《TATTOO CROSS》


 I AM SHEIRA MURRAY

    Monday means another week has begun, and a whole long week for me being a freshman college.


    Uncle Martin thinks, maybe it is better for us to move into this city. Maybe, this city will be kind to us this time. I am sick already. Sick of living isolatedand awayfrom everyone.


    I don''t have friends or could make one. Just glad I was able to finish my High School in a small town of Doriellow. I do not know where the hell that name came from. But at least, everyone looked scared of me so I have no trouble living in that smalltown for two years. I could say, the best town I''ve been living my whole life because no one dares to cross in my way, either talk to me or sit with me during lunchtime. I could have the peace of mind I yearned for years.


    Our family has been moving town to town and State to another State. I start getting tired of it... But, as long as it is better for Max, I cannot against it.


    Max, my little brother, watching his innocent smile while waving goodbye at me. It gives me strength and courage to heads up. I need to be strong for Max. I want to make a better place for him. I don''t know how, but I will. Someday, I promised, I will.


    I heard the bell rang and Max run the door of his school. He almost stumbles climbing that stairs and Iwere like, wanted to fly to catch him. Gladly, he found his balance. He glances at me and smiled before he was swallowed by the door. I sighed. I wished I amalways therearound him. To protect and defend him from all those kids who bullied him at school. The fact, that even I, was also bullied in College.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    I put my hood on and began my way to this town''s Institute.Each morning during school days, I dropped Max to his school and just recently Uncle Martin bought me a bike. Ever since the class has begun, wewalk the school from our house and I will still be walking to reach the Institute I was attending. When uncle Martindecided to buy something that Max and I could ride together, Max was very happy about it.


    I start pedaling my bike and take a left turn. I could take the road straightway towards the Downtown but it''s been my favorite thing to do every morning to pass this Avenue.


    I hit the brake and my eyes wander around the ruins, then look up at its tower. The sun meets my eyes and its blinding me. I close my eyes and when I open it, an old man standing in front of me. The way he looks at me, it disturbed me.


    "You shouldn''t be here, witch." He hissed.


    "I am just passing by Mister," I tried to calm myself.


    "You''re not. This is not the first time you stop by here in the morning." The old man said.


    "You like what you saw? The church crumbled in the ground and lost its pride and beauty!" He added.


    His voice was full of anger. Even his eyes gazing atme with full of hatred.


    "Your kin! You cause this all! You''ll di---" The old man hasn''t done yet but someone grabshim and drag away from me. Icould stillhear him mumbling but the person who grabbed him tried to cover his mouth. I heaved a sigh. A lot of people hated me. No, not only me but all my kin.


    The history tells, a long battle happens over twenty years ago. A war between witches and hunters. A bloody-war. And yes, my kin who destroyed that beautiful church. Somehow, I found the church fascinating and beautiful. Which, our kin could never enter a church. The cross hurt us and a strange power dwells inside the church that could kill us. That is why I shouldn''t admire a church in the first place.


    But I, Sheira Murray,were special among all of the Witches. I am different from them all. So please don''t be scared of me, nor hate me!I screamed inside my head, begging to be understood.

 Better Days in Better Place

    Sheira decided to forget what happened in front of that church since she can''t help for ordinary humans not hating them. Her kin never associated with ordinary humans though they rule the world. Ordinary people have been always scared of them.


    It was because most of the Witches are inhumane and ruthless. They will curse anyone they wanted and people who will oppose them. But she''s different, she grows up living peacefully.


    However, she doesn''t understand her own kin for hating her family. Someone always wanted to kill them.


    She always asked her uncle but all his answer, "because we are special".


    They are not just ordinary witches but they are sorcerers. They have different orations and more powerful than anyone from her kin. Sheira doesn''t think she is powerful more than anyone else. She never uses her power and there is no way she would try it. She means no harm to anyone, unless, she has to one day.


    She may look like a typical witch. She has dark blue-circles like a tattoo around her eyes and a symbol on her forehead. But her hair is a little close to lilac than a usual white one, which makes her stand out the most and got great attention from her kin. For others, it symbolizes something dangerous, and that made her wore a hoodie most of the time. However, once she was in the classroom, her teachers wanted her to take it down.


