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*sigh* Here I go again, beginning another story when my last ones are unfinished... however, I had to post this considering it's October! I've always wanted to post my own spooky story and it's finally my chance. Among the many years I've been anonymously reading Halloween stories when October hits, it's my pleasure to finally post my own. This is *supposedly* a short story, one I plan to finish at the end of the month. If there is a continuation, as in second book, expect it the following October to be posted. Anywho, enjoy! ?‍♀️?? Chapter 1: Beware of the Witch Marnie felt the crisp fall air flow through her black sheer cloak as she heard leaves crunch under her feet, stopping at the edge of the forest, “It’s witching season, witches.” She smiled to herself with her bright red lipstick and moss green eyes, anticipating another rewarding hunt. She walked towards the familiar Moore’s Crossing in the Knight Realm. A cold, mythical land with many powerful witches and warlocks between it’s interweaving castles and far-stretching woodsy forests. A few days before she had received a cauldron glow and placed the vapor into her cauldron wand that usually lit up bright white. The smokey swirls slowly turned dark purple in the bulb as her eyes cast in the new call for help. Her signs of urgently needed help were never called upon by a specific person, but a collection of souls in great danger from dark forces. Marnie immediately went to her crystal ball, searching for where the call resonated from. Her eyes narrowed in confusion, eye brows knitting together, “Moore's Crossing?” She asked herself, confused. Her memory serving her that Moore’s Crossings had many witch hunters and warlock protectors of all kinds. It was home of the 7 realms, the true protector of the Realm of Magic. Moore's Crossing didn’t need an independently contracted witch hunter! If Marnie had received the call, then they must have been in desperate need. She was a rookie witch hunter, but one of the best streak records around the 7 realms. She halted a lot of dark magic witches, alone at that. Many witchhunters fought the dark forces in groups, yet here Marnie was, on calls alone and the best among. Many people knew of her quickly, although she was new to the game, and many were easily annoyed by her cocky attitude and seemingly naïve ways. Marnie was a witch herself and a good one at that. The Realm of Magic had many good witches and warlocks, a rare sort, around. Among these, left many dark and, ugly -may Marnie add- witches who stole upon the young to regain beauty, elasticity and material gains at the expense of the innocent. The last witch Marnie had turned in to the Ghouls Oubliette was disheveled to a saggy bone-bag of a woman. Yuck! Marnie had her own nightmares of that one when she removed the hex off of the teenage girl she kept in her tower. She hadn’t been to Moore’s Crossing in ages. In fact, it had been almost five years since she’d been in the realm when she acquired her Magistry license, graduating early from GildWick’s School for Witches and Warlocks . She didn’t go to university, deciding that a magical gap year was what she truly needed. Little to say, she ditched the witch school entirely and explored the Realms, eventually starting her own craft of witch hunting. Her favorite subject had always been the dark arts. Although she didn’t want to practice, she was intrigued on the aftermath. Despicable, unforgivable things that they only had in the forbidden section of the library. After a few nights of stealing enchanted books from the restricted section of GildWick's, Marnie had read enough to set her into the path to become her own witch hunter, to help the vulnerable and weak. She knew, firsthand, how the Dark Forces of the Realms could spread and takeover, just like they had in her home Realm. Orne was once a beautiful realm, luscious with dark green foliage and mystical animals of every sort trotting around. It was abundant with fruits and creatures. Within a few months, the realm was swept with ravaging flames, dark clouds, and witches. The Dark Forces had hexed and swarmed the realm with poisonous smoke, debris and bugs. The sickening smog grew and choked those who breathed it. The ash of innocents flaked down on the soil of Orne, forever changing the land. As the White Witches of Orne protected the realm, it was not enough. The Dark Forces invaded so rapidly that the White Witches split up, some being poisoned by darkness, some murdered, and others taken by the Obscure. The Obscure were part of the Dark Forces, an ancient group of dark beings that stole witches for their own use. Legend has it, they used the White Witches as thralls, mesmerizing them into Dark Force numbers. Marnie was 13 when she awoke from her spell-induced coma. She was told her parents were lost in the