The Syzygy The Mother's Revenge

[Briar White]

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Crobhear Lake

The sky was growing darker by the minute, the only light from the faint red glow of the moons and the boldest and brightest stars. A deep silence hung over the lake, so deep it sounded almost like static. Every witch could feel The Goddess alive in them, on this first night of darkness. There would be many more to come, and many opportunities to draw blood in The High Mother's name. All clans had a thirst for blood in them, enough to fill not just the lake with blood but all the oceans of Arethil.

Across Arethil, there were strange happenings, right up to the first day of blood; villages disappearing, ships lost at sea, and strange sea creatures washing up on shore. While the witches would have loved to take credit for all the strange occurrences, they were only truly responsible for a few missing villages and bloody murders, and even then, it was mostly the Iron Clan. They would come to the lake tonight painted in the blood of their enemies.

Wood Clan would be the first to the lake, mostly due in part to their proximity to the lake. The Lady Mother, Willow Farbranch led the way, Briar and her coven following close behind. Each member in her coven was escorting a man. A week before, a Wood Clan witch had been found murdered in a river bank, and Briar and her coven had hunted down the men who did it and brought them back for justice. Briar had managed to kill only one, and her aunt had not been mad only because of what Briar planned to do to them. There were twelve men, and twelve witches left in the dead witch's coven. The dead witch's coven would have their revenge. Two of the men had already pissed themselves with fear, and Briar found it disgusting but also amusing.

Soon all of the witches from each clan would be gathered, and they could begin. The lake under the blood moons would be filled with the blood of sacrifices. The blood of men. The blood that The Goddess demanded as payment for their sins.

Penny Mossriver
Bridget Darkfield
Lylian Darkfoot

 

[Bridget Darkfield]

"Oh, lovely. We are to entertain some sport this time." Called the Lady Mother of the Sky Clan.

Her granddaughter was beside her, the Heir Daughter. Her coven flanked the two, starting from ten paces behind. Bridget stared at the men, lined up in fear, and eyes widening with insanity as the true numbers of how many covens existed within the clans came to fruition. Bridget cared not for the price they were paying, only that the High Mother would be seeing a bountiful sacrifice this night.

It was Bridget that started turning the Sky Clan back to their ancient practices, sacrificing in the name of the High Mother in order for them to pay for their crimes against the witchs' rulings. The kind of blood thirst many of the Clan believed should remain in Iron or Wood clan, not the faithful hearts of the Sky.

"Which of them will scream for mercy the loudest?" Bridget asked through the shadows, the intended ears to be that of her Second, Lylian Darkfoot .

 

[Lylian Darkfoot]

Lylian was more aware than ever of her surroundings. Magic was spiked on this first night of blood, and she felt it deep with in her bones. If she looked over her shoulder she would not have been surprised to see The High Mother behind her, she was so close to her.

Sky Clan gathered around the lake quietly, as if sliding out of the shadows. And that was indeed how many covens arrived. Now was the perfect time to show off in front of the other clans. Lylian knew Iron Clan would be miffed because they weren't the first to spill blood.

She did not turn when Bridget's voice came to her through the shadows. The second stood behind Bridget and the Lady Mother, Morilla Shadowend. The two most powerful women in the clan. Bridget's job would be to protect her grandmother, and the Heir Daughter's coven was to protect Bridget. Technically, worst case scenario, they were supposed to protect the Lady Mother, but Bridget knew that Lylian's first priority would be Bridget. Morilla was old and frail, and if she died, Sky Clan would have a better Lady Mother in Bridget.

"Preferably the one who dealt the killing blow," Lylian replied, the shadows carrying her voice back to Bridget, hidden from any other ears. "What I would like to know is why the witch was out of her territory by herself in the first place,"

Bridget Darkfield