Under the Covers [Part 1]
Her robes nearly cover her feet, save the tips of her toes peeking from beneath the purple velvet. Her black cloak provides her with extra warmth as she approaches a rather old looking town. The cobbled pathways, tattered and used well, definitely gave the place an eerie feel. The trees surrounding the town look rather dead, but perhaps it's the light of the Waning moon making them appear this way.
As Victoria enters the town further, she notices many small buildings - people rushing in and out of the little homes at such an odd hour. Normally a town would be asleep by now... I wonder if this was where I could find it?
Her brown hair covered one eye as the wind commanded; brushing her hair from her eyes, she lowers her hood to better see the kinds of residents here. The first thing she noticed about this place was the oddly pale people - it appears as if they had not seen much sunlight. Noticing the ears of one of the residents, how they pointed like elf's ears, but sharper, Victoria realizes that this is indeed the town her books described. It's here she'd find the Lily of Life, a rare, beautiful flower with great, extraordinary metaphysical properties.
Looking down the long, cobble path, she sees a pub with its lights still lit. Raising her hood again, Victoria eases her way to the pub, the chatter from the building growing louder. As she steps inside, she notices that nobody even looks at her. This is good for Victoria - the less attention she receives, the better.
The Lily of Life is sought after by many witches like Victoria, but most of them wish to prolong their lives for selfish reasons. Victoria only has her brother in mind. Barnaby was adopted many years ago when Victoria was just a child. She and Barnaby would play for hours after their bedtimes, often using their quilts to build forts in their bedroom, pretending to be brave knights protecting a magical palace.
Barnaby grew much quicker than Victoria, however, and as puberty caught up to him, as did his true nature. Being a shapeshifter, Barnaby grew into a ticking time bomb. He developed the urge to kill and to survive, despite being adopted into a kind family of witches.
He became a threat to himself, and ultimately, to others of their village. With a ravenous appetite, the sacred forests became bare of sustenance, which of course is a bad thing, but in a community of witches, it may as well be desecrating all of Mother Earth's hard work.
Victoria, her mother, and her brother Barnaby were banished from the village for the harm brought unto their forests. Not soon after, Barnaby had run away from their new home, a simple stone cottage, abandoned, yet revived by Victoria's mother's hands.
After Barnaby ran off, Victoria's mother was taken away, burned at the stake. Victoria's mother was a powerful witch, and so she did not easily burn. Instead, the authorities had her weighted and drowned, never to be heard from again. Her spirit lives on in Victoria's pentacle ring, offering comfort and a listening ear.
As Victoria looks down to her ring, she remembers her mother's advice: It is Nature's way to create someone as they are - your brother is many, but his spirit is only one. Help him find it, if anyone can... it is you.
Victoria then swore to herself that she would live long enough to help her brother find his purpose - knowing deep down that he is more than just a killing machine, Victoria plans to use the Lily of Life to prolong her own life, but not for herself.
"I promise, Barnaby," Victoria mutters under her breath as she stares down at the flickering candle at her table in the pub, "I'll live alongside you. I'll guide you and protect you... I'll help you find your true spirit."
Victoria is shaken from her thoughts by a stranger. His moustache is the first thing she notices - he looks like one of the many traders in her home village, however his spectacles and attire prove him to be no more than a traveler. His flesh is not as pale as the other beings here, however. She smiles as the stranger takes a seat.
"Might I sit with you?" he smiles.
"Of course - I don't bite," Victoria jokes.
"Are you sure, now? This isn't a joke, is it?" the traveler asks rather peculiarly.
"Of course it's a joke," Victoria says, moving her hair from her eyes, "Sir? Did I worry you?"
"Oh... why, yes... a bit, actually," the man says, taking a sip of his glass - a shining brown and caramel colored liquid with a strong scent - it smells like scotch, "If you don't mind me asking about your attire, Miss..."
Victoria looks down at herself, her robes and cloak do seem to stand out much more in this town. "Ah... my robes. I'm a witch, Sir."
"A witch! I say," he says, sipping more scotch, "I thought your people died out many years ago - ah, pardon my blatancy, will you?"
"No harm done, Sir. Yes, my people were lynched down, but... times are changing. We are no threat," Victoria smiles, "Why might you ask?"
"Well, Miss... if you hadn't already noticed," the stranger points around the pub at the very pale people, "The 'biting' jokes are... not necessarily jokes here. This is a city of vampires, my dear!"
"Vampires... they don't bother me so much," Victoria nods, "It's true, my people haven't gotten along with vampires for eons, but... as I stated, times are changing. I have no hatred for the creatures. They are as Nature created them."
