To Hell and Back Again

She shielded herself behind a thick oak tree. Her black hair pulled back into a loose braid draped over her shoulder. A light blue cotton dress fell to her ankles and hugged her hips. Her dark eyes drifted up to the white balcony of the Manor with eager impatience. The breeze rustled the summer leaves above her and carried her scent away from the direction of the Manor. She was grateful that Nature had been benefiting her this night. However, she still took the precautionary measures and laced herself with oils and herbs to help blend herself into the environment that surrounded her.

 Light from the balcony doors swiveled and swayed while shadows danced across space. Voices sounded from within, mumbled through the windowpane as a barrier. The door suddenly opened, and she tucked herself behind the trunk while she dared herself to peek around it carefully. Heavy footsteps across the marble tiles as a man approached the ledge. Her eyes shined at his glorious frame that was outlined in the lantern light, but the help of the moon gave way to his marvelous facial features. Jet black hair combed back, his chiseled jawline would make the angels envious. His blue eyes were dark as a storm at sea. He adorned a white button up with the sleeves rolled up on the forearms.

 "Your Majesty?" A woman's voice spoke up from behind him. The woman stepped forward, her black hair with a tease of silver at the roots pulled back into a neat bun on the back of her head. She stopped beside him, her arms folded across the white ruffles of her blouse and a red coat rested on her shoulders.

 "You know you do not need to address me in such a way, Mother." He stated as he rested his arms on the ledge and leaned against it. The woman smiled to herself as she admired his glorious form under the moonlight.

 "I know that this troubles you, dear." She said.

 "Troubled? How could I be troubled?" He asked with dripping sarcasm. "My reign is in danger so long as I do not have a Mate."

 "It is not as if previous Kings did not have the same problem." She said as she gazed out over the terrain. "Most just had their bonds before their time was..." Her words faded away.

 "Exactly." He growled as he brushed his fingers through his hair. "My Mate could be across the ocean for all I know." Sadness latched onto his tone. The woman pressed her hand against the ache in her chest.

 "It's not too late." The woman said as she rested her hand on his forearm. "She will come to you when you need her most." She gave his arm a squeeze before she turned her back to the dark forest. "Come now. We still have the war to deal with as well." His mother sighed deeply.

 "Right." He sighed. "General Washington requested aid, correct?" He asked her as he followed her back inside and closed the door behind themselves. The woman shut her eyes as her heart raced within her chest and a smile spread across her lips.

 "I could help him..."

                                                            ----------

 With each day that passed, she spent her time with her nose in the books while she lived in her tiny studied her mentor gave her. As the sun dipped low below the horizon and gave way to the moon to be her company, she fixated on the idea of assisting the King at any costs. Dark bags rested beneath her eyes as evidence of her sleepless nights and her body grew frail over time from the lack of nutrition. She could sense the worry from her fellow Witches, from her mentor and from Janice, but nothing would sway her.

 "There has to be something I can provide." She grumbled softly to herself as she read through the "Summoning" Grimoire for the third time.

 "Karmina?" A woman peeked her head into the candlelit room. Loose strands of grey hair swayed freely from her low ponytail held back by a ribbon. "It's time to eat, dear."

 "I am not hungry. You may give my plate to one of the others." She suggested without glancing her way. The woman frowned as she stepped into the room and scanned the open grimoires that were scattered around.

 "You are passing on another meal." She said with concern. She peered over Karmina's shoulder curiously. "Is there something you are looking for? You know I can assist you in your research."

 "No." Karmina said too sharply. The woman raised a brow questioningly as Karmina cleared her throat. "I am sorry, Melonie. I just wanted to focus on this." She finally steered her gaze away from the texts and looked up at the Witch behind her. "I promise once I am finished, I will come straight to you with what I have come up with."

 Melonie still looked troubled, but gradually relented with a sigh. "Very well, but stop pushing yourself too hard. Your magic will become blocked and you will achieve nothing new. That also goes with eating and sleeping." She gave Karmina's shoulder a squeeze before she left her alone again. Karmina turned back to her book again and let out a drawn out yawn.

 "Achieve nothing new, huh?" She stared down at the pages with exhaustion heavy on her body. Then it hit her. Her eyes grew wide as dinner plates as she grabbed her own grimoire and opened it to the first page. "Perhaps it was never in these because no one had come up with a solution like this before." Her eyes shined in the candlelight. "I can be the first."