Lissabet, the apprentice witch, the would-be murderer, stared at Prin as though he were the crazy one.

Prin was very much not sure he was in control of anything he said or did, and yet, somehow he was still present. He hadn’t faded back, or drifted away. He was still seeing out of his own blue eyes.

She better run.

“So you are the one who killed her. I wasn’t sure.” Lissabet said. She fiddled with something behind herself. And Prin knew she was trying to use conversation to distract him from what she was doing. “Do you have a vendetta against us or something? Are you killing every one you can find?” She gulped, face flushed and sweating. Trying to put on a tough front that she really didn’t feel.

“No, not really. I’m just hungry.” Prin said. No, no! Don’t say that, ask her about the curse. How to break them, if she can’t then who can? That kind of thing.

“You are nothing like you were before.” The girl said. “I can’t understand it. It’s almost like –” Mid sentence she interrupted herself by flinging open the window behind her and jumping out. Quick as you please.

That was rude, Prin thought, only half joking. He had wanted to hear what she was going to say.

Prin hurried to the window and looked out. They were on the second story so there was a very real possibility she was laying on the ground with a broken leg right about now. But no, by the time he got there, she was already up on her feet and running away.

Let her run. Let her run. We’re on an island, she can’t get far. And chasing her will help us work up an appetite.

Prin swung his leg up over the windowsill, sparing a brief thought of being glad he had gotten dressed before leaving his room, but not even a second’s worry about the consequences of jumping out of a window.

Luckily for him, there was a little noise behind him. Just enough to break his concentration and make him turn around.

Valor was not awake after all, but had made a little sound in his sleep like a puppy having a bad dream. He frowned and twitched.

“I hope you’re okay.” Prin murmured. “I should kill her twice for ever hurting you.”

He went to his friend and tucked the blanket more firmly around him, fluffed his pillow and smoothed his hair back from his forehead. “Just a baby.”

Valor’s features relaxed again, no longer afraid. Of whatever it is he had dreamt about. Although it certainly couldn’t have been any worse than the reality he had been living in all this time.

Prin closed the window again and latched it, as quietly as he could. Don’t want any more night mares getting in.

He went to the crate and picked it up, turning it right side up again and releasing the two fluffy captives. Prin half expected them to jump on him or claw his hands, in some misguided fit of pique, but they didn’t. The longer haired one purred at him, and they both rubbed against his legs on their way back to their master.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be what you wanted me to be.” Prin said. “Maybe if you were older and I wasn’t . . . didn’t already have someone.” He knew Valor couldn’t hear him, which is part of why he didn’t mind saying it. “Take care of him.” He told the kitties.

He wondered if he would be back or not. He had a sinking feeling that this was goodbye. But then again, maybe not, after all no matter what were to happen he had to come back to retrieve his someone.

Prin was wasting time.

You’re stalling.

Prin tried to ignore the voice. Sometimes he was the voice, and was equally ignored so it was only fair.

He hurried down the stairs. The house was still quiet but would no doubt be waking up soon. Prin didn’t want anyone to stop him. He left through the kitchen door and went down the street with a purpose.

Would she hide? Would she try to circle back to the house to collect any money or important possessions she had left behind?

No, he didn’t think so. Prin figured she would run as far and as fast as she could manage. And on a small island there was only one reasonable place she would go. The end of the line for traveling, as far as that went. The docks.

A girl at night, at the docks, didn’t seem like the safest thing. But on the other hand, maybe she could make herself look like not a girl, or not a person at all. Maybe a tree or an old rusted anchor.

He almost made himself laugh with that one, except he needed all the breath in his lungs for his hurried almost run.

Prin soon enough made it to town and passed the pink house. He felt a twinge thinking of Aster. What would Aster say about witches? Probably laugh and shrug it off as no big deal. Something she had always known about. And not a problem to handle.

Prin could use some of that over confidence.

Don’t worry we’ll find her. I’ll see to that.

Shut up you.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

When Prin got to the docks, he became suddenly acutely aware, that the docks at night may not be a safe place for a boy alone either.

Especially these particular docks, full of pirates coming and going from long jags at sea, looking over their shoulders for any sign of authorities (fat chance of it here), or someone out to steal their share of the blood tainted loot. And looking for a good time to be had while they were at port.

Of course, pirate or no, maybe that was the attitude of most sailors.

The laughter was a warm vibration, more in his gut than in his mind. Let them try it.

I’d rather not, thanks.

Prin scanned the area. Surprisingly a lot of loading and unloading continued this late into the night.

As well as drunken men loitering about. One was throwing up into the water while his buddies laughed at him. Some friends.

Yet there was no sign of the girl. Or any noticeably female persons for that matter. But he knew she was here. Or, had been.

Prin was on the verge of kicking himself for allowing that small head start. He never had any luck catching up with people, now did he.

Then, he remembered the little cove. The place where he and Elwin had landed on this goddess forsaken island. A good place to arrive or depart unnoticed.

Prin had an impulse (instinct?) that she had gone there, or was currently headed that way. Ignoring the staring men, he left to follow his impulse, glad they hadn’t tried.

When he arrived at the small cove, the full moon was a lighthouse beacon, shining on the water.

Even without that, his night vision would have been sharp enough to see Lissabet pulling a little boat out over the sand. A very little boat. A familiar little boat.

