Her Hell

DISCLAIMER : I do not now nor have I ever had ownership of the Witch Hunter Robin characters or original story idea. The chapters written here however are mine, please do not reproduce

I intend to update sooner providing the creative flow continues. After this chapter is posted I will be busy cleaning up the system, re-formatting and installing so it may be a few days before I even get back to writing anything. BUT, I WILL continue ASAP. I have some ideas I am itching to get down in type. So once again I ask those who have stuck it out with me and this story to please bear with me. I have put this computer clean up off for far to long.


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Chapter 18

Answers

Ghostly figures illuminated by the full moon hovering above seemed to be alert and on edge. Although his training had taught him to detect danger and prepare for it, Amon felt no other threat than that which had originally put them in this situation.

Half hunched and clinging to the shadows Amon and Robin slowly progressed towards the activity up ahead. Once they were within 50yrds of the commotion Amon’s keen eyesight was able to detect the definitive silhouettes of a woman with 3 other figures, two of which he could tell were children.

Robin saw this as well, and innocently began to stand and make her presence known. Before she managed it, Amon had quickly pulled her back down. “We do not know what or who they are Robin”.

“Amon IF they are witches, which I suspect you think they are . . . I can hold off their attacks IF they attack”

Amon not liking that she was right waited for what he felt was enough time to debate the idea in his own head before allowing her to proceed. In the time they had been together at STN-J and on this continental freedom run Amon had come to realize that Robin really was more capable than he or the others had given her credit for.

“We do this together” he told her sternly, she in turn responded with a stiff nod to acknowledge his order.

Together they both stood, taking that first tentative step towards the apparitions busying themselves with what appeared to be either covering or uncovering an unknown object.

The thickets and wild roots were difficult at best to navigate, Amon holding Robin’s left arm did nothing to maintain her balance when the long skirt she wore became entangled, pulling her to a crashing halt.

The stifled squeak that escaped her drifted to the ears of the unknown group ahead. “Leave our mommy alone!!!” the childish voice called. Amon froze, immediately losing himself to the familiarity of that moment.

“We mean no harm to you or your mother little one, we are lost” Robin replied.

Bending to assist Robin untangle the tattered mess left of her skirt, he failed to notice the odd look Robin had granted him.

“Where are you coming from” The harsh mature voice broke the silence.

“We were instructed to follow this path, our guide was . . .”

“Killed!, just say it he was killed” the mystery woman spat out, anguish, and desperation dripping from each word. No words were needed, with a simple nod Robin answered the woman’s fearful pleas.

As the scene before him played out, Amon’s attention became focused on the approach of the children. A young girl, and boy followed by a older boy appeared behind the distraught female moments after Robin’s silent confession.

“Momma, who was killed?” the girl asked, now pulling her mothers hand. The mother said nothing for what seemed like an eternity. Quietly she turned to face the older of the children, as if silently instructing him she guided the young girl towards him. Once the children were at a safe distance she looked Amon and Robin over carefully.

“You were the two my husband was to assist?” She asked, almost accusingly.

“Yes, I am sorry for your loss” Robin who was now free of the confines of the offending roots and undergrowth, was the first to answer.

Amon deciding Robin would be more tactful with the given situation, allowed her to have the ‘floor’ so to speak. When Robin needed assistance he would intervene, but until then he would say little due in part to the fact he had no skills with an emotional woman or a crying child.

Robin explained the events as they unfolded, condensed form of course. However the grieving widow wanted and deserved answers regarding her husbands death. Amon saw and felt Robin’s unease with the impending conversation. This is where Amon would take over.

“Your husband was struck by an SOLOMON agent in the back as he ran for safety, he gave us the instructions to find you, with our promise to help”. It wasn’t the whole truth, but did she really need to know her husband had intended to betray them, if she knew would she in turn follow suit, or would it tarnish the remaining memories she would forever carry of her beloved spouse?

Amon being one that believed one need not know more than was necessary, in his opinion, this was the prime example of that. Moments passed as he and Robin both awaited a response. As the seconds ticked by, the blank look remained on the widows face. Amon grew anxious that the silence would soon be followed by an emotional explosion comparable to a nuclear fall out.

However.....

The vacant look that had washed over her face faded, and once again she spoke directly to Robin... “I will help in what ever way I can, we were about to leave ourselves, you are welcome to join us”

Smiling graciously Robin nodded extending her hand towards her. “Thank you very much, Mrs....?”

“You can call me Kira” raising her hand in the direction of the 3 children she continued. “those are my children, the twins are Ivy and Ivan, my older son is John”.

Having dispensed with the formalities, Kira began the short stroll to where her children now stood. After giving the oldest son, John some instructions she turned her attention back to Amon and Robin.

“Do you know where you are going?” she asked, the tone and the question both caught Amon off guard, if that was possible.

“I know many of the routes, I once did as my husband did, until my first was born”

“We were to find out our final destination once we arrived here” Amon informed her.

With a knowing smile Kira proceeded to walk on. Leaving a confused Amon, and curious Robin standing in her wake.

