Ch 48: The Breaking Of The Fire Witch

**TRIGGER WARNING**

What hope they had had of keeping panic at bay and the truth hidden, was shattered. Josnen and Talib had been extraordinarily careful about what they had said to their military leaders and soldiers, but Cordelia’s arrival and extremely public threats and demands now meant the secret was out; demons were among them and not only did they want the Prince, but his lover too, who happened to be the King’s fire sorceress.

The gossip had spread like wildfire in just the short time it took to get the wounded to the healing ward and gather everyone in the War Room.

The chatter there was so loud it was deafening. Everyone was there; the King and all of his advisors, councilors, and captains, Calder, Talib, and the entirety of the Magical Advisory, including Astasha. Everyone spoke at once and nothing was heard.

Tasha found herself shrinking into the corner, the sound overwhelming her. Her mind had stayed focused on the fight, but the moment it was over, she found herself slipping into the memories and traumas she had blocked from her mind. The wall she had built was all but gone. The demon inside Cordelia had meant to cut deep, and it had, so deep it had unleashed a tidal wave of horrors she wasn’t ready to face.

“Silence!!” Josnen’s voice bellowed through the room, and quiet finally settled. “I am sure most of you have questions, and I will tell you now, I do not have all of the answers. We have been working tirelessly since the threat first came to us, to sort out what it is we must do, but know this; this is an enemy and a situation we have never faced, nor do we know much about. High Sorcerer Errant shall give you as much information as we have, but do not think for a moment there will be an easy solution.”

His eyes wondered around the room, almost threatening a soul to speak.

This was the moment Astasha had tried so hard to avoid; the world knowing her secrets, her failures. But as Errant spoke, she silently thanked him for keeping as much as he could discreet. Though it had been mentioned by Cordelia, Errant said nothing of her relationship with the Prince, and kept the details or her blood ritual silent.

Most of those gathered were fixed on the High Sorcerer, their eyes darting to her or Calder from time to time. But one man, a large brute of a soldier, one of the King’s top military captains if Astasha could recall correctly, never took his gaze off her. It was menacing, and full of disgust, and she could feel the anger and hatred pouring off of him.

There was unease in the room as Errant finished by explaining what they believed Astasha’s grandmother’s ultimate goal to be.

An older advisor was the first to break the quiet. “I do not begin to pretend I understand any of what is happening. There are too many missing pieces to the puzzle, too many things that don’t make sense, at least not to me. But what I do understand, is that a single one of these demons, possessing a simple water witch, was capable of magics even our greatest sorcerer cannot achieve. How are we to defend our people if we do not comply with their demands?”

Talib took a defensive stance. “Are you suggesting we hand the Crown Prince over to these vile beasts? Because I will kill anyone here who even begins to think—“

“Captain!” The King’s voice stopped him from going further. “That will not be happening. There must be a solution that does not involve sacrificing my son, or bringing war to our people.”

“I have a solution.” The voice belonged to the man who had been watching Astasha. “It’s simple really.” Everyone turned to him with expecting faces. But his eyes were still on the fire witch. “Give them back their treacherous whore and end this devilry she has so convincingly deceived you all with. Or better yet, send them back her head. That should be warning enough.”

It took everyone a moment to figure out who he was speaking of, but as soon as it dawned on Calder, his entire being tensed. “I would watch your fucking tongue Argryn. If you dare to touch her, you will not like what happens.”

The man simply shook his head and opened his arms to draw the attention of the room “See? She has bewitched our Prince with her dark magic! How much more damage shall we let her do? Will you all allow her to ensnare you as she has done so many already?”

Errant held his hand up. “Captain, I would not continue this way of thinking. There are things you do not understand.”

“I understand plenty!” The man named Argryn’s voice bellowed. “I will not be as easily fooled by her charms. I saw what she was capable of out there. I heard what her accomplice said. She has seduced the Prince and brought demons to our door! Demons she no doubt welcomingly spread her legs for just as she did our heir. Throw the fucking whore to the wolves and let us be done with this!”

Talib had grabbed Calder’s arm to keep him from pulling his sword, but it wouldn’t have mattered.

A fireball exploded against the wall just missing the man’s head.

“Call me a whore one more time, and I will make sure the next one doesn’t miss.”

She had tried to ignore the remarks, to take the barrage with dignity, but she had been slowly sinking into the nightmare and at the mention of the demon who had defiled her, the horror had turned to rage.

Astasha stood in the middle of the room, tears streaked down her face, her eyes a raging inferno. Great tendrils of amber flame poured from the wounds on her chest, swirling around her hands like serpents.

“You have no idea the price I have paid, the hell I have endured for my sins.” She said as she slowly approached the now white faced man.

Nothing else in that room mattered. Her focus was only on him, and she could feel the fear oozing from him.

“Tell me, have you ever known what it’s like, to be taken by force? To have something so vile and horrid you can’t bare the sight, force you to watch as it rips off your clothes and sodomizes you over and over and over? To feel yourself being torn apart from the inside?” She had him cornered against the wall, just as she had been. “You beg for death, but it doesn’t come. And once it’s over, you relive it, every time you close your eyes, until you block it from your mind or go mad from the torment.”

The man tried to look brave, but he was trembling. She could feel someone in her mind trying to force their way in but she pushed them out.

“You know nothing of what I have endured.” She almost whispered to him. “But believe me when I say, if you ever call any woman a whore again, I will burn off your fucking manhood and use it to do to you what has been done to me.”

The fire inside her was all consuming. It licked at her soul and begged to be released. For just a moment, she thought about what would happen if she did. This man, this, pathetic excuse for a creature, did he truly not deserve what he would get?

But then she heard it. A voice, distant but gentle. It echoed in her head. ‘Tasha.’

She knew that voice, it had saved her so many times before.

‘Please, my love, you’ve suffered enough already. Let go, let go of the anger. I’m here.’

The fire slowly dwindled and the world came back into focus.

Everyone was watching with fear in their eyes. Some had their hands on the hilts of their swords, the Magical Advisory stood at the ready.

She turned, and there was Calder.

His hand was stretched out toward her and tendrils of blue flame were slowly dissipating into the ether. His breathing was heavy, like he had ran for miles.

Their eyes locked, but she realized, there was nothing to say. She needed to hide, to be alone, to allow all the pain and suffering to overwhelm her. She had been strong for too long, and she couldn’t bare it anymore.

Without a word, she strode to the doors and flung them open, disappearing down the hall.

The room stood in shocked silence. But it was Helia who broke it.

“Shame to you all.”

The older Fire witch had tears in her eyes.

“I cleaned the blood from that poor woman’s thighs. I saw what that demon did to her. She is stronger than the lot of you combined, and you spit at her trauma. I could feel each and every one of you judging her, ready to believe some arrogant bastard because it’s easier to cry whore than accept something you might not understand.” She shook her head. “May you burn, anyone who dares mock her torment again. If this is who is to decide our fate, we are all doomed.”

And with that, she too stormed out, slamming the door closed behind her with her magic.


**Author's Note:** *Hello Lovelies! I have to say, this was one of the most difficult chapters I've had to write and I'm sorry to anyone who found it hard to read, but I felt it was necessary to Astasha's story. I wish I could say things will be brighter and better for her from here, but alas, our lovebirds have some trials still ahead. Another chapter will be out Friday (keep an eye out just in case there's one earlier!). Love & Light Everyone!