Wicked Witch

[Shanhub]

Neko lay beside the shattered chair crying. Her best dress was torn to shreds. She was covered in the man's blood, bruises visible on her arms, legs, ankles and neck. She also had a large bruise on the side of her face that was beginning to swell. The ground around her was covered in blood. She looked mournfully at the open door.


"J-Jack..."she said mournfully in the midst of her tears.


(Sorry for disappearing. I had to deal with family and dinner and stuff. sorry sorry sorry))

 

[Cyan]

Jack ran till he made to the forest clearing. He dashed into the tower, all the while calling Neko's name. A bucket of ice water seemed to wash over him as he made out a thin form lying a midst a pool of blood. He slowly limped towards her battered body and fell onto his knees by her side. Jack had heard the way she had stuttered his name and the guilt tore at him inside, out. He should have been there. He should have been there to protect her and instead she lay like broken pieces before him.


"Neko...?" He whispered, placing a gentle hand on her cheek. He could feel the warmth of her tears slide through his fingers like knives.


((I'll guess I'll just have to make it even again (^_−)☆ ))

 

[Shanhub]

Neko flinched when he touched her. It took her a moment but as soon as her eyes fully took him in she threw herself into his arms. She clung to his shirt and wept. It didn't matter to her that he was in his pajamas. The men had brutalized her, attacked her, beaten her and taken her by force. This was the same brutality she'd been subjected to for years staying in the tower.


"Why?" she finally whimpered. "Why do they want to hurt me?" there was a long pause as she started weeping again. "I'm sorry. Please don't be mad at me. I didn't mean to hurt them. I didn't want to. I'm so sorry."


Neko sometimes couldn't control the curses. They would just spring forth whenever she was in danger. She didn't purposefully hurt them. That wasn't who Neko was. She looked up at Jack, the tears streaming down her face still.


"I wore this dress for you..."

 

[Cyan]

Jack embraced her trembling form, running his fingers soothingly through her blood matted hair. He melted against her words. He knew from the dark bruises that littered her body that the guards must have harmed her. Jack couldn't help but wonder how many times this has happened, how many times she had been left to cry alone. His heart stuttered when she gestured to her soiled attire and said that she had worn it especially for him. He let out a shaky breath and forced a smile.


"Its beautiful..." Jack breathed, cradling her face in his hands "You're beautiful"


He wiped her tears away and engulfed her body in a warm hug.

 

[Shanhub]

She melted into his arms. She closed her eyes and smiled through her tears. "You like my dress even now. You're so kind."


She softly let herself doze. She had never felt this good, at least not since the wizard stopped visiting. The wizard was like the father figure that she'd never had. She had dreamed of this sort of thing. She always wanted to have somreone to count on. When she first came to the tower she was so scared. To be honest she didn't recall any of the stuff everyone said she did. Was that why they all tortured her?

 

[Cyan]

Jack felt Neko fall limp in his arms. He let all his anxieties and worries fall piece by piece until his thoughts settled into a nice, quite hum. Slowly, as to not disturb her rest, Jack carried her towards the entrance. But just as he was about to pass the threshold an invisible force seemed to push him back. Neko stirred in her sleep and he immediately began to stroke her hair until she fell still once more. The legends had been true. The witch could not leave the tower. Jack resisted the urge to growl in frustration. As an alternative, he began to climb up the crumbling stone steps until coming across a bundle of dirtied blankets on the upper most floor. His jaw tightened as he realized that it must have been her bed. He placed her gently in the center before unbuttoning his shirt and draping it around her chest and exposed arms. Jack remained by her side, holding her hand in his as rubbed soothing circles on its surface.


He had to inform his father about her terrible living conditions and the neglectful treatment she seemed to be receiving from the guards. Jack was sure that if he knew about her current state he wouldn't have Neko unjustly executed. Besides, his family was sworn to protect the witch, not to harm her. But first things first, he needed to nurse the wounds and injuries that she had endured from those corrupt men. So with a silent promise to return, Jack left the tower and made his way back to the manor. He knew he had to avoid his father at all cost until he had gotten his explanation for his earlier actions in order. So as a quick after thought he used the back entrance created for the servants to attract less attention. From there Jack made his way to the storage room, a small and enclosed space that housed an assortment of useful items. He began gathering supplies such as herbal ointments, calming oil, a blanket, and several pieces of hard mint candy from a glass jar.