    She is uncomfortable because everyone''s gazes would be on her hair with that menacing glare from other witches. And once her class is over, she right away put on her hood and leaves the room immediately. During her break, she searches for an empty place to eat her lunch quietly.


    That what happens during these couple of weeks since she entered the Grandville Institution. And today is the third week. So far, nothing happens yet. But she is sensing, she is not safe here either. Everyone is giving her obvious reactions. The witches give her a cold treatment and a dangerous warning. Any tried to give her a prank, but she was used to it and able to avoid them.


    The humans, on the other hand, they are avoiding her as much as they could. They don''t even look her in the face, which very convenient. But the witches are seemed up to something. The way they glare at her and some group are whispering and laugh when she is around, she needs to prepare whatever they''ve planned for her.


    When her uncle says they will start fitting into civilization, she doesn''t disagree with it. She also tired of running away and move town to town.


    Sheira parks her bike on the available space. She walks through the entrance door and the kiosk ground she''ll first to pass by where there are several benches and tables, which are only the witches occupies the seats. She followed the pathway towards the first building like no one she saw. She tightly holds her bag and her gaze straightway to the building she desires to enter in a flash. She could hear the whispers and laughter but she ignores it.


    Melinda. She saw Melinda walk towards her, looking straight at her. Melinda is the daughter of the Mayor of Granville City. Means, she is a brat. Melinda is holding a cup of a latte. Sheira prepared to change curse but Melinda''s cup thrown at her of a sudden. The hot liquid was all over her hood.


    "Oopsie, it slips in my hand," Melinda grin then continued walking passing her.


    She heard everyone laughs. For them, she is a piece of joke. Sheira closes her eyes and presses her eyelids. Her hand gripping tightly onto her bag like all her anger vented on that innocent thing. It is not yet a time to make an enemy at this moment. She thought.


    The Mayor helps them out to start a new life in this city. Her little brother starts liking to live here and showing he is happy they moved to a new place.


    She regains herself and escapes from the crowd as quick as she could. She went to the ladies'' room and tried to wash the part where the latte threw on. The hood is her 17th birthday gift from Marcus. She almost teary while trying to wipe the latte with a damp handkerchief but the stain only spread to the fabric.


    "Fuck!" She cursed. Sheirra stares at her reflection in the mirror. Her eyes become furious. Then of a sudden, the mirror shattered into pieces. She was startled. She didn''t mean it. Sheira heard a gasped in the door. Two humans saw what happened. She turns around to explain but the two girls run.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    "Oh, great!" She exclaimed.


    The bell rang for her first period. She has no choice but takes off her hood. She just wore a blue sleeveless shirt showing her silk white skin and curves. She often wore a hood that''s why she just wears a thin fabric under.


    Before she goes out of the comfort room, she unties her braided hair and let it loose around her back. She has beautiful straight long hair that its length would cover her buttocks... and because she often braided it, her hair becomes little wavy at the moment.


    She put some handful of strands to cover each of her front shoulders and tried to cover her face. Sheira takes a deep breath then pulls the comfort room door and walks fast. Those she passes by looking at her curiously.


    Now everyone is looking at her as usual, but this time, their gazes are odd.


    Yes, it is the first time she was seen visible to everyone. With her hood on all the time, it covers her face and skin. Right now, even some of the mortals can''t resist glancing at her.


    In her haste, Sheirra forcibly slams the door of her Language classroom. Everyone staring at her with surprised.


    "What the-- who''re you?" asked Arturo Evans, her Math professor. "Ms. Murray??"


    Sheirra nodded. "Am sorry sir, I--" Sheirra run the stairs and went to her desk without waiting for her professor to lecture her being late. She could hear the whispers and gasps like "Oh" or "Wow" then few were whistling.


    "Thank you for the grand entrance, Ms. Murray." Said her prof that made the crowd laughs.


    She admitted it''s her first time to get blush publicly and be praised in the crowd. She knows that was more like a compliment than a sarcasm. Besides, everyone glances at her in a different way.