Pausing only for a moment they wasted no time in catching up, where they discovered the identity of the unknown item or items as it turned out to be that Kira and her children were so busy with earlier. To their right was what appeared to be no more than a naturally formed mound on the earth, in fact it seemed to be some sort of tunnel. Just ahead the glow from the moon danced gracefully across the water, where a rather large boat now tethered to a nearby tree drifted.

Seeing the questions forming Kira broke into his train of thought. “That is the tunnel we escaped through when our house was torched, I can only assume they were associated with the bastards that killed my husband, am I correct?” After receiving Amon’s nod of confirmation she continued with a gesture towards the waters edge “Our carriage awaits”.

Everyone tucked safely onboard the long roughly constructed boat, they began their silent decent down river. Kira kept the boat close to the waters edge as much as possible, were someone to discover them, they would be sitting ducks in the middle of the river.

Robin who had remained quiet began to wonder about the woman’s ability to retreat in time to safe both her self and her children from Solomon’s wrath. Unbeknownst to her, Amon was asking himself the same question. However Amon not being one who could patiently wait for the answers to come to him spoke, breaking the silence.

“How did you come to escape without harm?” he asked, the curiosity and disbelief evident in his voice.

“Our home, it has been within the family for generations, we have survived because of that home, it has saved many of our kind”.

“Your..?” Robin’s lilt voice whispered out loud.

“Yes, we are” Kira responded, a sad smile gracing her features.

Amon had remained silent, observing the interaction between Robin and Kira. Listening intently his suspicions were confirmed. Yet now reality setting in made him very aware of the fact he didn’t care anymore. The time he had spent running for freedom with Robin, he’d unknowingly become captured by another force more powerful than either of them. The sheer magnitude of that alone allowed him to look behind the undignified title of ‘witch’ or ‘seed’.

He himself may be only a seed, but these were his people too. The only memories he held of witches were the horrifying images that would surface from time to time of his mothers awakening. Through the last several months of hardship he’d become more aware of the strength, loyalty and love these people possessed. After all, they people above all else, right?

Leaning into a more comfortable position, Amon incoherently heard bits and pieces of Kira’s tales of rescues and aide to others of their kind. Although Amon himself held little interest in the conversation at that time his interest would soon be piqued at the mention of “Eve”.

“What do you know of Eve” Amon asked indignantly. His voice much harsher than he had intended. Yet his heart was racing....’if they know of Eve, perhaps they know of the Adam’ he hoped.

Kira as well as Robin stopped their interaction immediately, tossing their gazes towards his dark and questioning glare.

Kira had been through many trials in her time as a ‘guide’. Her husband had been captured before their oldest son was born, her mother had been left a widow after her husband was slaughtered in front of her eyes. She would not allow this man, no matter his role, intimidate her into submission.

“I know about as much as the others, she is a young woman/child, innocent to fault.....”Created by force, instilled with right, born to purify with raging light”. As she repeated the quote outloud her gaze appeared to be lost in the void of darkness which surrounded them. A slight sorrowful smile curving her lips gently.

“We believe she is near” Kira said softly, nearly unheard....but it was, by both Robin and Amon.

“What is this ‘Eve’ supposed to do for your kind?” Amon asked of the woman.

“Her role is slightly unclear, it’s said she will guide us to a salvation of sorts, many believe she will teach normal humans to accept us, others believe she will destroy the human race.”

“What do you believe Kira?” It was Robin who spoke this time.

“I believe if anyone can help witches and mortals to live together peacefully, Eve will be that one” Kira had turned her face to match Robin’s gaze, as she answered she gave a knowing smile.

Silence.....

“What of the Adam, the one who is to be by Eve’s side?” Amon somehow knew this woman, her associates, and those around them could guide him or point him in the direction of this ‘Adam’, and he would gain that information before the all powerful and legendary ‘Adam’ came to claim what was his.

“Eve’s Adam has never been far from her. The circle of unearthly powers is small my friend, more is known than is not, it’s only a matter of putting the pieces together in the right order” Kira answered over her shoulder. Clearly a sign she wished to discuss the matter no further.

Meanwhile Amon’s mind raced, ‘never been far from her? Did she grow up with her ‘Adam’? Does he know HER identity? The never ending surge of questions flooded Amon’s thoughts. All the while Kira and Robin had engaged in yet another conversation, this one more lighthearted. Kira regaled Robin with tales of mischief and mayhem brought on by her children.

After announcing their trip down river would be a few more hours long the other settled into semi-comfortable positions allowing sleep to claim them. Looking in Robin’s direction Amon smiled inwardly to himself at her position.

She was braced against the side of the boat, with two soundly sleeping children tucked warmly under each arm.

Carefully raising himself he made his way to Kira’s side. “Where exactly are we going?”

“Down river there is a settlement, it’s rather rustic, no power, no phone, but very secure”

“Will we be allowed to stay briefly?” Amon asked

“Yes, it will provide you with the necessary shelter till the time comes”

Amon’s indifference faded upon the realization. “You knew?”

The briefest of smiles adorned her features, turning back to her task she dismissed the stunned ex-hunter.


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Thanks for reading and reviewing everyone.....you’ve motivated me to keep writing.