The Council - Part 3

The full moon was high in the sky, her light different this night as if she was smiling down on our efforts to rid ourselves of this nightmare. I glanced at Dierck, his eyes read a mix of anxiousness and excitement. Soon we would make our move, soon our fates would be decided. My thoughts drifted to Dametria. I hoped she was okay, and that our move to strike would not cost her life.

We paused outside of the High Sorceress’s door, where Dierck muttered a detecting spell to ensure there aren’t any wards around the house. There are none. No one would be crazy enough to sneak into the home of a High Sorceress.

I slowly pulled open the door and we slipped inside. Dierck and I split up to look for the bedroom. When we meet back up, he waves me down a hall to the right. We carefully placed our feet to avoid making any sound. I took a deep breath outside the bedroom and slid my hand into my pocket. The hard surface of the crystal grounded me.

Inside the bedroom, the High Sorceress is sound asleep on a high plump bed. On an ornate table next to her, sat the wooden box containing the necklace. We’ll need to unarm the layers of spells before we touch it, to keep from alerting every Eye who warded it.

I held the crystal in one hand, and Dierck grasped the other. With the barest whisper, I recited the incantation, pulling power from both Dierck and the crystal. I repeated this until every ward is down. Dierck picks up the box and nodded. I handed him a small cardboard box, and he transformed it. It changed, looking just like the one we stole, before placing it on the table.

I put the crystal away and reached into my other pocket, pulling out a key on a string. Not daring to breathe, I glided toward the bed and placed two fingers onto the key around the High Sorceress’s neck. The duplicating incantation slipped through my lips and the key in my hand transformed. It’s now identical to the other, in both appearance and weight.

The High Sorceress was sleeping on her side, facing away from me. I gently pulled the string where it’s tied around the back of her neck. The bow tugged loose and the key dropped to the bed. I slid the rest of the ribbon out from under her neck and lifted the key up.

Next is the hardest part. I pocketed the real key so both hands are free. I laid the fake key on the pillow next to the High Sorceress’s head. I held one end of the ribbon in one hand and pressed slightly down on the pillow with the other, creating a gap to slide the ribbon under her neck. When it was done, I pulled my hands back and wait.

The High Sorceress showed no signs of stirring, so I continued on. I wrapped the ribbon around the entirety of her neck, and carefully tied the string without touching her neck. As I tugged the bow, her eyes shot open, staring straight ahead at the wall. I dropped to the floor and saw from the corner of my eye, that Dierck did the same. He rolled toward the bed, and we both laid completely still.

The bed creaked as the High Sorceress rolled over. We are hidden out of sight behind the high bed as long as she doesn’t get up.

We waited in silence for what felt like an eternity. There are no more sounds or movements. Finally, I peeked over the edge of the bed. I saw the High Sorceress asleep again, clutching the key in her hand. She must have felt it around her neck and was reassured by its presence.

Clutching the box in one hand, Dierck crawled toward the door, and I followed. Once we are safely out of the bedroom, we stood and moved quickly out of the house.

We both let out an audible exhale and stood panting in the shadows. I turned to Dierck and allowed myself a brief smile. He grinned back at me.

As we walked toward the cave, my mood began to sober. What about the others? If any one of us is caught, it would mean disaster. I picked up the pace, wanting to make it to the cave to see who else had succeeded.

Those who weren’t needed to assist with stealing the jewels would be waiting in darkness when we arrived. Their whistles are a comforting answer. I counted the number of whistles in my head and realized two pairs made it back safely before us.

I’m nearly jumping out of my skin while we waited silently in the darkness. I pondered how we nearly failed. Everything else could have gone wrong for the others. Slowly, more whistles fill the cave until there is only one pair missing.

We waited… and waited. I did my best not to panic, thinking through our options if someone was caught.

A whistle pierced the night, then another. I let out a breath as flames flared to life around the cavern. We began to cheer and hugged one another. We had done it. We’d managed to weaken the Council and added to our strength before the coming battle.

One-by-one, we placed the boxes around the bonfire. I looked around at every face, smiling in thanks. I nodded, and as one we placed the keys into the boxes and lifted the lids. Obsidian jewels sat on the velvet linings, swallowing up any light that touched them.

...

