Marnie the Witch Hunter: Witching Season

[Lionsheart]

*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. 

 

 

[Lionsheart]

Chapter 2: Cursed

Marnie was sat in the chair once more, her satchel and sheer black cloak being taken from her and placed in the kitchen. The witch strapped a harness around the girl’s legs and waist to the chair before she stood back, “Contrarium.”

To Marnie’s surprise, she regained her feeling slowly, wiggling her toes and extremities as she was harnessed to the chair, “Uh, thanks.” She nodded to her captor, knowing that being polite may be her best bet out of this one. This Madam Myriam could have kept the paralysis spell on the poor girl for an eternity, yet she was forgiving to spare the girl from the dread of being paralyzed for more than five minutes. 

“Eat, then I’ll do your reading.” Madam Myriam nodded to the pot pie in front of Marnie. 

“What do you want from me?” Marnie blurted, confused why this psychic wanted her to eat and do a reading. 

Madam Myriam, tapped her crystal ball as it began swirling in a smoke, “A couple of things from you, my child.” 

“I’m not your child.” Marnie said in a burst of anger, hating being called pet names. 

Madam gave a twisted smile, “Honey, you really don’t know your future, do you? Maybe this reading will help.” She paused, moving the table forward as she reached across and pushed the pot pie closer to Marnie, “Eat. Now!” 

Marnie’s jaw tightened, grabbing the fork and stabbing into the delectable pot pie. Marnie would be lying if she said she wasn’t famished from not eating much that day. In fact, she hadn’t aten since a egg that morning! She hovered the piece in front of her mouth hesitating and scared what it might do to her. Was it poisoned? Did it have a fat-inducing potion in it to plump her so the witch could eat her later? Anything could be in it!

“It’s not poisoned, just eat the damn pie and drink your tea, girl. Do as Madam tells you like a good girl!” Marnie looked up, seeing the witch watching, waiting. Why would she be so adamant for Marnie to eat it if it weren’t poisoned? 

Marnie closed her eyes, eating the first bite. She swallowed, surprisingly in delight by the perfect mix of a chicken gravy and meat, “It’s… good. Thanks, I was hungry.” Marnie said, taking more bites, satisfying hunger. 

“Good girl, now don’t forget the tea! Drink it all to the bottom.” Madam Myriam said, grunting as she got up, walking over to the kitchen to grab a rag, wetting it. 

Marnie complied, eating the small potpie and drinking the warm tea, setting it down. Maybe this witch would let her go if she was good? Hopeful thinking was all Marnie could have at this point in the game, after all. 

The old woman thumped back, smiling as she squatted, almost falling backwards to get to Marnie’s height. She came close to Marnie’s face, dabbing the rag on the corners of Marnie’s mouth as she frowned. Marnie could see the unibrow forming on the witch’s forehead and the huge, pus-filled pimple on her cheek with a hair sticking out. 

“Good girl. I knew you’d be!” She gave a wet kiss on Marnie’s face who cringed with the contact of the woman’s gigantic sweaty face touching hers and the residue of thick saliva on her cheek. Marnie wiped it off as Madam Myriam cleaned her dishes, holding and looking into the tea cup thoughfully. Marnie sat there awkwardly, not knowing what to do as Madam Myriam sat for a few minutes, seriously looking in the cup, turning it in her hand ever so slightly in awe. 

Madam Myriam’s serious expression slowly heightened to Marnie’s anxious one, “You are the one. Aren’t you?” 

Marnie frowned, “Uh, sure?” She pulled at the dark brown leather buckle strap tightly secured over her leg, “Hey, if I need the restroom, can you release me from here?” 

“We will take care of that soon. However, we have business to get to. I had a feeling our time was coming close, but how close I did not see coming!” Madam Myriam clapped to herself in excitement, setting down the tea with a clatter as the lights dimmed and the glass ball glowed, smoke swirling faster within. 

“Your magic is dissipating, isn’t it?” 

Marnie squinted, shrugging, “I mean-“

“It is. Tsk, tsk. Poor girl.” Madam Myriam shook her head, looking into her ball, “Unfortunately, it will get worse before it gets better. Much, much worse. Of course, I do not want to inflict this on you, but, without me, you will not become you. You see?” She smiled, sad eyes cast down with the glowing ball reflecting in her eyes.  Marnie looking at her as if she was fucking crazy and beyond. Her words not making any sense to the young witch. “You will help me, and, in return, I will help you. You see, young Marnie?” 

Marnie shook her head, “Look, if you need money, anonymity, me to forget this all, I’ll do it. Just please don’t eat me!” Marnie winced, turning her head slightly away. 

Madam looked at her for a moment with humor as the room went silent. A moment later she burst out laughing at the insult, “Girl, do you think I’d actually eat you?!” Her arm landed on the table from the boisterous laughing with a bounce of the crystal swirling ball as Marnie jumped.

She stopped laughing and became serious, “I do not want any of that. I would like only a few things from you, at an expense to you; however, you’ll thank me later.” Thank her later? For what?! Cursing poor Marnie?

“Then… what do you want?” 

“My body back. Youth. A child. My…” She trailed off, not finishing as she looked to Marnie’s young face. 

“Okay, I’ll pass but thanks for the offer, lady or Madam who-“

“That’s not your choice!” Madam Myriam barked back, spit flying from her mouth as Marnie winced, trying to not be hit from the spew. 

Marnie tried to regain her breathing, knowing she was in grave danger. If this old witch wanted ‘youth’ she’d have to drain it from someone, which had to be Marnie, right? Or she had to eat her or perform some ritual to take the youth? Marnie didn’t know the means of doing this but she didn’t want to find out!

Madam Myriam stood as the lights came back on, going to her kitchen and beginning a pot. As she turned her back, Marnie wiggled in the straps, trying to get out, pulling at their seams and the back. There had to be a way out! She was not going to be eaten or turned into an old woman today. Nope, not today! After sweating and trying to get out for a few minutes, she was left with a loss of hope.

Madam Myriam’s feet thumped close as she brushed Marnie’s hair with a fat finger, plucking a long black strand from her head. No, not a potion! Marnie thought, knowing where this was heading.

Marnie watched from a far as the witch concocted a brew on her stove top, plopping other ingredients in and stirring with a happy hum to herself. As Marnie listened, she heard a almost lullaby song in the hum, confusing her. 

A few minutes later, Madam Myriam clattered and clanked in the kitchen, coming back to Marnie with something in her hand. 

Marnie scrunched her face, seeing Madam with a baby bottle in her hand! Who is that for? Marnie wondered, soon realizing it would be her as she approached. Marnie squirmed her body away, the chair almost tilting to the ground before Madam Myriam caught it. 

“Aw, don’t be shy baby! Look, num-nums!” Madam said as if Marnie was a child she was trying to coax. She tilted her body away as Madam Myriam took hold of the girls chin, tilting it up as she lodged the teet of the bottle in the girl’s clenched mouth. 

A stream of milk filled her mouth as it began overfilling and she had no choice but to swallow so she wouldn't choke. She kept drinking as the sweet milky fluid went down her throat, tears going down her cheeks from the uncertainty of the curse being bestowed upon her. She finished the bottle, an unfamiliar burp coming out of her as Madam Myriam patted her back.

“What a good, good, girl!” She clapped, smiling ear to ear as she set the bottle down on the table, walking away to her staircase, “One last thing for the baby and then you get to leave, how does that sound?” Her voice became a higher pitch as she spoke. 

