Chapter 10 Hector
HECTOR
It turned out the Coven had been preparing the ‘doomsday’ honeycomb of tunnels beneath London for years.
Every Grand High since London was claimed as the hot spot for witches had worked on making a safe place for if the world ever failed them and pyres were built again.
Which, as it so happened, was exactly what the news reporter was relaying on the single television in the large mess-hall type room.
Barely twenty-four hours had passed, and Romy had seen to as many of my wounds as her Gift allowed. All that was left was the slight crook in my broken nose, and the dull throbbing ache that spread across my face like a mask whenever I breathed.
I almost enjoyed the pain; it gave me something else to think about rather than Arwyn and the inevitable end all of witch-kind faced.
I’d slept, and ‘slept’ is actually a rather generous way to describe the matter of hours of on and off sleep I found in our private rooms. Again, private room might paint a picture of a lavish apartment, when in reality it was a narrow slip with a lockable door, two metal cots and a single silver toilet bowl.
It was more of a prison than a home. Then again, I didn’t plan to stick around long enough to give it any other name but a ‘brief stopping ground’.
Romy leaned over her tray of half-eaten crackers, ominous yellow cheese and a lump of displeasing, grey-coloured oats that the dedicated cook had called breakfast. Her eyes were glued to the flat-screen that hung on the far wall.
The mess hall was so quiet a pin drop could’ve been heard.
“For the love of Hekate, please tell me I’m not seeing what I’m seeing,” Romy stammered as her mug of black coffee heated her two hands. “Tell me this is all some fucked-up dream and I’m going to wake up from it any second.”
I’d lost all appetite the moment the TV showed scenes of the ruined White Tower, but more notably the seven tall pyres that had been built outside it. What was worse, Father Tomin was being interviewed in front of them, a proud, beaming smile creased across his punch-worthy face.
I gripped my knife and fork so hard the metal left lines in my palm.
“I’ll fucking kill him,” was all I managed in response.
“I like this side to you, witchling.” Emon stirred from his slumber, tightening scales around my forearm. “You seem to have an impressive bite, but I am yet to see it in practice.”
“Quiet,” I hissed at the demon, whilst another dark energy brewed in my gut.
“Antsy today, are we?”
If there wasn’t the constant threat of being bitten by a viper, I would’ve grabbed Emon, ripped him from my arm, and thrown him into the nearest oven. But alas, as the TV silently played the news, I knew what I’d need him for eventually.
“Someone turn on the sound,” Romy commanded, but the room didn’t respond. They, like us, were glued to the screen, watching in horror as the literal fifteen hundreds played out on a coloured screen.
Footsteps sounded from outside the mess hall. They echoed around me, courtesy of the white-tiled walls and curved ceilings that made up the maze of tunnels. I didn’t need to look and find out who had arrived, when a grating voice rose over the hushed crowd.
“You heard Romy, someone turn the bastard sound on. Now!”
I hadn’t seen Kai since last night when he had personally showed us—even though I got the impression he did it as a show for Romy—to our rooms. I’d tried to probe Romy on their past only once again, and accepted that her silence screamed loud in regard to her want to keep something private.
And who was I to push when I kept so many secrets of my own?
There was the sound of rushed feet, followed by the static buzz of the television. As the volume was turned on, Father Tomin’s dreadful cadence filled the mess hall, resounding over like it was some feverish nightmare.
We all listened.
“…they have been lying wait in the shadows for generations, and have finally been forced to show the light. Yesterday’s attack was only the beginning of the war they have been preparing for.
It is important we, as a nation united, act before they get a chance for anymore destruction and death.
” His bright eyes—Arwyn’s eyes—looked through the camera as if fixed directly upon me.
Tomin was dressed in what looked like military attire, except his clothes were made from black leathers, a large white cross imprinted over his heart which he conveniently touched every now and then.
“I understand that your view of the world has likely been turned upside down by the terror witch-kind have imposed, but I can assure you that you have nothing to worry about. We have been prepared to protect you. We have been working since the old days to ensure a peaceful era, and finally we have the means to go against those who would want to bring darkness across this world. Yesterday was the beginning of their damnation, and today will be the spark that kindles their demise by our hands.”
“Bastard,” I muttered beneath my breath, unaware how visibly I shook on my seat.
