Bewitching Waters

Chapter 2: Lineage

As Jackson descended the stairs, he had already decided what and how much he would tell his granddaughter. Really, there was only so much he knew to tell her anyway.

I'll tell her about her witch lineage and bloodline and her hunter lineage and bloodline... as for her father? It's not something I know to tell her... mulling his mind, as he hobbled down the last of the stairs.

It means I'll have to tell her the truth of that night... his eyes welled with sorrow and rage.

As Saorsie was behind him, she had no idea. She was still shook at there being a hidden doorway and passage behind the bookcase! Unlocked by the most unsuspecting and boring book of the lot!! Her breathing was quick, palms sweaty and her heart was racing!

What is all this?! How long has this been here? Has grandpa always been hiding such a big secret?! What is it? Is it related to my mum?

Her stomach churned with nerves and the anxiety bubbled inside her.

Every so many steps there was another torch. She noticed they seemed to light up in response to her grandpa's presence... but, how?

Soon, enough the spiraling staircase ended. Opening into a room that Saorsie could only describe as medieval.

A large fireplace lay at the back of the room, that was near enough, the size of the whole house above. In the fireplace was old cooking equipment. A medium sized cast iron pot lay still inside it and a larger and smaller were on a shelf to the right.

To the left were jars filled with herbs, liquids and other odd things. The herbs made sense, if it was old fashion but if the room was as old as it looked and the jars were unused for so long then the herbs would be mouldy or have deteriorated surely? The liquids on the other hand didn't seem good and they likely needed cleared out and thrown away.

Standing torches made from cast iron and silver lit up with fire, the same way the wall torches had in the staircase.

One of the walls was lined with guns made of iron and silver again. Some completely iron, some completely silver but their ages varied greatly! Soarsie couldn't help but think that this wall wouldn't look out of place in a museum.

Although she had never been to one, never having left the farm, she had seen pictures online of such places and it seemed to match.

On a middle shelf were a row of leather bound books. She could only see one at the side as it wasn't a full row, from that one alone she was intrigued.

It had a tan leather binding and cover. Intricate designs played around a large opaque stone in the centre, with 4 smaller stones of the same kind at each corner.

She felt herself pulled and gravitating towards the shelf and hadn't consciously realised it until she was standing, with her hand stretching out towards the book.

Saorsie would help her grandpa clean out this place and shelves later, but maybe these books could stay. She'd be happy do all of this after he explained whatever he needed to!

She couldn't fathom any of this. It didn't make sense to her, none of this did.

"That belonged to my Lilly." Jackson had been watching her this entire time. Standing at the other side of the room at the stone wall by a torch, with both his hands placed on top of his walking stick.

He wasn't sure what he had expected but it was clear enough to him, that something in her pulled Saorsie to that shelf.

As he said this, Saorsie snapped out of what felt like a daze and pulled her hand back. Turning her head to look at him. There were so many emotions and thoughts running through her head all at once and they came out of her mouth in the same way, "This was grandma's? Did mum have one too? What are all the others on this shelf?" There was a pang of empathy and for her perhaps understanding. It would make sense why he wouldnt have come down here after grandmas passing. It still didnt explain to her why any of this was down here, "Grandpa, I'm confused. What is all this? Why is any of this here?"

The old man took a deep breath before he began. "Yes, that Grimoire belonged to your grandma. She was quite a powerful and skilled grand witch in her time."

At this, Saorsie stayed silent, looking her grandpa up and down. Maybe he really was losing his mind with old age...? But then, why would any of this be here? Witches weren't real, they were in stories and TV shows and movies but they didn't actually exist... did they?

She wanted to say exactly that, grandpa, witches aren't real. However, at this moment the entire room seemed to make more and more sense. Countering any logical protest or thought she could fathom.

The way he said what he just said... Saorsie considered, her thoughts calming and coming back to her sensed, it was so matter-of-fact. The same way the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, or the same way that it snows in winter.

Jackson slowly began walking over to her. He could see her struggling with the information, "It might be a lot to process for you. I should have told you when you were younger, there never seemed a need and... this room holds their ghosts for me, you see." His stick tapping as he walked over with each step.

