Jack
Low growls echoed around the small cabin as the witches once again gathered their strength. They used most of their power to close the gushing wounds. Only then did the pack move the alpha to the Pack House.
Jack watched on as the beta grew more concerned for his alpha.
Dominic was trying to fight the wolfsbane, but the poison was taking its toll. Sweat dripped from every pore, as the war inside his body continued.
The witches also felt the urgency. They desperately tried to cleanse his body and blood. However, his wolf was untrusting of them, making the already difficult job nearly impossible.
Jack sighed at the predicament. The pack could not have another alpha fight, like the last one fifteen years ago.
“Aaron.”
A fellow wolf appeared at the doorway, covered in dirt and panting wildly. Aaron looked up, eyebrows scrunched together.
“Scouts have replied. The healers are on their way,” he spoke in a low tone, “as fast as they can...”
Aaron sighed heavily, “That means they will be a few hours.”
The witches looked at one another before the superior piped up, “We will keep trying-”
“No,” Jacks gruff voice spoke up.
“Dad,” Aaron warned, glaring at him.
“Treat the symptoms. I have an idea,” Jack ordered before exiting the tiny house.
They needed Lexi.
“Tiffany, I know it’s been tough…”
Corey, the older brother tried to console the sister, his shirt still covered in dirt and blood. Tiffany continued to cry and wail slightly.
She struggled against the brothers arms, trying to get to the small hut.
“You did great out there. Stop worrying-”
“Jack!” Tiffany cried.
Jack heard the commotion before he left. He paused, hearing the murmurs and whispers around the pack space.
“I can’t believe it.”
“Poor kid.”
Every wolf looked down and depressed. Although it wasn’t for their leader…
“She’s dead,” Tiffany cried, collapsing to the ground.
“Tiffany a lot of our people fought-” Jack tried.
“No! We failed, Lexi is dead.” Tiffany blubbered.
Jack was for once speechless.
He convinced the alpha to step in, to help fight and protect the witch. We owed her for Tiffany’s wolf and Dominic hoped they could count on the local coven more. Perhaps rebuild the broken bridges.
“I am sorry.” Jack spoke to no one in particular and continued on with his original plan.
She had rose from death once before, Jack believed she could do it again.
He had to see this for himself.
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Maddie
Caw caw!
The crow landed on top of the smashed mirror. Maddie glowered at her reflection; a perfect black handprint scarred her flesh from the corner of her mouth to her cheekbone.
She dared not touch the grotesque flesh, simply watching the dark red blood dry up and strips of skin curl back. The nerves had been destroyed; she could not feel the sharp, tingling pain like before.
Instead, it felt like it was spreading; her face swelled, and blisters outlined the print.
She hated being in a mortal body.
“That looks nasty,” the crow croaked from the top of its mirror.
Maddie’s eyes flicked up to the crow as she blinked back tears.
“Can you help?” she pleaded.
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She had tried everything, every spell she knew. To heal, to cover up, to stop the pain. Nothing worked, not even fae magic.
The crow hopped down the back of the mirror.
Instead of an avian, the goddess, her beneficiary, appeared and leaned down to inspect the flesh. Hovering a hand over Maddie’s cheek, the goddess felt resistance…
“Not for free…” Morrigan informed.
“Take anything,” Maddie quickly offered.
A sly smile came over the Morrigan’s face. This soul was always vain and valued appearance and power above all else.
“There is nothing else to take from you, Maddie,” Morrigan informed.
The girl fell to her feet, and forehead touching the dirty floorboards, begged, “Please!”
“Get up,” Morrigan commanded eyes rising to the sky.
“We don’t beg,” she shunned.
The goddess’s hand hovered over the wound. The anger and desperation of Lexi’s magic could be felt.
The little witch ensured the burn would scar and the goddess wouldn’t ruin the artwork.
She looked forward to laughing at the childish tantrum that Maddie would give.
Yes… The Morrigan knew this soul well.
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Lexi
“How are you feeling?” Hecate eased in, still walking deeper into the forest.
‘How do I feel…’ It was hard not to throw an eye-roll and offend the goddess.
I have left my physical body behind. My friends, family, and Leo… are probably already morning me in my childhood home.
I should be on my journey to the Summerland to reunite with my loved ones and soul family. Yet, here I am… still tied to the earth and walking with a goddess… the goddess of witchcraft.
I felt sad… angry… lost… but mostly…
“… Confused,” I admitted.
She laughed and stopped walking, turning me to face her.
“Most are.” She smiled knowingly.
“I’m mostly wondering what this ‘deal’ is. And if it is normal not to… remember it?” I continued sheepishly.
Her smile dropped quickly, and she stepped away, thinking and looking at the bright stars above.
“I learned of your tale a millennia ago. I watched you that night in Whitby and waited for the inevitable prophecy. That night, two deals were struck.”
