by Logan Jacobs
“Yeah, they’d probably point you to the nearest graveyard instead,” Akira chuckled until Vanessa shot her an icy glare. “Err… sorry, Professor.”
“Let’s just get this over with, shall we?” Vanessa sighed as she rolled her eyes. “Beatrix, please don’t make me ask again.”
“Oh, right!” Beatrix gasped. “Erm, can everyone please gather around in a circle and join hands? I won’t be needing my wand for this charm.”
“Alright.” I took a step forward and clasped hands with Akira and Morgana, who stood on each side of me.
The rest of the women formed a circle, and then we each took a deep breath before the light-haired Wicca closed her eyes and began to mutter an incantation under her breath.
“Et adiuva me, mutata specie ad avaritiam eos faciam voluntatem meam audire!”
In moments, I could feel my body shifting into someone different. My skin began to violently tingle, and a sharp pang penetrated the back of my eyes as I fought against the sudden urge to hunch over from the sweltering pain.
The other women all groaned in protest as their bodies also shifted into entirely different forms, and while the charm was still taking effect, we all turned to look at each other’s shifting appearances.
“This sucks,” Nyx said through her teeth as her sapphire-blue hair and skin began to change color. “Ouch! Broom fucker… it feels like my bones are turning brittle.”
“No shit,” Penelope agreed as her bright-orange hair shifted into a muted brown color.
“Oh, it’s not that bad,” Circe giggled as her blonde hair turned mousy brown, and her pupils became round and less serpentine in nature. “Try being quartered… that shit really sucks.”
By the time Beatrix was finished with her charm, we all looked incredibly different, and I wasn’t sure how to react at first. Akira’s beautiful ebony hair was tinted a soft, grayish-black, and her dark eyes were murky and bloodshot. Nyx’s gorgeous blue skin turned pale and sallow, and her sapphire hair was now a dingy auburn brown. Her indigo eyes were tinted a grayish-green-brown, and her teeth were not as straight or white. Meanwhile, Marina’s lilac-purple hair and lavender tinted eyes were both honey brown, and Morgana’s long dark hair had streaks of silver in it. Vesta’s soft purple skin was now tan and wrinkled like she spent too much time under the brutal sun, and her hair was a fusion between deep-blonde and orange-brown. Faye’s long red hair was a soil-brown color, and her vibrant golden-green eyes were a muted hazel with no color or light in them.
“Satan.” Vesta winced as she stared down at her withered, worn-out hands. “Do I look as terrible as I feel?”
“Worse,” Vanessa croaked as she nodded her head, “but that’s good.”
“We should probably go,” I said as I rubbed my chin, and I could feel a patchy stubble on my chin.
“Wow, master,” Nyx said with eyes as wide as saucers. “You certainly look different as well.”
Yeah, like shit, Alexander chuckled. Sorry, Cole... but you should see yourself.
“How bad is it?” I asked out of curiosity.
“Take a quick look,” Faye offered as she handed me her bonded blade, and I glanced down at my reflection.
My mouth dropped open as I stared at my pock-marked skin and my tinted yellowish-red eyes. My black hair was greasy and drooping in front of my face, and there was no splash of color in my cheeks or lips. My face was gaunter, and the muscles in my body had turned into lean, rubbery flesh.
“Well,” I chuckled as I pushed back my grimy hair. “It’s a change.”
“And the perfect disguise,” Vanessa remarked with her mole-covered chin raised. “Well done, Miss Beatrix. You can certainly pass for desperate spinsters… but still, not too old and not too ugly for hybrids… just the perfect combination.”
“Thank you, Professor,” Beatrix murmured as she blushed a deep scarlet. “I’ve really been working on it.”
“And it shows.” Vanessa nodded as she stared at each of us. “Now… make sure to keep your mouths shut while Cole and I do the talking.”
“With all due respect, Professor,” Marina questioned with a raised eyebrow. “Why aren’t we allowed to say anything?”
