Chapter 9 Hector
HECTOR
“This is war!” I shouted, taking my time to sweep my gaze across those looking up at me. “You can continue pointing the finger at me, or stop wasting your time and look out for the true enemies who’d sooner kill you than help.”
I stared at a room full of disgruntled and wounded witches, reading the multitude of emotions in every single one who looked at me. To be fair, regardless of my past discretions, I had just arrived in this forgotten London Underground in a bundle of shadows, courtesy of my demon.
My version of a grand entrance didn’t really help my cause. If it wasn’t for Romy, who’d literally put her body between me and the crowded room, I thought I’d already be torn in two.
“If we are speaking about the obvious, yes, Hector, this is war,” a red-headed witch said, the orange glow of the emergency light reflecting off pale skin.
He was handsome, but not in the tall, dark and alluring category.
In fact, he was the polar opposite. Not short, but certainly nothing to write home about.
His hair was a light strawberry blonde, soft curls framing a heart-shaped face.
And his eyes, well they shone like beacons of green light, piercing through the room to me.
It didn’t take a scholar to work out that he had some command over the people in this room.
“But do not forget that this war has been brought to our door because of your previous failure. Now wouldn’t be the time to forget that very important detail. You failed the Witch Trials, blinded by your admiration for a Witch Hunter, thus handing over our greatest weapon to them.”
Romy cleared her throat, almost shocked at how outwardly this young man was berating me. Whereas I thought it was rather tame, all considering. “Kai, really?”
“Romy,” he echoed her name, weaponising it like she’d done to him.
“Yes, really. Look around you, look at the repercussions of Mr. Briar’s inability to win the Witch Trials.
We are weakening by the second, our Gifts failing us.
Today’s attack couldn’t have been stopped because we no longer have the means to do so.
And why? He allowed Bahmet to be taken by Tomin. Him!”
Kai’s finger pointed at me, ferocity painted in the scowl upon his face.
“Oh, I see. So we are outwardly using his name now. Funny that,” I spat.
The Coven had decided to play pretend when it came to demons for generations, and now Bahmet’s name was being thrown around without care.
“All those years wasted not warning the innocent witches partaking in the Witch Trials that they were run by a fucking demon lord, and now we just speak the name around like it means nothing.”
Kai leaned forwards on an old table that he sat behind, the rest of his coven members surrounding him. His white shirt was smeared with ash and dirt, telling me that the destruction of the White Tower really was even worse than I imagined.
“Bahmet served witch-kind well for generations. Our ancestor conjured the demon to assist with the increasing scourge of our kind across the world. Bahmet, demon lord or no, has kept us safe. Had kept us safe, I should say, until you came along and fucked it for the rest of us.”
It was easy to forget that I had a demon-snake wrapped around my arm like a brace when it wasn’t moving. But all this talk of Bahmet had displeased it, which in turn displeased me because I would’ve preferred not to think about the creature wrapped around my arm.
“Let me bite him,” Emon hissed into my mind. “Go on, just a little nip.”
I decided to ignore my unwanted familiar, even though this seemed like the first time our wants had aligned.
“With all due respect,” I began, knowing my expression actually suggested I had no respect to offer. “I think our discussions should move from the unchangeable past, to what our next steps are going to be.”
Kai chuckled to himself, green eyes flashing.
“Oh, thank Hekate you are here, Hector. Without your presence, how on earth would we have been able to get our ducks in a row again.” His freckled hands slapped the table as he stood and hunched over it.
“Be careful what you say. We have worked tirelessly to protect our kind… where the fuck have you been?”
I stood too, levelling my gaze with his. “How many Witch Hunters have you personally disposed of, Kai? I can bet my number is bigger than yours.”
“Now isn’t the time to argue about dick sizes, mate.” Kai looked like he was ready to leap over the table and hit me.
“Both of you, stop,” Romy warned, her voice edged with something sinister. The room stilled at her voice, a natural sense of authority rippling between every witch in attendance. “Hector is not our enemy.”
“You’re right,” Kai replied, his expression souring when he looked to her.
In fact, it was more of a pained expression, something that sang of regret or disappointment.
