Stormy Chronicles III

Witches have great acting skills, didnt you know young Vampire hunter? Part III

“Keiran. Its Alexi. Can you come here? I really need you to come here please. There is a slight issue that I really need your help with. Please hurry!”

 

“Who was that?” Scarlet leaned against the doory way of the plush Tea room and crossed her arms over her large breasts.

 

“Ep!” Alexi jumped, whirled around, and placed a hand over her heart all in one move. When she realized who it was she considerably calmed down, “Oh geez Scar, you scared me! You know full well who that was.”

 

“Don’t drag him into this!” Scarlet said in a hushed whisper Scarlet straightened, shocked and angered at Alexi’s nonchalant answer. She glanced around the red themed room, taking in the pile of cushions on the floor and the two loveseats to make sure they were alone. “Damn it Alexi, now you’ve gone too far.”

 

“Look, something hasn’t been right with her ever since the bombing, we cant count on her to protect the Coven!” Alexi threw her hands up in emphasis, and decided to plop down into a maroon love seat trimmed in gold brocade. She adjusted her forest green dress robe and leaned forward. She didn’t bother to lower her voice. Alexi was fed up with how RainStar was running things and she didn’t care who knew. “We need Keiran’s help.”

 

“But she deliberately said no outside help! You do realize how much trouble you will be in when she finds out.” Scarlet countered. “I know you miss him but to disobey RainStar like that is suicide.”

 

“I don’t care anymore.” Alexi banged her fist on the arm of the loveseat “She obviously doesn’t know what is best for this Coven anymore then the novices!”

 

“Do you believe that?” I ask from the doorway. I had been hiding there, listening to them bicker since Scarlet dismissed herself from the StarWatch, or coven meeting. “Well?”

Alexi stood in shock and let her eyes fall to the carpet in respect. After a moment of thought she bold lifted her eyes and stared me square in the eyes like she used too when we were teenagers. “Yes.”

“Alexi!-” Scarlet starts to reprimand her but is stopped when I lift a hand.

I walk past Scarlet’s curvy frame to pick a plush maroon cushion from the floor and place it closer to the lit fireplace. I fan my blood red dress robe out around me and I sit carefully, placing an elbow on the bricks encasing the fire. I motion the two other girls to join me and I wait for them to get comfortable.

 

“Alexi…you called Keiran Cuchlain despite my previous order.” It was a statement, not a question. “I assume you had a good reason.”

Scarlet and Alexi exchanged looks. Normally they would laugh at Stormy when she took that tone and tried to be serious…but she wasn’t Stormy anymore. She was granted the title RainStar along with Elder status because she ‘battled‘ a vampire to protect them almost 6 months past. She was a coven Mistress along with Alexi’s mother, EarthStar and the rest of the adult women. Alexi gulped and took a deep breath before throwing caution to the wind.

 

“Keiran can help us! He has experience in the field of vampire killing and you didn’t even stop to consider him!”

“And you Scarlet? Don’t think I didn’t see you hesitate when I dismissed her idea.”

“…I think you are afraid of him.” Scarlet said carefully, testing the reactions from both girls next to her. Alexi was confused and RainStar was intrigued. Before either could interupt Scarlet held up and hand and continued. “You are a figure head in this coven now, so I know you weighed how having a Christian intertwined with the coven would effect everyone involved. I also know you already mulled over the idea of asking help from him before Alexi brought it up in this weeks StarWatch . He is powerful and you know it. After all, you kept tabs on him didn’t you?”

“What?!” Alexi whipped around to face RainStar.

 

“Yes I did. He has excelled in his field of expertise.”

“Then why did you turn me down?!” Alexi asked impatiently. “If he is so good at killing Vampires then he should be an asset to you. He would be happy to help if we asked.”

“ He may have been happy to help but I would not have been happy to ask him to kill.”

 

Silence followed my statement. It was a wiccan Law passed down generation to generation.

An Ye harm none, do what Ye will.

By asking Keiran to help kill the vampires, Alexi was asking him to break our own sacred rule of nonviolence. I took a moment to gather my thoughts and sighed. What was done is done.

 

“Follow me please…” I rise stiffly, my wounds healed recently but still fresh enough to cause slight discomfort. “We have to get ready for our guest.”

