The Accidental Witch And The Cursed Prince Chapter 2

The world slams back into color. Blazing red. Screaming. Smoke.

Aurelien Rayes

Ughhh... my face... my back... my soul.

He groans, lying half-buried in dry grass. The smell of burning wood chokes him.

Villagers: *Shouting* TIE HER TIGHTER!

Aurelien Rayes

*Muffled* Huh?

He pushes up on trembling arms. His vision spins. Ahead of him—a firewood pyre. And tied to the stake, a women in black cloak. Hands bound. Blood running down her face.

Crowd: *chanting* Kill the witch! Kill the witch!!

Aurelien Rayes

...WHAT?!

The crowd is huge—dozens of villagers, torches blazing, pitchforks glinting. Children crying. Dogs barking. An old priest raising a burning censer.

Old Priest

By the light of Orem, she shall BURN!

The women raises her head—eyes glowing faint silver. Her lips twitch. Smiling?

Villager 1

She cursed the duke's son!

Villager 2

She made the fields rot!

Villager 3

She speaks to the crows at night!

Aurelien Rayes

*Muttering* Am I... in a Ren faire??

Suddenly—his arm glows. A faint sigil—same as from the ritual circle—shimmers blue on his wrist. It flares.

Torch sparks fly. The witch's bindings loosen. Aurelien stumbles forward—he doesn't even know he's moving.

Villager 4

*Pointing* WHO IS THAT?!

Aurelien Rayes

*Panicking* I DUNNO I DUNNO I'M LOST I'M SORRY—

He steps with into the circle of the pyre. His hand grazes the rope. It snaps. The witch collapses into him.

Crowd: *screaming* HE'S SAVING HER! HE'S A WARLOCK TOO!!

Old Priest

SEIZE HIM!!

Aurelien Rayes

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH

He tries to back away, but the woman—her bindings now mostly gone—grabs his face. Her eyes glow brighter.

Ruvetha Seraphin [Witch]

You're not from this world.

Aurelien Rayes

You THINK?!

Ruvetha Seraphin [Witch]

Hold on.

She slams her palm to the sigil on his wrist. A ring of black fire bursts around them. The villagers scream. Light explodes.

When the smoke clears—they're gone.

To be continued