by C. M. Sipes
“Are they skilled in blood magic? Or do they only know the incantation?” Eva asked
“Both. Highly skilled, a master of the art.”
“Then who is it?” Lilith asked curiously.
“Her name is Circe.”
* * *
Vittoria sat back in her chair in Marcella’s library, swirling her glass of bourbon around and watching the liquid intently. She had finally managed to convince Emma to go home and get some proper sleep and try to do some homework, after a day of her wallowing in her misery. Vittoria had also informed the admissions office that she needed to put her own classes on hold, at least until the influx and Enki was resolved.
“You’ve been staring into that glass for fifteen minutes,” Marcella said, her eyes still skimming the pages of her book. “Are you still thinking about Emma?”
Vittoria sighed. “I’m worried about her.”
“Emma is a strong girl, she will be fine. Once she gets over the initial shock of it all she will bounce back. Perhaps practicing magic will help calm her.” Marcella sat her book down. “Maybe it will fill a void that she had always felt but did not know what was missing.”
Vittoria looked at her maker surprised. “How do you feel about Emma being a witch? You reacted much calmer than Lilith or I anticipated.”
Marcella took a swig of her drink before replying, “I am fine with it. I knew I smelled something different about Emma when I first met her, and now I know what it was…dormant witch blood. Now that I know that she is a witch, the power residing in her is unmistakable. She will be a great ally in this war, once she begins her training.”
“And you’re fine with enlisting the help of witches?” Vittoria asked cautiously. She knew Marcella was temperamental about this subject. She could be fine with the discussion one minute, and go into a rampage the next.
Marcella sighed and looked at Vittoria. “I have been harboring a hatred for the entire species of witches ever since Circe took my daughters. I have been punishing them all for the sins of one. A witch, might I add, that I never even got my revenge against,” Marcella explained before taking a quick swig of her drink. “I made my peace with the witches in London after all… I should be able to do so again and keep it.”
“Lilith told me about your peace with the witches after I left,” Vittoria said quietly.
Marcella looked at her with surprise. “How did Lilith know?”
Vittoria sighed. “There is a lot that she knows, and I don’t feel comfortable telling anyone without her blessing.”
Marcella nodded in understanding.
“Do you know what happened to Circe?” Vittoria asked carefully. “I don’t remember seeing you ever crossing paths with her again in your memories.”
Marcella laughed and shook her head. “No. I don’t know what happened to her. She was like Lilith in that regard. No one knew if she was dead or just hiding. It has been so long now that I assume she has been dead for at least a thousand years.”
Vittoria nodded in understanding. She was about to ask Marcella another question when she felt the hair stand up on the back of her neck and she smiled. “Lilith is back.”
Marcella arched an eyebrow in amusement, a soft grin playing on her lips as well.
The door opened a few moments later, revealing the exhausted form of Eva, and Lilith’s tense demeanor.
Vittoria stood and looked over the ancient, concern written all over her face as she took in their body language and the scent of frustration rolling off Lilith.
“What’s wrong?” she asked as she walked to the other woman, coming to a halt in front of her. “Did you find the witch?”
“We did,” Lilith replied, her voice irritated.
“Then what’s the problem?” Vittoria asked seriously.
“He can’t do the ritual,” Eva chimed in.
“Why not?” Marcella asked, approaching the group.
“He does not know the incantation,” Lilith replied through gritted teeth.
“Okay,” Vittoria said hesitantly. “So, who does?”
“The incantation was destroyed centuries ago in a fire and apparently there is only one witch in existence that knows it,” Eva explained, frustrated.
“Then we just need to locate this other witch,” Marcella said simply. “That should not be too difficult.”
“We do not need to. We know who, and where, she is,” Lilith replied, her eyes finally looking at Vittoria’s and holding them.
The young Queen looked back and forth between Eva and Lilith. “Who do we need then?” she asked.
Lilith looked at Eva, the two of them sharing a silent exchange of words before Lilith looked back at Vittoria. “We need Emma.”
Epilogue
Unknown
Present day
“You are playing with fire,” the Fates said in tandem.
“I am playing with blood,” the mystery woman corrected, turning to look at the Fates that stood just a breath away. “You’re a long way from home.”
“We came to warn you. If you continue on this path, there is no telling what will become of the mortal world,” they warned.
The woman laughed and carefully paced in a circle, her bare feet no longer feeling the cold stone floor beneath her. She glanced up, her eyes locking on a spot on the ceiling, and then flickering away in a flash.
“I believe that it is you who should be warned,” the woman replied. “After all, what will your life be like when the scales tip in my favor?” She spread her hands in gesture as a wicked grin crossed her face. “You. Will. Do. Nothing.”
The Fates backed away slightly, their heads shaking in disappointment. “Your brethren will not be happy.”
The woman’s eyes flashed dangerously, madness dancing in them. “My brethren? Those fools?” She let out a mad laugh. “They will do nothing, as they have done for centuries. They are weak!”
The Fates began to shimmer, signaling their timely departure.
“You will succeed and break the fold,” the first began to recite.
“But blood fights blood to sever the hold,” the second added.
“Yet be warned, for you will fall,” the third said.
“For your revenge, you will risk it all,” they said in tandem before they shimmered and disappeared from sight.
The woman chuckled as the Fates disappeared from her presence.
“Is that not the whole point?” she asked, her eyes glancing back to the ceiling as another mad laugh escaped her lips.