CHAPTER 107: THE WITCHES WITHDRAW

~THIRD PERSON POV~

The witch Arya, Kalvin’s mom, got word of a loss that broke her heart, she had to leave; she got word The Crone had passed away and they were selecting a new one and having a celebration of life, she had more to inform the coven of anyways. Like how they had met with Artemis, the goddess herself.

Arya left Kalvin here to manage the defenses of their camp and keep an eye on things. Many of the witches left with her to attend the celebration and they headed to the borders of their protected area.

She dropped a stone on to the ground and casted a spell. The crystal opened up a portal too her covens front gates.

They all stepped through.

The scene before them was an of people sharing their abundance of joy. Walking through the tree covered canopied streets, fireflies flew above their heads, dancing like sprites, flowers decorated the ground. Music played and the smell of sweet treats assaulted their senses upon arriving.

It felt good to be home.

Death wasn’t mourned; it was celebrated. Though behind closed doors loved ones felt their absence. They weren’t immune to the pain of loss. However, in public, tears just weren’t shed.

And when The Crone past a new one would be elected from a selection of powerful women of a certain age.

The festivities were kicking off and the crowd was livening up. The Circe Coven was as large as it was powerful. People were starting to arrive by the dozen.

The sisters and brothers were in a frenzy for the festivities and celebration. There were streamers adorning the awnings of a stage in the center of a field. Garland wrapped around streetlamps. Different colored lanterns that were made to look like stars, floated above their heads. Vendors had set up in the park selling delicious deserts and salty snacks, jewelry and clothing. Some had set up art stations to make flower crowns.

Arya made her way through the crowd. She had to see The Maiden and The Mother before she began enjoying herself at the celebration.

The old Crone would have skinned her alive if she partied without paying her respects to her leaders first.

Running through the crowd she slipped away from her warriors and found The Mother at a silk stall looking at bags and scarves.

"Blessed be Mother." Arya said bowing her head in respect.

The Mother glared down at her, "Ah I see you grace us with your presence, how are you fairing?"

"All is well Mother, and yourself." Arya asked.

"As expected, I’ll need to see you before you go back to camp, find me tomorrow after the celebration. Now shoo go find The Maiden." The Mother dismissed Arya, when only brought her more joy. The Mother was a stickler for rules and procedures. Rigid woman.

Arya made her way around the main streets before heading into the park to look for The Maiden.

Finding The Maiden sprawled out in the middle of the grass staring up at the greenscape from the trees canopy.

Arya popped a squat next to The Maiden and laid down beside her.

"You know. I’m gonna miss that old hag." She whispered.

"I know me too."

The celebration went beautifully.

At midnight a hushed silence spread through the coven members, dozens of members, young and old, gathered in the square.

Chalk lines drawn on the stage, the smell of crushed herbs, and moss settled in the air.

Arya stood near the outer edge; her purple eyes locked on the stage. The Maiden and The Mother stood at the center, in front of three chairs, draped in black like the night sky. Arya’s heart felt a persistent ache looking at the empty seat on the stage.

Three elderly witches stepped forth, each chosen as potential successors to The Crone’s seat, by The Crone herself. Once chosen their names would be forsaken and they would take their seat with their sisters and become only The Crone, live only for the coven.

The Mother raised her hands to the moon in open arms "By the blood that binds us, by the bones of the earth and breath of the sky, by the powers of the gods, we choose a new Crone."

The Maiden threw her hands to the sky palms open wide. Threads of magic crackled from them. The sky darkened with heavy rain clouds.

And the witch holding the light blue stone glowed bright neon blue and then white and then returned to the light blue color it held before.

"The Gods have spoken." The Maiden said loudly, her voice carried and air of finality to it.

The woman, who was once named Selene stepped away from the other two witches and walked towards her seat next to The Mother.

The moons light illuminated the figure in black.

"Selene, do you swear to take on the duties of The Crone for the Circe Coven? Do you forsake the name you were born with? Do you swear to put the coven above all else? Do you swear to cut your ties with your family and the coven to become your family? Do you swear on your blood and with your life?" The Mother asked facing the woman.

"Yes."

"As so says the Gods, than so say The Mother, I accept thee, what do you say, Maiden?" The Mother asked looking at The Maiden, who was now standing next to the witch.

"So says the Gods, than so says The Maiden, I accept thee, so shall it be." The Maiden answered.

