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Winter is always the hardest time of the year. The soil turns to slippery mud, staining dry leaves and sticking to the boots. The cold makes people sluggish, work is harder when your fingers are numb or your cough hasn’t gone away for a month. Supplies rarely come from outside and, more times than not, the village relies on the merchandise.
A bucket full of water is carried to a small hutt, your arm burns with the effort, the fingerless gloves don’t help with the chill and your palm is freezing. Your body weight is thrown entirely onto your left side, balancing the metal container with your shoulder. Around you whispers run free, the villagers comment on the lack of food, how this has been the worst temperature in years and that the sick people won’t last the season. A few glances are cast in your direction.
Taking a deep breath and putting on a fake smile, you open the wooden door. The place is almost as cold as it is outside, in the few minutes you have spent out, the fire has died down. A furrow of worry forms between your eyebrows and you almost drop the bucket in favor of throwing more wood into the fireplace.
“How are you doing, baby?” Kneeling down, you let your fingers warm up with the freshly caught flames.
“I’m fine.” A small voice answers, accompanied by the sound of chattering teeth.
Turning around, you examine her once more. Several blankets are on the bed, along with whatever cloth you had to spare, your sister's face pokes between them, her cheeks are flushed, her chin trembles and her mouth is pale. Getting up, you sit by her side, tucking her once more and letting out a small smile, there’s no need for her to know how worried you are.
Running your eyes over her face and placing the back of your hand against her forehead, you reach out and drag the bucket closer, dipping the used rag into the water.
“That 's cold.” She buries her neck deeper into the blankets, trying to evade your touches.
“I know, baby.”
It would be better for her fever if she took a bath, but you couldn’t make her go through that in this temperature and, either way, it would worsen her cough. Pursing your lips, you hold back the tears, your head is spinning trying to find a solution to her situation. It's times like these that you miss your mother the most, she would know what to do and you pray that she sends you strength.
The setting sun casts a shadow over the hutt, the fire is the only form of light and you stir the boiling pot as your sister sleeps behind you. There’s barely enough food for her, you’d have to spend another night with a growling stomach and buy ingredients the next day to make more soup. Pouring into a bowl, you look at the liquid. It was well water and cabbage, the only components you could afford at this time of year. It wouldn’t give energy to a sick child, she needed meat.
“Wake up, little dove.”
Running your digits through her damp hair, you watch as her eyelids flutter open. Your heart clenches at waking her up, the matching bags under your eyes are enough to tell how many nights you both spent awake. She needed to eat though, so you shake her a little.
“Come on, help your big sister.” You prop her head up higher to receive the spoon and she swallows with difficulty.
“You will eat after me, right?” She lets out a croak.
She has always been a smart girl.
“Of course! Now eat, so I can have my turn.”
It's a battle to get her to eat it all. She complains about an upset stomach, that she’s not hungry, but she needs to hydrate and eat, even if it's just cabbage water. There isn’t a lot in the bowl either, so you make her swallow every drop before letting her go back to sleep.
Lighting up a candle and sitting down on a wooden chair, you let out inaudible sobs as you gaze at her buddled form. She wouldn’t last the week. Tears stain your cheeks as you think of your family, you had already lost them all, you couldn’t lose her, you wouldn’t lose her. Wiping your face, you sniff and brave up, grabbing the quill by your side.
The sun’s rays stream through the window and directly into your face. The brightness blinds you for a few seconds and you groan as your brain catches up with your uncomfortable position. Stretching up, you feel your back pop into place, the drool on your chin sticks a paper into your face and your empty stomach makes you nauseous. The exhaustion of several sleepless nights has firmly set into your bones, but after a small nap you can feel some clarity in your mind, the plan you made the day before renewing your energy.
Heaving a sigh, you watch the smoke trail from your lips and quickly stand up to light the flames. The burn feels comfortable against your fingers and you wrap your shawl tighter around yourself. Taking a minute, you focus on the things around, trying to forget your never ending anxious thoughts.
The village outside is almost lifeless, a few people work on selling their remaining supplies. You can hear the well close by being used and the wet footsteps. There is no time to waste, though, so you get up, checking your sister's temperature before leaving the house. She still hasn't had any sort of improvement.
It isn’t hard to find her, at the second tent after your house, the redhead sells her wares.
“Good morning.” You try to sound cheerful, your attempt clearly fails by the look on her face.
“Hi, darling. How are you holding up?” Her concern is genuine, she leans forward on the wooden counter.
“Not so well. She’s getting worse and I barely have enough food to sustain her. I haven't eaten in days and I’m afraid if I get sick, she won’t have anyone to look out for her.”
“Oh, dear. You should have told me, I’m sure I’ve got something to spare.”
“This isn’t a burden for you to carry. I know you need the money as much as I do, and you have enough mouths to feed already.” The redhead had four children and a husband, the village wasn't bursting with customers, you could tell things were hard to sell.
