Page 9 of Potion of Deception (Potion of Deception #1)

A WITCH!

T he sun had set below the horizon a long time ago as the carriage still was moving in the same rhythm to the north.

The silence that reigned between them continued for hours and was unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

Violette watched Dante looking out the window whereas he was pretending he didn't notice it or simply didn't care.

The scenery outside didn't change for some time – only an impenetrable thicket of trees. The only light source was a silver moon and an old lantern hanging above the coachman’s head.

There was nothing interesting outside the window, so she assumed Dante just wanted to keep his eyes busy with something to not meet her stare.

And in the moment she wanted to finally break the silence, the carriage suddenly stopped.

It made Dante finally tear his eyes off the window.

His back straightened, and his body stiffened as he looked sideways.

It was certainly not a planned stop by the way his facial expression changed, no longer looking so untouchable.

“Why did we stop?” Violette opened her mouth in confusion.

Dante didn't have time to answer as the head of a man in a black mask popped up in the window. Violette yelped in surprise as the man threatened.

“Give me all your money!”

His voice hadn't sounded as menacing as the dagger he pulled out and pointed towards the girl.

Her eyes darted to Dante, being completely unconcerned of the situation.

More than that, he looked bored and not surprised, like it was something usual to witness.

Like the thief was just a salesman who stopped their coach to promote his new ‘magical’ product to them – the invention of the year.

It could mean only two things – Dante either had a lack of emotions and awareness or it was the road thieves that were so common in this land he just wasn't impressed.

Not the first, nor the second of these assumptions could make Violette happy.

The big man in a mask shook the dagger in his hand. “I said give me everything you have!”

The hairs on Violette's neck raised, heart hammering against her chest like a drum.

“Want to take care of him and show your magical abilities you are so proud of?” Dante finally showed signs of life.

Violette blinked twice. Right, she's a wizardling after all. It happened so suddenly she completely forgot she could whip this man out the window. As she woke up out of her little trance, her hand clung to her magic wand.

“What? Want to fight me with a stick?” the man derided as she pointed her wand at him.

One word and, with a flash of light, the man blew away right into a tree. He shook his head and just in a quick moment his face distorted in absolute fear and malice.

“The sorcery…” he gasped, his eyes went round but soon they narrowed in two slits, expressing not fear, but total anger. “Go back to Hell!” he screamed and lunged at the girl.

Violette's eyes widened .

“Well, that escalated quickly,” were the only words that escaped her mouth before bolting to the other window of the carriage. “Are you not going to help?” Her eyes full of indignation flickered at Dante.

“No more hocus-pocus?” He faked disappointment but didn't even move an inch. That's it – because of this stupid guy she will die. She knew it would not end well but she didn’t expect it would be that soon.

Violette had to think quickly, she didn't want to hurt this man, which couldn't be said about him though.

Her hands kept trembling, making it hard to focus, to remember any spell.

Her heartbeat was racing, anxiety lingered beneath her skin.

She jumped out of the carriage and pointed her magic wand at the robber.

A burst of courage just before it faded to dark and her hands started shaking again as the man hit the tree with his back and hovered in the air for a couple of seconds before falling to the ground with a heavy rumble.

His hand was still clasping the hilt of the dagger. Back on his feet, he shook his head.

Violette stared at the man without blinking when she mumbled, “There's no need for this. Just let us go.”

“Evil spirits have no place in this forest!” the man spat.

It sounded bizarre – Violette was anything but evil and definitely not a spirit, if she hadn't died a few minutes ago and all of it was a dream of hers right now, of course.

Anyway, the robber's flaring nostrils were threatening enough to her, as well as his eyes filled with blood.

Violette didn't have time to react as he threw himself in her direction.

She tottered, making a step back as her heel stumbled over a bulging rock.

Her body lost balance, her vision blurred.

But just before he would reach Violette, a tall figure in a black cloak obscured her, a shadow cast on her face.

Dante appeared out of nowhere, in one blink, he was already standing in front of the thief.

The man tried to hook him with his dagger but Dante quickly moved to the side, then as he tried to stab him again, the young man without an effort dodged another blow.

“Do you even know how to use it?” he said calmly, even now, his face not showing any concern.

Showing on her feet, Violette carefully tread back to the carriage as the man tried to fight Dante but, instead, tripped over his leg, flying with his face into the ground.

