10 Chapter 9:

Ivy' POV: part 1

"What time should I pick you up?" I asked while chopping up the fingers of a werewolf on the chopping board Vivian had said was specifically for potions. As blood squirted into the air every now and then, I can understand why. Not that I hadn't drained them as much as possible to bottle the blood. Right now I only need the flesh and bones.

"Tomorrow night, I need you to be there thirty minutes before the plane lands... here comes the flight attendant, I gotta go," Nyx responded on the other end before abruptly hanging up on me.

The sound of gagging had me frowning and looking up at a pale Ori as those blue eyes watched me chop up the last of the fingers.

"A-Are those someone's fingers? What the hell, Ivy," Oriness turned her back to me and I couldn't help but laugh at this. Vivian's numb when it comes to gore so Ori's reaction seemed to amuse me.

"It was completely consensual if it makes you feel better. I pay this werewolf good money for certain pieces of the body that can grow back," I explained but the shake of her head is what kept the smile on my face.

Vivian might not be so open to getting to know a part of her family but she's been a fresh breath of air since moving in. I understand Viv's natural instincts to keep Ori away from her, the only sane sibling she's ever had was murdered by their own father.

"Uh, I just came downstairs to ask if I can take a walk outside. You said everything was warded right?" She asked, refusing to turn around even though I tossed the chopped flesh and bones into the pot.

"Of course, just don't go past the red little stones and if you run into one of the dragons, don't tell them a damn thing about anything, okay?"

It was the amused look in Ori's eyes as she nodded eagerly that reminded me that this young girl, despite being over the age of a teenager in human years, was still a child. Locked away and ignored for most of her upbringing.

"Got it," And then she went dashing outside, leaving the door wide open from the excitement of freedom. Vivian probably wouldn't have agreed because she wouldn't want to have to panic about losing her. Even if I can't use a lot of spells just in case I almost kill someone, the charm I'd placed on Ori would only work when she's in danger. It'll switch our places so I'll go where she is and Oriness will reappear where I once had been.

Then I can accidentally fuck up any spell without hurting her.

Easy.

When Valence stuck his head in and it took everything I had to stuff down the feeling of annoyance. I'd forgotten why he's here in the first place but the constant observation this boy feels is necessary, will possibly be his downfall.

This dragon might be young but he's full of arrogance and too judgemental for me to take a liking to right now.

"Is that a potion you're making?" He asked a hint of curiosity clear in his voice and eyes despite him trying to hide it.

Goddess, people who show such disdain yet allow themselves to express curiosity tend to piss me off. Especially when they've left no room for improvement in their own lives.

"Is that curiosity toward magic you're showing?" Don't roll your eyes... don't roll your eyes...

I would've felt bad if I had because he gave me a cheeky expression that spoke levels. He didn't know how to not judge a witch. It was something the boy was taught since birth and there wasn't much I could for him except feel pity.

Seeing that the front door didn't automatically close in his face, he awkwardly entered the house. I decided to ignore him, dumping the bloodied board into hot water and bleach. Then it was onto the next thing: crush a nether bay leaf and rub it into a strip of demon flesh. As I went toward the mini-fridge beside the actual refrigerator, I opened it and took out the big ziplock bag that held several strips of skin.

Ensuring to put on a disposable glove, I took out one and put the rest back before closing the fridge. Putting the strip of dark purple flesh that belongs to a demon on a plastic plate, I went toward the spices. At the very top were the ingredients for my potions.

"Valence, come over here and grab that jar of blue leaves for me," I ordered him and even though it wasn't a question, my tone was softer than I thought.

He'd been leaning against the stove to watch the strange liquid in the pot boil before he turned to do what he was told.

"I didn't know trees had blue leaves," Valence frowned and looked as though he was trying to think of a plant tree that might.

"They're blue Ether leaves, they come from bushes that feed off of magic. I've got plenty of herbs, spices, flowers, fruits, and vegetables growing out in the forest if you ever want to learn. You might not have the magic of a witch but you can still learn how to make salves, balms, and other kinds of medicines," I explained, not really meaning to offer knowledge to the young dragon but it was natural for me.

During my adventures with Vivian, I teach little lessons to lost witches if they come across my path.

"What is this potion for?" He asked, handing me the little jar with tiny little leaves inside.

Uncapping it, I sprinkled a little on the demon skin before closing the jar and handing it back to him.

"This is for me, I'm trying to find a potion that will help balance my magic," This was getting toward a subject I would've been more reluctant in telling another witch as they would've tried to assume I'm weak.

"Trying to find? Wait, do you mean you're experimenting on yourself?" The confused expression on Valence's young face turned from perplexed to shocked and then lastly to concern.

