Chapter 4-106: A Walk and a Chat (2/2)

“A Hagchild, like you.”

“A Hag...” Leslie slammed to a stop, gaping at her.

Sama coasted to a halt as well, and just looked back at her calmly.

“A-a Hagchild?” Leslie squeaked in disbelief. “You... me?” Her voice got tinier and shriller as she pointed back and forth.

“You can feel the link between us, right?” Sama asked calmly, harsh yet kind. Leslie nodded despite herself. “That’s the Hag Sisterhood bond. It’s the reason real Hags don’t usually tear one another apart, or scheme fatally against one another. Since we’re not depraved flesh-eating manrippers, it’s a more positive thing for us. Sisters on sight.” Sama held out her fist, and despite herself, Leslie bopped it with her.

“I feel like I’ve known you my whole life,” Leslie blurted out, shocked. “Like, I could trust you with anything...”

“And you know I’m not lying to you.”

Leslie swallowed hard, and began to sweat visibly. “You, you...”

“Are here to protect you from your Hagmother, who is coming for you.”

Her already dismayed expression began to falter and crash. “What?!” she gasped, as Sama nudged her into motion again.

“See the nails?” Sama held up her black-nailed hands. “That’s not paint. See the teeth? Those are not a mutation. See the Brand?” She pointed to the Curse over the side of her face. “That’s the remnants of the Hag Curse, specifically derived from that of an annis, hence the blue-black color. See the utter lack of a chest?” Sama pulled at her somewhat sooty t-shirt, which had absolutely nothing to bounce back to. “Annis-blood Hagchild. Those are all changes left behind after I beat the Hag Curse.”

Leslie was trembling as she walked, wide-eyed, trying hard not to believe this, and finding herself unable to do so. She knew Sama would not lie to her. She could understand that Sama was a sometimes almost brutally blunt person with an incredible violent streak to her... but none of that would ever be directed at her.

“Touch it.” Sama reached out to Leslie’s wrist, grabbed it gently, and as Leslie’s lips trembled in revulsion and distaste, brought her hand up to touch the Brand.

“Ahg!” she squeaked, trying to draw away, finding Sama’s hand would not let her leap away off the sidewalk into traffic, keeping her upright effortlessly; Sama’s arm barely moved, like it was made of steel.

It wasn’t because she’d felt pitted, scarred, slimy, distorted skin... her thoughts were wild as she considered that what she’d felt had been hard and smooth and strong, like stroking sablewood... except for the Curse.

Just that touch had made her scream, and made her realize...

She held up both her hands as Sama let her go. “It’s... it’s...” she gasped in disbelief.

“Yes. And you have no time. Your Hagmother is coming for you, and your Curse is already reacting. You’d have two, three days before your Change is upon you. It’s time to fight.”

“I’m-I’m going to turn into a Hag?” she gasped in shock, disbelief, and horror.

“Only if you want to. What have your studies been in?” Sama replied, totally unperturbed by this chain of events. The blasé nature of her face and voice did more to calm Leslie down than any manner of ranting and proud speeches could.

“Plant magic. I-I rated high for Sorcery...” she stammered, proud yet terrified of the fact now.

“Your Hagmother is a Greenhag, so that’s not at all unusual.” Sama held out her hand, and Leslie took it despite herself. She could feel the strength and power in that hand, and trust. Trust right from the bones.

Hag sisterhood...

“I don’t want to turn into a Hag,” Leslie whispered, and Sama nodded.

“We’re going to the place which can stop that cold. But first, you need to take the power out of your phone.”

Leslie blinked. “Why?”

“Your parents are hard-core Imprusar, old money, old blood. Once they find out you are a Hagchild, they will murder you without a second thought. Your father was cuckolded, your mother will believe she gave birth to an abomination, and they are racist elitists. They simply will not countenance having a Hagchild for a daughter.”

Big fat tears began to spill down Leslie’s cheeks. She started to say something, and then could only burst into sobs and sniffles as she began to cry. Sama pulled her into a hug, giving her comfort and support... but they still kept walking.

Leslie handed over her phone. She watched as Sama’s golden-bladed fingers cut through it without effort, and cried some more...