Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves....[Chapters 1-4]

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[Chapter One- Dance your way into my heart....NSFW [If you would like to see any of the other chapters that are being written please email and they will be sent to you. Thank you.] ]

Born on a chilly day in October when the sun had just set to parents that wandered from village to village..Town to town. Father was a minstrel and mother was a dancer. The winters were long and harsh, but the summers...They were lush and fun filled. Learning games, how to strum papa's guitar and dancing with her mother when she was old enough. The bright eyed child would grow into an Incomparable Beauty. Slender of form, fair of face and graceful as a willow shifting on the winds. Then..one day that all changed...Papa got sick and she and Mama were having to try and care for him as well as earn the money to keep them alive. Mama working herself into a state that could only mean soon she'd fall ill as well. Fifteen..That's how old she was. The sickness finally took Papa, they said it was 'black lung.'

It wasn't long after that, less than a year really...That Mama went to be with Papa. I know what killed her, the exhaustion and the broken heart. Papa had been her soul mate. They had stayed where Papa was buried, just so Mama could have her eternity beside him. Now I find myself taking over their foot steps on the road. Wandering just as they had. A small pack with all the belongings in the world I had and Papa's old beaten up guitar across my back...The guitar I had to sell that winter to get food to stay alive...Oh how I cried...But now..I must travel on. Continue living because that's what they would have wanted for me. Gypsy though I may be, Tramp..Entirely possible...Thief...I will never be.

Another town, another few coins in her pocket. The small ragged pack slung over shoulder contained what few possessions she had in the world. An extra skirt, beads and various trinkets she'd found along the way. Huffing out a sigh she trudged along, feet were tired and boy did her back hurt. The village was busy, bustling with life and activity and it caused the lips of the woman to curve into a smile. Slender, average stature and darkened flesh due to the time she spent outside in the sun's rays. Bronze and copper coins clinked and jingled around the hips of the woman. Well worn skirts rustling around bare feet. Dirt tromping up to waft about as she moved. Dropping the pack near a shadowy corner so that she could move towards the center of the village. A piercing whistle sent out as hands raised once attention was given in her direction. These were simple folk, ones that got superstitious of anything that went 'ooga booga' in a way that they thought was magical.

Still there were some that had moved to watch the slender beauty with avid interest..One was staring with intensity that could make the skin crawl. A hellish sort of gaze that belied the darkness behind the handsome face of the man. Still there was no music but people could imagine with the way her body moved, the popping motion of each joint as muscles flexed and rolled. Hips twitching and swaying as slender form dipped back and forth, twisting so that long hair flared around with the multi colored skirts she wore. Coins jingling at hips and bare feet tapping with each step. Brown leather bra style top and bare midriff so that each flex of abdominal muscles could be seen.

When the performance was over and the few coins that were thrown were being picked up and hoarded away in my pouch like a squirrel would hide its nuts for the winter months. It wasn't a lot but it would be enough for a hot meal and maybe a place to sleep that wasn't under a tree. Bare feet moved over to where the pack had been left, picking it up to look around and try to find the closest thing to a tavern this place had. Not paying attention to the malevolent darkness swathed in handsome charm trailing along behind me. The biggest worry on my mind? Food..

Five years, I've been on my own for five years and managed to survive thus far. Things were actually going rather well, the spring and summer months had been rather good to me as far as earning enough coin to live on. This small village was welcoming and as long as I minded my manners and the rules I was fine. The tavern I had found was a small sort of place, dirt floors stained with drink and blood here and there from fights. Scarred and scratched furniture, a small hearth that had an almost cozy fire crackling away in its embrace. The food wasn't the best but it was hot and plentiful. After gorging myself on the lamb stew and crisp, clean water a good lounge in front of the fireplace seemed a fantastic idea.

That's when he walked in. Dapper and handsome, dressed in the colors of his 'house' a blue field with lilies and a sword through the center. The whispers that I was half paying mind to spoke of him being a Lord or some such. It was no concern of mine, I was behaving and keeping myself from trouble. Unaware that it was I that was to be his intended target and entire purpose for stepping foot into this little hole in the wall tavern. The malevolent feeling didn't register but it was starting to prickle along my spine, raising the fine hairs along my form. He had drawn near and taken a seat...uninvited near the hearth where I relaxed like a lazy cat.

