The Coven

Tempest

Tempest pressed her lips together. She was about to argue, but then the shadows began seeping into her mind.

"There have always been spirits, Rydia", she told her wearily. "We've tried this before and have been persecuted by those we worked to save. I won't give my help to people who don't want it."

Besides, Tempest wanted to remain as far removed from spirits as was possible. She'd spent too many trying to forget, to escape.

"I have no more to give to this. What will come will come, whether or not we pretend that our resisting will make a jot of difference." She frowned, and her brown eyes darkend. "Just give it up," her voice had dropped to a whisper, "if you're the first to go down it will hurt that bit more."

lit-chick-4evva has requested to claim one of the three remaining characters so after meeting Aurora, we'll look for Karina (I'll let her post the bio when she's ready) and then carry on with the plan I mentioned a few posts back. And just to make it easier, I'm going to name the two remaining members of the coven so our enemies are Cordelia (the strongest of the two) and Lorette.

Rydia

Rydia was silent for a moment as she observed the determination in Tempest's face and in her stance. Then she smiled sadly as she reached her decision.

"I must try, that much is certain, but you are under no obligation to join me. Nor are you, Ava, be assured that I will understand if you decide to remain home with your daughter. You have today and tomorrow to reach your decisions but for now, return to the others and tell them I will be gone for no more than a day." Rydia embraced each woman in turn, wondering if they might soon be parting forever.

"Where are you travelling to?" Ava asked curiously.

"The ninth member of our coven is but a few hours walk to the North. I intend to go and see her and hopefully bring her back here," Rydia answered. Tempest looked up sharply.

"And if it's Cordelia?" Tempest snapped.

"Then my death will come sooner than I would have liked. Do not fear, I am not naive enough to think myself a match for her alone but Aurora, Karina and Roxanne must be reached." Tempest looked away and then said quietly:

"I will accompany you to find our fellow witch but do not take it as an agreement to join you on your reckless mission."

"I won't," Rydia replied. "I appreciate the gesture and will not take advantage."

Persephone-

Persephone felt so bad, she didn't realize the child might not know, or that she shouldn't have said as much as she did. She stayed sitting by the small apple tree picking at the grass while the others conversed waiting for Tempest, Ava, and Rydia to return. Rydia must be so angry with her, after what she had done. She was going to be no help at all to the coven, she already felt like a failure. She put her face in her knees and closed her eyes, only to see Mick's face. Mick, who she had tried so hard not to think about, but kept creeping into her mind. She wondered how he was, she wondered if he had already found someone else.

Here's the profile of my character:


Name: Karina Lachlan (you can change the name if you want to)
Age: 21
Appearance: Long, jet-black hair, hazel eyes, olive skin, curvy yet slim
Element: Earth
Role in coven: Exceptional spell-writing and potion making skills, extremely logical (always helps with solutions to problems), can take people to their past lives (if any), psychic, can talk to other spirits, reads auras (you can add or erase any)
Personality: Quiet in outside world, bridge between outsiders and members of coven, misses her fellow members greatly, empathetic
History: She was born into poverty, and really had no faith in any being. That was, until, she found another member of the coven, (Insert chosen name of character here). He/she was her mentor; her leader. He/she brought her into the coven, and now is keeping all her powers inside, as she longingly searches for any members that remain.
Weapons: Wooden staff, dagger that injects poison taken from leaves, whip made from eucalyptus leaves and bark

Hi, lit-chick! Welcome to the Coven . I would like to be that member of the Coven you mentioned, but Athene's story is already kind of worked out, besides, you've probably discussed it with Kitty

Athene-

I sat back down beside Persephone. Emma offered me an apple.

"Thank you," I said, taking the gift.

"Can you turn it into something?" she asked.

I was about to do so, when I realised that she meant in the game. Make-pretend.

"Of course," I said, closing my eyes. "Abrakadabra!"

I opened my eyes and smiled at the unchanged apple. "Do you see what it is?" I asked her.

She nodded, eyes wide. "It's beautiful. You should make it into a necklace."

I grinned. Little girl fantasies were wonderful.

"Do you think I should change the colour?"

"No. Red is lovely. I like rubies. It still looks a bit like an apple. It matches your hair."

I opened my satchel. "I'll put it in here for safe keeping."

Persephone had her head in her hands.

