by V Domino
When we arrive, we all turn to Drac who holds Elsie, only, it's not the little girl we left with. In her place is a young woman who looks like our mother while wearing the too small clothes of our little sister.
"What the hell?" Roxy exclaims before sniffing the woman in her man's arms, "It's Elsie but... Older?"
"The spell Merelda had on her must have kept her old enough to channel her magic through but young enough to keep powerless. This is Elsie's true self."
Darren says with sadness. Elsie grew up mentally but never grew up physically. I rush over and cup her sweet face, if it weren't for the straight black hair, I would have thought she was Mother.
"Quickly, let's get inside, now."
Once we make it into the club, Drac lays Elsie down on a booth and she begins to wake. She sits up confused until she sees us.
"Oh, my brothers!" Her sob breaks through as she gathers us in her arms with me awkwardly hugging over her head and down her back as she continues to sit in the booth with my brothers at her sides. My baby sister is alive! She's right here in our arms and she's okay now.
I kiss her head before turning around and grabbing Ronny, "Elsie, I want to introduce you to my mate, Ronny Crow, or as I call her, Black Bird."
Elsie smiles so big and stands to hug Ronny, "I've watched Ronny since she and her sisters were born. I knew they'd be mates for my brothers. I left you a guide written in riddles so you'd be able to set my brothers free from their bindings in Hell."
"How did you leave clues?" Ronny asks before I can.
She smiles at Darren, "I wrote the books Audrey took for Darren."
Darren sucks in a breath at the name of his dead mate and I sincerely mourn for him. I can't imagine living knowing my mate was dead. I'd follow Ronny soon after if I ever lost her.
Elsie reaches over and squeezes the Fairy's hand, "Worry not, Darren, your mate will be back in three moons. She is only resting in a peaceful sleep."
Darren sags in relief and drops to the booth with a sob of joy but we all stare at Elsie in complete and utter confusion.
Ronny is first to speak, "Who are you, Elsie?"
"I am the true, True Witch."
A True Witch. True motherfucking Witch!
Color me shook, bruh. That's absolutely nuts. Yes, we all thought Merelda was one but it made sense. She is an old as fuck woman who seemed to be the most powerful in all the realms. It's why she was placed in such a position of power... or was she?
"Elsie, what happened to the Elders?" I ask as Drug looks at me like he already knows and it doesn't look like it's a pretty story
"How about I tell you from the beginning?"
Her voice is strong and filled with so much wisdom even as she says the simple words. I feel like I'm in the presence of someone to be respected. Hell, I almost want to dust the seat off for her or throw my jacket down on the seat so she doesn't get dirty.
Maybe it's just because she's Drug's sister and I definitely want to be good with her... nah, it's the magic. Witches are no joke and the power rolling off her is palpable. I am not fucking with her. I'd be afraid she'd turn me into a giant hairy boar if I told her a dirty joke or some shit.
Elsie sits down with her back to the VIP area. The club is empty but I know Mayfly will be down here soon to see if I brought whatever the fuck it is he seeks most. Just as I suspect, the Nymph comes out of the room and stops dead in his tracks with his mouth going slack.
I mean, I know I'm covered in blood but damn, rude much?
Elsie begins talking so I ignore the weirdo and focus on her tale, "Obviously, I don't remember being a baby or any of the moments with you guys and our parents but for as long as I can remember, I've been with Merelda. For years, I was kept in the tomb because she said it wasn't safe for Witches. Little did I know, she was siphoning my magic." Elsie opens and closes her fists and I can imagine the feel of her power being used against her will.
That's like rape. At least in my mind it is and I will murder the old bag. I reach out and grip Elsie's hand with my own, squeezing it to let her know she's no longer a victim.
Her smile is instant and so fucking sweet that I want to hug her. She has to have some sort of enchantment allure or something cause I want to buy her a teddy bear too. The fuck?