　

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

　

We moved the coven temporally to an old abandoned building. Its previous owner had converted it to a flower boutique and the scent of flowers still hung in the air. In the basement we kept the real workings, the old books, and items that were of value. The first floor was bare incase of teenagers being rebellious and vandalizing.

As for the second floor we created a theater for Keiran. Darina and other novices plastered pictures and old manuscripts on the walls whilst Scarlet adorned the workroom shelves with bottles of herbs and nick knacks. I took it upon myself to carve a clique pentagram in the old wooden flooring. Nothing like what our real Coven looked like, but what did a Christian know?

 

Alexi had met Keiran yesterday and it was her job to bring him here to start the ‘show’. It was my idea to revert things back to how they were when we first met Keiran. I would be Stormy, not RainStar, and no one was to mention anything about the vampire attack or how close it came to disaster. He would know nothing besides Vampires were threatening us.

 

Everyone stopped what they were doing when the sound of tires crushing gravel rose and echoed in the high ceiling. I rushed over to the window as Scarlet flicked the outdoor floodlight on. Suddenly the whole driveway, lawn, and part of the surrounding woods were enveloped in light and I saw the car slowly wind its way towards us.

 

“Its them!” I didn’t have to say who ‘They’ were. Scarlet grabbed both of our cloaks and made as if to leave and greet them. “Stop. Wait, we will greet them here.”

She made as if to contradict me, but stopped short. This was all an act and I still held authority over her dispite the Novice robe I wore to match Scarlet and Alexi. Instead she tossed me the dirt colored cloak and put hers on. Each of us looked at one another one last time for reassurance before tugging the cotton hoods up, coving our faces.

 

Voices wafted up the stairs in between the creaking of old floorboards. Showtime.

I kept my eyes to the floor as was required by a novice but when my eyes met brown suede boots in a size that no female foot could fill, I had to look.

I had to see him after so much time.

 

My eyes followed the faded jeans up his strong legs, to meet the black shirt covering his muscled waist and up further to let my vision dance on his broad chest and strong shoulders. I hesitated my trail though before I reached his face.

I don’t know what was running through my head when I created this outlandish scheme. I thought I cant do this!

 

But suddenly Scarlet grabbed my arm and pulled me with her as she rushed to hug Keiran.

 

“Hey girls,” He gasping, surprised at the onslaught. He obviously hadn’t realized which of the hooded figures we were until then.

 

“Long time no see,” Said Scarlet. She looked up at him jubilant, her arms still wrapped around his waist. She beamed at him and silently jabbed me in the ribs in reminder.

 

“You never call, write, or come by,” I took her hint and remained in character. I looked up at his face but refused to look him in his beautiful emerald eyes. I lifted a hand and flipped a lock of my reddish brown hair.

 

“Stormy! You have no phone. You gave me no address, and I hadn’t been home but a semester when Alexi called me up,” He replied smiling like he did a year ago at that river dock before all of this insanity unfolded.

 

“You should have found a way,” I giggled and playfully jabbed him in the stomach.

 

“As sunny as ever miss Precipitation,” Keiran said before I gut punched him in jest. I could feel his muscles tense and clench up just in time to take the blow and he shrugged it off with quiet style.

 

“I hate when people do that,” I snarked and moved away as the other younger witches rushed in to meet the newcomer.

 

“I know,” I laughed. The girls took the time to introduce me to the other witches.

 

“My name is Fidelma! I work with Rai- I mean Stormy with potions.” She giggled and swirled her blond pigtails around before being shoved aside.

 

“Im Lily. I keep the rituals from blowing up and the platinum blond Elementalist over there is Nuala.” the twenty year old LilyStar took over introductions to prevent a slip like Fidelma just had. “Neasa is the black haired beauty. Darina is a Fire specialist whereas her sister Delma works with wind. Nasty pair to piss off. You’ve already met EarthStar, Mrs. Corenis, and you can guess what she works with. Devin is our own personal mistress of spell casting. You should already know Stormy works with material manipulation and Scarlet is our illusionist. Alexi is our healer.”

 

He looked at Alexi in such a way that I had to look out of the window to control my jealously. My mood became foul in an instant and when EarthStar said “Everyone please be seated. We have a guest. I would like you to meet.”

 

I couldn’t help but snap out “The most jacked up Christian on the planet,”

 

I should have known better. After all the novices wernt told that little tidbit. For all they knew, he was a visiting warlock. My word choice caused gasps and hisses from a few of the witches in the room. Instead of taking back my harsh words I crossed my arms and leaned against the wood. It was Alexi who stepped forward defensively to silence the murmers.

