Is it wrong to live with a Sorceress? Or: How Morathi Moved-In and Ruined My Life!

Chapter Eleven: A dark place, for dark deeds, wreathed… in, uh, darkness

With the store owner under Morathi's spell, he was more than compliant. As she asked questions, he'd explain a variety of things, things he himself had tried or heard of that were magical or actually worked.

However, when this older guy started talking about orgies in the woods near Gatineau Park Eric started cringing and wanted to shiver. With his assumptions and shallow understanding about the occult and pagans in general proven correct he couldn't help but shake his head, momentarily worrying about what else 'normal-looking' people did in their free time.

But while Eric wanted to cover his ears and take a shower, Frankie watched on with wide eyes and his mouth open in excitement, enthralled to be getting such an in-depth impromptu lecture about the goings on of a local cult and the 'magic scene' in general…

Looking over at his friend, Morathi, and the store owner, Eric could tell that Frankie was still a little apprehensive of the Druchii witch and was giving her space, but the expression across the decora-boy's face told Eric that despite his apprehension, he was slowly becoming smitten.

Frankie's cheeks were reddish, and his hand was playing with the ends of a strand of his hair on his shoulder as Morathi spoke with the still spell-bound owner.

'Was it, maybe, a mistake to call him?'

Uncomfortably darting his eyes from the door of the shop and back to the three talking it seemed to Eric that Frankie was far more into this whole affair than he ever would have thought.

Eventually Eric clicked into the conversation when the owner moved and raised his voice nonsensically as typical store owning boomers do.

Grumbling and shaking his head Eric pursed his lips; it seemed not even a magical trance could break the strange, overly friendly, overly talkative, traits and attitude of the boomer proprietor…

"Yeah, well, you'll need this!" the owner announced before handing Frankie an empty milk crate. Morathi nodded in approval before the man asked innocently, "Are these boys your apprentices?"

Morathi chuckled happily as she looked at Frankie and then Eric.

"No, no… they're merely helping a woman get home." She cooed and extended a hand towards Frankie's cheek. "Such gentlemen…"

The owner nodded dully, before going back to what he was doing, "Yep! Sounds like it."

Eric's eyes widened and he shook his head before practically leaping across the room. "Ah! Nope, no, no! Don't even think about it Morathi…"

Cocking an eyebrow, she drew back her arm as she looked at Eric.

Frankie's voice cracked as he interjected, "Nah it's okay Eric! Heh, she's fine."

Morathi blinked and furrowed both brows, as if in surprise at herself before clearing her throat and pointing towards the shelf nearest the group, ignoring Eric's scolding and addressing the store owner again,

"You were saying?"

Eric cooled and leant back, watching on as he thought to himself, 'Can she literally not help herself? How bloody weird…'

The man led them along, passing Eric another milk crate as they went section by section and shelf by shelf around the store. The whole time the man described what he pulled out and named the items, listing their qualities and so on.

He'd become particularly enthusiastic when it was an item of exceptional magical properties. Frankie happily loaded the items into his crate while Eric begrudgingly followed suit.

Giggling and hitting Eric with his shoulder the Quebecer teased, "Oh c'mon, this is kinda fun!"

Eric pursed his lips, "I guess. I just hope it doesn't somehow blow up in our faces."

…

When they were ready to finally leave the store, Eric, naturally, felt guilty that they were practically stealing this man's stuff, and while he was in a trance-like state no less!

So, he attempted to persuade Morathi to pay for all their ingredients… somehow.

She thought for a minute before Frankie jokingly suggested that she blast an ATM open and 'make a withdrawal'. Before Eric realised how keen Morathi was on this option of 'blasting', Frankie started to explain what an ATM was and even, helpfully, pointed towards the nearest one barely visible across the street.

Morathi laughed to herself for a moment and then walked out of the store, in broad daylight, across the road to rip her way into the lower part of a wall mounted ATM. Twenty-dollar bills began spitting out of the machine wildly and Morathi grabbed a mittful before turning around and coming back.

