Witch Hunt

  The air was moist and smelled of earth and rain. A fog had covered the forest on the morning they’d set out to find Elizabeth.

  For some reason the forest had seemed different. It was almost as if it knew what their mission was. King Midas had been very clear, they were to investigate and either capture Elizabeth alive or kill her if necessary.

  Maxwell had sworn he would not fail. He’d even sworn on Buros’s soul. Not that it meant anything to him.

  Rei was still refusing to speak with him. She had only nodded her head when they were discussing their plan. Like Maxwell, she had no intentions of harming Elizabeth.

  Maxwell refused to address her silence. “Let her remain silent” he thought. He’d said nothing that wasn’t true. Deep down she knew he was right about the citizens of Dulciena.

   Just like the people on earth, they were all too happy to accept the peace that was given to them even if it was at the cost of someone else’s. So long as they had food in their stomachs and clothes on their backs, they could shut out all the people who had neither. They could change the station, put on headphones. They could drown out all the death and suffering in the world so long as they had their “peace.”

  The path to Elizabeth’s cottage was simple enough to find though it would be impossible if you hadn’t already been there. The trees seemed identical and this deep in the forest, there was bound to be carnivorous creatures lurking in wait for its prey to stray from the path.

  The two walked in silence until the cottage came into view. It looked much more eerie than before. Its windows had been shut with black curtains hiding whatever was inside. The fog wasn’t helping as it gave the cottage a sinister look, the kind of look that warned you to stay far away lest you wished to meet a grim fate.

  Rei was the first to knock on the door. She received no answer and for the first time in the last few days called out to Elizabeth. “Elizabeth, are you home? It’s me, Rei.”

  Maxwell noted how she hadn’t bothered to mention him. “It doesn’t seem like she’s home.”

  Rei ignored him and continued calling for Elizabeth. When she didn’t answer the third time, Rei sighed and in a puff of smoke, transformed back into her yokai form. She lay down just outside the cottage door and seemed to fall asleep.

  Maxwell didn’t have such abilities and so he decided he’d help himself to the poisonous berries that he’d used to dispatch of Buros. Perhaps he’d even use them on Rei if she continued being obstinate.

  He found the berries growing just a few feet away from the cottage. If Elizabeth hadn’t told him what they were he’d have mistook them for blue berries on account of their color and shape.

  Before he was able to pick his deadly fruit, a familiar voice startled him. “Maximus? Is that you?”

  That was the second person who’s snuck up on him without him noticing. Was this world dulling his senses?

  He turned around to see a cloaked figure carrying a sack of herbs. “Elizabeth?”

  The cloaked figure removed their cloak to reveal the golden haired woman he’d accidentally saved. “It’s so good to see you! I didn’t think we’d be meeting again so soon. Tell me, did you find what you wear searching for in Dulciena?”

  “My business in Dulciena has taken an unexpected turn. Me and Rei have come to seek your aid.”

  Elizabeth seemed surprised at Maxwell’s request. “You’ve come to seek my aid? I don’t know how helpful I can be but I’ll do whatever I can to help.”

  The sun was beginning to set as the two returned to the cabin where Rei remained asleep. With all her senses you would think she would have heard or smelled them before they even reached the door. 

  Elizabeth was just kneeling down to wake the yokai when Maxwell stepped on one of Rei’s tails. Rei sprang up with a loud painful yowl. Her eyes witched had been shut were now wide open. Her claws were extended as her pain quickly turned to anger. “What in the hells was that for?!”

  “I’m sorry Rei, I didn’t see your tail there.”

  Rei gave Maxwell a glare of pure anger. “Watch where you’re stepping next time.”

  Elizabeth was able to cool the tension between the two by scooping up Rei and stroking her back as if she were a common house cat. If it had been anyone other than Elizabeth she’d probably have scratched them to ribbons.

  They all went inside the cabin and after Elizabeth got a fire going in the fireplace the cottage seemed just a cozy as it had been the last time they stayed there. 

  Rei had sprawled herself out next to the fireplace and Elizabeth was in the kitchen brewing tea. One would have thought they were a cozy little family setting in for the night.

  Seeing as how Rei had given into her feline instincts and seemed to have forgotten why they had travelled here in the first place. Maxwell took the opportunity to speak with Elizabeth in private.

  “Is there a place you and I could speak in private?”

  Elizabeth looked confused as she looked over at Rei still sprawled next to the fireplace place. “Shouldn’t we include Rei?”

  “I was thinking it could just be between the two of us.”

  “Okay, I think I know a place. Follow me.”

  The two went out through the back door and walked into the forest before stopping at what looked like a garden. While he was positive they weren’t the kind of vegetables on earth they did look familiar to tomatoes, lettuce, potatoes and even carrots.

  “This is my garden, although I think of the whole forest as my garden. We can speak privately here.”

  “I only have one question for you. Why are you hiding from your kingdom, Princess Elizabeth?”