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Chapter One
He was born on the thirteenth day at the thirteenth hour. When the labor began, a storm moved in. Dark clouds covered the sun, making it as dark as the night. Lightning flashed, thunder rolled, and the wind howled. The closer the baby came, the harder the storm hit, crashing onto the earth with madness. The cabin had been built to withstand any storm, but even with the strong walls, it almost didn’t hold. It was the first storm England had seen of this magnitude for a long time. Candles had been scattered throughout the cabin to light up the room. Amazingly, the wind that pushed through the cracks in the walls hadn’t blown them out.
The midwife held her knees as she looked down. “He’s almost here, push!”
“I can’t,” she cried. “I can’t do this.” Her body was covered in sweat.
“You can do this. Push,” the mid-wife said as she watched for the baby. “I see his head. Keep pushing!”
The mother pushed with all her might as thunder and lightning argued. Finally, a new sound welcomed the cabin—the sounds of a little babe crying.
The midwife wrapped the newborn in old rags and placed him in his mama’s arms. The mother looked down at him with a weakened smile. Labor was long and hard, and she was tired. When the woman’s arms went limp, the midwife gently removed the baby and placed him in a cradle under the window. A flash of lightning lit up the room, revealing that the newborn was sleeping.
The storm pushed through the small village but lifted by sunrise. The midwife had been there all night, making sure the baby was kept warm as the mother slept. She fed him watered-down goat’s milk when he was hungry, changed him when his cloth diaper was wet and rocked him when he cried.
When the morning sun kissed her cheek, she opened her eyes feeling well-rested. She sat up in bed and looked at the cradle where her son was sleeping. She looked out the window and saw white puffy clouds. “It is a good morning,” she said as she pushed the blankets off of her. She stood up and walked to the cradle, and looked down at her son. She was widowed and lived alone. The baby was her husband’s last gift before he was killed in a hunting accident just a few months before.
A bright light appeared from behind her, so the woman turned around. Standing before her was a soft light with a brightness to it that should have hurt her eyes but it didn’t. It was circular in shape and even though it hadn’t spoken yet, she could feel his words. She knew it must be an angel based on her upbringing. She immediately dropped to her knees and bowed her head in tears of joy.
“Ava, why do you bow? I am not the Lord, your savior; you don’t need to worship me. Stand and be proud. I have wonderful news about your son,” a voice said from inside the light. It was like a choir singing in unison, soft and soothing.
Hearing his voice brought on more tears as her body began to shake. The woman had never seen or heard anything so beautiful in her entire life. She wept as she sat on her knees. She could not stand; her grace had her frozen in place.
The light changed shape as it expanded and the glow softened. A being that resembled a man stepped out of the light and the glow vanished. He was a tall slender man and he wore a long white gown that moved on his body like the waves of the ocean. His eyes were a pale blue that were calming. His smile was as warm as the morning sun that shined through the open window. “Please stand. You’re the mother of a child who will do great things in his life. Stand with pride.”
Suddenly, terrible thoughts filled the woman’s head. “How will I care for my son? His father left me all alone and I have no way to care for him,” she said as she slowly stood, her legs tried to pull her back down as they shook with a passion for serving God.
“Today is the first day of a new change, Ava. You will not have any more worries because everything will be good. I’ve come to share good news with you.” The angel paused as he grinned at the woman. “Two men are coming to your house at this very moment. They will farm your land in return for shelter. They will provide everything you will ever need. A woman will meet them before they reach your house and will join them on their journey. She will help you raise your son, and teach him of our ways. All you will need to do is love your son.”
The angel put his hand on her shoulder, and she felt his warmth surround her. Visions visited her mind, frightening her because she didn’t know what they were or how they were coming to her. She saw many things, some wonderful things, and some frightening things. She saw a man standing next to a beautiful woman in a large castle. She felt warmth from the man as he gazed upon her. She saw the same man fighting a woman, wearing clothing she’d never seen before. She saw a field of men and women fighting with orbs of light. Blood was shed between them. She saw a doorway opening up with smoke lifting rising it. Ava opened her eyes and looked at the angel. “What did I just see?” she asked, feeling fear and amazement. It was as if the things she had seen had touched her soul, leaving a mark within her.
“You saw a strong man leading an army into war. That man is your son.
“That was my baby boy?” Her eyes lit up in amazement but then fear set in. “But I don’t want to lose him like I lost his father.”
“Do not give in to your fear, Ava. Raise your son with the love in your heart. Lilith will do the rest. He will be a great man with many followers, and they will die for him so he may not.”
Ava lowered her head. She could not look at the angel now in fear she would disappoint him. “I will do my best.” Her voice was soft.
The angel took one step closer to her and pulled her chin up. “I know you will do your best. May I see your son?”
The woman led him to the window, her eyes on the cradle as the baby slept. The mid-wife was sleeping next to the cradle and did not move when she picked up the newborn. She handed him to the angel. “His name is John. I named him after his father.”
“It is a strong name for a strong child.” The angel kissed his forehead and whispered something in his ear. She could not hear what he whispered to the baby. Then the angel took something from what appeared to be a pocket and he sprinkled something that looked like glitter over her son’s body. He glowed for a moment as the glitter settled over him. “This is an angel’s essence; it will give your son strength and power over other men. He will lead these men to victory, and the dark shall consume us with a blanket of warmth. His power will protect us from the Light.”
“But I thought the light was good?” the woman asked.
“The light from the sun is good, yes. A moon’s glow is also good. This is something different. They call themselves the Children of the Light, and they are not wanted among us. You must not let them in. They will corrupt you with their lies and tell you that you must follow them to be saved, promise you good things like a healthy harvest if you obey, and tempt you with good fortunes if you only serve the Light. But those things will be false promises. We bring our own good fortunes, so you must not give in to them.”
“Yes, sir,” she said as she bowed her head again. The woman was confused, but this was an angel sent down from Heaven. He would not lie to her, so she feared the Children of the Light.
The angel placed the sleeping newborn back into the cradle and turned. He gazed at the one-room shack. “This home will not do. Your son will become the Great Dark Witch and will be very powerful. His power will reign until our Master returns home to take his rightful place as King. He needs to live in a place fit for a prince for he shall stand by our Master’s side and rule as one of his princes.” He looked at the woman. “You will stand tall and be proud of your son, for he will do great things.” The angel waved his hand and transformed the little cottage into something grander.
The small one-room cabin began to shake as the walls grew taller and the room became wider. The fireplace in the back of the room also grew, giving them more heat and. The window in the front of the home expanded, and glass appeared in the opening, keeping the heat inside. The window was in working order, able to open and close as needed. The woman smiled as the tears ran down her cheeks. She was in awe of the glory she was witnessing.
Ava gazed at her hands. “I-I don’t deserve such greatness,” she told the angel. “You must not give me so much.”
“Your journey will not be a small task. You will need a strong structure to raise your son. And with the three people coming to help you, you will need your own room. Open that door and see what I have given you. Please, do not fear what I have given you. You are more deserving than you know.”
The angel disappeared as she opened the door. She could see it, but she couldn’t believe it—a grand bed with side tables, a lantern with oil, and blankets made of the best cotton. She rubbed her eyes and looked again. The room was beautiful. She picked up John and showed him the room, but he was still sleeping. The woman walked through the house and found more doors that weren’t there before. Behind each closed door was another room with a bed in it. She pulled John to her bosom and thanked the heavens for her gifts.