Neither time crossing the street did she look for traffic, and both times a car either slammed on its breaks, or narrowly avoided hitting her.

Frankie's eyes were wide and he started chuckling, while the whole time Eric stood, frozen, watching in horror as people on the street ran towards the spitting ATM and wrestled over one another for the bills flying about.

Frankie was now laughing hysterically while the store manager stood behind them, mute, eyes glazed over and not noticing anything odd.

When Morathi re-entered the store with the ding of the door she held her hand up, a literal clump of bills in her talons, and asked, plain faced, "Is this enough?"

Frankie nodded enthusiastically while Eric stuttered, "M-Morathi! That's i-illegal?!"

Smacking Eric on the shoulder again Frankie chuckled, "Oh c'mon it's a victimless crime, and probably the least bad thing she could have done."

Eric furrowed his brow and was about to respond when the Druchii passed between them, happily boasting, "I am royalty, and above such petty laws. Especially human ones."

She smiled at them and coyly added, "Besides, it was a good idea Frankie."

The Quebecer almost blushed at the praise, but Eric immediately shook his head, "Yeah! But we want to remain unnoticed Morathi!"

Handing the mess of money to the owner she turned and cocked a brow before she smirked, "Then I suppose we should fly, shouldn't we?"

Her voice was dripping with sarcasm, and immediately Eric realised that she was fucking with them deliberately.

Frankie looked at Eric for a beat, then the two darted towards the door, carrying the milk crates of ingredients.

"Open the trunk!" Frankie exclaimed desperately.

Holding his crate with one arm and trying to tug his keys from his pocket with the other, Eric shook his head, "Fuck the trunk just throw it into the back seat!"

Frankie tripped on the curb and nearly dropped the crate as he followed Eric, "R-right!"

Behind them Morathi was giggling and walking along, looking over at the chaos she'd created on the other side of the street.

People were yelling at one another, coffees were being spilt, and a homeless man with a cart full of bottles was ranting about how 'Musicfest was driving people crazy'.

Yanking the back-passenger doors open Frankie and Eric both tossed their crates inside.

"Leave your door open for Morathi, and just get in!"

"Right!"

Leaping into the front seats Eric fiddled with his keyring while Frankie waved Morathi on, "C'mon girl! I can assure you cops are gonna come for that!"

Now two men were fist-fighting one another for handfuls of money as other people scrambled or watched on.

She laughed again as she climbed into the back seat, "Pity we'll miss it…"

With a contented sigh Morathi nodded as Eric pulled out onto the road and away from the area.

…

Pulling back onto King Edward, Eric took heavy breaths as he tried to calm himself and focus on driving normally.

But the car now reeked, so badly that even with the windows open and the AC blaring Eric had to squint and blink the tears from his eyes.

Frankie sat in the front seat coughing and hanging his head out the window amidst his occasional laugh.

In the back of the car, cackling to herself occasionally and using a small flip note-pad and Bic pen she found in Eric's 'car-garbage' Morathi hummed a little tune as she wrote out her thoughts.

"Oh! Excellent!"

Of the three Morathi appeared to be the only one visibly unaffected by the pungent mixture of scents within the car from the incense, dried herbs, boxes and jars of random crap.

Looking at his rear-view mirror Eric began shaking his head as he realised something.

Morathi was actually moving and acting… Bubbly

She had a smile on her face as she moved her pen, and occasionally she'd lean over, looking through the two milk-crates in the other seat and mouthing to herself as she took stock.

They were filled to the brim with what seemed like every aromatic type of ingredient and reagent that had been in the shop, all forced into tiny corked bottles or small wooden boxes.

But there was something funny going on. While Morathi mouthed the names of the ingredients, writing down little notes and things for herself, she continued to get this blush across her cheeks. Her eyes lit up, and she giggled to herself.

