The Coven History

by Lily Luchesi

  Fiona giggled like a gleeful child as more energy gathered in her palm, ready to be launched again. Salem wasn’t sure he’d be able to handle the smell of charred flesh as well as hair and cloth.

  “Would it not be prudent to kill her quickly, lest the PID catch us?” he asked casually.

  Fiona rolled her eyes, but Robert said, “He’s right. We can’t get caught now.”

  She huffed a little and said, “I suppose you’re both right. Still, it’s not as much fun.”

  Fun? She calls this fun? Gaia help me, this lady isn’t even just evil, she’s bloody mental, Salem thought. No wonder Angelica Cross wants her dead.

  Fiona’s smile returned as she cast, “Imputresco.”

  Quigley had time to let out one scream before the pain took over and she began to decay from the inside out. Her body began to shrink, and the distinct smell of rot in the wet grass became evident.

  Salem wanted to turn away or at least cover his nose, but he knew he couldn’t without seeming weak to the Ainsleys. His stomach churned at the sight and the sound and the smell.

  When the woman lay dead in a puddle of still decaying gooey flesh and bones, Salem felt that he could finally turn away.

  “Are you going to dispose of the remains or leave them for the PID to find?” he asked Robert, perhaps a bit too harshly.

  His former friend flicked his hand and sent green flames to consume the corpse. Or what was left of it, that is. “Happy now, Salem?”

  He nodded, though he was far from happy, especially at the tone in Robert’s voice. There was ice and steel there, and that tone told Salem that something drastic was going to happen. Possibly something bloody.

  “Tomorrow night, nine o’clock, be at my manor for an emergency Company meeting. Anyone I ask to come who fails to will find themselves just like Miss Quigley over here. Except I will let Fiona torture them a bit more first.”

  Salem stared Robert down, not letting him get a hint of fear. “I will be there.”

  He watched as the Ainsleys walked away, down the Thames, and went right back to his Pege as soon as they were out of his line of sight. When he got back to the Coven, he ran as fast as he could to the castle, bursting into Edelstone’s office without knocking.

  “Salem! Did you not just leave here nary an hour ago? What happened, my boy?” Edelstone asked.

  Salem hastily explained what he had just witnessed, pausing to control both his breathing and his emotions. When he was finished, he said, “And tomorrow he has a big announcement for every Company member. I do believe we are down to the wire, sir.”

  Edelstone nodded. “You will attend the meeting and do not report back here. Rather, report to the town of Brighton, to the flat Lynx and Silver share. They will relay your messages to me. I will let them know to expect you.”

  Salem nodded. “Very well, sir.”

  Edelstone looked warily up at him. “Why did you not stop it, hm? Tell them it was not the Quigley girl?”

  “Because I knew that, without me, the Smiths are as good as dead. I can’t say I wanted her to die, but nor could I have saved her without jeopardising our current mission,” Salem explained. While he was not happy with the turn of events, he knew he had done what was needed to save others.

  Edelstone nodded. “You acted justly. Like a true King should.”

  I am no King, Salem thought. I am nought but a frightened child, surrounded by Darkness and things I do not understand.

  He barely slept, and required a dose of Wakefulness Potion as well as two large cups of coffee when he woke the next day.

  When he did sleep, his dreams were filled with bloody things. He saw and heard the Quigley woman being murdered again, and in his dreams, the end result was worse than what he had actually seen.

  What finally roused him was hearing Robert’s smooth voice in his nightmare: “You know it was you. It’s your fault Fiona had to kill her. You could have saved her, yet you stood by and did nothing. Murderer.”

  His heart was heavy as he sat at the kitchen island, contemplating pouring a third cup of bitter coffee. I knew three years ago that Robert was planning something, and I did nothing about it. No matter what happens, I am guilty of setting these things in motion.