He nearly dropped all of the objects in shock as he heard a man clear his throat not a few feet behind him. Jack turned and held back a sigh of relief as he discovered that it had only been, Sebastian, the head butler. The other servants were completely loyal to his father and wouldn't hesitate to detain him and expose his whereabouts. But Sebastian was different. The strict old man had always been there for Jack whenever his father was off doing business and practically raised the boy himself. Therefore his loyalty remained split between the both of them but Jack knew that he could be persuaded to side over the other in certain situations. He opened his mouth to explain himself but stopped as Sebastian raised a hand to silence him.


"There is no need for explanations, young master" The butler stated, making his way towards Jack. He removed his coat and draped it over the young man's bare arms before placing the silver watch on top of his ever growing pile of supplies. "Do what you must"


Jack gave him a grateful nod as he raced out of the storage room and out the back entrance. He stopped in his tracks as he almost crashed into Martzia.


"Jack! Where have you been?! Everyone, including your father has been worried about you!" She scolded before adding in an almost inaudible whisper "I've been worried about you..."


Jack gave her an apologetic smile, not catching her last words as he examined the surroundings for any stray servants.


"What is it?" Martzia hissed in irritation "Whats with the supplies, are you planning to run away?! And your shirt--"


"I'll explain everything later" Jack interrupted "I promise to be back by sundown. Until then distract my father from doing anything rash"


And with that he rushed back into the cover of the trees. He felt guilty for leaving his friend in the dark but he had no time explain, not now. He knew his father. It wouldn't take the old man long to figure out where Jack had gone and send half of his troops to ransack the tower in order to bring his son back to safety. Jack's time was limited.


((As promised, here is your wall of text. Hopefully it is built strong enough to last you several hours ))

 

[Shanhub]

Neko slept quietly for maybe an hour before her mind connected with Noir’s. In the deep depths of her mind Neko and Noir stood face to face. The demon stood in the same tattered dress, her red eyes piercing into Neko. Neko shivered in fear. The demon looked similar to Neko except for the red eyes and white hair. They were the same height and build, and they had the same delicate face.


“Why do you keep appearing?” Neko asked with a trembling voice.


“You need me.” Noir said, her voice a terrifying echo. “I’m the reason those men didn’t kill you.”


“That was you!? You’re terrible! I never wanted-“


Noir interrupted her, striding up and slapping her across the face. “Grow up! You’re hundreds of years old. If you die so do I. You need to take better care of yourself, Neko.” Noir put her arms around Neko and held her close. “Remember, I’m the only one that can love you, Neko. You belong to me, and me to you.”


“But Jack came for-“


“He only wants your body. He’s like all other men. They only want to use you. What makes you think he can care? You’re a toy to him. He likely already has a fiancée or a wife, you’re just something to touch.” Noir then caressed Neko’s face. “But I love you. I protect you. Where was your Jack when those men were having their way with you? I was there.”


Neko’s head drooped. She didn’t want to believe that Jack was just like the other men. She was actually extremely interested in his affection. She loved the feeling of his arms. He was so soft and so kind, she didn’t want to believe that he would hurt her. She refused to believe that he would hurt her. She cared for him and his happiness as much as she thought he cared for hers. Neko relaxed into Noir’s arms, falling into emptiness. Her dream ceased and she slept in darkness.


“Soon, I will have my freedom.” Noir’s dark intentions were not known to Neko and would not be known, not yet anyways.

 

[Cyan]

Jack quietly crept up the tower steps until he reached Neko's 'chamber' (if it could even be considered that). He carefully set all his materials down and quickly began his work. While he had been in Athens, Greece he had learned to care of the sick along with the advances of common medicine. He quickly applied the pasty ointments onto any visible bruise but carefully avoided any open wounds which were thankfully scarce. Next, he rubbed just a drop of calming oil onto her forehead to relax her nerves and allow her tense muscles to relax. Jack had to make due without the use of water and just gently tried to remove the dried blood with nothing but his previously soiled shirt. After making sure there weren't any signs of a fever, he wrapped the newly acquired blanket around her body and tucked it in for good measure. Every few minutes, Jack would place a hand on her forehead and grew increasingly worried about her unnaturally cold temperature despite the warmth of the sunlight. So as a last result, he hesitantly wrapped his arms around her sleeping form in an attempt to transfer some of his body heat to hers. Jack wondered slightly why he was going through such lengths to save a girl he had met just the night before. He reasoned that it was his duty as the next Riddle heir but could there possibly be something more? His question was left unanswered as he fell into a short, troubled sleep.

