Resented

by Amelia Rademaker

  “I haven’t found an offering yet.” Ivy was proud that she had remembered not to lie. The brothers shared a weighty look. Ivy wished she had come up with a better answer.

  Ezekiel scratched his chin. “What was it Stella said? Find one that speaks to you?”

  Ivy felt woozy. “Oh right, I’ll try that,” her voice came out weak and airy.

  She turned away from him. Ivy closed her eyes. She took another deep breath. She pushed a little bit of intent into her unshackled magic.

  Hello? Nothing answered. Anyone there? Nothing happened. Frustrated, Ivy huffed internally. I need an offering please. Nothing happened.

  Ivy groaned and opened her eyes, “Holy shit.” she whispered as she leaned into the display case.

  It was empty.

  “Holy shit,” Ezekiel whispered from right behind her. His eyes were glued to the empty shelves.

  They looked around the room. All of the crystals were gone. Neither of them said anything. Ivy couldn’t form words.

  Every single crystal in the room had disappeared into thin air. All of Stella’s collection was gone. Every single crystal of power.

  How on earth had that happened? Ivy had asked for an offering, not to make all of the Black Bird Coven’s crystals disappear. She started to panic. How in the hell was she going to explain this? She couldn’t even begin to imagine how mad Stella was going to be.

  “Was that supposed to happen?” Ezekiel asked in a whisper.

  “No,” Ivy answered just as quietly.

  Ezra snorted drawing both of their attention. “I guess we have our offering.” Ivy gave him a confused look. He pointed to the side of the cabinet closest to him.

  She was too close to the display. She had to bend down to see what he was pointing at.

  On the lowest shelf, at the very back, was a fragment of polished lapis. The stone was such a deep purple-blue that it blended in with the shadows. It was an unusual color for lapis.

  The rest of Stella’s collection had been large, raw stones. Most of them stood proudly as pieces of power. This little broken lapis was out of place. It was dusty and hidden.

  Gently, Ivy opened the glass door. She grabbed the lapis. It fit inside the palm of her hand.

  Up close, the stone looked less impressive. The broken side was jagged and somehow accented how dull the coloring was. It was more fit for an amateur rock collection than as an offering.

  She didn’t even feel relieved that they had an offering. It was such a small, imperfect crystal compared to the rest of Stella’s collection. Not only did she have to explain to the Coven where their crystals had gone. She only had this pathetic stone to offer to Hecate.

  Once again Ivy’s fucked up magic had fucked things up. She put on a fake smile. “We’ll just grab one from the case in the dining room.”

  Ezra shook his head. “Not an option. They all disappeared.” He held up his empty hand. “The pink one I was holding is gone.”

  They went to a every display. They were all empty. There wasn’t a single crystal in the entire house. They had all disappeared.

  Lapis it is.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Ivy huffed as their raiding party left the house. She had managed to grab a robe as they had ransacked the cottage and had changed out of her clothes. The thick pale blue monstrosity she wore nearly hung to the ground. Somehow, it still managed to be drafty.

  She stomped towards where the three ladies were waiting. Now she was mad, naked, and late. Perfect. She tried to breath out her frustration as she got closer.

  On the brown grass, drawn in salt, was a massive pentacle. At its thickest point, the circle had to be fifteen feet across. The pentagram inside looked perfect. Tea lights flickered along the edge of the salt. The bowls and the spirit wheel had already been placed at their respective points on the pentagram.

  Ivy noticed the fat chicken clucking quietly in a cage. Her heart gave a squeeze.

  As she got closer, she saw that Maggie held a hand dipped candle. The wick cast a warm glow over her heart. Stella held a delicate bottle with a tiny wooden stopper in it. When Ivy cocked her head, she just said, “Sacred waters.” Patricia clutched the ancient athame in white knuckles. Ivy ignored the knife.

  “Which offering was left?” Stella asked, getting to the point.

  Ivy’s cheeks burned. She held out her hand. “My magic got a little too enthusiastic,” she apologized as she showed them the lapis. “I am sure one of the crystals you have on the table will work much better.” She felt terrible.