Marnie didn’t speak, disgusted at the bottle potion she just drank, hitting it away from her. 

“Oh my! A grumpy one, aren’t we?” The witch said, her voice changing to a rhyme-like honey voice. Marnie squinted, confused as she looked to the plump woman who looked to be suddenly… shrinking? One leg became thinner than the other as she turned, walking up the steps, “Be right back!”

Marnie looked down to her hands, trying to notice any sudden changes like she had seen on the old hag of a witch. If her appearance had been changing within moments of Marnie drinking the potion, then Marnie must have been changing at the same rate! She felt her face, feeling for any changes. It felt… normal! Maybe she didn’t do anything to Marnie? Right? Marnie could only hope at this point!

Marnie heard light footsteps come down the stairs and what she saw confused her senses. She tilted her head, mouth agape at the beautiful woman who appeared, looking nothing like the witch she just saw. Dark, sultry red hair and beautiful voluptuous curves were upon her figure. Her skin was glowing, and she had a warm presence, almost maternal. Marnie was in so much awe, she hadn’t even seen what was in the woman’s hands. 

“Now, love, we need to get padding on so you don’t have an accident, huh?” She approached Marnie who stared up, mouth still agape by her beauty. Was this the same person she had just seen? There was no blemishes, no pimple, or trace of ugliness the eyes could see. She looked friendly, loving. Marnie wasn’t even paying attention to her words as Madam Myriam undid the leather buckle straps and took Marnie’s hand, steering her to the coffee table where she pushed her down on the table. 

“Uh, um, what are you doing?” Marnie asked, realizing that this mysterious woman was sliding off her skirt, exposing her. 

“Shhhh. Lay back and relax, diaper times are your favorite.” Madam Myriam said, brushing her hand on the girl’s pale thigh. 

Marnie relaxed back, getting comfortable but confused why she suddenly felt happy, like she was excited for a… diaper change? Her eyebrows furrowed, perplexed with her conflicting emotions. The logical part of her brain was telling her to run, yet, her feelings and emotions wanted her to stay and be pampered by this wicked witch. Was she under a spell? No, it had to be that damn potion! Marnie stared up at the ceiling, awkward and face flushed from her satin black panties being slipped off.

“Looks like someone was about to have an oopsie already!” Madam Myriam exclaimed melodically with a warm smile.

Marnie looked at her satin white panties that were thrown to the side, with a dark patch in the middle as she felt a sticky wetness near her crotch, as if she wet herself. Had she? She hadn’t wet herself like a toddler since… well, she couldn’t remember! Marnie squirmed as she felt a cool wetness touch her, looking down in surprise to see Madam Myriam wiping her. She watched as powder was soon sprinkled onto her pale skin. 

“Lift your bottom.” Madam said as Marnie obeyed, embarrassingly. A fluffy diaper was plopped underneath, “What a good girl! Down now.” Her legs almost automatically lowered, as if she was a well-conditioned robot. The front of the fluffy diaper was spread across her front section, being taped snugly over. 

“Stand and Myra will help you into your cute little skirt.” She said as Marnie followed her instructions. 

“I thought your name was…”

“It’s Myra now. Miss Myra to you.” She smiled wide, kissing the little witch’s forehead before helping the poor girl into her skirt and giving her back her satchel, cloak and wand, “Now be careful with this, young lady.” She said sternly. 

“Um, so why the…” Marnie trailed off, looking down to her lower section and up, “diaper?”

Miss Myra smiled, “You’ll know soon, little miss. Now off you go, shoo shoo. Go to home immediately, the clock is tick, tick, ticking!” She said in a melodic fashion.

“What do you-“ Marnie tilted her head in confusion as Miss Myra took her hand and lead her to the bead curtain, pushing her to leave, “Okay, uh, bye!” 

Marnie went through the thick bead layers and through the curtain to the outside as the sun was setting. She scrunched her eyes and shook her head in confusion to what all happened. Madam Myriam turned into Miss Myra and, for some reason, Marnie liked Miss Myra? What had shifted in a matter of minutes? Marnie clearly didn’t know and really didn’t understand why she had a thick diaper on. She wasn’t a baby! Why did Miss Myra put her in it and why did Marnie like it?

Marnie didn’t know, but she would find out later that night.

[Lionsheart]

6 hours ago, Hopsalot said:

I’m glad to see you back! Normally you see witches stealing the youth of others not a mutually beneficial thing (at least from my point of view, perhaps Marnie disagrees, though it seems she likes her diaper now). Can’t wait to see what else happens to Marnie though  

Thanks, it's great to be back! I'm glad you mentioned this because there's a reason behind why but it will make sense later on??

[Jayme]

Love your story. Marnie seems to be stuck in a situation she may not like but she knows it won't kill her. Maybe she will have better luck with her power as the situation resolves?

[Lionsheart]

So here's where a new character comes in that was inspired off of the movie Howl's Moving Castle. The plot is of course not the same and nor is the character exact at all but it is similar. I thought I should preface this because anyone who's seen the movie may be wondering 'hey this seems a lot like that one movie...'(great, incredible movie to watch by the way I may add!). Anywho, here's chapter 3!

 

Chapter 3: The Sunset

Marnie wanted to rip the diaper off but couldn’t until she got into her tent. She walked through the Moore’s Crossing as the sun began to set, the red and orange horizons slowly becoming a purple and dark blue. She got to the gates and walked to the forest where she found a tree covered area near the riverbank to set up camp. Marnie was tired, exhausted, from her day with the weird witch who had diapered her and nostalgia hitting her like a brick. She tried to forget about what had happened since she left unscathed, but, alas, that was a difficult feat considering her circumstances. 

As she pulled out her tent and used her wand to lift the poles with magic, the sun had set completely. A moment later, she felt her body slump, her chin hitting a rock as she rolled a few feet, almost knocking her unconscious. Marnie tried to speak, but nonsense coming out and slob. Marnie felt herself drool, her hand going up to feel her face but her thumb immediately going in her mouth like a baby. 

She suckled on her thumb as she felt herself wet her diaper in the middle of the forest. Thankfully, she was wearing the diaper that swelled as her body went on it’s back, not listening to her mind screaming, “GET OFF THE GROUND AND GO INTO THE TENT!” It wasn’t safe to be out in the middle of the forest! Let alone in the night where ghouls, dark souls, black witches, vampires, and predators came to find the living to feast upon. She already escaped being eaten by a witch she didn’t need anyone else preying on her soft flesh! 

Through her internal battles in the woods for thirty minutes, she began crying, snot flying from her nose as she kicked and squirmed alone in the forest. After attempting to regain any type of muscle control of her body, she had given up. Her body nor actions wouldn’t listen as much as she tried. When she tried to touch her face to wipe away snot, her thumb immediately went into her mouth. When she tried to crawl or walk to the tent, she’d roll. When she became upset, she began wailing which didn’t help her situation in the slightest! It was like her body was making a joke out of her! 

Marnie sniffled in the dark, hearing snapping and the noise of a magic duel in the distance. She could hear thumps and loud crashing sounds as she began whining more. Ugh, I’m definitely going to die tonight! Marnie thought as her sounds were almost a cry for help. 