“I promised your mother I’d take care of you both.” She places her hand on your cheek and you lean against it.
“And you have! I just…I have a favor to ask.” You say uncertain.
“Anything for you, dear.”
“Can you take care of her? Just for the day.” Having your hands, you rapidly clarify.
“Of course, I understand if you need a moment to yourself.”
“No, that’s not- She needs meat.” You say simply, hoping the woman in front of you will follow your train of thought.
“Okay…and where are you going to get this meat? She asks carefully.
Pursuing your lips, you stay quiet and wait for her to reach her own conclusion. It’s not the hardest riddle, there's only one place that would have meat outside from the lacking market.
“No- Not the witches’ road!” Her hands fly to her chest as she gasps.
“Not the road, just the forest.” You mumble, head down.
“It’s the same thing!” She insists. “You must think I’m crazy if you think I’m going to let you do this.”
“I have to! I promise I’ll be back before dark and when I do, I’ll share with you what I caught as a thank you.”
“And what if you aren’t back by then?” She asks softly.
“If I don’t make it back…you won’t have to worry about feeding an additional mouth by the end of the week.” You tell her firmly, putting on a brave facade. “I’m leaving now, it’s already later than I planned. Have your husband take her to your cabin for the day and please keep her warm.”
You leave after that, she’d try to convince you not to go and she would succeed.
The trembling fingers make it difficult to lace up your boot, the shaking stemming from the growing fear in your gut. Grabbing the warmest cloak you have, you kiss your sister’s feverish forehead before heading for the door.
Not wanting to attract attention to yourself, you avoid the village. The shotgun lays heavy in your clammy palms, the ground crunching beneath your feet as you move away from the mud and towards the white blanket that covers the forest. It would be harder to hunt with the snow, and that’s without saying you haven’t had much practice before. Your father had taught you a thing or two, but no one in the village was a hunter. The only place one could do that was in the woods, and the one behind your village was no place to be.
Just before the trees, you are met by a road. The lying leaves form a path and the snow piles up around them, they are green and set in perfect order, like someone had cleaned them and placed them by hand. It’s a short open field walk before entering the forest, you take a deep breath before stepping into it, promising yourself that, although it would be easier, you would stray from it as soon as you got inside the woods.
It was common knowledge among the villages that circled this woodland that the place was haunted, owned by witches and their perverted magic. No one had ventured into it for years and all the men who tried had not returned to tell the tale of what lay behind these trees. Heart on your throat, you try to push your fears aside in favor of placing your boots on the soft snow, creating an indention on the previous perfect ground. You leave the road behind, distancing yourself as much as you can, convinced that if you stayed away from it, you would be fine.
Your mother used to tell you bedside stories about this place, to this day you couldn’t tell if they were meant to scare a child away from here or the truth that spread around from mouth to mouth. She had told you that witches weren’t really women at all, they were demons in human form.
Hours seem to pass, you feel like you’re walking in circles, passing the same trees over and over, wondering if the men who came here had lost their way as well and if that ended up being their downfall.
Hearing a twig, you rapidly turn around, gun raised high. You hope it is an animal, you had left later than you should have and the winter brought early dusk, the temperature was already dropping and you wanted to get out of this place as soon as possible.
Stalking your prey, you cautiously approach the sound, hiding behind a thick trunk and poking your head around to strategize. Instead, your breath catches in your throat as you are greeted by a hooded figure crouched on the ground, their back turned to you.
The green color keeps the panic at bay, but you still watch carefully from afar, waiting for the figure to turn itself around and show their disfigured face. If it were a witch, perhaps you could kill them, it wasn’t the kind of meat you were looking for, but your growling stomach would agree to anything.
The shotgun feels slippery, fear blooms in your gut and you step away from the tree, weapon raised. Studying the cloak, you notice its fine material, the fabric spread around the figure in the snowy camp and the print consisting of small runes. Gripping the gun tighter, you watch as the body rises from its previous position.
“Turn around. Slowly.” You command, nothing more than a whisper in the quiet woods.
It’s inevitable the way your guard goes down. The woman standing in front of you wears a brown and green dress, matching her hood. Her hair is almost as dark as charcoal and she has big brown eyes. She’s breathtaking. Your first instinct is to inspect her appearance, even though the weapon is no longer raised, you’d hate to fall into a witch's trap.
The first thing you notice are her uncovered hands, they are raised to chest breast height in surrender and she has all 10 fingers, no claws in sight. Your mother had said they were bald, but her straight hair falls to her shoulders. Her nose isn’t larger than normal and the corners of her mouth aren’t much longer beyond the smirk plastered on her face.
“Are you alright, M’Lady?” The shotgun is held in one of your hands, pointed downwards. “You shouldn’t be here, this wood is dangerous.”
“You are here.”
