The Blind Witch
Chapter 4

Fear is only natural. Any intrusions or changes are scary. Even in the darkness, flashes of light spring out. It causes panic. But calm follows. Steel your heart to your fear. See past it.

After some time, Azrael returned with an older woman. She had her hand placed in the crook of his arm as he helped to keep her steady. They were quietly talking, as if they had known one another for some time. The woman perked up when she saw the girl and Aiden.

“Clarissa!” She called out.

“Nana?!” Clarissa replied as she stood.

Aiden took her hand and led her across the room. The woman and Clarissa embraced one another. Clarissa began to sob into her shoulders. The woman hummed softly as she rubbed Clarissa’s back.

“Shhh, child. I’m here with you.” She whispered softly.

“What is your name?” Azrael asked her.

“You can just call me Nana.” She answered as she glanced over at him. “To many in my village, that is what I am called. Or, at least, I was.”

“Where are you from?”

“Gillamoor in the Kingdom of Rovia,” she answered.

“I’ll send some men to search for Clarissa’s parents,” Azrael stated as he motioned for a guard.

“Don’t bother,” Nana responded. She gripped Clarissa’s arms and released a deep sigh. “They and many others were killed. I saw it.”

“Nana?” Clarissa whimpered as she pulled away. She backed into Aiden, but she didn’t move from him. She was fighting back more tears as anger built up within her. “You said you didn’t see anything. Did you lie to me?”

“I had to,” she replied gently. “Your parents begged me to take you away as the men neared our town. I made you cover your ears so you didn’t hear their screams.”

“How did you escape?” Azrael inquired.

“A wagon,” Nana answered. “Several of the women and children climbed onto the wagon. I watched as men on horses rode through, slicing anyone they could with their swords and pikes. The last thing I saw was our homes going up in flames.”

“After a day or so, we stopped at a river for some water. We were ambushed by the slavers. Then, last night, they took Clarissa away from the rest of us. Next thing I knew, tents were on fire, and Clarissa opened the cage we were in.”

Nana began to cough, and she hunched over. Clarissa reached out to her. She helped to rub her back, helping to ease the coughing.

“Nana is sick,” Clarissa said as she looked at Aiden.

“I’ll have the healers look at her,” Azrael intervened as he took her arm. “Aiden, why don’t you take Clarissa to get cleaned up?”

Clarissa could feel as Nana left her grasp. She reached out but felt nothing. She could only see Azrael’s orbs as he walked away. She was unable to see her at all with her eyes. She flinched when Aiden put his hand on her waist.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered as he removed his hand.

“It’s fine,” she uttered softly. She turned to face him and looked up. She didn’t know if she was looking at his face directly. Her eyes searched in the darkness, but all she could see was the occasional orb flittering up from his chest.

“Come, princess,” he smiled as he leaned closer. “Let me take you to your new room. Get you a warm bath.”

“You’re not going to be there, right?” She questioned as she backed up from Aiden.

“No!” He laughed loudly. “I’ll have some female servants help you. But I’ll be in the corridor in case you need me.”

Clarissa blushed out of embarrassment and nodded. She held out her hand, and Aiden took it. He led her out of the throne room and across the palace. They were silent as they walked. He enjoyed the sparks that rippled from their hands.

He stopped at a doorway and looked at a group of servants whose heads were bowed before him. He hesitated handing off Clarissa. But he knew she was apprehensive about him getting too close. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze before letting her go.

“Let me know when you’re done,” he instructed the women.

They nodded as they ushered Clarissa into the room. The room felt warm against her skin. She rubbed her arms slowly. She hadn't realized she had gotten cold. She shivered as the women stripped her of her torn and tattered clothes.

They gently led her to another room. The floor beneath her feet was cold as stone. She could hear splashing ahead of her. They helped her to get into a large tub. She sighed with a smile as she sank into the water. She could not remember the last time she had a bath.

Several women took cloths and began to scrub her skin gently. They washed the dirt and mud that was caked onto her body. They cleaned and trimmed her nails, which had grown out of control. They brushed out her hair and washed it with soap that the prince had provided.

She sniffed the air; she could smell jasmine. She closed her eyes and inhaled the floral scent. She was finally beginning to relax for the first time in a while. But then her thoughts went to her parents. Her face scrunched up as her eyes brimmed with tears.

She always fought against her parents to go into the outside world. They kept her inside for most of her life. But, when she was little, she was allowed to go with them to the market. To meet the neighbors and the occasional child to play with. But then she used her fire magic for the first time. They had yelled at her as if what she did was a crime. They were scared; they were scared of her. After that, she was stuck inside. If she went outside, she could hurt someone, or they would replace out about her. Her parents told her she would be taken from them if they knew. But now, all she wanted to do was return there. She would be their prisoner for the rest of their lives—anything to just be with them again.