A large dark figure crashed into her tent, taking the tent down and into the tree near her. Marnie looked at the figure crushed into her tent on the tree, softening it’s landing. A dark, ginormous figure was hurt, it’s wing scathed as it stretched, dark, black filled almost-human-like eyes looking past Marnie to figures in the distance. It’s head, part human with black feathers as hair, noticing Marnie crying and sucking her thumb on the ground, quickly enclosing it’s wing over her protectively as a bright green light hit the figure. A charred, burnt flesh smell, mixed with cologne enveloped Marnie’s nostrils as the figure bared down, it’s inner wings scooping her in it’s claws as the green light ceased. She felt gravity leave her as they glided up to the sky, a feeling of panic going through Marnie being taken by this strange creature.

Marnie held her thumb in her mouth as her cries ceased and she peaked out of the wings, looking down to the ground that was far far away. She felt her diaper become warmer from her sudden fear of being dropped by this creature. Well, if the witch didn’t eat her, then this half-human half-bird person would, right?

In light of her panic, she was in awe of the beauty of the calm skies as she giggled, a cute sound erupting from her chest that she was immediately embarrassed of. They began descending as she felt a tickle in her tummy, causing another giggle. She could hear a rumble of what sounded like a deep chuckle on the wings of the massive black bird creature she was with. Could he understand human? Marnie didn’t know. She couldn’t tell if this was a creature or a man to be quite honest. 

It halted on the metal roof, gigantic claws scraping the top as it gently lowered, wings flapping as wind surrounded them from the great wing span. One wing almost mechanically flapped in pain as the creature slowly climbed off the roof and onto the cabin of the home, slowly becoming smaller, more human-like. His large black feathered wings tucked behind him as he still held Marnie with his feather coated arms, not knowing if he should set her down. 

Marnie could see human structures appearing on the creatures body, black feathers slowly retracting into it's human skin on his face, yet his body stayed feathered. His wings were still behind him, but his pale human man face was beginning to appear, eyes dark brown, almost black and face handsome, chiseled. Marnie was becoming sleepy as she looked up at him and he looked down to her, beginning to cradle her as he noticed something seemed wrong with the girl. He entered his moving home, the rusted metal door swinging open as he entered with this lost, confused girl. 

“You brought a girl back again, Hal?!” Calvin, Hal’s Siamese black and white cat asked, trotting angrily beside Hal as he walked in. Marnie’s eyes lit up looking at the talking, fluffy cat. 

“Not by choice.” Hal said, breathlessly, still trying to be strong whilst his injuries suffered in the duel. 

“Mhm, I bet! Well, she seems, uh-“

“She’s not well, I found her near the battleground crying.” Hal said, setting her on the guest bed as Marnie rolled, dirt speckled diapered bottom showing in plain sight. Marnie wanted to die on the inside as she acted unlike herself in front of these strangers 

“Oh.” Calvin said, standing on the desk. 

“Can you watch her for me tonight? I need to regenerate before there’s nothing left of me to deal with…” Hal trailed off, looking over the girl, curling up with her thumb stuck in her mouth, nursing it as she closed her eyes. He pulled the covers from under her, laying them on top and tucking her in. 

“Sure, but we don’t know if this girl is a serial killer! I’m not getting stuck with another black witch again!” Calvin said, sitting at the end of the bed as Hal looked wearily to the girl and Calvin, feeling what was left of his light draining from his body.

“She’s not. I can’t get a read on her, but I can guarantee she’s not.”

“Hal! Wait, that’s not a good enough answer for me that you can’t even read her!” Calvin said with a huff underneath his white whiskers as the door slowly closed, “And who’s going to change her?! I don’t like this idea!” Hal smiled weakly at his furry companion’s concerns as he slumped up the steep stairs to his layer. He was almost slime as he inched into his room, a wounded warlock that needed to regenerate what was almost permanently damaged.

[Sarah Penguin]

Enjoying this

[Lionsheart]

Hi guys! I haven't posted in a while from a busy past year but now I have decided to get back into writing and found a lot of inspiration for this story specifically. I had a few chapters I didn't post and am actively writing for this story in perfect time for Halloween. I'm looking to post more than a few chapters before Halloween so I hope everyone enjoys these few chapters and let me know what you all think! Your feedback helps to encourage me to keep posting here.

 

Chapter 4: The Sleeping Warlock

Marnie awoke in a jolt, sitting up straight. Was it all a dream? That answer was quickly shown as she felt wetness between her legs. She looked around, seeing a Victorian style room with an antique dresser, black wooden framed bed and deep red wallpaper. Marnie looked around for the talking cat, where was that cat? She shook her head, pulling down her skirt and deciding it’d be best to leave as soon as possible. She looked out the window and saw a gigantic drop, was she on a cliff?! How’d she get here? Oh, right, the bird man dropped her off…?

Marnie slipped out of the room, quietly going to the door. She tilted her head at the three locks on the door. She quickly took off each one, hearing a voice behind her as she was about to slip out. 

“Hey, don’t leave! You’re not-“ The talking cat trotted quickly, knowing his tiny body wasn’t going to stop her and his cat meows that only translated to Hal would do no good. Knowing Hal, he’d sleep through her leaving and, not to mention, probably sleep for a whole day or two after a battle like that. Only Calvin could halt this girl but he had a feeling he wouldn’t be very persuasive. 

Marnie closed the door quickly as she was relieved the other side of the house was on land. She ran down the steps and jumped down the rocks to the grass that stretched far up a hill with nothing seeable beyond. She ran up the hill and at the top, seeing a stretch of forest and Moore’s Crossing far beyond. It may take a half a day for her to get back to her tent and, hopefully, her satchel, but it’d be worth it. She couldn’t go back to that bird being or person or whatever he was and his cat, especially since acting like a complete infant last night! It was mortifying that she had no intention of going back to.

 

- - -

 

Hal arose from his deep slumbers, looking at his watch to see he overslept, once again. He had slept for two days and he thought Calvin would know to wake him, especially if he had a guest sleeping over! Calvin got up quickly, his tall, slender and muscular body awakening as he ran down his stairs, scared that the mysterious girl may have been dead. He opened the guest room’s door to a messy bed, and no girl. His warm dark brown eyes, usually serious and knowing, perplexed. 

“She ran out the door once she woke up, Hal. I tried stopping her, I did!” Calvin said, suddenly beneath him. 

“What if she’s dead Calvin? What direction did she go?” Hal began walking to the door, opening it as he looked out to the distant hill, about to extend his wings. 

“That was a day and a half ago and she is long gone. Also, you’re hurt and need to heal.” Calvin sighed on the couch behind him, “Just take a bath and forget about it.” 

“I had a premonition about her. Something, confusing. Really muddled.” Howl went to his kitchen, starting his morning brew to regenerate his body for his next battle, “I can barely remember it now. Which is peculiar because… its normal for my premonitions to be clear, vivid, yet…” He trailed off shaking his head.

“It was probably just a normal dream, Hal. Warlocks can have those too you know.” Calvin said as he cleaned his paws. 

“I don’t dream.” Hal said, darkly as he went through his empty fridge. 

Calvin rolled his bright yellow eyes, “Oh, please. You’re dark and mysterious but that doesn’t fool me, Hal!” 

“That girl is just… pulling at me, so strongly. I can’t pinpoint it. It’s frustrating, like something is at the tip of my tongue and I can’t think of it.” Hal said, sitting down as his tea kettle heated, pensive, “I couldn’t even read her mind, no thoughts, nothing. How strange.” He mused, thoughtfully looking at nothing.

