33 Chapter 33: Of Men and Witches (2/2)
”…”
She breathed. Breathed out. ”In the end, we all want the same thing. That's all.”
”That's a bold claim. How do you know you are right?”
”Because witches and humans aren't so different after all.”
Then she added, ”Also, she's the dainty kind. All men like that kind. Which is what makes her dangerous.”
Dangerous? Anja? That was a lie.
”What do you mean?”
Elina patted the fur she sat down. ”This isn't bear fur. Anja's father lied to you.”
”So what?”
Elina didn't answer. She raised her hands. The chains clinked. She pointed at the door.
”What?” I asked.
”One, two...three.”
A knock on the door. I turned around.
”Who is it?” I asked.
”Mr Udell, I was just wondering if I could offer you some wine.”
The voice belonged to Anja's father. I got up and opened the door. He handed me a clay mug and two wooden cups. I thanked him and wished him a good night.
I closed the door. Put the mug down. Offered Elina a cup. Poured myself a drink. Elina put her hand on my cup.
”Don't drink it, not yet.”
”Why?”
”Listen to me first.”
”??”
”You asked me what happened to my mother. I'll tell you now.”
I put down the cup.
She said, ”Just like any other witch, I was born to a witch mother and a human father. But they didn't raise me.”
”What happened?”
”My father left right after I was born. Because he disagreed with my mother. And that caused them to go their separate ways.”
She paused. Her blue eyes looked at me, past me, into a memory from ages ago.
”What did they disagree on?” I asked.
”Whether or not they should kill me.”
I said nothing.
Elina continued. ”From the moment I was conscious, when I came out of her womb, I remember everything. My mother was terrified when she saw me. When she saw my eyes. Like you witch hunters, witches know how the strength of our magic affects our natural eye color. The lighter the color, the purer the magic. And I was the first witch with silver eyes. Although I think at the time of my birth, my eyes might've been white.”
”Why would your mother be terrified? Shouldn't she be proud of having such a powerful daughter?”
She smiled wryly. ”No... You see my eyes, my magic was beyond the imagination of any witch. In a way, my magic wasn't even magic anymore. My power surpasses the definition of a witch. And like humans, when witches are frightened of something, they tend to kill it.
”But my father wanted to keep me. Even though he was only human. He disagreed with my mother and was banished. My mother wanted me to die, but was too afraid to kill me. So she left me in the woods, hoping that a bear or pack of wolves will eat me.”
She grew quiet.
For a while I said nothing. I had to process everything she told me. The story of her birth. Why she had no mother.
But there was one thing that didn't make sense to me.
In all things, there were three major questions. The what. The when. And the why.
”Why are you telling me this?” I asked.
Elina smiled slightly. Her eyes stayed blue, her hair stayed blonde.
”Because you might die tonight.”
Elina nodded at the door. A moment of silence. Then a knock.
I looked at her. She looked at me.
Anja's voice sounded from outside. Hesitant. Endearing. ”S-Salem? Are you awake? I want to see you.”
Elina snickered. ”Go on...hmm?”