Chapter 14 FOURTEEN
Maybe we could be friends, I have never had a friend before, I had never even had anyone I could talk to before; other than my parents.
I clear my throat, “Can I ask you something?”
She shrugged, “You can ask, but I can't promise I will answer.”
I thought for a moment, nervously cracking my fingers; a habit I should really try and shake. “How long have you been here? How did you become Berus’ apprentice?”
“Well, I guess I’ve been here for seventy years now.” She said her eyes seeming far away as she continued; “I was a young witch, not much older than you are now, and I had a choice, die or join Berus.”
I gasped inwardly, but tried not to show my shock, I knew that after you reach the age of twenty-one you could live for hundreds of years as an immortal and you don’t age so long as you don’t abuse your power as Berus had clearly done.
But I had never imagined that Blanche could be so old, nor had I imagined she could have been here for so long.
Could that be me if I played my cards, right? Could I live that long also?
A mature witch’s energy can keep them alive for eternity, depending on her power, men had it harder, not of all of them could last so long.
But men abused power, especially men like Berus.
“That is awful, I am really sorry.” I say, “But, why did he pick you, what is your power?” I asked her.
She didn’t answer at first and I was left thinking that I had stepped out of line, that maybe I should have left the questions for another day.
Blanche placed the scrambled egg in front of me, with two slices of toast before moving back towards the cooker to finish her own.
“Well, the same as Berus, I can conjure the dead, bring people back from the other side. It isn't easy, and takes a lot of practice, but once I got the hang of it, I became a natural.” She pauses, frowning, “If I say so, I am now just as strong as my master.”
I nodded, unsure if I completely understood, but more than a little terrified, that was a banned power, much like my own.
Was the prince collecting those that were more powerful than the average witch or warlock?
Why did he want me?
I couldn’t exactly control my ability yet, nor could I shape shift into anything other than a domestic house cat, what use could I possibly be?
I jumped slightly when Blanche sat down next to me, lost in my own thoughts.
I do that a lot, drift away into my mind. It’s where I am safe.
It’s where no one can hurt me.
She smiles warmly before digging into her fried egg on toast, my stomach rumbling at the food I had in front of me, though I felt slightly sick, unsure whether I should eat or not.
I gritted my teeth, shovelling the food in as fast as I can, I didn’t want to be rude when she had spent time making it, I wanted her to like me. To stay kind and sweet.
I didn’t want to see the other side of her that I knew she had, I didn’t want to see the evil I knew to be there, I liked her as she was.
I liked the good apprentice, the one who allowed me to ask questions. I hoped in my heart that I would never see the bad side of her, that I would never anger her enough to provoke it.
“What does Silas want with me?” I asked foolishly as Berus stepped into the room, his eyes darting towards me as I recoiled; knowing that I had made a mistake.
“What did you just say?” He snarled, taking a threatening step towards me as I jumped from my seat, quickly dropping to my knees and bowing my head.
“Master, she meant no harm, she doesn’t know the rules yet.” Blanche argued for me, moving to stand in front of me protectively; her gentle eyes filled with determination.
“I don’t care if she has no inkling on how to behave here, every witch and warlock knows that they have no right to use the prince’s name.” He snarls. “It is engraved in us from a young age, there is no excuse.”
He shoves his apprentice out the way so that he could reach me, dragging me to my feet.
I whimper in fear. I’ve really fucked up now.
“Please sir, I meant no harm.” I whispered, wincing when he struck me across the face with the back of his hand, my cheek throbbing almost instantly.
He shoved me against one of the walls, his hand tightly wrapped around my throat; “I do not care who you think you are, you will never address the prince by his name again. Am I making myself clear?”
I nodded, unable to speak as I choked on my own breath, my heart racing so hard within my chest that I was sure it would rip through my ribcage.
I clench my eyes shut, unable to breathe as his grip only tightened, lifting me almost a foot off the ground as I clawed at his hand; desperately trying to break free.
Berus may look like a frail old man, but he was far from it, his strength something I would never be able to match. Would I die for one slip of the tongue?
“You will learn your place here, child; I will make sure of that.” he threatened me, slamming me back into the wall before he let go of my throat; taking a step back.