  He ran a hand through his hair, swallowing around the lump in his throat. How could he continue to live with himself knowing he had let it get this bad? And yet, he had been rewarded for his treachery by being made next in line to be Coven King. It made no sense to him. Then again, many of the Coven’s younger set were of the opinion that the old man was going batty. Maybe this was another sign of it.

  He stayed at home, sequestered from the world with magically Charmed shut blackout curtains. He barely ate, as his stomach was rolling with acid. Of course, he was sure that the coffee didn’t help matters, either. He remained in the chair by the fireplace, warming him in the early autumn chill. Or was the chill merely in his bones from fear? He wasn’t sure.

  All he did know was that he needed to shape up and stop feeling sorry for himself. This was no time for self-pity or hatred for that matter. He had made a grave mistake, and now only he could right it.

  An hour before he had to be at Ainsley Manor, he changed into his finest clothes, which weren’t much, and donned the customary green cloak. Making sure the amulet was in sight, he mounted a Pege and flew to Keswick.

  The manor was lit up in the night, a beacon for all those weary and filled with malice. Salem thought that, perhaps, he could taste the evil in the air were he to stick out his tongue.

  He parked the Pege in the trees; the Ainsleys bred malumcorni, which were Peges warped by Dark magic. Were he to leave the Pege any closer, it could become dinner for one of the evil creatures.

  There were a few Company members outside the Manor doors, all whispering in hushed tones.

  “What happened?” Salem asked those closest to him.

  “Had you only been here ten minutes ago,” a man said. “Fiona was taken away.”

  “Taken away? By the PID?”

  A woman shook her head. “Apparently they were spotted yesterday in London, killing a supposed traitor.”

  “Fiona killed, you mean,” the man corrected. “So there was a dust up in here, and Robert cast her out. It was remove her, or the whole Company could be taken down.”

  Salem couldn’t believe his ears. Robert had ordered the attack on Quigley, though Fiona had nearly taken it too far. Still, to send your wife away … it was too cruel even for him to think about.

  He pushed past the people, wanting to talk to Robert before the meeting officially began.

  He found his former friend in the baby’s nursery, idly playing with the toddler.

  “What on Earth is going on?” he asked without a proper greeting.

  Robert looked up, somewhat amused. “Ah, the rumour mill has reached you, has it? It is true: I had Fiona sent away and filed for an official severance of magic.”

  That was a magical divorce.

  “Because of yesterday?” Salem asked.

  “Not just yesterday. I needed a wife with Fraser blood to complete the prophecy, and she was the only Fraser willing to come to the Munro’s side. She has been practicing Dark magic since she was a young girl. She’s evil, makes me look like Glinda the Good Witch.

  “She would have taken The Company down if she remained. Her plans were rash and vicious. It was remove her, or lose everything I have worked for. And I could not, in good conscience, do that.”

  Salem nodded. “So are you rethinking any of it? Now that she’s gone?”

  Robert scoffed. “Are you mad, mate? I am more determined than ever before. We should get to the meeting room. It is nearly time.”

  He clapped Salem on the shoulder and walked away, leading him through the manor and into the large meeting room, where most everyone had gathered. Salem had never seen so many Company members in one place at the same time. It was as if the room had been magically enhanced to hold them all.

  If there are thi
s many here, now, how many will come when he calls us to action?

  “Esteemed magicians,” Robert began, standing in the middle of the room. “Many of you now know that a secret plan of ours was leaked to the Light. And now the Smith family knows that we want them all dead. The offender was taken care of, but in that reckless act, we also lost my wife, Fiona Guilfoyle. Which is fine. Without her recklessness, we may proceed with more stealth.

  “In the coming months, quite soon, I will be calling on many Company members to be at the ready for a battle against the bloody Light. When we strike against the Fraser heirs, there will be backup, both from their allies and even the Coven King, who turned against his own Clan. When we attack, they will try and fight. That is where you all will come in.

  “This will be your ultimate test of loyalty: to come and protect me when I call for it. To ensure that our plans to take control of this and every other Coven come to fruition. Assist me in making our dreams of magical dominance a reality.

