The Coven

Keleria

Walking towards the hut, Keleria couldn't help thinking about the little girl, Emma. The feeling she had given her was unsettling and disturbing, and keleria had no idea how the girl could have known what she was thinking.

Ava stared them indoors, and Keleria gasped as she saw a man sitting by the fire, stoking it up and keeping it going. The man smiled at Ava, then glanced around at the strange assortment of people that had entered his home.

Realising that this man must be the father, Keleria tried to figure out whether or not he had magic in his blood. She doubted any witch would ever marry a human, she couldn't see how this man wasn't one. He had none of the magical aura that the others had about them, and he seemed very confused about the people that had come to visit his wife.

Keleria was starting to get irritated with Ava, she didn't seem to realise how wrong the humans were, how they had destroyed the coven and their lives. Keleria was almost tempted to start an argument, but she knew that she was already on a thin line. She couldn't keep the anger from her face though as she saw Ava telling her husband how they were travelling players that she had known, and were friends. Keleria walked away quickly and sat next to the fire, where Caelin was also seated. The heat was soothing, and the fire that was constantly boiling underneath her was content to stay there, with warmth feeding it from the outside.

Caelin looked at her curiously, "You know, they'll never understand why you hate humans don't you?"

Keleria glared back at him, "I know. What about you?"

Caelin looked away, "I don't have that problem."

Keleria laughed, "how do you explain your lack of will to help then?"

Caelin didn't answer, and walked away. Keleria kept laughing, until he was out of earshot. When she stopped her face fell. She knew what he was talking about, and she was ashamed.

Karina:

I am speechless. After joining the coven several years ago, I have finally received my powers, of water at least. I am still a novice at magic, but with my new powers, and a wonderful mentor, I will come a long way from where I began.

"I shall help you strengthen your power and improve your skills. Now is a splendid time to do so.

I smile in response, and she leads me out the door of the castle.

A few moments later, we reach the river, and I still feel the current rushing. I can still not get over the fact that I have my powers now.

"Karina?" Aurora asks.

"Yes?"

"Here is your first lesson. Before wielding a weapon to your authority, you must learn the ways of the water, and capture them."

"Alright."

"Now, place your feet in the water."

"What shall that do?" I ask impatiently.

"You must not only feel the power, but you must now let it run within you. When a witch gets their powers, it is strong in your heart. Most witches do not train the way I shall train you to strengthen, but I feel it is the best way, and it shall make you more aware of things."

I answer by sitting on the riverbank, and letting the fierce water run up to my ankles. Suddenly, I feel the current grow stronger, though it looks, and feels, calm to the ordinary human. As the current rushes on, I feel the energy of it run through the veins in my ankles, travel up my legs, and eventually spread throughout my body."I feel it," I said quietly.

"Wonderful. You can feel the power that you possess, and it is growing stronger. Now, you must learn to control it."

Aurora stood behind Karina, giving her directions on how to take control of the current and most importantly on how to let go again. These were little exercises she still remembered from tutoring other young ones of the coven back in the old days. When the coven had fallen apart she had stopped training them, leaving the ones who weren't fully trained to themselves, hiding here up North in this castle. She hadn't wanted them to go out there and try to help those pitiful things that weren't willing to pay respect to nature and one another and get hurt the way she did. Betrayed and rid of their tasks.

She had stayed in the castle for years now, no magic escaping her fingers. But now with the growing flow of the stream she felt it coming back to her, the way Karina had come back. She had just appeared at her doorstep, the way the girl from the village had appeared. How she regretted not to have helped her. How that was against all of her former morals. She was the strong one, the one with the magic, the one with the power to help. Her doing nothing would mean for her to let the evil that she felt seeping into the earth take it's course and denying all she had ever fought for.

The girl from the village followed by her deams had reminded her of that. She hadn't wanted to make that mistake a second time when she saw her former student at her door step. She felt Karina was a second chance for her.

"You're doing a goos job, Karina, now let go, your power is not strong enough yet to hold on much longer without losing control."

"What happens when one loses control, Mistress Aurora?"

Oh my, she had forgotten all about the student master etiquettes between witches. Had it really been that long?

