Page 64 of The Coven’s Sacrifice

“But why?” I asked. I could not imagine why they would need to kill us once we had been “tamed”.

Eric gave me a soft look; it was one of understanding. “We are abominations in their eyes. All of us. Yes, they figured out a way to remove our inner monsters, but we are still monsters.”

“But we do not hurt anyone,” I objected.

“I think it was a pride thing,” George interjected. “One of theirs had created something so horrifying, so alien. The only thing they could do was to erase their mistake. No matter how many innocent lives suffered from it.”

“I still don’t understand why they made this whole thing,” Colin began, shaking his head. “I mean, it took eight hundred years before you were all free. Couldn’t they have done something quicker, or killed you all within the mansion? If that truly was their goal, then why play with you like this and let you suffer for centuries?”

Alexander looked at our lover with pride. “That is a good question, my precious.” Colin blushed at the endearment spoken so casually amongst the others. “But according to what Eric said, the book states that blood magic is the most powerful magic in existence. I think Gretha was more powerful than most witches and this was the only thing they could do to stop it. We were invincible back then, not even sunlight could harm us. That changed, but we were already affected by the blood vow then.”

“The witch Magda was the last with blood magic, and she died thirty years ago,” Eric reminded us. “I think we are dealing with two very human women, with guns and nothing else.”

Sophie nodded. “Jetty told us they are afraid and nervous. He’s been watching them and it’s obvious they aren’t sure what to do.”

“Then why not just leave us be?” Colin sighed. None of us had the answer.

“Better yet,” James said, now standing. “Why do we not just hunt them down and deal with them? We waste time just sitting here, learning of the mad witch coven and their past. I want them dealt with so we can finally live.”

“Because,” Sophie sighed. “If we just kill them, we’re no better than them.”

James sat down, mollified. “I just want us to live,” he whispered, taking Elizabeth’s hand. She had been the sacrifice before Sophie, a shy and quiet woman, but she was strong when it came to her vampire.

And just then, as silence descended on the room, Sienna popped in, landing in the middle of the table. “Those hags took my husband!”

Colin was the first one to stand, looking horrified. “Is that blood?” Sienna was indeed bloody. Her brown dress had been changed to one of better quality in a deep blue shade, now dotted with blood. Her hair had clearly been done up beautifully, but now tatters of hair had escaped the hold, making her look wild and mussed.

“We need to get him back!” she demanded, ignoring the blood comment. She finally took a look around the room, meeting everyone again. “Oh,” she said, straightening. “Good morning.”

Shocked faces met her. Sienna never showed emotions, the first time I had been witness to it had been when the walls had been painted. Now, as she stood, anger and fear emanated from her tiny but powerful body.

“Who took Nicco?” Colin asked, even though we all knew who.

“That fucking coven!” Sienna snapped, back to her anger.

“How?” Eric demanded, also standing.

Sienna met his gaze. “We were replenishing our magic, something we need to do every thousand years or so.” I ignored the part where she basically confirmed she was immortal. “It is the one place all brownies go to when they need the boost. We had dinner in the forest, celebrating our vacation and another thousand years of life. Then a plume of dark smoke surrounded us as glass nicked our skin. I flicked it away, annoyed, but once it was gone, so was my husband.”

“And you did not see them?” Eric asked. She shook her head. “Then how do you know it was them?”

“The magic they used was witch-made, and the signature of the spell was from their coven. It was not their magic, but something that had been stored, likely in a glass.”

I looked around the room. “They can store magic?”

Sienna nodded. “I could not follow their trail and Nicco is hidden from me as well. Normally, I could find him anywhere.”

“Jetty knows where they are,” Colin said, summoning Jetty.

Jetty seemed annoyed, holding his garden scissors like a prized possession. “What is the matter now?” he sighed.

“Nicco has been kidnapped!” Sienna snapped, making Jetty look her way. His eyes widened.

“Is that a new dress?” he asked, nodding approvingly.

She beamed, like actually smiled! Then remembered herself and glared at Jetty. “Take me to the witch coven!”

Jetty shrugged. “Okay.” He grabbed her hand and then they were gone.