"Good evening madam. What is one so beautiful as yourself doing here alone?" His voice fairly dripped with charm and sweetness. That masculine announcement that he could do anything he wished to anyone he wished and get away with it. The smoothness of a serpent that was poised to strike at any moment. Piercing gaze watched the slender beauty as she relaxed by the fireside. Watching her dance earlier had caused his blood to stir. The lust pooling in his loins grew to near raging but it was kept banked for the moment. He had to get her away from the crowd after all. It was unseemly to bend a woman over in public..Much as he would like to. "Tell me? Would you care for a walk?"

It was the voice, that's what stirred me from my lazy half daze to blink away the near sleep and sit up in the chair more. Looking him over and appraising not his looks or his worth..But his entire person. Something about him made her skin crawl. Making it creep along muscle and bone as if it wanted to get away and he hadn't even gotten that near to her. Still, Nalyxia had been taught to be polite, especially when it came to those that seemed to have power. "Oh, no thank you my Lord. I am quite comfortable where I am thank you." Velvety smooth and sultry tone, a supple sound that seemed smokey and sultry at the same time.

As that sexy tone slithered along his ears it was all he could do not to groan and reach down to adjust himself. Still at the decline he arched a brow. Never had a woman turned him down...Well, even when they had the persuasion was quite forceful and he always got what he wanted....always. The smile remained fixed upon lips as he stood, moving over to where she sat, setting a strong hand onto one of those slender, smooth shoulders. Applying just the slightest bit of pressure. "There will be good coin in it if you accompany me..." Just how it was said, the single statement left no room for mistaking the innuendo there.

Smile remained on her lips but his touch caused an involuntary reaction of trying to move away from it. Mention of coin caught her attention but that attention soon shifted to near outrage at his proposal. Eyes narrowed and she reached up, shoving his hand from her shoulder to stand, turning to face him. "I believe that you've found yourself the wrong woman sir. Take those horrible assumptions to someone else." Little did I know that this...was a mistake. Glaring at him, my temper rose and being of the Gypsy it was a terrible sort of temper, one that would smolder and fume forever with a grudge or slight. Snatching up the tankard that had the rest of her water from the meal in it. A jerk of arm and it was thrown into his handsome face. An even bigger mistake. Turning on a heel to slam the tankard onto a table and move for the door, snatching pack up into hand as I went....The biggest mistake of all...Turning my back on that man.

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[Ladies and Gentlemen, As Chapter Two is quite graphic and such it will not be posted. If you would like to see it please email me at [e-mail] and I will send it to you. Chapter Three is below. Any other chapters will not be posted due to graphic nature. Please email and when they are finished I will send to those interested. Thank you and happy gaming.

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Chapter Three- Somewhere out there...[NSFW] .[Disclaimer!! Graphic themes and violence!]

The ringing in my ears hadn't stopped, only now it was muffled beneath the stained fabric of the skirt laying over top of my face. Breathing was ragged and painful, filled with the torture of the broken ribs digging into my lung. I could feel it, the blood and the pain each radiating and seeping from my form like dew dripping from fronds of a fern. Pooling on the dirt floor of the hut to stain it with the evidence of what had occurred within this abandoned place. The boot steps met my ears and then stopped..Was he gone? Did he leave? Fingers of left hand shifted, barely able to raise my arm as the oxygen in my body got even harder to find. Feeble attempts at pulling the fabric free of face, to rid myself of the stench of him.

No, he hadn't left. Those booted feet carried him around, pacing back and forth across the floor as hand shoved through hair. Trying to think of what to do. How to get himself free of this mess. If she told the Baron he would be done for as the old Knight didn't take to the abuse of women. It was against his all mighty code of honor. A low snarl of frustration spewed from his lips like the angry huff of a dragon. Turning quickly to stomp back over to the fallen, broken Gypsy. Snatching the stained material away with the jingle of those blasted coins. "You can never tell anyone of this!" Somewhere in his mind he knew that telling the woman this was a futile and wasted effort. Strong hands fueled by desperate anger now grabbed her up by the shoulders. Doing more harm than good with the broken ribs. Throwing her away from him, into the wall he held her there. Shaking her by the shoulders and growling words into her face. "You'll never tell anyone. I can't let you!"

