4 Chapter 4 ~Thing in the basement~

Iris finished her food, scraping the last delicious crumbs of the shepherds pie from her plate as Melody glided around the shop, readying various pastries and breads for the morning.

"since Avi's out of commission, I guess this'll be your lucky day" a gruff voice uttered, Iris turned pushing her chair back so she could stand, it was Tom, he leaned against the wall to the hallway.

"Lucky day? what'd you mean" Iris said cautiously glancing back towards Melody with a confused expression written on her face.

Melody stopped what she was doing, standing frozen, a stack of cinnamon rolls hanging precariously on the edge of a wicker display as she bit her lower lip, she placed the plate of rolls on the shop counter and turned to the two, wiping her fingers on a towel at her waist.

she sighed "I don't think that's the best Idea love" it was unclear who she was referring to.

"Someone's got to do it" Tom said "and there's only one other witch in this town other than her we can pull on"

"do what?" Iris said annoyed

Melody pulled the towel from her waist, wiping her hands again as she considered Tom's words, she looked from Iris to tom with a worried frown, before sighing "you make sure she's in no danger okay" It wasn't a request.

Tom nodded, beckoning Iris to follow "Look at it yourself" he said as he started down the basement stairs.

Tom stood at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for her on a three legged stool, he twirled a fat hunting dagger between his fingers.

he stood as she approached, Iris walking down the stairs while wiping crumbs of potato off her face.

as she approached the bottom he waited patiently, their earlier encounter seemingly forgotten as he pointed with the dagger at a ragged burlap covered cage.

Iris approached cautiously, a thousand options running through her mind, was it a child? some bandit? no it couldn't be why would they need a witch for that, grabbing a handful of burlap she pulled and stumbled back in shock.

light seemed to pull around the man in the cage, or well, it wasn't a man, a Ruskin sat there, sniffing the air as it turned its head in a terrifying waving snake like motion towards Iris, it had no eyes, smooth skin laid over where there should be sockets.

its arms and legs where entirely too thin, its ribs showing though a patchwork of scars, it sat there its arms wrapped around its neck protectively so that its fingers pressed down on its back, its shoulder blades forming a protective pocket those bony claw like fingers.

the Ruskin sniffed the air, tilting its head as it noticed Iris.

Iris threw a punch, rushing forward she yelled as loud as possible, her fight or flight instincts going while as she tried to cave this creatures scull in. it dodged, sliding away and under her fist like quicksilver.

"Stop!" Iris was pulled away from the cage, Tom yelling as he pulled the burlap sack over the cage with the other hand.

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