    Sheirra search for Melinda inside the room. She found her three rows above where she was used to seating. Melinda looks unhappy.


    Melinda was looking at her with rage and she meets her gaze. Their eyes wrestle for a few seconds but she decided to withdraw first... but she gives Melinda a grin.


    She didn''t wait for her response, Sheirra knows that it made Melinda even madder at her. She felt delighted. She won today.


    ***


    Surprisingly, my day went well. Normally, I am just a stranger to them all. But today, those unfriendly looks replace with curiosity gazes. My class ended at 4:30 PM. Right the bell rang I leave my class quickly and headed to the front door.


    "Ms. Murray! Hold up---" Ms. Lemont called me. She is from the Admin Office. "Please fill this up and bring it back to me tomorrow at my office. Make sure your guardian sign on here," Ms. Lemont point at the line my guardian needs the signature.


    "Okay ma''am, thank you," I said.


    Miss Lemont smile at me. "Nice hair."


    I am a bit surprised that I feel like I blushed. With a flustered face, I smiled at her. "Goodbye, Miss."


    I put the form in my backpack and leave the Institute.


    ***


    Sheirra rode her bike and went straightway to Max''s'' school. Without her hood on, people keep looking at her. She knows it was because of her long hair now flowing freely in the air.


    Sheila stops at Bailey Academy, a school for young graders. She looks around to find Max. She saw a group of students circling someone, it was her brother.


    "Hey!" She rushes to the gate and runs towards Max. "What you are doing with my brother!?" She angrily asked the crowd. The students staring at her, stunned. No one moves or speaks. Some students drop their mouths.


    "Next time, am going to eat you all!" She joke. The students run and shouting. She was amused.


    "What you are doing?" asked Max.


    "Nothing."


    "You scare them."


    "I saw they''re making fun of you. I am not going to just let them bully my cute little brother." She holds Max''s face and pinches the cheeks.


    "They''re going to bully me even more tomorrow." Max starts walking leaving her.


    "Hey," she followed him. Max suddenly stop and turn around.


    "Am sorry," he said.


    "Nah. You know I don''t like it when you were bullied."


    "I know. Thanks, and you''re pretty." Max complimented her, not the first time though.


    "Do you really think so?"


    "Mm!"


    "Alright. You''re my brother, am not surprised." She put her arm on Max''s shoulder and together walk out of the Academy.


    "Of course not! You really are pretty!" Max insisted.


    "Ok fine. I''ll believe you," she smiles at him.


    "You''re hair is so pretty too!"


    "Hmm..." Sheira combs her hair. "Do you think, short hair is nice on me too?"


    "What!? No way! I know it would look good on you but don''t cut your hair! Please?!"


    "Don''t worry, I am just thinking how if..." she smiles at him. She was just thinking that might short hair would stop calling everyone''s attention.

 The Witch Mercenaries

    Max jump off from her bike when they stop in front of the house they live in right now.


    "Careful Max."


    "Am 10, I could---" Max makes a mistake on his steps that made him stumble on the ground.


    "I told you!" She rushes towards her little brother and helps him to get up.


    "I am fine. There''s no wound or break something. You stop treating me like a kid."


    "You still a kid."


    "Sheira?"


    "Okay. Fine. But you need to stop falling around anytime or hurt yourself suddenly. Just then, I will stop treating you like a child or be overprotected sis to you."


    "Deal!?" Max smile wide then run to the front door.


    Sheira sigh then smiled. Maybe she really is overprotective but Max seems wanted to become strong and independent as well.


    She could say that, since they move here, something has changed about Max as well. Maybe his uncle is right, and this new environment could be the beginning.


    When they move into this city, the mayor helps them to start over. He let them live the old house his family owns. It was a two-story common style house around the country. It has three bedrooms, an attic, garage, and enough space living room and kitchen to move around conveniently.


    Max open the door with the spare key and she followed him inside. He jumps on the sofa and turns on the TV. She knew Max favorite kids show was about to start. She put her bag on a single sofa and take the hood out of her bag then went to the kitchen.


    "Hey, glad you both home safe," Marcus suddenly appears in the kitchen entrance.