“You seem to have compassion for someone else besides yourself… this is highly unlike you, Hal. It’s worrying me.”

Hal shook his head, ignoring Calvin in deep thought, “She was just crying in the middle of that forest, innocently. I didn’t see her until I crashed through a tent into a tree. It was as if she needed help. Whoever was taking care of her must have left or something.”

“When did you start growing a heart? Did it just stomp you in the chest? I’m kind of missing my dark-natured emotionless friend here.” 

A corner of Hal’s mouth rose slightly, “Forget it.” He mumbled, going back to his regeneration potion.
 

[Sarah Penguin]

[Lionsheart]

Also, just to preface these next few chapters are short but I have longer ones to come in the next postings(i should be posting every few days here). Thanks for the  Sarah! ❤️

 

Chapter 5: BWF (Best Witch Friends)

Marnie walked around Moore’s Crossing, circling the area she had been to the night before where she met Miss Myra or… Madam Myriam? Whoever that witch was, Marnie had to find her. 

She passed multiple shops and bakeries, yet every alleyway she went through no mysterious hut-like shop appeared like the one she saw. She avidly smelled the air in search of that enchanting chicken pot pie smell but to no avail, there was nothing that could lead her down the alleyway she originally found two days prior. 

Marnie cursed under her breath, this witch who cursed Marnie must have used a transfiguration spell on the alleyway for her hut! Marnie shook her head, knowing full well that a witch able to use transfiguration spells on themselves was a skill any witch or wizard could do with careful study… however, transfiguration on an alleyway in Moore’s Crossing was an indicator of a gift only of the most powerful of witches and wizards. Moore’s Crossing was protected by the Circle and the Knight’s of Moore’s Crossing, to be able to ‘hack’ it’s grounds without being found with illegal magical use was a feat in itself. Whoever or whatever Marnie was up against was not just the average ‘witch’ Marnie had dealt with in the past. Marnie sighed, slumping against the wall of an alleyway and feeling defeated. Part of Marnie wished she had went to university to learn more skills… but then again, Marnie’s powers had been dwindling for a while, what was the point? She was a pathetic, incapable witch that only captured black magic witches through simple potions and ‘tricks’.

As she slumped and wallowed, she watched the sun began to go lower in the sky and a red, orange and purple hues took over the horizon… and then suddenly an idea clicked in the young witches brain as she ran to her tent in a hurry. 

Minutes later, Marnie’s cauldron bubbled as the an enchanted three large bubbles popped went off in her cauldron in a pattern, “Hello?” Wendy, her good friend from grade school who was studying abroad in the Mortal Realm, answered in confusion over the bubbles.

“Hey Wendy… um, are you free to visit tomorrow by any chance? Major issue and I can’t explain over ya know…” 

“Are you calling me from your cauldron Marnie? You sound murky and why don’t you just get a cellphone like the rest of the Realms? How old of a witch are you, that’s what phones are for!” Her friend teased her, “But, like, how serious is this because I have a lecture on Friday and I can only be away for two days.”

Marnie rolled her eyes, “Look, I’ve told you there are reasons why I can’t own any electronics right now. I-“ Marnie looked at her watch face ticking closer to 7:30 PM when the sun would set, “I don’t have time to explain but this is a major thing I need help with. Just please come by my place tomorrow at 8 AM KRT(Knight’s Realm Time).” 

“That’s in 6 hours here Marnie, UGH, you’re lucky I enjoy you as a best witch friend enough to do this.” She heard her friend sigh with a pause, “I’ll be there in 6 hours MRT(Mortal Realm Time) then.”

Marnie began drinking her concocted potion as the small sliver of light from the outside of her tent began dwindling darker, “Thanks Wendy, I owe you big time for this!”

Marnie sprinkled her magic dust over the cauldron, stopping the bubbles and hanging up the call. Marnie quickly hopped in her bed, knowing the sleeping potion would put the witch into a deep slumber for a good 11 hours, enough time that she would surpass the hours her curse would begin.
 

[Sarah Penguin]

[kerry]

Where is Chapter 5?

[Lionsheart]

40 minutes ago, kerry said:

Where is Chapter 5?

I am notorious for mislabeling chapter numbers or skipping numbers on accident... I meant Chapter 5 I do apologize haha! 

[Guilend]

I love it

[Lionsheart]

Chapter 6:  Spagrooted

Marnie woke up the next morning with a wet stain in her bed and slobber on her pillow. This was becoming a normal morning routine within two days to quickly hop in her shower, throw her items into her cauldron for two minute washes and clean her bed. As she was hanging her items to dry on her indoor clothes pin line, she heard a knock on her door. 

“Give me a second!” The young witch sprinkled her mattress cleaning powder over her bed which absorbed and cleaned the urine soaked sheets. Marnie straightened her satin black dress and cloak, gathering herself before letting her friend in.

“Marnie!” Wendy rushed in for a hug, almost toppling the smaller witch as she squeezed and looked at her friends distraught green eyes, “Are you okay?”

Marnie frowned, “No, not at all.”

Wendy looked at her friend, she grew up with Marnie in grade school and high school and has never seen her friend so…shaken. Marnie was always the bravest in her class, she stood up to bullies for Wendy growing up and impressed many professors across the years. Every time she saw Marnie after graduation, Marnie seemed excited about her new career path as a witch bounty hunter. This was a stark contrast to the current state of her good friend. Her friend looked embarrassed and sullen, thinner than she had ever seen her not to mention. Wendy was perplexed by the sudden intense awkwardness she felt.

Marnie stuttered, “I-Wendy it’s not good.” She sauntered to her small oak dining table, sitting down sullenly, “I’m…”Her eyes watered, suddenly feeling more emotional than she’s felt in a long time, “I’m galoosed.” Marnie tried saying ‘cursed’ but the words wouldn’t work as she tried explaining to her good friend Wendy. She put a finger up, “I am candles.” She put her hands on her face in frustration. Why was nothing in her body listening to her!? 

“What? Are you okay, Marnie?” Wendy asked, her bright red eyebrows furrowing from her friends sudden weirdness. 

“No, no I’m not. I need help. I’m spagrooted!” Marnie stomped her foot in frustration that she couldn’t say the word ‘cursed’.

Wendy looked at her friend in confusion for a moment and then uttered, “Holy shit, you’re cursed aren’t you?!” Marnie nodded excitedly that her friend understood, “Wow, I didn’t know it was true that cursed people couldn’t say their cursed! How cool…” Wendy shook her head, “I mean... that SUCKS but like, kind of cool that the stories we read in grade school were based on real stories.” 

There was a moment of silence until Wendy spoke again, “How? Who did this?” Her friend didn’t speak, staring at the ground, “I’m sure you could go back to that person and find out how to reverse it, right?”

 
“I went back, Wendy, and the location was transfigured.” Marnie shook her head, “I have no magic anyways, it’s gone. I’ve tried and it’s gone. I’m out of options.” Wendy frowned, knowing her friend was losing magic for a long time now. 

“Do you know the name of who did this?”

Marnie tried to speak to say the name, but only nonsense came out, “Gabagrish-“ She grunted, shaking her head.