"Are you alright?" I asked her, my hand tentatively hovering near her shoulder.

She sat up. "Yes. Fine. Just fine."

"Hey," I said quietly, as Emma ran off to greet her mother and no doubt tell her about my 'spell'. "Don't worry. It was a mistake any of us could make. Don't get het up, honestly. Rydia will understand."

We haven't discussed that part actually but I think the mentor person will need to be Aurora since we haven't met up with her yet, if that's okay with Kalli? If not, we'll use Roxanne =)

Persephone-

"I'm such a failure." she said, but stopped. She didn't want to play the part of the martyr. She didn't want them all to think that she wanted pity, because she didn't. She wanted help. She wanted to forget her past life, recieve her training, and be a positive member in the coven. She knew she had already started off with a black mark, since she had dealings with a vampire, even if he was a good vampire. She just wanted to be trusted, to be loved.

That's alright, I'll be the mentor =)

great! a new witch!

Keleria

The sight made her sick. How could Persephone actually blame herself for that mistake, how could she make herself feel bad for something someone else did. It was crazy.

she stood up and walked towards the apple tree, plucking one off and taking a large bit out of it. the sound resonated through the air, a loud crunch in the stillness. Emma was being entertained by Athena, but she still seemed weary of Keleria, watching her from time to time. If Athena saw the looks she ignored them, but Persephone would look at her as well, before sighing and turning away.

Keleria frowned, it wasn't her fault, she hadn't lied to the child for these years, she hadn't made the child afraid of witches. She glanced out at Rydia talking to the mother and Tempest. the two other witches were looking distressed and put out, and Keleria wondered why they were so put out with what they were doing. It wasn't like they knew what was actually happening, why would they, Rydia hadn't told any of them anything. Keleria flicked her eyes over the trio again, and realised that that was exactly what Rydia was doing.

Angry, Keleria stalked back to the child and sat down again by Persephone, her thoughts turned inward. suddenly she felt small hands touch her own, and heard a tiny voice, "Why are you angry with Mama?"

Keleria looked up in shock, "I never said I was angry with your Mother. Why would you say that?"

"Because you are," the little girls eyes were penerating deep into Keleria's and she had the unsttling feeling that emma knew exactly what she was thinking.

"I'm fine, I swear," Keleria looked away, and saw Rydia returning. she stood up, glad for the interruption.

rydia turned to them all, "Get ready to leave."

Rydia

"Get ready to leave," Rydia said briskly, "Ava has kindly offered to take you to her dwelling where you will spend the night. Tempest and I are going to meet the ninth member of the coven and bring her back here by morning." Rydia observed the group carefully as they all began to stand and gather around Ava. She was troubled by what she saw. While Persephone looked ashamed and would not meet her eye, Keleria appeared to be angry and fiercely defiant, neither of which were the reactions she'd hoped for.

"Our coven may never be complete again but soon it will be close and then we must all talk before the final decision is made," Rydia stated before turning and walking North with Tempest at her side.

The two witches did not speak much as they made their way through the orchard, through a thicket of smaller, none-fruit bearing trees and then across a grassy pasture.

"The map shows that there is a castle in this direction. That is where we'll find our witches," Rydia said as she inspected the map.

"Witches?" Tempest questioned.

"Yes. Another of the coven has entered the castle."

"Cordelia and Lorette were always fond of castles," Tempest said carefully.

"As was Aurora. It could just as easily be her and Roxanne or Karina," Rydia replied calmly. Tempest nodded though she did not appear to be completely content with the answer.

Athene-

I stood up. Emma ran back to her mother. I smiled and turned to Persephone, who looked at me warily.

"You see, I never liked castles," I said, stopping to let her catch up, in an attempt to make conversation. "I once had to go to lay out a body there, since they were afraid of the spirits coming back, you know. All these people hiding in corners of a big draughty building... it wasn't much fun. How about you?"

She shrugged and sped up walking. I sighed, and followed.

I took out my apple (my ruby!) and bit into it. It reminded me of a love spell I had once cast on a man in a village. I hadn't done anything like that in the longest time. Looking back, it seemed a cruel trick to play. I was older now, kinder, I liked to think.

I couldn't help thinking that the Coven was going to change me. I remembered how I had been. I couldn't believe some of the atrocious things I had done. I had been a warrior. I wouldn't admit it, but I was a little afraid of meeting the other members. If we met, what if that side of me came back out?