Eventually she finished jotting her notes and sighed, sitting back into her seat with a happy, wide, smile across her dark lips.

Reaching up she took off her Pikachu toque and scratched her nails through her black hair, moaning loudly and comically in satisfaction to have freed the long locks from their tight 'kawaii' Pokémon prison.

Flicking her hair backwards and over her shoulders she bared her teeth in a wide, Cheshire Cat like grin, exclaiming,

"I am excited boys!"

Frankie brought his head back into the car and looked as Morathi leaned herself forwards between the two front seats and looked at either of them.

"I have to say I did not realise such a clandestine journey would have been such fun!"

Eric coughed and shook his head before speaking, "R-really?"

She nodded enthusiastically.

Frankie rubbed his eye before asking, "We still need a place to go for her to do spells, right?"

Eric nodded, "Where's somewhere that's large enough that people aren't going to be snooping?"

"That isn't going to be so far away…"

The boys nodded.

Morathi leaned back, a finger and nail rubbing her bottom lip as she narrowed her eyes and quieted.

'Damn it. If there was like just a basement or something at my apartment building, we could use…' Eric cringed, 'But what if she makes loud explosions or something?'

Rolling his eyes and tightening his hands on the steering wheel they came to a stop at a red light. Sighing in frustration Eric leant his head back against his seat's cushion with a muffled thud.

Then Frankie's eyes widened and he began slowly opening his mouth,

"Hey…"

The light changed and Eric started to speed up.

"What?"

"Hear me out! Why don't we go to that factory? The old one on Victoria Island, you know before you get to Quebec?"

Eric furrowed his brow, his voice rising, "What?"

"Turn onto Wellington! Just trust me, no one's going to be there!"

He giggled and looked back at Morathi, "It's the perfect spot! Secluded, wide, open space."

She perked up and raised a brow before asking quizzically, "Indeed?"

"Yeah!"

Eric thought about it and squinted, "That like… Dickens-looking place with the red bricks and the smoke stacks and all the weird fifties shit around it?"

Frankie nodded, "Yeah! Exactly, on the island, you see it every time you cross on the Portage Bridge!"

"The one that looks like a bombed-out Fallout location?"

"That's the one!"

After a few seconds Eric finally acquiesced, "Well I mean there's no harm in checking it out, right?"

Frankie nodded.

"Plus, you'll be able to get a good tour of the Parliament and stuff Morathi, ha. We're literally going to be passing it."

Chuckling nervously Eric made the turn onto Wellington.

"Well, here we go I guess…"

…

With the car now mostly aired out Eric and Frankie gave Morathi a verbal tour, pointing out notable spots to the left and right of the car as they passed through the most government area, of a very government town.

When they passed the great clock tower and the houses of parliament Morathi was dismayed by the lack of armed guards.

But immediately began eyeing the buildings with narrowed, evil, eyes when the boys explained that the real guards were hidden, in plain clothes, among the people looking around and touring the grounds.

She seemed most keen when they explained that there was a huge library hidden at the back of parliament, and immediately she set into a tirade about what mystic tomes were being kept by ungrateful witless humans.

At this Eric and Frankie shared a private laugh.

Eventually they arrived to the end of Wellington where it turned into the river-side parkway, and then they saw it.

Over the edge of the river sat Victoria Island, and nestled near the middle of the of it was the strange Victorian-era factory, complete with high, brickwork smoke stacks.

"No idea how long it's been abandoned, but it still looks pretty good."

Eric nodded, "It's probably older than the country."

Morathi waved her hand, before poking her head out her window, "Silence! Our approach must go unnoticed by the peasants and city watch!"

Eric pursed his lips as he brought them off the main road and down the little access bridge to the island.

There were no people or cars, and only the noise of bird song and hissing bugs in the heat accompanying the sound of Eric's engine, and car tyres on the gravel.

Though her phrasing was comical, Morathi was actually right…

The last thing they needed was some rent-a-cop to pull up and give them shit for trespassing.

