Chapter 11: ~Fear in the streets of the town~

Alepoú and I, after a long day, decided to rest after that emotional discharge that we had both had, so we slept the remainder since we were somewhat exhausted from using our energy due to the battle we had previously fought.

I thought everything was over, but in my dreams... something terrible began to happen, something that I didn't want to torment me in those moments when I had to keep my mind strong.

— Damn...— I muttered as I looked around me.— A damn premonition.

The place I was in was nothing more and nothing less than the town, of course I hardly went out because of the criticism and blasphemies that were thrown at my parents and me like poison. I was walking through the cobblestone streets next to Alepoú, but something was wrong, people looked out the doors of their homes when they saw us walking there and the murmurs did not wait.

I wanted to ignore everything that managed to be audible to me, but... suddenly I heard footsteps behind me and those were both older women and men who were in a crowd with perhaps the intention of hurting me.

—Don't worry Nath, this is just a premonition... you just have to pay attention to every detail to avoid it tomorrow.— I thought as I turned to see the crowd.

One of the older women with a clear expression of authority separated from the crowd to walk towards me and when she was a few steps away from me, she spoke things that were inaudible to me.

Thanks to Alepoú jumping on my abdomen, I got out of that horrible situation that had been shown to me, although he had only done it to wake me up so we could leave as early as possible.

— Alepoú, do you think it's better if I don't put on my tunic? — I asked him when I saw him sitting on my bed.

— I think it would be better to wear something more casual, your Fray grandparents are not like the Castelias.— he replied.

— It's okay, although I shouldn't present myself too informally—. I spoke and then took out a long black jacket from my closet along with pants of the same color.

— Don't forget to prepare yourself in case a spirit appears, remember that I can't do anything in my state—. he warned me at the same time that he got out of my bed to go under and take out a briefcase with his bag.

— Of course—. I responded while he knelt down to open the briefcase and begin to take out small bottles that could be useful to me and put them in the pockets I had inside my jacket.

Once I was already dressed, I went down very carefully to avoid making any noise and not wake up my parents because they would be against me going out to town and visiting my maternal grandparents in order to clarify doubts and unearth the truth. that both families were hiding, according to what Alepoú had heard.

I wanted to avoid having a bad time but something in me told me that I should meet that crowd that was carrying torches to illuminate the place and that it was early morning, so without further ado I headed towards the streets where they were waiting for me and where, as had shown me, the lady came out from among them to talk to me.

— I told you, those witches come out at this time! —. shouted a man in the crowd.

—The young witch has gone out alone and that is not a good sign, besides... he carries that animal that represents deception in all its splendor. How much more do we have to endure seeing them live fully without being punished for their crimes?!—. he said with a tone full of seriousness.

Without intending to argue, I just managed to say:— Madam, I have only been living for twenty-one years... I have not left my house more than twenty times, and I have not even gotten involved with any of you. Please, could you let me in?—. I asked him in the calmest way I could.

He got closer to me and with his fingers he began to poke my chest vigorously.— Look kid, whenever one of the Castelias appears in town he brings unpleasant news... and even more so, you and your cousin who, according to what you have, have the curse of predicting the future.

— Madam, do you think it is pleasant for me to have what they call gifts and you call it a curse?—. I asked her with the little patience I had left.— I did not want to be and I never asked to be born in a family that only It has caused me problems. I am different and I accept it, I accept and respect that you do not want me to live with people my age, I have accepted living in seclusion and with few opportunities to appreciate the streets of the town where I was born... and I have decided to leave you alone and without support of my power to please them.— I sighed with the intention of calming down a little.— I can't believe that they need to torment my parents and me for not telling them something compared to my aunt and grandparents.

— Shut up, insolent child, you only bring misfortune every time you open your mouth!—. she shouted at me.

He was about to respond, but the sound of a bell was heard nearby. All the people who were watching the theater that the lady was putting on turned pale. Seeing them white as paper made me realize that it was not a good sign, and Of course it wasn't, since a block ahead of me, my cousin Dannét appeared. She was wearing the robe that we used for meditation, (clothing that was white with gold details) and in her right hand she had the bell that rang again.

— Dannét?!—. I shouted when I saw her thanks to the dim light that was coming towards her.

—I knew it was a bad omen that a Castelia appeared before us!!—. the woman shouted.

My cousin, on the other hand, seemed calm about the situation and she continued walking towards where the crowd was holding me. When she found herself in front of us, she pointed at the woman and spoke.

— Go away and try to calm down if you don't want this to be her last day—. Dannét said with her eyes closed.

— You are no one to tell me what to do!!!—. the woman responded.

— Don't worry, Mrs. Cleo, remember that what comes out of that cursed mouth comes true—. the husband of the woman who was in the crowd now spoke.

— But she's only coming to help her cousin, she's just saying stupid things!!!—. she shouted as she picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at my cousin who dodged it.— Damn witch, now. You will see that I will make you pay for what you have told me.

