Witch

Jay found himself sitting on a dais, with no memory of how he got there. He looked around, finding himself in a large hall, surrounded by grand pillars. The pillars looked like they were made of ebony; they appeared to be intricately carved as well. The only lighting came from the numerous candles scattered throughout the hall.

He got to his feet a little unsteadily. The last thing he could remember was stopping with his tour bus at the oasis. Suddenly, a sand storm had come out of nowhere, and he couldn’t see anyone. Until the woman came and found him . . .

He looked back at the dais, and there she was: the same woman who had saved him. He’d been unable to get a good look at her in the storm, but now he could see her in all of her glory. Jay was dumbfounded; he had never seen a woman more beautiful than the one who sat before him. She looked like she couldn’t possibly be more than twenty - she had the world’s most perfect body. Her dark skin was flawless, her dark hair trailed down her back. She was covered in what looked like animal skins, giving her a more exotic look. But her eyes seemed somewhat at odds with the rest of her: where everything else looked young, her eyes looked ancient. Not that there were lines under them or anything. But her dark eyes looked like they had seen far more than he could imagine.

“Jay, you must be famished! I shall have Elara bring you something to eat.” she gestured at the place he had recently vacated just in front of her. “Come. Sit with me.”

Jay sat in the indicated place. “I need to thank you, for coming to save me. And if I may ask, what's your name? You know mine, but I don't know yours.”

She laughed, a light and pleasing sound to Jay’s ears. “I told you my name as I led you from the storm. But I am not surprised that you do not remember it. You may call me Jaleesa.”

It was then that Jay got his first unpleasant surprise. The girl who must be Elara entered with a tray of fruit and cheese. He went to thank her, and made the mistake of looking her in the eye. The most dead-looking pair of eyes stared back at him from a face devoid of all emotion.

“Wha....what happened to her?” he asked Jaleesa, stumbling back a bit

“Do not be alarmed. She was lost in the storm, like you were. Sadly, it was too late when I found her,” Jaleesa put a hand to his shoulder to steady him, while glancing at the girl. “I do not even know her real name.”

Jay was going to ask more, but Jaleesa stood. “I have some things to prepare. So please, enjoy the fruit. Rest here when you are finished with the food. I will join you when I am done.” And with that, she strode out of the hall, Elara at her heels.

Jay looked at the fruit; to his surprise the tray was filled with many fruit that did not grow in this part of the world. It was all quite delicious. When he finished, he did not feel like resting. He was instead curious about his hostess, so he wandered around the hall a bit, appreciating all of the carvings on the pillars, as well as the other works of art that were tastefully arrayed around the hall.

He was examining the ornate throne that Jaleesa had vacated, when he touched one of the armrests and part of the wall slid open. He jumped, then frantically tried to slide the wall back into place; all he succeeded in doing was hitting some sort of light switch that lit up the small room.

Well, I suppose a quick peek won’t make much difference, he thought, curiosity overcoming his apprehension.

The first thing he saw, as he approached the room, was the ruby. The gem was obviously the focal point of the room; it was easily the size of his fist. As soon as he stepped into the room, a voice rang out, “Just go away! Leave me alone!”

He looked around, and in the far corner huddled a shape. “It’s okay. I won’t hurt you.” He reached a hand to her shoulder, but jerked back in alarm as his hand passed through her. “What are you?”

She turned then, and he found himself staring at a familiar face, although this time she looked far more alive, even if she was insubstantial. “Elara?”

She looked at him blankly. “Who are you? You’re not the witch.”

“No, I’m Jay. What are you? Who did this to you?”

She stood up then, and there was no mistake about it, she was definitely Elara. “I don’t know! I don’t remember anything! Who I am, why I’m here! I won’t even remember you once you leave this room. All I can remember is,” she shrank back from him, eyes rounding in fear, “her.”

Jay spun around to find Jaleesa behind him, holding up a wickedly curved blade of silver. “Well child, I leave you alone for a few minutes, and look what happens! But what does it matter? I have hungered for 50 long years, but now, finally, I am free to feast once again!”

Jaleesa was about to advance into the room, when a voice rang out behind her, “Whoa, this is some dream! Now I’m in Africa!”