Just as the angel had promised, three strangers came to her farm a few days later—two men and one woman. They were dressed in black from head to toe. On their necks, Ava noticed something strange. The markings were not something she’d seen before, etched into their skin and appeared to be worn proudly. On each one of them, the upside-down star was wrapped in a circle. She had seen them coming through the open window, and watched them approach the house until they reached the house. She thought to herself all the wonderful things she’d ask them about their travels. Ava had never been outside of the small town she’d lived in. When she opened the door to greet them, she stood frozen in the doorway unable to speak.
“We came seeking shelter, food, and work. We have traveled a long ways to reach your home,” the woman said as she smiled.
Ava smiled at the three travelers and backed away from the door, signaling for them to enter. All she could do was smile, her words refused to come. She felt embarrassed by this.
“You have a beautiful home,” the woman said.
Ava felt her muscles loosening and she spoke out. “Thank you.” She placed her fingers on her throat and rubbed it. She knew these were the ones she had been expecting so she offered them a drink.
John began to cry, so Ava rushed to his side and gently picked him up. She bounced him in her arms but the child would not stop crying. She couldn’t understand why he was fussing. His diaper was dry and he had been fed from her bosom.
“May I?” the woman asked as her hands stretched out.
Ava handed John to the woman and watched in awe as he quickly quieted down. It was a sign.
“I don’t have much, but I have land that needs farming and I need help, so if you’d like to stay here, I’d be happy to have you.”
“We would be honored,” the woman said as she held John.
The three travelers were brought to their rooms and they settled in. Ava got to know them over tea once they were cleaned up.
The woman was known as Lilith. She was tall with long black hair. Her hazel eyes danced as she laughed. She was thin, almost too thin as if she hadn’t had enough to eat. Her black gown touched the top of her shoes, which were also black. Her cloak had been just as long as her dress. It hung by the door with the other cloaks wore by the two men.
The two men were Elijah and Jacob. Both of the men had brown hair although Jacob’s hair was much lighter. Their skin was both darkened from the sun and their hands were roughened by the work they both had done.
That night before the sun disappeared behind the horizon, Ava felt as though she needed to thank the Heavens. She wished she could thank the angel, himself. She dropped to her knees and began to openly pray.
Jacob swiftly went to her side and helped her stand. “You have much to learn about our ways. We give thanks to the Dark Lord, he is the reason you have these things and will have a bright future. There is no need to pray. He knows what he has done for you.”
“I apologize. I did not mean to offend you in any way,” Ava said.
“We are not offended. There is much to learn, and your son will be the greatest man who walked this land. He will learn our ways, and he will fight for it to save us.”
“Thank you, Jacob,” Ava said. She knew it would take time to learn their ways, but she would try, and she would be thankful for their arrival and help.
Jacob and Elijah went to work at day break. Ava was in awe at how hard they worked. She got to know the three of them more as the days came and went.
John was a good baby and only cried when Lilith wasn’t near him. He was all right when his mother held him, but if Lilith left the room, he would become irritated and cried until she returned. Ava noticed this and soon became saddened by it. The older John became, the closer he was to the woman, and further Ava fell away. She became depressed and hid away when John wasn’t in the house as if she was saddened to see him in the outside world. But when John was in the house, she was there watching him grow, telling him she loved him, and fed him his meals.
His powers grew too. Things flew about in the room as he moved his hand. In the beginning, it was chaos, but once Lilith taught him to use control, it was easy for him to catch on. A year came and went, then two; and before Ava knew it, John was five years old. He was growing faster than any child in the village, mentally.
Lilith had been given the essence as well, from the same angel who visited John’s mother. He had promised her a wonderful future if she obeyed his command and worked with the little boy. She couldn’t have children of her own, so she vowed to love him as if he was her little boy. And she made due on that promise, loving him and training him as he grew older. Every day, it was something new.
When John was old enough, he walked to the village with Lilith. Not once did he ever ask his mother to go with him. It didn’t feel right to him since Lilith had been the one who was there the most. He did know who his mother was and he did love her, but he always felt more comfortable with Lilith because she understood him and accepted him for what he was. He could see it in his mother’s eyes so he knew she knew that as well.
It was as if Lilith could see into his soul and knew what he was thinking when he was thinking. “Your mother doesn’t understand our ways, John. Love her and guide her so she may see the darkness as we do,” Lilith told John as they walked down the dirt road. She peered down at him and smiled. “She will come around eventually. Be patient with her, you must.” It had been three days since he turned five years old. He understood the full language and was far in his knowledge past that.
“I know she will come around. She’s my mother,” he said. He looked up at Lilith and he showed a toothful grin.
“Yes, she is your mother, and she will play a strong role for you when you are older. The war you will fight will be long, and there will be many sacrifices. Stay on the path, and your rewards will be plentiful.”
“I will Lilith, thank you.” John began to levitate as they walked down the road towards the village. There wasn’t anyone around.
“John, control yourself. You must not allow the mortals to see your powers just yet. They are not ready for it and will not understand. They will fear you and try to hurt you.”
“I’m sorry. Sometimes, I can’t help myself. I want to do so much.”
“I know you do, and you will. But first, you must learn control. That is very important.”
“Okay,” he told her and lowered back to the ground. When they reached the village, they picked up the supplies they needed and returned home. Lilith continued to work with John, teaching him about control and when to use his powers.
While John was still five years old, he had a little time alone to practice some of his skills. He found a piece of broken glass and magically moved it closer to him. As the glass floated across the dirt, the sun’s rays hit it just right to reveal its power. John grinned as he snapped the piece out of the air. He carried it to a small animal, and began cooking it. He sat there as he watched the ants and other small animals die under the sun’s reflected light. His grin only grew. Then it was time for him to train with Lilith. It was late afternoon, as it was every day. Fewer people walking by the farm during that time of the day, so they had no witnesses except for Ava. The more she saw how John was turning out to be, the more she didn’t like what they were doing. But she loved him and knew he was promised to be something special. John could feel her fear and wished he could show her how wonderful it was being a child of the dark.
For ten years, John worked hard learning his powers and their limits. He was cruel to the animals and always used them for his power test. It brought him much joy seeing an animal disappear or running in fear. He learned to like fear. “Why is it wrong for people to fear me?” He asked one evening.
“Fear is good, but the people in the village will destroy you, John. You are not powerful enough to stop them. I suggest you keep training until you are. Then you may show them what you have within you.” Lilith knew what she was talking about.
Lilith thought back of when she first met the angel who brought her to the farm. “We will be at war with the Children of the Light, and need an army. John will lead that army, and you will be at his side,” the angel told her. When he gave her the essence, he also passed on the knowledge of how to use it but he never told her to control this power. Lilith allowed the village she lived in to see what she could do, and they tried to kill her because she had burned down the village. She was in the process of being burned at the stake, but the angel saved her. The village people could not see him as he stood before Lilith. “The child is born. You will meet two men wearing black robes, and the three of you will go to the farm where the boy was born. You will train him and guide him as he grows from a boy into a man. Go now.” The ropes that had her restrained dropped into the fire and she walked out of the flames untouched. She met the two men in robes and found the farm. As she watched John, now 16 years old, she smiled as the memories came and went.