“I-...” The reply catches you off guard, it takes a second to respond. “Believe me, I wouldn't be if I could.”
Her tongue rests against her cheek and her eyes roam your body. You fidge under her gaze and feel a flutter when she licks her lips, the situation is so intense you awkwardly amend.
“Haven’t you heard? This forest is haunted.” Her hard eyes snap up to yours and they seem to soften when she looks into your face.
“I’ve lived here my whole life, I can assure you there’s nothing to be scared of. No one would hurt a pretty thing like you.”
Your cheeks burn at her words and you notice a movement, she’s twirling a flower in her hands. How she got that in this weather is anyone's guess.
“Come on.” She gestures for you to come forward with her hands. “You look starved, my friends and I can prepare a hot meal for you.”
Your stomach hurts at the prospect, but you’re still uncertain about this stranger.
“I am not sure-”
“Don’t be afraid, I don’t bite.” She tells you, and for some reason you doubt her words.
She turns around and doesn’t wait for you. You hesitate for a moment, but don't linger much, like a bug attracted to a light, something about her draws you in.
The walk is short, the silence is comfortable, but her presence makes you nervous in a way you’ve never felt before. The only words exchanged between you are your names. The whole path you glance at her from the side and she doesn’t seem the least bit intimidated by the forest or the shotgun still dangling in your right hand. With her by your side you feel protected and take a moment to truly appreciate the beauty around you.
The trees are tall, stretching beyond your field of view, the wood is greyish and the thin leaves are a dark green. The fluffy snow embraces your foot when you step down and, looking back, you see the perfect trail you left behind. Small flakes begin to rain down on you and you lift your palm to watch them land on it, a small smile gracing your lips. It’s been a while since you let yourself relax.
You catch sight of a frozen lake and a cabin by it. The snow isn’t as thick around it and you can see the grass, the roof of the hutt is covered in white and a cozy yellow light slips through the windows. You stop for a second, but are quick to follow when Rio doesn’t wait for you.
Stepping into the deck you can already feel the cold leave you, the house seems to be engulfed in some kind of warmth bubble. You don't have time to think about it when you are startled by Rio banging the door open.
“Goddess Rio, why do you feel the need to do this every time?” A voice exclaims from the inside and a snort laugh follows.
Rio enters before you and you poke your head inside in time to see her get in an older woman’s face and smile with wide eyes.
“Because you react the same way every. time.” She punctuates the last words and the gray-haired lady narrows her eyes at her.
The interaction makes you curious, they do appear to be very close friends, maybe sisters?
You freeze when the attention is turned to you by a voice.
“And what is this little present you brought for us?”
The woman previously reading on the couch stands up and walks towards you. She is gorgeous, her long hair falls like a waterfall down her front, her locks are wavy and brown. She wears a purple gown and has pretty blue eyes, a dangerous aura radiates from her making you take a step back.
“Agatha.” The other voice calls out in warning.
You turn and watch as the older woman steps away from the stove, grabs a blanket and spreads it out for you.
“Oh, you poor thing. Come here, you must be freezing.” She feels so inviting and entranced, you follow her command and step into her arms.
She runs her hands up and down, trying to warm you up while you stare at her. She’s just as beautiful as the other two. Her grey hair is pulled into a bun, bangs with white streaks frame her face and she’s wearing some kind of yellow and magenta robe. Her brown eyes bring a sense of comfort and you relax into her embrace, letting her guide you into a wooden table and sit you at a chair.
“Stay here, I’ll get you a cup of tea.” Her hand slides away from your shoulder and you shudder.
The adrenaline of the hunt fades the second you feel the calm of your surroundings. Your entire body feels heavy with the exertion and the sleepless nights catch up with you once again, your damp clothes cling to your body and you shiver from the cold. Wrapping the warm cover around you tighter, you close your eyes and try to even out your breathing.
The house scent is delicious, the air smells like a mixture of wet grass, lilies and azaleas. The boiling water mixes with the natural aroma of their home and brings with it the spicy fragrance of unfamiliar herbs. Behind you, you can hear Rio and the kind lady whispering, their words indecipherable.
The screech of a chair startles you, opening your eyes, you observe as the one in purple sits by your side. This time there is no room to retreat, so you just stare at her as she accesses your figure, throwing a smirk your way. She tries to open her mouth and is interrupted by the arm that enters your field of vision.
“There you go, doll.” The nickname causes a heat within you before the tea even reaches your lips. “Drink it all up. I’ll prepare a hot bath for you. We wouldn’t want you to be sick, would we?”
“No.” She stops in her tracks and you flush when it dawns on you that this is the first time you’ve spoken since you got into the cottage. “I mean, I appreciate it, M’Lady, but I should be heading back.”
“Nonsense. It’s almost night, you won't be able to find your way to the village before it gets dark.” The yellow sleeves move as she gestures.