flames and smoke that engulfed Orne. Marniee didn’t have any recollection of them, her family or life before. She had many dreams of this land, maybe past memories infused of what once was the land, yet she couldn’t remember any solid memories. Her memory was completely gone, as if lost in the smoke that encompassed the land. The Orne realm was now a forbidden place, inhabited by the Dark Forces. After graduating from GildWick, Marnie applied to join the Circle, which was missing a White Witch who burned on a stake in Orne during when the Dark took over. The Circle protected all 7 realms, with 7 warlocks and witches covering each Realm. Many of the Circle were immortal, ancient, wise and skilled warlocks. Together, their forces of good and power can halt any evil that can attack the Realm of Magic. With a missing link, the Circle was incomplete and that could cause imbalance among the Realms. Ever since Orne’s Circle member was murdered, the Realm has been vulnerable as the Dark Forces grow ever more powerful, quietly growing like a tumor from within. Marnie had a chip on her shoulder when she wasn’t even accepted into the trials for the Circle. They didn’t even consider her or see what she could do! The only thing she really lacked was… well, her ability to levitate or fly on a broomstick. As many times as she would try to raise off the ground, her magic wouldn’t allow her. She would stands for hours and hours holding her hand to her broomstick, chanting, “With love, light and magic I condemn you to rise.” Over and over, yet all she would get is a slight twitch of the wooden stick. She even bought multiple broomsticks, thinking that maybe one broomstick was cursed, yet, no luck. Indeed, it was naive for Marnie to even consider the thought of joining or even trialing for the Circle. To even trial for the Circle, you have to be able to check ‘yes’ for all seven wonders. Only the highest status witches and warlocks could even be considered for the trials. The trials were deadly, especially if you didn’t have the gift of life, but Marnie wanted purpose, a way to prove herself. She wanted to join the fight against the dark forces and joining the Circle was all that she wanted ever since awakening from her coma. Her other abilities were, well, average, but the girl had heart! She knew she lacked the power, but her witt made up for her lack of intensity of her spells. She was intelligent, reading many dark arts books, and practiced defensive magic for many years before she took up her witch hunting craft. It was a somewhat scary, yet thrilling job that she wouldn’t trade for anything. Although she wasn’t a part of the Circle, she was protecting the Realm of Magic in her own ways, even if the realms wouldn’t let her do it the legal way. She could have joined the Protectors, but that was a lost cause. Too many mindless tasks like writing reports and ticketing people for broom violations was not her cup of tea. She had greater plans for her magic and wanted to prove to the Circle that they messed up. Marnie walked through the gates of Moore’s Crossing, looking at the high brick walls that surrounded the far boundaries of the guarded town. As she walked through, freshly baked bread hit her nose with nostalgia. She remembered when her and her friends from GildWick would sneak out of their dorms to Moore’s Crossing for sight-seeing, shopping and witches brew. She could never forget seeing for the first time the high towers of the Realm of Magic’s castle that encompassed King and Queen of the 7 realms. King Peter and his Queen Belinda lived in the tower, ruling the realms. As Marnie looked across the many towers she couldn’t even begin to imagine how many stairs they’d have to climb a day! Marnie always wanted to fly around the castle on her broomstick, which was strictly prohibited and could end in arrest, yet, she saw protectors and even rebellious young witches and warlocks do it. She could only imagine how beautiful the view was from way up high. She had only heard rumors of dragons and mythical invisible creatures protecting the doors of the castle, but she had never stepped foot or flew above to see for herself. The castle’s doors and perimeter was heavily guarded with magic, witches and warlocks. Anyone of evil intention is said to be instantly paralyzed from entering until the spell is lifted and they are imprisoned for acts of malicious intent. However, Marnie heard the stories of dark forces casting spells to enter without a trace or using vehicles such as dogs, creatures or other people to enter. Marnie, herself, had a few spells that would allow her in, but she had no evil in her blood to even have an issue with entering. Marnie walked past the young kids ooohing at Beezle & Beetris Tricks Shop from the outside. She smiled, remembering that was the coolest young witches and warlock store to be in, even for the non-magic