Chapter Text
Allura helped a number of people and things that are people but definitely not human.
People with hooves, people with horns, people with lumps and scars and conditions Kima couldn’t name; all looking for a bit of help from the witch in the blue dress. They have many names for her. Witch, mage, sorceress, and sometimes strega or pharmakeus.
Allura worked her magic in the kitchen with some candles, incense, and a great deal of her own energy. She didn't always agree to help, but more often than not she permitted them to enter and did what she could.
Kima was cleaning her pistol as Allura chopped herbs when there was a sharp three knocks on the back door. Kima looked confused, turning her head to look at the front door and then to Allura as she cleaned her hands on her apron and moved to the back door.
“Before I open this; no matter what you see you need to keep your mouth shut.”
Kima nodded and continued to absently clean her gun as she watched Allura.
The door opened to what Kima assumed was a woman. The Kimono she was wearing was a beautiful cobalt blue at the bottom and the ends of the sleeves fading slowly to white as it came to her shoulders. The face and hands are where Kima had trouble deciding.
She had an almost crown of six horns; the pair nearest her forehead were at least six inches long and the next two moving towards her temples were slightly shorter and then shorter again. Her brow ridge was pronounced with deep furrows between her eyebrows as if she were permanently scowling. Her lips were delicate and an oddly pretty purple against her brilliant blue skin that somehow drew more attention to the long fangs and tusks that slipped from her mouth and across her lips. She bowed to Allura and her bright, burning red eyes flicked to Kima who had stopped working with her hands.
“Good mage, I have a favor to ask of you, if I may.”
“Ask your question and if I can help you, you may enter.”
“I have come to this country in search of a new life. My home is poisoned for me with the actions of my past and those who hurt me. The story is too long to recount in full here. I wish to return to my natural state, and was promised that I could do so if I redeemed myself and did not use the Kijo magic my transformation granted to me. To that end, I need your help with a disguise so I may attempt to reclaim my life.”
She stood still as a statue waiting for Allura’s decision.
“You would need to come back every few months for me to renew the spell. And it will not hide your reflection, so you would have to be mindful of that.”
“That sounds more than reasonable.”
“What is your name? Or what may I call you?”
“Mine.”
Allura smiled at her. “A pretty name. Please come inside and please wait at my table as I prepare the ritual.” She stood to the side and motioned for the woman to enter. She walked in and the candles and lamps in the kitchen dimmed around her. Her presence felt like actual pressure as she approached Kima and without thinking she dropped her broken-down pistol and leapt to her feet to back away.
The woman stopped. “You don’t need to be afraid of me.”
“Whoever said I was afraid?” Her voice cracked and ruined her attempt to seem undisturbed by her presence.
She laughed and the sound was surprisingly light and beautiful. “If so, then you must fly when scared.”
Kima opened and closed her mouth unsure of what to say.
“Kima? Why don’t you go see the florist on Main Street? She has an order for me.”
“I—umm—I’d like to stay.”
Allura had done this four times before. People and what she hoped are people will come to her door and she will agree to help them or not. Every time she had agreed she sent Kima away so she’s never gotten to see Allura do what she’s started to think of as proper magic.
Lighting candles and getting doors to open with a wave of her hand is impressive at first, but she’s so flippant with it that Kima has come to think of it as commonplace.
Allura looks at her. “Like I’ve told you before; I won’t hide in my own home. I’m going to do this and you need to be quiet and respectful of what we’re doing and not have an attack of religious virtue and try and shame or stop me.”
“I won’t. I’m faithful but not in that fashion if you understand my meaning. I don’t mean to just stare at you either. I’m just curious is all.”
“Careful, girl. Curiosity is a dangerous thing.” She could feel Mine’s eyes on her and it took Kima a moment to steel herself against the desire to cower. Kima nodded. “I understand that. I’ve been bitten by a snake before for wondering what’s in a little hole. But I’d like to see what all you do that people sneak up to your door for, miss.”
“If you’re certain. Make yourself useful and dim lamps while I set up. Leave the candles lit.”
Kima does as she’s instructed and Allura begins to draw out a complicated series of circles and symbols in chalk on her circular table.
Mine sits like a lady at court at the table. Clawed hands folded neatly in her lap and quietly taking in her surroundings. Kima did her best not to stare, but she was caught a time or two and the woman simply nodded her understanding at Kima’s inability to look away.
