just
different; lunatics, touched in the mind by misfortune. Such ignorance! A witch
is a higher being than those with whom you have been associating. You should be
proud of what you are.’
‘Then I would like to learn, to observe and
take my knowledge to others, so that they may not be so ignorant. I want to
show others like me, that they do not need to fear or hide, that they have
choices. That they deserve to fit into society, to pray at church, and not
outcast like vermin.’
Choices! She was indeed candid. From this statement I
could see that she would not be so easy to master and I was disappointed that
this one would take some time to convert. She had been
exposed to a heinous crime by human men yet still remained faithful to
Christian ideals. Only a witch with little experience among humankind could be
so trusting.
Lilah may think she coped with the shock of
seeing the act of blood-taking but despite her
curiosity she would not cope with the other secrets of the strigoi – not
yet. It was too early. Perhaps it would have been wise to set this girl adrift
to learn more hardships. Understand better the pettiness of humans until she
despised them, greatly desiring something more: to be closer to her own kind.
She was deluded in thinking that freedom was benevolent. Freedom was a curse.
Coven boundaries meant protection.
‘You can stay here for another night then I
must ask you to leave.’
‘What?’ She stared for a moment than a loud
breath of air escaped her. ‘I don’t understand. You were to show me how best to
use my skills. Gabriel promised…’
‘Gabriel is impulsive. He bends many of the
rules to suit himself but I disagree with him this time. I do not believe you
are of an age to be here yet.’
‘But I am a fast learner. I need to understand
myself. I know nothing of my past and I have nowhere else to go.’
‘One day you can return. I will have the
servants pack a bag for you to help you on your way. Perhaps you are better off
with humans.’
She twisted the tips of her fingers nervously.
‘Can I not stay here a while longer? I know what you do but I am not afraid…I
promise you that. And I am older than my years.’
I paused a moment, for effect only, and Lilah
followed my gaze to watch a brown hawk swoop and land gracefully onto the low
thinning tree, the branches bending from the weight of it. Its head twisted,
catching sight of something on the ground before it swooped again to take a
baby squirrel in its shears. The hawk shook the life out of it until there was
nothing but blood and fur, then it flew away over the tops of the trees, its
wings gently rising and falling. It had all the time to enjoy its feast,
fearful of little.
Lilah shuddered slightly and I could see her
wondering where she would find a home before winter.
‘Will you not show me how to be better at my
craft? ’
It had been my intention all along to dangle
the idea of knowledge in front of her and make her beg. I needed to stay in
control of her.
‘If you stay you must study all about your
craft. A year of learning but you must do as I say at all times.’
‘Yes, of course. And then when I have learnt enough
I will not take upon your kindness any longer.’
‘Very well. I will assign a servant to take
care of you.’
‘Is she… ’ She found it
difficult to finish.
‘No. She is human. All the servants are human.
They are guaranteed safety from us, as well as from their own pitiless kind,
while they live under my roof and do as I ask. They will cook for you and serve
you meals in your room for now.’ I stood to leave.
‘May I ask what that is on your arm?’
I showed her my wrist and the small
purple-inked circle. ‘It is a symbol of our coven, of those who have sworn
their loyalty.’
‘Oh, I see. It is quite unique!’ There was an
air of detachment in this comment as if it was in no way relative to her. She
would soon learn that there would be nothing else so important.
Lilah
different; lunatics, touched in the mind by misfortune. Such ignorance! A witch
is a higher being than those with whom you have been associating. You should be
proud of what you are.’
‘Then I would like to learn, to observe and
take my knowledge to others, so that they may not be so ignorant. I want to
show others like me, that they do not need to fear or hide, that they have
choices. That they deserve to fit into society, to pray at church, and not
outcast like vermin.’
Choices! She was indeed candid. From this statement I
could see that she would not be so easy to master and I was disappointed that
this one would take some time to convert. She had been
exposed to a heinous crime by human men yet still remained faithful to
Christian ideals. Only a witch with little experience among humankind could be
so trusting.
Lilah may think she coped with the shock of
seeing the act of blood-taking but despite her
curiosity she would not cope with the other secrets of the strigoi – not
yet. It was too early. Perhaps it would have been wise to set this girl adrift
to learn more hardships. Understand better the pettiness of humans until she
despised them, greatly desiring something more: to be closer to her own kind.
She was deluded in thinking that freedom was benevolent. Freedom was a curse.
Coven boundaries meant protection.
‘You can stay here for another night then I
must ask you to leave.’
‘What?’ She stared for a moment than a loud
breath of air escaped her. ‘I don’t understand. You were to show me how best to
use my skills. Gabriel promised…’
‘Gabriel is impulsive. He bends many of the
rules to suit himself but I disagree with him this time. I do not believe you
are of an age to be here yet.’
‘But I am a fast learner. I need to understand
myself. I know nothing of my past and I have nowhere else to go.’
‘One day you can return. I will have the
servants pack a bag for you to help you on your way. Perhaps you are better off
with humans.’
She twisted the tips of her fingers nervously.
‘Can I not stay here a while longer? I know what you do but I am not afraid…I
promise you that. And I am older than my years.’
I paused a moment, for effect only, and Lilah
followed my gaze to watch a brown hawk swoop and land gracefully onto the low
thinning tree, the branches bending from the weight of it. Its head twisted,
catching sight of something on the ground before it swooped again to take a
baby squirrel in its shears. The hawk shook the life out of it until there was
nothing but blood and fur, then it flew away over the tops of the trees, its
wings gently rising and falling. It had all the time to enjoy its feast,
fearful of little.
Lilah shuddered slightly and I could see her
wondering where she would find a home before winter.
‘Will you not show me how to be better at my
craft? ’
It had been my intention all along to dangle
the idea of knowledge in front of her and make her beg. I needed to stay in
control of her.
‘If you stay you must study all about your
craft. A year of learning but you must do as I say at all times.’
‘Yes, of course. And then when I have learnt enough
I will not take upon your kindness any longer.’
‘Very well. I will assign a servant to take
care of you.’
‘Is she… ’ She found it
difficult to finish.
‘No. She is human. All the servants are human.
They are guaranteed safety from us, as well as from their own pitiless kind,
while they live under my roof and do as I ask. They will cook for you and serve
you meals in your room for now.’ I stood to leave.
‘May I ask what that is on your arm?’
I showed her my wrist and the small
purple-inked circle. ‘It is a symbol of our coven, of those who have sworn
their loyalty.’
‘Oh, I see. It is quite unique!’ There was an
air of detachment in this comment as if it was in no way relative to her. She
would soon learn that there would be nothing else so important.
Lilah
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