“My sister is waiting for me. My friend is taking care of her, but I promised I’d be back today.”
From the corner of your eye, you see Rio moving to sit next to you, in front of the brunette.
“What were you doing in the woods?” The one named Agatha asks and this is the first time she looks at you without a side smile, you feel chastised, as if being in the forest wasn’t something you should do.
“I was hunting.” You couldn’t look at her, she was still frightening. “You’ve lived here for too long, but there’s word that this woodland is owned by witches.” With your head down, you don’t notice the exchange of glances. “It’s common knowledge in my village. No one dares step foot in here, but I had to come, there is not much merchandise coming from outside and my sister is sick, she needs meat to gather strength.”
A hand places itself on top of yours and you feel the warmness of it against your numb fingers. “We’ll help you catch something in the morning, but tonight you stay here and let us take care of you.”
The prospect of it makes your heart clench, it’s been so long since you were looked after by someone. There’s nothing else to say, so you just observe as she continues her way to one of the rooms.
“And you two.” She turns around to amend, the other women at the table look at her. “Behave yourselves.” Without waiting for a response, she continues her walk, robes fluttering behind her.
“Relax, Lilia.” Agatha shouts, by your side you see a toothy grin forming on Rio’s face.
Circling the mug and bringing it to your lips, you let out a moan at the taste, it was sweet and spicy in a perfect combination, you’d have to ask for the recipe later. It takes you a second to notice, but the women in front of you have gone silent and now look at you, shifting under the weight of observation, you ask in a conversational tone.
“So, are you sisters?”
Agatha lets out a snort at the question and Rio looks down, hiding an amused smirk.
“No, we are not sisters.” And the way the brunette says it brings a red tint to your face, you couldn’t put a name to it, but there was an implication there.
“Tell us about your little walk in the forest today.” The one in the green cloak says.
“Oh, um…” The strange request catches you off guard. “There wasn’t much, in fact, it felt like I was walking in a circle for hours and I didn’t see a single animal. To be honest, I’m not sure I would have made it back to the village if I hadn't found you. I was stupid enough to distance myself from the Witches’ Road to the point of no return.”
“The Witches’ Road?” The brunette raises an eyebrow at you.
“Yes, it’s the path that crosses the forest all the way to the other side. Its leaves stuck to the ground through every season, everlasting green.” Nodding, you take one more sip of the beverage, stifling a groan this time.
“And what else do they say about this Road?” Agatha leads the conversation and Rio focuses on you, watching your every word and playing with a knife you hadn’t noticed before and that, somehow, still doesn’t make you afraid of her.
“Well, when I was a child there was a man brave enough to enter this wood. He never returned and the elders told me it was a common occurrence, no one ever came back from the path.” Agatha hums and you continue. “It’s astounding how you’ve never heard of any of this, actually, it’s even more so how you’ve lived here all these years.”
“And this man you met as a child, can you remember his intention when he entered the Road?” The one dressed in purple asks, ignoring your previous statement.
“It’s hard not to, he bragged all around the village how he would rid us of the witches and conquer the woodland.” They both groan.
“The forest doesn’t like ill intended people.” Rio tells you nodding, and, for some reason, you nod alongside her.
“Men.” Agatha snarls beside you and you turn to her wide eyed, she could lose her tongue for that. “How about you, hun? Do you have someone special in your life?”
Her entire demeanor changes and she leans closer to you, your hand snaps back when you feel the blunt side of Rio’s knife graze your skin. They both close in on you and you feel your cheeks burn all the way down to your chest.
“I- No, I don’t.” You stammer.
The cold disappears and all you can feel is a growing heat on your body. Agatha lets an agreeing sound from the back of her throat, her fingers go to your hair and start running through the strands.
“And are you saving yourself for marriage?”
She tries to make it sound like an innocent inquiry, her brown eyes staring you down.
“Ignore her.” Your head snaps to the side, your savior comes to rescue you from Agatha’s clutches for a second time tonight. “Come on, doll. Your bath is ready.”
And just like before, her smooth voice makes you move without a second thought, reaching for her outstretched hand. She leads you into a candlelit room, a fireplace adds to the yellow light and beside it a wooden tub is filled with hot water, the tendrils of smoke reflecting against the flames.
“I left a change of clothes for you on the chair, take as long as you need.”
You can only nod, dumbfounded by the beautiful woman in front of you. In her own way, she makes you as nervous as the other two. She squeezes your hands and gives you a reassuring smile before leaving and closing the door behind her.
Away from them, you feel the heat leave your body and you shiver as you remove your wet garments. It has been so long since you have taken a bath, your responsibilities combined with the weather weren’t great allies in cleaning habits, so when you lower yourself down into the tub, an inevitable groan leaves your lips.