It was only a year later when John found his true strength; and his powers were mature enough for him to begin building his army. It was small in the beginning, and people did fear him. The village did not try to destroy him because their fear was too great. He walked to the village nearly every day and taunted people who lived in the village. Two men were turned into pigs, and they were joined with the other pigs, waiting to be slaughtered. John had shared his secret just as the slaughter began. His laughter revealed that he didn’t care if they found the right pigs or not. He stood as he watched the men look through the group, terrified they had already killed their friends. They never did find them and John didn’t stop there.
John walked to the center of town and called out to the people. He had been a regular in the town by then and everyone knew him by name and face. Some had seen his powers first hand, so they feared him but were amazed by him at the same time. When he went to the town’s square, he yelled and made a commotion. The people were compelled to see what the matter was. They had no idea what was happening, so they circled him, eager to hear what he would have to say. Except for the two men who were pigs, the entire village was there. John widened his legs, raised his hands to the sky, and summoned a storm with heavy lightning. The rain came pouring down. The people did not run, they couldn’t. He was keeping them in their place; his magic was holding strong forcing them to bear witness. As their faces revealed fear, he began to speak. “I will strike down anyone who will defy me. I am your leader, your king. You will do for me as I wish or you will die.” His voice was loud and firm.
Everyone who stood began to kneel. They bowed their heads as he stood there controlling the storm. He lowered his hands, and the rain stopped. He could hear some of the people praying. John smiled and snapped his fingers, each of those people turned into dust. Women screamed.
“I am the darkness that protects you. Follow me, and the Light will not harm anyone anymore.” He pushed out his hand and waited for the people to come to him. One-by-one, the people stood up and came to him. They touched his hand and became new. “Stand tall, my children, for I will lead you into a battle of war. We will rise and defeat the Light. We will take what is ours and do what we want, when we want it. We will fear no one and be feared by all.”
The men who stood by his side had completely changed. They stood tall as their eyes turned black. Their muscles were weak and frail until that moment. Now they were strong and filled with an anger that never existed. John’s reputation had been born that very moment.
****
Chapter 2
John was now a man. He was ruthless, feared, showed no mercy, and was hated. Those who would not follow him were either banished or put to death. Some followed him only to keep their lives. Behind his back, they tried to get the word out for help from other witches. The term witch, was used widely now.
The angel visited John several times once he had become a grown man. It only appeared they had become friends. “I have heard there is another witch, and she is a powerful one at that. She hasn’t been born yet, but you will meet her when the time comes. There are things you will need to learn about her so you will be prepared.”
“If she isn’t born yet, how will I learn about her?” John acquired.
“Because she is part of the Ancient Ones with me.”
“Yes, I’ve heard of these Ancient Ones. The first witches, a group of angels who gave humans the power of magic. Can you tell me more about your group since you are one of them?” John was more intrigued about the Ancient Ones than he was about a woman who hadn’t even been born yet. He wasn’t seeing a threat with her.
“I will tell you everything you want to know about our people, but until then, you need to learn more about this woman. I’m telling you, she’s the only thing strong enough to stop you.”
“Stop me? You don’t know who you’re talking to, Angel.” John felt cocky. He didn’t think there was anything strong enough to stop him and he was still growing, maturing; so by the time this woman would be born, he’d be too powerful for even this woman—whoever she was.
“John, you may feel as though you are all powerful and great, but I am telling you, she’s far more powerful than you are,” the angel whispered as he disappeared. Moments later, a loud voice hit the farm like thunder. “Learn about the girl.” Everyone dropped to their knees and bowed.
“Stand tall; I’m the one you should fear. Not some angel,” John said to the people as they were down on their knees. He did not like seeing them bow to an angel; he didn’t care how powerful this angel was. They were there to bow before him, no one else.
John had been hearing there was a larger home in the next town where two sisters lived with their father. He heard they had powers as well. He knew the one sister was a witch, wasn’t sure about the other girl but had a feeling she would be too since the one was. He began to think that he was going to need some help if he was going to appease the angel and learn more about the girl. First, he would need to friend the women and help them with their magic.
John said goodbye to his mother, something he had done all of his life if he was going to be gone for more than a few hours, and asked Lilith to join him. Having a woman with him might help his cause. He had gained control over his powers and was very good at moving from one area to another with ease. When they appeared before the castle, he smiled.
There was something about this castle that made him feel at home—he wasn’t sure what it was. It was like it had been created for him. The castle was grand, had large windows, made of stone and rock with unusual markings on them, and had an eerie feeling to it like it was haunted. “Lilith, this castle is magnificent. When I rule over the earth, this shall be my home.”
“Yes, and it would make a beautiful home for you, John. Come; let’s make some new friends, shall we?” Lilith said.
They approached the door and rang the doorbell. A man with a fine suit answered the door. He was old and frail, at least John thought so.
“I’m here to see the sisters,” John said as he grinned.
“And who’s calling, sir?” the man asked.
“I am the man who’s about to make their dreams come true,” he said with an attitude. He was willing to send this man to another dimension if he wouldn’t allow him to see the sisters.
The old man turned away and left the door, half-open. It was as if he was letting them know he would return.
Lilith stood behind John as they waited for the sisters to come to the door. They finally answered the door, and John could not believe his eyes. They were so young.
One of the sisters, the older one, smiled at them. It appeared she had recognized John. Her eyes had widened as her smile grew. “Sir, please enter,” the girl said. He was sure others would know of him, even two towns over but she didn’t fear him and the other girl did nothing, which also surprised him. But this older sister was more of a surprise; her smile was sweet and revealed something else. And even though her eyes were wide, there was something sinister behind it, which made John feel something else. He didn’t know what it was, but something was sparked the moment he looked at her.
John and Lilith followed the young girl to a large room that was lined with shelves and too many books to count. He ran his finger along the edges of the books as he walked around the room. A vision appeared in his mind of him being in this very room much later in his life. He smiled and turned to the young girl. “This is where I was meant to be,” he told her.
“I’ve had dreams of you, sir. I know who you are, and I will follow you to the depths of Hell if you’d allow me, sir,” the young girl said.
The other girl just stood there at the doorway. She did not enter the room. There was something about her that John did not like. “Is your name Myra?” he asked her.
“Yes, it is, but how did you know? You’ve only met us today.”
“I know many things, mostly from others. I’m here to see your sister, if you don’t mind. You may leave.” He didn’t see any threat with her and thought it would be better just letting her be for now. He came for the young lady before him. She was young, but she’d be a good student for him and an even better follower. He could see it. But he felt something else in the room.
“Is something bothering you, sir?” the young woman asked.
“Has this castle ever been somewhere else?” he asked her.
“No, it’s always been here. Why do you ask?”
“I feel something else in this room. I feel as though I’ve been here before, but it wasn’t here in England.” Another vision appeared in his mind, and he looked at the woman. “Do you have a cellar?”
“Yes, it is below our feet. Would you like to see it?” The girl led John to the lower rooms and showed him the cellar. He looked at the floor in amazement.
“What are you looking for?” she asked with a sweet voice.
“It isn’t here, but it only means it hasn’t happened yet. I had a vision.”
“You have the power of sight?” She drew nearer.
He took her by the hand and gazed into her eyes. “I do. Come, we must not waste time. Lilith and I will train you. There is a war, and I need you in my army.”
“Thank you, I would love to join you,” she said. She bowed her head and kissed his hand. It was something no one had done before. He enjoyed the attention. The Ancient Ones had given him the power of sight to see where he was going. This ability gave him the knowledge he would need.