Dragged up off the floor and slammed into the wall, it sent more jarring pain through her body. Harder and harder to breathe, the effort being used to try and draw air into lungs one punctured by broken bone was excruciating. Tears...Unable to stop them and helpless to even try as they fell down cheeks to pool on his hands holding her. Throat dry and scratchy, aching and swollen from the grip exerted upon it earlier. The shaking against the wall caused head to smack back into it over and over again. More dots and stars exploded in front of her eyes, little pin pricks of bright white light that shattered around the hideous visage of his angry face. "I...." The only sound was that single, strangled word slipping from lips.

The beauty with the swollen face and broken body held before him with her head thwapping into the wall he pinned her against. "What am I to do with you?!?" Asking her was futile because he knew..He knew what must be done. The gypsy could never leave, never be able to tell what had occurred here. One hand moved from holding her shoulder back to her throat, not punishing or crushing. It was almost a gentle caress as fingertips trailed along jaw line and then down to her lip, split and bloody. Smearing the blood around he smiled. An idea occurred to him. The Witch of the Wood. She could dispose of a body. He just had to take her the body and enough payment to suffice for the effort.

It was that moment when I felt his touch in that near gentleness that I knew....I knew for certain that I would never see the light of day again. Never would I walk through the grasses and feel the wind upon my face. With aching head and broken body I drifted off into somewhere. Images of my mother and I dancing as my father played his guitar. The sound of the music filling my ears as memory swirled around, filling the despairing darkness with their light. They waited for me. Beckoning me to their side as if I had simply gotten lost and wandered away from their embrace. That moment when I felt the clenching of my throat, the grasp that was cruel and punishing but it didn't stop there. No, the choking was met with more slams of my head into the hard wall of the hut. Blinding me as light shot through in front of my eyes. Stealing away the reality and throwing me into a place of untold darkness and pain. Searing in my lungs as eyes bulged with the pressure he applied to my throat. Gagging and choking, futile attempts to claw at his hand with nails to get free but it was of no use. It was too late.....

So much beauty...wasted. He'd gotten what he wanted by any means necessary and now it was time to dispose of the one person that could end his own life. Take away the manor house, title and life he so richly enjoyed and deserved. Strong fingers clenched around throat, palm pressed to wind pipe and feeling the fluttering beat of her heart beneath them. Applying even more pressure to stifle the screams and attempts to rouse help from anyone that might be passing by. Adding to the pressure by slamming her head into the wall over and over, the blood stain starting to appear there and smearing against the old structure. It wouldn't be much longer and the fluttery feathery beat of that heart would stop entirely. Seeing the life seep from those big doe eyes. Leaving the shell of the woman to collapse limp like a rag doll in his grasp. Dropping the body to the floor in a tattered heap like a child throwing down a toy it was done with. But those eyes...They still stared up at him blank and seeing nothing in the death stare. Turning back to them it seemed as if they still burned into his back...Piercing....

A low growl of frustration from the man as he turned back to the Gypsy lying dead on the floor. Those hateful eyes staring up at him, as if to condemn him for what he'd done to her. Leaning down fingertips were pressed to the lids to pull them down. Covering the stare that unnerved him more than it probably should have. Now he had to figure out how to get her out of here without being seen. Finding a dirty blanket he threw it over the body, and turned to leave the hut after making sure no one else was about to see him. It would take precious moments to get from there to the stables where his horse rested. Once he had saddled the beast an extra horse blanket was stolen from one of the railings and thrown over his saddle as he led the beast down the streets of the village to the hut where he'd left her. Spotting the bag she'd dropped in the struggle outside he picked it up and looped it around the pommel of the saddle.

Leave no evidence of having been there, just make them think the wandering gypsy had moved on during the night. Leaving the horse outside the hut the blanket was taken inside the hut. Moving over to the gypsy he gathered up the skirt that was torn and stained, putting it on the blanket and then moving to the body. Leaving the dirty blanket over her he just lay the bundle down on the new blanket..Rolling her up in it to hide the body as best he could. Once he'd picked her up he carried her out and tossed it over the back of the horse. Climbing up and turning to pull the blanket covered heap over his lap to make sure it didn't fall during the ride.