It was a bit heavy for her, and she was struggling. At one point falling down flat on her back and standing back up again covered in sand.

“I think that’s my boat you’re stealing.” Prin said.

Something that coiled inside him, stirred with interest at her startled face. Luminous eyes reflecting twin moons. It wanted to come back out, and Prin wasn’t sure he could stop it.

“Finders keepers.” The young witch said. She tried pulling the boat instead of pushing it, sweating with the effort.

Prin could smell it mixing with the salt air. His stomach grumbled.

“If you talk to me . . . Answer my questions. I’ll let you go. In fact, I’ll help you get the boat into the water. Although you should know it’s barely seaworthy.” Prin was having his own struggle, his own perilous push-pull, although it was less physical. Sure felt physical though.

The girl stopped, panting slightly. “Who are you?”

“No one.” Prin said, “Who are you?” Although he knew the answer, well enough anyway.

“No, really.” She said. Lissabet sat down in the boat to rest. “I can answer your questions, well maybe some, but I need to know who I’m talking to. Are you a devil?”

Prin laughed. “No. Or, maybe yes. I was a sick boy who was gifted with a curse that made me well. I didn’t ask for it, or want it. Now maybe I am a devil.”

Lissabet tilted her head to one side, then the other. She was sitting with her back to the sea, and now her eyes were black pools. Oubliettes.

Maybe she was a devil too.

“What’s the nature of the curse?” She asked.

Prin sat down in the sand. “I eat people. I can . . . guide it, or maybe suppress it a little. I don’t know. But I’m not strong enough to control it.”

The voice from inside chuckled again.

“You see it as a personal failing, this curse.” Lissabet said. “When it sounds to me more like something that was done to you.”

Prin thought about this. “Can I say, it’s both? The first one I couldn’t help but after that, I had a choice. I chose myself over them. I mean, I could have died rather than killing others, you know? If I was stronger.”

“Why should you?” Lissabet asked. “Prioritize others over yourself? It’s not what happens in nature.”

Prin shook his head. “Can you tell me how to give it back? I want to find the witch who did this but she had the power to change her appearance, and I’m afraid I’ll never find her.”

“You can counter them sometimes, with other forces. Or, you can find a witch stronger than the one who did it and get her to take a crack. I’m sorry, I just don’t know that much. I’m not privy to any of the wild secrets, or the old one’s ways. I . . . guess I’ll never be trusted now, as I’m not sure I can go back to the coven in defeat.” The apprentice witch said.

“Find a new coven.” Prin said.

She snorted. “How? You think they are advertising in the local papers?”

“That’s not my problem.” Prin waved his hand. He was growing impatient. “Maybe I’m asking the wrong questions. How do I find the witch who did this to me? It seems like that’s the best, and maybe only real option. Can you . . . look at me and tell?”

“Maybe some older witches could sniff her out. The scent of her magic is all over you.” Lissabet said. “She must be powerful. Maybe a coven head? Although, some are lone witches . . . I would say there has to be someone who can trace the magic to its source and help you track her.” She nodded. “It’s not impossible. Just impossible for me. I am a glorified, well not that glorified, errand girl.”

Prin couldn’t help but laugh. This was all so ridiculous. She could be lying to him and how would he ever know? But based on the way the others were talking to her, it did seem she was of the lowest rank among them. Which fit with what she was saying, he supposed.

Just kill her.

Prin ignored the voice. “If you can’t help me, then what about Valor? Why are you here anyway? The curse was done a long time ago.” He wished his feet were bare so he could feel the sand. If he was going to push the boat into the water he would need to take them off anyway, right? Still, she might bluff and run off in the other direction and he would need his shoes on to give chase.

Just kill her and be done with it. Save the worry.

“I can’t figure out why you care! He’s a little shit.” Lissabet said. “Believe me, I’ve been in that house for years.”

“He’s just a kid.” Prin said. “What have you been doing to him.”

“Just, you know, making sure he is good and cursed.” She said. “It’s hard to curse someone who isn’t even born yet and make it stick. His father was responsible for the death of the old coven leader’s sister and her baby. It’s taken seriously. Hey, maybe your curse wasn’t really for you either? Did you ever think of that? Could be for your father.”

“Will he get better now that you’re gone? Will the curse go away?” She had given Prin something to think about but he was trying to focus on Valor now, and he wouldn’t be distracted.

“It will fade more over time.” She shrugged. “He might end up being just ordinary unlucky, I guess. If they didn’t need a whipping boy for this curse, he wouldn’t have even been born. I’ve heard it said. I wasn’t actually there or anything. They might send someone else though to finish the job.”

“They had better not.” Prin said. He stood up and dusted himself off. “I’m tired of this pointless conversation. You are barely any help at all.” He went to the boat.

Lissabet hopped out of the boat and went around to help him push.

The two of them maneuvered the life boat into the cold shallow waters.

The apprentice witch got in the boat and took the rows in her hands. “Thanks for not killing me. I guess. Although the other witches might. I’m probably better off taking my chances with them then with you.”

Prin hopped in the boat, wondering what on earth he was doing. He leaned in close to her until he could feel her breath on his face, almost sink into the expanded black roundness of her pupils. She was rather pretty, without the disguise.

“If you ever come near him again, I’ll kill you.” Prin said into her frightened face. “And if they send another one I’ll kill you, and her.”