Scrubbing the days old dirt from your skin, you worry about your sister, you know she is in capable hands, but the knowledge of leaving her alone clings to your heart. The hunt was a waste of energy you didn’t have and if it weren’t for these unknown women, you’d have been long dead, frozen corpse left for the wolves.
The thought of the three causes a flutter in your stomach and you press your hand against it, this wouldn’t do. They were driving you crazy and this rush of feelings was something you had only felt a long time ago, suppressed and unknown until this day. They might actually be witches, there was something so hypnotizing about them, you felt trapped in their spell and your carefully crafted walls crumbled in a minute inside the cottage, you don’t even know where your shotgun is anymore.
Although their ways and appearances were contrary to everything you had heard about those demons, they were all breathtaking in their own way, there wasn’t a single trace of black fingers, big noses or baldness, and they were been kinder than anyone has been to you in years, there’s no fundament in believing they are those wicked creatures.
You take a long time in the bath, the relaxing atmosphere makes you melt, your bones ache from fatigue, your stomach has been growling incessantly for days and your eyes feel heavy like you are about to pass out, but the warm water still brings you comfort.
Getting out of the bath takes a lot of effort, but the temperature drops and you are forced to move. Putting the soft robe around yourself keeps the cold away, the garment is warm and smells like lilies. Your skin is rubbed raw and your hair is wet, you feel renewed, the only thing missing is a hot meal and a full night’s sleep.
Leaving the bathhouse and stepping into the living room, you are faced with the women sitting on the two couches facing each other, the fireplace by their side. The whispers stop once you arrive.
“Feeling better?” Lilia asks.
“Yes, thank you.”
“You look tired, tulip.” Rio’s head drops sideways as she studies the dark circles under your eyes, the nickname falling naturally from her lips.
“I haven’t slept in a few days.” They exchange glances, an unspoken conversation between them.
“Come sit down then.” Agatha pats the cushion by her side before getting up. “I’ll warm up a meal for you, hun.”
Taking her place, you find yourself facing Rio with Lilia at your side. The younger woman has changed out of her gown into a green sleepwear, they all seem to have a color palette and it's very endearing.
“Tell me, my love. Why haven’t you been sleeping?” The question is soft spoken.
“I’ve been taking care of my sister, like I said before, she’s very sick and I have to look out for her as her older sister.”
“What about your parents?” The one dressed in yellow asks.
“They died last winter.” You answer simply, not wanting to dwell on the subject.
“It must have been hard.” The older woman runs her fingers down your arm before grabbing your hand and squeezing it, you stop yourself from leaning into her.
“It was.” The lump in your throat is swallowed, they didn’t need to see you cry. “How long have you lived here?” Trying to steer the conversation elsewhere, you ask.
They look at each other and Lilia responds vaguely. “Many, many years.”
“And you’ve never encountered any witches?”
Rio lets out a breathy laugh. “You are set on that, aren’t you?”
“Well, excuse me if the stories I grew up with seem to be a lie.” She raises an eyebrow at your heated answer.
She hums and asks, throwing a mischievous side grin at Lilia. “And what are the rumors about these witches?”
“It’s said that they are the devil’s spawn, demons in their nature disguised as women, but not well enough. They can’t blend in with society because they are easily recognised by the lack of hair, the big nostrils and elongated mouths. There is also a tale that they are always wearing gloves, their hands are actually claws and they use it to attack children and eat them alive.” A snort laugh comes from the kitchen. “Their toes are stumps and they have nasty warts across their body.”
Rio cackles and you jump at the unexpected sound, turning to Lilia, you see her face completely closed.
“Well, this is outrageous!” She exclaims and you hear Agatha murmur ‘Oh, here we go again’ as she pours food into a bowl. “These stereotypes are unfounded, you said no one ever came back from the Road, right?” She looks at you and you nod rapidly, startled by her unpredicted reaction. “Have they seen these claws and big noses? No, sir. I don’t think they have. Men and their constant need to make up lies about women.” She murmurs the last part under her breath, picking up what you assume is a glass of wine.
Her rant leaves you wary, it sounds more heartfelt than someone who isn't affected by it would say. You back away a little, trying not to let on that you’ve picked up on something you shouldn’t have. Had you fallen right into the wolf's den?
“There you go, hun.” Agatha places the bowl in your hands and goes to sit by Rio’s side.
You eye the food suspiciously, but the smell is heavenly and your stomach aches with its emptiness, there’s a fight inside you that you won’t win. Blowing the spoon before swallowing the soup, you practically vibrate in pleasure, it’s full of meat and different vegetables and once you’ve got a taste of it you can’t help but to gulp it down, only stopping by Lilia’s voice.
“Not so fast, doll. An empty stomach is not in favor of sudden change and we wouldn’t want you to be sick.”
As much as it pains you, she is right. With an absurd effort, you eat slowly, careful of the heat of the food and listening to your body. They fall into an easy conversation and you focus on nothing else but the delicious meal, every now and then letting a groan slip from your lips.