Stopping my hands from rubbing the herb into the flesh to give the boy my full attention. I don't need him thinking I'm some sorry psycho case.

"My soul has always been unstable which has caused my magic to be unpredictable with spells or any usage of it. It was the move from the Other world that made things worse, I have to find something that will fix me, Valence. A broken witch is the most dangerous no matter how good their intentions are," It hurt to explain as I remember the day I had almost killed everyone in the process of creating this world.

If it hadn't been for Nyx, I wouldn't have been able to keep that door open for three days, the people who had made it in time to escape the horrible creatures taking over the Other world wouldn't have gotten across.

And if it hadn't been for the strange man who had snatched me over the last second... I would've been left behind as well.

After spending so much energy and magic, I had been forced into a deep sleep after finding a secure place away from the witch council. Those days had been rough. Sleep yet awake, all the same, having no choice but to stay in that stagnate state in order to heal. I didn't want to shatter what was left of me. Not like the witches before my time had once done.

Not like my mother.

"But... isn't it dangerous?" Even as I continued on with the task at hand, Valence still found it in himself to ask questions.

"Everything in life is dangerous. Any medicine you've taken in your life has come with drawbacks or danger whether you know it or not. You take a risk stepping outside of your house and not walking into something life-threatening. I've lived a long life, Valence, an existence that consists of having to gamble on my life in order to ensure I can come out breathing,"

Looking at him from the corner of my eyes I could see had something he wanted to say but instead stuck to me using the knife to start cutting at the flesh. Once it was popped into the pot, I started to stir it gently. Every 4 stirs to the right would require 2 stirs to the left before restarting the process. Most stop at 10 but if you do it at least 40 times, you'll have a much more effective potion.

When the black liquid within the pot started to steam up and I finished counting how many times I stirred it, I turned the stove off.

"What is this going to do?" He pointed toward the pretty pale blue flower that I picked up and tossed into the potion.

"Hopefully enhance the healing capabilities of the potion, if not it'll be a bit of pain but I won't die. My magic won't let me,"

Children... I'm being reminded of how annoying they can be. Even though Valence has temporarily gotten rid of his attitude, the constant throw of questions was needling at me.

It was the silence that followed after that, that I appreciated. Thinking about the kind of pain I'll be putting myself through would only stop me from doing what needs to be done.

Valence was texting on his phone while I was pouring the potion into two mason jars. The black sludge had only taken a few moments to cool off before I could do anything with it. Too hot and it will melt through anything not strong enough to contain it. Though if it's too cold, you've ruined the batch and will have to restart the whole thing.

"Alright, I've got a few things I have to check in on so I'll be going. Leomaris should be here in a few minutes," Valence informed me as if I was willingly being babysat by Elzrurron's men.

Rolling my eyes as the young dragon left his station early, I wondered if he was only doing this because he thought I wouldn't do anything. If we really wanted to get technical, our house should be off-limits.

I didn't pick this place for anything, it's literally at the edge of Elzrurron's territory. I just figured it would be bad to make us seem like we're trouble to their people. We're accommodating Cole and showing respect by allowing them into our home. It isn't like our house is within their command. Not when this is a piece of land that I've separated into a different rift of space. Another reason you need permission to enter or you'll never find it.

Vivian might think she has a problem with Cole being all over us since she's too horny to see the important things here. But the problem is starting to rise.

We've been put on a leash.

I'm sick of this and my patience is going to run out soon. I can feel it, the smallest thing said or done. Elzrurron might be protecting his people but he's restricting Vivian from being able to eat and it's equivalent to letting her starve.

Just because I'm a witch, it's clear everyone is wary of me. The looks they give me are ones of scorn or fear. You can tell which ones are a part of Cole's kingdom, they're aware of who I am. I had walked up to one in a grocery store to ask if he knew if there was a sewing kit anywhere. Guess what he did? The moment I started talking, the man scurried off like I was cursing him.

They're acting like they know who I am and what I've done but... I've seen the fear of people who have. His hadn't run that deep.

Obviously, the lady at the cash register didn't know what was going on since she said the man was old and had never run across someone as beautiful as me. I took the compliment but still, I also took the insult.

Whoever it was that opened their mouth had blabbed about what I am, I'm blatantly being ignored and hated because of it. I haven't even done anything...

It's always like this. I always have to keep myself away from society and hide the moment they catch wind of what I am or my capabilities.

Worried that the people will either hunt me down, try to manipulate me, or truly do damage to my heart.

If I can just fix myself, I'll be able to safely defend myself instead of worrying about injuring passing people.

"Oh, shit..." I huffed when my magic was activated and I could feel a part of my brain activating. Purple energy wrapped around me as I stood straight, preparing myself for what was about to happen.

Then there I was, standing in the middle of the forest, surrounded by witches.