by Madeline Fay
“I love you both, always have since we were children. I didn’t know what to do with those feelings for two men. Both of you are so different, and it wasn’t hard to fall, I fell really hard and fast the moment I met you guys,not knowing what hit me until it was too late, and I wouldn’t change a thing. I just want you to know I’m here to stay if you’ll have me.” I stare into their eyes, a violet color of faded moonlight and a blooming flower. They pierce me until I can’t breathe, and I hold my breath waiting for their answer.
First, Saint dives in with a kiss of passion that could light everything within standing distance on fire. Nipping and punishing my mouth until I’m gulping for air. Pulling back, he turns my head slightly to the right in Titus’ direction. Why is that such a turn on when he controls my movements? The man really does own me body and soul. Titus stares at me for a split second before slowly lowering his head until his lips are inches from mine, both of us breathing each other in. Finally, his soft lips glide across mine, a stroking manner before licking the seam of my lips. My mouth parts on a moan, and his tongue takes that as permission, gently touching my tongue with a kind of worship that makes my knees buckle. A promise to cherish me, care for all that I am worth and love me unconditionally. We break apart, my eyes opening after a few moments to savory their taste to see them both staring at me with heated, lust-filled matching expressions.
“You had us from the very beginning, Luna. Without a doubt, we knew you were for us. We’ll take you any way you’re willing to give us a piece of yourself. Whether that’s half of your heart or whole, we love you so fucking much and haven’t stopped since you left.”
Hearing Titus declare his feelings and watching Saint agree fully with that damn twinkle in his eyes, I take a flying leap at both of them sobbing and laughing. We might have caused a show for the coven, but I couldn’t care less. I have my guys, and everything is right in the world. I have to find a job out here, but that shouldn’t be too hard. My background is amazing, with schooling and experience, bonus is my line of work can be found anywhere. My peaceful cocoon hot man bubble is popped by laughing on the other side of the fire.
“Luna, my dear, since it’s been forever since you’ve been home, maybe you can start off the dance and stop sucking face with the twins? All in good time and you’ll have plenty of time later. The baby making can wait until after the dance. It always gets my blood pumping, Gerald you might be getting lucky tonight. Also, has anyone seen Anna? We don’t have time to wait anymore; the moon tells me it’s ready for us. Go ahead, my child, and begin.”
I swear to the goddess I’m going to place mirrors on every variable wall in the house, so Granny has to look at her aging self. That woman is insufferable, but she’s lucky I love her. My face is probably beet-red, but I separate from my guys and step into the coven dance ritual as they all spread out into a complete circle. A low hum starts up in harmony and grows louder by the second. I raise my hands face-up to the moon and start swaying my hips with the beat. Moving around the fire in a circle, I scoop and bend backward as a show to my goddess I am hers. The rest of the coven joins hands and moves in a complete circle at a fast pace with their faces tipped up to the sky. Drums sound from the woods, the night coming alive, and the humming from my coven comes to a dramatic end. Cutting off, I end the dance with my arms entwined above my head, my back slightly arched, and hip crooked out as I breathe deeply. We all feel alive, and I can sense those around me, living on the essence of life and power. I step onto the tree stump and make a cut with a small knife on my thumb to drain the blood into the offering cup. Passing the cup around, it moves around with circle filling with the blood of our lives, and we grow stronger as a coven.
“Goddess, we praise thee and offer a small part of the coven’s lives by our drops of blood. All Hallows Eve, a night of shadows and a forest filled with silent lives. We dance and show our love. Blessed it be.” My voice echoes, steady and strong as we near the end of the ritual
Everyone repeats me, word for word as it has always been said back from the beginning of time from our ancestors. Power spreads throughout my body, and I feel a glow surrounding us all, blessing us with this gift. That moment of peace is ruined when a blood-curdling scream sounds through the night, high pitched as it draws closer to us from within the woods. Saint and Titus step up beside me on either side, a stance of protection, and I see Gerald do the same for Granny out of the corner of my eye. Good, he’ll protect her crazy ass.
“Somethings not right brother, evil lurks in the dark. I can feel it watching.” Titus voice causes goosebumps to slide down my spine because I can feel it too.
“Luna don’t do anything, stay close to me. I’ll protect you baby girl.” Saint tells me in his deep voice as he takes in the surrounding woods. I want to roll my eyes at him because little does he know I’m packing heat. I might be somewhat rusty in the magic department but my other skills are spot on.
My eyes scan the dark forest, and I suck in a breath of shock as a small pale brown-haired woman appears, stepping into the light. She wears a flowing dress also, and I realize this must be Anna. She’s hunched over, and her hands are placed in front of her stomach as her head is bowed. I start walking towards her before the guys can stop me, but I freeze on the spot when she lifts her head. Glassy eyes stare at me as blood leaks out of the corner of her mouth, she raises her hands slowly and I notice the growing red spot on her abdomen just before she collapses. I rush to her side, my knees digging into the dirt as I put pressure on her knife wound. I know it’s a lost cause because her breathing grows ragged and shallow.
“Get out while you can. Run. They’re coming, all of them… they’re coming.”
She says on her last breath, her glossy eyes looking right at me as I move my bloody hands away from her stomach. Looking into Granny’s eyes on the other side of the girl, her face is full of rage and quivering with deep sadness. She gives me a single nod as Titus and Saint help me up.
“This is why I’m here, isn’t it?”
It wasn’t a question but a statement. She nods again, and I realize then that this isn’t the first death here in our small town.
“It would seem like you have a case on your hands, Detective Shadow. Our coven is dying, being plucked apart slowly and painfully. Someone is trying to get rid of the witches, and we need you to solve this case before we are all dead.”
I’ve never seen Granny so serious before, but I finally have my answer on why I’m here. I turn my head to Saint and Titus to see by their expressions that they have my back, wanting me here for different reasons, and I have their love no matter what. That look alone convinces me of what I have to do. They won’t leave my side and will keep me safe just as I plan on keeping them all safe.
“I’m not going anywhere.” I promise as I gaze into twin pair of violet eyes that won’t ever let me go again and glancing down at the murdered witch, coven sister whose death is a mystery that calls my name to find her peace and justice.
We have a killer on the loose and I’m the only one who can find them.
The End… for now
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Author Note
Thank you for reading my short story! This coven will be extending come spring so don’t be too upset with this… it was basically a tease for you guys but I still enjoyed writing it. Thank you again for being amazing readers and continuing to follow me on these writing journeys. It makes my black heart happy to see those reviews come in, I couldn’t ask a better coven of sassy witches!
Much love,
Madeline Fay aka Mads
About the Author
Madeline lives in rural Michigan in a castle with all her fur babies and husband. Sh
e loves to read, you’ll find her in her tower with her kindle and cup of tea. She has a few addictions, chocolate is her weakness, and anything seventies related with an additional sick obsession of Batman and cheese, not in that order. She has an evil day job, but at night she watches over her city in the shadows and calls herself batman. Not really, one can only dream. She’s really in her bat cave writing and plotting mad, evil genius, stories while sipping some wine.