It would take all night to get to the Witch but he wouldn't stop until the task was completed. Kicking the horse into a run he leaned forward with the body across his lap. The jostling of the ride caused her head to slip free from the covering and those eyes...They had opened once more. Some would say a muscle twitch and some would say that it was because the spirit of the gypsy was too strong...But they stared up at him in that lifeless way. Condemning him for what he'd done to her.

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Chapter Four--Witch of the Wood


The ride to the Witches cottage was long and grueling, especially when you were trying to make sure no one saw you riding along with a dead body across your lap. That blanket wrapped bundle seemed to grow heavier by the second, weighing down on my legs and those damned eyes staring up at me. Unnerving and creepy, making the skin along my back and neck crawl. Finally at the cottage I halted the horse who was slathered in sweat and panting heavily. Shaking its head so mane lashed about and slobber flew around. Now that it was reasonably safe that body was shoved from lap like it was on fire and about to burn me at any second. The blanket shifted, revealing the half naked bruised and discolored form of the Gypsy.

Heavily wooded and secluded the Witches cottage was so deep in the forest that most would never notice it having been there. The old crone kept it camouflaged extremely well to avoid detection. Not that it was really needed but the woman was paranoid and extremely secretive about the goings on out here all by herself. Having heard the horse arrive outside and then the sound of something thumping to the ground that door opened. Revealing the wrinkled visage of the woman some said was as ancient as the Faerie Rings that lay scattered about these lands. Swathed in black from throat to foot the old woman shuffled from inside the cottage. Squinting bleary almost hazed over eyes up at the rider after having inspected the body exposed on the ground by the blanket. "What do you seek here? You bring a corpse. What is it you want done and have you the money to pay for such things?"

I knew better than to think the old woman weak and powerless, the stories first hand that had been told around the fires of her power. Swallowing the bile and the urge to quake in front of the old woman, even as I sat still upon that saddle. Remaining there was disrespectful, reigns looped around pommel so that long leg could be swung up and over, stepping from the stirrup to the ground. Leg muscles twitching and quivering with fatigue from the long ride here. "Yes..Witch of the Woods I've a task for you. And enough gold to keep you well fed and comfortable through this winter and another after." This task required quite a bit of payment and he knew that. It was either pay her and pay her well or be indebted to her...The latter was not an option.

Looking from him as he dismounted the horse and then to the body laying on the ground, the crone shuffled over and nudged it with a toe, making sure it was dead. Bending down to peel the blanket back and seeing the condition of the body, bruises and marks around the throat...The evidence of murder and something else. Frowning she let no emotion show on those wrinkled features before looking back to him as she stood upright again. "Speak what you wish from me." Her voice was strong and commanding, belying the elderly countenance.

"Witch of the wood, I seek help in disposing of this poor woman I found on the road. I tried to help her but she was already gone." I was lying through my teeth and no matter how hard I tried to cover. The feeling that this witch knew of my deception still prickled along my spine, raising the fine hairs along body. Beneath my tunic and coat of arms, the leather breeches it felt as if she were weighing me, judging and finding me faulted and wanting. Watching the witch examine the body, seeing what had been done to the slender gypsy who had lost all color of life..Leaving only a pale shell.

Agatha, or the Witch of the Wood as she was better known was by far no fool. She knew that this young woman had been murdered in the course of some heinous action towards her person..Other wise why would she be half naked? And the way the man twitched and seemed to squirm, the stains along the hem of his coat of arms gave away his lies. The crafty old spell maker nodded and moved over towards her cottage again. "Bring her along inside. No reason to remain out here where anyone can come traipsing past." That was highly unlikely due to their seclusion in the forest but still. Paranoid woman.

Those eyes were even more unnerving on the witch than the dead body if that were possible. Still at the direction from the hag I moved. Bending down to scoop up the body and hoist it in arms, blanket and all to carry into the cottage. I am not sure what I was expecting upon entering, skulls hung from the walls and black cats milling about..Maybe even eyes of newt strung around like popcorn decorations for the Holiday Tree...Either way it wasn't what the cottage really looked like. Small and scrupulously clean, a small cot with a patchwork quilt, a fire place with a cauldron hanging over the coals. There was a cat, but a single one and it was calico in color lounging on the cot.