  The Coven sisters shared a look.

  “That isn’t an option.” Patricia pointed to the table. The crystals were gone. “They went poof.”

  “That’s why I asked what was left.” Stella took a step forward and put her arm around Ivy. “Let’s worry about that later. Now, what did the magic choose?”

  With two fingers, Stella picked up the small stone. Against her pale skin, the lapis looked black.

  “Lapis lazuli, known to reveal truth and increase integrity of character.” Her lips turned up in a small smile. “Once upon a time, this was the center piece of a necklace I bought on vacation. Sadly, it was smashed when we moved. I couldn’t force myself to get rid of the lapis. I made good memories wearing that necklace.” Her smile widened. “The magic always picks the perfect offering.”

  Ivy inhaled. Her heart lightened. “Thanks, Stella.”

  A loud clap startled both women. Patricia gave them a stern look, the athame was tucked under her armpit. “Midnight waits for no woman, ladies. The hour is upon us.”

  Stella rolled her eyes. Maggie set her candle on the table before unzipping her robe.

  Ivy whipped around. Those old ladies had no shame. Too bad it brought her face to face with the Tate twins.

  Ezra and Ezekiel stood shoulder to shoulder. They were an imposing presence. Under the soft light, they looked breath taking. The flicker coming from the candles reflected in their eyes. The flash of color sent shivers down her spine.

  “If you’re cold now, you’re going to freeze in a second,” Ezekiel joked. His teasing expression made her think he knew why she had really shivered.

  Ivy rolled her eyes hoping they wouldn’t see how embarrassed she was. She’d never been naked in front of them. She wasn’t happy that these were the circumstances they would see her sans clothes for the first time.

  “Where do you want us to stand?” Ezra cut in, all business.

  She tried to adopt Ezra’s serious vibe. “So long as you don’t touch the salt line you should be fine. This won’t take too long. You can wait in the house if you want.”

  Both brothers shook their heads in perfect synch.

  “Ivy! We are starting,” Maggie called.

  She took a deep breath. She shrugged out of her robe and practically threw it at Ezekiel. Neither of them even glanced down, which made Ivy feel a little less uncomfortable.

  “Good luck,” Ezra said as she turned to walk away.

  The Coven was gathered together just outside of the salt circle. They were standing at the northern point of the pentagram.

  Ivy felt the difference in their energy as the three women gathered around her for last minute instructions. Each woman conveyed more authority. They were practically vibrating with unused power. Their tight huddle felt crowded despite their small numbers.

  When Maggie spoke, her quiet whisper carried across the circle perfectly. The breeze that had been present all night didn’t have any effect on it. “Firstly, I would like to thank Sister Ivy for agreeing to help us.” The other two nodded while Ivy dropped her head respectfully. “As our guest, we invite you to join us as our last member.”

  Ivy sagged internally. That meant that she went last. She could do that. “Yes, of course.”

  Maggie took in their small group before she nodded once. “Alright then, let us start.”

  Standing outside of the salt circle, Maggie raised her candle high above her head and started to pray. “Hecate, goddess of
magic and night, we, your loyal daughters, beseech you to bless this ward. Accept these humble offerings so that we may keep this Coven protected and out of the influence of those who would do us harm.” She lowered her head, “Blessed be the goddess.”

  All of the women bowed their heads, “Blessed be the goddess.”

  Maggie took a confident step into the pentacle. She stepped up to the spirit wheel.

  Ivy couldn’t stop her heart from pounding. Anticipation built up inside of her. She glanced at the Tates. They stood fifteen feet away watching Maggie with singular focus.

  Maggie bowed her head, “Spirit, I give this offering freely, generously, that we may ward our Coven against harm.”

  Maggie bent at the waist and blew into the Spirit wheel. As she blew, the wheel began to turn. The paddles moved slowly at first.

  As Maggie continued to blow energy into the wheel, it began to pick up speed. A blue light flared on one of the paddles. It was a single flash that disappeared as fast as it appeared. Another blue light flashed. Then another until the spirit wheel was glowing softly.