Marnie tried again, uttering a few gibberish words, “Aba ooola do do.” She frowned, “Fuck me.” She sat back, feeling defeated. There was a silence as Marnie gathered herself and fought back the tears, deciding to reveal her dark secrets to her friend, “Heck, I can’t even go through the portal to the Knight Realm by myself to even be a mortal for the rest of my life if I even wanted! I need a traveling permit and that takes weeks, let alone they’ll see my warrants out for arrest.” A tear began to fall that Marnie quickly flicked away, wanting to appear strong. 

“You have warrants out for your arrest?!” Wendy exclaimed in surprise.

“I have a warrant out in the Mortal Realm for exposing a human or two to magic, it was by accident Wen.” She shook her head, for the first time in a long time, not knowing how to go about her situation.

“Well, how do you think you can get out of this?”

Marnie sat for a few moments, thinking quietly until her eyes lit up, “The restricted section at Moore’s Crossing Library. If I can get a book from there, it may have the answers on how to reverse the…” Marnie didn’t say the word but Wendy understood. “Then I can figure out the rest.”

Wendy walked over, sitting across from Marnie, knowing she needed to help her distraught friend, “I’ll take you tomorrow, don’t you still have a few drops of that potion you use left?” 

Marnie frowned, ruffling through her bag until she found her potion, swirling the remnants, “About two and a half drops at most which I have to take all at once or nothing will happen.” 

“I’ll give you a strand of my hair, I have a student permit to access the Moore’s Crossing Library.” 

 

Marnie nodded, looking sadly into her glass triangular vial that held what was left of her magic knowing what she had to do. The last time she could harness her powers was in the liquid she stared at gloomily, knowing her days of magic were coming to an end. Marnie might as well consider living in the Mortal Realm, but there were many things she’d have to face… like the law. 
 

Chapter 7: Mar-gah-nie Blairwitch

Marnie had became a great potion master, the best in her graduating year in fact. She studied potions to no end and learned the secrets of the cauldron through trial and error brews, mostly on herself. Once, she had accidentally grown a beard with an androgyny potion she was gifting to a fellow classmate. It was all fun and games until she realized she had to shave every morning before class, at lunch and through the week until the potion wore off.

“Marn, I like what you’ve done with the place, quite artistic, especially the ceiling.” Wendy said, watching her dark, medium length haired and pale friend plop her strand of bright red hair into the cauldron, simmering and bubbling a dark red. 

Marnie looked up to where her friend was pointing to, at the rips in her tent’s ceiling that had been stitched earlier that morning. Marnie scrunched her face, trying to suppress the memory of the birdman who had seen her in her mortifying state. She had hoped that she would never come across him again, considering her last circumstances. 

“Is that what cursed you?” Wendy asked, staring up.

 “No, birds keep coming near my tent.” She wasn’t ready to revisit her curse and tell her friend what happened… especially anywhere near the embarrassing details. Nor did Marnie think her curse would even let her explain what had happened that dark night. 

Wendy placed her hands on her hips, her satin red kimono, fluttering, “That doesn’t look like a bird, Marn. That’s some type of dark Avian marking from...” Wendy squinted at it, going off in a tangent as she usually did, “Don’t you remember that really boring history class with Professor Grigore? He told us about the hybrid human and bird people who lived centuries ago… something about that Great Avian Migration and the whole group was murdered by the Obscure?” Wendy said, her remembrance of Realm History was much more vivid that Marnie’s. To be quite honest, Marnie slept through many of her history classes, due to they were so boring. 

Marnie shook her head, “I really don’t remember. My magic is receding as is my memory. My life story I guess.” She sighed gloomily, stirring the contents of the cauldron, waiting for a puff of red steam to signify that the brew was done. 

“That’s not just a bird, Marnie. Whatever scratched your tent was something very dark. I mean, look at the black blood on the edges!” She exclaimed, eyes wide from the large marks going through the whole middle of Marnie’s tent. 

Marnie shook her head, “It’s not of dark magic nor sort. I can guarantee that.”
“How can you be so sure?” Wendy looked over to her friend in awe, wondering if she had really lost it! Any sign of dark forces presented themselves in signs. Black blood was only of the wicked, every good witch knew that!

Marnie didn’t want to say, “I just know. The end.” She said, a puff of red steam going in her face as she looked down with a smile at her perfected brew. If someone possessed dark magic, then they wouldn’t have helped someone so vulnerable, hurt. The birdman, Avian, person had protected Marnie, at a cost to himself. That was no dark force. Marnie knew that darkness and evil were deceptive, but no form of evil would sacrifice themselves for good, right? Although her best friend had a point, Marnie’s heart said otherwise to trust that fellow. Much worse could have conspired that night and she was thankful she wasn’t ate by the creature. 

 

After a period of silence, Wendy asked, “May I ask what the curse is, Marnie?”
 

Marnie shook her head, “Even if I could tell you, I wouldn’t.” 

Wendy shrugged, understanding the dilemma and not poking any further although she wanted to so badly. Marnie sighed in relief, happy that her friend gave her some privacy given the circumstances. 

A few hours transpired as the girls reminisced about school trips to Moore’s Crossing as they walked the storefronts, eyes scanning the crowds for the witch that had cursed Marnie. They approached the large pillars surrounding Moore’s Crossing Library and large steps to it’s entrance. The goliath library stood high, between the Guilded Goblin’s Bank and famous Moore’s Crossing statue. It held with in the most expanse book collection among the 7 realms. All lost, misplaced or vanished books were sent to the sorting dungeons where it was said that trolls guarded to protect the secrets of the realms. 

“You ready?” Wendy asked, holding her potion in her hand in the bathroom stall as Marnie took out hers.

“I’ve been ready for the longest time.” Marnie took in a breathe, tilting her head back as she chugged the last droplets of her magic boosting potion. 

“Cheers.” Wendy said, clinking her transmutation potion to Marnie’s underneath the confines of the adjacent bathroom stall frames. 

The Moore’s Crossing Library was impeccably enchanted, and, although Marnie had a potion, the spell binding the doors would catch if there was multiple forms of a soul entering. If Wendy was still in the form of Wendy, Marnie couldn’t be Wendy. Marnie drank the bitter potion, tasting of sour candy. Her and Wendy coughed in the bathroom of Starbrew, across from the library. 
Marnie felt herself begin slowly growing taller, hair twisting into dark brown or black waves, changing color into a ginger red. 

“Finally, I look like a real woman!” Marnie exclaimed in her own voice, behind an unfamiliar sight as she left the bathroom stall. Her eyes turned a bright blue in the reflection and she smiled as it looked like she got an instant lip plumper. 

“And I’m finally cute and small. Ah, it feels great not having to worry about hiding in small places.” Wendy said as she walked out with a wink, nudging Marnie who glared back, seeing her natural dark brown and mixed black hair looked unevenly cut under her droopy vintage witch’s hat.

“Hey! You’re supposed to be a good friend and tell me when my hair is uneven!” The girls giggled to themselves, finally leaving the restroom. 

“I thought that was your style: edgy, cute and careless. Sorry!” She smiled playfully, “Goodluck, Marnie!” Wendy whispered in a hush as she parted ways from Marnie, in Wendy’s form.

Marnie held Wendy’s white purse on her arm awkwardly as she walked through the doors that enchantedly opened themselves for her. She nodded to the half-troll, half-human receptionist as she approached, “Wendy Mortical with request to enter restricted section.” She smiled, showing teeth awkwardly and giving her student badge to the gargantuan receptionist that had arms the size of Marnie’s legs. Her heart pounding that she may be denied.