“Young, hybrid women don’t have opinions or much free will from men,” Vanessa said as she rolled her eyes. “It’s some strange tradition I’ve never understood, but we have to go along with it.”
“Listen to her,” I added as I narrowed my eyes at the altered women. “She knows more than us.”
“Yes, master,” my coven answered at the same time.
“As I was saying,” Vanessa continued in a tight voice. “We’ll approach the gates and do our best to convince the guards we’re neighboring peasants searching for husbands, and Cole is my only son and caretaker. Let’s hope they are desperate enough to let you in. You may be prettier than average, even under the spell, but that doesn’t guarantee entry.”
“So, what if it doesn’t work?” Circe questioned as she stuck out her bottom lip.
“We’ll worry about that if it comes down to it,” the professor croaked. “Now, follow me and keep close. Cole, hold onto me and help me walk. This back is already killing me.”
“Yes, professor,” I said before I offered her my arm. “Alex, stay above us and remain in the skies. Meanwhile, the dogs will walk by our side. We can explain they are hunting dogs, and our only means of income.”
Will do, he dutifully responded, and then his raven-disguised body glided up into the air.
As I led Vanessa across the plains and we neared the towering kingdom gates with our dog-like familiars by our side, I could feel the tension building up inside my body. We’d been able to wriggle our way into kingdoms before, but never this far up north, and now that our magic was limited, I was worried.
But there was no way I was going to admit that in front of Vanessa or the others, so I kept my head raised and my eyes focused on the silver kingdom.
By the time we reached the city gates, there was a loud bell chiming in the air, and it caused several of the women to jump back in surprise. Even the familiars began to bark in protest, and as the women tried to calm them down, I wondered if anyone was watching us from behind the gate.
“Don’t flinch!” Vanessa muttered before she shot the women a cold glare. “It’s customary for these bastards to sound the bell each time someone approaches the gates… Circe, don’t you dare ask me why because if you do, I might slap you.”
Circe’s mouth clamped shut into a straight line, and when I stared at the looming silver gates, a small partition suddenly slid open, and a pair of green eyes glared out at us.
“Who goes there?” growled a deep voice. “State your purpose!”
“We’re a simple, meager family in search of a new way of life,” Vanessa croaked in her aging voice. “I have several lovely daughters and one son to offer. They might not look like much… but they’re all fertile and ready to bear plenty of children. To sweeten the deal, I also have a pack of hunting dogs that bring in plenty of fresh meat.”
The man’s bright eyes scanned each of us, and as he squinted at me for a long while, I swallowed hard but kept a straight, stern face.
“I’m the gatekeeper and the prince’s guard,” the man began, “so before I let you in, I must ask a few questions.”
“But of course,” Vanessa chuckled. “Ask away, young man.”
“What kingdom do you hail from?” the guard demanded.
“We don’t come from any kingdom,” Vanessa wheezed as she gripped on my arm and steadied herself for support. “We come from a modest village, just south of here.”
“What is the name?” the guard pressed. “I can’t let you in without knowing where you’re from. There’s strange folk lurking about, you know?”
“Of course,” Vanessa coughed. “I completely understand… now, we come from a little village known as Undergarth. You must have heard of it.”
A sudden sharp wind blew across my face, and I could have sworn I heard fa
int whispering echoing through the air. A cold chill crept up my spine, but I refused to flinch or show any signs that I felt something odd surrounding me. Then, as I stared into the guard’s vibrant green eyes, I thought I saw a small golden glow flash in his pupils, but it only lasted a mere second.
“Ah, of course, I know of Undergarth,” he answered with a small chuckle. “I have an aunt who hails from there, I believe. Please come in, you must be exhausted after crossing the Redwood.”
“Oh, we most certainly are,” Vanessa sighed as she dramatically placed a hand over her wrinkled forehead. “I feel ill, to be honest with you, sir… and I’m much older than I look. Ask my son.”
“Yes, she’s been struggling with her health for years,” I added quickly. “It’s a miracle we still have her in our lives. Thank the ever-benevolent lord for his small mercies.”
