In The Darkness

Chapter 5

"Duo! How nice of you to drop by? And who is this lovely lady you've brought with you?"

"Her name is Destiny," he said, "she's my patient."

"But I thought you weren't going to treat any of those soldiers," Agnes said looking her up and down, "and so young too."

"She's not with OZ," Duo said, "She's the rebel girl that they're looking for."

After taking Duo's coat from Destiny Agnes slapped him upside the head and said, "Then what in the name of the Lady did you bring her here for? She shouldn't be out walking around here at all or they'll find her."

Rubbing his head he yelled back, "She's the one who wanted to come. And besides, if those soldiers are anything like these town people then they'll be too afraid of me to care."

"Those soldiers aren't afraid of much," Agnes said.

"They may not be afraid of normal people with guns and mobile suits but magick's another matter," Duo said.

"Ma-magick(1)?" Destiny choked.

They ignored her and continued their argument. "Now you know you can't use magick to harm others or it will come right back at you," Agnes scolded him as if she were talking to a five-year-old.

"Yes, yes, yes," he said in an annoyed tone, "Ever mind the rule of three, I've heard you say that a million times," Duo yelled, "I would much rather kill all of those soldiers and die some brutal death later than let them continue to destroy other peoples lives."

Agnes started laughing then. She pulled the astonished Duo into a hug. Pulling away she said, "There's no reason to get all worked up about it." She looked at him in the eye and in a warm voice continued, "Don't worry, this war will be over soon. Then all of those innocent people that they've killed will be at peace and be able to move onto their new lives."

"Um…excuse me," destiny piped in, "but what are you talking about?"

"Nothing that concerns you," Duo said giving her a cold stare.

Placing a hand on his shoulder Agnes said, "You mustn't be so rude to her."

Scowling Duo glanced towards the woodpile next to the entrance. "Looks like you need more fire wood," he said, his voice softer now. "I'll go get you some more." Without another word he took his coat and walked out the door.

Destiny stared for a few moments until Agnes took her hand and started to lead her away from the door. "Come child," she said in a kind voice, "sit in the kitchen with me and we shall talk."

She followed, a little annoyed that the old woman had called her a chilled, and sat in the chair Agnes motioned to. A comfortable wooden chair positioned in front of a quaint little table that was just big enough to sit two.

Agnes busied herself at the stove, boiling water. She took a rose from a vase on the windowsill and started to pluck the delicate petals off and put them in the steaming water. "Have you ever had rose tea?"

Destiny shook her head.

"My goodness," Agnes said, "then you don't know what you're missing."

She finished with the rose and sat across from Destiny at the table. "Don't mind him dear," she said, indicating Duo. "He's just lived a hard life."

"Couldn't have been that hard," Destiny replied, "growing up in a place like this."

"You'd be surprised about the things you could go through," Agnes said, "even in a place like this. And Duo hasn't even lived here for half of his life."

"He hasn't?" Destiny asked.

Agnes shook her head. "Seven years ago a woman who lived here had found him in the forest. Saved him from wolves she did. But he had nowhere to go so she took him in and raised him as her own son."

"Still," Destiny said, "he had someone to take care of him."

Agnes nodded. "Yes, but Miss Ravencorn died a few years back. She fell gravely ill and they couldn't afford the medicine she needed. No matter how hard he tried he just couldn't get the money.

"When she died I'm afraid a part of Duo died with her. What little happiness that had shown in his eyes disappeared. He then became very isolated and rarely left the house unless he need to. Even to visit me."

"Wow," Destiny said sadly. "He said something about the people of this town being afraid of him. What did he mean by that?"

Agnes' expression turned serious as she said, "If I were to tell you, you would have to promise not to change your opinion of him. He's been through enough criticism."

Destiny nervously answered, "OK."

"I'm a Wiccan."

Startled, both Agnes and Destiny looked to the kitchen doorway to see Duo.

"A-a what?" Destiny asked.

"Though I suppose in the Once Born(2) tongue the popular name would be a witch," he said, eyes closed and his chin lowered.

"Wow, that's so cool," Destiny said, surprising both Agnes and Duo. Surprised by her own out-of-character outburst she sat back down, her cheeks a deep shade of pink. "Sorry."

Agnes burst into laughter. That's quite alright," she said, "we're just not used to responses like that."

"Oh I see," she said. "But then that means that you have special powers right? Magick?"

Duo let out an annoyed growl. Agnes said, "Not just us. Everyone has the potential to work magick. But it takes years of training to master the art of psychic abilities."

"And then," Duo interrupted, "There are those few who are born with It." He looked the young girl strait in the eyes. "Like you."

She stared at him in disbelief. "How did you know?" she gasped.

So he explained what she had done the night before. Agnes poured them all mugs of the rose tea she had made.

"You see," Duo said taking a sip of his tea leaning against the sink, "I was born with it too."

"So, what does it mean?" she asked.

"Nothing," he shrugged, "excepted that we have a power that nobody understands."

Destiny looked like she was about to say something more when Whisper jumped onto the Windowsill.

'You better get out here,' she said. 'They've caught two of her rebel friends from this mornings fight.'

To Be Continued

(1) Magick: Spelled with a 'k' because I like it that way. Also, I feel it represents the real stuff better than most of the stuff you see in cartoons and other TV shows.

(2) Once Born: Summing it up, someone who doesn't believe in magick.

<><><><><><><>& lt;><><><><><><><><>< ><><>

<Corvus> *Screams* Why do you do that!!!!!!

<Firefly> Do what?

<Corvus> Stop it at the worst places.

<Firefly> Because I can.

<Corvus> *Starts crying*

<Firefly> So how did you like this chapter? Sorry if it was a little boring.

<Corvus> You had better apologize for the evil cliffhanger too!!!

<Firefly> Fine. I'm sorry for the evil cliffhanger. There, are you happy now?

<Corvus> NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! It's still an evil cliffhanger. *Stares at computer screen evilly*

<Firefly> Well if anybody wants another chapter uploaded they had better review. Even if you want to make fun of me for being a Wiccan. I take it at school all the time so you wont affect me. But I want to know that people are actually reading this!!!

<Corvus> And if you do make fun of her I'll hunt you down and peck your eyes out.

<Firefly> You don't even have a physical body. How are you gonna do that?

<Corvus> I'll find a way. R&R please.

<Firefly> Blessed Be (That means good by).