“You are permitted to enter with restricted section access, sixth floor to the left, next.” She looked past Marnie in annoyance from another young witch wanting to go to the restricted section, as if she were entitled, as she handed the badge back. 

Marnie sighed in relief as she walked forward into the great library. She wiggled her fingers, not even feeling a tickle of magic from her potion. She knew the potion should hold up, but, if she loses her magic, the potion protection enchantment her and Wendy performed earlier can fade due to the library’s protection spells. Marnie had a feeling her magic was gone that no potion could protect her from, meaning, she had to find what she was searching for quickly. 

Marnie looked to the hundreds of shifting staircases leading up to different floors of the library. It was like a tangled maze to find the restricted section. Sixth floor to the left, Marnie repeated in her mind, looking for a staircase that would lead her there as she could look up to all 7 floors. 

She read signs from a far, her eyes falling on the ‘Restricted Section’ sign on the sixth floor. Marnie began walking ahead to the stair case, walking up it to the second floor before the staircase shifted to the wrong direction. As her foot hit the floor, the stone stairs rumbled beneath her, shifting as another stone staircase connected near where she was. 

“Strange.” Marnie said under her breath, the new staircase almost leading her to the sixth floor where the restricted section’s entrance was. 

As she climbed up to the sixth floor out of seven floors, breathless from the climb, she looked around for anyone nearby as she felt a shift on her leg. She looked down, seeing her foot had shrank in Wendy’s shoe. 

“Shit.” She cursed, walking forward and reading the sign at the empty circular desk that laid before the wooden ‘restricted section’ sign hanging above:

“Beware: if you are not permitted past this area, trespassing or with malicious intent, you will be dealt with accordingly.” 

Marnie hesitated before pushing past the enchanted field into the section. Dim golden lights hung at the high ceilings where long ladders stretched fifteen feet high. Where would she even begin with her time restraints? Hundreds to thousands of book laid ahead on the high ranging shelving! She should have had a better plan of attack.

Marnie had done a bit of research prior too, but sorting through all of the books would be another story! She was looking for a book by Artemis Locksmith about curses, blasphemy in specific. If she could figure out the hex that was cast, she could figure out how to break it. Her eyes scanned the books, quickly walking as she saw hundreds of large volumes of books, smelling like ancient enchanted paper. She wobbled, feeling imbalanced suddenly. Her eyes widened, looking down to her leg that shrank to regular size. This was not good! She thought, panicking. If the potion wore off, she could be visiting the King and Queen for a testimony in a few hours!

She pulled the satin hood of Wendy’s red cloak over her head, walking briskly with intent to find the damn book! As she was in the middle of the third aisle, she began climbing a ladder, seeing a curse section. She hung onto the ladder with her arm strength as a foot gave out under her, one shoe slipping off. 

Marnie cursed under her breath, eyes reading the authors, going to the ‘L’ section on the 8th shelf that would be a stretch for her to reach. If she had magic, she would have moved the ladder herself; however, she didn’t so she had to put her best human foot forward and make her body stretch far enough as a mortal would.

Marnie struggled, feeling the curls of her hair straighten into her dark hair as she reached with what she had left of Wendy’s form: her long arms. Her fingertips shortened as she wiggled them to the book, not noticing someone studying her, approaching.

Hal was watching from a far, for quite some time, at a strange girl with a red hood. She looked disformed as she walked with a limp, then, suddenly not. He knew she was under a potion and enchantment at that point, following from a far. Hal had been in the restricted section for a long while, about to leave until he had seen the girl. Her red hair turned a dark brown as she climbed a high ladder, dropping one of her shoes. Familiarity struck him as her cheeks flushed with color and her eyes turned to green. 

The girl! It was her, the strange girl from a few days before! Where had she gone and what was she doing here? Didn’t she have someone looking after her? Hal looked around, seeing no one in sight. He almost dropped his ancient, fragile seemed book as the girl reached towards a book Hal could have easily reached for her. 

Marnie stretched a little farther as her arm went back to normal, hand grasping the binding of the disheveled blue book with a smile. Her eyes widened as her other hand went back to normal in the same moment, leaving her without a grasp on the side of the ladder. She yelped, tumbling off the ladder as a tall figure swept under her, grasping her in a cradle as she looked up in panic. She was caught! The book underneath her arms, held tight.

Her green eyes met dark brown ones, as she was breathless, confused by how she hadn’t noticed he seemingly came out of nowhere to her rescue. She couldn’t utter a word as she looked up, face flushed. A weary smile formed on the corner of Hal’s mouth, a rare sighting for anyone who knew the dark, mysterious and kept-to-himself warlock. 

Hal placed the girl on the ground who clutched the book in one hand as she tried to speak, but couldn’t, “Where are your parents?” She was an adult, not a child! Her free hand’s thumb went to her mouth, sucking on it nervously. And, just her luck, every time she saw this tall, dark and handsome man she proved him otherwise. How frustrating! And it wasn’t even sunset! Marnie’s mind went immediately to her bladder, praying it wouldn’t give out because she didn’t have padding. 

Why was she acting like this? Marnie thought, frustrated that she couldn’t even speak to this mysterious guy who seemed… familiar? She looked up to his contemplative face, looking down to her from his almost twice her size structure. He had to be 7 or 8 feet tall and she was only 5 foot 2 on a good day! 

 “Excuse me, uh…” A gentlemen behind Hal halted, about to take another transmuted witch to Moore’s castle for questioning as he realized who was before him… a member of the Circle, the protector of the Knight’s realm: Hal Grimsbane III.

“Sorry I didn’t, um, do you have this issue handled then?” The newly recruited protector of the Moore’s Crossing library, Paul, said, feeling the intensity of Hal’s gaze. 

Hal’s eyebrows furrowed back to the girl and sighed, “Yes, she’s with me.” He knew if he didn’t state that she was, the girl would be taken into the Knight’s of the 7 Realm’s custody, which wasn’t right considering her disposition. There was something wrong with this girl that Hal was determined to figure out. This couldn’t be mere coincidence but rather something of importance to cross this strange girls path twice. 

“Oh, uh, okay, then. I guess I’ll just act like this didn’t happen, but, uh, she has to leave.” He pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose awkwardly. 

“I understand. Thank you.” Hal said politely, grabbing the young girl’s hand and shoe on the ground. He pulled, but she stood, still with her thumb in her mouth as Paul gave her a weird look. Marnie took her hand down, realizing Hal was pulling so she trotted with him. Her legs wobbled as she walked, as if she were drunk on too much brew.

Hal sighed, realizing that walking with her was not going to work at his long strides and her tiny wobble. He reached down, picking her up and cradling her as he walked down the stairs, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone who would see him. He was not one to show physical affection, even in a private setting, nor had he for many decades, yet here the warlock was striding out the library doors with a young girl in his arms. He had hoped this wouldn’t get into the Realm Chronicles because he dreaded the teasing of his fellow Circle members for such an act of compassion. 

As he got out of the doors he took a sharp turn to a back alleyway that was empty, walking briskly to a wooden portal door to his moving home. He entered, switching the door’s portal to a new location quickly after setting the girl down. 