The next day, we waited with our covens in the town square for the Council to arrive. My heart beating rapidly. It took all of my self-control not to seek reassurance from the other members of the Resistance in the square, or to scan my surroundings for evidence of the other hidden witches. I had to take comfort in our thorough planning and trust we are ready.

A black swirling portal appeared in the center of the square and the Council emerged. Somehow, they seemed even more intimidating than usual. I know we have a small window to strike before the High Sorceresses hands over the wooden boxes, and the Council realizes they are fake.

We have to time this perfectly.

The moment a member of the Council first laid their hand on a wooden box, I began reciting the incantation. I recited the words at a rhythmic pace, knowing every member of the Resistance is whispering along with me from the shadows. I pulled power from the crystal tucked within my robes as our combined power alone would not be enough for this spell without risking death. As the Council cracked the lid on their boxes, we finished the incantation.

Bones cracked followed by an ear-piercing wail of agony. The center-most Council member began to contort inhumanly, back bending too far backward, joints popping sickeningly. The rest of the Council is frozen for a moment in disbelief. They can’t comprehend what is happening — that someone is defying them, let alone making a move against them.

Craaack followed by another blood-curdling scream.

The Council scrambled and began to recite incantations to try and stop what was unfolding, but it was too late. Blood spurted from the Council member’s mouth. Eyes bulging from their sockets and blood pouring from their ears and nostrils. They fell to the ground. Bodies folded into themselves until their final raspy breath leaked from their mouth. Blood slowly continued to bubble from every visible orifice.

It was horrifying to witness but I couldn’t help but grin. We had done it. We had killed one of the Council members. My chest swelled with pride but that feeling didn’t last long.

“Serifini, watch the right flank!”

One Council member took charge and started to yell instructions.

“Levinia watch the left flank! Elsbethe and Ursyndra stay close with me!”

The Council members and High Sorceresses started to move into their positions, every possible angle of attack covered.

I felt a slight vibration all over my body and I knew the witches in hiding were starting to cast their protective shields on those of us fighting in the open.

Levinia threw her head back causing her hood to fly off of her head, revealing her face. It is twisted in anger and hatred as she is mumbling an incantation. She flung her hands forward. Thin onyx energy erupted forth and flew fast toward one of our witches, slicing through her torso like a hot blade. Her mouth is wide in horror as the top half of her body slipped from her hips and legs, toppling on the ground, followed by her limp legs thudding onto the earth. There is no blood as if the magic has cauterized the wounds. Chills ran up my spine and hot tears stung my eyes. The fury coursed through my body, and it launched my own attack at Levinia. Clutching the crystal in one fist, I let out my spell and watched the inky cloud fly into Levinia’s eyes. She screeched as her hands flung up instinctively to her face. That would occupy her for a few moments at least, hopefully deterring more deaths on our end.

I dared a glance at Dametria. She was still, for the time being, as a Council member had her back towards her, and I saw her train of thought as she took in a breath. She reached forward to the unsuspecting Council member’s shoulder. The moment her hand made contact with their shoulder it exploded with a loud squelch and the severed arm plopped onto the ground below. Dametria took that moment to sprint by our sides and I nodded in thanks to her, grateful she was with us.

I glanced at my surroundings. Many witches have frozen in fear, not sure what is playing out before them. Only The Resistance is daring to fight.

I hear a scream that tore my gaze. Serafini unleashed a spell against Thelewen, throwing her back about fifteen feet. She landed hard on the ground, but she is seemingly unharmed. Serafini stiffened for a moment but then moves on. I steadied myself knowing Thelewen is okay, for now. I glance at Dierick, seeing a thin veil of darkness envelop him. He now has a shield around him.

“There are witches in the shadows! Draw them out!” I hear Ursyndra alerting the rest of the Council.

“Shit,” I say under my breath.

Dierick must have heard me; he glanced over at me and our eyes met for a moment. He nodded and whispered an incantation, igniting his fist in an ebony glow that held the onyx jewel. My eyes widen that is a melee spell.

“No!” I yelled at him but he is already sprinting towards Levinia. The spell I had afflicted her with is waning.

