Fighting Destiny (Central Coven) (31 page)

“So, I’m half-vampire, and half-witch,” Anita said contemplatively.  Like my father said, when accepted the truths about ourselves as individuals, our strength as a group grew.  When Anita accepted who she was, she began to glow, not green like me, but bronze as I have always seen her. 

Eli broke the silence. “I have spoken with spirits tonight, and I know what your dream means.  We must prepare the ingredients for a binding spell to banish the necromancer’s powers.  We will need some of her hair, the vampire’s blood, and I already have the soil that we need. Once we do that she will know we are coming for her.  We must be ready.  Chloë, your coven needs to be ready to work as a team.”

“Everyone keeps saying that, but I’m not sure I really understand.  Not in terms of life and death.  What do we practice?  How do we practice together?  I mean, except for Anita and Grey, we all have completely different abilities,” I spurted.

“True, Chloë, your abilities are different, and it will take more than accepting who and what you are.  However, until each of you does that much we cannot move forward. Grey did this centuries ago.

Dean’s transformation is physical. He never had reason to question his nature.  Beyond that, Dean you very confident, and you are a team builder. This makes you even stronger, and more important in your role to this coven.”

Dean smiled his bright, toothpaste commercial smile.  My father was right, he oozed confidence.  Anyone that met him wanted to be near him, just so they could bask in his optimistic glow.  “Thank you sir.  I’ll do my best.  I won’t let you down,” Dean said modestly. 

“I don’t think you could,” Eli said affectionately.  “Your parents are friends of mine.  I’ve heard them brag about you for years.  Now I see they weren’t exaggerating.”

“Is there anyone you don’t know?” I asked petulantly.  During all of these years he and I didn’t have a relationship, was he building friendships with everyone?  “Daughter, when you have been alive as long as I have you meet a lot of people.  Do you really think it was coincidence that you met these four supernatural beings at the same time?  Or can you entertain the idea it was destiny?”

“Destiny…I really do hate that word,” I grumbled.  Grey shook his head and looked at the ground.  Anita giggled at my childish fit.  Dean and Finn rolled their eyes at me.  “I have heard that, but there is no sense fighting it, your destiny will happen anyway.  And, as long as you are spending so much energy fighting what
will
be, you are not going to reach your full potential.  It’s time to make peace with what is meant to be, Chloë,” Eli lectured.

“Three of you are blocked by your limited knowledge of yourselves.  Anita, Chloë, I’ve already told both of you what you need to work on.  That leaves you, Finn.  Those of us that don’t manifest our abilities physically: witches, wizards, necromancers, and elves, must learn to listen to our emotions in order to manage our powers.  If we deny our emotions, it can block our powers.  Do you understand what I am telling you?”

Finn nodded, solemnly.  He quickly glanced at me, and returned to studying the floor.  Are they…they can’t be…they aren’t talking about me are they?  Then, Grey looked at me with concern.  Finn lifted his gaze from his boots, to say one word, and confirmed my fears, “Chloë.”  “You love her,” my father said with understanding and compassion.  Again, Finn nodded.  This time he looked at me briefly, and the pain that filled his deep blue eyes hurt me to the core. 

I knew in that moment the connection I felt with Finn was built into me.  Inescapable.  Dare I say it?  Destiny.  I love Grey, but I love Finn too.  Life seems to get more complicated the older I get, and it sucks.

We looked at each other.  I couldn’t promise him what he wanted.  Not yet, at least.  It seemed Grey was always holding me close with one arm and pushing me away with the other.  Maybe he has been right all along. Perhaps I am destined to leave him. 

I’ve always felt pulled to Finn.  The only question is, if Grey is right, when will it happen?  Not tonight, and probably not tomorrow.  Hell, I’m only 18. How far in to the future am I expected to plan? I don’t even know what I’m going to be doing after breakfast. I’m a witch not a psychic. 

Before daylight Grey settled into the light tight cellar my father constructed under his cabin.  Bleary-eyed the rest of us fell into our available beds.  Anita and I took the guest room, while Finn and Dean crashed quickly on the furniture in the living room, without pulling out the hide-a-bed.  Eli, however, returned to his sweat lodge, behind the cabin to pray and convene with spirits for help. 