Marnie was screaming on the inside, not knowing full-well how to contain her embarrassment for acting like such a child. Who was this man who kept reappearing? She had heard his name before… Hal, was it? It was still daylight out, yet her curse hit her after she fell from the ladder. Maybe it was the potion and spell wearing off, magic completely gone? Fuck, she couldn’t be a toddler forever! Especially in the presence of this mysterious warlock who had better things to do than care for her. 

“Well, well, looks like you brought Miss Tinkles back.” Calvin trotted silently down the hall, looking at a scene of Hal with the mysterious young girl once more. Marnie wanted to growl at the cat for making fun of her.

“Don’t say that, Calvin, it’s rude to our guest.” He snapped, hearing a light tapping as he looked down, realizing what Calvin was referring too. 

Marnie began crying, mortified that she wasn’t just acting like a child, but wetting herself like a baby who didn’t know how to control herself. She wanted to hide from the embarrassment! As those thoughts entered her mind, her body moved forward, head nestling into Hal who was frozen, looking to Calvin.

“I’m not cleaning it, I don’t have opposable thumbs. Your problem, Hal.” Calvin turned around, “I’m going to file my nails, good riddens.” 

Hal sighed, his heart warming from it’s icy slumbers as he rubbed the little girl’s back, cooing her, “Shhhh, shhhhh. We’ll get you cleaned up.” He picked her up from the under pits, pee still trickling down her leg as he held her a stretch away from him as she dangled in the air. 

He went down his dark hallway to his bathroom. He began warm water as he placed her bottom on the toilet, walking to his closet for any bubbles to throw in. He found a piece of lavender softening potion that he placed drops into the cast iron claw-footed tub. 

Marnie was sniffling, watching the tall man in a large black cloak and medium length, straight hair was pacing in thought as the bathtub filled and a beautiful lavender scent enveloped the room. He took off his cloak, placing it on his door hook. He unbuttoned his white dress shirt, not chancing ruining his attire while bathing a, well… child. As he turned away, Marnie’s blurred eyes saw scars across the back of his right arm, with a feather’s edge poking out. He was still hurt, wasn’t he? She thought, looking at him in an awe.

His body was pale, with swirls of dark, ancient ink across his side and scars across his strong chest. He kneeled, hesitating before taking off her red cloak and having her stand, removing her dress above her head. He wiggled her yellow-stained paisley undies to the floor before plopping her into the bubble filled tub with Wendy’s larger breasted bra still on that looked ridiculous on Marnie’s small chested frame. After she was in the water, he slipped off her bra, saving her the privacy. 

As Hal took a sponge and washed the girl, he couldn’t help but wonder if this was some type of curse. Either, the young girl was a baby in an young adults body or, an adult stuck in an adolescents actions. Maybe, she was transmuted from a baby to an adult, or, a possible curse. A transmutation potion wouldn’t last this long and a curse would have to be circumstantial. Such as a time or a place. If she were cursed, it would present itself in time. Hal had seen many things in his time, but this was… different. Although he’d come across curses and spells of this sort, he’d never witnessed it himself nor had to deal with it firsthand. 

Hal gently washed her, noticing her calmness as he washed her hair. Marnie closed her eyes, as humiliated as she was by her actions, there was a certain enjoyment in being cared for by someone else. To be completely vulnerable to someone. She enjoyed the feeling of someone else’s touch, although platonic, she enjoyed the gentle nature of this man. Marnie hadn’t ever been stark naked in front of a man before, let alone a stranger! It seemed that whoever this Hal was, was a warlock of some sort, and a powerful one at that, and was giving her as much privacy as the circumstances could let on.

Something awakened in Hal since he met this girl almost week ago now. It was a muddled, foggy feeling that was slowly rising. He couldn’t pinpoint what it was, or why it was with her, but it was concerning to him. The thing that concerned him was… Hal didn’t have any attachments, knowing that was the dangerous nature of being a warlock of the Circle. It was the sacrifice he learned the hard way. Sure, he had Calvin, but he was kept safe and was invisible to the naked eye. No one could talk to Calvin besides Hal, so it made a perfect hidden friend. 

Hal dried her off, placing her on the ground with the towel covering her as he walked out of the room. Marnie squirmed on the ground, scared she may wet again. She tried to calm herself, not thinking about her circumstances of her sudden babyfied state. She looked around the Victorian style room, knowing the warlock must be wealthy from his beautifully designed bathroom with crown molding in the ceiling and 19th century black wallpaper on the walls with a white wood trim.

Hal and Marnie’s eyes met as he walked back in with a few items in his hand. Talcum powder, terry cloth and pins with diaper cream. Although Marnie didn’t have much say over what her body did, her cheeks flushed bright red as she looked up to the ceiling, her thumb going in her mouth. 

A corner of Hal’s mouth went up as he looked at this baby-no-young girl acting like a toddler, nostalgia hitting him like a brick of the very very ancient time when he had a child of his own. It was dark times, so dark, Hal could not even reminisce of what was taken from him. It made his heart, or what was left of it, twinge in pain, one he had not felt in so very long. 

All these emotions, deep feelings, he hadn’t had for what felt like an eternity. He’d like to keep it that way, yet, this girl, young, innocent and… cute, had quite rapidly changed his detached, depressed path he was on, losing sight of why he had joined the Circle and stayed within during his journey through sacrifices. What had happened to this seemingly cold warlock? It was as if someone had kicked him in the chest and his heart had a beat, synchronously with a girl who was the equivalent of a stranger. 

Hal was confused as strong emotions were hitting him so roughly as he folded the terry cloth, hands moving with muscle memory from his past. He wasn’t surprised that he knew how to do it. It was like riding a horse or building a paper airplane to Hal, programmed into his memory, a skill he wouldn’t forget.

He raised the girl’s soft legs, sliding his make-shift diaper under her bottom, spreading diaper cream on her and sprinkling the talcom powder down quickly, patting it in as if she were a real baby. He let her squirming legs down, bringing the front over her and pinning the sides in snuggly. He sighed, knowing maybe the disposable diapers were a better bet and required less cleanup, but he liked the old-fashioned way. Maybe he’d consider other padding if he decided to further her care himself, which, logically, Hal shouldn’t, but, on the emotional level, his sight was getting hazy with this odd girl falling, quite literally, into his arms. What was he supposed to do? Feed her to the wolves? He couldn’t, no, wouldn’t allow that.

He helped her into a white sundress from one of his… ex-flings from some time ago. It was clean and Hal had nothing else that would fit her. Marnie sat up, beginning to crawl to her old clothes as Hal picked her up, one arm under her bottom as she was close to his strong jawline. Her arms, came up slightly, one hand touching a scar she saw over his pectoral muscle. Her hand, tracing it’s cold surface. Hal looked down in confusion, wondering why she was touching his scar. He sat on the couch, not knowing what to do as she sat in his lap, mesmerized by his scars. 

“So, what’s your name?” He asked, under his long black eyelashes. 

To Marnie’s surprise, she mumbled behind her thumb as she looked up, “Mar-gah-nie.” 

A light chuckle emanated from the warlock, almost in a croak. Hal hadn’t laughed in many years, yet, this was the second time since being in the presence of this girl. How strange! He thought, with a shake of his head.

“Margahnie, is that it?” 