 

[Shanhub]

Neko awoke, blinking her blue eyes slowly. The darkness that ensued after Noir was so quiet and soothing. She slowly realized she'd been nestled in the arms of Jack. She smiled and softly nuzzled her face into his neck. He smelled somehow sweet. He was really warm too. She liked that.


“Noir is wrong. You and I could learn to be loving.” She whispered, closing her eyes.


The image of Noir came back and scared her. She didn’t want to fall asleep again and be subjected to her tyranny. Instead she just leaned against him and welcomed the sweet feel of him there. She’d never laid beside someone else before. It was exciting. 
sorry my post was so short xP))

 

[Cyan]

Blood, destruction, and carnage flashed by in an array of disturbingly realistic images. He could smell the smoke and the stench of burning flesh. Jack awoke with a start, eyes wildly flitting around the room as if expecting it to burst into a blaze of fire. He relaxed slightly when he realized that he must have only dozed off. He leaned back to check on Neko's condition and was thoroughly surprised when a pair of bright blue eyes gazed right back at him. Once again he found himself in a rather intimate position with a girl he hardly knew. So in the most polite manner, he untangled himself from the embrace and lifted himself onto a sitting position just right on the edge of the makeshift cot. No matter how comfortable Jack was in her presence, he still couldn't fully abandon the gentlemanly habits that were pounded into him from an early age.


"I've brought something for you" Jack piped up, trying to trying to distract her from his earlier actions "Peppermint candy as promised"


This time he had unwrapped the plastic to avoid the amusing events of before.


((There, now I've made it even again))

 

[Shanhub]

Neko blinked up at Jack when she felt him wake. She didn't understand his retreat. Did she hold him too tightly? She gently sat up with him. She was going to ask if she’d done something wrong when he offered her some candy. Her face immediately lit up and she gingerly took it from him. She clacked it against her teeth, sucking on it with the happiest expression.


“Thank you, Jack. It’s so yummy!” she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. “Please don’t stop coming to see me, ok?”


After the hug she quickly ran around the dusty little room. She searched around the masses of tattered cloths and dusty books. She opened one book and pulled out a paper pressed flower and brought it to him. It used to be a red rose.


“You can have it if you like.” She said sweetly. “You give me happiness and candy when you’re here. I-I want to give you something too.”

 

[Cyan]

Jack accepted the flower and held it delicately on the palm of his hand. It always seemed as so though Neko had something different to offer him while he could only provide small pieces of candy. He made a mental note to bring her a much more suitable gifts if...when he would return.


"Thank you, I'll treasure it always" He said with a sincere smile. He tucked it safely in the folds of his coat and proceeded to check the time. The silver pocket watch indicated that it was only nine in the morning! Jack practically had the whole day to spend with Neko.


"Well it looks like I'm able to keep your company til the sunsets, milady" Jack declared "If you still wish for my presence of course..."


((I'm a failed literary mason...this is by far the worst wall of text yet...))

 

[Shanhub]

Neko softly placed her hand over Jack's free one and smiled. Her blue eyes were bright and happy. Neko wanted to spend every day with him. She loved having him close. She only wished there was some way to cook for him. She wanted to be a proper host. She just didn't have much opportunity to. She stood and went across the messy room to a rickety wardrobe. It looked like it had already fallen to pieces, but was being held up by some mysterious force.


"I have some old games we can play." she said excitedly. "I-I haven't played them in a long time, but I remember how they go. O-or I could show you some spells. I'd be willing to bet you could cast some too." she said, peering at him with enchanting eyes. She would love it if he could use magic. to be perfectly honest, all humanity can use a little magic. Witches and Wizards are just people with a higher concentration of magical abilities. "You could at least cast an animal charm."

