[center][hider=Cast][img]http://i.imgur.com/9rCf9HE.jpg[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/9V7nZ19.jpg[/img]
[sub]Photo Credit: Tree Demon by [url=http://disse86.deviantart.com]disse86[/url][/sub][/hider][/center]
[center][h1][i]Puck’s Ward[/i][/h1][/center]
[center][h3][i]Part II[/i][/h3][/center]

[center][b]Location: Shadow of the Moon Occult Curiosities – Chinatown, Lost Haven
Time: 11 a.m., One Day after the HoH Broadcast[/b][/center]
[hr]

[color=A52A2A][b]”I have a proposition for you.”[/b][/color] The words rang ominously through the shop.

Puck stood over Madalena, who was as backed into the counter as possible, hands covering her mouth to hold in the ear shattering scream that followed Puck’s sudden appearance. He kneeled down, pulling a handkerchief from his suit jacket and softly wiping away the tears streaming down Madalena’s face. 

She wasn’t sure how to respond. This creature, whatever he was, seemed amicable enough, but Madalena wasn’t an idiot. She’d read plenty of old folktales on the subject of strange spirits offering aid to humans, and the name Goodfellow stuck out to her, but she couldn’t place it.

 [color=FFA07A]”W-w-what d-do you want-t?”[/color] Madalena stuttered between quiet sobs. This wasn’t like her. She was normally far more boisterous and hardened, but she wasn’t normally confronted with strange men with horns barging into her store and demanding her aid . . . well, not since last Samhain, and those men were at the very least human.

Puck continued wiping away stray tears, placing his other hand on her shoulder to calm her. Perhaps it was the fear of the unknown that caused her to sit still and not object or pull away from Puck, but Madalena slowly but surely ceased her sobbing. 

[color=A52A2A][b]”There now,”[/b][/color] Puck uttered softly, putting away the kerchief and helping Madalena to her feet. [color=A52A2A][b]”Forgive me, love. I did not mean to frighten you. I forget sometimes that your kind are not accustomed to my entrances, and with all that has transpired as of late, I can only imagine what horrors you expected to befall you, but fear not.”[/b][/color] 

Puck took a step back, giving Madalena plenty of room to move. He gave a formal bow, showing his regret and respect. 

[color=FFA07A]”It’s a-alright,”[/color] Madalena sniffled. [color=FFA07A]”Who . . . who did you say you were again?”[/color] Madalena asked more as a courtesy than anything. She remembered the name he had given her but hoped that hearing him speak it again might jog her memory of it. 

[color=A52A2A][b]”Robin Goodfellow,”[/b][/color] Puck was quick to reply, [color=A52A2A][b]”but perhaps you know me by my more informal alias, Puck.”[/b][/color] 

That did it. Immediately, Madalena recalled the stories she’d read of Puck under the name Goodfellow. He was regarded an elder spirit among medieval witches, a witching god from the ancient world. His reputation has a trickster and a faery were well known to those witches, but these stories weren’t made popular until Shakespeare wrote him into [i]A Midsummer Night’s Dream[/i]. He looked different to the wood carvings and New Age illustrations Madalena had seen of him, but perhaps this was the modern guise he wore. 

Madalena, recognizing Puck as a powerful and important entity, clumsily bowed in return. 

[color=FFA07A]”It’s an honor, Mr. Goodfellow. B-but, I’m afraid I don’t have much to offer.”[/color] Madalena looked at him in confusion, gesturing to the contents of her store. [color=FFA07A]”I’m sure this isn’t anything you haven’t seen before, and I’m not really any sort of witch so I’m no. . .”[/color]

[color=A52A2A][b]”That’s precisely why I’ve come, Madalena,”[/b][/color] Puck interrupted, [color=A52A2A][b]”to ignite that cunning flame and invite you into the true witching world.”[/b][/color] 

Madalena was stunned. Years ago she dreamt of such a fate, but the idea hadn’t crossed her mind in almost ten years. Back then, when she first took an interest in the craft, she dreamed of doing the impossible, of wielding powers held by the witches and sorcerers of legend. She even favored the witches of old Disney films just because they had the power to do what they want. But as she grew older, she met many new age spirituals and Wiccan authors who turned her mind away from such flights of fancy. She gave up on being a practicing witch, opting instead for the more attainable goal of daily enlightenment and invoked positivity. She saw the old craft as her peers did, an antiquated and often violent means of shaping the world. Until recently, she wanted nothing to do with it, but everything changed once she met Marie . . .

