She looked around – the graves and the headstones erupted goosebumps over her skin, making her wish to leave this place immediately.
“And where can we find them?” she let out, stepping on the steps down.
“They celebrate a new moon in the North Forest every new cycle.” He raised his head and took a gander at the moon. “It will be in two days if I'm not mistaken. We have time.”
“And we just ask them for help?” she wondered.
“Exactly,” Dante nodded placidly.
Violette couldn't stop pondering. She'd never heard about a secret circle of these witches or any circle at all. Specifically, she'd never heard about witches whose powers were connected to nature. Of course, regular witches were working with its gifts, brewing healing potions and cures using different herbs, but they didn't have such a deep relationship with nature as Dante described the Witches Of Emerald Capes.
She'd never heard about someone taking magic from nature at all. Objects were able to absorb magic with the right ritual, it was a common thing but a person – never. Though she should remember these lands were different from her homeland, they had another type of magic and most legends and stories have never made it to her home, they just got lost on the way.
“Meanwhile, we're waiting for the crescent moon, we stay in the town.” Snow crunched under Dante's boots.
The air,cold and exhilarating, filled Violette's lungs, every step accompanied by the creaking of snow, following the forest sounds. A few minutes later her eyes spotted the warning sign about the forest again as they passed the town gates. The empty streets and lonely lanterns were the only things they met on their way to the nearest place to stay. The town was still sleeping. Didn't matter what time it was, Violette didn't feel very tired as her curiosity was ringing in her head, and yet she assumed it was deep night, perhaps almost morning.
The innthey stayed in was a cozy little house with two floors. Dante paid an old lady for two rooms before they walked upstairs.
Violette had felt like she should say something as her fingers reached the handle of the door.
“We will stay here for two days,” Dante suddenly spoke first. “Until then try not to get into something that can cause…any inconvenience.”
From all the words he could say, Violette didn't expect that.
“I am not a troublemaker.” She glared at him.
“That better be true,” he replied, his voice sharp and unyielding..
The silence filled the space between them for a moment. And then as Dante opened the door Violette clumsily let out, “Goodnight.”
He glanced at her from the side and without any unnecessary emotions responded in kind.
The doors shut.
Violette heaved a deep sigh as she finally was alone and had time to think every thought that invaded her mind since the start of all of this trip. Her eyes moved around the room – simple but warm. The big window in the opposite direction let in the light of the street lantern before she lit up the lamp on the wall. A pretty big bed with bedposts under the wall seemed soft and a perfect place to lay in after a long day, but the first thing Violette decided to do was to take a bath.
She sniffed the flower soap on the bathtub – the pleasant smell of it filled the room in minutes. She was more than happy being able to change her clothes after almost two days of traveling and she was prudent enough to bring herself a few more dresses, including the nightgown in her magically spacious bag. She was absolutely convinced it was the greatest invention which always came in handy. It could contain twenty things of different sizes which didn't make it heavy, however to be honest she wished for a bag which could hold more stuff. Unfortunately, more spacious bags were truly rare and therefore extremely expensive.
She took a few possibly useful things for this trip as well, trying to be prepared for whatever happens – three bottles of potions, a longer cloak with a cape, gloves, pocket size manual of plants, spellbook and another pair of boots, just in case.
Smelling like a burst of flowers and feeling absolutely clean she lay down in the warm bed and knocked out faster than she expected.
All night Violettehad strange dreams, she was wandering in circles in the forest and every time ended up at the cemetery. The crows were flying over her head, snow covering her hair. The field of purple clematis had flown over all her dreams and then somehow she'd ended up in the little town she’d stopped in with Dante before and an angry seller had tried to sell her a little sparkling Laevitins.
She opened her eyes long past noon.
Clouds covered the sky with gray and black colors, muffled noise from the street faintly slid into the room through the window as Violette was sitting on the bed half sleepy. She rubbed her eyes and her mouth let out a yawn as her lashes fluttered.
Her legs led her to the dining room.
She stepped in and crossed the room to the long table filled with snacks. The fluffy little cakes with heavy cream garnished with raspberries on top were calling out her name and who was she to resist them?
One bite and she let out a satisfied burble. The berry layer between the biscuits melted in her mouth. Her eyes didn't notice the teapot on a silver tray straight away but soon she was pouring the hot water in a porcelain teacup. And white cookies with blueberry jam covered with chocolate topping suited her mood that day perfectly. Thewarmth spread through her body with every sip of hot tea and she didn't realize she’d emptied a whole plate of cookies alone.
Shortly, her curiosity led her to the living room – a spacious room with a large window, two velvet chairs, one couch and a little coffee table. Her eyes brushed a pile of books on the table, a crystal vase with fresh white flowers in it, then she gazed at the windows. The sky remained overcast with the gray clouds.
Opening a window, Violette stuck her head outside, inhaling fresh air – the cool wind brushed her cheeks. Her nose smelled the rainy scent.
