Fate's Shadow by Steven L. Smithen (7)

Six

 

A bell tolled in the distance as the bucket of water doused Caleb startling him awake. “What the…” he trailed off as he took in his immediate surroundings.

Caleb found himself dripping wet in a ten by ten stone room with no windows. The walls, floor, and ceiling were covered in magic dampening runes cutting him off from his magic. He stripped off his soaking wet shirt and began to wring it out as he took stock of his situation. Okay, I was out trying to avoid The Brotherhood then…I don’t remember. Fuck! Now I’m in some dungeon cell with just my clothes, now wet. What had happened to Kiera? Oh, yeah, she was a Valkyrie agent. Fuck. My. Life.

“Look, Celeste, he’s awake,” Morrigan pointed out. “You did an admirable job raising my son, but will the ritual still work?”

“Mom, what? Why? What happened to Kiera?” Caleb asked defeat in his voice.

“Caleb, I didn’t have…” Celeste began.

“Enough, I am your Mother. Celeste has learned the error of her ways and has returned to serve at my side where she belongs. Something that you will learn to do when tonight is over. As for your Brotherhood girlfriend, she is of no concern to you anymore,” Morrigan interrupted.

Caleb rushed towards the two women in a rage with a flick of Morrigan’s wrist he went flying back and was pinned to the wall.

“Tsk tsk, I hadn’t realized that she had gotten her claws into you so deep in such a short time. Not to worry all is going according to plan. Come, son time for you to get ready for this evenings events,” Morrigan commanded.

Caleb noticed Celeste, the only woman he had ever know as his mom had already preceded them out of the cell. It turned out his whole life had been a lie. The only thing that was real was the last few weeks with Kiera, but Morrigan called her his Brotherhood girlfriend. Was that too a lie?

Defeated, Caleb dropped his wet shirt on the floor then followed his Mother out of the cell to who knew where. Once in the hall outside, he could see that the entire place was covered in magic dampening runes, glyphs, and wards.

“What is this place?” Caleb asked out of curiosity.

Morrigan gestured with her hand, “Oh, this? This place once belonged to the Catholic Church and was where the women who were tried, convicted, and burned at the stake were held before their execution. It was the first place that the Witch families of Salem took possession of after the Emergence.” She glanced back Caleb with a smirk and a wicked gleam in her eyes.

“My whole life was a lie then?” He asked.

“No, Celeste had every intention of helping you escape but what she did not know was that I had the Witch family heads watching you as well,” She offered.

“Have they always known?”

“No, they just thought you were a regular male witch with little to no power. What they don’t know is who your father was, but after tonight all will know, and I will finally have my vengeance on Merlin.” Morrigan finished with venom in her voice.

Caleb followed them in silence for several minutes and up two flights of stone stairs until they came to a large open chamber about the size of a typical high school gym, but instead of the usual basketball hardwoods, the floors here were stone. Granite if Caleb was correct by what he was beginning to feel from his connection to Earth.

The center of the room had an enormous pentacle inside a circle carved into the rock and filled with silver. The border around the circle was carved with runes, many that Caleb had never seen before. Inside the center of the pentacle, a pair of chains laid secured to the floor complete with manacles.

Turning from the circle, Caleb scanned the rest of the chamber. Along on side, there were fucking bleachers. What the fuck? Was this supposed to be some sort of spectacle, he thought to himself. Finally, at the four cardinal points wood had been stacked for bonfires.

Morrigan turned to him, “Time to get you ready, Celeste.”

Suddenly, Celeste, his mom, appeared at his side with two enormous muscle-bound men wearing leather pants, no shirt, and a leather hood. Each man grabbed hold of an arm, Caleb began to struggle until his mom, pulled out a wickedly curved blade and began chanting in a language he had never heard her speak before.

The blade began to glow a brilliant blue as the glyphs lit along the length. Once the last glyph lit with power, Celeste stopped chanting and began to cut into Caleb’s flesh. She carved several runes along his chest and shoulders before moving to his back where she carved two lines of runes down his back near his shoulder blades.

