, like Ash’s. For a moment she thought they related somehow. But She could see in her face that was not the case.
“I think you just needed the coin.”
Serena shrugged.
“Who cares the reason, they all seem happy, that's what truly matters is it not?”
The woman laughed and nodded.
“You are correct…”
She paused then spoke up again.
“If you are in need of a place to stay, I have a room over my shop. You are welcome there.”
Serena was warmed by the kind woman’s welcome and she nodded.
“We will see you there then, thank you.”
The woman gestured to a building down the street, with a purple awning over the door. “That’s my shop, I have a spare room. My name is Angel, by the way. Enjoy the festival.”
She walked off before Serena could get another word in. Ash spoke up behind her.
“My god Serena! That was amazing! We are set for months!!”
Serena looked back to Ash.
“We? You asking me to stay for further adventures?”
Ash stumbled on his words.
“M-Maybe, is that a problem?”
Serena giggled.
“Buy me something pretty like I said earlier and we’ll see.”
Ash laughed to himself and walked along with Serena, now they felt free to actually look at the shops and vendors that were out. The first stop, of course, was food. The two got themselves a couple of skewers of some sort of meat… It tasted quite pleasant with a sour yet sweet sauce on top of it. After they were given two pieces of candy each, and told to enjoy the festivities. Serena popped the round candy in her mouth, the sweet taste of caramel. She giggled and Ash ate the candy after she did.
Ash guided her to the vendors that set up outside of their stores, pointing at one with jewelry.
“You said you wanted something pretty didn’t you?”
Serena smiled and nodded, and Ash walked with her up to the cart. It was hard for Serena to take this all in. Just the day before yesterday she was without anything, now she’s being bought jewelry.
She looked over everything on display… Rings, earrings, necklaces. It was all beautiful and looked way less cheap than the last town's arrangement she’d glanced at. The jewels sparkled and shined upon the jewelry but she just couldn’t decide what to pick.
“What about this?”
Ash spoke up, pointing to a beautiful deep blue velvet choker. It has designs with gold stars stitched into the velvet, and a crescent moon charm dangling down from the center. Serena looked at what Ash had pointed out, giving a smile. She thought nothing was more gorgeous than that piece of jewelry. Ash gave the merchant a handful of coin and took the choker from where it was sitting.
“Allow me? To cover your scar?”
Serena smiled wider and nodded. Ash swiftly moved behind her, holding the choker in front of her waiting for Serena to move her large pink hair aside. She would lift and move her hair out of the way, allowing Ash to clasp the choker together around her neck. He watched as the pentagram was concealed behind the blue velvet material. Stepping away he watched her drop her hair. Serena gave the brightest smile, and Ash returned one.
“Beautiful.” He said softly.
Serena couldn’t contain her happiness around this man, the mysterious man from the bar, her new friend.
“A kind local woman invited us to stay at her shop for the night, she showed me directions to it. I think we should stop there soon.”
Ash nodded.
Serena agreed and went to walk back down the street to the Townsquare and in the direction of Angel’s shop. The sounds of screams caught her attention once they entered the square.
“HELP! Help me!”
A little boy pushing through people and running in the direction of Serena… Her bright appearance attracting trouble once again.
“Please! THE DEMON IS AFTER MY SOUL!”
Serena’s heart dropped hearing this, looking at the child’s terror-filled expression. She crouched down and held her arms out, a crowd dispersed around them giving the two room. The boy ran toward Serena’s open arms, though before he got there he stopped.
Suddenly and with a shake.
Like something hit him, and went inside his body. The child now looking down to the ground and standing ever so still.
And everyone fell silent... Their chatters and gossip ceased at once.
And Serena’s eyes widened. Whatever was happening to this child, this wasn’t natural. He was as still as death. Then she watched as the boy would finally move, the child’s head rose with slit pupils. And an unnaturally large smile stretched across his face, an animalistic laugh following after. Going on and on without end like a hyena.
“WHAT A SHOW HE PUT ON!”
The child spoke, but the voice was not the same as what she heard just moments prior. This was an adult man’s voice, with a deep growl in the back of his throat. What sorcery was this? Or could it be the work of demonic possession?
“What are you?” Serena asked, with terror behind her voice.