  Maggie gingerly stood. The wheel continued to spin, emitting the blue light of Maggie’s offering. She stepped away from the northern point of the pentagram.

  Patricia stepped into the circle. She wasted no time bending at the wheel to give her offering. “Spirit, I give this offering freely, with pure intent, that we may ward our Coven against harm.”

  As she blew on the spirit wheel, purple flared randomly along the wood. The purple grew until it encompassed the wheel. Radiating from the path of Patricia’s breath, the purple brightened to a translucent pink.

  Patricia straightened and moved to make room for Stella who was already entering the circle. And suddenly, Ivy was next.

  She perceived that Stella was making her offering but she paid her no attention. Ivy stood, very quickly trying to cajole and coax her magic into behaving. She worried that she would step up to the wheel and nothing would happen.

  In her peripheral vision, Stella stood up. The wheel burned a sunset orange color.

  It was her turn. She brushed at clothes that weren’t there. Ivy exhaled and stepped into the sacred space.

  Magic passed over her like a warm curtain. It fell gently from her head to her feet. She took a deep breath and inhaled as much of that warm, calm feeling as she could.

  Ivy bit her lip and choked down a sob. It felt so good. It felt so familiar. No matter who participated, the circle always felt welcoming to her.

  Ivy had missed it desperately.

  She didn’t give herself time to think. She stopped a foot away from the spirit wheel and bent until she was at eye level with it. It spun quickly, fueled by the power the other witches.

  “Spirit, I give this offering freely,” she took a deep breath and said the first thing that came to her mind, just like she had been taught, “as protection for the future, that we may ward this Coven against harm.”

  Ivy took a deep breath and gathered her magic to her center. Please she pleaded before she exhaled.

  With an audible hiss Stella’s orange burnt away to green. It wasn’t a gradual transition. Ivy’s magic dominated Stella’s magic, engulfing the orange in a single burst.

  The wheel picked up speed. Soon, it was a green blur. The frame rocked as the wheel spun impossibly fast.

  Ivy held her breath, waiting for the wheel to slow down but it didn’t. She looked at the women waiting for her. Maggie’s eyes were wide. Her mouth was set in a firm line. Patricia’s mouth dropped in shock. Stella looked concerned. Ivy stood and walked to them.

  No one made a comment. Even if they wanted to, they couldn’t. The pentacle was a sacred space dedicated to Hecate. It was not a place to speak out of turn.

  Maggie lead their group to the next offering. She walked in a straight line to the earth point of the pentagram at the bottom left. Ivy followed behind slowly.

  None of her offerings had ever had that much power behind them. It made her nervous. Once the spell was finished she could dissect what had happened.

  Ivy took one deep breath and tried to calm her racing heart. Her magic had super charged the spirit wheel. She could hear the constant whirl as she walked away.

  Maggie, Patricia, and Stella fanned out around a boulder set inside the tip of the star’s point. Ivy would offer the lapis. They waited for her around the altar.

  Ivy stared down at the boulder. The top had been broken off to form a flat surface. At the center was a small, worn indent from years of offerings being placed in that same spot.

  The earth offering would stand on this altar until the ward lost its power. The magic would keep the lapis in place. When the ward dissolved, the lapis would too. It acted as a visual timer of the ward’s life.

  She squeezed the stone in her hand before placing it in the natural dish. The stone looked tiny on the altar. It would not power the ward for long.

  Ivy bowed in front of the altar. She felt her magic react instinctively, building as she prepared to give the next offering. She envisioned the magic seeping into the lapis, down to the earth, then branching outward to the ward lines.

  “Earth, I give this offering freely, in faith that it will ward this Coven against evil.” Ivy gathered her magic. She reached out ready to transfer it to the lapis. Her finger connected to the stone with a pop.

  The instant she touched the gemstone, it began drawing her magic into its blue depths. The stone devoured the magic. With a jerk, Ivy braced against the altar. She lost control of her magic as the spell sucked more and more power into it.

