The Goddess's Chosen

Hunters

    The whole setting was beautiful. My mother truly did not skimp on anything for my ceremony, I was almost embarrassed. Most girls did not get such a grand ascension, most just got the candles and a black dress and that was it. But not me, not the high priestess’s daughter. My mother had twice as many candles as should be allowed, and lilac and green ivy growing all over. The cave itself was large and cavernous, with stone seating surrounding the altar, that was on a platform. My mother had the platform covered in lilac and ivy as well as everything else, but it was not gaudy. It was magical. Slowly, I made my way to the altar, occasionally waving back to the people that waved to me. On the altar there were many different items. Dead plants, soil, containers of salt water as well as fresh water, leaves, candles, a freshly dead mouse, and a light bulb. Nervously I approached the altar, as my mother began speaking. “My daughter, Cassandra Thea Green, has finally reached her ascension. Today is a momentous occasion as we welcome her and her powers as a fully-fledged witch.” Applause broke out as my mother spread her arms and smiled brightly. She always had a way with public speaking, and I do not think I could ever have the power in my voice as she does. “Cassandra, please, would you lead us in prayer to Hecate?” she asked, holding her hand out to me. s**t! I thought, I did not practice, what if I messed up. Oh well, here it goes. I nodded and took her hand. Still behind the altar, facing the crowd, I began the prayer, “Glory to you, O Hecate. Goddess who guards our opportunities. Queen of magic and circumstance, keyholder, beloved mother of witches. Hecate, guide me through blessed doors, shut those that might lead to my destruction. Hecate, she who holds the keys to the realms of time. Hecate, the goddess of wisdom and fate, who hears the whisper of prophecy. Goddess of mysteries, take my hand, o goddess. Put all your knowledge into my palm and let your magic flow through me.” No sooner had I finished the prayer did chaos ensue. Everything on the altar sprang to life, the dead plant came to life, the dirt formed a pillar, the water in both containers began swirling violently, the leaves began blowing wildly around me, the candles all ignited at once in an eerie purple, dancing flame. The mouse even jumped back up and ran away from all the craziness, and the light bulb shone brightly. My mother let go of my hand and backed away, eyes large and mouth agape, which seemed to be the theme, because every one of my coven had the same look on their faces. After all of the elements stopped swirling, chatter erupted from everyone all at once. “You are the prophesized one!” A woman I recognized to be one of the elders yelled from the side of the room. Then a loud bang and screaming. Everything happened so quickly I did not know how to react. “Grab the new witch!” a man's voice that I had never heard before yelled out. “RUN CASSANDRA!” My mother yelled. I stumbled backwards, not knowing what to do. Suddenly, someone grabbed my hand and started yanking me to a side chamber in the caves wall that was not there previously. I threw my free hand up and before I could knock them away, Clara whisper-yelled “it’s me, we need to get you out of here!” and I let her pull me into the opening. Once through the opening, the wall closed behind me. “What about my mother?!?” I yelled and tried to pull my hand back and run back to the wall where the opening was. “She told me to take you, those men were witch hunters, Cas, they want to kill you.” She sounded exasperated and tired. I ran along with her for a bit. “I cannot leave my mom, Clara!” I pleaded. She stopped running sand turned towards me. “Cas, I am sorry, but I think she was already hurt, otherwise I am sure she would be the one to have helped you escape. But she put me in charge of that and I will be damned if I let them take you, now move your ass!” she said and began pulling me with her again. I knew she was right, which is why I was so scared. I did not want to leave my mom, but I had read about my powers, and about the hunters that would kill the witch that possessed them. I could not let my mother’s sacrifice be in vain, and I know she would fight until the death, I just wish that she would be ok, though in my stomach I already knew that if she is not gone already, she would be soon. After about five minutes of running, we exited the cave, not too far from the actual entrance, which was strange, but witches had enchantments on everything, it was probably made to seem like a maze in case we were followed. “I need to get my bag.” I stated, finally pulling my hand from Clara’s