"I see you're a strong willed witch, then," the stranger chuckles, "My name is Claude, I'm simply passing through, looking for a remedy."
"A remedy? You are a doctor, then?" Victoria asks, leaning in.
"Err, no," Claude chuckles, "Not anymore. I gave up that life to see the world. I'm getting a bit old, you know. But due to recent events... and... the spreading of the sickness... I figured this town would be a great place to begin curing."
"You imply Vampirism is a sickness?" Victoria smiles, "What makes it a sickness, to you?"
"A sickness is anything foreign brought unto the body, is it not?" Claude chuckles, sipping his scotch.
"I see... would you mind perhaps being kind enough to procure me a bit of your own sickness?" Victoria laughs softly, pointing down to Claude's scotch glass.
"Oh, haha! Touche, young witch," Claude winks, "I'll return momentarily - it'll be a pleasure.
Victoria looks about her surroundings while Claude dashes to the barkeep. She notices a rather strange woman staring at her in her peripheral vision. Honing in on the woman's energies, Victoria can feel a powerful struggle coming from her. Is she alright? Wait... that's not a woman, is it?
Claude returns, sitting down and placing a glass of scotch before Victoria with a smile. His long, barber-like moustache curls upward as he smiles, "Here you are, Miss!"
"How kind - thank you! I don't believe I've told you my name, have I? I'm Victoria," she says.
"A pleasure - a mighty, true pleasure," Claude says, lifting his glass before taking a sip, "Ah, that familiar burn! Have you had scotch before?"
"Honestly... no, it's my first glass," Victoria smiles, taking a sip. She squeezes her eyes shut as she feels a harsh tingling and stinging burn slide down her throat. The pain doesn't last, but her esophagus is left feeling warm and wet. "Oh my... what an odd feeling!"
"It'll take getting used to!" Claude chuckles, "So then tell me, Dear - what is a young witch like you doing in a town full of vampires? Aren't you worried about being bitten?"
"Vampires cannot turn witches, though I thank you dearly for your concern. I'm here to... look for something important," Victoria smiles, sipping her scotch - the burn lasts a little longer, but doesn't hurt as badly as before.
"May I ask what? I may be able to help you."
"It's a special herb, really. A lily of sorts. The details for it, however... are between me and my Book of Shadows, I'm sorry," Victoria explains.
"No need to explain - even the modern witches are entitled to their freedom of study, no?" Claude smiles.
Victoria feels a strange pulse in her head as she turns to face the woman behind her, "Excuse me, are you eavesdropping?"
"I'm not eavesdropping, Witch, I've no need to," the woman responds rather harshly.
"May I ask why you are so irritated?" Victoria asks.
"I'm not irritated! I'm just... a little hungry is all," the woman says, her body twitching oddly.
"Oh, I see..." Victoria says, tilting her head slightly left. She leans to the woman and whispers, "For rabbit? Perhaps for human..."
"What do you mean?! I'm... uh..."
"A shapeshifter? Yes... I can tell," Victoria says softly.
"I am not!" the woman says, nervously, her body twitching and quickly flashing from one skin tone to another. "I... I'm a human, okay?"
"Shifter," Victoria smiles, "Don't feel shame over how Nature intended to create you. I understand if..."
"I'm not! I'm not! Just leave me alone!" the woman shouts, bursting out of the pub and running out into the trees amidst the darkness.
"Oh... she seemed rather..." Claude stalled.
"Infuriated. She's a shapeshifter. Besides, she's not even a woman - the shifter is male," Victoria explains.
"How can you tell?" Claude asks.
"I'm a witch, Sir. I can feel that he has many auras, but only one spirit," Victoria says, looking down at her scotch glass, "Plus the abnormal rage - no human would have that much built up inside."
"A fine eye you have - or rather, fine third eye!"
"Human?" a voice calls from behind Victoria, "I heard someone say 'human', luckily so - I'm rather parched."
A vampire, tall and pale emerges from the pub's shadows, stepping into the faint moonlight shining through the dusty windows. He stands with a fanged grin, his black hair slicked back and his arms crossed. He wears a leather band around his left wrist, and from head to toe, he is covered in a dark leather tunic and leggings. His eyes, glowing green, scan Victoria head to toe.
"Where's the human, little girl?" the vampire chuckles.
"There is no human - only the likes of my friends, here, Claude, but indeed - he's spoken for." Victoria says, unworried at all by the vampire's threatening aura.
"Ah, is he now? What about that other girl who ran out... surely she's not with you. I am so, very thirsty," the vampire sneers, grinning.