You almost ask for seconds, but your gut is full and your body is heavy. With your eyelids drooping, you almost let the ceramic slip from your hands before Agatha takes it away. You are ready to pass out on the warm sofa, so when Lilia pats her lap in an invitation, you don’t think twice before laying your head on her thigh, feeling a blanket being thrown over you.
“Sleep well, doll. You’ll feel much better when you wake up.” She runs her nails through your scalp and you practically pur, snuggling into her.
The last thought that crosses your mind is that it doesn’t matter if they are witches, if this was your last night, you’d happily die like this.
Your dreams are strange, it feels like you’re stuck between the stages of being awake and asleep, waking momentarily and unable to distinguish what is reality and what is not. Sometimes you hear their voices, unintelligible conversation, and other times you feel hands running over your body. You hear yourself groan and trash around, Lilia’s fingers are always there, stroking your hair and pulling you back to sleep.
It seems like hours have passed, or maybe just minutes, you can’t tell. Something wakes you up, your cheeks burn like fire and your body feels feverish, something coils inside you and your core throbs. Laying on your side, you feel the older woman’s nails lightly sliding down your arm and you shiver. For the first time in what feels like forever, you are able to identify their words.
“There’s no discussion about that.” Lilia says.
“Oh, don’t be a hypocrite. You are just as interested in her as we are.” Agatha’s voice sounds from the other side of the room, the grey haired woman stays silent.
“There’s no denying she is meant to be here. Her intentions are pure and she would have left the forest with no problems. However, the wards reacted differently to her, she shouldn't be able to find any of us, and yet she did.” Rio says and your mind tries to put together an unsolvable puzzle.
“Yes, my love, I know. But there’s nothing we can do, she has a life outside of here, it's bad enough she’s spending the night. She will be lucky if she doesn’t get burned at the stake as soon as she gets back to the village.”
“And you are willing to let that happen?” The one in purple asks. “We thought out of the three of us, you would be more sympathetic to her situation.”
“What would you have us do, Agatha? Ask her if she wants to move in and bring her sister along. ‘Oh and by the way, we are witches. We hope you don’t mind.’” Lilia scoffs at them. “She doesn't know us, and we don’t know her either. As far as we know, the spell has only weakened over time.”
“Don’t dismiss our magic, Lilia. You know the three of us are powerful enough to cast a spell that lasts a witch’s lifetime.” Rio says seriously.
Their voices swim around your muffled head, they are senseless and leave you more confused than you already are, you groan and squirm, mumbling.
“Hot.”
“Yes, baby, I know. It’s a side effect, I’m sorry.” Lilia's attention turns to you, she runs her palm over your forehead and she doesn’t realize you are fully awake this time.
Something doesn’t seem right when she grabs your shoulders and turns you upwards.
“She’s burning up.”
The older woman throws the blanket away from your body, her cool hands squeeze down your arms and bring relief. You curl up, a heat grows on your center, radiating all over your figure. Lilia places her fingers on your cheek and you press her palm against it. There aren't a lot of thoughts forming in your brain, but her touch is the only thing bringing you some sort of clarity.
“Goddess Agatha, how strong did you make the potion?” The purple witch sputters and raises her hands in a questioning way.
“She said she hadn’t slept in days, so I figured I’d have to double the ingredients for it to work.”
“That’s not how it works!” Lilia exclaims, clearly irritated by what Agatha has done.
“Well, I didn’t see you volunteering to make it!” She practically yells in defense.
“Allright, you two.” Rio intervenes. “Let me take a look.”
You feel a presence kneel on the floor beside your head, knuckles are placed on your neck and you moan, leaning into the touch.
“Yeah, Agatha. You fucked up.”
“Rio!” “Hey!” The other two exclaim at the same time and she shrugs in response.
You lift your hand and place it on Lilia’s thigh, she grips it.
“Yes, baby. Tell us what you need.”
“I am so hot.”
“Do you want us to open a window?” Rio asks next to you.
“I feel like I’m about to burst.” You take a deep breath, ignoring her question in favor of concentrating on your body. “I need- I don’t know what I need, but I’m throbbing.”
“Throbbing? Throbbing where?” The one in green questions and you miss the silent conversation she has with Lilia.
Looking into her eyes, you gesture down and run your hand between your thighs, a red hue forming on your face.
“Oh Agatha, what have you done?” She whispers, staring back at you.
Lilia’s head snaps to the side and she says accusingly.
“Did you do this on purpose?”
“What? No!” Agatha defends herself from across the room, standing up and coming closer to look at you. “What can we do to help, hun?”
You sit up on the sofa, hair out of place and the warm robe falling off your shoulder.
“Can you touch me?” Grabbing Rio's hand and placing it on your burning cheeks, you close your eyes. “You feel so cold.”