Madalena let that thought be taken over by another one: Why me? To her knowledge, she had done nothing of note in the past few months, no acts of magic, no strange dreams, no dragon slaying. So why had she, of all people, been chosen by Puck to receive such a gift? 

[color=FFA07A]”Well, that’s very kind of you, Mr. Goodfellow,”[/color] Madalena replied hesitantly, speaking slowly in case her words made Puck angry. [color=FFA07A]”But can I ask, why? And not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but in exchange for what . . . sir.”[/color] she threw on the last bit of her reply to show her respect.

Puck grinned, sending a chill down Madalena’s spine. 

[color=A52A2A][b]”Ah, I love it when the mortals are self aware. Makes things more interesting.”[/b][/color] he said, moving around to the other side of the counter across from Madalena and placing his elbows on top, leaning forward slightly. 

[color=A52A2A][b]”The truth, my dear, and it is a harsh truth, is that you were not my first choice.”[/b][/color]

Madalena tried not to be hurt. She hadn’t expected something like this to happen to her at any point in her life, why should it bother her if she were only second or third in line for some grand mystery?

[color=A52A2A][b]”However,”[/b][/color] Puck continued, [color=A52A2A][b]”you came highly recommended by a mutual friend and an employee of mine, the person I would have chosen for this task in your stead had she not been busy. A certain Marie Hartford.”[/b][/color] 

It all made sense.

Madalena had known for months now that Marie was the White Witch. A failed robbery on Shadow of the Moon some time ago revealed Marie’s secret. She used her magic on the intruders, confirming Madalena’s suspicions. The two proceeded to have a conversation about Marie’s time as the White Witch, leading to her eventual hiatus from Shadow of the Moon. Madalena wouldn’t fire Marie for being absent, nor would she let Marie flat out quit. Madalena stubbornly and with as much sass as she could said to Marie on her final night “you’ll be back.” 

The two rarely spoke after that, and now it made sense why. If Marie had been doing god knows what for Puck this whole time, and under the mantle of the White Witch no doubt, she wouldn’t have the time to work for or speak with Madalena. She felt as though she should be grateful to Marie for mentioning her to Puck.

[color=FFA07A]”So if Marie told you about me, and you’re only just now showing up, I’m guessing it has to do with the Hounds of Humanity, right? Only other reason I can think of that you’d be desperate enough to recruit someone like me.”[/color] 

Madalena was feeling a little more brazen now that the connection to Marie had been established. She didn’t imagine that Puck would her if Marie were involved. 

Puck’s grin grew wider. 

[color=A52A2A][b]”Indeed, that’s quite the detective work there,”[/b][/color] Puck responded sarcastically. [color=A52A2A][b]”But don’t sell yourself too short, my dear. Even without my gifts, you would be involved. As we speak, the Hounds are planning an attack on your little store on the morrow. But this should come as no surprise. Given your reaction to my appearance, I’d say you were expecting them.”[/b][/color]

Madalena could feel herself becoming emotional again. What could she do about the Hounds? 

[color=FFA07A]”Why would they want to attack me?”[/color] she exclaimed, crashing her fists into the countertop. [color=FFA07A]”I haven’t done them any harm, I can’t even do magic! I don’t understand . . .”[/color] 

Madalena turned her head down, but Puck caught her chin and gently held her eyes level with his. 