“No, I'm serious. Is it your first time?” The corner of Dante’s lips lifted, a mischievous note surged in his voice. “How are you holding a dagger? What do you want to do with it, slice some bread for dinner?”

The man got up again, writhing and rubbing his face.

“The witch's demon!” he bawled with another hopeless attempt to stab Dante. But this time he managed to catch his sleeve.

“Oh, come on. It's a new shirt. First, you are trying to hurt my companion, now you are ruining my clothes. Not really polite of you.” Dante effortlessly grabbed the man by his vest. Their gazes locked until he twisted his brows and threw him aside.

Somehow, the man managed to get up and still rushed to him.

Indeed, Violette was impressed by his assertiveness and…

stupidity. It was an impressive and pathetic sight.

She pursed her lips, watching his futile attempts to touch his opponent.

Suddenly the dagger flew by her cheek and got stuck in the bark of a tree.

Her pulse echoed in her ears, her hands trembled, she had to do something, even if it hadn't looked like Dante needed help.

A streak of light flashed in the darkness and the man fell to the ground petrified.

“You could have done it sooner.” Dante turned his gaze to her.

Violette finally breathed with ease. “Why? To miss the opportunity to watch as someone would punch you in the face?”

His expression remained stoic. “It still didn't happen.”

“Maybe one day my dream will come true,” she mumbled, twisting her magic wand in her hands.

She couldn't tell him she lost courage in the moment. Everything happened so fast she was completely lost. Such a shame the wizardling couldn't handle such an easy situation.

“Glad to know you are seeing me in your dreams,” Dante taunted.

Violette rolled her eyes. The audacity he had to make everything about himself was too much to hold at the moment. So while Dante went to check on the coachman, she decided to go back inside.

One look inside the carriage as Dante's head popped in the window frame, making her to wince.

“Hey,” he said, leaning at the window, “The coachman is knocked out. Do you have something in your arsenal of spells to bring him to his senses?”

Her lashes fell before raising again – she had something better.

“Wait.” She got inside the carriage to get her little dark purple bag stitched with violets. Dante’s eyes slid her way as she shoved out a little bottle with a magenta liquid, looking like a bottle of perfume; if only it would smell as good.

“It's a potion for magic trace but it has a really strong scent,” she explained as she reached the front of the carriage and leaned over to the coachman with the vial. It worked in a flash – the man opened his eyes, loudly coughing. He looked pretty sluggish.

“What happened?” he let out, his eyes still clouded.

“A road robber,” Dante voiced.

“Oh, I didn't notice how he knocked me out. Are you both okay? I am so sorry,” he started but Violette cut him off.

“Nothing to apologize for. Everyone is well,” she said, her eyes bolted to Dante's shoulder where the robber tried to hurt him. Or did he? She'd thought the dagger caught his skin but he didn't mention anything on this matter.

“We have to leave before that one regains his consciousness" Dante pointed out. Both Violette and the coachman craned their necks to look over his shoulder to the tree and the man lying unconscious beneath its branches.

Her gaze went to the coachman. “I don't think he can drive.” And he seemed to want to object but Dante interrupted him.

“I'll drive.”

“Great! And you, sir, will take a little rest in the carriage,” Violette's mouth curled in a polite smile.

“Thank you for your kindness but it's really unnecessary,” he managed to say, despite it being definitely necessary if they didn’t want to end up off the road and facing a tree.

“I won't take no for an answer,” Violette objected. “It's fine. Really. I'll take you inside.”

She quickly accompanied the man to the carriage, and ensuring he required nothing further, she returned to Dante, finding him the moment as he was inspecting the horses and their gear.

“Is he fine?”

“Yes, we can go,” she voiced as he tightened the carriage buckle on the horse.

“Go back inside then,” he said, putting his leg on the step to the coachman seat.

“I'll sit with you,” she proclaimed.

“Don' t trust my driving abilities?” His eyes shone at her.

“I just want fresh air,” Violette simply uttered and he reached his hand to her. She wanted the coachman to rest and at the same time, to avoid an awkward silence that could settle between them.

She put her hand in his when her attention got stolen by his shoulder. There was nothing except a ripped cut on his shirt.

“I thought I saw blood.” Her forehead puckered.

“I'm not sure what you are talking about,” he said easily and joined her on the seat.

The carriage wheels started spinning, the horses let out a neigh and their hooves began to bounce off the ground in a precise rhythm again.