"That is no human, but do feel free to tell me how it works out should your ignorance to the situation drive you to further attempt to bite a shapeshifter," Victoria sighs, reaching into her robes and retrieving a small, green velvet book, opening it and reading it through.
"You're quite sassy for someone so close to a vampire... how about you, then? I wonder how you taste..."
"I say," Claude interrupts, "You're better off hunting elsewhere, Vampire, you'll find no sustenance here."
"We'll see about that, won't we... when I..." the vampire stops speaking when he sees Victoria slam down the remainder of her scotch. Pulling a blade from out of her robe, she places her hand over her glass, slitting her palm.
Claude and the vampire watch as Victoria is unfazed by her crimson, magickal blood flowing freely into her scotch glass. As the small glass reaches half full, she presses her palms together and quickly heals her cut, sealing the wound closed.
"Here you are - perhaps this will tide you over. I sense your frenzy, and I determine that you're a newborn. You'll need all the blood you can get - I suggest rabbits or squirrels, or perhaps a donor," Victoria says, holding the glass out to the vampire, who looks oddly surprised.
"You're a witch, then?" the vampire asks, "Nobody can heal themselves that quickly - tell me why I should trust you? I've heard rumors of witches."
"I've heard rumors of vampires," Victoria smiles, "but rumors are simply faerie tales involving real people. Here, don't let it go to waste."
The vampire takes the glass from Victoria's hand, bringing it to his lips. "Mmm, it smells quite rich and clean. You don't eat much sugar, do you?" he smiles, taking a sip of the thick, red liquid. "And O-positive, as well. My, my... quite generous, aren't you?"
"It is your nature, Vampire, to feast upon blood, perhaps even to kill - but it is in my nature to be kind and... dare I say wise to certain situations," Victoria smiles, "Also, do pardon the taste of scotch - my friend here was kind enough to serve me."
"No problem at all - it brings out the flavor. I'll let you go, Witch, but ease up on the protection. Vampire's gotta eat," he winks, sipping again from the glass as he walks away."
"My... what a noble gesture, Victoria," Claude says, moving his spectacles closer to his eyes, "Might I grab you another scotch?"
"Thank you, kindly, but I'm quenched," says Victoria, closing her small book and putting it back in her robes. "Right now, I really want to get my hands on the Lily..."
"I've been looking to procure many types of plants, but I haven't seen any lilies of sorts around here," Claude sighs, finishing his glass, "Ah! Perhaps if you search in the forest down the cobble path in this town? I've found many interesting things there before!"
"I shall do just that, Claude. It was a pleasure meeting you, truly," Victoria stands up, moving her hair from her eyes, "Be well, Traveler," she says, placing a small Tiger's Eye stone on the table before Claude, "This will guide you and keep you safe on your journeys."
"A very kind, wonderful gift, Ma'am," Claude smiles, "I shall treasure it fondly."
"I do hope so. Good night, Claude," Victoria says, heading toward the exit of the pub.
"Goodnight, Miss. Good luck to you, as well."
Outside the pub is much quieter than inside - nearly all the hustling from earlier had died down, and finally, the houses nearby seem to be asleep. Victoria bundles her cloak as the night's chill weighs on her as she travels down the town's cobble path, already seeing the forest in the distance.
The trees appear dead, just as the two main oaks in the town do - but these ones are rather old. They must have seen many suns and many moons before Victoria was even old enough to walk. Walking past each tree, Victoria keeps her eyes open for the precious Lily she seeks.
A rustling sounds behind her and Victoria stops. She turns to face a large tree, looking up into it. She can see a man - a rather scruffy looking being with very pointed ears - more pointed than any elf or vampire she's ever seen. The familiar feeling of many auras hit her at once, nearly making her back away from the tree.
"Shifter? Is that you in the tree?" Victoria calls softly, "I'm not here to harm you."
"Why wouldn't you be? That's all anyone wants!" the shapeshifter calls, "They want our blood, you know..."
"I've heard many stories... but I promise you, I'm not after your blood, nor to harm you."
The shapeshifter slowly, cautiously climbs down from the tree, looking the witch in the eyes. "You're that witch from the pub... why'd you follow me?"
"I haven't, actually," Victoria explains, "I was told I could find interesting herbs here. I do magick, after all."
"I see... how can I trust you?"
"That's up to you whether or not you trust someone. I have no business with you, unless you prefer it." Victoria explains, turning away and walking into the forest.
"Wait! Uh... can I come with you?" the shapeshifter asks, "Not because I'm alone, but... because I'd like to trust you..."
"Certainly," Victoria smiles, "I would love some company."
The shapeshifter quickly zips to the witch's side, slowly walking alongside her, "Why are you kind... to me?"
