Thread: The Witch and the Alchemist (closed)

--Meanwhile-- Father Justin rearranged the candles on the altar and breathed in and out trying to calm the tension in his body. Outwardly it appeared to be working, but inside he was coiled tighter than a spring and ready to burst. Not even the holy presence in his church could ease his turmoil. How could she have won? How could that witch have convinced so many people? He knew how, and it was so painfully obvious that it ground him deep inside that he was the only one to see it. Witchcraft of course! She must have cast a spell at some point to bewitch the townspeople and the judge against him. Either that or the people of this town really weren't that bright to begin with. Those sheep! he muttered contemptuously with a twist of his mouth. Following whichever way the wind blows! Even into the den of wolves! There was so much he couldn't deny, like the circle of salt--how had she crossed it?--or her hair being the only thing on her burned--witches were often given miraculous healing abilities by the devil--and her tears! Everyone knew witches couldn't cry, but she had expelled liquid from her eyes, in plain view where everyone could see and it wasn't a trick. But it HAD to be. Everything in his gut told him that she was a witch and he was never wrong when influenced by the holy spirit to see evil in others. He had to show the people in some way, get her to reveal her true form to them. The priest stood in front of the altar, grasping it with both hands and his shoulders hunched as he thought furiously. He didn't hear the double doors open or the footsteps of the man who entered. He didn't realize he wasn't alone until the man spoke. I had to do it, the gravelly voice intoned as the man came to stand a few feet behind him. You do see that, don't you? The people were already swayed by their sympathy. There was no way I'd have gotten away with telling them she was guilty. You let a Darkfiend take residence in this town, the priest said without turning around, his face a mask of composure as he stood up straight. To make things difficult for me and now, you let one of the brides of Satan walk because it wouldn't do to tarnish your public image. The priest turned to the judge standing behind him, the heavy jowled man regarding him stoically. We are in a spiritual war ground here. Do you not understand what I am up against, every day fighting for these people's souls? The judge was not a man to be intimidated. You didn't have enough evidence to convince even the most impressionable mind in that courtroom today. They would not have let you execute her without there being a fuss! I did it to save you some face and if you want to continue to garner their respect you'll drop it and leave her alone. He said the last in a warning tone. Somehow he'd sensed how much this meant to the priest and knew if he didn't say something the man would not likely give up chasing this girl until he'd put himself in the mud with her. Father Justin sighed, folding his hands in front of him and looked at the judge calmly. Is that all, Marvin? he asked, using the man's first name deliberately. They were no longer in the courtroom this was Father Justin's territory now and he made sure the man knew it, even if his demeanor was placid contentment. The judge took a deep breath, hearing him loud and clear and not liking the way he was being brushed aside. I'm leaving now. Please, heed my advice, Father. She'll cause you nothing but trouble if you continue to pursue this. But the priest's expression was closed and stony and he knew he wasn't going to listen anymore. So he nodded grimly and left the church, the double doors banging shut behind him and echoing hollowly in the cavernous room. -------------------------------------------- Lan sat in the chair silently, holding his head in his hand and brooding worriedly. Despite his best efforts to not think about it, the memory of before came to mind. He'd tried the blood tubes only once before, on a small girl who'd come in after being run over by a cart. The wheels had broken her legs and split her skin open. Lan had performed surgery, stitching her up and putting a brace on, but she'd lost a lot of blood in the time it had taken to transport her and then close the wound. The blood tubes were something new he'd devised after seeing other doctors and alchemists use something similar and at the last minute he'd decided to use them on the child. It had been a hurried situation and he'd needed to act fast. There had been no time for questions and doubts and he'd hooked himself up to the girl, just as he was now. But something had gone wrong and the girl's body rejected his blood and she'd died. Nobody blamed him for what had happened but he would always feel sorrow over losing that patient. Especially when he was so uncertain of what had gone wrong. Glancing at Dorelia, he sighed heavily. He didn't even like her that much, but the fact that she was so close to death now made him ache inside. He wouldn't let her die--he COULDN'T let her! He didn't want another lost life on his conscience, but more deeply than that...he really wanted her to live. The feelings were complex as they roiled around inside him, and he sighed and shook his head. No time to get bogged down by emotions. It was then that he noticed he didn't hear anything coming from her. He looked at her with furrowed brow and put a hand to her neck. There was nothing there, not a beat at all. Licking his lips and his eyes wide with panic he quickly took a small glass mirror from his pocket and held it up to her mouth and nose. There was no breath leaving her. He tossed it aside frantically and cursed loudly. Then doctor mode took over his body and he automatically leaned down and breathed into her mouth. Then he started to compress her chest, counting to 30 for each time and then stopping to blow in her mouth again. Outside the emotionless void he surrounded himself in when he was in doctor mode, his mind screamed frantically for her to start breathing, for her to live! Inside his mind he threatened her and he pleaded and begged her. He even prayed a bit as he continued to work her chest and breathe into her.