 

“As I was saying, Stormy! Keiran here is our guest and friend. He has never harmed a witch and he has supported my Alexi over the last year while they were apart. He is a hunter and he has answered our call for help. We are as peaceful as any Wiccan coven. It is not in our nature to take an offensive. However I can not deny that we are presented with a huge problem. Another coven has appeared in town and already made it clear that they will take any means necessary to remove us. They are supported by a group of men who call themselves the Blood Guards who I believe to be a strong gang of vampires. Any comments from anyone? ” EarthStar recited the speech I wrote. She paused, waiting for complaints but when none surfaced she finished, “Then you can speak Keiran”

 

He stood majestically taking the center of the circle. “I am on limited information as of yet, but I can tell you this. The Blood Guards are a group of vampires hand picked from the ancient blood lines to be the night guardians of the highest bidders. If this coven has the money for the Blood Guards, then they are most likely a branch from one of the ancient covens. The most ancient never leave their homes, but occasionally a few will break from the coven with permission to settle else where. Think of it as a large corporation and its branch offices all over the world. If we take them out then more might follow or they might not. You run that risk, but if you do nothing you will have a fight on your hands.”

 

“Then I put it to vote.” EarthStar looked around and was not surprised when all hands were raised besides my own. She nodded in my direction and mumbled, ““I expected nothing less from a young coven, but it can not be helped. It is the most reasonable course of action,”

 

It was then when I took my leave. I did not wish to be apart of this slaughter; I took an oath of nonviolence when I became a Star and I will not break that oath even to rid the world of the undead. I quietly slipped unnoticed around Delma and tiptoed down the rickety stairs. I finally made it onto the first floor landing when a hand wrapped around my waist and lifted my tired body against something hard.

 

“Hiya sexy. How is it your still single?” brown eyes bore into my own shocked blue ones. Chaz smiled wide and let me out of his hug.

 

“Im single cus you chase away all potental men.” I sniff at him. Chaz was wearing a pale leather jacket over a white t-shirt and cargo shorts and his dark hair looked recently ruffled.

“Nonsense! Cant you cast some voodoo? Oh, wheres my witchie chickie?” He referred to Alexi. The poor smuck had been following her around like a lost puppy for the past few months and he was one of the few outsiders who knew what we were. He was the one who found us in the Pestle parking lot and he was the one who got medical attention. We…I was greatly indebted to him.

 

“Alexi is upstairs busy with coven stuff.” I shrug the cotton cloak off and stuff it into my black duffle bag. I sift around the bottomless pit and pull out my leather jacket. I then raise my arms in attempt to lift my red robe when my back decided to clench. I yelp in pain and quickly bring my arms back down only to feel my robe lift off over my head anyway.

 

“You should be more careful hun.” Chaz smiled sadly handing me the red swath of cloth. I didn’t have to look to know he cringed at the mass of scarring that littered my back from my slide on the gravel months ago. Alexi may be a wondrous healer now but back then I had to rely on the doctors ability to stop the bleeding and close the wounds; scarring was the least of their worries. Warm hands trace one on my shoulder that my black wife beater failed to hide. “Im sorry hun.”

“For what?” I ask as if my mutilated back didn’t bother me. And truthfully it didn’t. The past cant hurt you, it was my future that had me cowering in fear. My jacket flys around my shoulders and I drive my arms through the sleeves roughly. “I’ma need you to be scarce for a few days ok? We are dealing with some stuff and whiplash can be a killer ya know?”

He nodded and kissed me on the cheek. I waved and jogged out to my Jeep Wrangler, throwing my duffle into the open backseat. The CD slides easily into the player and I defly turn the volume nob till I could barely hear my own thoughts much less Alexi trying to call me back upstairs via Psychic link. Three Days Grace beat matches my heart and I lean back to let today’s worry wash out me.

 

The show was a success.

　

Author's Note

Scarlet and Alexi are feeling left behind and RainStar(Stormy) is unsure about her new found status. Now a vampire hunter has been thrown into the mix!
Will RainStar fight alongside her sisters and risk fullfillng the Vampires Commands or will she back away and risk losing her family?

Read next time!

Reviews

[Arctic Fox]

Hmm, I don't think I can write anymore until you catch up LOL. Your are as good a writer as ever Stormy.