Sep 2008
About The Witch Haven Series
12/09/08 17:43 Filed in: The Witch Haven Series
I had so much fun writing the original Witch Haven short story, I decided to do at least one or two more short stories centered around Witch Haven, and the characters who live and visit there. I'm not sure where this will eventually lead, but I hope those who "visit" Witch Haven here will enjoy reading the stories as much I have writing them. The latest story will appear first, however for first time visitors who wish to the read the stories from start to finish, I have included a handy dandy menu in the sidebar.
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Illusions Of The Heart
12/09/08 17:34 Filed in: The Witch Haven Series
Silos had discovered many things at Witch Haven that had amazed him, as well as some things that puzzled him. The green eyed witch's penchant for electric fireplaces had been one of the things that puzzled him. So as they sat in front of the one in her living room, he asked her why it was she used those, instead of real fireplaces.
She smiled that soft little smile of hers, then replied, "Besides being cleaner, and much less hassle, the electric fireplaces are a good reminder for me of how much illusion, can sometimes resemble reality."
Silos gazed into the dancing electric flames, and pondered the witch's answer for a moment. "But surely a wise witch such as youself would need no such reminder."
The green eyed witch's lips curved into a wry smile, then she replied, "Sometimes, the heart of even the wisest witch can believe in foolish illusions, if she lets it."
Silos studied the witch as she spoke, and noted that dancing amongst the golden flecks that sparkled within the green depths of the windows to her soul, was a glint of cynicism when it came to matters of the heart. Silos could understand and relate to that touch of cynicism concerning matters of the heart. "Sometimes," he said, "I think love is nothing but an illusion of the heart."
"No." the green eyed witch replied. "Love itself is not an illusion of the heart. But, it is not as unconditional as many seem to think. Betrayal can destroy it. Especially if that betrayal repeats itself time and time again."
As they were apt to do around this green eyed witch, his lips moved before his brain could stop them, and he blurted out, "But, it wasn't repeated time and time again! And never would have happened again."
She looked at him with a certain amount of sympathy, and replied, "But, was it not a matter of her seeing a history she wanted no more part of, repeating itself?"
He sighed, and felt the indignation fading under her unwavering gaze. He bowed his head and quietly whispered, "Yes."
"And did you not know, at least in part, about that history?"
With head still bowed Silos once more quietly whispered, "Yes."
"Then in your heart," said the green eyed witch, "you know that although she did love you, her history had put a condition on love for her, that had to be met."
Silos raised his head, and under that unwavering gaze of the green eyed witch, finally took full responsibility for what he had done. "I knew how she had been treated in the past. Perhaps not all the details, but enough to know that betraying her in the manner I did, was the worst thing I could do to her. Yet, just to satisfy a moment of pure lust, I did that one worst thing."
"Love," said the green eyed witch, "is a very valuable thing. And like all valuable things, it always comes with some price or another. The question is, are you willing to pay that price? Or is love so meaningless to you, so lacking in value, that any price is too much to pay for it? Was the price, the value of her love, really so hard to pay?"
Silos shook his head and replied, "No, fidelity was a small price to pay for all that she gave to me. I was totally stupid to have thrown away so much, for so little."
The green eyed witch sighed, then quietly said, "Sadly, I have come to realize that people have a tendency to throw love away, for the silliest things."
As he gazed into the dancing electric flames Silos pondered the words that had just passed between them. After a moment he sighed, then said, "It was my heart that was filled with of illusions of love. For had I really loved her the way she deserved to be loved, I would have never taken a woman who meant nothing to me into my bed."
"You have lost a great deal, Silos. But, you have also gained a wisdom now that hopefully, will stand you in good stead should you be fortunate enough to find love again. Just always remember, that as with Witch Haven, there are some things you can never return to once you have left them." Before Silos could reply, the witch raised her hand in a stopping motion, then continued, "No, Silos, you were really the one that left her. The second you gave into that meaningless moment of lust, you broke the bond of love and trust she had given you, and in essence, turned your back on it, and the woman who loved you. When she in turn walked away from you, she was simply completing what you had begun."
Silos held the gaze of the green eyed witch for a moment, then bowed his head in acceptance and whispered, "Is love really so fragile?"
