Chapter 4 - Escape

The market of Gelida was busy as everyone was trying to earn a living. They walked past different stalls. From the wooden structures to the ones in brick. Celeste wore a light peach outdoor dress with sandals. Her raven was tied in a ponytail making her voilet eyes vibrant. She decided to leave her cloak.

Faust, as usual was in her sash around her shoulders with Luna perched on her shoulders. Christian wore a tight top with loose pants and a pair of leather boots. His appearance was changed. The young witch made him look like Gylore, to avoid unwanted attention.

"Are you sure no one will notice me?" He asked her as she examined a herb on sale. "Yes am sure as long as my magic connection on you isn't broken." She said nodding at something the herbalist said. "How much does the sage go for?" She looked at the man expectantly.

He scratched his head and smiled. "Ten pieces of silver." He said. Christian nudged her arm in surprise. His mother used to buy plenty of those herbs but they never cost this much. She rose her eyebrow in question. "You are lying." She said watching him closely.

He nodded his head meekly. "Take them for free!" He said pushing them to her side. She smiled inwardly and took them.

"What did you do to him?" Christian looked behind to see the man watch them strangely before shaking his head. "I possessed his mind." She said smiling. "You did what?" He asked shocked. He was praising her for her behavior, but now he takes those words back.

"There was no way am buying those good herbs for ten pieces of silver, or you have the money to pay." She turned her head to watch him. Seeing no response from him she turned her head back.

They continued walking until Christian stopped at a weapon stall. "I think I need a weapon." He said weighing the silver blade. "What can I get for you two... couple?" The man said stretching the last word unsure of himself.

The two looked at each other at the word used to describe them. "We aren't a couple." Celeste said quickly. "We are acquaintances." She said. Christian frowned at the word 'acquaintances '.

It hurt she didn't consider him a friend but who was he kidding. At least he was grateful that she considered him an acquaintance after all what his family did to hers. He wamst really sure if he was part of them in the first place.

"How much is this sword?" Christian broke the awkward silence. The man explained the price and how the sword was made to Christian while she searched around for danger.

A man in a cloak entered the shop making the atmosphere uncomfortable. "Dark magic" She muttered quietly shifting to the door. Some magicians use the magic for their personal gain. That's how dark magic came. Dark magic itself is an element on its own.

It corrupts the minds of the people who use it. 'Bad' Faust said in a fearful tone peeking out of her sash to see the user of the dark magic. Christian noticed the wary glances she gave the strange man who entered the shop.

"I will take this sword." He said walking towards her. He was blocked by the man who smirked at him. Celeste eyes widened at the sight that greeted them. She knew coming here would be a bad idea plus the dark aura this strange man emitted was suffocating. She could even see the dark magic surrounding him.

"The Prince isnt dead!" The shopkeeper yelled gaining various passerbys attention. People yelled in anger to kill Christian. The strange man had vanished. He broke the connection she cursed.

"Follow me." She grabbed him by his wrist and dragged him out of the shop to the people's dismay. "Can't you do something about this!" He yelled to her.

She shook her head unsure. The huge bell in Gelida was sounded. It sound echoed through the market and amoured guards were on their tails."I knew this was a bad idea!" She yelled to the Prince beside her.

The market was filled with guards in minutes. "I hate this!"She said. The Prince followed her to a narrow alley. The two squeezed themselves in the narrow space while watching the guards file past them.She released a relieved sigh.

" Well you can do that later, we are in a tight position now. "He said looking at her. She glared at him coldly." You got us in this trouble in the first place." She yelled in a whisper. His jaw dropped in disbelieve.

" First of all, you are the one who lost concentration and how did I get us in this mess in the first place?" He shifted so her back rested on the wall while he leaned closer to her. She took notice of the proximity between them.

"Who was the one who wanted to come out in the first place?"She asked annoyed." Just imagine what would happen if we got caught. "She cringed at the thought. She wasn't ready to get burned like all the other witches.

"Looks like they are gone." Christian craned his neck and observed the formation of the guards. "We have to go they are not moving any sooner. They are waiting for us to come out." He said and she chuckled lightly.

She looked at him with a smirk and he rose his eyebrow at her in question. "What are you planing this time?" He asked suddenly interested. She only smirked more and turned her head to the guards. She knelt down and placed her hand on the cold stone floor.

"Surgere exercitu dominum vocat te rursum exitium" Sparks whipped past her. The ground trembled and accompanied with dust. She kept saying the words, each word got louder as the trembling continued.

The sky darkened and a cold wind swept past them. There was mayhem in the midst of the dust. Christian stood rooted to his spot unmoving as he watched her. He had to cover his face to avoid the particles of dust from entering his eyes.

He saw a black mass of locust flying towards them. As if they were controlled, they flew to the guards and ate them whole. Admist the screaming and yelling, he pulled her by her arm and they escaped to their safe abode.

"What you did was inhumane!"Christian yelled to Celeste. She looked unbothered as she sipped a hot cup of dark tea."Does it look like I care?" She asked him still sipping her tea.

"You killed them." He pressed on. "Look here I don't care about those beings. If you value your life you will close that mouth of yours. You understand me?" She said eyes glowing a dark shade of voilet. She hated being questioned on important things.

He felt an unfamiliar power rush through his body. His mouth shut on its own." For now we will lay low. I don't want these pests hanging around here. "She smiled petting her cat.

The rest of the day was spent in complete silence. He felt guilty how he yelled at her. Somehow she was right but she didn't really need to use such barbaric methods to wipe out the enemy.

He found her at her usual spot this time her face was buried kn her books. She looked peaceful sleeping. He noticed she looked beautiful uo close and he doubted whether it was a spell of hers responsible for the beauty.

Her dark long hair covered the side of her face and fell on a book she was reading. He noticed her lashes were usually long For a moment he stood there admiring her and had the urge to touch her face. He crouched to get a better view.

His fingers brushed her hair and he pulled it back. He touched her face the second time and let his finger brush her lips. The meowing of Luna caught his attention and he pulled his hand back. He looked down and Luna blinked innocently at him.

This human had guts. She thought.

She meowed again rubbing her body on his leg and he picked her up. He gave her ear scratches and she purred in satisfaction. He looked at her sleeping form and noticed slight shivering from her. He placed the dark cat on the desk Celeste was resting.

He brought her cloak and covered her with it. Sighing, he left note on her table before leaving the safe cottage.