"I've explained in the pub, Shifter, that it's only in your nature to be as you are," Victoria smiles, moving her hair from her eyes, "You kill to survive, to defend... you are dangerous, but it is Nature that created you to be. It's not your fault."
The shapeshifter looks at the witch, admiring her robes and cloak; the way the witch carries herself, he can see that she is true to her word - she isn't here for him, in fact, it seems as if she's not even afraid.
"If man ingests my blood... they die quickly and painfully. Why do they seek the blood of a shapeshifter?" the shifter asks, looking around at the forest.
"The rumors are that a shifter's blood will prolong life - as I'm on this particular quest, I can assure that collecting your blood would only kill me rather than allow me to live another hour," Victoria looks to the shifter, "They're after my brother, as well."
"Your brother?"
"He is a shifter, like you."
The shapeshifter sits back and watches the witch rummage through many piles of green and flora, thinking to himself that he is lucky to have met her. Like a puppy, the shifter begins to feel an attachment to Victoria, hoping to see her often, but not wanting her to leave.
"Witch... do... you think that... maybe you can help me?" he asks.
"Help you? Do you wish to become human?" Victoria asks, standing upright, facing the shifter, "because that is something I can't do."
"No... I know that I can never truly be anyone else. But... this rage... this urge to kill. This violence... I want to contain it. I want to... just exist. I want to feel... normal," the shifter looks down to his clawed hands, stained with the blood of a squirrel. "I killed an animal simply because it startled me... it deserved to die."
Victoria approaches the shifter and reaches out for his hands, holding them softly, "What you did cannot be undone, but what you do in the future can be changed. I will help you. I'll be with you and try to help you stay calm." Victoria's smile radiates onto the shifter's face, allowing him to make a half smile, "It'll be okay."
"Th-thank you... um... are you hungry, perhaps?" the shifter asks, bashfully, "I could maybe hunt..."
"I would be delighted," Victoria smiles, her eyes shining with hope. "How do you feel about fish?"
"I could eat that," the shifter smiles, grabbing Victoria's hand and quickly leading her to a deep, dark part of the forest's pond. He points down, "How does that one look?"
"It looks like it'll feed us well," she smiles.
"Good. Here we go!" the shifter jumps into the pond, pulling out a dagger from his sleeve and stabbing directly through the fish. He reaches out with a clawed hand and raises the fish above water, soon surfacing with it.
"A very skilled fisherman, you are," Victoria smiles, "Quite a clean wound."
"Thanks, ha..." the shifter says, climbing back up onto the grass and tearing the fish in half cleanly. He hands Victoria the tail end of the fish, smiling.
"Do you eat the fish raw?" Victoria asks.
"I prefer raw... what about you? Don't you prefer it cooked?" the shifter asks, clawing at his fish, messily scaling it.
"Often times, yes... but fish can be good raw," Victoria observes the shifter's scaling, "Would you like some help?"
"Well... I've... never skinned or scaled, so..."
"No worries - I can show you," Victoria says, removing her dagger from her robes and slicing the fish's flesh gently under its scales, cleanly skinning the scales off the fish. "Just like carving wood - but much softer."
The shifter looks over, preparing to mimic Victoria's actions. He slips his dagger under the scales and cleanly peels; the scales plop to the ground in a clear, plastic-like sheet.
"Very good, see? Much easier," Victoria smiles. She falls silent, nodding over her half of the fish and closes her eyes. She mumbles a small blessing, like a prayer of sorts, before proceeding to cut the flesh into small strips, rolling them into small, coiled balls of fish.
"What're you doing that for? Isn't it dead?" the shifter asks, "Why talk to a dead fish? He can't hear you."
"My people, witches, offer blessing and give thanks for the living things that sacrifice themselves to us," Victoria smiles, "We speak to their spirits, thanking them for their service to us, hoping the spirit moves on."
"Oh... huh." The shifter nods, "Well, um... thank you, Fish... for letting me eat you."
Victoria smiles, taking a bite of her rolled-up fish, chewing slowly to savor the flavor.
The shapeshifter looks to Victoria, smiling. He begins thinking to himself that with this witch's help, perhaps he can learn to contain his rage. His many forms and shapes he can take are distracting, but perhaps this witch can bring out who he truly is. The shifter eats the rest of his fish, smiling to Victoria, who eats slowly and delicately.
Maybe her magick can help me... and my shifting could help her in return. I just... want to feel normal. I want to feel who I really am under all these different forms. I'm tired of hiding.
_ _ Victoria smiles to the shifter who watches her eat. She knows that he suffers - and already she makes up her mind. She will help him discover his one true spirit, the one that hides and yearns to arise from under the many covers.