"Yes, Silos. Despite its many strengths, love can also be the most fragile thing in the world. Learn to respect its strengths, but also learn to understand its fragility. Only by doing that, can you truly hold onto it."
The green eyed witch rose from her chair and left Silos to ponder the dancing electric flames, and the lessons concerning illusions of the heart that he had just learned. She had already learned her lesson well concerning illusions of the heart. And those well-learned lessons had put a condition on love for her that she knew no man could ever meet. Witch Haven was built upon the foundation of that condition, and it was why except for her guardians, one visit was all it allowed anyone.
She smiled that soft little smile of hers, then replied, "Besides being cleaner, and much less hassle, the electric fireplaces are a good reminder for me of how much illusion, can sometimes resemble reality."
Silos gazed into the dancing electric flames, and pondered the witch's answer for a moment. "But surely a wise witch such as youself would need no such reminder."
The green eyed witch's lips curved into a wry smile, then she replied, "Sometimes, the heart of even the wisest witch can believe in foolish illusions, if she lets it."
Silos studied the witch as she spoke, and noted that dancing amongst the golden flecks that sparkled within the green depths of the windows to her soul, was a glint of cynicism when it came to matters of the heart. Silos could understand and relate to that touch of cynicism concerning matters of the heart. "Sometimes," he said, "I think love is nothing but an illusion of the heart."
"No." the green eyed witch replied. "Love itself is not an illusion of the heart. But, it is not as unconditional as many seem to think. Betrayal can destroy it. Especially if that betrayal repeats itself time and time again."
As they were apt to do around this green eyed witch, his lips moved before his brain could stop them, and he blurted out, "But, it wasn't repeated time and time again! And never would have happened again."
She looked at him with a certain amount of sympathy, and replied, "But, was it not a matter of her seeing a history she wanted no more part of, repeating itself?"
He sighed, and felt the indignation fading under her unwavering gaze. He bowed his head and quietly whispered, "Yes."
"And did you not know, at least in part, about that history?"
With head still bowed Silos once more quietly whispered, "Yes."
"Then in your heart," said the green eyed witch, "you know that although she did love you, her history had put a condition on love for her, that had to be met."
Silos raised his head, and under that unwavering gaze of the green eyed witch, finally took full responsibility for what he had done. "I knew how she had been treated in the past. Perhaps not all the details, but enough to know that betraying her in the manner I did, was the worst thing I could do to her. Yet, just to satisfy a moment of pure lust, I did that one worst thing."
"Love," said the green eyed witch, "is a very valuable thing. And like all valuable things, it always comes with some price or another. The question is, are you willing to pay that price? Or is love so meaningless to you, so lacking in value, that any price is too much to pay for it? Was the price, the value of her love, really so hard to pay?"
Silos shook his head and replied, "No, fidelity was a small price to pay for all that she gave to me. I was totally stupid to have thrown away so much, for so little."
The green eyed witch sighed, then quietly said, "Sadly, I have come to realize that people have a tendency to throw love away, for the silliest things."
As he gazed into the dancing electric flames Silos pondered the words that had just passed between them. After a moment he sighed, then said, "It was my heart that was filled with of illusions of love. For had I really loved her the way she deserved to be loved, I would have never taken a woman who meant nothing to me into my bed."
"You have lost a great deal, Silos. But, you have also gained a wisdom now that hopefully, will stand you in good stead should you be fortunate enough to find love again. Just always remember, that as with Witch Haven, there are some things you can never return to once you have left them." Before Silos could reply, the witch raised her hand in a stopping motion, then continued, "No, Silos, you were really the one that left her. The second you gave into that meaningless moment of lust, you broke the bond of love and trust she had given you, and in essence, turned your back on it, and the woman who loved you. When she in turn walked away from you, she was simply completing what you had begun."
Silos held the gaze of the green eyed witch for a moment, then bowed his head in acceptance and whispered, "Is love really so fragile?"
"Yes, Silos. Despite its many strengths, love can also be the most fragile thing in the world. Learn to respect its strengths, but also learn to understand its fragility. Only by doing that, can you truly hold onto it."