    "Oh my gosh!" She gasped. "You''re home!?"


    "Oh, yeah. My deliveries have done already so I went home early and did some grocery shopping."


    "Really!? What you got for dinner?" She asked nervously.


    "I bought some pork bones and broccoli," Marcus went to the kitchen sink and take the groceries out of the plastic bag.


    "Cool!" She tried to be calm. "Hey, Max! You want some juice or chocolate?"


    "Can I have some chocolate please?" Max come to the kitchen.


    "Sure. Wait a minute. I''ll bring you the mug."


    "Okay. Thanks, sis!" Max run back to the sofa and continue to watch his favorite show.


    Sheira could feel Marcus is observing her. After she brought Max the hot chocolate, she went back to the kitchen. Marcus leaning in the sink and look at her intently. She blushed to realized that she only wore a think fabric sleeveless.


    She went to the fridge and get some juice to avoid Marcus'' eyes.


    "Hey---" Marcus suddenly talk. She almost chokes up.


    "What? Something wrong?" She asked.


    "Yes. Something wrong it seems."


    "About what?" Possibly for Marcus to notice her tension.


    "I know you wear the hood I gave you last year."


    Gosh! He noticed now! She starts freaking out.


    "You don''t take off your hood right away. I guess you didn''t wear it when you arrived."


    "Uhm, yes... I take it off on the way home," she lied.


    "Oh... really?" Marcus'' arms cross over his chest. He was wearing a fitted black t-shirt and shows his muscular body.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    She can''t get away!"Am so sorry! I really am!" She needs to tell him what happens.


    "I throw some latte on it."


    Marcus just raises his right eyebrow... means, he doesn''t believe her. Argh, busted!


    "Okay! Not my latte. But it''s just an accident."


    "Who did that to you? Does you were prank often at school?"


    "It doesn''t really matter. Don''t worry about it, Marcus. Am fine."


    "Sheira Murray," he called her full name, means, he won''t just leave it off.


    "Melinda." She stares at his handsome face for long before confessing. "Melinda Gray."


    "What!?" Marcus was surprised and keep silent. Melinda''s dad, Luis Gray is Marcus boss... as well her uncle Martin is working at the shop for cars.


    "Sheirra, don''t let anyone just prank you. Understood? Doesn''t matter--"


    "As I said, don''t worry about it."


    She smiles at him to assure everything is fine. She knows that Marcus is always worried about her. He has been her protector since she is a little baby.


    Because he thinks of her like a younger sister, only. Marcus becomes like an older brother to her, but her feelings have changed. She got a crush on him when she is 12. She starts loving him when she is 14, until now.


    But, when does Marcus stop treating her like a sister? When does Marcus would see her as a woman?


    ***


    Marcus Johnson, 31 years old. He was living with the Murray since he was 8 years old. His family is a good friend and an ally of the Murrays.


    The Johnson is the Witch Mercenaries. Their ability is to enter a curse oration to kill the shadow who posses and trap the victim''s consciousness. Once they are able to enter the consciousness of a victim, they could fight the shadow and locate the Orator, the one who is performing the curse.


    Through the victim''s consciousness under a curse oration, once the shadow was captured, the Witch Mercenaries could travel through the orator''s brain, either to kill it or just to defeat it to stop the oration.


    Marcus was 13 and Sheira was just a 5 months old, when a great number of witches attack their peaceful hidden place. Their parents did their best to protect their home and to survive.


    But one witch able to sneak into the house through a window. He was hiding in the nursery room while Sheira was sleeping on her crib. The witch steps closer and was staring down at the crib, she''s grinned evilly.


    The witch steps backward and starts chanting, a curse circle light up around her. Once she finishes completing the cursed circle, she starts to chant the curse oration towards Sheira. The baby slowly floats in the air and another circle starts lighting up below the baby. After completing the circle, chains start appearing and slowly drawing closer to the baby. Sheira awoke and start crying.


    Marcus can no longer stand just to watch. He slowly pulls out the knife his grandfather gave him when he was eight. Without hesitation, he attacks the witch at the back. She cried in pain.