"As the years went on, I started to notice her face and body changing from the grandmother I grew up with to the young girl you saw today but I never changed. I was twenty five and I still looked like a child. Merelda said witches grow at slow rates and one day I'd bloom but she claimed to use magic to keep her young. I suspect now," Elsie says as she looks herself over, "that she was using me in that aspect as well."
Mayfly slowly makes his way over to us but he doesn't interrupt Elsie.
"Then one day, I tried to leave the tomb. She caught me and used her influence on me. I had no idea how to use my magic. She refused to teach me because it was too dangerous, at least that's what she claimed, therefore I couldn't fight back. Once I was under her spell, she went from protective grandmother to abusive and hateful."
She stops speaking and looks down, her chin trembles but she doesn't let her sobs break through.
"Shh, Elsie, you don't have to continue." Drug coos from my side and I agree, this story can wait, she doesn't need to relive her trauma.
"No, I'm okay. I just need some water. You need to know this, the world needs to know it."
Mayfly comes to her side and hands her a glass of water and she nods her gratitude but she doesn't look up. She wipes her eyes and takes a drink before continuing, eyes cast down to the table’s top.
"One day, I fought the influence enough to follow her. She met with a handsome man, a Nymph. He was very good with getting her to talk." All of our eyes jump to Mayfly who just leans against the table with a smirk.
"He made Merelda so mad when he made fun of her in one way or another. He called her an incompetent woman and she exploded. She boasted of killing the Elder's when they gave abilities to the Blood Crows. She said they deserved to be killed and she ran the witches off her territory when they wouldn't acknowledge her as the True Witch. She boasted of her grandsons being Hell's beasts and having the ultimate power in her grasp. Soon though, she clammed up once more and left the Nymph before he could get more out of her."
We're all quiet and absorbing her story. How in the hell did she manage to kill the Elders? That should be an impossible feat.
"How did she kill the Elders?" Rory asks kindly
Elsie shrugs, "I don't know but she would leave often to check on her pets, as she called them.”
“Pets?” I ask in confusion.
“I’m not certain what she meant but I do know they are not furry creatures. She said they were her special made weapons.”
What the hell could that mean? Did she have minions or clones? I wouldn’t put it past her.
“I was never able to fight the influence again after that she caught me once more and beat me so badly that I could do nothing else but fall into her trap. Later, in one of her vain boasting sessions, she told me that my brothers were nothing but guard dogs in hell, a fate they deserved for siding with mother."
"God, this fucking broad is such a twisted bitch, isn't she?" Roxy says under breath as she wraps her arm around Drac's waist.
"She is," Elsie says. "She had our parents believe I was killed so that she could steal me away. I wrote the journals when I was older. I began to receive visions of three sisters who would be the mates to my brothers. Their souls would call out to their other half throughout the years and when the time was right, no matter where you all were, my brothers and their souls would answer the call."
Elsie smiles brightly and if this had been a week ago, I would have snorted at the hope in her voice, but now? I look at Drug and see everything I want in life. He's it for me and no matter what I do, I can't get over it.
He has my crow on his neck, he’s mine and I'm his.
"I watched you C
rows because Merelda said you were a curse to the Witches. You three were damnation to them and she had to kill you and your bloodline in order to protect the legacy. At that point, however, I already knew who you were and who she truly was. So I set things in motion as best I could. I made sure Darren, a devout and beloved man of power, would find you three. I knew he'd love and protect you. I also wrote the books so you'd have a way to gain your given abilities."
She looks at Rory first, "While you all have the same abilities, you will find your affinity for one over all the others. You have the gift of Fulgur, electricity and you are the world's oracle of the past."
To Roxy, "The gift of Gehénnam, Hellfire, and they only oracle of the present."
Elsie turns to me and smiles brightly, "Ronny, you have the gift of Subvolo, levitation, and you are the oracle of the future."
Everyone scarcely breathes as this information hits us like a ton of bricks. Yes, I knew that I and my sisters were more than just Blood Crows and we had new abilities but If I'm honest, it hadn't really struck me until this ethereal little Hound said it.
I'm telling you, she's enchanting. She could make the fucked up songs Roxy sings sound like a sweet lullaby.