"Set her there..On the table." Pointing towards the kitchen table that was a flat and clean surface. Moving to the cauldron several small crockery pots were removed from a shelf. Cork stoppers pulled free and various items added to the boiling mixture over the fireplace, soon the scents of jasmine, mirr and something that smelled rather..acidic began to waft up into the air of the cottage. "You will wait outside, I will not have you see my secrets." Looking over shoulder at him, there was promise of retribution if he disobeyed.

Once I had put the gypsy down on the table and watched the old crone shuffle about the cottage, the nervousness rising inside me, along with the fear of being found out. At the order to leave the cottage there was hesitation until the look in her eyes was registered. Swallowing the fear that rose up I turned on a heel and bolted, outside to wait with the horse I'd left standing there.

After he'd left the cottage the witch glared and moved over to the body laid out on the table top. Gently stroking back blood stained dark hair from bruised face. Soft whispering tone slipped past lips as those hazy eyes looked over the body. "What he did to you is unforgivable. And will not be tolerated." Leaning farther over that prone form she raised one gnarled hand to trail it slowly inches above that dead Gypsy. Reading over the body as it lay there...Ah, there it was. The spirit still lodged within that body, tormented and in pain as it cowered from the cross over into the After Life. Nodding the witch turned and shuffled back to the cauldron she'd left simmering over the fire, picking up a crystal hewn bowl and ladling some of the mixture into it, a soft cloth picked up and taken along. Back to the body she went.

Dipping the cloth into the bowl to soak up the mixture she started gently cleansing the wounds of the body. Smearing the mixture of herbs and various other oils and such across the body. Incantations whispered in muttered Latin trailing from lips as she stroked the material over the body. "Pone hic contritum et solus. Lorem ipsum dolor ultimum notum. Vindicta quaerenda est, sed tantum ultimo proelio pugnatum est. Sed anima non intra corpus tuum putrescit. In tenebras vobiscum. Ut custodiat te salvum atque munita quousque alius eligitur."

[Translation--- "Here you lay, broken and alone. Pain the last thing you've known. Vengeance will be sought, but only after the final battle has been fought. Your body will rot but the soul inside shall not. Into the Shadows with you. They will keep you safe and protected until another is selected. ]

As she spoke and continued to slide the cloth along the body of the gypsy it would begin to deteriorate. Crumbling into its self like a loaf of bread that was being grinded down into dust. As the dust lay on the table the bowl and cloth were set aside. Moving to another table Agatha lifted what looked like an urn, carrying it over to gently scoop the ashes up into it, settling the lid over it and tucking the urn under her cot where the cat still lounged. Turn on heel and shuffling to the door to open it, letting the man know he could return inside.

I had been pacing, back and forth over and over making the horse stamp its hooves in agitation as it picked up on my anxiety. What was she doing in there? Why was it taking so long? Over and over I wanted to go to the door and look inside, find out what was going on but to disturb the Witch would most likely mean certain death. Crone though she may be he knew better than to underestimate him. It was endless agonizing moments later that the door was opened again and I moved into the cottage once more. Eyes going first to that table and seeing no body laying there. The indention in the blanket where the body seemed to have burned away was still there. Nothing else was disturbed. This was the moment I should have probably asked questions but alas I was too happy to be rid of that corpse to care about much else. "What do you wish as payment Witch?"

Agatha's hands folded at midsection and head tilted, thick gray hair trailing down back to sway with a nod. "I want two thousand gold pieces this winter and two thousand more next winter." It was fair price for what she'd done..Or so he would think. Agatha was much better than he at hiding emotions and fibbery. Seeing his nod and the pouch that he pulled free, containing all the coin he held and his promise that more would be sent. "If you do not send it, the spell will be revoked and you will have a body on your door step come morning." His agreement sealed the bargain and she made him shake on it, a binding contract with a Witch. More mumbled Latin came as she smiled, still holding his hand as those hazy eyes stared into his. " Adhaerescere æternum eris, dolore torqueor youve causatur. Copulae numquam dolorem, nec mortem in lecto."

