The narrow alleyway stretched before them, leading Jack and Willow toward the storefront with a hanging sign saying, 'The Crow Lair.'
"So, we're meeting a witch."
"For the tenth time yes," Jack chuckled, guiding Willow down a small alleyway. "Darlia wants something picked up, and I thought it would be good opportunity for you to meet some of the other supernatural species, so I volunteered." He explained, their arms occasionally brushing against each other, while Willow twisted a lock of hair.
"A witch," she mused, chewing on the word before glancing up at him. "Is it a CrÃdose and if yes, who? Crowford? Midnightrose?" She knew CrÃdose was the old language name for full-blood and that was the two clans of full-blood witches that existed from what the chronicle told her. Maès, was half-blood witches, not nearly as powerful but still powerful enough for Willow to be nervous.
"Crowford, now be quiet so he doesn't turn you into a toad." He opened the door and walked in with a broad smile, while Willow wondered if he joked or not. "Amida! have you gotten what we asked for?"
He strode towards the cashier at the end with a door to the back where a scrawny dark-haired man stood. Willow felt his monolid eyes on her for a second as she scurried in behind Jack before he turned to Jack with a pleasant smile.
"Absolutely, though we managed to procure fewer this time around, about twelve, to be precise. Allow me a moment to retrieve them," He walked out back, and Jack leaned on the desk while Willow looked around amazed. Weeks ago, Willow would have said witches belonged in fairytales and movies, but here she was, and it was undeniably real.
The shelves were filled with strange things like dried frog legs, batwings and an array of herbs that gave the store a special, yet not an unpleasant smell. Unusual objects adorned on the wall or from the ceiling or stood on the shelves like an old music box and a porcelain doll with red eyes she swore followed her every move. A purple smoke hung thick in the air, making her slightly woozy. It truly looked like a witch's store making Willow realize why it was tucked away in some corner in Romania. A few jewelry pieces hung on one of the walls and she curiously walked closer but was stopped by Jack voice.
"If you don't want to be cursed or worse, I suggest you don't touch anything." She quickly pulled her hand away from a necklace with an amethyst and looked back at him.
Amida emerged from behind a swaying purple curtain. He set a black box onto the table, the thud reverberating in the room.
"It's the finest Mercuchilite on the market these was made from, straight from Hell's mines." Willow's curiosity was immediately piqued, and she took a few steps closer. The box unveiled two rows of black crystals, their shapes resembling kites and each adorned with a small white crystal on either side. "But I gotta ask, why is a reaper in need of so many?" He raised a brow questioningly.
Jack responded with a playful shake of his finger.
"Ah ah ah, you know the deal, you supply without questions. And I pay you more than you would get from anyone else." He pulled out a big pouch from the darkness of his leather jacket and put it on the desk with a loud thud. The jingle of coins within the pouch hinted at its weight, and Willow's curiosity only deepened. She watched as Amida extracted a golden coin from the pouch, its surface intricately engraved with the image of a tree with a pleased smile while she wondered what country had that kind of coins.
"Pleasure to do business with you as always." He pulled the pouch towards him before he looked at Willow. "are you with the reaper or can I help you?" He looked her up and down, squinting slightly and Willow guessed he was looking at her soul to determine what she was.
"No thank you, I'm with him." She pointed at Jack who took the box.
"sadly, I can't seem to get rid of this one, her admiration for me makes her worth keeping around though." Jack chimed in with a grin, accompanied by a cheeky wink directed at Amida. Willow couldn't help but roll her eyes at his teasing tone. As Jack started to walk towards the exit, she hurriedly followed suit, not wanting to be left behind.
"get rid of me? you choose to make me your pet." she protested, pouting.
" awww, was admiration the wrong word? Is worshipping better?" He smirked, getting a push from Willow. "Not all supernaturals know of companions, and it isn't always a good idea to advertise you have one with you."
"Makes sense," she leaned in slightly. "what exactly did we pick up?"
He opened the box and pulled one out and she saw instead of a pin it had small needle like hooks all around its edges of the black crystal.
"it's called a Ocoluz brooch, it's usually used on witches but can be used some other species too. It is embedded into their chest and stops those that wear it from using magic." He explained, letting her hold it. She guessed that was what the hooks was for. "they are extremely rare and even more rare to be used as it's nearly impossible to reverse as only a few know how."
"why do Darlia need them?"
"We have learned that they can be used on rogues too, render them unable to use their powers until someone else removes them. As long as it touches their skin it will attach itself with the word Ocoluz."
He took it from her hand and gently put it back in the box and put it into the darkness of his jacket. They walked towards the busy road when Willow took a hold of his sleeve and looked up at him hopefully.
"Now that where here can se we Bran castle?"
"Why, because I am a vampire?" He joked, arching a brow. "Think it will be that easy to get rid of me by just taking me back to my home?"
" I said it one time," she rolled her eyes. " we don't need to go inside, I just wanna actually see..." she added, her words trailing off as a street vendor passed by, carrying with them something smelling good. Her gaze followed the vendor as he continued down the street.
"You want one?" Jack asked amused by the look in her eyes.
" Can we?"
"Sure, I can't exactly have you faint due to hunger," he replied with a grin, setting off after the vendor. In a matter of minutes, Willow found herself holding a covrigi in her hands, a pretzel adorned with sesame seeds.
"Oh my god this is good," she hummed as she took a another bite. They continued down the bustling street, skillfully weaving through the crowd of tourists and locals, though some couldn't help but steal glances at Jack, likely due to his distinctive jacket. "Want a bite?" she offered, extending the pretzel toward him since he hadn't bought one for himself.
He looked at her for a second before bending down to take a bite, a subtle shiver running through her as he kept eye contact.
"so," he said, his hand resting on her back as she finished it and he guided her into another alleyway. "You want to go to the castle?" He smiled making her almost bounce on the spot.
"We can?"
" for a few minutes, I need to get these back to Darlia." In the blink of an eye, they found themselves at the foot of the imposing Bran Castle's stairs. Jack looked at her, a smile tugging at his lips, as she gazed around in awe.
The Castle stood atop a rocky hill, its ancient stone walls and tall turrets piercing the sky. The turrets were crowned with red-tiled roofs that contrasted sharply against the gray stone with narrow windows. Willow's eyes widened as she took in the medieval fortress, imagining the stories that must have unfolded within its walls.
"It's huge!" She marveled, knowing they were in the veil as nobody had battered an eye of them suddenly appearing amongst them. "can we go inside? Just for a second?" She asked hopefully, and when he extended his hand, she took it. In an instant, they teleported to a balcony that offered a breathtaking view of the town sprawling beneath the castle. She leaned against the ornate railing, her eyes shining with wonder. "I can't believe you reapers can just travel to such amazing places with a blink of an eye." She whispered amazed.
"Yeah, it has it perks," he chuckled, leaning up against the railing, looking at her. Willow had never expected to ever see the castle, her mom never really had the money to travel so they only been in Denmark camping or visiting one of her mom's old friends or dad great aunt and in Sweden to ski. After a few minutes he said. "So, are we done sightseeing, or can we go?"
"Thank you for taking me."
"Sure, sometimes you gotta give your pet a treat and take them out in the world." He shrugged, reaching out his hand as he saw her roll her eyes. "You ready?"