Witch of the Gate (Part I): Empyrean Crystal Soul

From the moment I woke up in the morning, I have a strange feeling. I don’t know if it is because of the day of Halloween or some thoughts affected by grandmother’s stories, but I really can’t explain what I feel. Maybe it is nervousness as I am going to go to the village with the others for a first time.

It is wreck nerving to ring the door bell of a stranger’s house and demand tricks or treats. It is the first time for me. Of course, as a child I never dared to do something like that under the supervision of my mother.

My costume is ready hanging in my wardrobe. It is a simple black set of trousers and a dark red blouse. The set is complete with the hounded cape in black on the outside and in red in the inside and a pair of black long boots.

At first, I thought to make the simple and expected black long dress and the pointed hat, but I didn’t like it. This set doesn’t make it entirely visible but I could be a witch or a warrior.

I am going to wear it tonight and with my new friends we are going to play at the village as we are going to enjoy some delicious sweats. I am little old for this kind of play, but I don’t care. I am going to enjoy myself for once.

It is half past seven and I just got out of the bathroom. I am going to get ready for tonight. I will meet Derek and the others at nine o’clock at the exit of the village. I have to get started early because I want to curl my long black hair so I can be more in the mood of the witch and that will take time.

Grandma put some cosmetics on my desk for me. I don’t have any. I didn’t dare to put make up in front of my mother, so I didn’t need them.

Because of this, my naturally pale skin combined with my malnutrition was really visible and the other kids laughed at me calling me ghost or zombie. This phenomenon was really intense in high school where the other girls were beautifying themselves. Compare to them, I was really like a ghost.

I used some basic cosmetics and I couldn’t recognize myself. I was different. I can’t say if I was pretty but I was interesting.

As I am dressing up, it is almost time to leave. I look at the mirror one more time and I really look like a witch. This is perfect.

As I close the door to my room and I am ready to get out, I am feeling the ground under my feet to shake. It is really shaking vigorously. I don’t react in time when I see my grandmother and Adrian running outside the house.

They are not panicking because of the earthquake.

I don’t want to admit it but this earthquake is not normal.

I get out of the house. I can still see them running to the direction of the forest. On the other hand, there is the path to the village. I am looking at the two paths and I sigh. In the end, the curiosity wins and I start running behind grandmother.

We are running inside the dark forest and I am really feeling chilly. However, I follow them. They stopped in a glade where there is some light from the moon and I hide behind some bushes. They are standing there without moving. They are looking into the ground.

There is nothing there, but a shaking is taking place again and at the same time I hear the noise of the ground opening. I see some cracks on it and the next moment, the ground is shining. It is better to tell that there is some strange designs in and out of a circle. The designs and the lines of the circles are shining.

I watch as Adrian put out his wings and lifts up to the air. My grandmother is holding some glass bottles in her hands. The light is becoming more bright to the point that I can’t see.

When the brightness calms down, I freeze in my place as some creatures are coming out of the circle. They look like wild animals. Dogs, serpents and birds. However, they are not animals. They are more like monsters. They snarl and roar and at the same time I can see their pointed and sharp teeth.

Adrian rushes at the bird like monster while holding a sharp sword. He fights with it as he crosses his blade with its sharp and long beak. They are fighting on air while grandmother is throwing her bottles to the other monsters.

Some of the liquids that are pouring out after breaking the glass bottles are making the monsters more hesitant. Some of them are causing burning wounds on them while others are just making the monsters weak and sleepy.

Don’t tell me!!! Are they magic potions?

However, her supply is not enough and I can tell that she has thrown more than fifty bottles from the bag that is hanging from her belt. The battle is not easy and I can tell that it is dangerous and deadly.

I can’t believe that I am watching a scene that could be from a fantasy novel or movie. These monsters can’t be real. I think that I am dreaming. I want to wake up but as I pinch my skin on my hand, I realize that everything is real. Of course, I can’t move from my position. I got numb from fear.

-“A!!!” I hear a painful scream from grandma.

-“Mrs. Matilda!!!” I hear Adrian shouting. I am watching a dog like monster to bite the leg of my grandmother and she falls on the ground.

She tries to free herself by kicking it with the other leg but to no avail. I tighten my fists. My tears are running. I want to help her, but I am paralyzed from terror. My blood froze in my veins and my heart is pounding like crazy.

Adrian tries to help her but the flying monster doesn’t let him. Then, I see another monster, a big snake to approach her and to get ready to bite her too. The moment I am ready to warn her shouting, the circle lightens up again and the next moment another creature comes out.

This time it is indeed a feline like animal, maybe a panther as it has dark color on its fur. On the panther there is a person in green clothes at least it seems like a person. The person releases an arrow from its bow that stabs the snake. Then, he jumps off the panther and run toward my grandmother. He takes out a knife and stabs the dog like monster.

At the same time, the panther rushes toward the other monsters and fights with them. These two are with our side, I think.

Oh my God! The panther is turning into human. A tall female body with some serious muscles that are visible through the not so coverable clothes is appearing in front of my eyes. The woman has long black hair and golden eyes.

Like a professional and skillful martial artist, she is fighting the monsters. I am so surprised and flabbergasted that I forget for a moment the dangerous monster and I just look at her.

With the help of these two allies, the monsters are terminated in a matter of minutes. I was so focus on them, that I don’t realize the monster that approaches me. When I hear its snarl behind me, it is too late to react. I feel tense my entire body and numb at the same time. I feel a cool feeling running through my blood. I think it is the feeling of death.

However, I can’t feel the pain. Instead I hear a noise like whistle and a feeling of a wind gust passing me. The next moment, the monster lets a scream of pain and falls dead on the ground.

My body is shaking. I can’t stop shaking as I hear steps approaching me. In the light of the moon, I can see the pale skinned man in green looking at me with a serious and stony stare. Now I can also see his long straight blond hair and his pointed ears. His eyes are crystal blue like frozen lakes.

The only thing I can think of is that tonight is a Halloween night, with real monsters and goblins.