smoke

"Who gave you the permission to step foot here?" Her voice was low, but it carried a weight that settled heavily on me.

She did nothing to hide the hatred brewing in her eyes as she looked at me.

Her hair was long and curly, cascading down her back in a river of dark chocolate waves. Her skin was fair and smooth, almost translucent in its porcelain-like quality.

She carried a small wooden wand, intricately carved and adorned with jewels, in her hand.

The witch approached with a slow, confident stride, each step precise and deliberate. She was trying to intimidate me. And from the look in her eyes,, I can tell that she has no intention of letting me go.

she was wearing a long black dress, A dark green velvet cape draped elegantly over her shoulders, embroidered with intricate gold stitching that shimmered in the light.

As she drew closer, the scent of smoky incense and dried herbs wafted from her, filling the air with an otherworldly aroma. Her fingers were adorned with delicate silver rings, each one etched with a different symbol or sigil.

Despite her elegant attire, there was an undeniable air of danger and unpredictability about her that made me wary of her.

"I lost my way." I replied, not wanting to aggravate her.

I tried to make my way out of there when she blocked my way.

"You are her apprentice, aren't you?" she asked. I nodded; I have a feeling that using her name here will only get me in trouble.

The woman made a slow circle around me scrutinizing me.

I refrained myself from glaring at her. If I was still a princess. I would have put her in her place in a second. But now I am just a normal girl.

"Show me what you can do." she said,

"Excuse me?" I asked confused as to if I heard her right.

"There must be something in you for her to choose you as her apprentice." she said, "Show me what you can do." This time it was a command.

"No," I replied, I am not a witch I will not be able to perform any spells for her. I have to be very careful here.

"No?" she laughed, making me uncomfortable.

"Do you think you can say no to me?" she asked as her laughter stopped, and a menacing look overtook her.

"I am not here to do party tricks for you. And you have no authority over me." does she think I will be intimidated by her. I might not be a witch, but I am powerful.

"Are you sure?" she asked as she raised her hands chanting an incantation, before I could do anything to defend myself, I was thrown into the wall behind me.

I slid to the ground groaning at the pain. Fortunately, my head did not bang on the wall.

I have been trained since I was born. Some small pains like these are normal for me.

But this. Being targeted when I didn't do anything, this is new.

Does she think I will let it slide?

"What is your problem?" I asked raising to my feet.

"You are my problem." she said as she chanted another incantation, it pinned me to the wall. She is making me angry. And when I get angry, I can do things that will make her wish that she never crossed paths with me.

I can feel my power writing just underneath my skin.

She made her way towards me smirking, thinking I was just a weakling she can bully.

With a thought the spell binding me broke.

She stooped in her tracks, her eyes narrowed.

I was about to show her what I could do.

Smoke filled the room. Making me lose sight of her. I stood my ground thinking it might be her trying to attack me sneakily.

Then as the smoke cleared, there in the center of the room stood Artemis.