    Somehow, the witch is stronger than him. Though he starts being trained three years ago, he still a kid. The witch just hit him in one sweep and he flew to the wall and hit the floor hard.


    Marcus tried to get up but his leg is now twitching with too much pain like something is broken. He cried aloud. The witch shouts at him to shut up. He watches her with so much anger. The witch just laughs and continues her curse oration. Sheira cried even louder this time. He was in panicked what to do, he forced himself to sits up and closes his eyes.


    "Where the darkness lies,


    Is the Lord of Vengeance dwells?


    I call thee to grant my desire,


    Sweep the enemy in front of me."


    Marcus chant in an old tongue.


    After the circle lightens up, he cut the tip of his pointer finger and 3 drops of his blood fell on the glowing circle. The middle circle open, they called it "the gate".


    He trusts his knife into "the gate" and concentrates. Gladly, his parents start giving him a lesson being a complete Witch Mercenary. They taught him the chant to open a circle and enter an oration, but it''s the first time he did it for real out of desperation. His parents did warn him, it''s not an easy thing to do at such a young age and without completing the training. But he won''t let the witch kill Sheira.


    Marcus tried to enter the witch head. He froze and his eyes widen. He saw the terror of this witch did in the past. He is shouting in shock, his nose starts bleeding, but he keeps going on.


    The witch stops chanting the curse. She holds her head and began feeling pain inside. She cried and get up from the cursed circle she created. She staggers to her feet, slowly stepping out from the circle.


    "You! How could you---" the witch was terrified but her eyes are full of enmity while looking at him. "You are just a boy! You... a witch mercenary!!"


    The witch stumbles on the floor, it was his chance. Marcus gives all his strength, he held the knife with both of his hands, and he concentrates to domineer the witch consciousness.


    The witch squirms on the floor, crying in so much pain of her head. Marcus shouts and trusts deeper his knife into "the gate" until the witches'' head splits and blood spilling all over the floor. The curse circle went off as the witch is dead.


    "Sheira!" He screams when the baby is falling down.


    Marcus rose up and runs to catch the baby. He slams on the crib and hit his head. He saves Sheira even though he can''t feel his left leg and is broken. He roars in pain. His head starts bleeding.


    "Marcus! My goodness! What happen!?" Shin Murray rush to his side. "You---" Shin stare at the baby he cuddles tightly to his chest. Sheira was looking up at Marcus, smiling.


    Shin gasp and take Sheira from him. "My daughter..." Shin kiss the baby and held tightly.


    Few others now join them in the room.


    "Don''t tell me you did this?" Kraus saw the witch body lie in the corner of the room, headless. They all look at him with full of amazement.


    It is why the Mercenaries was extinct. Like the Murray who''s Sorcerers, their kin afraid of them... because they were special among the witches. Either they could be used to conquer the world or them to rule the Age of Witches.

 Goodbyes and Memories

    Marcus woke up the next day. He can''t feel any pain from his broken left leg, it was totally healed. This could be the work of a sorcerer like Lyra Murray.


    He gets off from the bed and went downstairs. "Dad?" Marcus saw his dad in the living room, look depressed. Kraus head resting on his palm. "You okay dad?" he asked him.


    "Oh, you awake now. You feel better?" Kraus asked his son.


    "Yes. I think aunt Lyra heal me," he said.


    "Yes, she did. She is very thankful that you protect her daughter."


    "Where''s mom, dad?" Marcus saw his dad wince. "Dad?"


    "She is in our bedroom. Come," Kraus get up from the couch and walk towards their bedroom.


    Marcus follows his dad. Before he opens the door, his dad put his hand around his shoulder, and it feels heavy. Kraus slowly takes his hand and Marcus feels the weight.


    Marcus sensed something is wrong the way his dad acted. He rushes into the room and there he saw her mom lying in the bed.


    "Mama!" His eyes filled with tears. "What happen to you?"


    Marina Johnson, his mom, slowly open her eyes. "Marcus?"


    "Am here mom," he reached his mom''s right hand.


    "Am glad... you are alright."


    With a soft voice, his mom said to him. "Am so proud of you."


    "Listen now, honey, I want you to protect her. Promise me, that you will never leave Sheira''s side. Okay? Follow her and do everything that you could."