  “If you do not assist, or perhaps if there is no reason to assist, then do not hinder. For anyone found to be in compliance with Edelstone or the PID will meet the same sticky end as the Smiths.”

  His silvery eyes roamed over every single person, as if daring them to defy him. No one seemed to even breathe too loudly, lest he take it as a sign of insubordination.

  “When will we strike?” Salem asked, the only one who wasn’t afraid to speak at that moment. He saw others watching, looking as though he was either brave or stupid.

  Robert smiled. “Soon. You all have your amulets? When next they burn, you will know that we are on the move. It must be an ambush, because they are well protected. It will take more than mere magical skill to get inside that house. It will take ambition, drive, and power.

  “One set I want to come with me to Liverpool, to back me up from the Smiths’ entourage of Light. The other set … you will go to the Coven. Take the King if you can.” He turned to Salem. “Where would you rather be? With me, or in the Coven, keeping the King dumb?”

  Salem had to do quick thinking, and he could only hope that his hastily cobbled together plan would work. “The Coven. Let me take the King myself. I have an old score to settle with the old man.”

  Robert chuckled, clapping him on the shoulder. Salem wanted to burn his hand off. “Very well, my old friend. Now … is everyone clear? You will receive your assignments of where I want you as you leave here. Simply wait for my call.

  “And soon, everyone will see that they should not have counted The Company of Clan Munro out so soon. The Darkness will fall.”

  Chapter 27

  “A party? Really, Daphne?” Michael asked. “We’re prisoners inside our own home, and you want to host a party?”

  “Harley is going to turn three,” Daphne commented. “And besides, Draven and Caelum do not make it a party. I don’t want her to remember her birthday as a solemn occasion. I want to celebrate her. Some dinner, a little cake, and presents for her will make the day seem more normal. Do you want her growing up hating today?”

  Michael sighed. “No. Of course not. All right, let me give the blokes a call. You good with the cooking and whatnot? Want them to bring anything?”

  “I’m fine. Magic is a wonderful thing when you want to host guests last minute.” Daphne went into the kitchen and made sure that they had the ingredients they needed and began to cook. She could see the living room from where she stood.

  Harley was playing with her chemistry set, and Nick was playing with blocks. No matter how hard she tried, she could not get the siblings to play together. Harley seemed intent on disliking her baby brother, and Nick didn’t seem to care about that yet.

  It’s Salem, she thought. It’s the part of her she inherited from him, being happy when solitary. I hope that doesn’t hurt her as she grows up.

  If she grows up, a small voice in the back of her mind reminded her. She shooed it away and beat an egg extra hard to stop from thinking that way.

  It had been over six weeks since Salem had informed Edelstone of Robert’s plan to ambush the Smiths and their neighbourhood. In those six weeks, Daphne had made possible battle plans, had even gone so far as to draw some up and have them mailed to Draven and Caelum. She was a take charge sort of person, and this was one instance where that side of her came in handy. She wasn’t going to sit idly by and wait for everyone else to save her. She was going to be the mistress of her own fate.

  It was all about balance for her. Spend her nights strategizing, spend her days with her children, trying to make sure they knew that nothing was going on. To make their lives be more normal than hers and her friends’ had been.

  Hopefully, we can stop The Company and then my children never have to grow up with apprentice murders or Clan prejudice. Never have to worry about who they befriend, or who might betray them, she thought.

  Around five that evening, as the sun was setting, Caelum and Draven arrived. Draven was a half vampire, so it was easy for him to hide his emotions, but Caelum, being a shifter, was incapable of it. Worry danced on his handsome features, and his fingers twitched on the wrapped present he carried.

  “Happy birthday, kid,” he said to Harley, ruffling her hair. It was up in two pigtails, but was falling out. Another thing she had inherited from her father: his thin, soft hair that very little could be done with.

  “Thank you!” she said brightly, smiling up at him. “I’m three today!”

