Page 105 of Hellish Witch

Penetrating eyes met mine, so round and human. So similar to my own.

“There’s a place for you here,” he continued. “Your demon side won’t be looked down upon. Especially not when you’re clearly such a powerful mage. If you choose to join us, and I sincerely hope you do, I can teach you about your magic and how to channel both healing and harming sides. Just binding yourself to us tonight will anchor your power to us and help you start to control it.”

My skin prickled like spiders crept along my arms.

A part of me knew coming here wouldn’t be an easy fix to all my problems. Whatever was broken would take time to heal. But could I really move to the human realm and join a coven of strangers? How long until I gained control of the darkness?

If I stayed, how much would I learn about myself too? About my magic and the things I’d never known were even possible?

How many people would I hurt if I went back now?

“I… I’ll think about it,” I said, my voice slipping out in a hoarse whisper.

“That’s all I could hope for.” An encouraging smile curved my father’s lips up. “We can provide you with a safe place to unlock your true potential, Eve. To be a part of our magical family, as you always should have been.”

“Coven Elder Warren!” a high-pitched voice rang out. “It’s time!”

Orion turned to a middle-aged woman dressed in a tailored shift dress, nudging a young man busy tapping his shiny watch towards the seats under the tented roof.

Orion stood from the bench and called back with a good-natured huff, “Be there shortly, Elder Reese.”

Turning his smile on me, he continued, “I’ve asked for rooms to be prepared for you in our finest guest chalet for afterwards, but if you would follow me, everyone is gathering now to start the ceremony.”

Great. So if I wanted to fix myself, I had to join my father’s coven. And it had to be now.

I felt exactly like a feral animal backed into yet another corner.

The darkness in my chest stretched out, flexing its claws.

A weight crushed my lungs, heavy enough that I could barely suck in air. On the outside, I managed a tight smile for the coven elder.

“Jacaranda is probably about done with her patient, so I’m sure Alvie will bring your friend to join us shortly. He’ll also show you both to your quarters afterwards so you can freshen up and rest, whether you decide to initiate or not. It seems our resident greenhouse has already taken quite the shine to you, though, pun intended.”

“Greenhouse?” A rogue snort escaped me, the absurdity enough to loosen the tightness in my chest, even as I clenched my shaky hands in my lap to hide them.

“Did he not tell you about his powers?” His face scrunched up in a quizzical frown. “Alvie’s power is sunlight. He’s an asset for our vegetable patch.”

“Errr, yeah.” I rubbed the base of a horn.

Alvie had been nice to me, and his warm welcome and excitement at having me here felt genuine, but it seemed he might have been overselling his position as chief protector of the coven. I supposed everyone wanted to feel useful.

Maybe I’d fit in here after all.

I’d shied away from my mage heritage for so long, but was it time to embrace that part of me?

Nobody had sneered at me for being a mutt yet, or tried to snap my bones until they could feed on my agony.

A good start.

“Come, daughter.” The coven elder held out his hand to help me stand, and with a steadying breath, I reached out and took it. “Join your true family.”

Chapter 37

Clouds sped across the bruised sky, giving the coven a spooky feel as night crept in.

My father led me from the quiet picnic tables, towards the canvas stretching over part of the clearing. The chatter of excited voices spilled from beneath.

A flickering bonfire roared from the centre, outshining the moon and adding to the moist warmth trapped by the fancy tent.

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