‘Ugh, does this happen often Auntie M?’ I asked her, as we trudged through the forest on our way to our last minute coven meeting. We decided to walk there this evening as the weather had stayed fine and it wasn’t too cold.
‘Not really. Something must have happened for them to call a meeting.’ She replied.
‘Like what?’
‘Not sure, it could literally be anything.’ Auntie M sighed. ‘I was hoping to just chill out tonight and watch telly.’
I kinda wanted to do the same myself, but duty was calling. We soon got to the clearing where there was a small bonfire lit, not the huge one we usually had. Most of our Coven were present; but with the addition of a slightly older blonde lady who was wearing a fine, expensive looking black cloak with a deep red satin lining.
‘Beverly, it’s been way too long.’ Auntie M said as she walked over to the older woman. I say older, she was probably in her late forties or early fifties or so, with ashy blonde hair and thin lips; not dissimilar to the infamous thin lips every woman in my family had.
‘It’s good to see you again Morrigan. And this must be your other niece Madelyn. It’s lovely to meet you, I’m Beverly Green.’ She said as she held out her hand, I shook it gently.
‘You can call me Maddie. It’s nice to meet you too.’
We didn’t get long to chat as Beverly had called the meeting to order. It was pretty informal as she didn’t have a huge amount of time. But I was told that she had another few covens to visit this evening, so the meeting wouldn’t last long.
‘Good evening sistren. While it is fantastic to see you all again tonight, my time here is short and my reason for visiting; not so sweet.’
The atmosphere shifted as soon as Beverly announced that. We all sort of looked at each other, wondering why her visit wouldn’t be “sweet.” I looked over to my cousins Molly and Macy who shrugged slightly and I shrugged back at them. Even Mai looked a bit confused.
‘I have some bad news to share with you all. The hunters are on the rise again. Two of our sisters in the Greater Manchester and Lancashire areas have been declared as missing. Our investigations have confirmed that hunters have taken them.’
Beverly looked deathly serious as she spoke. I looked around our coven to see some of the women had their hands over their mouths in shock. Deirdre was almost in tears and Carmen was hugging both Gabrielle and Brianna. I knew hunters were a serious thing, a really serious thing especially knowing what my Aunt had been through; but this was just awful. It was obvious this news had really affected everyone almost personally and in the case of my Auntie M, it was personal. She was rubbing the bridge of her nose between her fingers.
‘So with you being here telling us this, I can assume they’ve actually sent you to call me up.’ Auntie M stated with a heavy sigh.
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‘Correct Morrigan. You won’t be alone though, they’ve requested Penelope from the Bolton Coven assist as she also has… experience.’ Beverly said. ‘The Council would also like both of your charges involved for some practical training.’
I had never seen my Auntie M’s face look as sour as it did now. And she tended to have a really expressive face anyway, but this was a new one. From what Beverly said, it sounded like the Council wanted me involved. “Practical training?” What the hell.
Beverly took note of my Aunt’s face and softened her own; placing a caring hand on her shoulder.
‘I know it’s not ideal Morrigan but this is what the Council want. You and Penelope are both our go-to people for things of this nature, our warriors. The Council believe the knowledge and skills should be passed down. But of course, only if young Madelyn agrees.’
My Aunt sighed again and scratched the back of her head.
‘I don’t like the idea of Maddie getting involved, but as you said… it’s her choice.’ Auntie M said as she turned to me. I could feel the eyes of everyone else in the coven land on me for the briefest moment.
‘Maddie, my other role which barely gets brought up because this doesn’t happen often, is being a Guardian. We investigate things that happen with our own people; murders, kidnappings, spells going wrong all that kinda stuff. The Council want me to train you up to fulfil this role whenever you’re called upon. Is it something you would be interested in?’
I honestly didn’t know what to say. I stood there and opened my mouth but no words came out. Just when I thought my world couldn’t get any weirder… boom. Another weird thing pops up. Right now I could have probably taken out my “My First Coven” guide book and it would’ve fallen open on the pages talking about Guardians. I flapped my mouth a bit like a goldfish, words were still not coming out.
‘You need some time to think Maddie.’ Said Beverly. ‘Talk to your Aunt and read your handbook. I can give you forty-eight hours until we need a decision from you, but no longer. This is a somewhat time sensitive matter.’
I nodded.
‘As for you Morrigan, I assume Mai will be taking over coven duties for you?’ Said Beverly as she glanced over to Mai.
‘Is that okay Mai?’ Auntie M asked her second in command. ‘It’s a bit short notice but, can’t be helped I guess.’ She shrugged her shoulders. Mai nodded in reply.
‘Of course Morrigan, it’s no problem. Especially if you need to help someone.’ Said Mai.
‘Okie doke then.’ Beverly clapped her hands together. ‘When Madelyn has made her decision, you can report to the main Manchester coven. I’ll be there as your handler till this issue is sorted.’
‘Of course Beverly.’ Auntie M bowed her head in respect.
‘And Maddie, forty eight hours. I’ll send a messenger Raven for your answer.’
I nodded my head to show in understood.
‘Thank you.’ I said quietly.
‘Okay friends, I shall leave you be. Please pray for all covens during this time, in hope that everyone stays safe. I hope to return to see you all again in better circumstances next time. Good evening and blessed be.’
‘Blessed be Beverly.’ We all chanted back to her like a class of school children.
Beverly portalled her way out of there, leaving the rest of us feeling a little bit shell shocked and depleted. She had also left me with yet another important decision to make, which as a seventeen year old; I wasn’t entirely convinced I should’ve be making these kinds of serious choices. Other kids my age were thinking about what to take at university, or where to go on their gap year, or join the workforce. Not decide if they were going to train to be a Guardian or whatever it was. I needed some time alone with my handbook as well as a serious chat with my Aunt. She did say though that after my initiation in to the coven; all the weirder stuff would be coming at me thick and fast with absolutely no rhyme or reason. I then remembered a few parting words my Aunt Monica left with me after our encounter with Baal.
“Magic is pure chaos by default. You’ll do well to remember that and nothing makes much sense in our world.”
By Christ she was right. Whilst I enjoyed a bit of spontaneity, I just wanted to chill for a bit doing some bog standard, normal witchy stuff like, I dunno… brewing some potions or refilling my tea mug.
‘Hey don’t look so down cuz.’ Macy said to me as she came over and laid her arm round my shoulder. Molly followed and did the same, giving me a squeeze.
‘She right y’know. It’s actually quite a big deal even getting considered for Guardian training.’ Molly added.
‘We’re you two ever called up?’ I asked, genuinely curious to find out if they were.
‘Ha, nope.’ Macy chuckled. ‘Obviously Auntie M did, so did Auntie Monica. But she turned it down because she was at uni studying to become a nurse.’
‘Yeah she wanted to help people in that way instead.’ Molly finished her sisters sentence.
I stood in silence for a few beats. Yeah it was apparent that I needed to digest all of this, much like everything else I had been confronted with since this all started. I magically pulled the My First Coven handbook out of my coat pocket and made my way back over to Auntie M. I needed a word with her.