There’s no malicious intent behind your words and you completely miss the collective breath they all take in. Lilia takes off her mantle, underneath it she’s wearing a sleepwear and her arms are now bare.
“Come here, doll.” You crawl closer.
Grabbing your cover, she rolls up your sleeves and takes your arms in her hands, palming them.
“Thank you.” She feels refreshing.
Agatha places her knuckles on your neck, her eyebrows draw closer and she looks concerned for the first time. She runs them over your collarbones and up your upper back, you moan.
“Is this what you want, sweetheart?”
“Yes.” You breathe out.
“I’m not sure if this is the right thing to do.” Lilia says.
“Please.” You look at her and beg.
She stares at you for a moment, there’s a battle going on inside her head and you can see when she finally resolves it.
“Okay, baby. We’ll help you.”
You aren’t sure what ‘help’ entails, but as long as they kept the buzzing sensation you felt under your skin, the growing heat and the throbbing at bay, you were happy to do anything.
Rio grabs your thighs suddenly and you gasp, looking down to see her grinning dirtily, her palms run up your legs and under your robe making you tremble. Agatha sits down next to you, grabs your chin and turns your face towards her.
She kisses you.
It’s so unexpected and you can only pull away, wide eyes staring at her. She gives you a reassuring smile, tucking your hair behind your ear before moving closer, giving you just enough time to pull away. You let her place her lips on yours.
You’ve never been kissed by anyone, marriage was never something on your mind when you had someone to care for, plus the men in your village never interested you. This is different though, you’ve been mesmerized by them from the start. It seems natural to let this happen, whatever ‘this’ is.
Inexperienced, you let Agatha guide you and set the pace. You have always thought it was going to be an awkward contact, but when her tongue slides along yours, you can’t help but grip the cushing beneath you. You almost miss the hand running over your shoulders, almost , Lilia’s thumbs run through your collarbones and you shiver when she tugs your robe back. It’s a lot. So when Rio’s fingers brush against your hips, you pull away and burrow into the couch, hesitant.
“Slower, Rio.”
Lilia tells her and she obeys, resting her head against your thighs and bringing her palms down to your knees, using them as leverage when the older woman motions her forward.
Their mouths meet halfway. Lilia’s hand drops to your waist and the other one lands in Rio’s hair, pulling her closer. You stare, mouth open and afraid of the bubbling sensation in your core. You jump when Agatha’s chin rests on your shoulder.
“They are perfect, aren’t they?” She says, humming.
Nodding, you watch as the kiss becomes more heated. The older woman's fingers leave your body and she practically pulls Rio onto her lap. Agatha’s experienced hands undo the knot on your robe and you groan when they land on your hip, the contact helping with the burning beneath your skin.
The two in front of you separate and Rio leans to whisper something in Lilia’s ear, the older woman grins. The one in green turns to you and gives you a quick peck before kneeling again, you blink at the unexpected move.
Agatha runs her lips over your skin and you throw your head back, barely registering the hands removing your robe and letting it fall to your lower half. Lilia focuses on the other side of your neck, licking and biting as her nails run down to your chest, caressing the top of your breasts. They are gentle, aware of your hesitance despite your eagerness.
Rio touches you again, more carefully like the older woman had asked. She massages your heel and calf, moving higher each time. Agatha’s hand lands on your thigh, helping the green witch by parting your legs. Lilia kisses you then, a distraction may be, but one you’re not complaining about.
As with the purple witch, you let her dominate. The kiss is different, as good as the other one, but still divergent. She places her hand on your hair and runs her nails through it, movements languid while you feel Agatha’s palm grab your breasts and Rio plant upwards pecks.
You moan into Lilia’s mouth when Agatha pinches your nipples, separating to breath.
“How are you doing, baby?”
“I- I’m not sure this is helping with the heat.” You respond, running your tongue over your dry lips.
“Don’t worry, dear. It will.” Agatha whispers in your ear, before biting it softly.
When she draws away from your skin, Lilia pulls her into a kiss of their own. They moan into each other's mouth and you feel like a whore watching them, eyes unmoving. The pause, however, makes you focus on the other woman's touch. Rio runs her tongue over the inside of your things, blowing on it right after. It helps with the hotness of your skin, but your core throbs more and more.
The other two get lost in themselves for a while and you can only enjoy the sight and the gentle touch on your legs, but when they part, you glance down at Rio and she is looking at you. She circles your legs with her arms and pulls you forward, your backside sliding to the tip of the couch.
She lifts the part of the robe that hides you from her, spreading your legs even further and staring right at your center. She licks her lips and her eyes look like those of a predator about to eat its favorite meal.
“Oh, tulip. You open up to me so beautifully.” She says breathlessly.
She’s about to pounce when Agatha grabs her scalp and pulls her back, getting into her eye level.
“Slow.” She commands seriously before giving her a peck.