Tomin stepped to the side so the camera focused on the seven pyres.
He swept a hand behind him, fingers steady as he introduced his next horror.
“The world will watch today what happens when evil shows its face. Punishment. Exodus 22:18 says ‘You shall not permit a witch to live’. We are but God’s faithful warriors against the evil underbelly of the world.
Watch on as we show you how we bring his burning light to begin cleansing those who turned to the shadows. ”
I couldn’t listen to another word. My knuckles paled against the table, metal shivering as my Gift encased it.
Emon’s joyous laugh filled my skull, drowning out whatever Tomin spouted next. There was no calming me down, not a single thing a person could say as I looked in the enlarged eyes of the man who led to the death of my parents, the poisoning of his son, and the ruin of the world.
It took no effort at all for the large table to be ripped from beneath me. By the angered force of my Gift, it shot across the mess hall, smashing into the television where it hung.
The screen shattered, raining tempered glass down upon those nearest to it. The unleashed explosion of my power wedged the table, not just into the television, but speared it into the wall beyond. A metal prang cut across the shocked silence, before every eye settled on me.
“Hector Briar,” Kai called out, although it sounded as if he spoke to me through a body of water.
My heartbeat filled my ears, and as I pinched my eyes closed all I could see was Father Tomin’s face imprinted in the dark, smiling with white teeth and hateful eyes.
“I think it’s best you follow me out this room before anyone gets hurt. Don’t you?”
I didn’t move—couldn’t even if I wanted to.
“No,” I spat, unsure if I spoke to Kai or the phantom of my enemy in the dark of my mind. “I’m not running from this.”
Slow steps came from behind me. Emon rose his speared head up and hissed, flashing fangs at Kai’s approach. The shadows shivered as that dark shard of power inside of me heeded the call, readying to break free once again.
I almost let it, until a hand rested on my shoulder, grounding me.
“I understand your reaction,” Kai said, voice soft as a whisper of wind. “Believe me, I do. What I’d give to wipe that smug grin from that twat’s face. But I only implore you to refrain from anymore use of your Gift.”
I spun on Kai, standing until we were eye to eye.
“If you tell me to sit back and not act, I won’t listen.
I won’t just hide here whilst our enemy sets to burn innocent people he is framing for his own actions.
Action. You blamed this on me not but twenty-four hours ago… and I agree. It’s my issue to fix.”
Kai didn’t flinch from me, not even as my rushed speech sent spittle flying over his face. He let me finish before he replied. “I’m not going to argue that point with you, Hector. In fact, I’m going to ask for your help. Or offer mine.”
“What?”
Romy stood up. “Come again?”
I was aware that Kai lifted his eyes over my shoulder to Romy, who was stewing in the same emotions that raced through me.
“I had my suspicions, but it would seem you are the only witch left with a powerful Gift, and knowledge of the old magics. There’s no one else I can rely on to stand up to our enemies.
Desperate times call for…” Kai looked me up and down.
“Desperate measures. So, are you going to follow me, and plan to stop Father Tomin’s plans from succeeding later today?
Or would you prefer to unleash your power on more undeserving inanimate objects? ”
There was so much unspent energy beneath my skin it was a miracle the room hadn’t torn itself apart from my will alone.
“Let’s get moving then,” I said, already making for the exit.
“Woah, boys. Hold on a hot minute. I’m all for going up against the Witch Hunters, but don’t you think that is what Tomin is going to want?
He needs Hector—” Romy swallowed her next words, cleared her throat to give herself time to fix the line of thought, before exposing my dark secret.
“Hector’s a thorn in his side, proven over and over.
I personally think it is best we put some thought into our next move first. Anything we, as witches, do next will likely further Tomin’s campaign to paint us as the demons. ”
“What’s wrong with that?” Emon stirred, but of course Romy didn’t hear his response. “Does she not know that demons are but the best and most impressive creatures… far greater than measly little witches.”
I pulled my sleeve down over Emon, hoping the darkness would silence him.
“I say this with respect, Romy, but if we do not act immediately then we are going to allow for innocent witches to burn for the crime of simply existing,” Kai said, his brow furrowed with deep concern. “We have no choice but to act. Time is no longer a commodity we have.”