"You're of an old and strong line of witches that dates back centuries, Ravenwood. Grandma never took my name, instead I took hers. She led a coven that held a lot of influence it seemed and they also had issues with werewolves in particular... which is why they sought us Hunters out."

At this, his granddaughter did protest, "Witches? Werewolves? Hunters? Grandpa, now I think you've been watching too many movies."

Witches? That Saorsie could wrap her head around, that made some sense with the room she was in. Hunters and werewolves? This just seemed too far fetched.

"You were drawn to Lilly's Grimoire, I watched you connect to the books. You have Ravenwood blood in you and them and the knowledge within them, call to your blood." Jackson explained, stopping once he was at her side but continued looking at the books. "Your mother had her own Grimoire and while she was a witch, she was barely at high witch or grand witch level when she had you... you were her pride and joy. She loved you..." He trailed off somewhat, consumed by his thoughts again.

Saorsie could see his pain clear in his face and, while she wasn't sure if she believed any of this, helping her grandpa take his mind off something usually helped. She decided to bite a bit and ask some questions. "What exactly is a Grimoire? How do I become or begin being a witch, do I just fire up the caldron and say bubble, bubble toil and trouble?"

Jackson could tell she wasn't fully convinced, or taking this as seriously as he had hoped. "I don't know everything, but after watching Lilly train Heather I know enough to tell you what I do know. Remember, I am not a witch or from a witch lineage - my own knowledge is better explaining Hunters to you. I've thought much about how I would break this information down and explain to you what I know."

"In at least the Ravenwood lineage, each witch is tasked with maintaining her own grimoire, the training process I watched would be structured as follows:

1. **Initiation and Introduction**:

A young girl in the family would typically be introduced to the craft by a family member, such as her mother, aunt or grandmother. This initiation could involve storytelling, where the elder shares the family’s magical history, values, and explain more than I can, on the significance of the grimoire.

As your mother and grandmother are no longer with us, there is no one here to train you or even begin this process. However, you do have an aunt. Her name is Rose Ravenwood, your mothers older sister. She was part of your grandmother's coven, for all I know she may lead that coven now. However, since her death and your mother's... I'll go on to that later... I cannot find any way of contacting her or reaching out to the coven." He paused for a moment. Spikes of sorrow hit his heart, for he had tried and tried and no one ever reached back out to him.

Saorsie listened, interested, concerned and still in disbelief all at once.

"Getting back to the training process.

2. **Understanding the Grimoire**: This elder would guide the young witch in understanding how to create and personalise her own grimoire. Your grandmother loved quartz and was drawn intently to them and preferred a lighter cover for her book so that is the hide she chose to tan for it. As such, this personalisation included making a physical book, decorating it with symbols or charms, and establishing a personal connection to it. It seemed to be a fun and bonding exercise for Heather and Lilly but this was started when Heather was 10.

3. **Learning the Basics**: The foundational training would begin after that. Powers only manifest propery between 16 and 18 years old. No magic as such is considered worth while being before that. Instead it covers essential skills such as herbalism, the properties of crystals, and basics such as this. This would be hands-on, involving practical exercises where the young witch practices techniques under the supervision of her mentor. This was from when Heather and Rose were 10 until their 16th... Well, Rose was at her 18th and I believe your powers might begin manifesting then also.

4. **Documenting Experiences**: As any young witch learns, they are encouraged to document her experiences, especially anything magical, insights and then later on any of their own spells or abilities, in her grimoire. This process of writing seems to helps reinforce learning and personal reflection. In part, I hope that while I'm not a witch and have no further way of helping train you, that these Grimoires of witches past may help you to begin on your own. As a way of past witches still being able to train younger ones even after death. Now... this makes sense as to why Lilly kept each and refused to ever be rid of any! Hopefully my hunch is correct.

5. **Advanced Techniques**: Once a witches power has manifested and she has mastered the basics, the training would progress to more advanced magical practices, such as complex spells, charms, and rituals. This is always at the point of ability manifestation and never before. I'm not sure of the reasoning but if I know Lilly, it must have been a very good reason. The mentor would then be able and begin provide guidance on when and how to use these techniques responsibly.