He kept the trainings secretive around the girls’ father. He even placed a magical bubble around them as they trained outside, keeping them hidden from the world. As much as he wanted to keep people in fear from what they were doing, he also knew there were too many witches of Light, so hiding the training sessions was the only way to keep their plans hidden. They even used the elements to help them train. Snow, rain, or sunshine—nothing was going to stop them from moving forward.
“My Lord, what do you have planned for today?” Feida asked him when he arrived. It was always the same question.
“Well, first, we need to make this sun go away. It is much too bright out today. So for today’s training, I want you to learn how to control the weather. I’ve done it, now I want you to do it.” Lilith stood behind him smiling.
As Feida studied the books in the library, seeking the right spell to use, the door chimed. The butler answered, and they could hear a man’s voice. He had heard the man’s voice before so he knew who the man was and didn’t like him. John noticed how Feida perked up when she heard the man’s voice. The man was Alden and he was Myra’s beau, but it didn’t stop Feida from liking him any less. “You know you can make the man yours if you use a little magic,” he told her. He didn’t like saying it but he wanted her to be happy. He hadn’t told her how he felt about her.
“Really? How?” she asked him.
“There are several ways. Take what’s yours, Feida.”
“I like how you think, my Lord. Tell me more.” She kneeled at his feet as if to kiss them, but she only placed her forehead on them. “I want to learn your ways and become just like you. Show me how Alden can be mine, and my sister can become lonely. She was always our father’s favorite—she can tend to him as he lies dying in his bed. Then when he passes, and we inherit this castle, I can destroy her and take it all for myself.”
“You have a good heart, Feida. I will help you make all your dreams come true. But first, let’s make the shadows rise and cover the sun.” He pulled her back to her feet.
“Yes, my Lord. As you wish.”
A cauldron appeared in the center of the room. As the liquid inside it boiled, Feida began adding herbs and other things to the potion. Steam filled the room, adding a feeling of turmoil. John took in a deep breath and let out a sigh. He loved the scent of pain, turmoil, despair, and fear. All the things normal people dreaded, he loved. And even though she didn’t love him, he loved the woman making the spell to lessen the brightness of the sun. He would do anything for her if she only knew it. John did love Lilith but it wasn’t the same. She was his second mother, he could never love her in the same way he loved Feida. Feida was like a soul mate if such a thing actually existed.
The more Feida listened to John, the more she would lose her soul. She would give anything to John to learn how to make things hers, to take control over her world, and to take down her loving, good-for-nothing, sweet, passionate sister. Ever since they were little children, she despised her. And then John came into their lives, and she knew he’d help her be rid of Myra. She smiled as she stirred the boiling liquid. “It is ready, my Lord. I will speak the words and cast a shadow over the sun. I will make the rains come, and thunder will fill our ears with a terrible sonnet.”
He nodded his head.
“Four elements of the world, listen to my plea. I call to air, water, earth, and fire. Hear my words. Cast down your shadows and bring forth the darkness. Listen to my plea and turn day into night.” Her hands waved over the cauldron, sending out the steam into different directions. The windows opened, allowing the steam to leave the castle and lift into the air. Feida rushed over to the window and watched the outside as the trees began swaying in the strong winds; the sky became gloomy as the clouds rushed in covering the sun. Rain poured down, and there was a clash of thunder followed by a streak of lightning. The wind howled past the window, and she smiled at a job well done.
“You did well, my child. You will learn to do this exact thing without using potions. It is much harder but it can be done. All you need is a talisman to hone in on your magic. But I should warn you, for it to work, you must be connected to your sister.” John knew that they had a sisterly bond even though they didn’t spend any time together. He could feel it when the sisters were in the same room together.
“Why is that?” she asked him.
“I couldn’t sense it when I met the two of you, but something is in the air today. I can smell her powers just as yours grow. You are connected somehow. If you both wear the jewels around your neck, you can drain her powers and take them for your own. I will show you how. I will make the sacrifice to show you how to create such magic.”
“Sacrifice? What do you mean?”
“We should have this discussion at our next meeting. Until then, let’s enjoy the weather, shall we?”
Feida nodded her head and smiled. They transported outside and began run in the yard. They laughed and chased each other as the rain washed over them. They were like children as they ran and danced. A flash of light hit a tree. As it engulfed in flames, John stood and watched. He was out of breath, taking in deep bursts of air. His chest raised and lowered as he watched the fire take the tree. Feida walked over to him and took his hand. They watched the red and orange embers dance, stealing the life from the tree as they smiled. “I shall do that to the world, Feida. I will take their energy as my own. I will become more powerful than any good witch will be. I will defeat Emily Peterson just because I’ll have more energy than of my own.”
Feida began to laugh. She could be heard for miles as her laughter rose above the thunder that filled the night sky. The storm lasted the rest of the day. By the true night, the spell had worn off, and the sky became clear—revealing the stars. John left for the evening.
The next day, her true training began. Feida was a clumsy woman; her powers were all over the place. She went through more furniture than anyone John had ever seen before. “I got this,” she said as the vase hit the floor. She conjured up a new vase and tried again. Five attempts later and she finally knew how to make the vase fly across the room.
“Why is it that you can hide the sun but something as simple as moving an object is difficult for you?” John asked.
“My apologies, my Lord. It doesn’t make sense to me to move things. I want to do dark things like you do. Hiding the sun seems to be a more powerful thing. I truly want to be as dark as you are.” Her eyes gazed into his.
“You will get there. It does take time, Feida. But you already have the darkness within your heart—that does not require any training. These things do. Now try again.”
Feida was as determined as John, which amazed him. He saw something in her that warmed his heart. The way she looked at the darkness was the way he had looked at it too. The more he knew about her, the more he liked. Feida became stronger than he had expected. He knew she would be the one to use to defeat Emily. He held back, not telling her what some of those plans were. He wanted to enjoy her company a little longer before revealing the plans he had for Feida. Telling her too soon, may scare her off, and he didn’t want to do that.
Within a couple months, she could move anything of any size. She even moved her father while he slept. When he awoke the next morning, he thought he had been sleep-walking. Feida and John laughed about it for hours. It wasn’t easy retaining a normal appearance while at the castle but as long as the bubbles remained, they could continue working on each task undetected.
“My father wants to hold another ball, my Lord. Would you like to attend this time?” She looked up at him as they rested by the fireplace. It had been a long day.
“I think I would. It would give me a chance to learn more about you.” He smiled at her and she looked away, blushing. It was the first time she had since he had known her. “When is the ball?”
“In two days,” she answered.
“Then tomorrow, I will show you how to conjure up live animals.” John stood up and approached Feida. He pulled her up, bowed to her, and kissed her cheek. He wanted a reaction from her.
Feida touched her cheek and sat down. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
“Yes,” John said as he turned to leave the parlor. He located Lilith, who was still outside training with the others. They transported back to his home where he told his mother he had found the woman of his dreams.
“Does that mean you will settle down and bare children so I’ll have grandchildren?”
“Why would I do that?” He wasn’t sure why she would want grandchildren. “Anyway, she’s in love with another man.”
“Oh, I see. Then she doesn’t know how you feel about her.”
“No, she doesn’t and I won’t tell her. I’ve seen her future, mother. She has no place with me and I’ve accepted that.”
“John, it doesn’t have to be that way. You two can have a good life together. If you love her, you will do right by her.”
“I do love her, mother. She’s as evil as I am. Moving forward with the plans that I was created for is doing right by her.”
“I see.” Ava kissed John on the cheek and disappeared into her room. She went to sleep while he conjured up a meal and ate. He turned in a few hours later.
