"We're here!" Levy announced as the three of them stopped in their tracks, staring at the hut that stood before them. 

    The hut was wooden and rickety, covered in black moss that blended in with the rest of the dark forest surrounding it. It wore a sloping roof on top that was blanketed in loose shingles and more of the moss, and the entire thing looked like it was decades old.

     Levy walked up to the porch, followed by Gajeel and Slick, then stifled a shriek as she saw shrunken heads dangling above the door beneath a sign that read, "Beware he who cometh with evil intent," and she gulped nervously.

     Gajeel knocked on the door hesitantly, glancing back at Levy who was keeping close to him.

     The wind blew, ruffling the three travelers' hair as they stood tensely on the porch in the silence.

     Then one of the shrunken heads let out a laugh, "Ha! What're three losers such as yourselves doing here in such an unfortunate position?"

     Levy shrieked, grabbing Gajeel's arm, and the four shrunken heads cackled in amusement.

     Slick rolled his eyes, seeming undaunted by the talking heads, "We're here to find the witch Zaubera. Is she out?"

     "Of course!" one of the heads chuckled, "She's out alright! Out of her mind!"

     "G-Gajeel," Levy was holding on tightly to him, "Th-they're... talking."

     "She's scared of us!" the one on the far left exclaimed in delight, swinging back and forth on the string that tied it above them, "Shall we make it worse?"

     They all laughed hysterically, then instantly sobered up as their eyes narrowed and they all spoke in unison, "How does it feel to be constantly hunted? How does it feel to be alone and unwanted? How does it feel to be surrounded but alone? How does it feel to be lost without a home? Is it a struggle for mankind to draw breath? Isn't it hard, to know it all ends in death?  Everything you know will soon come to an end... are you ready to face the death of your friends?"

     Levy was staring at them, her eyes wide with worry at the words they spoke. Then she felt warmth as Gajeel rested his hands on her shoulders as he snapped at the heads, "Leave her alone or you'll find yourself sliced into more pieces than your brainless selves can count!"

     "Oooh," one chortled excitedly, "His Majesty speaks! You'll be more brainless than us in a couple of days! Brainless and craving the desire to raze! That's raze with a z, by the way."

     "And you, Brosch," another head cackled, "You're on the losing side! The witch has seen it all! Your secret friends will fail, and so will you."

    "So wait a moment," the third head said, "So we've got a girl who tries and fails to help her bond and keeps secrets from her best friend, a boy who knows less about himself than I do, and a child who's destined to fail? A pretty sorry bunch!"

     The heads' laughter rose up into the air, getting louder and louder until Levy was forced to clasp her hands over her ears. It was a horrid sound, their squeals of delight and hideous laughter rising into the air at an earsplitting volume.

     Suddenly, the porch door banged open and the heads instantly shut up, going still. An old woman with a hunched back, beady eyes, and frizzy white hair that stuck up from her head was illuminated in the doorway. She carried a carved cane, and wore a black robe lined with stitched on herbs of variety.

     "Silence," she hissed at the heads, then surveyed Gajeel, Levy, and Slick, "Hello, children," she rasped with a pleasant smile,"It's been so long since I have seen you," she smiled at Gajeel and Levy, "You two look well. However, if you've come to see me, things on the inside might not be so well. Come in."

     Gajeel stuck close to Levy as they followed Zaubera into the house, observing the shelves that covered every wall, the only exception being the spot where the burning fireplace was located. The shelves were filled with books, jars, vials and a variety of sticks. A table sat in the middle of the room, with several open books, a mortal and pestle, and an assortment of herbs in a bowl on its carved, cedar surface. Hanging from the ceiling by nails and strings were pouches of different kinds and colors of leather, each filled with who knows what.

     A black cat weaved between Levy's legs, startling her into jumping into Gajeel's arms, then she blushed furiously, squeaking a hasty apology as she stepped away.

     The cat rubbed against the old woman, then leapt onto the table, transforming into an almost creepy teenager with black hair, cat ears, yellow eyes, and a fluffy black tail. Dressed like a goth with a black coat and boots, the man licked his lips, purring, "Guests...."

     "This is Scribe," Zaubera pointed to him, "My trusty assistant."

     Slick crossed his arms, "No offense, but I think you should get new door greeters. Those shrunken heads are creepy."

     Zaubera ignored him as Scribe faced her, "Curious group, do you not think so, my master?" he licked his thin lips as he spoke.

     "Certainly. Now children," she turned to face them again, "What draws you to my humble abode?"

     "Curiosity, actually," Levy stepped up, "We were wondering if we could ask a few questions...?"

     "Such as...?"

       "Well, for starters, I want to know why you gave me to Gajeel instead of keeping me," Levy said, trying to hide the hopeful look in her amber eyes.

     "A fair question," Zaubera glanced over at Scribe, "Have you seen my feathered quill?"

     "Check the poultry drawer," Scribe drawled as he lounged on the table with a relaxed air, his tail flicking lazily from side to side.

     Zaubera hobbled over to a drawer beneath a shelf, continuing to speak to Levy, "It is important to know one's importance. And, as a succubi, you have the life of a servant. Following the orders your master gives you until death. That is a succubi's significance."

          Levy looked crushed as she dropped her gaze to the dirty wooden floor. She had been hoping for some kind of self explanatory answer, but had received a crushing sense of reality.

     "But a succubi is a form, and not a core." Zaubera pulled a live chicken from the drawer and plucked a feather. It sqwauked loudly as she dropped it, "Just borrowing, Apo."

     "My core?" Levy prompted.

     "All succubi are succubi." she continued, "Yet they are not all the same, no? 'Tis the cores of the creature that determines their significance. You have a very kind hearted core, with much patience, loyalty, and compassion. You are not resentful of your serving nature, but are happy to serve if it means you bring happiness. I saw this the moment I laid eyes on you.

     " Now you, on the other hand," Zaubera pointed a crooked finger at Gajeel, "You were seen to be hot tempered, stiff, and hard to please. Qualities like this overlay kinder, more attractive qualities, making you appear cold and cruel on the outside, when inside you were just like any other child. In results, you were a child who would get no friends, but needed some."

     Gajeel scowled, "I don't —"

     "— you do," Zaubera said firmly, "You needed a companion with kindness, patience, and resolve, otherwise your will to love life like it is would fail. So I gave you Levy to soften your heart, to help you create bonds. Bonds that you will need at a later date."

     Gajeel scowled again, folding his arms across his chest, "Nah, I don't need this friendship trash. I can handle myself."

     Zaubera smiled, "Even the strongest need a place to draw strength when hard battles beat them down. You do not seem to realize that having friends does not make you weak. It makes you strong."

     Gajeel rolled his eyes, but didn't say anything.

    Zaubera turned to Levy, "Sweetheart, would you grind these stones with that mortar and pestle over there?"

     Levy accepted the glowing stones from her and put them into the mortar. She picked up the pestle, and crunched it down onto the stones. Smoke wafted up from them and she doubled over coughing, her lungs aching terribly from it. Then everything went black.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

     Sorry about the slow update! School is driving me CRAZY!! But I'm back from the dead, here with another chapter!  Hope you all are enjoying this book, and thanks for reading! Your comments and votes make my day. ^-^   —gajevyx99 out