By the time she had finished Caleb was hanging in the large men’s arms. They dragged his bleeding form over to the pentacle and secured him to the manacles before returning to stand like silent sentinels behind Celeste.

Morrigan turned to Celeste after inspecting Caleb’s markings. “Excellent work, daughter,” she offered the praise evident in her voice.

Celeste nodded, “Thank you, mother. Do you think my brother will survive this?”

Placing a hand to her chin, Morrigan looked thoughtful for a moment. “If he has any of his father in him then he will. Come let us welcome the families, it is almost time.”

The Witch families of Salem began to arrive. Caleb knew most of them since he went to school and grew up with most of their kids, but when his best friend Robert walked in, he couldn’t keep the disgust off his features. When their eyes met Caleb just dropped his head and starred at the floor.

Next came all the popular girls from his Senior class. They were all dressed to the nines in leather and lace. His mother and Celeste were treating them like they had just won the fucking Powerball.

About an hour later the bleachers were full. Each family was seated according to their status in the town with the five most powerful daughters seated front row center.

Morrigan stepped up in front of the crowd, and with simple gesture, Celeste along his now four of her muscle-bound men in tow appeared. Celeste directed each of them to stand beside one of the piles of wood.

“I would like to start off by saying thank you for your attendance on this most sacred holiday for our kind,” Morrigan offers in greeting.

A woman of middle years near the front stands and bows slightly to Morrigan, “We have done as you have asked. We have protected and hid the boy like you asked. What of the gift for our daughters that we present to you this evening five of our most gifted and powerful.”

Morrigan’s eyes darkened as a breeze lifted her black hair and ruffled the dark red satin dress that clung to her curves. Giving them a Cheshire grin, “They shall indeed receive the ultimate gift.” She turned her gaze from the older Witch to the leather and lace clad girls in front of her. “The survivor of the challenge will receive the right to breed with my son,” Morrigan finished with a waive in Caleb’s direction.

One girl who was dressed as a biker chic; you know leather pants, knee-high boots, and nothing other than a leather vest for a top stood up before Morrigan. “What do you mean by the survivor? Why is he so special? He’s not even that powerful, Robert back there is a better match.”

Morrigan lifted a hand and caressed the girl’s side and along her shoulders and she circled the girl admiring her, “You are?”

The girl swallowed hard, “Ashley.”

“Well, Ashley, it is exactly as I said. Whoever survives the challenge that is whoever is left alive, and as for my son what none of you know is that he has hidden his power for years and tonight he also comes into his father’s power. There are very few who live on this plane of existence who are equal to his father,” Morrigan replied.

Another mother stood up, “Who exactly is his father? I don’t want my daughter fighting if it’s not worth it to her.” The woman asked with an arrogant tone.

Several people moved away from the woman when they saw the storm that had appeared in Morrigan’s eyes. “Enough!” She commanded as she let the full force of her power wash over everyone in the stands.

The woman who dared to question her paled, then laughter could be heard coming from Caleb. “Mother, they don’t know who you truly are. They are just a bunch of self-important twits who seem to think that just because they are descended from the founding Witch families of Salem that they are all-powerful and in charge. While you were off plotting your dire schemes for me to fulfill, I was here dealing with these morons. Sometimes they are just as bad as the Church.”

The wind died down and was replaced by a chuckle from Morrigan. “You are correct, Caleb. Maybe it is time they truly know who they are dealing with.” With a snap of her fingers her glamour fell revealing a gorgeous woman with rich straight black hair, eyes so black they looked like obsidian, and pale skin that one would think was kissed by the moon. Her curves were barely concealed in a long floor length gossamer silk dress that hugged her breasts, and hips.

There were several gasps from the assembled Witch families before, Jennifer, the girl, dressed as a biker chic dropped to her knees and prostrated herself. “Forgive them Goddess, they have grown arrogant over the years.”