“Aye, amen to that,” the guard agreed. “Stand back now. I’ll let you in.”
“Well done,” Vanessa muttered when he closed the partition, and the gates gently began to part open. “That went smoother than I expected.”
“Agreed,” I said through my teeth.
“We’re not in the clear just yet, though,” Vanessa quietly reminded us. “Keep your heads low and do what we say.”
“Yes, Mother,” the women answered loud enough for the guard to hear once the gates were completely open.
“You have lovely daughters, madame,” the guard commented as he licked his lips, and his green eyes fell on each woman. “Too bad I’m already married.”
“Yes, what a pity!” Vanessa chuckled as she waddled forward with her back bent and her head low. She slowly craned her neck to study the guard, and when she did, she flashed him a yellow-tinted smile. “Now, sir, you’ve already been so gracious, but I’m afraid I must ask you another question.”
“Of course,” the guard replied. “Ask away, madame.”
“Well, we are weary from our journey,” Vanessa began, “but before we rest, I’d love to take my daughters to the church so we might bless them in this new kingdom. Where is your church, my boy?”
“It’s not too far, madame,” the guard responded before he pointed toward a cobblestone street and past a row of silver-stone village houses. “Just follow the street, past the holy market, and through the small cornfield.”
“Is it past the castle?” I asked. “I thought I saw its towers as we approached the gates.”
“Oh, heavens no,” the guard chuckled as he shook his head. “Our prince values our lord above his own wealth or riches. What you saw was the church. It surpasses the castle and is twice its size.”
“Wow,” we all breathed with false enthusiasm.
“What a glorious, holy realm,” I added with a broad smile. “I’m so glad we made this journey, aren’t you, Mother?”
“Oh, yes, yes, yes,” Vanessa chimed as we waddled away from the guard. “Thank you so much for your help, sir.”
“Of course, madame,” the guard said with a low bow. “May God be with you.”
“And you as well,” Vanessa shouted back before the guard closed the gate and resumed his post. When he was out of earshot, and we were alone aside from the occasional villager, Vanessa groaned under her breath and looked around. “Fucking idiots.”
“What did you do back there, Vanessa?” I whispered as we marched down a narrow and not too crowded street toward the holy market.
“Whatever do you mean?” she asked as she struggled to walk as quickly as possible down the cobblestone streets. “Fuck this old woman’s body… I hate it.”
“I saw the golden glint in that guard’s eyes, and at the same time, I felt a small chill pass over me,” I explained as we passed by quaint stone houses where small children played with odd little toys, such as bones with balls of hair tied to the ends and dolls made from skin and teeth. “I know magic when I feel it.”
“It was just a small enchantment,” Vanessa muttered. “Nothing to be concerned about.”
“What does it do?” Penelope asked, even though it was apparent the professor didn’t want to divulge into it.
“It temporarily causes people to become more susceptible to lies,” Vanessa sighed impatiently as we passed by more and more children playing with strange dolls and other toys.
“Wait, it’s only temporary?” Akira gasped as we pushed onward. “What if he snaps out of it and decides to go looking for us?”
“Well, that won’t be a problem, Miss Akira,” Vanessa grunted. “As long as we move our fucking asses.”
No one dared to question her on the matter any further as we walked as quickly as we could down the street. Then we found the holy market, and I couldn’t help but stare at the various artifacts on sale and for ridiculously high prices. There were countless vendors, and they were all screaming in different languages as they offered deals at each passing peasant. The tables were laden with various Wicca related items, such as heads, tongues, and lips, and it was growing more and more challenging to keep a straight face and not curl my lips in disgust.
“Look,” Beatrix muttered as she kept her head low. “Head of Wicca for nine-hundred gold coins. How disgusting… it’s pickled and preserved. Why would anyone need that?”
“And siren tail for two-thousand coins,” Marina gasped as we passed by dozens of stands.
“Wicca heart!” called out a red-faced vendor as he swung the dried-up organ above his head. “Get your Wicca heart for only five-hundred! You’ll never get a deal like this! It’s more than five years old! Rare find! Come and get it! Will make an excellent addition to any collection!”