“We are done,” Someone whispered to her.

She looked up from her thoughts and nodded. They helped her from the tub and gently patted her dry. She shivered in the cold air, wanting to return to the other room that was warm. They put her in a dress that felt soft to the touch. Someone sat her down in a chair, and she winced as they brushed out her thick hair.

She could hear them talk about her. Her black eyes and her bright red hair. Her cheeks grew hot the more that she listened to them.

“I’m not deaf!” She yelled at them.

Suddenly, a door in another room slammed open. She heard footsteps and then saw red and orange orbs come into view. It was Aiden. His orbs were circling wildly around him.

“Leave,” he growled to the servants. They all hurried out, leaving her alone with the prince. He turned his attention back to her. “What’s wrong?”

“I could hear them whispering,” she replied as she looked down. “It made me angry. I’m sorry.”

“No, you did nothing wrong,” he assured her as he stepped closer.

He looked at her now that she was washed. Her hair had natural waves that flowed down her shoulders. Her skin was pale, probably from malnutrition. But seeing her in a light blue dress made him smile. It was better than the tattered wool dress she was wearing earlier.

“Do you want to eat?” He asked softly.

“Please!” She exclaimed as she perked up.

He laughed as he took her hand. He led her back into her bedroom. It was a large room broken up into two sections. The first section was a sitting room with a small eating table. There was a couch and several chairs for entertaining. The other section contained a bed and several wardrobes for clothes.

He sat her at the table before stepping back into the corridor. He came back in carrying a large tray with food and drinks. He set it down and watched as she smelled the aroma. Her hands hesitantly reached out, searching for the food.

“Let me make you a plate,” he said.

He set several finger foods on the plate and placed it in front of her. He took her hand softly and set it near the food. She moved her fingers and found a piece of bread. She picked it up and put it in her mouth eagerly. She chewed happily. Aiden chuckled as he made his plate.

“Eat slow,” he instructed. “You will make yourself sick if you eat too quickly.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” she nodded as she began to chew slower.

“No, please don’t call me that,” he pleaded. “Please. Just Aiden. Or anything else that pleases you. But no titles.”

Clarissa nodded her head gently. They were silent as they ate. But Aiden’s gaze was always on her. He watched her, ensuring she ate and drank enough food. As night began to fall, he called in another servant, an older woman, to help Clarissa get ready for bed.

Aiden reluctantly left her and went to his room. It wasn’t far, just the next door over. He wanted her close, as close as they could possibly be. For now, that would be nearby bedrooms. In a few years, perhaps his room.

As the hours ticked by, a storm rolled into the valley. Lightning illuminated the skies, and thunder shook the earth. Aiden was sleeping peacefully, not having a nightmare for the first time in many nights. But then he woke up. He could hear crying behind the wall. It was Clarissa.

He got up and ran into her bedroom. He saw her on the floor, huddled in a ball. She would gasp and cry out when thunder roared outside. He went to touch her, but she pulled away from his hand.

“It’s me, Clarissa.” He said firmly. “It’s ok. It’s just a storm.”

“No!” She screamed as thunder clashed above them. “My eyes! My head! It hurts!”

He tried to reach for her again, but she shoved him off. She was scared. The lightning flashed in the darkness of her eyes, and the thunder disoriented her. It frightened her. Aiden thought for a moment before backing up.

"I'm going to shift into my wolf, Cyrus." He told her before sighing. He waved his hands over his clothes. "Werelia Inttum."

Clarissa looked up when she heard his bones breaking as he transformed. Her eyes went wide. For Aiden in his human form, she couldn’t make out any of his features. But in his wolf form, she could see more of him. His orbs became waves that rippled within his body. She could see his tail, his head, and down to his paws.

Cyrus stepped up, pushing his cold nose into her hand. She moved her hand up his snout and onto his head. She felt the soft fur under her fingers. Cyrus laid down on the floor and rested his head in her lap. She would grip his fur tightly when she heard thunder, but her screams became whimpers. She relaxed with him beside her, though she was still scared.

As she sat on the floor, with Cyrus, with Aiden, she felt content. This warmth, this love he was giving her, was more than she had received in so long. Since discovering her magic, her parents have never hugged her. They rarely spoke to her. She loved them, only because that was all she knew. She missed them; she would never forget them. But for a brief moment, she felt happy being there with Aiden. He comforted her when no one else would. At that moment, she vowed to grow stronger. Not just for her but for this man who had done more for her in one day than anyone else. He saved her so she would do the same for him.