Rio blinks, mind back in place and she nods, turning her attention back to you.
Lilia’s fingers distract you, she runs them along the lower region of your hip and you feel the goosebumps forming on your skin. Agatha dips back into your skin and sucks on one of your nipples, you moan as her tongue runs over it. The yellow witch licks your neck and leaves hickeys behind, biting into your shoulder. Her hands massages your other mound and she leans in to whispers.
“Look at Rio. She looks gorgeous between your thighs, don’t you think?” Speechless, you nod vehemently. “Tell her.”
Lilia sucks on your pulse point and you moan as you lock eyes with the green witch. She looks breathtaking, her hair is disheveled, the back of your knees resting on her shoulders and in the dim light of the room you can see her pupils are dilated, she's panting.
“You look beautiful, Rio.”
Your cheeks burn and you are rewarded by the three for your words. Agatha moans against your nipple and grabs hard into your thigh. Rio gives you a mischievous smile and runs her tongue through your sticky skin as Lilia touches your center for the first time, lightly running her fingers over it as you writhe and squirm into her hand.
“Someone is eager.” Rio laughs at your reaction.
“I- Please, Rio.” You voice sound hoarse and you are not sure for what you are begging for, but the ache between your legs in getting worse and it feels like the most delicious torture.
She nuzzles your hip, close to your center and you completely melt when Lilia opens up your folds to Rio. The green witch grins your way, as if she’s just received the permission she’s been waiting for.
Her tongue darts out and she circles your lower lips, throwing your head back and not knowing what to do with your hands, you grab Lilia’s palm and Agatha’s thigh. The new sensation is overwhelming, you feel the coil that’s been building up for a long time get worse. The almost bursting feeling you felt before comes right back and Rio holds you down when she runs her teeths through your skin.
She makes her way from bottom to top and your hips buck when she bumps into something. It’s weird how wet you are, you feel the slippery friction against Rio’s chin and lips. She blows against you and you whimper. You feel so needy, so empty, so desperate.
They said they were witches, you heard. So maybe this is some kind of spell.
Lilia’s fingers are still holding you open and Agatha is dividing her attention between your breasts, biting and sucking one while pinching and squeezing the other. The gray-haired woman snuzzles into your neck and holds your waist.
Rio pulls you closer and you practically fall off the couch, being held only by the other two, she has a manic look in her face and her tongue goes inside you, she moans against your skin. Agatha holds her head, setting the pace and Lilia’s hand moves down to your hips, helping you grind against her face.
Rio does it like it's her favorite pastime, she moans and growls, running her mouth and chin all over you. She picks up speed and the purple witch lets her, the in and out motion makes your toes curl and your thigh tremble, squeezing her head and digging your heels into her back, pulling her close.
You hear yourself moaning, the sound is distant, like you are underwater. Grabbing the older woman’s wrist, you let out a whine. The previous heat has turned to sweat, the coil is unbearable and the ache turned into pleasure. Something is building inside you and you don’t know what it is.
“Rio-” You let out, her mouth is quite busy though.
“Yes, baby. What is it?” Lilia answers for her.
Taking a deep breath, you feel your hands shaking and notice Agatha is also looking at you.
“I- Something is happening.” Not being able to describe, you say in the hope that they understand.
“Yes, honey. Relax and let it happen.” Agatha kisses your cheek and you pull her in for a real one, taking initiative for the first time.
The kiss is more heated than before, you groan and your hips buck, her hand is still in Rio’s hair and the green witch continues without stopping, you are not sure how she’s breathing. There is something growing inside you, a tension building in your body right from your center and you feel ready to tip over, but something stops you, as if it’s missing.
Lilia is the one that gives it to you. While Agatha’s lips are on yours and Rio’s tongue is making you trash, her fingers run down and press against your bud, moving in circular motion. There’s a moment where you see stars, your vision goes white and you are sure you are dead, maybe this was the outcome of the witches’ spell.
And then you are back. Body tense, back arched and hips moving unstoppably. You grab at anything around you and throw your head back, mouth open and mute. The peak overtakes you and you crash down hard, thighs shaking as you slump back onto the couch.
Rio climbs up, tongue making a path on your skin before she kisses you. Grabbing into her shoulder, you pull her closer and thread your fingers into her hair, groaning and pulling away quickly to breath, you are still panting from the exertion.
“Come here, I want to taste her.” Agatha says by your side and grabs the green witch’s head.
You watch them kiss, they are beautiful, they all are. The heated make out results in the same unnamable feeling coursing through your body, you are grateful for the distraction when Lilia places her knuckles into your sweaty forehead.
Leaning into her touch, you rest your head on her shoulder.
“How are you feeling, doll?”
“Better.” You hum.
Your eyelids are heavy again, your body is begging for sleep and you let it take over, any question you have can be answered in the morning.