The Witch of the Mountain

A smallish lady, her skin was pale and not as many wrinkles as you would think for a venerable woman like herself, she dressed in a long violet, her jet black hair braided long against her back, "Good evening Carol."

With her was a tall lanky kid in his late teens, he stood there nervously brushing his fingers through his long light blue side sweep holding a bag of goods that Lucia needed, "I am Mars...I helped my grandmother get here..."

"Are you nervous Mars?" Carol snickers baring his fangs, "Does he know Lucia?"

Steel smacks Carol upside the head, "How dare you scare our guests!"

Lucia giggles, "He knows, a long time ago I been here..."

"I remember very well you are the revered mountain witch after all."

"Steel, you don't don't even look a day over twenty."

She blushes, "We will show you the room where Christian is..."

Lucia hands Steel a small box, "I need you to heat a kettle and give this to me to prep him." she instructs, Clarence decides to take over gingerly taking her hand guiding her to the room.

He grabs the doorknob turning it, the Witch of the Mountain notices Alex sleeping curled up in the corner, "Who is the boy?"

"He is the master, he recently has been fractured so he isn't in his right mind..."

"Fractured...I will check him later." Lucia spouts lifting Christian's head listening to his breathing, she raises his arm examining every feature showing outwardly.

Turning to face Clarence she puts on a worried face, "What's wrong?" Clarence asks, she says nothing turning her attention back to the Devil.

Steel knocks on the door holding a very hot cup in her hands, handing it to Lucia.

"Oh Steel! Thank you!"

Placing it on the nightstand, she brings out a folding fan unfurling it swinging it at the very hot tea, "The Devil is too tired...the host body and the guest are unruly."

"What can we do to help you with Christian?" Clarence chimes.

"Shhh..." The Witch chides, taking the cup into her hand tipping Christian head up; she silently sat there chanting the whole time till the cup was empty.

Lightly letting his head hit the pillow she sits in the chair sitting staring over at who she thinks is a child, he opens his eyes slowly, "Are you awake now boy?"

"I am not a boy, shut up old woman!" Alex criticizes her harshly out of anger.

Clarence and Steel are completely shocked by his outburst, they note her slight smile, "Let me guess who your master was..."

Closing her eyes she meditates, one of her eyes flips open giving him a grin.

"Well?" He challenges.

"Elijah..."

Astonished he gets up on all fours arching his back, you would think he was a cat and not a vampire, "Impossible, how could you tell human?"

"Your magick scent...he left his mark on you little one."

He calms down sitting back on the floor hugging his knees looking down at the floor, "I only slightly remember him..."

"Master...?" Christian mumbles coming out of his long sleep peeking around Lucia to see Alex in the corner.

"Welcome back to the world of the living Devil..." Lucia says greeting his wake to consciousness, Alex darts over to his bedside.

"Are you feeling okay?" Steel questions.

"Just tired Steel..."

"Because all I did was call your soul back." The Witch informs them, "I need you all to do a favor for me..."

Clarence, Steel, and Alex gawk up at her as though she was crazy, "A favor?" they say in unison, she places her hands on her lap.

"I forgot to get one ingredient..."

"How did you forget it?" Alex calls her out rudely, Clarence grabs him by the collar.

"Shh devil cat, anyways here is what it looks like," Lucia states handing them a photo of a small local herb and tiny guidebook.

"How many of these do you need revered mother?" Steel questions.

"At least twenty or thirty if you can, I will watch over Devil here. He most likely is not able to move anyways."

"Understood! We will be back then!" Steel announces proudly, Clarence has to drag Alex out of the room; in the halls, they meet Mars.

He is quiet scrolling through his phone with headphones in, Steel signals for him to take them off, "Why are you out here?"

"Listening to music while grandmum takes care of you bastard fangs."

"Why are you so mad about vampires?"Clarence quizzes, "Did someone hurt you?"

"I don't have to tell you ugly demon." He unbraids the people of the house.

Steel pulls on his choker yanking up to his feet annoyed, "You are coming with us!"

"I am going nowhere with you psycho's!" He yells, Lucia looks outside the door.

"Mars, it would do you some good to get some air!"

Mars stomps his foot down, "You can go if you want then with these biters!"

"I have to stay here you idiot!" She argues snapping her fan against the palm of her hand, he gives the evil eye.

"Fine..."

"You don't even know how to use the evil eye..."