“It would seem you are as much an enemy as he is. All this time, it has been you concealing his location, whilst working with us. And after what Hector did to your uncle.”
Rage spoiled the air as Romy jolted forwards, slamming her hands on the table until the entire room shook.
Not a sound was made by any of the witches watching on, as if her very presence commanded attention, fury or not.
“Do not speak upon what my response to Hector should be, when we are discussing a man who worked with our real enemies. A man who conspired behind the Coven to allow a Witch Hunter into the trials, and ultimately led to this very moment. Jonathan Bailey was a traitor, and if he was still alive he would be kicking his feet and laughing at the downfall that is before us.”
Kai, refusing to take his sorrowful gaze off Romy, sat back in his chair in a sign of defeat. “I didn’t mean to offend you, Romy. I’m sorry.”
“Save it,” Romy said, flicking her braids behind her shoulder as she looked every witch dead in the eye. “We can either discuss this topic like adults, or waste more precious time fighting over Hector... who liberated the Coven from a twisted, manipulative cunt that you keep calling my uncle!"
Romy was breathless by the time she was done.
Kai paled, then diverted his eyes to his hands.
I couldn’t help but notice the power Romy held over Kai.
It had little to do with rank, and more to do with something personal.
The look Romy shot me seemed to prove my theory.
But that was a topic for later. Right now, we had to navigate my presence amongst witches who hated me, whilst figuring out how to survive in a world where even the average man and woman became Hunters.
I cleared my throat, taking the attention away from Romy and Kai.
“I understand that you think you’ll obtain peace by pointing the finger and laying blame at my feet,” I started, trying to keep calm as I spoke.
“But I can assure you, I have only ever wanted to put an end to the people who oppose us. Starting with Jonathan Bailey, who has worked with Father Tomin, and also sold out your previous Grand High—my mother.” My voice cracked at the mention of her.
“And my father. Jonathan is the reason they were killed. His poison, it would seem, has sunk deep into the veins of the Coven, and will require more time to work it out. But until then, believe it or not, I’ve come to help.
To find a solution to the problem at hand which is Tomin and his followers.
Allow me to do that, and we may find a way out of this hell. Together.”
From the slack-mouthed look that Kai gave me, my dig at him wasn’t wasted.
“Can you give us our Gifts back, Hector?” Kai asked, head tilted like an inquiring mutt.
“Because, as I’m sure you’ve experienced yourself, the past weeks we have seen a decline in our connection to the magic Bahmet gave us.
Gifts that without we have no chance in ever going up against the Witch Hunters, especially as it would seem we now know who has access to them.
Now, I think everyone in this room and beyond can agree that doing so is the only way to truly help us. ”
It was clear, from the attack, that Arwyn had used Bahmet and gifted the Witch Hunters access to power that shouldn’t belong to them.
The tables had turned. It was a hard pill to swallow, considering I’d thought he had warned me about his father’s actions.
Even after everything, I’d trusted him. Look what happened.
For all I knew, Arwyn lied to me in that strange childish bedroom just to continue getting the upper hand against us.
He was, and forever would be, my enemy.
It really was a hard pill to swallow, but I’d gulp it down until my throat bled, if that was what it took.
“Romy has told me that your—our Gifts are weakening,” I said, almost admitting that my own Gift was still as strong as it had ever been.
In fact, anyone watching the battle outside the White Tower would’ve seen me hold up a pilotless helicopter with my telekinesis alone.
“Instead of grieving over a loss of demonic power, perhaps you should take this for what it is.”
“And what is it?” Kai asked, eyes narrowing in on me.
“A fresh start, a new beginning. The denouncement of Bahmet for another chance to connect with what made us witches in the first place. For years now we have not been anything remotely close to the title we give ourselves. We’ve been foot soldiers for a demon, puppets with power that should not have belonged to us.
This is the chance to return to our origins… to Hekate.”
Kai stood up, slowly this time. The witches around him stumbled back a step.
He walked around the table, coming to stop before me.
Romy edged closer, but a wave of my hand told her to wait.
I could handle this powerless witch, and she knew it.
Although I got the impression she would’ve liked the chance to go up against him herself.