Page 10 of Bewitched

“We’re from England,” said Rapunzel, taking a seat. “My sister stole my husband’s dragon. Since she’s not a dragon master and can’t control it, we ended up going through the portal by mistake.”

“And to make matters worse, they lost the dragon,” added Zann, still standing by the door. “It’s flying around loose in Mura.”

“Belcoum’s eyes, Zann, will you come inside already?” asked Darium.

“Who is Belcoum?” Medea finally took a seat. “Another brother of yours, Rhys?”

“I should hope not,” answered Talia with a giggle. Medea sneered at the woman. She didn’t like anyone laughing at her. “Belcoum is the god of The Dark Abyss... the underworld,” the girl explained.

“Medea, it is obviously their religion,” Rapunzel told her. “Like ours with God and the Devil, and Heaven and Hell.”

“Who? What?” asked Zann, finally walking in to join them.

“Never mind,” said Darium, pacing back and forth. “We have more important things to discuss right now. Like, how in the world did this portal open?”

“We don’t know,” said Medea with a shrug. “It just happened.”

“And the girl’s magic can’t make it reopen again,” Rhys explained to his brother.

“You have magic?” This took Darium’s interest.

“Are you a fae, too?” asked Talia, her green eyes dancing with light and excitement.

“Too? Oh, you must be a fae. That is why you giggle,” said Media. “Nay, I’m not a fae. I’m a witch.”

“Are you a witch, as well?” Talia looked over at Rapunzel.

“Yes. I suppose you could say that,” she answered. “Although I just recently found out I had magic at all.”

“I know the feeling,” mumbled Darium.

“Darium, I think your mother should be here when we talk. She might be able to help us,” came Talia’s suggestion.

“Aye, we should call her,” agreed Darium.

“Nay, don’t call Mother or I’m leaving.” Zann sounded angry. Medea wondered if his mother was evil, the way hers used to be.

“No one has to call me, because I’m already here.” A woman stood in the doorway wearing a white wispy gown that flowed in the breeze. Her hair was pulled up atop her head and intertwined with flowers. Her features were pretty, yet mature at the same time. She also had a pleasant smile on her face. Nay, she didn’t look anything like Hecuba, Medea decided. This woman was not dark in any way at all.

“Mother.” Zann acknowledged the woman before quickly looking the opposite way.

“The wind told me a portal had opened and that a dragon and two women came through.” The woman walked into the small house. It was a cottage with several rooms, but nothing special, as far as Medea could tell. She was used to the castle, or even the tower where Rapunzel was once imprisoned and where Medea grew up. This place seemed cozy, but rather small.

“The wind told you all that?” Medea tried her best to figure out this intriguing woman.

“My mother is an Elemental of the Air,” explained Rhys.

“You are? Oh, that’s wonderful.” Rapunzel beamed with hope. “Then, can you help us find our dragon and also assist us in getting home?”

“It’s not that easy,” explained Rhys. “Portals opening and closing are beyond anyone’s control.”

“So what you’re saying, then, is that we’re stuck here.” Medea mentioned this for the second time since they’d arrived.

“I suppose you are,” said the woman walking in and eyeing Medea up and down. “My name is Alaina. What kind of a witch are you, Medea?”

Medea’s heart jumped and her head snapped up. “How do you know my name?”

“My mother just knows things,” said Rhys, making Medea feel confused. Perhaps the woman had been standing there and listening longer than they realized.