"So shall it be!" The entire crowd, including Arya, clapped their hands and repeated.

The crowd of witches applauded at the selection of a new Crone.

"Blessed be, my brothers and sister." The three coven leaders bowed and left the center stage.

A small girl approached Arya just after the ceremony ended.

"Your presence is being requested by the council sisters, Sister Arya." A small quiet voice spoke to Arya.

"Thank you, Tia." Arya answered. She left for the meeting chamber without wasting a second.

The coven’s main building had too many rooms. It was a maze to those who don’t know their way around.

When she entered the meeting room Arya found the Three Sister’s waiting for her.

"Welcome Crone" Arya said first bowing her head. Showing respect to the newest member of the highest council.

"Thank you, sister." The Crone nodded back with the same semblance.

The sister’s casted the blanket of silence spell, so no one could hear the things that needed to be said.

"We have asked you to discuss the direction we’re heading in." The Mother Spoke first.

"The late Crone had a vision, and with that vision, new information and understanding has been given light." The Maiden added

"We must withdraw immediately." The Mother states clearly with a firm tone.

The goddess’s will is not to be questioned or twisted for mortal revenge." The Crone finalized.

At that, Arya stepped forward from the shadows. She had been listening quietly, as if her breath alone might shatter the delicate truth being spoken. Her face was pale, her fingers trembling around the edge of her cloak.

"You... you can’t mean that," she choked out.

The Crone turned, her expression unreadable. "Child, we cannot fight the gods. The princess is where she is meant to be."

Arya shook her head violently. "You don’t understand!"

Stumbling over herself.

"I gave my word to Queen Violet and Kalvin. They trusted me. I promised them I’d do whatever it took bring her daughter back. To bring my daughter in law back. How can I look her in the eyes and tell her we’ve abandoned her? That her child is lost forever to wolves she hates, the wolves that took her and hurt her? How can I look at my son and tell him to give up his search for her?"

The Mother stepped closer, her voice low and echoing. "I do understand, Arya, you are not here to bind yourself to queens or to worldly vengeance or a search and rescue. You are a witch. You serve the greater balance, not your personal heartache."

Arya’s eyes shone with tears of anger. "So, what? We just step aside? Leave her to those beasts? You expect me to betray my friend? To abandon my future daughter in law? To ditch my vow"

The Crone’s eyes softened, just for an instant. "We do not betray. The goddess placed the child with her chosen people for a reason. Interfering would mean turning against Artemis herself."

"Yes, Arya, the late Crone had a vision, one that showed her the MoonChild is where she needs to be. She is fulfilling her duty and following the path." The Maiden offered.

Arya’s shoulders hunched, her nails digging into her palms until they bled. All the nights she’d spent pouring over maps, reading blood runes, burning herself out in service of a promise... All felt like ashes now. Tasting bitter in her mouth.

"I can’t..." she whispered, her voice cracking. "I can’t face her. She’ll see me as a traitor. She might even try and kill me, who knows given her current state of mind."

Arya felt the panic filling her soul at the idea. Violet wasn’t going to like this and Ash, oh Ash was going to be livid. They needed the witch’s protection most during daytime hours. This was a pivotal need for the war effort. Her and her people’s efforts were essential to the safety of the vampires.

The Mother stepped forward and laid a hand on Arya’s shoulder. "Pain is the price of devotion, Arya. We must hold the line of the goddess, even when our hearts shatter for it."

Arya drew a ragged breath, then another, but the tears kept falling. She couldn’t believe what she had heard, what she had just been told.

Her shoulders dropped from grief.

Finally, Arya turned away, staggering toward the exit, her skirt trailing behind her with a whipping fury. She did not wait to be dismissed; her anger carried her away before anyone could speak further.

The blanket of silence broken the moment she stepped out. The busy sounds of the clean-up for the celebration still underway.

She knew what she would have to do next: go to her friend, Violet, the vampire queen, who had trusted her above all others and deliver the words that would break her heart and shatter her faith in Arya.

She would see rage, betrayal, and devastation reflected in those violent magenta eyes.

But the goddess’s will was law.

Outside, the night waited. A shadow loomed over Arya’s face. A breeze rustled the treetops, cold and sharp, like the judgment Arya would soon face at the hands of her best friend and be at the mercy of her will.