She turned to face me, “Your grandmother, Selena, gave up her place in the afterlife to give you a second chance. And…”–She glanced off to the side– “I admired your strength,” she finished pointedly.
Realisation flooded me through my mind.
‘Quinn! My spell…’ This goddess honoured the call.
“The penny’s dropped.” She smiled brightly.
Tears welled up at the memory of the abbey, “My grandma, will she be alright?”
“I have returned her to her rightful place. She was upset not to see you, but a deal is a deal.”
“Now…” She clapped, walking forward, “Come, we will have to wait a little longer.”
“Um… What for?”
“I can’t take you anywhere looking like that,” she gestured.
I looked down and noted the Dried blood, sweat and mud that coated my clothes and skin. I was still dressed in the same clothes…
Caw, Caw!
The sudden interruption loud noise made us both look. The croaking broke the eerie silence that I had quickly become accustomed to.
Hecate tsked, “Damn crows...”
Turning away from me, she unclasped her cloak from her shoulders and moved with purpose in a circle, holding the iridescent cloth in front of us.
“They work for another.”
“Can they see…” I began to ask.
“Spirits? Yes. Well… these ones can, and I don’t want a visitor.”
She did not once faulter in her movements as she spoke her ominous words. The cloak left a trail of darkness in its wake, moving against the black sky, the stars dimmed a little as it did. It moved, like an extension of her, coating the trees and enshrouding us in a see-through dome.
“That should cover us.”
She sat at the base of a tree meditatively and closed her eyes.
I cleared my throat awkwardly, “What are we waiting for exactly?”
“The preparation ritual,” she quickly replied.
“…I always thought their spirit was around when we prepared the body?”
“Most of the time, yes. Unfortunately, you were mine from the moment you left your physical body,” she pointed.
I gazed towards my hands, seeing the flaking dried blood, once more.
The preparation ritual was part of the morning process. Like the Egyptians, the body would be prepared for the afterlife... minus mummification.
The body would be cleaned, wounds sewn shut, clothes changed, and anything else the family thinks a person would need.
I remember how Mum was so upset that we couldn’t do it for our father. We couldn’t take him home; instead, the coroner performed an investigation, under the councils request.
Nothing was found, but I have a feeling Jack had something to do with it. Being in mourning, I didn’t think to ask about it.
I gently perched, right where the goddess left me, and waited.
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Keiron
The mother continued stroking her daughter’s matted blonde hair, smiling and weeping as she did.
“She looks so much like Nick,” she hiccupped.
“I know.” Kerion shared the sentiment.
His gaze turned towards Leo. The lad was sat up against the wall with a vacant look in his eye. He didn’t say a word as he brought her in, instead putting her immediately on the table. It didn’t take a genius to know he was with her when she passed over. The blood staining his clothes said as much.
Alex stood opposite his mother, staring down in disbelief, which then turned into anger. It was evident he was struggling with his emotions.
Her little coven had yet to come into the little room. They opted to stay out of the way, allowing them space. For now, they occupied the kitchen, sat around the table, and helped each other through it.
An awkward cough caught the uncle’s attention. The detective stood shy of the door, not daring to block the light.
“I’ll be right back,” Keiron whispered.
He led the detective to the front of the house, out of earshot from the crying party.
“What is it?” Keiron turned and muttered in a low voice.
“Firstly, Sorry for your loss,” Magnus said sincerely, “Secondly, we have the vampire. He will be under investigation, and unfortunately, we will need witnesses...”
Keiron sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes, feeling a little frustrated.
“I know.” Magnus looked down, “We will of course, wait until after the funeral and give you all space, but this will not be the end.”
Keiron nodded, a hand covering his chin.
“It wasn’t Cornelius.”
Both heads turned to the stairs, Leo leaned against the doorway, eavesdropping.
“Leo?” Keiron asked confused.
“The vampires had gone. They stopped chasing her a while back, and… I lost sight of her.”
“You don’t have to do this now-” Magnus tried.
“There was a knife left behind...” Leo continued sharply.
“A knife?” Magnus pulled out a little notebook, jotting down on an empty page. “I will find it. Anything unique about it?”
“Gold and blue handle.” Leo sounded monotone, reciting the memory.
The detective made a swift note in his pad, and with a nod to Keiron, swiftly left through the backdoor.
“...It may have been the witch.” Leo muttered. He kept his eyes trained to the floor the whole time he was talking. Evidently, replaying the events in his mind.
“Let’s not worry about this right now.”
Keiron approached him and clasped his shoulder.
Isobelle’s shadow blocked the doorway under the stairs and her son, Alex, ventured out into the kitchen. Her bloodshot eyes glazed over the four huddled around her table.
“I need…” her voice cracked, sore from the wailing, “I need help preparing her... Seri, Quinn...Will you help?”
Tear-stained cheeks nodded solemnly before joining her under the stairs.
The preparation began.