"I still can’t feel the link with Dorcas and I can’t help but think...." A lump caught in her throat and Lola found it hard to continue with the rest of her words, "I–I think Dorcas is dead, Ada." She finally said it out, a feeling of emptiness in her chest.
Lola was a witch and a mber of the Circle of Harmony coven which Dorcas belonged to – at least, "was" once an active partisan until she left. Lola had been asleep in bed when she was dragged to reality by a sharp pain in her chest that robbed the breath from her lungs.
She recalled the way hot tears slid down her face as she struggled to sit up, managing to control her breathing until the pain ebbed away and then there was that great loss inside of her. Terror gripped Lola hard as she was familiar with the sensation and it dawned on her that soone was gone.
A sister has died.
It wasn’t until monts later that she realized that her link with Dorcas was gone and the revelation hit her hard like a strike to the head. The Circle Of Harmony witches prided themselves on the fact that they looked out for one another. They are sisters. They are family. They are one.
To ensure intimacy with mbers of their coven, they were linked with one another so that if one of them died, they could feel the pain and be with their sister in her final mont. Thus Lola knew instinctively that one of them had died and it took her monts later to identify which of them.
Dorcas.
Although it has been almost a year since she last communicated with her, Lola was still reeling from the shock of her death. After Dorcas quit the coven to find what she terd "her own way", mbers of their coven cut off relations with her.
They ostracized Dorcas and as a witch, it was a big deal to be rejected by your coven. In one word, Dorcas eas on her own and had no other relation with the past coven unless they took her back or she joined a new coven. Hence, Lola was the only one who kept the link with Dorcas and was able to sense that she was gone.
Hence, she was here to relate to Ada, their head, of the tragedy that had befallen them, but judging from the way the woman had her back to her, Lola could tell that this was not going to be easy.
"Priest Ada, did you hear ?" She repeated once more in case the woman missed out on her words.
"I heard you perfectly well, Lola. I’m not deaf. " Ada finally turned to her with an austere face, her lips pressed firmly together.
Lola was a bit intimidated seeing her harsh features, however, she lifted her head high. This was for Dorcas. She had to do this for her sister.
"And?" She was eager for an answer.
"And what I don’t understand is how that concerns or this coven for that matter?" She told her gravelly.
But Lola looked at her with despair, "Head priest Ada, you don’t understand. I felt the bond and there was a lot of resentnt, bitterness, and anger. I don’t think sister Dorcas died a peaceful death. We must -"
"That’s enough!" Ada cut her off, raising her clenched fist as a gesture of silence and Lola did as commanded. There was nothing but silence in the room, however, tension filled the area, escalating when the woman began to step toward her.
Ada stepped in front of Lola, her gaze roving over her face for a mont, and said, "You kept the link."
Lola swallowed. She could not weasel out of this one and decided it was better to tell the truth anyway.
"Yes." She said.
Smack.
Lola’s face whipped to the side as Lola slapped her hard across the face.
"You dare to disobey my order and undermine my authority all these months?" Ada thundered, her eyes flashing.
Grievance and anger filled Lola because she believed she did not deserve the treatnt Ada ted out to her, however, she bit back a scathing comnt. This was for Dorcas anyway and no matter what happened, she must get justice for her sister.
"I didn’t an to disrespect you, priest Ada, however, Dorcas is one of us-"
"Was one of us," Ada corrected her sternly, watching the exhausted sigh that left her mouth.
As if realizing she had been harsh on the girl, Ada took a long breath, her features softening as she placed a hand on her shoulder to coax her, "I understand that you and Ada were close and you still hadn’t co to terms with her leaving the coven but that’s life, Lola. I have to set an example and can’t let others follow in her footsteps. We are a family and don’t abandon each other." She shrugged, "Moreover, she must have found a new coven by now, I’m sure they would do what’s needful."
Ada was so callous that a dry laughter tore from Lola’s lips. For the second ti - the first ti being when Dorcas was banished from the coven - she scorned, "Seriously? She chose another coven? With all due respect, head priest Ada, you knew how powerful Dorcas was...." enough to rival your power, Lola wanted to say but chose her words carefully considering she still needed her help," If Dorcas had joined another coven, we would have heard of her prowess now. "
But even with her carefully selected words, Ada was able to read between the lines and her expression turned grim.
Nonetheless, Lola continued, "We have to find her before the sun goes down else her magic is lost forever,"
Witches have different rites and it is believed they have to be buried within a day of death else they might miss the cycle of rebirth and their magic would not return to the land for the next generation to use.
"I tracked her down and I believe Dorcas is in the Fae realm right now. We can -"
"If she’s in the Fae realm, then I can’t help you," Ada rejected her request the instant she ntioned the Fae’s.
"W-what?"
"If Dorcas is indeed in the Fae realm, then she’s a dumb witch. Our kind is no longer welco in Fae land, not anymore, unless of course given a flashy invitation from the royal family. But I doubt that is the case, I would have personally received news of her death, as extended by the royal family. I bet she landed in trouble. "
"And so what?" Lola asked, her heart renting into two, "You are not going to claim the body of one of our own because you’re what? Scared of The Fae’s?" She said with disdain.
Ada yanked Lola forward by the bodice, a threatening spell ready for use at her fingertips, but she held herself back. She hissed in her face, "If I were you, I would mind the way you talk to before I fry you with my magic! I would not bring war to my coven all because of the mistakes of one unruly child, the Fae’s are not a race I would love to ss with, especially not for an ex-mber of this coven, "
She smiled with no kindness in her kindness," But of course, if you feel that I’m heartless and not suitable to be a leader, you can challenge my position and do whatever you want. Oh, you can’t. Why? You are not strong enough. Then I suggest you get in line or maybe, you’re welco to find her. However, don’t expect any support from or any mber of this coven." Ada concluded.
The blood drained from Lola’s face and she stepped back from the head priest wide-eyed. This was soone that she looked up to and yet she disappointed her in the worst way possible. However, her anger soon gave way to desperation and she begged her,
"Ada, please."
"I’m sorry," Ada told her with emotions in her eyes for a fleeting mont before her expression hardened and she turned her back to her once more.
Lola opened her mouth in a silent gasp, almost as if Ada punched a hole in her chest and ripped out her heart with that gesture. The anger returned once more, fiercer.
She began to cackle, finding this situation ridiculous while tears ran down the corners of her eyes. Lola clenched her fist and declared, "I would go to the Fae realm and find whoever killed Dorcas. I promise you, I will give her the revenge she deserves."
Lola hesitated for a mont, thinking that the head priest might change her mind at the last minute or at least say sothing to her. But when she made no such attempt, Lola scoffed and strode away.
This was a promise to Dorcas, that her death would not be in vain.
As soon as Lola retreated, Ada let out a shaky breath, stumbling on her feet, and held her desk for support. She rolled up her sleeve and stared down at the tattoo on her skin.
It was the sa link she chided Lola for having.
Ada shut her eyes, troubled, what was she going to do now?
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