The green eyed witch rose from her chair and left Silos to ponder the dancing electric flames, and the lessons concerning illusions of the heart that he had just learned. She had already learned her lesson well concerning illusions of the heart. And those well-learned lessons had put a condition on love for her that she knew no man could ever meet. Witch Haven was built upon the foundation of that condition, and it was why except for her guardians, one visit was all it allowed anyone.
Witch Haven
09/09/08 14:11 Filed in: The Witch Haven Series
It had taken Silos Wynter 5 long years to find the place known as Witch Haven. Being the cynical ex soldier turned reporter he was, he had first blown off the tales he kept hearing about Witch Haven, and the woman who lived in it, as nothing more another urban legend. When he had asked the one woman who actually admitted having been there to take him to it, she had smiled at him and replied, "Witch Haven is a place you can enter by invitation only. And you must prove yourself worthy of such an invitation, for the witch who lives there does not like her haven visited by those who would disturb its tranquility."
He didn't know what he had done to make the witch deem him worthy of such an invitation, but one day he had opened a small envelope that contained a gilded edge card, which invited him to begin the journey that would bring him to Witch Haven. The card had warned him the journey would take 13 weeks, and be arduous at times. He had spent time with 13 of the most intriguing people he had ever met upon that journey. And at one point he had to climb a cliff with one of those people, then be picked up by a helicopter that was piloted by yet another fascinating fruitcake.
He had begun to realize halfway through the journey that each leg of it represented a test he must pass in order to continue it. He had also begun to realize by then that even should he fail any of those tests, the people he had met, along with the things he had done, would supply him with a wealth of tales to tell. There were a couple of times along the journey, like when he stood at the base of that cliff, when he wondered if it might be better to call a halt to the journey, and simply be thankful for the experience he had already gained upon it. But, the thought of meeting the woman who had devised such a journey drove him up the side of that cliff, and farther along the path he hoped would take him to her.
Now that he stood in front of what seemed no more than a common, if somewhat large log cabin, he felt a sense of let down for a moment. Then the door of the cabin was opened by the very woman who had once told him that he could only arrive here if invited. She smiled at him, and beckoned him into the cabin. He was shown to a spacious living room that was tastefully furnished with 2 plump couches and several comfortable easy chairs. He sat down on one of the chairs, and watched the electric flames dancing in the belly of a faux fireplace as he waited for the witch.
When she did enter the room, he was at first once more dissapointed by her rather ordinary looks. Not that she wasn't attractive. But, he had hardly expected the barefoot jean clad blonde standing before him. As he rose from the chair she smiled, then extended her hand to him. Her smile seemed to fill the room with a peaceful happiness he had never before experienced. The touch of her hand caused a strange energy to course through him that left him longing to embrace the source of that power. Her green eyes sparkled with more than a touch of mischief as she seated herself in the chair next to his.
"Tell me Silos," said the woman who he had gone through so much to meet, "did you enjoy your journey to Witch Haven?"
That's when Silos realized that despite the perils, and at times uncomfortableness of that journey, he had indeed enjoyed it. "Yes." He replied after a brief pause. "I have to admit, that I did enjoy it. And learned much about myself along the way."
She smiled that same soft smile again, and once more filled the room with peaceful happiness. After studying him again for a moment, she asked, "And do you consider yourself a better person now for having taken that journey?"
Silos basked in the warmth of that smile for a moment, then replied, "Yes. I hadn't thought about such a thing until just now. But, I am a better person for having taken the journey!"
The green eyed witch who already had him completely entranced, smiled again. "Then, Silos, you have learned the lessons well that the journey was meant to teach you."
As he gazed into those sparkling green eyes, and felt her power, he knew that everything he had been told about Witch Haven, and the woman who lived here, was the truth. There really was a woman whose smile could warm an entire room, and heal the heart and soul of anyone fortunate enough to have that smile bestowed upon them. And within the walls of this rather ordinary cabin, she had created a place where true magick existed.
He didn't know what he had done to make the witch deem him worthy of such an invitation, but one day he had opened a small envelope that contained a gilded edge card, which invited him to begin the journey that would bring him to Witch Haven. The card had warned him the journey would take 13 weeks, and be arduous at times. He had spent time with 13 of the most intriguing people he had ever met upon that journey. And at one point he had to climb a cliff with one of those people, then be picked up by a helicopter that was piloted by yet another fascinating fruitcake.