The smell of sage somehow drifted into the interior of the home, and calmed my over-active nerves.  It brought the first sense of peace and protection I felt for weeks.  I rested, feeling as if I were surrounded by generations of ancestors, friends, and loved ones I had never met.

For the second time, I found myself standing in an evergreen forest, barefoot, and exposed to the chill of the November air.  Mickey swooped down and landed on the lowest branch closest to me.  Her shrill screech beckoned a presence I could feel, but could not see.  Suddenly, I felt love, protection, and pride coming from a being that was all around me. 

“Daughter, I am here because your father has asked me to come,” said a musical voice that seemed to emanate from the trees.  I looked everywhere around me.  I had never wanted anything as much as I did to see this being.  She was love, life, and joy combined.

A light fog rolled across the ground, and began to pull together in front of me.  The intangible haze started to take the shape of an impossibly beautiful woman.  Her skin was the color of the earth, a pale brown, and impossible to establish an ethnicity.  Her hair was as dark as the trunk of a chestnut tree, and her eyes a vivid evergreen.  Her lips berry pink, and her cheeks the color of peaches.  Her dress was a sky blue, darkening to the setting sun down at its hem.

“Who are you?” I asked.  The question seemed ridiculous after it was spoken.  It was like asking my own reflection to explain itself.  Of course I knew her.  She is the mother, protector, and creator.  The one to whom all is owed, and all returns.  She is not really she, but one manifestation.  “I am Mother Earth, the Creator, God.  I go by many names, and I answer to all. But, it seems you need a mother most, so to you it is this appearance that I am using.  A lot is expected of you to protect what I have created.  Those who love you have asked for my guidance, and I am here to provide it for you.  Know that you are in my favor daughter, and I am going to provide you with the experiences you need to meet this challenge.  Rest now, and do not fret.”

The sun shone down through the thick cover of trees, and Mother Earth dissolved into the sunlight.  A soft carpet of lush green grass sprang up in her absence.  Unable to resist, I lay down on the plush grass, and was lulled into a deep sleep warmed by the unusually balmy winter sunlight. 

We were all awake by the late afternoon. The sky was already beginning to darken as it neared five o’clock.  I dressed in Levis, a navy cable knit sweater, thick socks, and gently worn hiking boots.  I was dressed for warmth, comfort and utility.  I pulled on my blue North Face coat, and headed outside. 

The wind hit me as soon as I opened the door, and I wrapped my arms around my chest.  The sharp chill of the air even smelled cold, and not only because of the lingering scent of smoke, but the tangy smell of cold itself. 

Instinct told me to head for the trees, so I began to walk.  I knew that Mickey was circling somewhere overhead.  Her presence was crowding in on my thoughts, still fairly serene, but every waking moment brought me back to the tension I had lived with previously.  Mickey’s thoughts urged calm and focus, and instructed me to hold on to the feelings of clarity.

Easier said than done with my friends.  I mean, do they realize we are in a fight to preserve the supernatural world as we know it?  If they did, it sure as hell didn’t show.  I picked up my pace trying to go deeper into the woods.  I had to dodge pine needles falling all around me, caused by a high altitude game of chase being played by Dean and Anita.  It would be cute, if we didn’t need to get to work.

I wore my disdain plainly across my face.  “Daughter, is that not a skill that can come in handy fighting the red-headed necromancer?”  My father asked pointing the tops of the violently shaking trees.  “Yes, but…” I began, but was unable to finish.

“Have you ever seen a fox after its prey?” Eli asked.  “No, I only know them by their reputation,” I answered confused.  “No matter, any mammalian predator learns to hunt by playing with others.  It is the most effective means of training,” he reflected out loud.

Point made.  Why
was
I being such a grouch?  Probably, because everyone else was having fun except me?  I took a deep breath, and exhaled.  I willed the tension, stress, and irritation to leave my body. 