I look up and see Mayfly still standing there and I remember I was supposed to keep my end of the deal.
"Mayfly, thank you for tonight but I'm afraid I didn't bring anything back. I will keep my end of the bargain though, I owe you a great debt."
Everyone, including Elsie, turns to look at the Nymph but his eyes are on Elsie.
"But you did bring me what I seek most, Crow." Elsie's sharp intake has me tense in a split second but Mayfly's words suck all the air out of the room,
"You brought me my mate."
Darren walks out of the room muttering under his breath what sounds like, here comes the drama, no thank you, as Drug and his brothers jump to their feet. Growls and snarls reverberating around the empty club as they surround the Nymph. Mayfly doesn't take his eyes off Elsie though even when Drug shifts and tackles him to the ground, teeth snapping in his face.
"Drug!" I yell, "Get off of him! That is your sister's mate and killing him before the bond is severed will hurt her!"
Drug shifts but doesn't move from his place. Knees on either side of Mayfly's waist with his hands pinning down the Nymph's arms, Drug harshly snaps at him, "You will not have her. You think you're good enough for my sister after fucking everything in sight? No. You're not and you never will be."
Okay, that was fucking mean as hell. I didn't even say that shit to Draven when he was being a dick to Rory. I don't really give a shit about Mayfly but Drug's words hurt Elsie. She has a blank look in her eyes like what Drug said was something Merelda has said to her multiple times and now she's falling into herself to protect her mind.
I lift my hand to Drug's back as he continues to shit talk Mayfly. I close my hand into a fist on instinct and he lifts off of the Nymph. Draven and Drac turn to me and snarl but I flip them off.
"You foolish boys," Rory says, crossing her arms over her chest and cocking a brow to Dray.
"Elsie, which one do you want me to kick first, hmm?" Roxy says with a twisted smile.
I bring Drug over to my side and drop him to his feet. He gives me a chilling glare but I smile and smack him on the back of his head.
"Listen, pup. Your stupid words hurt your sister." I point to her and watch him deflate as Elsie keeps her eyes on Mayfly.
You said shit that made her curl up inside herself. Think before you fucking speak, meathead. Merelda has verbally abused her and hearing shit like you just said is making her relive those moments.
He doesn't reply to my voice but I know he heard. His back tenses as the words register.
Tentatively, Drug places his hand on Elsie's shoulder and she snaps out of her trance-like state.
"I'm sorry, Else. I didn't mean to hurt you in any way."
"You've got three very protective brothers, Elsie, but I will prove to them I am good enough for you," Mayfly says just as the building shakes like we're about to be hit with a tornado.
"Merelda is here!" Darren yells from the front doors.
"Stay back, Elsie. Do not come out until one of us comes and gets you." Drac tells her but they all run for the door without waiting for a reply.
Fucking boys. I don't want her out there either, we just got her out of that shithole and I'll be damned if she gets taken away from us again. Still though, the Hound brothers have a lot to learn in how to treat a woman, they're suffocating her and it will eventually push her away.
I get the protectiveness but I think I'm going to have to teach them a thing or two about modern day equal rights... or cut their junk off. Yeah, I might go with that.
"This is your time to prove to Elsie you can and will be the best mate for her. If she wants to fight, don't be a dick and stand in her way. Stand beside her and help her through it all."
I've never seen this side of Mayfly and he's never called me anything but some sort of endearment but I know that's all done with.
"I will, Ronny." He looks at Elsie, "I swear it."
I leave the two mates and join my sisters at the door before teleporting to our men.
Just to give them a taste of his archaic attitude, I put a hand on his chest, "I got this, flower, stand behind me and I'll protect you."
Drug sighs with exasperation before grabbing my arm and tugging me back to his side while I chuckle.
Am I an ass who has shit timing for sarcasm? Yes, yes I am.
"What's up pussycat? Damn, you look like shit," Rory says to Merelda and its then I notice she’s fucking ooooold. I'm talking dusty ass old.