During the evening of the ball, John transported to the castle wearing all black. He did not wear a suit even though it was proper attire. He stood out from the other guests. He could hear their conversations and he laughed at them. The only thing that disturbed him was the way Feida watched Alden and her sister. The mortals did not know of their magic, so John had to play nice while in public. He did not like it. If it were up to him, he’d burn them all and watch them turn to ashes with a smile on his face. But he had given his life to the darkness, and it had a plan. He was a big role in that plan, even though he wasn’t sure what it was—only that the fate of the world depended on him being the Great Dark Witch.
The next morning, John and Lilith returned to the castle and continued the training. John worked directly with Feida as he always had before. He taught her how to conjure up live animals and together, they slaughtered them. She seemed to enjoy bringing on death just as much as he did. That was a thrill for John. Everything she did made him feel a little closer to her. Alden was always the only thing that could pull her away from him.
Another year past. More training. By now, they were working on more complex things and spells. They didn’t need the cauldron for most of the spells now. Feida was picking up rather quickly. “You’ve been practicing,” John said with a grin.
“Yes. I want to please you, my Lord.”
“It pleases me quite well.” He grinned. “Are you ready to create orbs and other defensive tactics?”
“Oh, yes. Yes, I am.” Her eyes lit up.
As the year slowly dragged on, John worked with her revealing all the different techniques and what each magical orb could do. They were protected by the bubble as they took turns firing at moving objects. They both laughed as the birds dropped out of the sky.
Visions came and went, and he learned about the woman named Emily Peterson, who would be born of Light magic. She was young when she learned about her powers too. But some of the visions, he had of Emily wasn’t young so he knew she had been trained long and hard, which only meant he would push his followers to train even harder. He swore to defeat her at all cost. But he would need to prepare for the day first. It didn’t matter when that day was, they would be ready for it.
He returned home with Lilith as he had every night since the training began, and asked his mother how her day had been.
“Well, more people arrived, so I’ve been feeding them, John. Jacob and Elijah have been training them hard. I hope this will all be over when the war is finished. Do you know when it will come?”
“I do not, Mother. But I have learned of a way where you won’t have to worry about it. Would you come with me to the castle on my next visit?”
“Sure. I’d love to see what you do all day over there. Are you hungry?” she asked him.
“Yes, I am. I hope you made plenty.”
“Yes, I have.” Ava walked over to the kitchen and filled a plate with food. There was steak, roasted potatoes and carrots, and rice. She wasn’t sure where all the food had come from, but she stopped questioning things when John came into his powers.
As John ate his supper, another vision visited his mind. He sat there and paid attention to what he saw. Feida and Myra had been fighting over Alden in this vision. He didn’t like that man and felt he would be trouble for him if the man remained since Feida was distracted by him whenever he was at the castle. He had to come up with a plan to be rid of him. Time would come when he would, but as long as he was there, it would keep Myra busy, so he had to make his plan work; for later. He had time before that day would come. So he finished his supper, kissed his mother on the cheek, and went to bed for the night. He dreamed of taking over the world. It was a good dream.
When morning came, he prepared for the day. His mother dressed and was ready to go on the trip. John checked his followers before they left. “I want everyone to keep training. Make it difficult for them. Anyone who doesn’t show their full potential will be punished. I will check on their progress when I return,” he told Elijah.
“Yes, sir,” he said.
John, Lilith, and Ava left for the castle. It was mid-morning when they arrived. It had been the first time Ava experienced being teleported somewhere and didn’t like it. She rushed over to a bush a vomited behind it.
Lilith headed inside the castle as John took his mother to the woods just beyond the front yard. The area was large with a dirt road centered, which led to the castle. They stood on the side of the road looking at the tall beautiful trees. When Lilith returned with Feida, they walked into the woods where the shadows waited for them. He chose these trees because they were close to the castle where he was spending most of his time at.
“Mother, do you like these trees?” John asked.
“Yes, they are quite beautiful. They are full of life. Why did you bring me here, John?”
“Because I wanted you to see them.” He walked her over to the smallest tree. He placed her hand on the tree. “Can you feel the life it holds, Mother?”
“It is a healthy tree, yes,” she said.
As they stood by the tree, the skies darkened, and the shadows drew near. John lifted his hands over his mother as her hand was still pressed against the trunk of the tree. She wasn’t paying any attention to him as she gazed into the woods, watching the shadows moving towards them. He began whispering things as the wind picked up. A burst of lightning flashed, causing Ava to jump closer to the tree. With her body pressed against the tree, John placed his hand on her head and continued whispering into the wind. More lightning rose and fell.
A vine reached out and grabbed Ava. “What’s going on? John, what are you doing?” she asked as the vine held her wrist. The tight grip would not let her go; no matter how hard she tried to pull it off of her. “Combine this soul with this life and make them one. Keep their energy for my own. Give me strength with her blood. Take her now and make her mine.” As he spoke the words, a rush of wind took hold of Ava, swirling around her. She screamed for mercy, begging John to stop, but he did not hear her. The shadows came and covered her until she was united with the tree. Smoke lifted from the tree, and Ava was gone.
John closed his eyes and spoke to the tree. “Now, Mother, calm down. It is for the best. You will be safe here until we have fought our war. Once we have beaten the Children of the Light, I will release you. Fear not, for I will keep you safe,” he said. He put his hand on the tree for a moment of silence as his eyes remained closed. “I will keep you safe, Mother,” he lied to her.
John turned and looked at Feida. A grin on her face revealed that Feida was on his side, as he already knew. She had been taking lives on her own and her training was almost complete, but seeing that grin on her face made him smile. “Sometimes, we must do what we must do. It is for the greater evil. We will be rewarded for the things we do.” He touched the tree one more time. “And sometimes we will give our own lives to receive a new one.” He stepped away from the tree and placed his hand on Feida’s shoulder. “Now you’ve seen how far we must go to win this war. This is only the beginning.”
Feida stood there, looking at the tree. “Yes, I see, my Lord.” She could softly hear Ava crying out. “It is for the best,” she said and turned away. She followed Lilith and John back up to the castle where they trained a little more.
“Soon, I will bring forth our coven and create your pendent of power. Through it, you will become more powerful than you have ever dreamed, and together we will rise. Nothing will stand in our way.”
John listened to his mother’s cries and grinned knowing she’d be the first to give him more power. It was part of the plan to grow stronger. He felt she should be honored being the first. He would have been if the darkness wanted him for it. But, no, the darkness wanted him to lead an army into a war that had no date set for his natural lifetime. He only knew this much since Emily Peterson hadn’t been born yet.
****
Chapter Three
John began to feel stronger as his mother’s energies were drawn to him. It wasn’t enough, he hungered for more power. He had learned much about the woman named Emily Peterson and saw how much stronger she was, so he knew he would need more. His power alone would not be enough to defeat this woman. Instead of destroying those who denied him, he did the same to them as he did to his mother. They would live as trees, and he would feed off their energies until there was nothing of them left, and their souls would be trapped within the trees forever, giving even more energy after their deaths—just like his mother. It would empower him enough to do what needed to be done. The Children of the Light would not know what hit them until it was much too late. He smiled at the thought.
One of John’s followers knew enough about talismans and the powers they gave their owners, so he assigned him the job of making two pendants for Feida and Myra. When the necklaces were ready, John called on his followers to aid him in the magic binding ceremony that he created to fuel the pendants with the power needed to help Feida.