[ Translation- "Forever will you be haunted, tormented for the pain you've caused. Never to be rid of your anguish, not even on your own death bed."]

As my hand was shaken by the Witch after handing over the coins, the agreement sealed and there was no turning back now. No getting out of it because I knew that if I reneged on this portion of it the Witch would in fact put the body on my door step in the morning. "What did you say?" Frown curved my lips as head tilted and eyes blinked out of utter curiosity. Releasing her hand he stepped back, not bothering to hide the motion of sliding palm against thigh to try and be rid of her touch.

"I was simply wishing you well in your journey my Lord." Dip of head as she shooed him from the cottage. Once he was gone and well on his way the urn would be pulled from beneath the cot once more. "Come along my Little One..It's time." Patting the urn with twisted fingers the old woman toddled from the cottage to start into the forest, heading towards the place she knew to be an entrance way into the Shadow Lands. A certain place where there used to live a pack of animals that were not animals, but had lived in relative peace with the old witch. Once she'd gotten to the clearing, just above the valley that housed the cool, clear waters of a pond fed by an under ground stream she nodded. This was the place. Crouching down she set the urn on the ground and opened the lid. Carefully setting the lid aside and tilting the urn towards the water that softly trickled below over the rocks and creek bed. "Go on, it's time for you to seek your truth and vengeance."

Witch she may be, unscrupulous on many things, rape and murder were not one of them. Rolling the urn side to side a bit so the ashes shifted about inside she whispered softly, calling to the spirits of the land and Shadow World, drawing them out. There would be nothing seen to the naked eye, you would have to be a Spirit Talker to be able to even know and understand what she'd said. But the ashes inside that urn started to move around, as if being pulled out like a long swath of material to trail through the air. As it drew farther away from the urn it began to just disappear in plan sight. Seeping into the Shadow World where it would stay....for now.

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[ Chapter Five Part One-- What's this, What's this?


I didn't feel the pain anymore, there was no ache in my body...In fact I didn't feel anything. The last thing I remembered was the sound of my head smacking against the wall of that Hut. Then the hazy sound of a strange woman speaking some odd language over me. Everything was shadowy and dark, it felt like I was stuck in a ball of cotton and unable to get out or sense anything. Hesitantly my eyes peeked open and glanced around this was a very strange place. It seemed almost as if I were surrounded by ghastly creatures. Some had beaks and hopped around, rats scuttled here and there and wolves roamed freely through the area. But these creatures were all huge, much larger than normal animals. I was the only one that looked human.

Despite the fright and fear I felt, there was something about this place that felt almost soothing and homey. Pushing myself to feet and glancing down. I was fully naked and arms rose, one to cover chest and the other over hips. But these animals didn't seem to care or even notice. They just moved past me, some even seemed to nod in greeting. Finally after these realizations my arms lowered and my form turned to look around this new place. Lower lip pulled between teeth as bare feet padded along, there was no feeling or sensation beneath them. But the act of walking was comforting almost.

Moving through this place there were so many things to learn and so much to try and do. Distracted by the sights that were almost like a mirror of the living world, save for this one being inhabited by the strange animals. I found a beautiful place with a clear blue lake and mountains on either side. Kneeling down to scoop some of the water into hands that's when I spotted my reflection. I was so...pale! Snowy white skin, white blonde hair and light gray eyes a rather ethereal appearance considering how I used to look. A stifled sort of shriek left lips and the water was sloshed along my chest and lower portion of my face.

All of this was taking some getting used to and as I sat there on my rump, staring at the water and my reflection that was rippling against the water's surface. I couldn't feel myself breathing or any of the sensations that a normal person would feel. There was something shifting in the woods around me, faint trickles of fear slipped through my body as I watched the spot where that noise was made. As the fronds of a fern and some shrubs moved out of the way there was a creature coming into sight. It was...a feline. A large one that was a sort of mottled gray and black color. A lynx.

Strangely I began to be able to understand the creature, what it said as it led me through this new world. Untold years I would spend in this place, only slipping out of the Shadow World when I was extremely curious about something. Finding nothing to entertain myself with I'd slip back in and return to wandering, making friends with the creatures that inhabited these lands....That was until I stumbled upon something that would change my life...errr unlife...Forever.