She sighed.

"It becomes stronger than you are and suddenly not you, but the element is in charge. It sucks the life right out of you and you will join the flow of the stream forever."

Hastily Karina pulled her feet out of the water.

"You needn't worry, dear, as long as we're practising I'm here to supervise you and take care that doesn't happen. But when you're alone, I warn you. Always keep it as small as possible or it may overwhelm you."

"I have another question, Mistress."

"Go ahead, then."

"What about Earth? We've only trained to handle Water so far."

"Ahh, yes. I fear we will have to start with Earth soon, too, then," a little smile crept into the coners of her mouth, "I have only very little control over that element for my second element is Fire. I shall teach you what I know, which is quite a lot, but I can onl give you very little aid of magical sort.
Also when you have aquired the average knowledge you shall need a new teacher for the advanced magic of Earth."

"Oh."

Aurora smiled. She enjoyed having magical company again and someone to share her knowledge with. Made her wonder about Keleria, the girl she had taught as well before the coven had broken apart. What she had seen of her in her sleep had been very unsettling. She had looked so hard and hostil twards the little human girl. Maybe she shouldn't have told her to stay away from humans. Maybe she shouldn't have sent her away at all.

Also she wondered how she'd find a good teacher for Karina when she reached a high level in the magic nvolving the Earth. Sure, it took a long time to get that far, but Karina was a fast learner... Somehow she had a feeling Karina's teacher wasn't all that far away, though.

Rydia

"The two are leaving the castle," Rydia narrated, watching the little dots slither across her map. "They've not gone far. To a stream by the looks of it." Beside her, Tempest acknowledged this with a brief nod as they continued to make their way across the grassy field. The castle was in sight now, the stone turrets rising beyond a grassy mound but they veered left, towards the stream.

"Are we close?" Tempest queried. Rydia nodded and folded the map carefully before placing it in her shoulder bag.

"We should see them soon. They're walking away from there, in our direction," Rydia replied calmly, her posture relaxed and a faint smile flitting across her lips. Tempest stiffened and around her the wind stilled and the earth trembled but Rydia placed a soothing hand on her arm and looked carefully into her eyes. "It will be alright, Tempest."

"And if they attack?" Tempest demanded in a prickly tone, her features sharp and hard, her whole body tensed as if she were willing to fight Rydia to make her see sense. Rydia tried to hide her surprise and grief at the change in her old friend and she replied quietly but firmly:

"Then we will do what we must. But look, while we have talked, they've come upon us and doesn't Aurora look surprised? And I think Karina might die from shock. Come, let us greet them," Rydia grinned as she set off at a casual pace towards the two vaguely familiar figures. But behind the smile, she hid grim thoughts. That would have made you laugh in the old days, you've grown too hard, Tempest. Or maybe I'm still too soft.

Athene-

I joined Ava in the kitchen, happy to be doing something to help. Emma followed me in.

"Are you going to do more magic?" she asked. Ava stared at me.

"Athene..." she warned.

I shook my head. "Sure," I answered. "What would you like me to do?"

"Can you give me a pretty silk dress with blue buttons?"

"Close your eyes, and spin round three times."

The child did so, and I shouted "Hocus Pocus!" She opened her eyes again.

"Wow, it's beautiful. Thank you!"

"You're welcome," I said. She ran to show it off. Ava shook her head at me, but didn't say anything because of her husband close by. I smiled at him.

"I'm Athene," I told him. "I'd like to thank you for letting us stay here the night. I know that we're rather a crowd."

He nodded. "Perhaps you can provide us with some entertainment."

"Oh, I'm sure we could weave you a good tale," I said with a laugh. "Perhaps after your most wonderful wife and I finish this meal?"

Ava slapped my hands away. "Go and rest Athene."

"When have you ever known me to rest when there's work to be done?" I asked.

Tempest

Tempest shook her head. "This is crazy." she muttered. She wasn't sure whether Rydia heard or not. Raising her voice to a more audible volume, she asked "How long are you expecting this to take? I have a life, and if I'm going to just walk away from it to pursue this madness with you, I need to make some arrangements."