He pulled back his fist just as her vision is seemingly coming back, and his whole body moved into a swing. His fist met her left cheek and a crunch indicated a broken jaw. She fell to the ground, hard. The ebony energy around his fist dissipated but he was unharmed thanks to the spell. Elsbethe is to his right, and her eyes lit up in fury as she noticed the chain dangling from his hand.

“THEY HAVE OUR JEWELS!” she screams, alerting every Council member and High Sorceress. “Protection formation, NOW!”

Suddenly they all withdraw from the battle. Elsbethe dragging the barely conscious Levinia, quickly backpedaling into a triangle. In one swift motion, they clasped their hands together and in unison spoke an incantation I am unfamiliar with. Erupting from them is an enormous cloud of swirling onyx smoke, quickly flying against every single witch that isn’t a part of the formation of the Council and High Sorceresses. I braced for impact. There wasn’t time for anything else. Then everything went black.

...

I sat on the floor of a cold, dirty cell, head hanging. I have led us all to our deaths. The witches we recruited to the Resistance had put their trust in me, put their lives in my hands. I should’ve known better than to try to defeat the Council after what they did to my parents and so many others. How could I possibly have hoped to defeat witches who can see all? Our last chance to stop them was long ago before they came to hold such enormous power. I was a fool to think it wasn’t too late.

“Don’t beat yourself up. This wasn’t your fault,” Dierck called out from somewhere in the darkness.

I shifted on the stone floor, trying and failing to get comfortable. I settled for leaning my head back against the wall.

“How did you know I was beating myself up?”

“Because I know you. You’ve been blaming yourself since the day your parents died. You couldn’t have stopped that, and you couldn’t have prevented this either. We all did our best; we fought to the end,” Dierck replies.

“I’d rather die fighting than live under their control, knowing I did nothing,” another voice calls out; Thelewen.

“You gave us hope, even if it was only for a little while,” says another witch.

“You gave me a purpose,” another voice calls out. “I’d rather live a short life full of purpose, than a long one in misery and despair.”

I’m quiet as tears fall down my face.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better coven,” I choke out. “Because those covens we were assigned by the Council, those aren’t our real families. The Resistance is my true coven. And we’ll die as a family of fighters.”

“Resistance to the end,” Dierck called out, and I knew he understood.

The cries echoed throughout the dungeon. “Resistance to the end!”

...

I’m awakened by the click of a lock and the movement of a heavy door, followed by footsteps on the stone floor. Lights flickered on down the dungeon corridor, bringing a member of the Council into view. I bared my teeth, but she ignored me, walking to Dametria’s cell.

Dametria stood proud before her, despite the bars between them. “Serafini,” Dametria practically spat.

Serfini examined Dametria in silence for a moment. She looked satisfied with something she saw. “Turn and face the back wall,” she said.

Dametria folded her arms.

“Do it, quickly. Lay down and pretend you’re sleeping.” Her voice softened and her face seemed to plead with Dametria.

Dametria’s eyes widened but Serafini’s expression seemed to convince her.

As soon as Dametria can no longer see her, Serafini pulled out a key and began unlocking our cells. They are made with iron bars and locks, immune to any type of magic.

“How? Why?” I ask.

“I am a member of the Council, the wards on the dungeon all open for me, and I have my own key. As to why, there isn’t time for that,” Serafini answers.

She began escorting us out of the dungeon, all except Dametria. I stopped.

“I’m not leaving Dametria.”

“I know, but the second I help her break the blood link, the Council will be alerted. And at any time while I help her escape, they could peer through her eyes and figure out where we are. I would rather the rest of you be outside the town before that happens. I’ll give you a head start, and then I’ll sneak her out. Once we reach the edge of town, I’ll break the link, and we’ll find you.”

I hesitated.

“You can trust me. I’ve already risked my own life to let you free,” Serafini says. “Once you get out of here, head west, toward the human realm.”

My mouth dropped open.

“It’s safe,” she reassured me. “Another High Sorceress is already there, with a few other witches. If we don’t make it, they’ll help you. They know you’re coming.”

I nodded, knowing there isn’t more time to explain. I turn and hurry after the others. The Resistance might have a chance yet. I vowed, someday, to make a better future for us all.

...

What did you think of the story? Do you think the members of the Resistance will live safely in the human realm, or come back to fight the Council one day?

Thanks so much for reading!

-Clever & WTF