Page 1 of The Coven’s Sacrifice

Chapter One

Colin

As I drove towards my new destiny, I couldn’t help but think of how Mom and Dad had stared at me with those big hopeful eyes this morning. I saw the emotion underneath it, though. They knew I would leave, I simply didn’t have a choice in the matter. They’d already lost my sister, and even though we all knew she would leave us one day, it still hit hard when she was taken from us too soon.

“We know you weren’t prepared for this,” Mom had said, her hands shaking, making Dad place his hand on top of hers, squeezing it. He’d always been her rock.

I smiled at them both. “None of us asked for this,” I had reminded them. “With Anastasia,” I’d started, only to stop myself as grief rushed through me. “With her, we knew it would happen.”

I had stared into my parents’ grief-filled eyes that no doubt had mirrored my own. For generations, each youngest born would be gifted to serve a family of monsters. It was a vow placed many years ago. Even though Anastasia was gone, our bloodline still had to provide a human sacrifice. It sounded very grotesque, and it likely was. We simply had no idea what happened to the sacrifices.

I’d packed my things after that, accepting my fate. It felt daunting, but my future had always seemed gloomy. At least now I would do something useful with my life. If we failed our vow, our entire bloodline would die. Meaning everyone. Not just our direct line.

I was loyal to my family. They were good people. It was as simple as that. We only had the story passed down by generations of how the blood vow started. Our ancestor who’d made the deal had been in the wrong, messing with these monsters. Instead of choosing death, she’d chosen to vow her future children and all those who came after would be sacrificed. She’d been selfish, and centuries later, we still paid for her wrongdoings. At least our ancestors had been honest when they wrote down everything, letting us know how it began.

Mom had pestered me about finding a wife and securing everyone’s future, even with the knowledge one of my children would be offered to the monsters. But we didn’t have much choice in the matter. Dad had said they never wanted children themselves, that Mom had wanted to protest this whole thing, but eventually she felt killing off over three hundred people was a bit too much on her conscience.

Looking back, I should’ve just gotten someone pregnant. It was too late for that now, though.

The last hour of the trip passed by way too quickly for what had been a three hour drive. My mind wandered to my friends and if I should write them one last text before disappearing. In the end, I decided not to bother. No matter what I wrote it wouldn’t change that they’d never see me again. I hoped they would think of me. I would be thinking of them.

The GPS told me I’d arrived at my destination. I was certain it was correct, but a house was nowhere in sight. There was just a huge metal fence, the gate covered with ivy. I drove up to the fence, about to exit the car when the gate opened by itself.

“Not at all ominous,” I muttered to myself as I drove up a long gravel drive. A mansion loomed in the distance. A very gothic looking mansion at that, but what had I truly expected? It even had gargoyle statues around the roof and by some of the balconies.

I parked my car right out front, and left my suitcase there for the time being. The sooner I introduced myself, the better. I held one hand against the door, ready to knock, but like the gate, the door opened by itself, creaking while doing so.

Tentatively, I stepped inside, looking behind me as the door slammed shut. No one had been there to open it. “Creepy,” I whispered, then took in the dimly lit hallway. The hardwood flooring was all dark wood with a reddish finish. The middle of the floor had a carpet running the entire length. It was such a dark burgundy that it almost appeared black. The walls were filled with portraits of men, most of them looking bored. A few were smirking, and funnily enough, I found that scarier than the bored ones.

I continued down the foyer and into an open space, a huge staircase taking up most of the room. By the end of the stone staircase, two wolf statues sat, looking menacing. I’d expected naked women or men, or perhaps lions, but not wolves. Stepping closer to one of the wolves, I was in awe over the detailing on it.

A loud and joyous voice then sounded right behind me, making me shriek.

“Welcome!”

With my hand over my heart, I took in the beaming man behind me. It was like startling the life out of someone was just another day to him. His blond gelled back hair and blue eyes shone with mischief, and his teeth were gleaming and yeah… those were definitely fangs. He was short, and cute in a weird way, like a feral puppy.

“Um, hi,” I said, rubbing my neck awkwardly. I’d pictured dangerous looking men, and this guy was anything but. With his smile still in place and humor filling his eyes, he seemed like any regular human. If we ignored the fangs.

“What is your name, handsome?” the man asked, smirking a little.

Warmth spread over my cheeks, and I had to remember I was here to do whatever they wished. “Colin,” I replied, sounding surer of myself this time, thankfully. “And you are?”

“Jacob,” he grinned. “So, Colin, you seem older than what we are used to.”

It wasn’t a question, just a mere observation. I was thirty-five. They were used to the sacrifices being twenty-one when they arrived at the mansion.

“My sister died,” I said, answering his non-question.

His smile dimmed for a brief second, but then he was smiling again. “I am sorry to hear that, but I would be lying if I said I was not pleased by having you here.”

Was he flirting with me? Surely not.

“Um, thanks?” I said, feeling out of sorts.

“Anytime,” he winked. “Now, let me take you to your rooms.”

I followed Jacob up the stairs, my eyes scanning the area with avid fascination. All windows were curtained off, making the mansion appear dark and gloomy, when it felt anything but. It weirdly felt like home here.