Morrigan looked down at Ashley with pride and respect. “Well, it looks like at least one of you know how to address your Goddess, The Morrigan. As for my son’s father, he was known by many names. First and most loved by God, The Morningstar, and as I knew him before he died, Samael.”

The gasps were replaced with cries of shock and astonishment as the families fell all over themselves trying to pay reverence to Morrigan.

“Is my son worthy now of your daughters?”

There was a resounding yes as the family heads each took their daughter aside to discuss who knew what.

Kiera was pacing in her apartment while Veronica was talking to their superior. Worry was evident on her face.

“Will you stop pacing, it’s not going to make this go any faster,” Veronica said with a hand over the receiver of her phone.

“Sorry, it’s just that he’s been missing since that day at school last week, and I’m just worried that the bitch has him and is doing God knows what to him,” Kiera replied taking a seat on the couch.

“I know you are, he’s a nice guy,” Veronica paused, and held up a hand. “Yes, ma’am, I’m here. Okay, we will meet you there. Full Armor? Are you sure that’s needed? Understood,” Veronica hit the disconnect and looked at her best friend.

“They’re sending in a strike team, aren’t they?” Kiera asked.

“Yes, and they are expecting heavy resistance from the Witches,” Veronica replied flatly, then turned and went into her bedroom to gear up.

Kiera went into her room and pulled a large black case from under the bed. After placing the case on the bed, she flipped the latches and lifted the lid. The inside of the case contained her Valkyrie armor. She stood there staring at the dark blue combat armor and helmet. He’s never going to trust me again after tonight. God, what have I done? He was the first person outside of the Church or the Brotherhood who truly understood me, she thought as she grabbed the silver pentacle that he had bought for her a couple of weeks ago from one of the many spell craft shops that lined downtown Salem.

“You love him, don’t you?” Veronica asked from the doorway. She looked concerned and a little worried about her best friend.

Kiera looked up at her friend with tears in her eyes. “I do, and I don’t even know how or when it happened.”

“Let’s save him first, then we can figure the rest out. It won’t make any difference if he dies,” Veronica offered.

Kiera nodded and pulled her armor out of the case, then began to strip so she could get geared up.

The Valkyrie armor was some of the most advanced tech that The Brotherhood and the Church had to offer. Each suit was form fitted to the individual Valkyrie. Only the Inquisitors and Furies had better armor.

Once suited up in her armor Kiera strapped on her weapons. On her right hip in a holster was her pistol and sheathed on her back was the Valkyrie spear. When sheathed it was a short two-foot tri-bladed weapon that with a press of a button extended to a six-foot spear. Each blade on the Valkyrie’s spear was etched with ancient runes purportedly only know to The Brotherhood’s Mystics.

Kiera joined her squad sisters in the living room of their apartment as Veronica was going over the orders that she had received from their commander.

“According to Commander Reed, Inquisitor Jameson is going in with a full squad of Furies and two more squads of our sisters,” Veronica paused and looked at Kiera. “Their goal is to capture Morrigan and Caleb if possible if not they are to kill them. As for the rest of the Witches, they don’t care if they live or die.”

 

 

Caleb sat on his knees and from his position he could see the four girls who had started this whole disaster a week ago when they thought to teach Kiera a lesson resulting in him showing the entire student body how strong he truly was.

Kiera had worked him for all he was worth. He should have known better thinking that she was different. Oh, she had been different a Valkyrie agent for The Brotherhood, and she had played him right into their trap.

Now he was beaten, bleeding, and chained inside a ritual circle while four girls who had never wanted anything to do with him were about to fight each other to the death for the right to have him breed with them.

Caleb laughed to himself causing everyone to stop what they were doing to stare at him. “What? I couldn’t have made this shit up if you had asked me,” He offered.

Each family led their daughter over to another ritual circle that had been prepared. After the last girl, Ashley had entered the circle Morrigan knelt and touched the circle while she spoke a string of ancient words that even Caleb had never heard. When she had finished, there was a pop static, and the smell of ozone filled the room.