 

[Cyan]

"Spells?" Jack inquired, his curiosity piqued. He knew about his blood relations with the powerful wizard in the legends but he wasn't sure if he could...preform or do magic. He had never tried since the art had been lost in his family for several decades now. The last Riddle who had cast a spell had been his great,great,great and several greats grandfather who was now long dead.

 

[Shanhub]

Neko pulled out a massive leather bound spell book. She laid it before him and sat down beside him. She opened the dusty old pages to a chapter called 'Beginner Spells'. She looked fondly over the pages. She softly placed his hand on the pages. They were surprisingly soft, like leather. The ink had a somehow sweet smell and it seemed to glow as he touched it.


"Look, Magic is inside you. Do you want to try some spells?"


She flipped through it for the easiest spells. she stopped at a levitation spell. It was very simple. There were no separate items or potions necessary. You simply put your hand over something you want to float and will it to do so. There weren't even any words to command it.

 

[Cyan]

Jacks expression was one filled with childish curiosity and wonder as the letters on the page seemed to illuminate. He looked over the words and recognized some of them as ancient dead languages that haven't been spoken for the past centuries. This grimoire wasn't like any of the others he had come across. He was a bit startled when Neko pointed out that he possessed magic inside of him. Jack became slightly flustered when she suggested on trying a few spells. He still had his doubts.


"I-I well...alright" He stuttered, giving in to the prospect of a fascinating experience.

 

[Shanhub]

Neko searched all over the room before finding her feather pillow. She drew a feather from it and laid it on the ground in front of the book. This was by far the simplest spell ever. She showed him what to do herself. Neko placed one small pale hand over it. She had a very focused face. The feather shuttered a bit then lifted under her hand. She smiled as she allowed it to rest again.


"Now you try. It's very easy. Focus all your will power on the feather floating. It's a very light item so it shouldn't be too draining. It's the perfect beginner spell. If it helps you repeat the words, Vestibulum Vestibulum."

 

[Cyan]

Jack watched mesmerized as the feather quivered then began to float like invisible strings were drawing it into the air. His gaze traveled up to glance at Neko who appeared to be deeply focused. He all but forgot about the feather when her face seemed to light up as a smile spread across her lips. Jack noticed how the sides of her eyes crinkled. He noticed the little dimples that appeared when she smiled. He noticed how she tucks a stray hair behind her right ear. He noticed her.


Jack could barely comprehend Neko's words as his mind clouded over with all sorts of confusing thoughts and emotions. It wasn't until she was gesturing at the feather did he realize he completely missed all of her instructions. He swallowed his guilt and embarrassment and gave a nervous smile as he placed his right hand over the feather as Neko had.


'Um...float' The feather didn't even shake. 'Float' He thought with a bit more conviction yet nothing, not even a stir. 'Please float' He thought, a bit desperate at this point. 'Fly, hover, levitate'. Now a bit of frustration had seeped in. With a deep breath, Jack brought both his hands a top the feather.


'FLOOOAAATTTT!!!' He mentally screamed. The feather remained stubbornly in place. Jack let his arms fall, disappointed and was about to apologize when things seemed to crash around them. He immediately leapt forward and wrapped both arms protectively around Neko. Chairs, blankets, and pieces of wood lay scattered on the floor as if some invisible force had ransacked the room. But what caught his immediate attention was the large wooden wardrobe seemingly suspended in midair. Jack curiously moved a finger in a downward gesture and almost shot right out of his skin when it had come crashing down to the ground. It miraculously remained unharmed. He looked around with wide eyes at the ravaged room.


"Could I have....?" He questioned. Though it seemed down right impossible...

 

[Shanhub]

Neko watched how intensely he tried to get the feather to move. Then he threw himself around her in alarm. It was a confusing and interesting action. Neko slowly wrapped her arms around him as well. The smell of his skin and his hair filled her senses. It was somehow overwhelming. She was so taken with these new feelings that she almost didn't noticed the floating wardrobe. As it crashed to the floor a smile spread across her face. She marveled at it. That was very impressive for a first spell. This meant he was powerful. Somehow that made him even more attractive and fascinating to her. Her heart beat hard in her chest and her cheeks became as red as roses.


"Good job." she whispered intimately. "You're very powerful. That was an impressive first spell."


