The Cost of Betrayal

Chapter Seven

    Birsha settled into his bed that night and quickly fell asleep. It had been an interesting day and he was excited for the next. He began to dream. 

    "Birsha," a soft voice called. She had come to him every year on his birthday. She was always silent, and never stayed long. She didn't want anyone to find out she had managed to find this gate. If they did, she would lose her chance to see her son. She couldn't believe how grown he looked. She couldn't stop herself this time. She had to speak to him. 

    "Hmm?" he asked. His eyes opened to see a woman with the same hair and eyes as him. 

    "Birsha, my son, how you have grown!" The woman lamented. 

    "Who are you?" 

    The woman smiled, "I am nothing but the faintest memory for you. I see that they have taken great care of you. You are destined for great things, do not forget that." She reached out to touch her son, but he pulled back. 

    Birsha repeated his question, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. When he pulled away he saw the sadness that filled her eyes, "I'm sorry, but should I know you?" 

    The mage smiled sadly, "Not in this lifetime, no. Just know that you are destined to be great. Keep the amulet with you. It will keep you safe and protect you." 

    "So I am going to be wealthy? And have everything I ever wanted?" 

    The mage nodded, "Yes, Birsha, you will have everything you want and more. All you have to do is use your powers." 

    Birsha tilted his head, "I have more than one?" 

    The mage nodded, "Yes, and they will unlock as your teaching increases." 

    "What about the girl?" 

    The mage looked confused, "What girl?" 

    "The girl I met today." 

    The mage smiled, "You were gifted free will. Court her, make her yours." 

    Birsha nodded a smile playing on his lips as he thought of Maura. "I will." 

    The mage looked around as if she could hear someone calling her, "I have to go, remember. You are destined for great things!" She faded from Birsha's view before he could say anything else to the mysterious woman. Who was she to him that she came to him like that? How did she look so much like him when his parents were literally right down the hall? He shot up in his bed, sweat pouring down his face, his heart beating rapidly. He scrambled to write down everything he remembered from that dream, he would take a look at it once he was more awake. 

    The next morning he got up late and left the notebook with his dream notes open on his bedside table. He rushed to brush his teeth and get dressed. He barely made it out the door with a blueberry muffin shoved in his hand from his mother. She shook her head and smiled as he rushed off to school. 

    "This is what I get for letting him do it on his own," she shut the door gently and went to his room. She was certain that he hadn't made his bed. She tidied his room as she walked in, tossing dirty clothes into the basket by the door. She approached his bed and noticed the notebook. She was worried it was one for his class, so she picked it up and skimmed the notes. She sat on the bed as reality washed over her. His true mother reached out to him last night in a dream. Damara closed the notebook, this woman was powerful to have been able to do that. If she wanted to take her son back they had no way to stop that. They weren't well-to-do or even that powerful of witches, there was no way to stop her from taking her son back. 

    Damara worried all day as she went about her work around the house and gardens, the winter was coming and she would need to be putting up the plants and prepare for the cold that was coming. 

    ************

    The Fates watched in surprise as the mage appeared in Birsha's room. 

    Lachesis cursed, "How in the shadowlands did she manage to get to him?" 

    Atropos shrugged, "I have no idea! This could spell trouble!" 

    Clotho was just as shocked as her sisters, "She was powerful enough to send him to a different timeline. Did you really believe that she couldn't do this?" They would have to speak to Hades about this. If one witch was able to do this then others were sure to follow.  She was just about to say something when Hecate showed up. 

    The fiery goddess crossed her arms, "She found the damn door." She was frustrated that this mage has figured out how to interfere even after she was dead. 

    The Fates nodded and pointed at their watching pool, "You don't say?" Lachesis asked, not bothering to hide the sarcasm in her voice. 

    "What are we going to do about it?" 

    Clotho looked at Hecate, "Us? This was your doing, young lady. You wanted Atlantis gone so you could save this coven, for whatever reason. And that was what we did." 

    Hecate scowled, "How was supposed to know that she would do this? Let alone send him there?" 

    Atropos smirked, "This is what you get for being selfish yourself. Now, I suggest you fix this." 

    Hecate stomped her foot in frustration, "I'm going to talk to grandfather." 

    The Fates shrugged their shoulders, at this point, they didn't care. Chronos couldn't do anything either. 

    Hecate stormed off, she would see her grandfather and he would help her. He always did. She walked down the hall to her grandfather's chambers. 

    "Grandfather," she greeted as she kissed him on the cheek. 

    The old man turned to Hecate and smiled, "Hello, my sweetness. What can I do for you?' 

    Hecate told him about the mage finding the door. He looked confused, "Wait, you mean to tell me that Atlantis is your fault?" 

    Hecate looked down sheepishly, she hadn't told him that. "Uh, well, maybe. I needed this coven!" 

    Chronos looked at her in disappointment, "You do realize that the only reason you needed this coven was if this happened! That mage was supposed to raise her son, because of how powerful he is." 

    Hecate looked at her grandfather, "Well, can't we do something?" 

    "The Fates already started. They paired him with one of the girls from that coven. She's pretty powerful herself. So she'll be able to handle him." 

    Hecate swallowed nervously, "Which one did they pair him with?" 

    Chronos waved his hand over his staff and the crystal at the top cleared its smokey haze. "This young lady, right here." 

    At the sight of the raven-haired beauty, Hecate cursed loudly. "They have to change this!" 

    "Why?" 

    "Because she's the one that's to save the coven! She shouldn't be paired with anyone!!" 

    Chronos shrugged, "What's done is done. You know that once there is a fated pair, the only to remove it is to reject it." 

    She shook her head, "This going to be so hard."