    His mom already has difficulties to talk but she still tries to left important words to him. He holds his mom''s hand tighter.


    "Be strong. I want you to complete your training. Your dad and Martin, they could teach you all you need to learn. Both sorcery and physical fight," Marina added.


    "Here, take this." Marina grabs the sword on her left side and handed it to Marcus.


    "From now on, this is yours."


    Marcus takes the sword from his mom''s hand. He realized, his mom lost her sight.


    "No! Don''t leave me! You can''t die, Mama!" He cried.


    "I love you, honey..." Marina''s last words before she turns into like wood.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    Marcus heard his dad sob. Kraus kneel on his feet and hug Marcus from behind.


    "Your mom, holding her last breaths to see you for the last time."


    Hearing it, Marcus began weeping aloud. His mom is now gone, leaving them forever. He doesn''t want to believe it.


    "She used all her energy to destroy our enemies."


    No! He freaks out inside his head. What she''d done!? His mom did the forbidden ritual? An oration to enter even more than 20 people. It was forbidden because of the outcome to the orator. A witch mercenary has only a limit of 3 to 5 person to attack at once. His mom did more than the limitation.


    He went outside and Lyra''s face he found in the living room. She stretches her arms, he runs towards her.


    "Marcus... oh, am so sorry," Lyra holds him tight.


    "Aunt Lyra..." Once more, he cried.


    They make a small ceremony before they burn his mom. He cried for the last time but promised on her grave that he will protect Sheira all his life.


    ??????????


    They decided to move again. The families went in North-East mountains. It was a long difficult trip. They arrived at the place and the tribe accepts them happily. He learned, that it was Murray''s friends. Murray''s seems to have many friends in secret.


    The tribe throws a little welcome party for their arrival. They feast in front of a bonfire. A girl comes to him and offers some food. He accepts it. He learned that her name is Moraeh and she''ll turn 12 in a couple of months. The girl is a bit talkative so he already learned a lot of things about the tribe and the Murray.


    The Murray brothers did often many travels when they were teenagers. North-East mountains are one of the places they often visited. The tribe meets the Murray when a group of ruthless witches attacks them. They help them and there, the friendship began.


    They now settled for good. He accepted his mom truly is gone. Though he felt too much sadness, he never cries again.


    Kraus and Martin train him harder. He wakes up early in the morning every day to join Martin to travel the woods every morning. Martin is so strong and fights so well. He learns a lot from him.


    After breakfast will be served, he then next to join his dad to receive his special training to become a Witch Mercenary. This is his routine every day for 5 years. Now, he is 18 and completed his training. There will be a ceremony to be held for completing the preparation of him being a Witch Mercenary.


    Lyra conceived a son named Max. Everything went well for these passing years. During summers, Martin and the others including him went to the city to let the teenagers like him take special classes to finish school. He received basic learning from High School to attend college once completed. This curriculum only works to smart children like him who has above average IQ. His classmates have special cases too. Teenagers who have difficulties to blend into normal school life. He is thankful his classmates are more like nerd people.


    Sheira is now 8, grew up very lovely and smart. She was even started showing physical strength. She often joins the other kids in the tribe who''s older than her. The kids playing race around and Sheira never get behind.


    * * *


    "Marcus!" Sheira runs towards him once she has a glimpse of him at the Entrance of the tribe village.


    Sheira jump on him. "Am glad you''re here!"


    Marcus chuckled. "Yep. How are you?" He asked while walking towards the house hand in hand. One thing becomes a normal way of them.


    Sheira received comments from her playmates about their holding hands and Sheira will be exclaimed.


    "Marcus is my big brother!" Then she will tell the story when Marcus save her, all over again.


    "Aunt Lyra..."


    "Marcus, welcome back. How was the trip?"


    "It is fine Aunt Lyra."


    "Am glad. Congratulations by the way..."


    "Thank You."


    He is 21 now and their situation is difficult to live normally in a city or a town nearby.


    He notices Lyra''s health is falling. Something must be wrong with her. Since she gave birth to Max, she became ill. The life they have been at the present is far from what they are before.