Vanilla unfolded the letter she received this morning in the wooden putrescent mailbox. The letter said—
Vanille, Greetings from me and Eldress Katherine. It has been long since we have had a visit. But the air carries words, does it not? Lord Henry Marshall—that is the name I presume. We both have obtained extreme pride on your behalf and we wish good fortune upon you. We received the letter of yours. We, specially me, as your Enchantress and patron, went in brown study to learn the sincere way of attaining your humble desire. We found it difficult, yet not unfeasible. The Hybrid Lunar is fast approaching and I firmly believe that the outcome will be praiseworthy. Us, the coven sisters request your magnificent presence among us.
Wishing you good health and forever youth. ___Hazel
This was about 54 years old tale—way before Arthur, way before Jared. It was when she became Henry Marshall's mistress. That fool of a Lord came across of her piercing beauty. Without further exploration he offered himself to her lot. It wasn't first for her but she was no amateur. Yet his unconditional love was making her vulnerable but the central condition of her Coven Bound was to not be smitten.
Marshall wished for an offspring. He never knew the truth—that Vanilla could not fulfill his desire ever. She knew well what way was mentioned in that letter. She was not least hesitant about it as all the other ways she practiced—failed. Henry delineated having nightmares of being chased by deep forest creatures in blue moon while he often complained of mishearing children's cry at night. No normal whimsical little beings could endure Vanille's intense gaze. Henry often examined jackals behind his manor but Vanille acted like nothing was wrong.
Vanilla upon their request and for her own interests presented herself again to the Coven Bound. A Hybrid lunar comes once in 159 years and she took an oath to herself that she would not attend one a second time but the circumstances persisted her will. She was desperate of having a companion no less than herself. Poor Vanilla, despite having the black wisdom she couldn't contain it all by herself. Weakness—there is always to perishable things... but was she one? Lord Marshall turned into her weakness but she was destined with eternal damnation.
Eldress Katherine and Enchantress Hazel admonished her to usher Marshall along with her. When I yawned from my eternal slumber after two or three decades, the grotesquely appealing limbs of Henry were placed on the hexagon shaped teak box. Besides it was a three legged long oakwood table and a rusty iron stand. On the long teapoy his eyes staring blankly at nothing. He was drunk before coming here. Sweet smoky whiskey were oozing out of his purple lips. His hair fell above his forehead. The frontside of his head lacked hair, a lot. Even the upper lids of his eyes appeared white and thin...consequences of sharing a bewitching companion such as her. I wager he became quite skinny lately. His smell did not allure me a bit yet that didn't stop the saliva from dripping. The rusty iron stand held a triangular black stone which had probably paprika on it. There between them was burning a little fire. I could still trace the clothes and his remaining things' ashes.
When I finished, Eldress Katherine and Hazel were standing in a trance like state but both of them were holding a long iron carved dagger. Vanilla was just kneeling beside them facing my direction. Both Katherine and Hazel cut a star shape on their left palm. The blood that spurt out was collected in a glass jar. They made the same shape on the ground beside the fire and filled it with the blood that was preserved in the jar. Whatever they were doing looked impressive even though I had not the slightest hint that the methods changed in a big different way in all those decades.
The next they muttered something and gestured for Vanilla to step ahead and stand inside the star shape drawn on the ground. They looked at her in hope. She nodded in determination and slit her own wrist to let the crimson flow being absorbed by the ground and merge with theirs. I knew what they were doing. Because their sole ambition did not cease to espy my appalling beauty.
I discerned Vanilla hissing in pain as she continued kneeling while passing the dagger to Hazel who put it on the teapoy before me. I licked the tip of the blade and smirked. That was really an unequivocally discrete taste. I raised my arm and she looked at me quizzically. "What shall I offer in return?" I asked. I have spoken almost 50 sentences in the last five decades. I was recognised as a nefarious taciturn among my retainers and they dreaded me as much as they had esteem in store.
She took a whole minute to just stare at my amber flames eyes. Then she mumbled, "An ominous sovereign presence such as yours in aid of my solitary existence throughout the time-wheel."
I always let them verbalize their ambition. Then I would state my condition. I smirked and she realised that I agreed but she lost her previous courage to ask my condition in return. Eldress asked her, "Do you really want this Vanille? You could've requested for the curse to break instead." Hazel joined, "Eldress is right Vanille. This could be eternal. As your Enchantress I always want your well fate."
"I am certain," she answered. My gaze roamed from the vivacious exquisite Hazel to the ancient beauteous Katherine as the flames in them gleamed brighter. Vanilla clenched her fists as she became aware of my unspoken desire of the moment. Hazel looked petrified while Katherine was feeling conflicted. Hazel squealed, "Surely you wouldn't allow that Vanille." Pleading this time she appealed, "We arranged this for you—for your sake Vanille... I, your mentor... Remember the day when I graced you..."
"And you were also the one who did not disappove when Senior ruled me out," said Vanilla.
"Eldress, convince Vanille... she's still young."
"Enchantress Hazel, I agree with you. Vanille, for a moment, let not emotion take the upper hand," voiced Katherine.
"I, as stated before, will adhere to my decision Katherine and for your kindness Hazel, I am grateful for your contribution towards me," Vanilla said that smiling and turned her back on them.
A few scared steps which were trying to defend themselves stumbled. Only curses and enchantings were shouted aplenty. Then the forest again fell back to it's slumber. The fire died. Before Vanilla could turn again, my tongue already reached its utter state of pleasure by finding the divine taste. There remained nothing but white skulls, aimless.