Coming closer to the old factory Eric saw that a temporary construction fence had been erected around the perimeter. Turning around the wide area Eric began circling the location until Frankie exclaimed, "Stop!"

With a broad smile he pointed to a tree between two sections of the interlocking fence.

"There's our entrance."

Eric took the car out of gear and looked past his friend.

"I just see a tree. How is that our entrance?"

"City guys usually get lazy when it comes to inspecting fences, trees make great spots to pop a hole, get past, and then inside!"

Eric raised a brow, "What, you're an urban explorer now?"

Frankie giggled and was about to say something when Morathi stepped out of the car and began walking confidently towards the tree and small bushes.

"Wo-woah! Wait Morathi!"

Putting the car into park and killing the engine Eric and Frankie hopped out after her. Crossing the uneven grassy ground towards the fence and tree.

Putting her hands on her hips she cut an imposing figure from behind. Though she was still who she was, Eric couldn't help but take a long look at the roundness of her ass in his dark skinny jeans.

Shivering and shaking his head before blinking the lewd sight and thoughts away.

The wind off the river blew coolly over them, tossing the lighter strands of her hair up and around her. Eventually she turned around, a smirk on her dark lips.

Eric blinked and his cheeks felt warm, 'goddamn it…'

"This place is perfect Frankie."

Frankie, using his hands to keep his hair from blowing around responded, "Oh? R-really? That's great then!"

Nodding Morathi turned back around. "We shall inspect it and plot the perfect location for our ritual, then once the moon is high in the sky and the land is shrouded in darkness, we shall begin!"

"Wait… Tonight?"

Eric and Frankie both furrowed their brows.

She looked over her shoulder, an expression of irritation on her features.

"Yes, tonight."

"But like, Morathi…" Eric began and Frankie finished, "What's wrong with right now?"

She narrowed her eyes at them, "I wouldn't expect two mortal, human, males to understand the nuances of the winds of magic!"

Putting his hands up defensively Eric apologised, "Alright, alright, it's just, hey Frankie do you work tomorrow?"

The Quebecer shrugged, "No, but… I mean." He laughed, "This is far more entertaining than what I did have planned so, I'm game."

Eric sighed, "Alright then, we'll check the place out then hang out back at my apartment I guess."

Morathi nodded in approval before looking back at the tree and the space between it and the fence.

"Well boys, lead on."

The two set forwards and pulled the side of the temporary fence back enough for them to squeeze through and the three quickly set towards the abandoned factory ruins.

Privately Morathi wanted to laugh aloud, 'Oh these idiots, if only they knew…'

'There's material enough and we could easily begin now, but…' she shook her shoulders in girlish excitement, 'They're ever so fun to play with!'

As they approached the two boys began speaking to one another while Morathi daydreamed. Furrowing her brow at herself she moved her mouth to the side, 'Really? Am I that bored?'

Grumbling aloud she cocked an eyebrow as they began their exploration of the derelict building.

"Ugh."

…

Making their way deeper into the facility Frankie and Eric narrated, pointing out hazards for the group as they both used their phones for light in the dark entrance hallways.

"Hey I think I've found the best spot over there!" Frankie exclaimed excitedly.

Following Frankie's pointing the group moved down a hallway and had arrived to what must have been the factory's main assembly area. All the machinery and equipment were long since gone, leaving a wide, open, pad of flat concrete in the centre of the building.

Huge broken windows provided some light into the room, but vines and overgrowth made it patchy and filtered.

Morathi walked towards the edge of where they were standing, stretching her arms outward palms up she twirled happily.

"Oh! Boys this is fantastic! A high ceiling, unobstructed space?" she shuddered and smiled broadly, "It's exactly what an aspiring coven could hope for!"

They were on a raised platform above the factory floor and it looked like the old iron stairs leading down had been ripped out as salvage too. There was only a three-foot drop from side to side.

Frankie laughed nervously, "It's pretty clean all things considered."