[color=A52A2A][b]”It does not matter what you have or haven’t done, my dear. It’s what they think you could do that frightens them. The Hounds are terrorists, and terrorists, no matter their origin or creed, are thieves and cowards. They take what they believe they are owed, they claim superiority, they destroy their opposition not to send a message, but because they are afraid of what will come if their enemies are allowed to live. I have lived in the world of man long enough to read their fragile minds, I recognize their goals and ambitions, I see them for what they are.”[/b][/color] 

Puck leaned in closer, his face almost touching Madalena’s.

[color=A52A2A][b]”And that, my dear, is why I need you. Because for all my intuition and all my powers of foresight, something about them eludes me. I can see the destruction they will leave in their wake, but I cannot see what causes it, nor if there is a way to end it. So I need someone to be my eyes and ears, someone to who can move freely among them, someone who they won’t see coming. I need you, Madalena, because you pose them no threat, only their image.”[/b][/color]

Madalena move back slightly, a puzzled look crossing her face.

[color=FFA07A]”Wait, I don’t understand. If they’re gonna kill me regardless of whether I’m an actual threat or not, how can I do anything for you? And if I don’t have any actual power to stop them, how do I keep myself alive?”[/color] 

[color=A52A2A][b]”It is as you’ve said. You’ve done them no harm, you have no power. The Hounds will know this upon arrival. As random and indiscriminate as their attacks appear, they are more targeted than the public realizes. You, to them, are no real witch. You service and supply witches with your wares, which is enough for them to turn you into a monster in their narrative. All of this,”[/b][/color] Puck motioned to the entire store, [color=A52A2A][b]”is an affront to everything they stand for. They will destroy it on principle, but they will know that you possess no real power, and that will be to your advantage.

“If you plead your case to the Hounds when they enter, offer them your knowledge of the occult in exchange for your life, they will have no choice but to accept. For all their efforts, there are some things one cannot know about the world unseen unless one is intimately involved with it, and that is where I come in. I shall grant you greater knowledge and true power, powers the Hounds will not know of because you did not possess them until now, that can be used to deceive the Hounds once you have infiltrated their ranks. It is a dangerous gamble, I admit, but know that you would have my full protection should you agree.”[/b][/color]

Madalena fell to the wall behind her, slumping down onto the floor in thought. This was too much to take in at once. Puck seemed confident that he knew the Hounds well enough for his plan to work, but Madalena didn’t share this sentiment. But even if she didn’t, did it matter? If she agreed, she would have power like Marie, and with all that she had read about Puck, she imagined that whatever defenses he could offer would likely be more than enough to keep her safe from the Hounds long enough for her to get away from a dangerous situation. Another worry crossed her mind, what happened after all of this was over?

[color=FFA07A]”I don’t know,”[/color] Madalena voiced her concern, [color=FFA07A]”I mean, assuming all of this goes down how you’ve said, then what? I can only get so close before they realize something’s up. What happens then?”[/color]

[color=A52A2A][b]”A reasonable doubt,”[/b][/color] Puck responded cooly, moving around to the other side of the counter and kneeling down to her level. [color=A52A2A][b]”It is true, the powers I offer come at a price. A bargain must be made, but upon the completion of this task, however far to completion it comes, you will not lose your power nor your place in the witching world. To be initiated into the great witchcraft is to be forever changed, my dear. There is no turning back. It is a bond I cannot break, nor would I wish it broken.”[/b][/color]

[color=FFA07A]”And if I say yes, do we shake hands, does lightning strike me and I fall into a deep sleep? How does this work?”[/color] Madalena questioned, her old sense of humor finally surfacing. 

Puck chuckled as he stood up, holding out his arm to help Madalena up a second time. He lead her over to the counter and wave a hand over the top, an oversized, tattered, black-leather bound book manifesting from a spout of flames and dark smoke with a flash that left Madalena momentarily dazed. Puck flipped through its pages, landing on a blank page near the middle. 

[color=A52A2A][b]”If you agree, you need but sign your name here . . . then all the world shall be yours in return.”[/b][/color]