I turned my face up to the sky to catch the remaining rays of sunlight, when suddenly a small compact rain cloud unleashed a torrent of water on me.  A rumbling of laughter caught my attention from the tree line.  I failed to see the humor in getting me drenching wet and freezing. 

I scowled at Finn, who continued to laugh at me.  “You did this?” I accused.  “Guilty,” he said with a grin.  “Then can you make it stop?  It’s cold,” I complained with a frigid tone to my voice.  He shrugged, then the rain trickled to a drizzle, stopped, and finally the cloud blew away. 

I grunted, my eyes blazed green, and flames danced all over my entire body.  Steam rose above me as the last of the water evaporated.  I shook out my hair, and the flames died out.  “Chill Chlo.  Look, I’m getting in touch with my powers,” Finn pointed out.  He was happy, having fun. They were all having fun, except me.  Well not anymore.  If this was how we were going to train, bring it on. 

I felt a smirk pulling at the corner of my mouth.  He was going to have to face a witch, well necromancer, so maybe he should practice.  “Hey Finn, wanna see how in touch you are?” I taunted.  “What do you have in mind?” he asked nervously.

I giggled quietly, then I wiggled my fingers and displayed the green sparks that danced at the ends of my fingers.  If he wanted to play, well…  “Finn,” I called out.  He laughed again, and suddenly I was surrounded by flowers, odd for winter. 

It seemed so serene and peaceful. I almost missed the vines snaking out of the earth attempting to trap me in place.  I levitated out of their reach and shot a smug grin toward Finn.  “Come and get me,” he taunted. 

Hmmm.  I can’t fly.  I don’t have Anita’s super speed.  And it appears that if I return to the ground I will be ensnared in those dam
n vines.  Damn, I am slow today. Because, I nearly forgot, I
can
teleport.

I disappeared in a swirl of glittering green mist, and reappeared in a branch above Finn.  I took a step off the branch and levitated toward the ground.  Finn’s eyes glowed with a bright blue intensity.  When I was almost near enough to touch him, he reached upward and the ground opened and swallowed him whole. 

I touched down.  I had never seen anything like it before.  I opened my senses, and I could feel the hum of magic all around me.  The pulse grew stronger toward the meadow, and I raced toward it.  Even a necromancer would be able to sense a magical presence.  I can’t get down there, but I could force him to come up.  Crossing my hands in front of my face, I closed my gleaming green eyes, and used my will to pull some of the air out of the cavern.  I was pushing on his ability to remain concealed, and every second I felt his acquiescence nearing. 

He burst out of the ground sending large rocks and small debris flying all around.  I cast a net of green cables of energy all around me, and the rocks that were hurdling toward me popped and disappeared in the live energy that circled me.  I knew I could draw nearly unlimited power and end this little game right now.  I could create a magical trap, or shock the hell out of him.  But, Simone wouldn’t be able to do that. Where would the training value be in that?

She would call forth spirits, and entice vampires to attack.  I heard once that witches could communicate telepathically with each other.  I wonder if Anita was able to do it too.  Only one way to find out.  “Anita,” I called out with my mind.

I heard a gasp in the trees. “
Yes, Anita its me.  Listen, you are a witch, so we can talk this way, cool huh
?”  “
So cool.  Now we can trash talk about that skank
Cynthia without her hearing
,” Anita silently purred.  “
That would be convenient, but right now I have something else in mind.  If I were Simone I would summon spirits, or…
”

“
Me
!” Anita mentally interrupted. “
Exactly, so shall we pretend to be a necromancer and a vampire in thrall
?” I silently asked.  “
Sounds like fun
,” she chirped, if one can do so in a mental voice. 

She leapt out of her perch, high in the nearest evergreen, and landed on top of Finn with a thud.  Anita went for his throat, and Finn held her off with more strength than I realized he had.  Anita is petite, but she has the unnatural strength of the undead.

They rolled around violently with Finn trying to gain the advantage over Anita, and failing.  They crashed into a large pine with a crack.  Finn gingerly touched the tiny fissures in the trunk of the large tree, and they immediately healed.  In response the tree seemed to answer his thoughts, a large root snaked out of the ground and headed for Anita.