folk of the realm. That’s where her and her friends would spend most of their time, as Marnie tended to slip away to the Moore's Crossing Library which contained archives of lost books, nonsense books from the Mortal Realm, and, most intriguingly to Marnie, restricted, forbidden books. Marnie had attempted to get into the restricted section before, yet, all her attempts failed. To access, you had to have a form of identification and status in the Realms. Marnie was an ‘illegal’ witch hunter and, supposedly, she didn’t have access. She did have a wanted poster in the Halcyon Realm but, alas, it wasn’t important. Only the protectors, knights, high-status officials, the Circle members and select few around the Realms had access. It wasn’t fair, but Marnie had been working around ways to get in. Ever since Marnie knew her next call to her witch hunts led to the Knight Realm, she knew she had a alternative mission to get into the restricted section. It had been 5 years since she last tried and this time she was a much more experienced witch. Marnie’s eyes searched the store fronts, businesses and homes as she walked along the brick paths, beginning to go to the outskirts of Moore’s Crossing far from the castle. She was scoping the territory, eyeing the crowds to look for signs of dark forces, eerie or evil sightings. The nostalgia of the town hit her so deeply that she forgot that she was there on a task, not a vacation. The thick crowds of people she had walked through earlier cleared and some teen warlocks stood at the edge of a bridge, about to take flight. Oh, how she envied the flying! She had never been able too, and it was the one shame she had as a witch. She sauntered for a moment, watching the boys jumping to a takeoff and zooming circles in the air as they went far in the distance. Marnie smiled, feeling lonely for the first time in a long while. It was tough being a wanderer witch, with no home realm. She had a small tent she packed with her but it wasn’t a home, nor company for that matter. It was a lonely time, one she chose, but sometimes it reminded her of how alone she truly was. As Marnie stood in an alleyway, mesmerized by the sight and slightly jealous, she could smell chicken pot pie in the distance. Her nose wiggled as she began walking towards it, feeling hungry for dinner. She walked down a dimly lit path, towards light at the end of the narrow alleyway towards the scent. There were a few abandoned shops at the end of the path and, at the corner facing the tower, lay a hut-like shop, with a wooden sign, “Free Readings, taking anyone!” Marnie laughed quietly to herself, knowing that was a classic tell-tale sign of a black witch. This job will be easy, Marnie thought to herself. The potpie smell was even coming directly from the hut! How blatantly obvious could a wicked witch be? Marnie used a 3-edged rule for the wicked and downright ugly: First, they were usually deceitfully beautiful in some way but truly ugly and scary, second, they promised lies, and, third, they attracted people to them through smell, sight, and touch. She brought her black, disheveled and ripped satchel to her front hip, clamoring through it for her wand. Marnie shook her head, staring at her almost empty magic boost potion. She had needed it more and more as the months went by. It was as if her magic was gradually dwindling. Marnie tried to not think of it because her magic was something that made her, well, her. Without magic, Marnie would be nothing. It was something that ate at her core and she didn’t want to be equivalent to a non-magical commoner or human. It was a gift she could use to live and, without it, she’d be forced to get a 9 to 5 job at an office or store. If anything, she may consider becoming a brewista for Starbrew if her magic career ever vanished. Marnie pulled out the vial, swirling the silver glowing liquid that only had a few drops left. “Fuck.” She whispered, knowing she’d have to find ingredients soon for another brew. Marnie took out the dropper and stuck her tongue out, licking the icy sweet drop as it hit her taste buds. She took in a slow breath, feeling a tickle of magic in her fingertips underneath her wand, “Alright, let’s do this witch.” Marnie walked closer, seeing a warm orange glow from the webb covered windows. There was a sheer dark purple curtain that split in the middle as Marnie walked through, placing her wand in her black jean pencil skirt’s imperceptible wand pocket. As she entered, she went through a few layers of colorful beads and gem curtains. Already fucking hate this entrance, Marnie thought. “I’ve been expecting you, child.” A croaking voice spoke as Marnie finally was through the collection of beads, the noise sounding of rain as she entered, heart rate pulsing. Marnie almost wanted to roll her eyes, wow, haven’t heard that one before! Every ‘psychic witch’ that Marnie had