Page 13 of A Descent Into Darkness

“Then what are you, Katherine? What was that? What did you just drink?”

“It’s a simple pain elixir. Nothing more.”

“It certainly sounded like more.”

“I am an alchemist.”

“An alchemist or a witch? Are they not one and the same?”

“I don’t like the word witch; it has an evil connotation to it. I’m not evil, James.”

“I’m not implying that you are evil, Katherine. I’m just trying to understand who you are.” He reached his hand out for mine, looking at me curiously, without the typical expression of damnation that I’d grown to expect. “Thedivine has bestowed gifts upon you, and that is a beautiful thing.”

I felt my cheeks warm with his kind words. “I believe that nature is sacred. That there is power in the constant cycle of seasons. But beliefs such as that would have me burning at the stake. Especially if you adopt the title of witch. My parents were burned at the stake in front of my very eyes, all in the name of witchcraft,” I admitted, feeling comfortable enough to lower my guard and share a bit of my past with him. “They weren’t bad people. They were loving parents who knew how to wield the earth.” I felt a tear roll down my cheek. It had been a long time since I’d allowed myself to think about them. “Society is filled with ignorance. People fear what they don’t understand, and my parents paid the ultimate price.” I could feel my walls snapping back into place. It was hard to let anyone, especially James, see my vulnerabilities, so I quickly wiped the evidence of them from my cheeks.

“How old were you? When they were burned?”

“Ten. That’s the only reason I was spared. The church took me in and tried to ‘correct’ my upbringing. Only my parents had taught me the craft from a young age. For all they tried, the church couldn’t purge my memories. I’ve practiced in secret ever since.” I reached for my locket, rubbing the warm metal between my fingers. It was the only tangible piece of my parents I had left.

James sat quietly in thought for a moment. “Teach me.”

“No, James,” I shook my head,“I could never. It takes a lifetime to master.”

“Do you want your secrets safe from Teach?”

I looked at him with disbelief. “Are you blackmailing me?” After all we had been through I thought James would have my back.

“Did it work?” He cocked his head to the side, raising his eyebrows and smirked.

I sighed. The last thing I needed was Edward knowing my true capabilities. James had me against a wall. “We would be bound by deceit. Edward could never find out. Surely he would have you run through for your transgressions. Never mind what he would do to me.”

“It’s a risk I’m willing to take. Besides, I’d rather be on the wrong side of Teach’s blade than deny myself your exquisite company. It’s not everyday you meet someone with your abilities. Allow me to be your humble student.”

I pondered the idea for a moment. Having James bound to me through lies, though dangerous, could prove to be a bargaining tool. “I want a sketch pad and some pencils for my troubles.”

He nodded. “I should be able to make that happen.”

“You will have to dedicate your time to studying. If Edward finds out,” I shook my head, “I will damn your mortal soul to a lifetime of excruciating pain, heartache, and misery. You will beg for his cutlass. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Magister,” he mocked. “We can start tomorrow. Now let me clean those wounds.” He turned me aroundtugging on the sheet to expose my back. “The lacerations haven’t begun to heal,” he stated surprised to find them just as gruesome as before.

“The elixir only takes the pain away. Magic has boundaries. They will have to heal on their own.”

“Now that we are bound by secrets. You can tell me what you saw that day, back in the watch house,” he began to dab at my ragged skin, “When you saw my future.”

I sighed, knowing he wouldn’t be satisfied with my answer. “I saw a shining, silver hook. Nothing more, nothing less.” I wasn’t certain what the visions had been trying to unveil, it was shrouded in darkness. There was more to him than he let on. He was definitely hiding something. Things the universe wanted to keep hidden, even from me. One thing was certain, his path wouldn’t be an easy one.

“You saw a hook?” He paused cleaning my wounds, “What exactly does that mean?” he pleaded.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Sometimes the visions aren’t clear.”

“We will try again.” His words were an order.

“Oh? Are you going to treat me like Edward now? First you blackmail me, and now this. Am I supposed to be at your beck and call?”

He slammed his fist on my desk frustrated, startling me. “I can be like Teach if that’s what you prefer. Try again,” he demanded. His normally calm composure replaced with hostility.

I turned around interrupting his incessant dabbing andglared at him, angry with his attempt to intimidate me. I reached out and grabbed his wrist. Sliding my fingers over his warm skin, settling over his pulsing veins. His heart was racing, he was nervous. Instantly, I felt the link between us begin to course through my body. My eyes rolled back as visions flashed across my mind’s eye.

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