iron grasp. “Cas...” I shook my head. “I need my bag, Clara, please.” I interrupted her. She groaned and stomped her foot, “Fine, but I am coming with you, you may be powerful, but you just got your powers, I can at least wrap them in vines if need be.” She said, knowing exactly why I wanted my bag. I had left my dad’s necklace in there, and the leather jacket was my mom's when she was a teenager and may very well be all I have left of her after tonight. As quietly as we could manage, we made our way to the tree where I stashed my bag before going into the cave. I could hear sounds of fighting ang wind howling and I knew that they were still battling, and as much as I wanted to go back in and fight, I would be of no use. Clara was right, I am new to my powers, I do not even know how to use them, I would just be a liability. Once I had my bag, we ran back towards our village, not taking the path in case more hunters were waiting. We slowed down about half way because Clara’s feet were raw and hurting, I did not notice that she no longer had on her heels, but as we were running, it made perfect sense. “Here...” I said and handed her my socks and boots that I was wearing earlier. “Thank you.” she said and put them on, hissing a little because her feet were cut up from the stones and twigs that littered the forest floor. We continued on, walking this time, listening to our surroundings, as we made our way back to the village. The closer we got, I smelled smoke. NO! I thought, or yelled, I honestly cannot tell. I saw flames rising towards the sky and the putrid stench of burning paint and hair filled my nostrils. I heard a thump and saw Clara fall to her knees. “Moms tree....” She whimpered. I looked to left where she was looking and saw her home and tree ablaze like the rest of the village. “Come on!” I pleaded and pulled her to her feet. “We need to get out of here, ok? Who has a car we can take?” Clara took a moment to think about my question. “Ava has that Porsche...” she offered. Good enough, I thought pulled her behind me towards Avas house. My heart broke when we came to her home, and I saw her lying in the grass. Her eyes still open and staring towards the skies as if begging Hecate to help us. “AVA!” I yelled and rushed beside her, touching every part I could hoping my powers would kick in and I could bring her back like that mouse had come back, but nothing worked. I still did not know how to access my powers. Please, Hecate, Goddess please! I pleaded with Hecate in my mind. Suddenly the wind picked up and I felt a warmth spreading from my chest, to my arms and down to my hands and watched in awe as they began glowing a dim purple. Slowly, the color came back to Ava’s face, and she lurched up with a gasp, coughing up blood. “What happened?” she questioned. “We can’t talk, we need to go.” I urged her to get up, but she shook her head, her black hair cascading into her face. “Not without Rachelle!” she said, tears streaming down her face. f**k me, I thought. “Where was she?” Clara asked. Ava shook her head, “I do not know, but I can feel her, she is still alive.” Ava said with her hand to her heart. I nodded. “Concentrate, where is she?” I asked. Ava closed her eyes, “in the hidden room in our cellar.” she jumped up, but swayed, still dizzy from having been dead, I’m guessing, I don’t know how this works. “Clara, go get Rachelle, we will start the car, ok?” I instructed Clara and she nodded and ran off to the cellar. Ava and Rachelle had always had a strange connection, maybe because they were twins, but I’m not sure. “Ava, where are the keys to your car?” I asked her, and she replied by pointing to the inferno that was her house. Well s**t. I thought. “I have an idea, let's go!” I grabbed her hand and pulled her to the Porsche Cayenne SUV sitting in her driveway. Come on powers, do your thing! I willed them to work, and the locks popped open. YES! I cheered mentally and opened the door. I got in and put my hand to the ignition and hoped my powers wouldn’t fail me again. Sure enough, the engine came to life. I sat in the driver's seat and waited for Clara and Rachelle to appear from the cellar. As they did, I leaned out of the car and waved them over. They rushed over, coughing due to smoke inhalation. I put the car in drive and pulled out of the driveway as I saw three hunters come out of the woods, holding crossbows. I peeled tires as I pulled out of the driveway and saw them pointing and running towards us through the rearview mirror. I saw one raise his crossbow and immediately get knocked aside by a large tree that Clara had sprouted from the ground as we were pulling away. With my eyes back on the road, we rounded a bend and sped off.