Karina:

As I walk down the dusty dirt path, I find a shady oak, and stop to rest. All I can think about is the other members of the coven. I am still a novice in magic, and I had just discovered my powers, and how to fight with my weapons. There was almost no way I could be a witch without their guidance. As these pessimistic thoughts rest their burden on my shoulders, I feel someone, or something, standing before me. Their aura is a robust orange color; the color of fire. "It may just be a fire elemental," I mutter.

As I look deeper into their energy, to the core of the unseen source, negative energy sends a cold, nearly electric, shudder down my spine. That says it all. The figure is in fact a fire elemental, but there is a powerful demon. I see his figure faintly in the midst of his orange light, which very few but I can see. He is slim, and is wearing a long, black cloak. Something towards the top of the aura, most likely his eyes, pierce through mine. He wants to mold me into their kind, since I am weak, and I can be easily possessed and manipulated.

(to be continued...tell me what you think)

Tempest

Rydia was just as trusting and naive as she had been at sixteen, when last Tempest saw her. She'd have presumed time would have erratiacted Rydia's faith in others, but this didn't seem to be the case. During their years in the coven together, Rydia had always seemed much older than Tempest-the gap between fourteen and sixteen is very substantial at that age- but now she felt lifetimes ahead of her, as if her disillusionment hadn't come, as if she hadn't quite grown up. Rydia was going to walk herself right into her doom, because she was far too good for this world. Or far too idealistic.

Temepest had considered walking away. She was sure this mission would be in vain. But then, she had always loved a challenge. Besides, knowing what she knew now, being as she was now, there wasn't all that much that could be done to her anyway. That and seeing Rydia, matured now but still so much like her old self, asking for help, striving for good, had made her nostalgic, had awoken the old Tempest, who had friends and would not knowingly forsake them.

She didn't, however, disclose the story of her difficult years; the year the coven broke up, and four years directly after that. Her business was her business. If her help was required, it must be required without her having to make confessions she didn't want to make. She doubted it would get to a stage where any of it would matter. Let Rydia hold her little reunion. It would come to an end soon enough.

lit-chick: That's great =). In your next post, try to make your way towards the castle though and meet up with aurora, your character's mentor. Then Tempest and Rydia will meet you there and from that point, who knows what might heppen?

Karina: Part 2

Note: I have added something to Karina's character: She has powers of both Earth and Water, now.

I sit against the sturdy trunk, cringing back from the fiery aura of my foe. The river behind me seems to rush much more quickly now, and as I hear, and feel, it, the aura and presence die down.
As the demon's penetrating gaze eases to nothing more than an orange speck, and the blinding aura fades away, I rise from my spot on the lush green grass. I do not know how the demon could have just left me, without possessing me. Though I am an earth elemental by birth, I have no power, so it could have taken over me, using my human strength and normal appearance for whatever it liked.
The dirt path seems comforting beneath my feet as I walk. The river is on my right, but it seems more inviting than it ever had before. I feel as if it is watching me, and I feel a sort of unexplainable authority as I watch its current rush even faster than before.
In the distance is the grey stone castle in which I live with my friend and mentor, Aurora. I can see her aura from here; it is a comforting icy blue; she is a powerful master of air and water.
Once I approach the castle, she greets me with a beautiful smile. "Hello, Karina."
"Hello," I reply with a nod of my head. "I must ask you something, though it may sound stupid."
"No question about magic is stupid coming from a novice. It is best you ask, rather than find out before it is too late. You can trust me."
"Alright. Today, I felt a demon's presence, and its gaze coming from the aura was stifling and sharp. It must have been searching me, to see if I could be easily taken over and manipulated to their ease. Then, I FELT the river gain speed and power. As this feeling strengthened, the demon's aura faded, and I was no longer scared or in danger."
Silence filled the mudroom as she took in my comments. "I knew this would happen to you soon. The reason the demon could not go into you was something you can't control."
"And what would that be?"
"Though you can't control them yet, you've gotten part of your powers."
And I was speechless.
(to be continued yet again...I like keeping people waiting. lol.)

Please avoid using full capitals in your post, the bold or a colour is just as effective and they are painful to look at. Thank you. ~kitty15~