He had begun to realize halfway through the journey that each leg of it represented a test he must pass in order to continue it. He had also begun to realize by then that even should he fail any of those tests, the people he had met, along with the things he had done, would supply him with a wealth of tales to tell. There were a couple of times along the journey, like when he stood at the base of that cliff, when he wondered if it might be better to call a halt to the journey, and simply be thankful for the experience he had already gained upon it. But, the thought of meeting the woman who had devised such a journey drove him up the side of that cliff, and farther along the path he hoped would take him to her.
Now that he stood in front of what seemed no more than a common, if somewhat large log cabin, he felt a sense of let down for a moment. Then the door of the cabin was opened by the very woman who had once told him that he could only arrive here if invited. She smiled at him, and beckoned him into the cabin. He was shown to a spacious living room that was tastefully furnished with 2 plump couches and several comfortable easy chairs. He sat down on one of the chairs, and watched the electric flames dancing in the belly of a faux fireplace as he waited for the witch.
When she did enter the room, he was at first once more dissapointed by her rather ordinary looks. Not that she wasn't attractive. But, he had hardly expected the barefoot jean clad blonde standing before him. As he rose from the chair she smiled, then extended her hand to him. Her smile seemed to fill the room with a peaceful happiness he had never before experienced. The touch of her hand caused a strange energy to course through him that left him longing to embrace the source of that power. Her green eyes sparkled with more than a touch of mischief as she seated herself in the chair next to his.
"Tell me Silos," said the woman who he had gone through so much to meet, "did you enjoy your journey to Witch Haven?"
That's when Silos realized that despite the perils, and at times uncomfortableness of that journey, he had indeed enjoyed it. "Yes." He replied after a brief pause. "I have to admit, that I did enjoy it. And learned much about myself along the way."
She smiled that same soft smile again, and once more filled the room with peaceful happiness. After studying him again for a moment, she asked, "And do you consider yourself a better person now for having taken that journey?"
Silos basked in the warmth of that smile for a moment, then replied, "Yes. I hadn't thought about such a thing until just now. But, I am a better person for having taken the journey!"
The green eyed witch who already had him completely entranced, smiled again. "Then, Silos, you have learned the lessons well that the journey was meant to teach you."
As he gazed into those sparkling green eyes, and felt her power, he knew that everything he had been told about Witch Haven, and the woman who lived here, was the truth. There really was a woman whose smile could warm an entire room, and heal the heart and soul of anyone fortunate enough to have that smile bestowed upon them. And within the walls of this rather ordinary cabin, she had created a place where true magick existed.
The Troll Test
07/09/08 21:17 Filed in: Short Stories
Trixie fluttered her wings to dry them. She had stood beneath the magick waterfall earlier and allowed it to wash the last of the troll goo from her. The terrible stinky goo they often left behind them is just one of the many things she detested about trolls. The fact that some of them had learned the art of shape shifting, made them even more detestable to her.
Trolls had always been a plague upon any land they inhabited, but deep within the Onyx Forest, some of them had learned to alter their true ugly little shapes, and appear quite attractive. They used their newly developed ability to shape shift to bring pain and anguish to as many other creatures as they could. Appearing as a handsome man, or a beautiful woman, then winning the heart of their quarry was one of their favorite sports. Once they had won the heart of their quarry, they would then proceed to break it so they could enjoy the pain of that broken heart.
Trixie had once had her own heart broken by such a troll, and was now far too wise to give her heart to anyone without running them through a troll test first. Fortunately, trolls were not the brightest bulbs in the chandelier of life, and if one presented a troll with the right test, it would invariably fail it. She had presented her latest suitor with just such a test, and quickly discovered a troll beneath what appeared to be loving exterior.
As her beloved unicorn made its way across the crystal lake, she reached down to pat his neck, and smiled a slow soft smile as she thought of how handily she had exposed this latest shape shifting troll for what it really it was. She had been ever so careful to make sure when she presented it with the troll test, should it react as only a troll would, there would be no way for it to deny its evil intentions. She could now continue her journey knowing that even if she crossed paths with other trolls along the way, none would ever be able to truly fool her again.