There was a pause before the door of the wardrobe fell off and collapsed to the dusty floor. Jack had enough power to lift and replace the wardrobe while at the same time throwing other bits of furniture around. The only challenge he might have with his magic ability now, is controlling it. Neko knew all too well that great power needs time to train. He was getting a late start, but she was confident that he could become as skilled as the wizard. He would likely surpass her ability quickly. But she had a darker power to her. Curses came easier than blessings, but that was Noir's fault.


"I could teach you how to control it." she said softly, still speaking into his ear. "Before long you'll have greater skills than even me. Maybe even the wizard! You really are very brilliant."

 

[Cyan]

Jack flushed slightly at all the intimately whispered compliments. A warm feeling seemed to spread all across his body as he leaned back to stare in Neko's eyes. Deep blue melted with emerald green. He unconsciously closed the distance between them and stopped, just a mere centimeter away from pressing his lips against hers. The temptation was great but Jack knew it wasn't just the physical contact that attracted him. It was her. She was sweet, kind, and not anything like the legends had made her out to be. He still wasn't sure what to make of his feelings or of hers and felt that it was too early to assume anything beyond friendship when they had just become friends. So with a bit of reluctance he pulled away and placed a gentle hand on the top of her head.


"And it's all thanks to you" He praised, ruffling her hair. "I'd love to learn more about magic and in exchange I'll teach you about the world"


He raised his free hand and stuck out a pinkie. "Deal?"

 

[Shanhub]

Neko loved her hair being ruffled. She wanted him to continue it. He moved his free hand towards her face with his pinky finger erect. She stared at it in confusion, thinking the gesture was odd. She slowly touched the tip of her pinky to his. SHe then heard him ask if they had a deal. She quite liked the terms of their agreement. It meant they'd spend more time together.


"Deal!" she chimed excitedly. "I'll teach you everything!"


She poured through the book with him, spending hours going over the intermediate spells. With each spell she showed him she encouraged him to focus, not only on his will power and the spell words, but on controlling the spell and keeping it small. She would allow him to explore his power, but only after he could control it. It was dangerous to use powerful spells if you had no control over them. Likewise, she listened with fascination as he described the world to her.

 

[Cyan]

By the time they reached one quarter of the book, Jack lay in an exhausted heap on the stone floor. So far it seemed that he was having no trouble in casting some of the spells even the more difficult few. It was just his ability to restrain and limit his powers that had proved to be very troublesome. Right now he was relaying one of his adventures in the country of Austria, smiling as he let all the memories flood back. Words seem to catch in his throat when he glanced at the window of the tower. Outside, the sky seemed to be turning bright shades of red, orange, and maroon.


Jack immediately scrambled to his feet and gestured for Neko to join him like an over excited little child.

 

[Shanhub]

Neko loved hearing Jack talk. She listened with extreme diligence. Her attention was fully placed on him. It was far too obvious that she was falling in love with him. Neko wasn't sure how to stop her feelings. For some reason when she looked at him her lips tingled. She felt her heart jump into her throat when he suddenly got up and invited her to his side. Neko hopped onto her little bare feet and followed after him. She would follow him anywhere. She could already hear Noir's disapproval in her head, but ignored it. It didn't matter to her what Noir thought of Jack. She wanted to be beside him always. Though it was a painful thought, Neko decided that she would love him even if he did not feel the same for her.

 

[Cyan]

Jack stared in awe as the sun made its slow descent over the horizon, casting everything in warm and bright autumn colors. He could remember all the times he spent watching the sunset with his mother and had since preferred watching it alone when she had passed. But here he was sharing the special moment with Neko, as happy as he was when he had been watching it with her. Slowly, Jack placed an arm around her small frame and brought her closer to his chest. He didn't where the sudden impulse had come from but he was too content to even notice or care.

 

[Shanhub]

Neko marveled at the sunset. It was more beautiful and soul capturing than any spell she could ever cast. She watched it carefully and wondered to herself how she could cast a spell that would makes such amazing colors come to life like they did now. Her thoughts all stopped, however, when Jack pulled her to him. Her cheeks then mimmicked the red in the sky. She pressed her face to his chest affectionately. Her heart felt like it would burst from her chest at any moment.


"This feels sweet." she whispered into his ear. "Will you stay with me tonight?"