came across has said the same line or two. If they really were psychic, then they wouldn’t have been so easily caught by Marnie. “Oh, wow! So you must be the real deal then.” Marnie smiled innocently, hopefully as if she were an actual customer. Her eyes met the witch’s cloudy cataract-forming ones. She was much uglier than the others Marnie had came across, that’s for sure! She was plump, morbidly obese with thick, puffy lips, a squat face, and bulging big eyes. The old, sagging woman had beads intertwined around her grey and red hair that came across her forehead, one bead stuck on the middle of her eyebrows like a gigantic red pimple. This witch looked like she was ready for another feasting of young naïve flesh, but not today or ever again. Marnie would make sure of it! The woman immediately smiled, “Have a seat, sweetie.” The chair in directly in front of Marnie scooted out with magic, awaiting her as the old witch stood, “You’re hungry, let me fix you something!” Without Marnie responding, the woman walked away, in large, loud thumps to her tiny kitchen nestled in the corner that smelled incredible. Marnie’s mouth watered as she sat, knowing she would not be taking a bite. She looked around the dark red painted room with glowing lanterns hanging around the walls. A crystal glass ball sat in the center and another beaded curtain lie behind where the psychic was sitting, which Marnie assumed was her room upstairs. The woman sauntered back in, steps heavy on the ground with a thump, thump, thump that drew close as she set down a pot pie and tea in front of Marnie, “Eat, it’s not poisoned, that’s a promise.” She smiled down, a thick bead of sweat running down her forehead. Marnie was surprised by the suddenly direct comment. She declined, “No thank you, I’m not hungry.” “Sure you aren’t!” The woman plopped down on her big bottom with a laugh as her dark purple fur cloak fanned in the air. She went quiet, studying Marnie, “I’m Madam Myriam. And you are…” Her eyes lit up, “Marnie Blairwitch?” Marnie was caught off guard, a ‘psychic’ witch had never been able to guess her real name! Marnie cast a pseudo spell to confuse any telepaths or mediums which meant only two things… it was wearing off or this witch may be very powerful? The spell last a month and she had just enchanted herself a week before… She felt a rush of blood and a magical itch in her hands. Maybe she was dealing with a more powerful witch than she presumed. Marnie nodded once, eyeing the witch’s cataract green eyes that bulged back at her, “How did you know that?” Madam Myrium’s eyes lit up as she smiled, “I thought you came into my hut for a reading? Is that not true?” She cocked her head at Marnie who felt a bad, dark feeling as the lights flickered, “Ah, I sense it’s not the reason you came in, hm?” Marnie shifted, hand on the back of her wand, ready to draw. Marnie smiled, eyebrows furrowing, “No- I mean, yes I came for the reading. I just wanted to make sure you were real.” Madam Myrium slammed her hands on the table, causing the pot pie to jump with Marnie, “Then take your hand off of the wand!” Madam Myrium yelled as Marnie’s eyes flashed, surprised she even knew that much. Marnie immediately stood, the chair toppling behind her as she drew her wand, pointing it to the ugly, despicable witch. “You are being arrested for dark magic of the malicious degree. Surrender to good now or I have do this the hard way, witch.” Silence filled the room as the witch’s eyes shifted to the tiny girl, amused. The witch began laughing loudly as Marnie stood there, annoyance appearing on the young girl’s face. “Take a seat, doll. You are not powerful enough for that, we both know that.” Madam Myrium said, gesturing for Marnie to sit. Her tone was degrading, as if Marnie wasn't even a witch at all. “Parasius.” Marnie said, her wand’s tip not lighting. She looked towards the witch, seeing she was smiling as if watching a cute sight. Marnie’s hand dropped the wand, her fingers going numb as the numbness crept up her arm, like a rapidly spreading viral infection. Marnie cursed, “Fuck, no, no.” She felt her legs becoming weak as the witch stood, watching Marnie crumble to the floor, frozen in loss of feeling. How did her spell rebound?! This was an act of dark magic! There was no other explanation. Marnie was paralyzed, from her own spell, as she looked at the ceiling of the wood-boarded hut's ceiling, anxiety immediately flooding through her thoughts. She couldn’t move and was entrapped by this disgusting old hag of a witch! How was she going to get out of this one? She couldn’t even gulp as she stared straight up, the witch leaning over and looking down at her, “Oh, my! We have some things to talk about, don’t we?” She kneeled, pinching the spell-paralyzed Marnie’s cheek who wanted to scream, but, due to her unfortunate circumstances, couldn't even twitch a muscle.