A Storm On The Way Back

Chapter 186: A Storm On The Way Back

The storm got worse. 

Sadly for September, flying tonight wasn't an option. The dark sky was filled with so much electricity that it would be much too dangerous for her to even attempt. 

It was better for her to stay down on the ground and continue walking. As she had been doing for the better part of her voyage back. It had only been about thirty minutes since she stepped out of the tavern, more or less chased away by those three drunks. She shrugged her shoulders as she left the tavern. She didn't care. She wasn't interested in spending any more time there if she was going to be bothered like this. 

There, her only desire was to rest. Having a nice and warm cup of coffee before continuing her path. Nothing less, nothing more. But they had to ruin it. When they realized who she was, even though all of them were drunk, this represented the cherry on top of everything for her. 

She had no reason to stay, then. She couldn't afford to stay somewhere where people knew who she was. It was too dangerous. Not for her directly, because there was nothing these men could do to her, no, it was too dangerous for people around this region. If the word got out that she was seen here, dangerous people would then come looking for her. 

Questioning innocent people such as these three men. Hurting them during long and intense interrogations until they told her something about her. Dangerous people such as her sister. It was almost guaranteed that she was looking for her. Unfortunately. But it was what it was. September had gotten used to this type of life. 

The type of life she was definitely going to be having for a long, long time, if not the rest of her life. The path she was following, the road she was on, was made of small rocks with ferns on each side of her. This was the path, which was going to lead her back home. The storm was raging all around. It wasn't raining. Yet. But thunder was booming and lightning could be seen in the distance. The sky was filled with electricity. This wasn't a good thing at all. There was something brewing. September could feel that this was a deeply bad omen. 

There is something odd about this storm. Typically, when it is that violent, it means that… I better prepare myself, September thought as she was slowly about to pull her magical scepter with the jack-o-lantern head out of under of her dark cloak when‒

"‒Please don't leave so soon. I was a real jerk in there," she was suddenly interrupted with the presence of a man behind her. She recognized that voice. She quickly turned around, stopping everything she was doing at that time, leaving her scepter inside of her cloak. At first, it almost felt as if she had been caught doing magic, but in reality, she was only readying herself for the worst. Something she ultimately didn't do because of this sudden interruption. The man behind her was the one who first approached her in the tavern thirty minutes ago. He was the better one out of the three. The one who simply attended to keep her company.

"You? Here? What are you doing? Why are you following me?" the witch asked, surprised to see the man on this road during the storm. It wasn't safe for him. Hell, it wasn't safe for her either. 

"I feel bad for what happened at the tavern. I shouldn't have come to see you and talk to you. I'm sorry for what my friends did. Would you ever forgive me? I had no idea who you were… I had no idea you were the former Witch Queen…" he apologized to her.

"Don't worry about it, but you shouldn't be here," she said.

"I'm not scared. You were a good Queen back when you were still on the throne. I never believed what people said about going rogue and committing so many crimes. I never did," he said to her.

"That's really nice and cute of you, but sadly…" it was time for her to lie about this. "... What people said, the rumors, they were right, I am dangerous. So, don't come near me. Okay? This place is dangerous. This storm is dangerous. Go back inside now."

"But what are you talking about? This road isn't dangerous. I take it every day. Nothing ever happened here. You don't have to be worried, Witch Queen. I can handle myself, you know?" he tried to explain to her, but she wasn't paying much attention to him. September was looking around. Making sure no one was coming. She perfectly knew about the impending dangers that were surrounding them. The storm kept becoming worse and worse as time went on. 

"It's your last chance. Go away. Otherwise, you are going to get hurt. Real bad. And I am not even trying to scare you," she said.

"For the last time, Witch Queen, this road is quite safe‒" he was dying to inform her right before he was suddenly interrupted and violently submerged with a bolt of lightning, which came right out of the sky. The innocent man was hit. It was too late for him.

"Damn…" she gritted her teeth and knew it was her turn. 

I warned him… she thought ho himself. It wasn't like she didn't try. She did everything she could. Without wasting another second, she swiftly pulled her magical scepter out from under her dark cloak. This time, she was ready. She pointed the tip of her weapon at the sky. Anticipating that it was going to go down again.

"Show yourself, you coward!" she shouted into the ether. 

"You are alone this time. You are mine," a dark voice was heard, coming from the sky. She wasn't alone. She didn't think she was ever since she took this road and witnessed the storm evolving and growing as much as it did. There was nowhere to go. She had to face this. She had to face her demon. And her demon was an actual entity made of matter that she could defeat if she put her heart and her soul to it. She only had to believe in herself. She could do it. She knew she could. On her guards, she was ready for anything. Yet, she couldn't stop the two bolts of lightning as they came down from the sky and abruptly hit her.

"Ugh…"

Two this time…? she thought.

"You are mine!"