What You Have Become: Magicwatch AU
A/N: Really angsty. Sorry.
Warning: body horror; Jesse kills someone; really sad stuff fam.
She crawled on her stomach underneath the fallen tree trunk. Dirt and mud attached itself to her clothes. She hopped up onto her feet once she was on the other side of the log. Hands on her hips, Fareeha smiled in triumph. She wiped her black hair from her face and tied it back into a tight ponytail.
“Hey!” Called a voice. There was the sound of footsteps behind her and then a thump next to her. Their breathing was heavy from running to keep up. “Ya can’t go runnin’ off like that.”
Fareeha let out a laugh. “Try to keep up, Jesse.” She took off running further into the forest. Jesse shook his head and ran after her. He had trouble keeping up—Gabriel’s training becoming more intense over the last few days and Jesse was getting exhausted.
“Fareeha!” Jesse gasped out. “Wait up!” Fareeha stopped running and waited for him. When Jesse caught up he leaned against a tree.
“Wow, Jesse. You’re not as young as you used to be.” The young adult teased.
“I ain’t old.” He protested. “‘Sides, you need to slow down.”
“Why? Mom said I could explore the forest once I’m eighteen. Which I am.”
Jesse groaned. “A day. You’ve been eighteen for a day. I don’t think Ana meant you could come out here so soon.”
Fareeha crosses her arms and smirked. “Okay. We can go back to the castle since you’re such an old man and need your rest.”
“I’m not old.” He stood up. “It’s getting dark anyway. We really should be heading back. Dinner will be ready soon.
Fareeha looked at him confused. “You and Gabriel are staying for dinner?”
Jesse nodded. “Dad said somethin’ about “official business” with the King or something. I wasn’t payin’ much attention. I kinda just drown him out when he’s talkin’.”
They started to make their way out of the forest.
“Oh,” she replied. Fareeha began to smirk. She took off running toward the castle up ahead. “Race ya!” She called over her shoulder.
Jesse growled and ran after her. “No fair!”
Dinner at the castle was more chaotic than usual. Jared Merlin—the King of Eichenwalde—sat at the end of the long table. On his very left sat Ana Amari, and in his right was Jack Morrison. Gabriel sat beside Jack along with other members of the Court of Eichenwalde. All except for Jack and Ana were old and full of opinions. The arguing and screaming over each other became tiresome for Jesse and Fareeha after a while. They sat across from each other at the end of the table. The two tried to have a conversation but ended up just being drowned out from the shouting.
Currently, Fareeha and Jesse ate their meals in amusement as they watched Gabriel threaten yet another member of the Court. The aged man—his name was Remy Sebastian if Fareeha’s memory was correct—shouted back at Gabriel with an equally intense threat. Ana sat there rubbing her temples and rolling her eyes at the meaningless squabbles.
The shouting in the room ceased when the doors to the dining room exploded and flew off their hinges. Everyone in the room rose to their feet. Jesse grabbed the gun on his waist while Jack and Gabriel reached for their wands.
The smoke cleared and a woman in gray stood before her audience.
Her hair was a smokey blue and her eyes held a murderous intent. Gray-blue smoke flowed from her wrists and fingertips. Her thin pale lips twitched into a smirk.
“King Merlin…” her voice was quiet and elegant. “Prepare to die.”
“The only one dying today is you, witch!” Fareeha shouted. She raised her sword and charged at the witch.
“Brat,” she muttered. She held out her hand and the mist crawled toward Fareeha.
“Fareeha!” Ana called out at her daughter. But it was too late. The smoke infected her body as Fareeha cried out.
The witch let out a laugh that was cut short. Her body fell to the ground with a thump as Jesse shot her in the head. He rushed over to Fareeha, as did Ana.
They knelt by her side as Fareeha grunted and shouted.
Her skin morphed. Feathers spouted from her skin and her body shifted. Jesse watched horrified. He grabbed Ana and tugged her backwards. He knew what was about to happen because he lived through it once every month.
Everyone in the room stood shocked as Fareeha transformed into a creature long thought dead.
Ana teared up and fell to her knees, covering her mouth with her hands to quiet a sob. Jesse stood with his mouth agape. He pulled his hat off his head.
“Fareeha… no…” Ana cried. Fareeha blinked and lifted her head. She let out a chirp and walked over to her mother. She nuzzled Ana’s cheek with her beak. Ana lifted her head and gave her daughter a sad smile.
Jared Merlin walked over and knelt next to the woman he loved and his daughter. He placed a hand on Fareeha’s head. Fareeha chirped again.
“What do we do, sir?” Gabriel asked as he stared at the corpse of the woman Jesse shot.
Jack stepped forward. “My lord—” he cleared his throat and spared a glance at Gabriel, “—she needs to be kept in the castle. There’s no telling what she could–”
“Need I remind you, Mister Morrison, that Fareeha is my daughter? So I’d watch what I say if I were you,” Jared snapped.
Gabriel approached carefully. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, sir, but I agree with Jack. Fareeha needs to be kept within the castle walls. But not because she’s dangerous. We should do this to keep her safe.” He placed a hand on Merlin’s shoulder. “You know I care for Fareeha as much as you do. Trust me on this.”
Merlin thought for a moment and sighed. He nodded slowly. “She is not to be put in a cage—” he rubbed her head gently, “—She is allowed to have free-range of the castle.”
“And I will look after her.” Ana added. Fareeha placed her head in her mother’s lap. “I will take care of you, my darling.”
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