Chapter 9 Hector #2
“And how do you suggest we ‘reconnect’ with Hekate? She turned her back on us and let our ancestors burn on pyres, and drown in rivers, did she not?”
I ignored his jibe. It was worthless arguing such a nuanced point to someone who clearly couldn’t tie his own shoelaces up even if he was paid.
“I have ideas,” I replied, a smirk calling up at my lips at the pure shock upon Kai’s face. His nose was coated in freckles, so faint that I wouldn’t have noticed until he was up close. And those eyes, darkened by his dislike for me, were impressive as they housed four different shades of green.
“Don’t mock me,” Kai warned. “It’s been a long day. I’m really not in the mood.”
I reached between us and took his hand. Kai flinched, but I held firm. “Trust is important, Kai. I trust that you will not punish me as you desire, and you must trust me to show you the way to our success.”
“This is ridiculous,” Kai started, but Romy was beside him in a flash, guiding his hand back up into mine.
At her touch, he faltered.
“Please,” Romy pleaded, “just listen to Hector. If you can’t do it for the Coven, do it… for me.”
She whispered the last two words so only Kai and I could hear. Shocked as I was, I did notice that Kai paused, took in her request and then agreed.
“If you do anything to harm me, Hector, just know I still have a scrap left of my Gift. Enough to use against you.” Regardless of his warning, Kai let me take his hand.
His eyes glowed with a ring of cerulean as if in warning.
I wasn’t aware what his Gift was, but something about his demeanour told me to be wary of it.
“Water-witch,” I declared, keeping my voice loud so the room could hear. “That is helpful to know where I should begin.”
“Begin with what?” another witch called from the crowd, brow furrowed as they watched on. “What’s the meaning of this?”
“I might not have won the Witch Trials and re-claimed Bahmet for our control, but I did survive with knowledge that’s been lost to us for generations.
I don’t know why such knowledge was forgotten, but I’m pretty confident that Bahmet had something to do with it.
I have a way to make sure we all can protect ourselves against a world who will hate us for what has happened today.
We cannot and will not hide in the shadows like history wanted us to do.
Kai, don’t grieve the loss of Bahmet’s Gifts, when I can offer you something far greater. True power.”
Kai hesitated when I took my finger and drew the symbol for fire upon his upturned hand. The cerulean circlet around his iris glowed brighter, as the air sparked above his palm and a kindling of flame danced to life.
“What is this?” Kai gasped, drawing back as the fire continued to burn. His panic likely came from expecting my actions to cause him pain, but his skin didn’t singe or blister. Instead, as the fire spread across every slender finger, casting a warm glow from beneath him, he looked almost… pleased.
“Power,” I replied. “Old magic.”
Kai fisted his hand, and the flames extinguished. Smoke curled into the air, but the scent was of bonfires on a cold autumn night—pleasant and welcoming.
“I don’t understand,” he gasped, eyes still fixed to the sliver of dark smoke dancing from his skin.
I fished into the Witch Hunter’s bag at my feet, finding Eleanor’s grimoire laid at the top of the stuffed contents inside. My fingers trembled slightly, as if my body didn’t want me to give it up, but for them to trust me I had to give them a reason to.
Romy felt the same, as she laid a hand on my shoulder. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
I nodded, sweat trickling down my neck. “There is no other way. Anyways, I’ve practically memorised it now. I’ve learned as much as I can from it.”
Romy swallowed hard, and nodded.
I handed over the source of my knowledge to Kai, who still looked down at his once-burning hand in wonder.
“I’m surprised someone who evaded witch-kind for his life has access to a Book of Shadows,” he said, finally regarding what I offered him. “This is old… I haven’t seen one so well-kept.”
“This, although borrowed for a time, is not my grimoire.” My empty fingers tingled without the familiar brush of leather.
I fisted them, dropping hands to my sides and pinching my trousers just to give them something to do.
“It belonged to a witch called Eleanor Letcombe, who burned for the crime of witchcraft in 1563. Eleanor was the witch who made a deal with Bahmet to protect those who came after her, thus making her the last witch who practiced the old ways of magic. In that grimoire you will learn magic that you would never have believed possible. Rune-work, spells, conjuring of elements. This”—I pointed to the grimoire, almost grieving it as Kai skipped through pages—“is the key to our future. To our survival.”
Kai was silent as he flipped through the yellowed pages. Romy shared in my anticipation for an answer, practically buzzing at my side. When Kai broke out of the book’s secrets, he handed it over to an older woman with a nest of grey hair, who took it and also began to read the contents.
“If what you are saying is true, then we do have a chance to fight.” Kai wasn’t entirely pleased to admit it, I could tell from the pinch of his lips as he spoke.
But I felt a sense of success, like a tide had changed.
“But it will take time to train witches in the old ways. Not only that, but we are also scattered. What you see is the last of the Coven. Every witch outside of it will be watching the news, worried for their futures. It will take time to reach them, to pass this knowledge on…”
I could see where Kai was going with this, so I finished his sentence for him. “Time we do not have, right?”
