The Warlock's Woman

he tall trees gleamed eerily in the light of the Crimson Moon. He was a large creature, streaked silver and black.

an, little more than a teenager, crashing wildly through the trees. Her long red hair flowed out behind her like a banner, and even as far away as he wa

ittle figure made him stiffen, his head cocke

one young woman who, even as he watched,

, as she struggled to her knees helplessly. Yet, even from thi

er, something in her awak

a

in my side as I shot headlong through the dense woods. My feet hurt; I had lost my shiny new shoes somewhere behind me, but they would have been of no use any

ing purely on getting away , running

ollowing me seemed clearer

hem was

hat f*ckin

ed as one of the

ming for

was W

s that stripped your clothes away with his lecherous gaze. His long blonde hair flop

t

liked him

s with him, using them like objects to be u

h of whom he ignored royally as he flirted with the other girls

e. But that had only egged him o

Smokey Valley, the little university town I stayed at. The nearest city was Holloway, but it

per where my stepdad Brian was employed. Perhaps it had been my disdain that had made me seem attractive to him. But something about t

alked past, trying to blend int

t. I generally braided it or wore it in a messy bun. But he had noticed the shiny tresses I de

that I h

him, he pretend

" his friends and he would double over in l

ation. And yes, a temper to match. But I was also wise enough to know that I had to keep a lid on my ang

h the fellow in the gut, I kep

t was n

initely not a young ma

vering it the h

O

s in semi-darkness but since it was a full moon night, I would be revealed anytime now. I tried to stand up without making a lot of noise but almost sh

ng my fist in my mouth, trying t

was t

onfire by Janice Stewart? It wasn’t like she was my best friend or something. We just

nd time with and open my heart to. Janice came clo

exual favours if he happened to so much as look at her. I had overheard the snide remarks by the o

mother wa

at nothing to make that happen. She had already slept with any boy who wanted her, even when she kne

mother to a shadow of what she had been before she married him. She had been a laughing, cheerful woman; he

sudden death in an accident had left us destitute, un

ome into our lives, Mom had married him. For stability, fo

uld, in his opinion. Pompous old creep, I thought mutinous

ou stupid woman ?’ he would yell, flinging the offensive piece of bread at

like Brian O'Neill. it was not as though I had not urged her to leave him. But she would stand, her

d he loves me

out of the small, claustrop

see me make my way to University at Hampton, the la

ker on the side, for I had inherited my mother’s e

my fists stuffed in my mouth, I wo