The Cost of Betrayal

Chapter Fourteen

     "Gamma, I'm home!" Maura called out, taking off her coat and hanging it in the closet. 

    Cicily smiled as she greeted her granddaughter, "How was school?" 

    Maura sighed heavily as she sat down beside her grandmother at the dining table. "School was great." 

    Cicily poured tea for both of them, "I can hear that but," she said knowingly. She placed a sugar cube in her teacup and waited for Maura to continue. 

    "Do you remember that boy I told you about earlier in the year?" 

    Cicily nodded, "Yes, dear, why?" 

    "I want to get to know him better, but knowing that I have to do well in school and," she put her tea down and stared into the cup. She lifted her head, "My destiny and all. I feel guilty wanting to." 

    Cicily smiled warmly at her granddaughter, "My dear, your destiny is not only this coven but what you make it. You've been chosen to save us, from goddess only knows what. But I feel like maybe, he is part of that destiny." Cicily nearly choked on her words but got them out. She only wanted Maura safe and happy. She hoped that by encouraging her to follow this it kept her that way. She patted Maura on the hand, "If you feel that unsure, then tonight. Meditate to Hecate, she'll guide you." 

    Maura's expression changed, "Do you think that she was the one that came to me in my dream?" 

    Cicily smile hid her worry, "That may be." 

    Maura felt better after her tea and talking with her gamma. She stood up and kissed her cheek, "I knew I could talk to you." 

    Cicily returned her granddaughter's affection and watched as she walked down the hall to her bedroom. "Oh, Hecate, help me," she prayed once Maura left the room. 

    **********    

    Damara smiled as Birsha walked into the room, "Hello, Birsha, dear. How was school?" She asked as she handed her son a snack. 

    Birsha smiled at his mother, he always felt a tinge of guilt when he left things out of their conversations. But he didn't want his mother to know what he had been up to, especially with Chastity. What was the old saying, some things are better left unsaid? "It was great. Mom." He picked up the sugar cookie she had made and took a bite. He loved her sugar cookies. especially when she uses those chocolate candies. "I was going to hand out with a few of my friends tonight if that's okay?"  He asked, it wasn't like he needed permission to go out, on that his parents were pretty lenient as long as he told them where he was going and what he was doing. 

    Damara's smile broadened, she loved hearing about her son's good days. "Well, we'll be putting up our Saturnalia tree, in the morning. So don't hang out with your friends too late today, okay?" 

    Birsha nodded and snatched another cookie from his mother's plate, easily dodging her playful swat. 

    "You better not spoil your appetite! I'm making chicken and dumplings for dinner." she scolded him gently.

    "Mmmm, my favorite," he rubbed his belly as he walked away from his mother. 

    Damara shook her head as she watched him lovingly walk away. She was thankful that whoever that woman was that had appeared on his birthday hadn't returned. She couldn't bear the thought of losing him. She wanted nothing more than to see him happy and hand-fastened to the right girl. She shook her head, "First, we get him graduated," she mumbled to herself. 

    Ferrox came in the front door just then, shaking off the flakes of snow. "It's starting to snow harder out there!" He exclaimed. "We haven't had a storm like this in years," he shook his head worriedly, "This is a bad sign of things to come." 

    Damara greeted her husband with a kiss, "Oh, no. Don't say that," she worried. 

    Ferrox looked at his wife, "When the snow lays deep, there's bound to be things buried." 

    Damara bit her cheek and tried not to look too worried, "Well, let's not fret that now. I'm making chicken and dumplings for dinner tonight." 

    Ferrox rubbed his stomach in anticipation, "Mmm, I love your cooking." He leaned in and kissed her, "Almost as much as I love you." 

    Damara blushed, "I love you, too." 

    Ferrox looked around, "Where's Birsha? Did he make it home from school alright?" 

    Damara nodded, "Oh, yeah. He's in his room. He said he wanted to go out tonight, but I don't think that's such a good idea now." She looked out the window at the large flakes of snow falling. 

    Ferrox agreed, "You're right, we'll tell him at dinner. This weather is just too bad to be out and about in." 

    "Birsha, come down and set the table," Damara called out a little while later. 

    Birsha sauntered out of his room, a big smile on his face. He was going out after dinner and he couldn't wait. Even if his mind was on Maura's dark features, he would have to settle for the easy blonde. 

    Damara set the steamy pot of creamy chicken and dumplings in the middle of the table next to a fresh-baked loaf of bread. The smells of the herbs and yeast made all of their stomachs growl in anticipation. 

    Once everyone had a bowl and had settled down to eat, Ferrox told Birsha he wasn't going to be able to go out tonight. 

    Birsha protested, "This isn't fair! You've never cared before! Why now?" 

    Ferrox looked at Birsha drily, "It's snowing too hard for you to leave. It's dangerous," his words and tone left no room for argument, but Birsha was going to anyway. 

    "No! I'm going out! There's nothing you can do to stop me!" Birsha stood from the table quickly, his chair tipping over in the process. 

    "Birsha," Damara called. She was worried, this attitude was nothing like her son's. 

    Birsha turned to his mother, "Are you going to take his side too?" he snapped. 

    Damara looked stunned, he had never spoken to her this way before, "What has gotten over you?" she asked, placing a gentle hand on his arm. 

    "I will be going out, and seeing my friends," he jerked his arm out from Damara's touch. He stormed away from his parents he didn't care. He was leaving to see them. He would do what he needed to and be back. 

    Ferrox stepped between Birsha and the door, "Young man, you will not be leaving. It's for your own safety. Look at it out there!" 

    Birsha scoffed, "This is nothing, I'll be back." He waved his hand and his father moved effortlessly from his path, surprising them all.  Ferrox landed across the room on the sofa, his fall was gentle. Ferrox and Damara were stunned by Birsha's actions. Birsha walked out the door, the heavy wood shutting on his way out.     

    Damara rushed to Ferrox, "Are you alright?" she asked checking him for injuries. 

    Ferrox nodded, still stunned by Birsha's outburst. "Yes, but we need to go to the council. Something is changing in him." 

    *******

    Birsha stormed out of the house and walked down the pathway, "How dare they try to stop me," he growled. The winds and snow did not bother him in his temper tantrum. 

    He made his way to Chastity's house, where, for the first time ever, he treated her roughly. He didn't care that he left her crying and in pain. He needed to feel better and being cruel to her made him feel better for some reason. 

    Hours later, back home, as lay in bed. His mind went over his actions. He would apologize to his parents in the morning.