Maybe I should have flirted instead? I asked myself and the witch laughed as she approached me.
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I really don''t like the sound of that. I thought.
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“are a child. An ignorant child.” The witch said, her happy face had become stern. “Angelica didn''t tell you not to do it. She only told you not to dig too deep into the forbidden rituals.”
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Wow, okay. I thought. I don''t have to think about this very much, though. The first two options are too confrontational, and I definitely don''t want to promise her something. I looked at the third option and knew it was the best choice. I choose C.
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What the hell? I asked myself as a book''s cover formed and then the pages grew out and filled it. The book wasn''t very big and I read the cover. Necromancy And The Soul: Controlling The Dead For Budding Talents. “What... what is this?” I asked, since I had never seen a book like it before.
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“Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“Staying on her good side is definitely the better choice.
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Necromancers And The Dead: Fundamentals And Practical Usage. I read and looked at the witch.
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Good Lord. I thought and shook my head mentally. Yeah, I''m sure that the first two choices are going to happen eventually, no matter what I choose here. I read the options again. Joking is not the mood she''s in right now, so I have to choose D.
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Um... thanks? I thought.
Are you sure that none of them affect what happens? I asked.
I think I can hear faint laughter. I thought. If it doesn''t matter what I choose, then I better go home and check on things. I choose B.
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“I need to get home and check on a few things.” I said and stood up. “Thank you for your help, even if it was just to point out my inadequacies.”
The witch had to laugh at that and she stood up. “I want to tell you to not wait too long to come and see me again; but, you''re going to be busy for a while.” She reached up and touched the spot on my cheek where her lips had kissed me. “I''m going to leave that there as a reminder.”
“Leave what there?” I asked and then I felt a burning sensation on my cheek in the shape of her lips.
“It''s all right. No one else can see it.” The witch said. “Only you, me, and another witch with an affinity with souls can see my mark.”
“You marked me?” I asked, immediately thinking about the were-cats and their tradition of doing that.
The witch pat my cheek. “No, it''s not like that. I''m not claiming you. It really is just a reminder.”
I nodded and she waved at the door.
“You may leave my august presence now.” The witch said, her voice full of pretentiousness and self-importance.
“That''s not a very nice tone of voice for saying goodbye.” I said.
The witch''s face went serious. “I was dismissing you.” She snaked her hands up my chest and rested them on my shoulders. “I am never saying goodbye, David.”
Never. Another voice whispered into my head.
Oh, boy. I thought. “Okay. I''ll just... dismiss myself all the way out of the basement.”
The witch laughed and let my shoulders go. “Until the next time, David.”
I nodded and walked across the basement. Just before I started to ascend the stairs, I had a strong urge to look back. I successfully ignored the pressure, mainly because I didn''t want her to think that I was trying to sneak another look at her. Her soft laugh floated through my mind as I walked up the stairs.
I left the witch''s house and went to the jeep. I climbed in and put the book down on the seat. “Oh, damn. I forgot the casket lid.” I said out loud and looked at the house. “I don''t think I need it anymore.”
The witch''s soft laughter went through my mind again and I sighed.
I drove out of her driveway and went all the way back home. I didn''t need the completely empty driveway to clue me in that no one else was there at the house. I parked and grabbed the book, went into the house, and wasn''t surprised that I was the only being in the house.
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