Chapter 9

Soft candlelight bathed the space in a warm glow, creating shadows on the oak walls. The cabin was filled with worn but comfortable furniture, their dark colors blending into the shadows. There was a single bed in the corner, a large fireplace in the middle of the room, and a small table with two chairs near the front window. The girl shut the door behind them, locking it with a soft click.

The girl moved around the cabin with an ease that suggested familiarity, lighting more candles and placing a log in the fireplace. The flame flickered to life, casting dancing shadows on the wall. With a weary sigh, she slumped down into one of the chairs, gesturing for Isaac to do the same.

Isaac settled into the other chair, his body tense with unease. The flickering firelight danced on the girl's face, illuminating her features and casting them into shadow. An awkward silence descended between them, the weight of their situation hanging in the air.

After a moment, the girl broke the silence. "You have questions," she said, her voice soft yet firm. "You can ask me, I'll answer what I can." Isaac nodded, his mind filled with a swirl of questions. Where to start? There was so much he didn't understand. But he decided to begin with the most pressing question. "What exactly are you?" he asked, his gaze fixed intently on her.

The girl gave him a wry smile. "A question I get asked quite often," she replied. "The short answer is that I'm a witch. A powerful one, at that." Isaac raised an eyebrow in surprise. "A witch?" he echoed, the word feeling strange on his lips. He had heard stories of witches, of course, but he had never actually met one before. "You use magic?"

"Quite a bit, actually," the girl replied, her expression becoming more serious. "Including magic to protect this cabin and keep us safe from those hunters."

Isaac leaned back in his chair, absorbing the information. "And why are you helping me?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of suspicion. "Let's just say I have my reasons," the girl replied, her tone guarded. "And one of them is to keep creatures like you out of the hands of the hunters. They're ruthless and cruel."