Chapter 14: Nerezza

Except for a beautiful, lush garden, the old wooden house looked abandoned from the outside. The nearby pond was filled with lilies and frogs as they hopped around, enjoying the evening air and catching bugs.

The entrance to the house was uninviting and provoked and unnerving feeling the closer you came to it.

"I knew you would be here eventually." The woman said to Damien, with a smile as he entered her poorly lit home. She kept her head down, looking at what she was working on. She was covered with a hooded cloak, covering her head and most of her face.

Black strands of hair peppered with silver peaked out from the sides of the hood, casting shadows across her face as she fiddled with her tools.

"I bet you did know." Damien replied. "Hello Nerezza."

"You are here because of the darkness." She said. "Yes, the magic is wearing off and they are invading the borders." Damien said seriously.

"I know." She smirked.

"Can you give me more of the mixture?" Damien asked. The woman fiddled with her things a bit and stopped abruptly.

"You have not paid for the last that I gave to you, Damien." She said, continuing to fiddle with her tools.

Damien stepped forward to look at what she was doing. She was burning an herb that smelled familiar. It made Damien's stomach turn as he pulled a handkerchief out of his jacket and covered his nose.

A small black snake slithered around in a small, glass aquarium near her. She opened the aquarium and reached in as the black snake snapped at her hand. She didn't flinch.

Grabbing the snake by its head and pulling it out of the glass box, the woman placed the snakes' fangs through the top of a container, squeezing out its venom carefully.

When she was satisfied with the extraction, she placed her hands, one on the top of the of the snake's mouth with her thumb placed between the snakes' fangs and her other thumb on the bottom of its mouth, grabbing it firmly as it twisted uncontrollably.

Damien watched intently as the woman worked meticulously. She mumbled something with her eyes closed and pulled the snakes head apart, ripping the snake in two from head to tail.

Damien was startled by the sudden movement but said nothing, while he waited for her to be finished. Interrupting a witch in the middle of a spell was not the smartest thing he could do, no matter how impatient he became.

The woman raised part of the ripped snake over her work area as blood dripped onto a metal dish, covering its previously laid contents.

After allowing blood to touch all the contents on her tray, the woman reached for a goblet and hung the snake head over it, draining the remains of the blood into the goblet.

"Waste not, want not." She smirked as she raised the goblet in both hands, bowing her head to it with her eyes closed. She then raised the goblet to her lips and took a sip. Blood lingered on her lips as she removed the goblet.

Damien's stomach turned again as he swallowed the bile racing up his throat at the sight of her actions. He looked away.

"Do I make you uncomfortable." She asked. "Uh, no. I am fine." He replied. "

"Good." Nerezza said.

"Now, you want more protection. Am I correct?" The woman asked, putting her goblet back in its place carefully as she trailed her long, thin fingers around its rim.

"Yes." Damien replied.

"How do you plan to pay for this, Damien? Where is my black elephant? You promised and have not delivered. You gave your word that you would deliver him upon receiving the last mixture" She asked getting annoyed.

"Well, I am preparing him to be brought to you. It is not exactly the easiest task to remove one of the highest earning acts in the circus. People will start asking questions and I will have to replace him with something better." Damien replied.

"That sounds like an issue that has nothing to do with me." The witch said seriously. Damien's eyes darted left to right as he thought of a lie to tell her to buy him more time.

"Trying to lie is not a good choice Damien." She said with anger growing inside of her.

Damien looked at Nerezza surprised as his heartrate increased while he remained quiet, trying to disguise his fear. He forgot that she knew many things.

"I want my elephant before I give you another protection spell." She said firmly.

"What about the darkness?" Damien asked. "You will have to figure it out until you deliver what I ask. Is that clear?" She asked.

"Yes. You are crystal clear." Damien said, trying not to show his frustration. The woman nodded her head, pleased at his response.

"What about the girl?" The witch asked. Damien remained silent. "Cat got your tongue?" She teased.

She knew! He thought, feeling the anxiety build in his chest.

"Well, that's another thing I may need help with." Damien replied.

"What do you mean?" The woman asked, tilting her head slightly as she glared at Damien, causing him to feel uncomfortable.

"She got injured and the doctor said she will not recover." Damien said. "How did you let her get injured, Damien?" The witch asked with a growl, through her blood stained teeth.

"It was an accident. The elephant became startled and crushed her. Her wounds are deadly." He said, lowering his eyes to the floor.

"You fool! All you had to do was keep her safe until she made eighteen." She barked, as she stood up suddenly. Damien stepped back frightened.

Nerezza walked toward the back of the room near a closet and opened one of the doors. She reached in and pulled out a small purple and gold vial, placing it in a black velvet pouch.

"Give this to her." She said, placing the small pouch in Damien's hand. "It will enhance her healing abilities. When she has healed, you must bring her to me. If not, I will not be giving you anything and you will have to face the Darkness on your own. I cannot let you ruin her before I get what I need from her." The woman said with a scowl.

"I cannot give up the elephant and the girl at the same time. How will the circus do well? People come from all over the world to see them, especially the girl." Damien pleaded.

"Once again, that sounds like an issue that does not concern me. You agreed to this long ago, Damien. Do I need to give you a reminder?" She smirked, moving towards Damien as he stepped back.

Nerezza reached into her cloak, pulling out a silver dagger, holding it to Damien's neck as he fell back onto a small table, catching his balance on its edge. She grabbed his right hand and looked at the scar in the center of it.

"Never forget what I have done for you. You owe me in more ways than one." She said.

"I want the elephant and the girl, or you will have more than the darkness to be afraid of." She said. Moving the dagger closer to the large vain pulsating in Damien's neck.

"Ok, ok, Nerezza. I will give you what you want." He said, leaning his head back to avoid the point of the blade as it began to penetrate his skin.

"Please! I will do as you say!" He pleaded, leaning back further.

Nerezza pushed Damien back on the table, removing the dagger from his throat. Before the next moon cycle, I expect to have them both. I want her in perfect condition, or you will pay with your own life." She said.

"Wait, why? You can't do that." Damien begged.

"Dare you to question me?" She looked at him, glaring through his soul as he began to feel a pain in his chest. He placed his hand over his heart breathing heavily.

"Do not play with me, young man. You know better." Nerezza threatened with glaring, bright green eyes. "Please, stop this!" Damien pleaded.

Suddenly, the pain subsided and Nerezza's eyes returned to their natural black color. "Leave now. Do as I say, and all will be well. Do not do as I say and well…you will see." She winked.

Damien collected himself and hurried out of the old wooden house. Time was running out.

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