6. **Divination and Connection to Spirits**: The training might also include lessons on divination methods (like tarot or scrying)," Jackson paused to turn and point at a large covered object, "Like your grandmas black mirror, and how to connect with supernatural entities. This seemed to be a way she contacted the coven and while I tried - it just never seemed to work of do anything for me. Its also a very advanced practice and it took Heather until she was 23 to get a hang of this. Further, the advanced training could involve guided rituals to invoke protection like wards, wisdom, or insight from spirits, I think it was from spirits .

7. **Family Traditions and Ethics**: The mentor would impart the ethical considerations of witchcraft, emphasising the importance of intention and responsibility in practicing magic. Family traditions, such as seasonal rituals or community gatherings, would also be shared.

8. **Encouragement of Individual Style**: As the young witch grows in confidence and skill, she would be encouraged to develop her unique practices and interpretations of magic, further personalising her grimoire. Some witches have abilities that others do not and some are rarer than others. Some can be learned, while others can be passed from bloodline to bloodline. If there was one for the Ravenwood family, it wasn't shared with me, however it may be in some of the other Grimoires." Jackson ran a hand over all of the Grimoires spines but not actually touching, just above them. "However, I'm not a Ravenwood or a witch and so the pages to me are all blank." He pulled his hand back to his walking stick.

9. **Mentorship Role**: Eventually, as she matures and refines her abilities, the young witch may take on the role of mentor herself, passing down her knowledge and experiences to the next generation, thus continuing the lineage.

This training process fosters a deep sense of connection to family heritage, personal empowerment, and responsibility within the magical community. At least that's what Lilly and then eventually Heather used to say to me."

There was a long, long silence after this. It was a lot to take in at once and especially for Saorsie. Yet, the more her grandpa spoke. The more convinced she was that perhaps she was indeed a witch. Maybe there was something in her that encouraged conviction but it was beginning to settle more that this might all be true.

"I have an aunt, where is she? Mum is dead, you said she left? There's a coven and what are Hunters?" Saorsie couldn't help blurt all of this out at once. There were so many questions.

It eased Jackson that she was taking this easier now and he secretly hoped that her powers manifesting were connecting her to her lineage in a way.

He began in reverse order, saving the hardest part of all of this conversation for last. Telling his granddaughter about that night.

"Hunters, I can explain far more about and far simpler. For as long as humans have existed, so to have other beasts and creatures: vampires, werewolves, mermaids... it's all true and real. All of the stories come from somewhere and we, my lineage at least. We are tasked with hunting them, at least the troublesome ones, and putting them down. I was tasked with killing witches by my sect until I met Lilly... until the witches explained they were not killing humans, but werewolves and so our two sects formed an alliance... and it helped that we fell in love and had a beautiful family. All of the weapons on that wall are for different beasts. Mostly werewolves and some for witches. My own great grandfather specialised in a sect for mermaids and sirens of the seas. His specialised harpoons are still up there."

Saorsie turned to look at the wall again, and indeed. There were 3 old harpoons 2 mostly made from wood and the last with a cast iron.

Jackson continued anyway. "As for your aunt, I don't know. Her and Heather fell out severely over your father, I don't know who he is and yes, I believe he's still alive. Ever since, Rose hasn't spoken to any of us... I don't even know if she's aware your mother has died."

"Yeah, about that. You told me my parents just left me with you..." Saorsie felt so much but there was betrayal sitting in her stomach and it felt like she was weighted to the ground by led.

"It happened the night after you were born. They came..." Jackson began telling his granddaughter everything about that night. Sparing nothing and admitting his failings.

She listened and listened and the storm of emotions swarming her continued as she did.

In the end, Jackson was in tears with his stick on the floor and his head in Saorsies shoulder, "I'm sorry." He sobbed. "I couldn't protect them, I'm sorry. I had to protect you. I only had you left... I had to protect you."

With her eyes focused on the wall of weapons, rage and revenge in her mind and only comfort in her heart for her grandfather she replied, "I know Grandpa, you did amazing. I'm here. You did your best."