“Don’t stare,” Vanessa snapped as we glanced at the young man. “I know it’s disturbing, but the only people who gape like that are interested buyers, so keep your eyes lowered and move your asses.”
“Yes, Professor,” we answered as we headed up the cobblestone pathway, and by the time we reached the end of the market, we saw a glimpse of the yellow field.
Beyond the field stood a giant, silver-tinted church with looming towers that surpassed the clouds and overwhelmed the castle just behind it. It was ridiculously grand in stature, and it made the castle look like a meager house in comparison.
“Let’s get through this fucking cornfield and into the church before my charm wears off,” Vanessa grunted. “I can already feel my spine bending back into place, so let’s be quick, shall we?”
We did as the professor demanded, and by the time we crossed the small cornfield and reached the grand, gem-embedded stone doors of the holy church, I could feel a deep presence flooding through my body.
This place felt so sacred, it was like an invisible wall was pushing against my frame each time I took a step closer, and as Alexander flew above us and kept on the lookout, I could feel a deep foreboding sense take over my entire body.
At that moment, I knew Satan himself wouldn’t want to step into this specific church, for there was something more than just holiness surrounding this place. It was a different kind of power. One that I didn’t understand and would never care to.
But we had to go inside. We had no other choice.
Chapter 11
I took a deep, steady breath before I gently pushed the church doors open, and when we stepped inside, an overwhelming aroma of incense and candle fumes instantly filled the air.
The grand entryway loomed high above us, and there were hundreds of gold pews scattered inside, which meant this church could probably hold thousands of people at the same time. The walls were made of silver stone, and the floors were sleek gray marble, bare of any furs or rugs. An icy chill shot up my legs each time I took a step forward, so it felt like I was walking barefoot across the church.
This place was massive, yet not one soul seemed to linger within its walls. I half-expected there to be one or two priests inside, but luckily for us, there was no one. Not even a maid or a nun were to be seen, which I thought was odd, but it worked out in our favor, so I didn’t bother to question it any further.
As I looked around the cold, empty church and took in more of my surroundings, I realized just how right the guard was. This church was far grander than the castle we spotted off in the distance, which made it clear these ignorant villagers worshipped the elders and their God more than their prince. I scowled at the silver walls and golden pews, and all I wanted to do was spit on the clean floors and burn this entire dwelling to the ground.
“Satan… what a place,” Vesta mused as she glanced up at the sky-painted ceiling. “The presence here is peculiar. I feel its beauty, but also its disturbing holiness at the same time. I can’t tell if I hate it or appreciate it.”
“Don’t give in to its allure,” Vanessa muttered as she stroked her familiar’s head. “The feeling you speak of comes from the history of its birth. Wiccas were forced to build the entire church as slaves to the hybrids. You can feel their blood in between the cracks in the walls, and that’s why you feel its pull, but remember… it’s forever cursed with our pain and suffering.”
“Of course, Professor,” Morgana answered for the group. “I just hope we can get out of here as quickly as possible.”
“Right there with you,” I muttered as I glared around the church. “Just look at the décor… they tell their own stories, don’t they?”
“They do, indeed,” Vanessa growled with pure contempt.
The stained-glass windows towered at least four stories tall, with every window representing a different tale, and each one clearly involved either the death or torture of a Wicca. At the front of the church, one long giant tapestry hung from behind the priest’s marble altar, and I could feel the boiling blood pounding through my veins as I stared at it. The tapestry depicted a tall, long-haired witch with raven-black hair, and she was tied to a wooden post as elders, hybrids, and humans all surrounded her with fiery pikes, swords, sharpened crosses, and other weapons.
As horrific as the scene was, the Wicca captivated me. Her fierce blue eyes stared down at the men in horror as they set the pyre of wood beneath her feet on fire. Her beautiful face was bruised and cut, and her eyes were crying tears of blood. In the back of my mind, I thought I heard a howling wind, almost like a scream, reverberating inside my head.