Page 65 of The Coven’s Sacrifice

“I don’t think they are as powerless as we thought,” Sophie said, letting that one statement linger in the room.

“At least we got three hundred years of freedom,” Charles sighed.

“It was not freedom!” Edith, his human, objected. “We live in fear each and every day. That is not freedom!”

“Many live their lives in fear,” Charles argued.

“That is not living!” Edith snapped. “If you wake up fearing death, hunger, or disaster, then that is not living. That is surviving!”

“I have to agree with Edith,” Orion said. “We have yet to live.”

I rubbed my temples. “Why do we keep getting punished? Have we not suffered enough already?”

No one answered.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

The Witch Coven

What were they thinking?! Louise paced the room, her hair a greasy mess on her head. She couldn’t remember when she’d last showered, this hunt for the vampires and Colin had meant no sleep or self-care. They’d even lost Hannah a month ago, leaving Jannie and Louise to do this on their own. Louise had wanted a husband and children, yet the coven and her promise had come before her own happiness, leaving her old and alone. She would die like Hannah had, without family and love. They had each other, but that wasn’t real love, no, this was obligation and fear.

The brownie they’d captured was in the shackles they’d found in the basement. They were actually doing the one thing they swore they’d never do. They had taken a pure magical being and would syphon his magic, stealing it for themselves.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” Louise gagged, hating herself.

“It will be over soon,” Jannie consoled her. “This was how they got their magic, the book said as much.”

Louise nodded. They had searched through every journal and book ever passed down from their first coven sisters. What they found had left them speechless. Their coven had never been born witches; such a thing wasn’t even real. No, the coven had started because one woman had kidnapped a brownie and stolen its magic, fueling her body with it. She’d shared the power with her closest friends, and thus formed a coven of witches. The power was passed down through generations, but of course the magic had died out over time. That would change soon, though, as magic from this brownie would soon be theirs.

“We will right this wrong,” Louise stated, knowing this was the only way, even if the thought sickened her.

“We will use their ward against them,” Jannie added, staring intently at the passed-out brownie. Her own hair was a mess and she smelled somewhat foul. “We will trap them in their mansion, only to burn it down to the ground. Killing everyone inside.”

Louise didn’t like the way Jannie sounded just now. To be honest with herself, it frightened her to her very bones. Jannie had changed upon Hannah’s death. It was as though her humanity had fled her body, leaving her emotionless and duty bound. Louise wished she had lost her humanity as well. It would make this next part easier.

“Give me the knife,” Jannie ordered, holding out her hand.

Louise did so, handing Jannie the blade that would cut into the brownie. They needed his blood to fuel their magic. The glass they’d thrown at the two brownies had shattered, making the brownies bleed out. They hadn’t thought that through and had to waste time mending the cuts so the blood wouldn’t be wasted. Now that the brownie was somewhat healed, they could cut the blood directly from his wrist, stealing every drop until he was dead.

“I will drink his blood first,” Jannie rasped. Louise felt that unnerved feeling inside her again. This had all been Jannie’s idea, and she seemed way too into it. Perhaps her coven sister had fallen prey to the same lure of power as the witches who’d started all of this. But what could Louise do? She had already decided to end her existence once her duty had been fulfilled. Whatever Jannie did after was of no consequence to her. But then why did she feel obligated to stop Jannie?

“Stop!” A shrill voice startled them both. The brownie from earlier stood seething behind them, her dress covered in blood from their attack. Another brownie was with her, his eyes so full of contempt that Louise felt her very soul was being judged.

Jannie groaned as she got to her feet, knife still in hand. “We will finish this,” she rasped, then lunged for the brownie.

To Louise’s surprise, and the brownies, Louise’s hand shot out, grabbing Jannie and halting her attack. She grabbed the knife. “No!” she wailed, tired of this burden. Tired of living life as a murderer.

“We will finish this, Louise!” Jannie snapped, her eyes cold, unfeeling. Wrong. Louise acted without thought, pushing the knife through her coven sister’s heart, surprising them both. Jannie’s cold eyes, now wide with shock, turned dull and lifeless.

Louise let the knife go, panting. She had killed her coven sister. She was alone now. Dread filled her veins, but also relief. It was over. She could finally die.

“Kill me,” she begged the female brownie. “End this, please.”

The brownie glared at her, then turned her attention to the brownie behind them. Her eyes flashed. This was it, Louise thought. Her death was imminent.

“Congratulations,” the female brownie deadpanned, then threw her hands out. Louise closed her eyes, waiting for the darkness to welcome her. When nothing had changed, she opened her eyes and found the ground littered in glitter.

“Why haven’t you killed me?” Louise asked, her tone bordering on desperate.