  “Yes you are,” Draven agreed, kissing the top of her head. “And do you know what that means? You get presents and cake tonight.”

  Her eyes widened and she nodded. “I helped Mummy make the frosting.”

  “Magic?” Caelum asked Daphne.

  “Of course,” she replied with a small smile. It was days like these that made her want to fight harder than she ever had for the Light. How could anyone want to succumb to the Darkness when there was so much goodness in the world?

  “What are you going to do when this is over?” Caelum asked. “With the kid and Sinclair?”

  “I’m going to tell him, of course,” Daphne said. “I am going to finally have the life I wanted since I was old enough to realise I loved him.”

  Caelum made a face, prompting Draven to poke him in the ribs.

  “I’m glad, Daph,” Draven said. “As long as you know for sure he won’t regress back into the Darkness.”

  Before she could answer, a timer in the kitchen went off and she went to check on the appetizer, which was the last thing cooking, since it took so little time.

  The group soon sat down to dinner of Harley’s favourites: chips, baked carrots, and baked chicken, as well as crostinis for the adults. Even Nick tried to get in on the conversation with the adults, though he was barely just forming sentences at one years old.

  Harley was quiet but happy, as Daphne could tell by her bright, black eyes. After dinner, she opened her presents. The chemistry set, Daphne had already given to her, but there were still some picture books, colouring sets, and Draven and Caelum’s gifts. Caelum had gotten her a toy Pege that would fly when enchanted with a certain spell. Draven had gotten her a plush bat with big red eyes and a fang-toothed grin.

  While Harley was playing and Michael was changing Nick’s nappy, Caelum and Draven helped Daphne clean up. With magic, it took no time at all.

  “So, when is the wedding?” Daphne asked.

  “We were thinking the Spring Equinox, in the castle gardens,” Draven said.

  “To celebrate new life in the Earth with our new life, together,” Caelum added.

  Daphne smiled at them. “I talked to Harley, and she wants to be your flower girl, if you’re going that traditional route.”

  “Of course!” Draven said. “And we want you and Mike to be in the wedding party, too.”

  “If we survive,” Caelum muttered, picking at a loose string on his shirt.

  “Brilliant, mate. That is the perfect attitude for a party,” Draven scolded.

  “Maybe a funeral,
” Daphne said with a wry smile. “Do you want coffee or tea?”

  They both did, so she directed them to go to the living room and wait for her to finish brewing it. She magically infused different flavours, a little trick Salem had taught her in school.

  All the while, she surreptitiously looked out the window, as if she was expecting someone or something. The tone of the evening had changed, and now her anxiety was pricking at her mind.

  Something bad was coming. Her Fraser senses were never wrong.

  Her hands trembled and she could feel her stomach churning from her nerves and she took a breath to try and calm herself. Instead of focusing on her senses, she listened to Caelum and Draven talking to Harley, about how she was going to be their flower girl.

  At that moment, the landline phone began to ring shrilly, startling her.

  “Hello?” she answered, her voice trembling.

  “You have got to get out. Now.”

  “Salem?” she asked worriedly. Between the chosen words and his breathless tone of voice, he made her anxiety get worse.

  “What does he want?” Caelum hissed from the other room.

  “He’s been helping us,” Draven said, though he sounded doubtful. “Maybe he’s just checking in.”

  He sucked in a breath and said, “Robert is coming for you tonight. As in, he will be there soon … with reinforcements. You must take your family and leave. Edelstone and I will handle things at your home, along with a few Coven reinforcements on our end.”

  Daphne felt breathless but knew she needed to control herself. She couldn’t suddenly grow weak from fear. Not when there was so much on the line. “Are you sure? And Edelstone—”

  “We are both certain. The signal came, the one Robert said he would send The Company members. I need you to go. Save yourselves, and we will end this.”

  Daphne swallowed hard, hating to run but knowing she had to if she wanted to save her children. “Yes, of course. Thank you, love. I don’t know what we’d do without you.”