Kai nodded. “Father Tomin has made his first move against us, and it was a powerful one. Whatever is going to happen next will be premeditated and likely prepared. Grimoire or not, we are forever going to be on the back foot. The Coven’s focus must be protecting witches that we can reach, we do not have the numbers or the strength to go against Tomin, especially not now. ”
Emon tightened around my arm, and it took effort not to shake him free. The pinch of his scales against my skin felt vile. “You’ll leave Tomin to me.”
Kai lifted a single brow at my comment. “It isn’t Tomin that I’m worried about. It is his son, Arwyn.”
A growl built in my throat at the mention of his name upon someone’s tongue. Not only that, but my chest also hurt. No, not my chest but the beating organ within—my traitorous heart. “Arwyn Hopkin is mine too. The Hopkin line will end and my name will be thanked for it. Got it?”
“Oh, I’m sure.” The bite in Kai’s comment burned through me. “Which leads me to my biggest issue. I don’t think you can be trusted to do what is necessary when it comes to Arwyn Hopkin. We have already learned that it was your… connection to the Witch Hunter that led to your failure.”
“It will not happen again,” I sneered.
“That isn’t a risk we can take, Hector.” Kai’s expression softened, and I almost believed his sincerity.
Having my weakness exposed in front of such a crowd of people didn’t piss me off as I expected. What angered me was the suggestion that I wasn’t strong enough to go against Arwyn. And I didn’t mean physical or magical strength.
Kai’s gaze traced my face, then looked to Romy.
“I think we all deserve a moment to see a healer, shower and rest after today’s attack.
Perhaps we can reconvene at a later time and discuss our next steps.
For now, my priority is finding out if we have a means to contact our fellow witches and make sure they are safe—not to mention those who couldn’t escape from the White Tower.
I’m under the impression that many have been taken into custody, and I must make sure they are freed and returned to us safely. ”
“But we still must—”
Kai silenced me with a look. “We? Hector, I appreciate your insight into old magic, and I can assure you we will look into it. But you are not a member of the Coven. What we do has little effect by you.”
“What about me then, Kai?” Romy asked, tongue lashing silver. “Am I still a respected member, or will you strip me of my authority because of my involvement with Hector? Because, as I see it, you need the numbers, now more than ever.”
I couldn’t explain it, but whatever lingered between Romy and Kai was painfully clear to me. It was even more obvious in the silence between them. The looks they shared.
“Romy, can we discuss this later? In private.” Kai’s voice softened whenever he spoke with her.
“You of all people will understand what I must ensure in the hours to come. Time is precious and if I do not act now, more witches may be rounded up. I will not, cannot, allow that to happen. Not on my watch.”
Romy conceded, backing away and taking my hand.
“I will see to Hector’s injuries first. Whilst my Gift persists I can also heal anyone else that requires it.
When I’m done, I will speak with you, Kai.
And please, before the authority expands your ego anymore than it already has, remember who put you in this position of control.
Also remember who has the authority to claim it back. ”
Kai paled, then bowed his head. “I remember very well, Romy.”
When he lifted his gaze again, it was to rest on me.
“Hector, I understand you have a way of working to your own wants, but please. Regardless of your history with the Coven, you are still a witch and that means you are our responsibility. Do not do anything in the hours to follow that will jeopardise yourself, or those around you.” He looked to Romy again, then turned his back.
“Oh, one more thing. Any unauthorised use of the demon you’ve claimed for yourself, we will see that as a threat and act as necessary. ”
“I hope that’s a promise,” Emon sang, delight drawing out his words. “I do enjoy a good time.”
“And just when I thought we were over the threats,” I added. “Believe me, I have no desire to do anything but send the demon back to the pits of hell where he slithered out from.”
“This is how you treat the prince who saved your life, twice may I remind you?” Emon’s voice grated on my soul whenever he spoke into my mind.
“And you forget that it was not me who came out of the void willingly, but you dragged me and commanded me. This is your fault, Hector, not mine. Perhaps you tell these witches what darkness awaits within you, or would you like me to tell them?”
“Enough,” I snapped aloud, to the confusion of the watching crowd.
Romy sprang into action, wrapping a hand around my waist and guiding me towards the low-arched stone doorway. “You really must’ve hit your head hard, Hector. I think it’s best I see to it before my Gift buggers off.”
I didn’t refuse her, because Romy was right. My entire body ached; every muscle sang with pain. As if that helicopter had actually crushed me—at least if it had I would’ve not had to deal with this shit storm.
“I trust you remember where the infirmary is, Romy?” Kai called after us.
Her response was blatant silence, as if she didn’t hear him, even though we both knew she did. Once we were out in the dark, damp-smelling tunnels, walking around ruined old tracks away from the room full of witches, I finally was brave enough to ask Romy a question she was likely expecting.
“So, are you going to tell me the history between you and Kai?”
Romy bristled, keeping her focus on the yawning dark mouth of the tunnels before us. “Shut up, Hector.”
“That bad?” I asked.
I could practically hear the roll of her eyes. “You have no idea.”