Morrigan turned to the assembled families, “I have locked them inside the circle, and the barrier will remain in place until there is only one girl left alive.”

One of the mother’s cries of protest ended when a Viking throwing axe buried itself in her chest.

The most massive man Caleb had ever seen stepped out of the shadows. He had to go six-foot-eight, and his massive shirtless frame was covered in the blue tattoos of the Celts. His long fiery red hair was braided to match his full beard. He looked like he had just walked off the set of Game of Thrones or some other fantasy movie. Wearing soft dark brown leather pants, and black motorcycle boots.

He walked right up to the mother, reached down and pulled his axe free from her ribcage. Blood dripped from the axe head as he looked over the assembled families, “Anyone else wish to disagree with my Mistress?” His voice had a thick Irish lilt.

Morrigan walked over to the enormous man and ran her hands along his well-sculpted torso. “Connor, you are such a dear. I am so glad I decided to save you all those years ago. Please keep an eye on the sheep, I might need them later,” She finished before returning back to where the daughters were all standing horror on Natalie’s face.

Addressing the four daughters, Morrigan began, “The rules are simple. Whichever one of you is left alive wins.”

At the snap of Morrigan’s fingers, Dani pulled two long silver knives from behind her back and sprung at Natalie with murder in her eyes. Natalie backpedaled a few steps before displaying her own blade. It was a wickedly curved dagger with a crescent moon for the cross guard, and the edge began to glow a sickly green.

“You BITCH! Pulling that Mort Blade on me,” Dani yelled as she pushed her attack.

“Of course, and when I’m finished with you and have your soul trapped in my dagger, I’ll use your corpse as a servant.” Natalie retorted, parrying one of Dani’s slashes.

Ashley and Brittney were exact opposites where Ashley favored leather, Brittney was a flower child, but when it came to the Craft, they were equals. Both girls unleashed their full power at the other.

Fire exploded from Ashley’s hands as the white-hot plasma jetted towards Brittney who responded with a flick of her hand causing a wall of water to shoot from the ground.

The resulting steam from filled the sealed battle arena making vision difficult for everyone, combatants, and spectators alike.

Those outside heard, “Ow, shit you bitch.” Before a body slammed against the circle of power which flared briefly as the tanned blonde leather clad body slid down the barrier to settle on the ground.

Morrigan circled the perimeter and knelt to examine Ashley’s limp form. “Looks like Ashley didn’t make it. That’s a shame I thought she had potential, but I guess Water is stronger than Fire.”

“It’s always the ones who run their mouths that are usually the weakest. If I had to bet, Dani will be the one who will prevail,” Caleb commented.

Morrigan spun, “Why do you say that, Caleb?”

“Simple, she’s the quietest of the four. In school, Dani is the one who is always watching everything around her.”

A scream of pain that soon turned to a gurgle came from the arena.

Morrigan waved a hand, and a light breeze blew through the arena swirling the steam turned to fog before it cleared showing only Dani standing in the center the other three girls were dead.

Dani cleaned her blade before slipping them back into their hidden sheaths. “All three are dead, let me out. Now!”

Morrigan’s eyes flared with power at this girl’s demand. “Who do you think you are to command me, mortal?” Her hair began to float as she drew magic into herself.

“I am the one who won your challenge. You forced us to fight to feed your ego for what the chance to bed your son, please bitch. You made me kill my friends, sisters in everything but blood. I want out of this circle and away from you and your schemes before I end up dead too,” Dani answered, defiance in her eyes.

Morrigan waved her hand, “Go, and never return.”

Dani walked past Caleb sparing him a quick glance. He could see sympathy in her eyes before she walked past the bleachers where the families had been sitting.

A man and woman jumped to their feet and raced after Dani stopping short when she spun around and said. “Don’t follow me. You did nothing to stop her all you cared about the power and influence you could gain with me winning. I’m done with Witch politics.”