Marnie smiled with a giggle, taking her thumb out with her thumb brushing Hal’s bare chest as he closed his eyes, trying to not resonate being repulsed from the feeling of baby slime touching his skin. Repulsion… odd, another feeling Hal hadn’t felt in so long! He placed Marnie on the couch, going over to the kitchen for a towel to wipe him and her off. It was becoming apparent he would have to buy some baby items and resize them with magic for this girl while he was with her. He couldn’t take care of a baby without the right supplies. 

Marnie felt disgusted that she had just done that. Yuck! She wanted the drool off her hand, let alone wiping it on someone else. 

Hal cleaned off her hand after cleaning himself, “So, Marnie it is?” Marnie bobbed her head up and down, the only way she could communicate fully. His dark eyes met hers as he kneeled in front of her, cleaning off her hand, “I like that name.” He smiled down, cleaning each finger with the warm rag. 

“I see you’ve adapted to the new daddy role well, Hal.” Calvin said, trotting into the room. Hal’s eyes narrowed, trying to ignore Calvin as he went to the kitchen, cleaning the rag before starting a kettle of tea. 

“You can sleep outside tonight.” Hal said quickly back in response.

“Ah, there’s the heartless man I once knew! I thought you were gone.” Calvin said, jumping on the couch’s arm near Marnie as she giggled at what Calvin said. Calvin’s bright eyes flicked to the girl, surprised at her sudden reaction to his statement. Could she understand him? No one besides Hal could!

“Calvin, please spare me your-” 

“Wait! Did she just giggle at what I said?” Calvin sat on his hind legs, staring at the bright-eyed girl who stared back. She reached for his tail as Calvin trotted a few steps back and sat on his hind legs in curiosity.

Hal was grabbing his dress shirt from the restroom, pulling it on and buttoning as he walked over to the living area near his grand fireplace where his dark brown leather couch sat. 

“Highly unlikely, Calvin.” He said, contemplating if placing his dress shirt on was the best idea. 

“Haaaal! The toddler has my tail!” Hal turned the corner in the hallway as Marnie was pulling Calvin’s tail to play with Calvin.

“Marnie no!” Hal said in a loud, domineering tone. He glided over to the couch as Marnie let go and began crying. 

Marnie tried to stop crying but she couldn’t. To be quite honest, a part of her was nervous by Hal’s suddenly loud tone. He was commanding and suddenly intimidating. She was not expecting it so quickly. Calvin trotted away to a safe distance.

“Aren’t you supposed to give her a time out or spanking for this?” Calvin jumped up to the counter where the girl couldn’t reach him easily. Hal stood in silence, feeling bad that his tone went so loud as she sat there, crying. He wanted to coo her but she also had to learn a lesson to not do that again. God forbid Hal wasn’t there and the girl yanked at Calvin’s tail! Hal couldn’t have that. As much as Calvin annoyed the warlock, he wouldn’t be so evil to throw Calvin to the toddler. 

Hal sighed, walking over to Marnie as her crying turned to sniffles as he approached, “Time out for pulling Calvin’s tail, 10 minutes in the corner.” He said, pulling her up by the armpits as she began crying again. The warlock new if he didn’t give a punishment she may do it again. 

Marnie couldn’t stop crying as Hal plopped her on her feet in the corner to stare at the wall. Even worse, she was so humiliated she began wailing in the corner. She tried calming herself but it wouldn’t stop. Her body failed her as her nose produced snot and her mouth wailed. She cursed in her head repeatedly as she was embarrassed on that she couldn’t stop. Even worse, she was tasting snot that dripped from her nose to her mouth… Disgusting! She thought.

Hal went back to his tea kettle silently. His ears hearing the piercing noise of his new baby wailing in the corner but trying to ignore it. He closed his eyes for a moment as he stood there, trying to gather his strength to not go back over and coddle her. I’ll coddle after the lesson. He thought to himself. 

“Can’t you see this is already a BIG problem Hal?” Calvin murmured to Hal as he jumped from the island to the counter top near the stove, sitting on his hindlegs. 

Hal opened his eyes, “And what is it that you suggest doing Calvin? Take her to an orphanage?” Hal said with a low and irritated voice. 

Calvin purred, “Turn her into the officials. They’ll figure it out. This isn’t a part of your job description may I remind you.” Hal didn’t respond, ignoring his companion, “She’s only been here not even an hour and this is a full-time job. How do you protect the Realm and an adult baby?” 

Hal growled coldly, “Funny that you think I take your input seriously. Do me a favor and go lick your paws in the other room.” 

Calvin growled back, “That was low, even for you Hal.” He jumped off the counter, leaving the room, “Have fun with your new responsibilities, I’m not helping you.” 

Marnie’s wailing calmed down as she stared at the corner. Marnie realized that if she just accepts the crying and embarrassment it stopped. Her body stopped trembling and the crying ceased to only sniffles for the remainder of the time-out. 

Hal came over and took her hand, guiding her over to the couch quietly. He sat down as Marnie was at his height when he sat.

“Marnie, what do you say after that?” Hal asked, speaking more to this girl as a small child than earlier that day. 

“I-I’m sowwy!” Marnie chopped with a funny fluctuation in her voice that made her sound very young.

Hal smirked by her cute nature, grabbing a few tissues from his side table and wiping her face from the snot, “Good girl, from now on know that Calvin is our friend, not a toy. You are not allowed to pull his tail ever again, nor hurt him, understand?” 

Marnie nodded, “Yeth.” 

“Good, I think it’s naptime for someone, hm?” Hal said, picking Marnie up.

Marnie wanted to growl that she wasn’t tired yet, she didn’t want a worse punishment from Hal. Calvin mentioned a spanking and that was the last thing Marnie wanted to experience. Hal was a very strong and intimidating person when angry, she didn’t want to see him when she was about to be spanked. 

He placed Marnie in the guest room’s bed as he tucked her in. She snuggled the sheets as his eyes glimmered. Marnie caught a strange look in the warlock’s eyes… it was a moment of happiness or enjoyment of the moment. She didn’t understand this look. It was confusing to the girl because she didn’t know this man at all. 

Marnie wasn’t sleepy and the next things that happened didn’t help. Marnie watched as the warlock began transfiguring the items in the room. The posts of the bed began growing into rails as the bed narrowed into a twin sized bed, rumbling under the small witch. Marnie’s jaw dropped as the warlock began shifting the wood of the dresser that creaked and rumbled as it expanded and shifted. Marnie was perplexed as she laid, wondering what the newer, wider tall dresser was supposed to be. The warlock pulled open a drawer and placed a towel down on top. Marnie blushed, realizing it was a changing table. Marnie watched as the corner dresser moved forward and to the other side of the room. Marnie giggled in awe as she got up on her knees and placed her hands on the rails of the new crib.

“No, it’s nap time Marnie.” The warlock sighed, knowing he probably should have transfigured with her in the other room. He gravitated the crib to the corner of the room where the dresser was and gently set it on the ground as Marnie giggled from being lifted by magic. She clapped her hands in a fascination. 

As annoying of the baby actions were, Marnie was very intrigued. She had never seen so effortless magic before her eyes. Marnie had dreamed of holding that type of magic, yet those were dreams she was letting go of. There were many laws that went into transfiguring that a witch or warlock needed a permit for but that was something Marnie had always wanted to go to college for. Marnie watched as Hal levitated the other dresser to the wall opposite of the crib. She was still in awe of how powerful this warlock was that she didn’t realize until the end that the room looked very different, now very fitting for a toddler. She blushed, realizing that toddler was her.
 

[Sarah Penguin]