As before, a bubble was placed around the library to protect them from being heard and seen. Even while inside the castle, they had gone many years being unnoticed by mortals who knew nothing of magic. It would remain that way until the day he chose. Feida’s father and sister weren’t even aware. They only thought John was a friend. The large castle helped conceal them as well.
Many of his followers came to the castle to aid him in the ceremony to enchant the necklace that would give Feida her surge of power. They would also protect the castle itself. The group of followers circled the castle, joined hands, and chanted a spell he wrote, given aide from the angel, as he prepared Feida for the evening’s events. Alone, the followers were not strong enough to create a chant that would protect the castle but together they might be enough. He wanted the castle protected just in case something would happen. He sensed something within the wind. As John waited for the protection spell surrounding the castle to be finished, he called for them to bring in Myra. He had cast a spell to ease her into a deep sleep. Their father had already gone to bed for the evening but he had been cast into a deep sleep as well just to be safe. Once John felt the protection spell was strong enough to contain them, he called to Feida to begin.
“Feida, are you ready to gain new powers?” he asked her.
“I am.”
“Come with me to the cauldron,” he told her. He opened the door to the library, and they stepped inside. Feida’s eyes circled the room and she noticed her sister beyond the cauldron. She had been busy with training and hadn’t noticed her for a while but she knew she’d been somewhere in the castle with Alden. He was always there, taunting her without even realizing it. She knew with her gained powers, she would have enough power to turn his head and forget about Myra. Hatred boiled within her as she stared at Myra as she slept. Deep down Feida wished she was awake so she could fear her, seeing what she was capable of.
Feida noticed the pendant around Myra’s neck. It was a heart signifying her innocents. She peered at John’s hand and saw the pendant he held across his fingers. She smiled knowing she’d be able to hide her beliefs in plain sight of the judgmental friends of her father. Her necklace was a star, symbolizing the pentagram they respected.
“Fitting, my Lord,” Feida said as her eyes gazed on the pendant. Anyone who gazed upon this star pendant would not understand it’s meaning, which Feida understood. She would not be marked as a witch by wearing such jewelry.
“I thought so as well, Feida. Turn around.”
Feida turned around, and he tied the necklace around her neck. She placed her hand on the star and centered it on her chest as she smiled. Two of John’s followers appeared in the room. They picked up Myra as she remained asleep, each of them taking one arm. It was a strong spell. They carried Myra to the cauldron and placed their free hand on the rim. Steam rose from their fingers as the hot surface cooked their skin. But they did not release their hands. The appearance of feeling pain did not show on their faces as they stood there.
A group of men and Lilith appeared, circling them. They were all wearing dark robes. They joined hands and began chanting the same spell the followers had used outside. The cauldron began to glow a dark violet as John began to speak. “Empower these jewels with the energy from the essence that created our magic. Bring forth a greater power so that this woman may absorb it. Take from one energy to the other as long as both shall wear thy jewels. May our dark father in Hell protect you and guide you. Amen.” When he spoke his final word, the two necklaces began to glow. As the pendant’s glow faded, the two men took Myra back to her room. They disappeared as she slept.
Feida examined her arms and hands. She reached up and felt her face. “I-I feel so powerful, my master.”
“As you should, my child. Now you must continue to train. In the winter, you will become one with our coven, and you will learn your fate.”
“Yes, Master,” she told him.
John looked in the room as the cauldron still boiled. He waved his hand in a large circle and returned the library in its original form and released the force field that had protected the room from being detected, hiding their event. As the bubble went down, he removed the sleeping spell from Myra and their father.
John heard footsteps outside the door and realized their father was sleep-walking, something he had done occasionally. Removing the spell from him stirred him away. Even though he had been sleeping, the library was his favorite room in the castle so it made sense that he would stroll to this room now.
John searched through the room to make sure everything was back in its place. He wished he could practice in the open but Lilith convinced him it would be better to remain concealed putting the darkness’s plans first. He wasn’t concerned for the maids and groundskeepers, he could force them to do whatever he wanted, but Myra and their father was a different story. He already had plans for Myra. Their father was a different story—he knew he would have to do something about him eventually. Maybe a sickness would take over him or he would banish him into a tree like he did with his mother and a few others—steal his energy. He grinned as the ideas churned in his mind. John waved his hand over his head, making everyone in the room disappear including himself as Feida’s father reached the door, placing his hand on the doorknob.
Even though the others had gone, he remained behind to watch Feida’s father for a moment. He was invisible as he examined the man, following his every move. Feida’s father appeared wide awake as he searched the shelves for a book, passing so many until he found the one he wanted. He pulled the book from the shelf, looked it over, and approached the chair in the back of the room. He lit a candle and began reading the book. It amazed John how he could select a book in the dark as if he knew which one was where—maybe he did have his collection memorized. He pondered over the idea as he grinned.
John transported back to his farm where he checked on the progress of his growing army. A handful of men fell short from where they should be progressing. He waved his hand, and the men disappeared while sleeping in their beds. Even though they were a distance away from the castle, he could hear their moans as they became one with the trees. He closed his eyes and listened to them; enjoying the pain and sorrow he felt from them. Above all the people he had taken, his mother’s cries were still the loudest. She pleaded with him to let her die, take her pain away, but he never answered back. He simply took in the energy and let them all suffer. He enjoyed the pleasures of their pain. And the more he felt it, the stronger he became.
During the next seven days, John spent his time training with his soldiers. He knew he wasn’t ready to go against a Great Witch just yet. He could feel her strength even though he hadn’t met her yet. The angel came to him on the seventh night.
“All these years, I never once asked your name. May I know what you are to be called?” he asked the angel as the stars danced in the sky.
“I am called Dominique. I am the only ally you have among the Ancient Ones. Emma is a very powerful angel and has a special gift of sight. I was able to friend her and become one with the group to learn of the future that she knows of. She does not know my intent, so you may not call me by my name. I will know when you need me. We are guardian angels, and I’ve been assigned to you among many others. They have each been turned to the side in which you fight for. The Children of the Light grow stronger as the days pass so there is much to learn as you prepare for the war.”
“Will the other Ancient Ones realize when all those you guard loses faith to the dark?”
“I have many others who have not fallen, so fear not,” he said. “But I have come with other news as well. The Council has divided so they will have a Council of Light and the Council of Dark. Only the highest of witches and warlocks may have a seat on either council. Until our Lord has risen, we will need a leader at the top. I think you should demand that seat and take what is rightfully yours. It will give you more power with even more followers. And by taking the seat of the head, you will gain the demons at our feet.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, John.”
“So I shall call the four corners and demand my seat of the head.” John rubbed his chin as he thought things through. It would be beneficial to become the leader of the Council of Dark. As long as the Emily woman didn’t become the leader in the Council of Light, he would have the court on his side. It would tip the balance between good and evil, and that was what he wanted.
When Dominique vanished, leaving him alone in the fields, he called out to the four corners. The four corners had a demon that represented each element for the darkness and only those who were worthy could call upon the beast. John knew he was that man. “I call the four elements of the world—water, fire, earth, and wind. Come to me and answer my call.”
A beast made of the four corners appeared before him. John knelt and bowed his head in honor of the beast. It was a sign of respect.
Any other mortal would have gone mad at the sight of the massive beast that stood before John. It was created from all of the creatures that flew, walked, and swam on the earth. “Who beckons me, and what is thy need?” the beast growled.