Peering over the edge of the platform Eric raised a brow, broken bottles, empty cans, plastic wrappers and some debris were left in piles here and there, dropped or left to fall off the edge. Presumably when 'kids' came to hang out here they sat on the platform, in addition to throwing rocks at the windows…

Eric moved his head from side to side, seeing the glimmer of white, green, and brown shards of glass almost everywhere except one particularly dirt-trod area.

"Okay looks like that's the best spot to drop down, but damn that's a lot of glass!"

Frankie swore under his breath in French as he looked from the glass to Morathi's pale toes.

Agreeing Eric pointed towards the Druchii's feet, "Since you've got those open sandals on, you'll probably need to be extra careful Morathi."

At first, she opened her mouth prepared to hiss at Eric's concern, but she cooled and instead had a strange matronly smile on her lips.

"I shall, many thanks."

Looking away and feeling a chill Eric shivered as he lowered and slowly dropped down.

Frankie laughed to himself before exclaiming in French and jumping off the edge, "On y va!"

They walked the room, all the while Morathi whispering to herself as she rubbed her chin. Untill finally, she spoke,

"This spot here, at the chamber's centre. It must be made clean, by broom and toil."

She stepped towards the middle and leant down. Running the pad of her right index finger along the floor.

Instantly both boys cringed and exclaimed,

"Woah Morathi!"

"Yeah don't do that!"

"It's filthy!"

She scrutinised her fingers, rubbing them together one could audibly hear the grit of the sand and grime.

Looking back at them but remaining crouched she agreed, "It is filthy."

Rubbing her fingers on her pants she stood back up with a sigh.

"And it must be made clean, as I said."

Eric furrowed his brow.

"I can hardly make magic in a place sullied and soiled by the revelry of heathens, let alone humans."

She looked around again scanning the high ceiling beams holding up the nearly two-hundred-year-old Victorian roof and brickwork.

"Other than that, it is perfect."

Frankie pursed his lips, "So we need to drop by a dollar store and get cleaning stuff now?"

Morathi raised a brow at Frankie as Eric added, "Does Khaine really care about the cleanliness of a place before a ritual?"

At the mention of the god's name she smiled and her eyes crinkled in the corner in genuine entertainment.

Then she laughed and extended a hand to squeeze and pinch Eric's cheek.

"No, no, no, you silly boy."

"I am not beseeching Khaine, ha! It's true the lord of murder cares very little for appearances other than bloodied. No… I must seek the attention of Hekarti."

Letting go of Eric Morathi brought a hand to her chin as she lowered her voice, "And I do not expect she'll be too pleased…"

Turning towards the way they came she waved the two Canadians to follow her.

"Which is why we must make it look like we put thought into this ritual and aren't just practising it on-the-fly."

Reluctantly Eric finally sighed, "Well, we can stop by my apartment and grab all the cleaning stuff I've got there."

Raising a brow, he looked at Frankie who merely shrugged before looking back at the tall woman.

"Morathi are we seriously going to be sweeping?"

She nodded and turned gracefully.

"Yes, indeed child. As I said before you two know nothing of the winds of magic. Now cease your petulance."

Putting his hands up defeatedly Eric nodded, "Alright, alright."

Approaching the ledge Morathi easily lifted herself up first and sniggered as she looked back and down on Eric and Frankie.

Her cheeks blushed and she almost cooed as she shook, her voice becoming girlish all of a sudden as she exclaimed, "I knew it!"

Frankie furrowed his brow as Eric helped him up, "Knew what?"

She sighed and began walking towards the entrance hall, quietly musing "Humans always look better below me. And you two look exceptionally cute down there."

Frankie furrowed his brow in confusion as he clambered up the platform, "Wait, what?"

As she turned out of sight Eric merely grunted, "Just leave it Frankie, she says a lot of weird shit. I'd say you get used to it… But I really haven't yet."

Frankie cocked an eyebrow and laughed, "No kidding."

…