Tempest shuddered at her own words. It was starting to sound like she was willing to go along with it. She could feel the shadows moving closer with every step she took, and now she was worried that, even if she were to turn back now, they would follow. She'd spent too long trying to escape them, and the thought of their return made her feel sick.

She'd go to the castle, she decided. She couldn't resist the challenge, she couldn't shy away from teh re-emerging ghosts without closure. If she needed to fight at this stage, she would, and hope it made things better, and just try harder to avoid going back to her past in future. But, she wondered, could the past ever really be escaped, or was it too deeply ingrained in you?

The sky was dull grey now, and seemed to be pressing down on them like wads of sodden cotton wool. Tempest wasn't sure whether even a breath could pass through it. The terrain was getting rougher, and Rover was starting to get difficult.

"Come on," she urged. "You can do it." Even as she said it, she wasn't sure whether she was talking to him or to herself.

"How long will this take?" She repeated, unsure as to whether Rydia had answered while she was lost in thought. She didn't apologise for not listening.

Karina:

Once I finally mastered the river's mighty current, I turn to Mistress Aurora, and ask, "How must I learn to control my powers?"

"Karina, there is really no other way other than willpower and physical strength. I shall help you with that now."

I nod my head in response.

"Alright then. Now, put your entire body in the river, and feel the current all around you."

Reluctantly, I let myself fall from the riverbank, and my skirts become soaked with the waist-deep water. I feel the current rushing past my legs. The power overwhelms me at first, but eventually I become used to the sensation and wade until the water is up to my chin. I turn my head to Mistress Aurora for approval.

"Do you feel that power, Karina?"

"Yes. It is strong, but I am growing used to it."

"Wonderful." She turns her head to the right, and her gaze went from my curious face to the sweeping waters. It seems if she is focusing only on one place. Then, she nearly throws her head back towards me. Almost immediately after that, I feel the current rushing with more strength. It is too strong; it sweeps me up as quickly as a hawk takes flight, and I cannot find the bottom of the river again.

As I struggle to keep my head above the mighty water, I see Tempest and Rydia approaching the place where Aurora stands watching me. I hear Tempest say, "Aurora! She is drowning! She does not have enough power for this test yet!"

Oh, yes! But how will I use my powers here. I can only strengthen and quicken water thus far. Or can I fully control it?

Quickly, I bring my hands to the surface, so they are about three inches from my face. I feel my newly discovered power flow into my shaking palms. I straighten my back, and slowly bring my palms to touch the rough water's surface.

Rydia shouts, "Karina!"

I turn my head to let her know that I have heard her. Then, as my palms meet the surface, I feel the current slow, and I am able to swim back to the bank. As I swim, thankful for my power, I leave behind a trail of rough water; the rest of the river's current appears as smooth as glass.

Once I reach the safe bank, Tempest grabs my hand, and pulls me out of the water. "Karina. I am so proud of you. I thought you wouldn't be strong enough, but you are." She smiles warmly.

"Thank you, Tempest," I reply. Then, the four of us walked away, and headed back to the castle.

Rydia

At the castle, Rydia waited until the other three had seated themselves at a large, hexagonal table before taking a seat.

"What brings you here?" Aurora asked regally, sat with her shoulders back and her face an image of perfect calm, perfect serenity. There was a vain facet to Aurora that Rydia had never cared for. A self importance that drove her to independence and once even to the belief that she would make a better leader for the coven.

"The fate of humankind," Rydia replied. "Aurora, we need Karina and you to help us destroy the spirits who seek to change the balance of life and death." Rydia paused, allowing it to sink in, surprised that Tempest had remained silent so long. Then, surprisingly, Karina spoke:

"We'll help!" she said enthusiastically. Rydia blinked and was even more surprised when Aurora nodded, seemingly in agreement with her... student?

"We will hear what you have to say at least," Aurora said. "I presume we're not the only ones you will seek out?"

"You are almost the last," Tempest said gruffly, her own surprise hidden.

"Then let us depart. Where might these others be staying?" Aurora asked sceptically as she stood from the table and gathered her cloak.

"Not far," Rydia answered.