“I demand the head seat in the Council of Dark. Make me a leader so that I may win this war against the Children of the Light.”
The beast lowered to John’s height, staring him in the eyes, appearing ready to devour him at any moment. “What will you give in return for such gifts?” the beast asked.
“I give you my loyalty and serve only the darkness,” he told him. “I only want to tip the balance in our favor and take this world to the place it should be.”
The beast tilted its head as it looked at John. The eyes glowed a golden-red ember as fire danced within its eyes. “I can see your darkened soul. I am pleased with your request, but you are not ready to take the seat in the lead. Return to me when you are ready,” the beast said as it began to disappear.
“What do you mean I’m not ready?” John became angry that he was being rejected. He began to raise his arms as he opened the palms of his hands. He called out to the winds, lightning, thunder, and rain using only his mind. He ordered the elements to strike at the beast. Such force stopped the beast from leaving and it was bashed down by the mere elements it was created from. John charged at the beast as he continued using hand signals, sending his powers out against it. His eyes turned pure black as the anger and hatred built up within John’s mind and body. He grabbed the beast by his bare hands and began to shred it apart, piece by piece. “I will have the head seat!” he yelled.
As John destroyed the demon and split the four corners; energy traveled through the Earth and absorbed into John. The ground he stood on became mummified as his body pulled in the energy from the soil, taking all life within the fields. John looked down at his hands as his body argued with the changes that was consuming him. He fell to his knees as the agonizing pain sifted through his veins. His mind tried to shut down any process that would explain what was happening. He wanted the pain to subside, feeling overwhelmed as his body continued to convulse.
His mind began to open up, releasing something else through his body as the shaking pushed on. For a moment, he felt surprised by the enjoyment of the pain, burning, and feeling of tearing through his cells. He was splitting apart and he hungered for more. He heard a laugh so daunting that it tickled his ears and he laughed again, piercing the quiet night. The laughter was so loud that it grabbed the attention of his followers who had still been training in the late night.
John’s mind was in the moment as he held onto each painful rip through his body. He begged for more not wanting the torture to end. He heard his bones breaking and felt them healing at the same time and it felt good to him. This was a moment, he would remember, if his body would survive it.
Darkness consumed him, his body went numb, and he fell off of his knees hitting the dead soil beneath him. A cloud of dust burst up from where he lay. He appeared lifeless as his body was continuing to make changes. He had become overloaded by them. Humans had not been created to withstand a change like this.
A group of followers who had been watching from a safe distance rushed to John’s side when the dust cleared. The shock of what they witnessed had finally released them. The five men carried John to his bed.
The angel appeared before Lilith, announcing what had happened. “You will stay by his side as he rests. When the transformation has finished, he will open his eyes. His body is making way for something new. It will make it possible for him to evolve into the Great Dark Witch. This is only the beginning of this evolution. You must stay with him until the day comes and he is awake. You must test your faith.”
Lilith bowed her head and promised to remain by John’s side. The angel disappeared and went to Feida, giving her the same speech. When he was finished making the announcement to her, Feida teleported to the farm and joined Lilith by John’s side.
While John slept for three months, Lilith and Feida cared for John’s body. They kept him clean and made sure he was comfortable. They even moved his legs and arms around so he wouldn’t become stiff. As they cared for him, they noticed his body making changes. For a few days, he didn’t look human—his eyes were enlarged, his nose was sunk in, and his teeth were appearing more animal-like, pointed and sharp. Feida had a hard time looking at him, he wasn’t her fearless leader, he was something else and felt ashamed of herself. Food was brought to them so they wouldn’t have to leave his side. When John opened his eyes, a fresh coat of snow had just fallen making everything white.
The rest made John feel good. He was ready to leap out of bed but those who looked at him, looked at him sideways, and Feida wouldn’t look at him at all. He had to know why so he pushed up his hand and demanded a mirror.
Lilith handed him the mirror, and he gazed into it. His eyes were not human. They were a normal size but the shape was different and when he blinked, he could see it—his eyes were that of a wolf. He didn’t know why he had transformed but he rather liked it. It made him appear angrier some how.
“The angel told us you will transform into something beyond any witch has ever experienced. He said you will have great power and you will take the lead as Head of Council of the dark. We are to remain at your side and serve you until the end,” Lilith said as she looked at him.
“I will have that seat,” John said as he sat up. He peered out the window at the dead land that used to be his farm—a new vision visited his mind. “In three days, you will become one with the coven, Feida. Go home and prepare. You will learn your fate on that day. Lilith, stay by my side. I have plans for you.”
Both women nodded their heads. Feida returned to the castle and made preparations for the important day. She was anxious to hear what her master would have her do. She hoped she would be rewarded for remaining so loyal to him and staying by his side. She set her eyes on Alden and hoped he would be her prize.
As Feida made preparations, John and Lilith made some of their own. He was transforming into something greater than he knew he’d become, something so strong that even a Great Witch would not survive his wrath. He could feel the changes. There was only one last step to complete the change, and if he wasn’t ready to take that step, he would lose everything he had worked so hard to reach. Ancient knowledge burned with his soul, giving him the instructions he would need. He did not second-guess any of this knowledge, for he knew it had come from his dark master himself.
The followers had all gone to the castle to prepare the grounds, so John was alone with Lilith. He had wished there would be an audience for the sacrifice he needed to perform. He kissed Lilith on the forehead and went outside. He gathered the blood from a pig to perform the ritual he needed for his last burst of energy—the single push he would need for this extensive amount of power. He said nothing to Lilith although she would have done anything he asked of her. He did not need her permission or her knowledge. He took the bucket of fresh blood out to the center of the field where he had called for the four elements and spoke to the beast in which he had destroyed, taking its power. He poured the blood in the shape of a large pentagram in the dirt. He closed his eyes and conjured a dagger. The large bladed knife appeared in his hand. He poured some blood over it and asked for the four corners to come.
“I call out to the four elements—earth, fire, wind, and water. Come to me and bless this dagger with the power of the night. Come now!” A flash of lightning hit the tip of the blade. John could feel the energy within the dagger building as it reached his hand. He did not drop the knife. “Lilith, come to me.” His eyes turned black as he called out to her.
Lilith appeared before him my magic. She looked down at the blood. Something in her eyes said she knew what would come next as if she had been trained for this day. Without saying a word, she walked to the center of the pentagram and lied down. The silence was surreal. She opened the top of her dress, revealing the collar bone above her chest, and closed her eyes. A single tear dripped from the corner of her eye but there was no hesitation. She had been trained for this—there was no other explanation.
John loved Lilith like a boy loved his mother. He was saddened by what he was about to do, but the sacrifice was needed, and he knew she would be paid greatly for her sacrifice by giving up her life for the darkness. He grinned thinking the payment would be eternal life in the new world. It may be even something bigger than that, and that made his smile grow even larger.
He inched towards her and dropped to his knees. “May the power of darkness stay with you, Lilith,” he told her, and he drove the dagger into her chest. He carved out her heart as it was still beating. He raised the heart to the skies. “Bless this heart with the power of darkness. Earth, fire, wind, and water; enter this heart and give it strength.” Another burst of lightning hit the heart making it beat faster. He lowered the heart to eye level. He looked at the heart for only a moment before taking a bite from it. He gazed at the heart as the beating stopped. He took two more bites and set the heart down next to Lilith’s body. “Thank you, for your sacrifice, Lilith.” He dropped and landed over her body and slept for three days.