Without caring about Doña Cleo's threat, he began to release the premonitions like arrows to the residents.—The Ruíz family will fall into bankruptcy, Olga's daughter will suffer an accident, the Duncan house will fall to pieces due to a heavy rain that will hit the town—. His eyes opened and with a smile that seemed to mock misfortunes he spoke again.—You know that I will always have more premonitions in which karma will torment you like it does with our family.

With fury, Mrs. Cleo waved her hand in the air and went against Dannét.— You are a....!!!

I didn't know why, but my body reacted instinctively by turning towards the lady to catch her as she fainted at the same time that she brought her hand to her chest showing that she was in pain. Holding her in my arms that were not strong enough to keep her standing, little by little I laid her on the ground to start looking for something that would be very useful in those critical moments.

I was really scared by Dannét's face, who seemed to be satisfied with her actions, although it was clear that I would not sit with my arms crossed watching how the recklessness of one of my relatives took the life of a poor lady with a lot of hatred in her. heart.

The people were about to surround us but with the little calm that was left in me I made a sign to them so that they wouldn't crowd together.— Keep your distance, I'll help you... so don't worry—. I told them, still looking at me. coat.

— Nathy—. Dannét called me.

Even without stopping searching through my pockets that were inside my jacket and without looking at her, I responded:— What do you want, Dannét?, Is what you did not enough for you?

— Nathy, you know well that that lady and all these gentlemen were about to commit a crime against you and you alone... are you helping them?—. she asked me with a certain tone of annoyance.

— Dannét, for things like this they treat us like monsters. Because you and the other Castelia don't try to change their minds and only do what they can to get revenge.— I answered.

When I finally found the small glass bottle, I quickly removed the small cork to wet my index and middle fingers with the contents and spread it on my temples, neck and wrists, with each application of the liquid on those points I made a prayer and used my energy to give more vitality to Doña Cleo's heart.

Thanks to giving some of my energy to the lady I started to feel dizzy, but it was worth it to see how Mrs. Cleo stopped having those heart attacks that Dannét had caused her by provoking her with premonitions that only announced evils.

The woman's husband, upon seeing her better, helped her get up from her and I was helped by two gentlemen who thanked me for helping her. When I found myself standing, Dannét just smiled at me and maliciously said:

— As much as you want to avoid misfortunes and without flavors... nothing will work, you will only be delaying it. — When he told me that he turned around and rang the silver bell again. — Never forget that you are a Castelia, someone who will be feared by their power, you will be persecuted and hurt if you don't do something to show that they should have respect for you.

— Dannét... I don't care about that, I know what I am and I'm worth it, I don't need to impose fear to be respected.

— Wow... I hope that because of that kindness they have a funeral where I have to go to see how they bury another Castelia because of his naivety. Hahaha, I hope that one day you will understand that what you are doing is not right and that your premonitions will open your eyes.—she told me as she began to walk aimlessly until she got lost in the streets.

Everyone was silent and the gentlemen who were holding me only offered me a glass of water and the occasional fruit or sweet because of the pale color of my skin and my clumsy walk that showed my weakness because of what I had done.

— I will only accept water, I cannot eat sweets or the fruits that they offer me since it is not my snack time. Even so... thank you very much for your kindness—I explained and thanked them with a weak smile.

— You must eat something, you look very sick—. Mrs. Cleo said with concern.— You did something to save me with your magic, you must be exhausted.

—I did it with great pleasure. Besides...she wasn't going to let Dannét have his way with one of her gifts, that was very selfish of her to use it for harm instead of using it for good.

Having all the attention from people who would have wanted to hurt me before and were now helping me... made me feel uncomfortable, so I just separated myself from them to try to show them that it was okay. My steps were clumsy, but I wanted to get out of there because I was not used to being surrounded by people who were not my family or strangers who had been showing up more frequently lately.

—Thank you for your kindness, and you shouldn't thank me for helping Mrs. Cleo, but... I must go... I have important matters to attend to.— I said while pointing towards the mountain.— So... let's go. Alepou.

My companion quickly made his way through the crowd that had previously surrounded him, but when he was a short distance from me, Doña Cleo grabbed him by the tail and carried him in her arms, leaving Alepoú immobilized.

Seeing her do that worried me, and even more so that serious face she showed me.

— E-this... could you give me back my friend? —. I asked him with some fear.

— I'll give it to you, but... — from one moment to the next his serious face changed to a happy one and then he made a sign to the crowd. — but not before taking you the fruit, the sweets and some bottles of water for the road. — The woman's husband only approached us to try to give me a backpack.

— I told them it wasn't necessary—. I mentioned again while he moved the backpack away.

—We know but... you must prepare well before entering that place to do your witchy things. So... accept the backpack with all this that we offered you so that your adventure is not complicated—. said Mrs. Cleo.

— Okay, I'll accept it but... I remind you that I can't eat sweets—. I spoke with some embarrassment.

— Don't worry kid, next time we'll give you fruit. Or if you want we can get you things for...

I interrupted him.— Thank you for everything but... it is not necessary to show so much kindness for something that was easy to do—. When I took the backpack I just made a sign to Alepoú, who quickly freed himself from Doña Cleo's arms and ran. by my side.

We both started running through the streets while listening to the crowd wishing us luck.