  Heat began to build in her chest.

  She ignored the rising panic and did her damnedest to break free from the spell’s hold. She tried to wrestle her magic back. To cut it off. It was impossible. It felt like holding onto a live wire. The magic overpowered her.

  The ball of heat started to become uncomfortable. Pain flared where the magic touched, burning. Suddenly, it shifted. The heat started to travel down her arm. The lapis drew the ball of molten lava towards it.

  Ivy felt every agonizing inch of its journey. The heat left sparks of agony in its wake. Her muscles cramped and twitched. It felt like her body was trying to physically expel whatever was inside of her.

  She jerked her hand back. Her finger didn’t budge.

  The heat reached her hand. Ivy was surprised that she wasn’t bursting into flames. She felt the magic force itself into her finger tip. She hissed. As the heat passed from her body to the stone, Ivy sagged.

  She opened her eyes expecting to see shocked faces but none of the ladies had reacted to whatever had just happened. They hadn’t noticed. Maggie smiled softly and nodded her thanks before turning. She led them towards the water point without any hesitation. Patricia and Stella followed behind.

  Ivy wilted. She panted, still kneeling at the altar. What in the hell just happened?

  Maggie looked back and saw that Ivy hadn’t moved. She jerked her head impatiently. Ivy got up, carefully. She moved slowly, exhausted by whatever had just happened. She joined the others gathered around the altar.

  Stella stepped in front of the decorated clam shell. She unstopped the cork of her bottle. Holding the glass well above her head, Stella called out, “Water, I give this offering freely, in hope that this ward will protect our Coven.”

  Carefully, Stella poured the water into the shell. The candles reflected on the water. Rainbows flickered against the mother of pearl.

  The shell never filled. The deepest part of the shell was pitch black but the water never rose above it. It disappeared as Stella poured it.

  Stella upended the bottle. She gave the bottom a few taps. She gave nodded to Maggie.

  As one, they turned towards the air point. A chicken waited there, cooing softly. Maggie didn’t falter as she led them to the altar. To her credit, neither did Patricia.

  Animal sacrifices weren’t uncommon. There was usually one in every ward spell. Fish were often given as an offering to water.

&n
bsp; Animal offerings were unique. The altar was a hole in the ground. It was meant to be a final show of gratitude. The animal was returned to the earth quickly, with respect.

  Patricia took a deep breath and knelt in front of the cage. The big, white hen didn’t fluster when the door opened. The hen settled as Patricia tucked her under her arm. She slowly shuffled until she knelt over the hole.

  Patricia gave the chicken one pet before turning her face to the sky. “Air, I give this offering freely,” her voice broke, “with love that this ward will bring our Coven peace.”

  Faster than she could see, Patricia slit the hen’s throat. There was no way the hen had seen it coming. She wondered if Patricia had used a potion so she could be that quick. She didn’t move very easily. Ivy guessed she had.

  They stood in silence as the life blood dripped into the altar. When the blood stopped flowing, Patricia righted the hen and gently set her into the earth. No one moved while Patricia filled the hole back in with dirt. She stood up after gently patting the soil flat.

  As Maggie walked past Patricia, she put her hand on the other woman’s shoulder and squeezed. She didn’t pause as she led them to the final offering. Ivy kept her eyes on the ground to give Patricia some privacy.

  When they reached the fire altar, Maggie stepped up to the copper brazier and waited as everyone circled around. When each woman was settled, Maggie gave them all one final, weighted look.

  Holding the candle above her head Maggie raised her voice. “Fire, this final offering we give freely, in sisterhood, to ward this Coven so long as our magic sustains it.”

  Maggie tipped the candle into the brazier, igniting the contents in a burst of flames. She reached over the fire to Patricia and traded the candle for the knife. Plucking a white curl from the crown of her head, Maggie cut it off. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed it into the flames.

  The fire leaped up from the brazier and consumed the offering.

  Maggie passed the athame to Patricia, taking the candle back. The other two women performed the ritual identically. Each time, the fire leaped up, eagerly engulfing the offering.