“Now. I will need a drop of blood.” Allura said calmly, bringing a packet of needles from her pocket. Mine stuck her hand out without hesitation and allowed Allura to prick her finger and the drop of blood fell into the center of a small eight-pointed star in the middle of the circle and if suspended a few inches above the table
Allura chanted and the candle flames grew taller as a blue mist gathered in her palms.
The whole ritual took only a few minutes but by the end of it, Allura had sweat dripping down her brow. As the last words leave her mouth Allura cupped her hands in front of her mouth and blew the fog across Mine obscuring her from view for a moment. Allura’s trembling hands fell to the table and the fog melted away from the woman and Kima gasped.
Her skin was pale instead of blue, her eyes a lovely shining brown, and there were no horns to be seen among her silken black hair.
Mine looked at her hands and smiled exposing incisors that are just slightly longer than would be considered normal. “Oh, good mage, you have done a wonder. I thank you. I was afraid when I came here that magics as I would need would be out of reach. You have helped me more than I can express. How could I pay you for your workings?”
“One day when I need a favor in return I will let you know. You don’t have money, or foodstuffs, and if I asked you for a spell it would set you back on your progress. So, when we can think of something we agree upon for payment I will accept it then.”
She bowed deeply and with a nod to Kima she left out the back door and out into the world no longer a blue skinned demon.
“Wow,” Kima said lamely, looking at Allura limp in the chair.
“Indeed. She was very polite.”
“Are you ok?”
“Oh, yes. Just tired. I don’t do big spells often so when I do they take quite a lot out of me. Would you be kind enough to hand me some bread and water?”
“Yeah. Do you want me to cook some real food for you though?”
“I—“ she seemed honestly caught off guard by the offer. “Can you cook?”
“Yes. I’m a really good cook if I do say so myself.” “Then how could I refuse?” She smiles wanly at Kima and her heart did an odd little flip.
Kima set about making some chicken and veggies as Allura slowly nibbled her bread and sipped on her glass of water.
“What are you going to do if she never pays for what you did?”
“Then she doesn’t.”
“But she’s just gotten,” Kima waved vaguely with her hand, “All of that for basically nothing.”
“Lucky her then. If I were that worried about payment I would have demanded it first before letting her in the door. Kijo are dangerous and having an angry demon witch in my home is not something I particularly want.”
“It’s bad business.”
“Be glad I’m not particularly business minded. Your group would not have been able to pay if I had demanded money first and you would have died. It was the right thing to do. The kind thing. And now she owes me a favor should I ever have a need to call it in for some reason.”
“I suppose…thank you again. For healing me. Arm is still stiff, but I feel like with anyone else I would have lost the arm altogether if I hadn't kicked it all together. We’ll kill your beasty when the others get back in town.”
Allura nodded. “You’re welcome. I’m glad I could help. Drake is an old friend, he does have a habit of running to me when he needs something miraculous done. Really you’ll be paying off two debts at once.” Kima looked over at her. “But you’ll still take some of our money too?”
Allura grinned. “I do have to keep myself in incense and candles. I can’t do everything on credit.”
“I see how it is. If I were one of those goat people or a ravenmocker or something you’d have done it free of charge.”
“Never mention those things,” Allura snapped, the playful mood gone in a flash.
“What? The rav-“
“I just said do not mention them.”
“But they’re not real…are they?”
“Did you not see the blue woman who knocked on my back door?” She motioned to the door as if she were still standing in the doorway.
“Oh…suddenly the night seems a lot more frightening.”
“It should. There are things here in this new world that should terrify everyone out of their skins.”
“But you have magic. You can deal with them. The witch who is the city's great defender.”
“Except my magic, my family’s magic, and all the spells in my book are concerned with monsters and threats in Europe. My grandmother would have had no idea how to handle the things that are native to this land, and I certainly don't, aside from what a few native healers have been willing to share. And if it ever got out what I do and what I’m capable of then I’d likely inspire a new round of witch trials out here in the west.”
“But if you’re helping people-“
“Some of the witches in Salem were helping. Some of the witches in the old world were village healers. That didn’t stop them from being tied to poles and set alight.”
Kima stopped, thinking about how unfair it was that Allura should spend every moment afraid of being found out all while just trying to be nice.
“I’m sorry, Allie…that’s a lot of responsibility on your shoulders.”
“It is, but I do my best and that is all I can do.”
Kima nodded. “Well, dinner is ready. Gotta make sure you have the energy to help whoever comes knocking next.”
She made up two plates and set one on the table in front of Allura, earning a smile for her trouble.
“Thank you, Kima. I appreciate it.”