Selene
The angry voices of the mob grew louder as we struggled to make our way in their midst, out of the town square.
To be forever banished to the village outskirts.
Curses and scorns flew from different directions, landing on us. And so were the beatings.
Scolding and yelling at as many as she could, my grandmother made her way out of the crowd, scooping me into her arms like her life depended on it.
“Evil child. Evil mother!” They yelled, pushing Sage in all directions.
“Like grandmother like granddaughter,” Another said, pointing fingers at her. Like a sleeping dog, Sage ignored them as she trod amongst them, ignoring as many as she could.
Tears welled up in my eyes at the sight.
She was beaten because of me, spat on and stripped of her position.
Just to rescue me.
A faint smile washed upon my face as I looked into the eyes of my grandmother.
My saviour.
But the smile vanished just as it appeared, as I watched her struggle to keep people’s hands away from my body.
A pang of guilt pricked my heart as we continued to forge ahead.
I had humiliated her.
I had caused her shame.
It was all my fault.
Even the ones who couldn’t look into Sage’s eyes now turned their back on her, cursing her and hitting her.
But the beatings given to her were little, compared to mine. Though stripped of all titles, her presence strikes fear in the heart of many. They stood afar, not daring to overstep their boundaries, knowing how brutal Sage could be.
Slowly, my mother and father’s image faded from my sight. Their hands moved slowly in the air, giving me a goodbye wave.
“Away, Sage and her evil granddaughter! Take your bad luck away from this sacred land. But you must know that as you leave, there is no coming back. Once banished, forever banished. No help will be rendered. And on no account must you be caught interacting with the villagers. Do this and you will be killed,” The head wizard’s warnings filled the air, swallowing the annoying screams of the protesters.
As much as I detested the head wizard and his selfish judgement, it was better than the noises of the mob.
“Yes, away,” The mob shouted in agreement with the head wizard’s words.
“Do this and you will be beheaded openly,”
“Yes! Yes!”
“I have no doubt that your evil granddaughter will turn her back on you, adding you to the long list of murders and when she succeeds. We will not hesitate to get rid of the evil child completely,”
“Yes! Get rid of her! Yes!”
Those were the final words rang of the Head wizard and the angry mob before we were teleported to the outskirts of the village.
Forever isolated from the lot.
But the head wizard was wrong.
I proved him wrong with my Innocence.
Ten years of living alone with my grandmother, without external interference, were the best years of my life.
Grandma was everything to me. She was my everything.
My mother, my father, the sister I never had, my friend, my confidant, my saviour, my hero and being a powerful witch, she was my mentor.
We practically did things together, we talked about everything in the world, including voice. Until death reared its ugly head, snatching her away from me, and completely shattering my heart.
The worst day of my life.
Worse of all, I hadn’t learnt how to summon and control my powers. Sage kept telling me that I wasn’t ready and I couldn’t control it, lest it overwhelms me, for my powers were great.
After giving her a befitting burial, knowing the villagers would be alerted, I fled, continuing my mourning alone in the woods.
Tired, drained and completely famished, I roamed in the woods for months, surviving on fruits, rodents and water from small streams, camping anywhere I fall asleep. Until I met a girl, about two years older than I was.
She looked troubled and scared. Just like me.
Her dress was half torn, exposing her thighs.
Did she get attacked by a bear?
Her hair ran wild on her head, shielding part of her face. Her eyes were sunken and dark circles surrounded them like she hadn’t slept for days. Despite how pretty they looked, they were terrified like she had seen a ghost. Her pale skin exposed the scars on it. While some were fresh, some were old, fading away.
I could still remember the horrid expression on her face when she locked her gaze on me for the first time. I could hear her heart pounding against her ribs like it was about to jump out. Her long legs fled, seeking refuge behind a tree. A small chuckle rolled off my lips at the realization.
She thought I didn’t see her.
“You can come out now,” I bit my lips, resisting the urge to laugh as I walked to meet her slowly.
“Hello,” I called, “You are safe from whatever is chasing you. I am harmless,”
She peeked her head first, before walking slowly toward me, biting her lower lips and playing with her weird beautiful hair.
“Hello, I am Selene, Selene Elsher. Nice to meet you,” I walked up to her, ignoring my grandmother’s warning about making friends with people. As much as I would love to ignore this pretty damsel in distress sitting alone in the woods, I couldn’t.
I felt strangely drawn to her.
“And your name is?” I asked, surprised at myself for suddenly turning into a talkative.
Silence stretched. Long silence as I felt her debating in her head.
“You can talk to me, I don’t bite,” I said, taking two steps closer to her.
“I am Esmeralda,” She whispered going silent for another moment, “Esmeralda Harper,”
“Why are you in the woods?” I asked, itching to know what a beautiful girl was doing in the woods.
“I am running away from my sister,”
Obviously.
“It’s alright, she won’t get you,” I smiled, throwing my arms around her in an embrace.
That moment, I smelt it.
She was a werewolf. An enemy to my kind, witches. But that didn’t stop me from going close to her.
I wanted her. I couldn’t deny it.
I wanted to know this girl. To be close to her. To protect her, never to leave her side.
Strange.
I watched Esmeralda stir in deep slumber, my hands running through her shining hair as memories flooded my head.
Memories of how she came into my life.
I asked Sage for a friend and she gave me Esmeralda.
I have never been so grateful! Thank you, Sage.
Getting lost in her beauty as my eyes met hers, she looked so peaceful in her sleep, I didn’t want to disturb her.
“Achu!” A violent sneeze jolted me out of my long train of thought.
Where was that coming from?