When John opened his eyes, Lilith and the pentagram were gone. His body had absorbed all of it. He studied his hands as he moved them around, closing them into fists and opening them again. He peered down at his legs, stood up, and bounced from foot to foot. Everything appeared so different. He felt stronger and more powerful. His clothes had been shredded as his body had grown at least a foot or two. He returned inside the house, gazed in the mirror to see his transformation, and changed his clothes with a snap of his finger. He put some oil in his hair and combed it back. He grabbed his black robe and slid it on slowly, watching himself in the mirror. It was time to go to the castle and make Feida part of his coven. She would be first at his side until the day she died. Upon her death, her new journey would begin for the greater evil. He had seen it all in his visions. This day would be what put it into motion.
One of his followers entered the room. “My Lord, the others are ready.”
“Thank you. I’ll be heading to the castle now.” He looked around the room and saw too many reminders of Lilith so as he walked through the room to leave, a fire began to burn. A trail of flames followed him to the door. “Let this place burn. When it has turned to ashes, remove the remains. I will build a new palace where it stands,” he told the follower before leaving the farm. It would always be his home and even though he wanted the castle, he could never part with this place.
John teleported to the castle’s door. He looked up and noticed it was beginning to snow. He smiled because there wasn’t a trace of snow on the farm anymore. He liked it that way. The snow was too beautiful, and he didn’t want it around him. But he felt the coldness was fitting for tonight’s ritual, so he let it snow. In a few hours, it would be over and she would be the first to join the new coven. And then they would make the Council of Dark.
John knocked on the door, and it opened quickly as if they knew he had arrived. Jacob stood there holding the door. He was dressed in his black robe. He yelled out. “The Great Dark Witch has arrived. Anyone who wishes to see his greatness, come forth, and witness.” He bowed his head.
“Thank you, Jacob. You have been good to me and my family. You shall join us next. Make sure you prepare for this evening.”
He nodded his head. “Yes, sir. Thank you.”
They went to the large ballroom where a celebration had already been planned by Feida’s father for another reason. He loved celebrations and often made one up just so he could celebrate it. John took advantage of the formal event and made it his. He cast a spell on Feida’s father so he wouldn’t know the truth and wouldn’t be able to see anyone who hadn’t been invited. John smiled as he danced with the others in celebration of becoming the Great Dark Witch—something no one else had ever done before. Witches and warlocks came from miles to see such a wonderful thing. John was taller, his stature had changed, and his confidence was much grander; the energy he held could be felt by every witch and warlock in the ballroom. They were drawn to him with awe.
As the hours passed, the uninvited guests began spilling out of the room to prepare the secret event that would take place later that night. As the celebration in the ballroom kept everyone else busy, they would prepare the library for the ceremony of Feida’s uniting with the darkness. John remained in the ballroom to keep up appearances until the time was right for him to sneak away.
John had only seen Myra and their father a couple times during the evening so he knew they would be busy with the invited guests. It was the perfect evening for what he had planned. As John stared out of the window of the ballroom, he noticed Myra sneaking off into the darkness. He grinned after seeing Alden leave the ballroom moments later. It wasn’t something that had been planned but it was good timing. “Those of you, who are being invited into the coven, go to the library and put on your robes. I’m heading there now,” John said telepathically to his followers. Two men disappeared right away. The others walked out of the room, unnoticed.
John made his way to the library, keeping an eye on Feida’s father. He still hadn’t seen him, so he knew they would be in the clear. He decided he would still cast a shield around the library preventing anyone to enter the room as it was. If someone did enter the room, they would only see the library as it normally would be. As a strike of lightning hit the night sky, thunder shook the castle just as he finished putting the bubble around the room.
John entered the library, closing the door behind him. The others bowed their heads. The music from the celebration in the ballroom could be heard in the library so John cast a spell to muffle the sound. He had heard enough of the cheery music, to the point it almost made him sick.
The library was lit up with black candles. The cauldron was in the center of the room and was suspended, with Feida and two men standing next to it, on the other side of John. The curtains had been drawn.
“It is good to see you, Great Dark Witch,” Feida said with a smile.
“Yes, it is. Feida, my child, stand next to me.”
Feida moved to the other side of the cauldron and stood next to John. She waited for further instructions.
“On this day, you will be admitted into the dark. You will find your fate. Do not sway from this, or Hell will strike you down.”
“Yes, Master,” Feida said.
John raised his hands over the cauldron as the lightning and thunder shook the room. A terrible storm was brewing, and they were the cause of it. The liquid inside the black cauldron boiled, and smoke lifted from the liquid, circling the three men and Feida.
Images began to appear in the smoke as it reached back to the cauldron. These images showed Feida her future. For the first time, they saw Emily Peterson in the flesh, and John smiled. He heard a sound coming from the other side of the cauldron that caught his attention. He grinned as he saw a faint figure standing in the distance. He looked at the woman and knew who she was. The image disappeared. “We have a visitor. Find her and destroy her.” The shield he had placed around the library must not have been strong enough to keep the witch out—that revealed to him how strong she was, taking him by surprise—his blood boiled at the thought.
The two men disappeared and began searching the castle as John finished the ceremony with Feida. The two men would have their moment but for now, Feida needed to be given to the darkness. “Give me your hand, Feida.”
“Yes, Master,” she told him. She handed him her right hand, palm facing up.
John took her hand as a dagger appeared. He cut into her hand and moved it over the cauldron. His hand enveloped hers as he closed it, squeezing the blood from her wound. Three drops of blood fell into the liquid. “May the darkness keep you safe. Do you promise to give everything you are and have to the darkness?”
“I do.”
The dagger disappeared. John pulled her hand away from the cauldron and looked at the wound. It healed, and he released it. “The darkness has many plans for you, Feida. Once your father dies, you will inherit this castle, and you will marry Alden. But your true path begins upon your death. You will not experience true death. The darkness will protect your soul as it will belong to the darkness. Are you ready, my child?”
“I am.”
“Good. I sense the woman has gone, so you must prepare yourself to make Alden yours. I know it is what you want.”
“Yes, it is.”
“I’ve been given a spell that will trade bodies with others. You will use this spell and become your sister. The young man will not know it is you. He will marry Myra’s body but take you to his bed.”
“Thank you, Master.” Feida smiled.
“It is done.” John called out to the other two men and commanded them to come to him. They were shown their fate and he repeated what he had done with Feida. “The two of you will find recruits to our coven. We will rise together as the darkness takes this world. Are you ready?”
They nodded their heads, and both replied in unison. “Yes, Master.”
“It is done. May the darkness be good to you, both.” With that, John faded and teleported back to the farm. He stood on the empty land, raised both hands to the darkened sky, and demanded the four corners to aide him in building his new palace. The walls formed from the earth rising. It was dark and cold, just how he liked it. Windows formed, but they were just as dark as the walls, rejecting the light from shining into the rooms. When the palace was finished growing, John entered his new home. The palace wasn’t perfect but it would do for now. He wasn’t going to live there long, just long enough to grow his coven and then they would take it over, living like kings and queens. The rest would be added there, inside a special room he had designed, just for the purpose. He located the room and looked it over. It was to his liking. He snapped his fingers and added black candles to the room. When they were lit, they glowed a deep violet. The darkness was soothing to him. A black iron kettle was suspended in the center of the room. On the backside of the room was a large slab of rock that was flat on the top. It would be the perfect spot to sacrifice someone to the darkness. He smiled at the idea and left the room. The candles blew out.
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