Roxy begins to sing a hilarious song that perfectly fits the old lady before us, "Do your tits hang low? Do they wobble to the floor? Can you tie them in a knot? Can you tie..." Drac barks out laughter but Merelda doesn’t see the cleverness.
"Where is she!?" The old bat screeches as she weaves her hands together before launching a glowing orb at Darren who dodges it just in time. It hits the pillar behind him and begins to melt the stone.
Everyone dives and jumps out the way of those flying orbs Merelda is launching in quick succession. Pretty fucking energetic for a walking corpse. But it shouldn't be a hard thing to end this bitch.
After dodging another melting goo ball, I jump to my feet and grab her in my levitation. I pick her up about ten feet before slamming her down to the ground but the bitch hops back up like a kangaroo!
She throws her hand out and something like a wooden stake shoots out of her hand before slicing across my bicep. Screaming I roll and scramble behind a nearby tree. This crazy witch just staked my arm!
My skin is opened wide and bleeding profusely but it's also stitching back together again. Thank fuck!
I jump out from my hiding spot and see Rory throwing lightning at the old crone. One strikes her in the back, making her screech so loudly that we have to cover our ears. I can feel my eardrums rupture and the pain is so fucking unbearable that I thank the curse for giving me healing abilities. A first for me.
Okay, more lightning bolts, Zeus! I shout in Rory's head.
The guys are throwing Hellfire from their mouths like dragon dogs but Merelda seems to be blocking the flames with an invisible shield. Fucking magic, I tell ya.
I teleport behind her and slam my short sword into her back causing her to screech again but this time I bring my other one across her neck, slicing through her vocals like a hot knife through butter.
I lift my booted foot off the ground and kick her in her lower back, pulling my sword free and knocking her to the ground.
I lift both of my swords up into the air, ready to kill this bitch but she rolls to her side and I see her lips moving rapidly.
Black Bird! Behind you!
Drug shouts in my head just before something slams into my back and throws me ten feet from Merelda. I shift in the air, flapping my Crow's wings so I don't
hit the ground but I shift back and stand next to Drug.
Standing behind Merelda is a group of what looks like twisted and deformed monsters. I've never seen this species before. The one that hit me looks like a fucked up minotaur complete with the human body and a bull's head but waaaay more scary.
Its hooved feet are turned backward and its mouth hangs wide open but its eyes, there's something familiar about them. All of these monsters look like fucked up creatures made of different species and put together by a blind creator but they all have that familiar feel to them.
Merelda must have healed from her wounds because that annoying voice of hers rings out.
"Do you like my pets? They should feel like...family."
Oh shit. The pets were Blood Crows! Their ancestors who she ripped from their lives for generations! I have to do something.
“Mayfly, did you ever acquire anything from Merelda? A precious stone would work best.”
I’m still reeling from the fact that this Nymph is my mate. I’ve felt the call my soul put out but never did I think I’d have what it desired. Hell, I didn’t think I’d ever be free of the witch and I’m still not, but I’ve been practicing my magic while in her tomb. Any chance I got, I tried to learn my own abilities.
If Mayfly has what I need, I can get some blood from her somehow. Maybe pretend I want to go back with her?
“Yes, I have a hexagonal Hibonite. What else do you need?” Mayfly watches me like a predator but I don’t feel unsafe in his presence. In fact, next to my brothers, Mayfly makes me feel free and protected.
Shaking myself of my errant thoughts, I grab the stone from his hand and feel the vibration of its energy.
“I will need you to hand me over to Merelda. I need her blood. Just a small amount on this rock and I can take her power from her long enough to kill her.”
Mayfly looks at me in a truly frightening way, but again, I’m not worried he’ll hurt me.
“No, Vrăjitoare Mică, I will not risk losing you when I just found you.”
Mayfly takes the stone from my hand and runs to the doors before he looks back at me. I’m right on his heels though, so as he turns back our chests meet harshly. Mayfly wraps his arms around me quickly and leans in making my breath quicken and my blood pump with pure lust.