Full Moon Bliss: a Heavan's End Kitchen Witch story

CHAPTER 2

**TRIGGER WARNING: THIS CHAPTER WILL CONTAIN ON PAGE TORTURE, OFF PAGE DEATH, NUDITY, AND RITUALS. I AM SORRY TO SAY, THIS IS THE STORY AS IT COMES TO ME. PLEASE TAKE YOUR OWN MENTAL HEALTH INTO CONSIDERATION BEFORE READING FURTHER. YOU ARE IMPORTANT, YOU ARE LOVED, YOU ARE SAFE. IF YOU HAVE READ THIS FAR AND YOU ARE STILL INTERESTED PLEASE ENJOY DAPHNE AND CALEB’S STORY**

Daphne led him through the back of the bakery to the stairs leading up to her office on the landing before her apartment. She motioned for him to sit in one of the chairs she had placed in the middle of the room around her work bench as she took the other. “Ok Mr. Weston, why did you come to me?”

“ Clearly you recognize the token.”

“Yes, Gran made sure I understood its importance, but that doesn’t explain why you are here and why me. That is meant for people who deal with aggressive magics, I don’t. I keep to myself, work my small spells, and sell my baked goods. I am not changing lives, or destroying fates. I live simply.” Daphne could feel her heart beating out of her chest. She didn’t do anything that powerful even if she had the ability to. Her Gran had made sure she knew that balance of everything and she knew how to keep that balance. For everything she asked for from the universe she gave it back. If she forged for spell ingredients from the forest she made sure to put something in its place. If she took water from the creek she always made sure to put and extra offering on her alter. She always did cleansing before and after she did anything with her craft. This didn’t make sense to her at all.

“This has to do with your potential, not what you have already done. Have you heard of a coven that calls on Balor?”

“No one has called on Balor for centuries. No one would be that dumb.”

“That isn’t correct. The coven has been in operation for centuries. It has just been underground.”

“Hold on, how do I know this is real? How do I know to trust you?”

Caleb pulled the coin out again, and handed it to her. “Channel your focus here. It will show you.”

Daphne took the coin in her hand and closed her eyes. As soon as she did, she felt the heat shoot up her arms and in the darkness of her closed eyes she started to see flashes of purple and bright red. Then she saw a clearing in the woods. Cloaked figures standing in a circle with a fire in the middle. Then a man stepped forward and pulled back the hood of his cloak. His face was masked in leather with rams’ horns affixed to the top and a single stone in the middle reflected the light from the fire. Soon the other people started to step closer to the fire and they also began to pull back their hoods. They began to chant an incantation that Daphne didn’t understand. As they chanted they began to remove the cloaks and their sky clad bodies shown in the moon light. Soon there was a scream and two people pulled a third person from the edge of the forest. A woman, around Daphne’s age, fought as she was pulled into the circle of chanting naked bodies. Her hair was matted with blood and tears streaked her cheeks as she screamed and pleaded with her captors. As they pulled her closer the first man stood in front of her and pulled head back by her hair. Her begging was falling on deaf ears. The man whispered something in her ear then he pulled out a knife and carved a set of runes into her chest through her clothes.

Daphne pulled herself out of the vision and dropped the coin onto the small table between her and Caleb. “She is gone isn’t she?”

“We found the remains after a local police force found the scene. They made it look like a bear attacked a camper, but one of the homicide detectives notified us when he noticed a rune that wasn’t completely destroyed. We did some investigating of our own and our seer saw this. She recreated the vision for you.”

“So this is real? Is this actually happening? That is impossible.”

“It unfortunately is possible and it is happening.”

“What does this have to do with me?”

“Your line stopped them before.”

“What do you mean?”

“You said it yourself, no one has called on Balor for centuries, do you know why?”

“Gran told me it was because another coven stepped up and stopped them. There was a battle between two very powerful witches and one banished the other to never be seen again. Then the rest of the coven were stripped of their powers to prevent them from finding their leader. Gran said the coven disappeared after that.”

“Did she tell you that the witch who fought for Balor had a student?”

Daphne could tell where this was going, “The student continued to work alone after their master was banished, didn’t they?”

“Yes, and their line has continued. Just like the other witch’s line, your line.”

“My line? You are telling me that my ancestor was the witch to battle the leader of the Balor coven?”

“Yes, that is why you are a target for this coven. I have been sent to help protect you and keep you and your coven safe.”

“My coven? It is just me. I told you I keep everything simple and balanced. There is no one else.” Daphne said with a start. She didn’t practice with anyone. If there was a spell she needed help with she just didn’t do it. There was nothing she needed that she couldn’t do on her own. She was actually very private about her craft considering how much she did for others.

“You don’t have a coven? You do all of your work solo?” Caleb’s face told her that he thought she was crazy.

“And why shouldn't I?” Daphne said with a defensive tone. After Gran passed, it had just been her. Her aunt and mother didn’t have the gift, and Matt not showing signs growing up, Daphne was taught to do things on her own. Everyone in her family did the basic stuff like protection rituals like simmer pots and burning sage, but no one else could actually do any real spells, that was all left to Daphne.

“I am surprised you haven’t taken on a student, or found others with the gift to practice with. This makes things different.” Caleb gave her a worn look. “Without other witches to help you, your powers can grow weaker, but the blood that was shed during the first battle has bound your line to the fight.”

“What is your part in all of this?”

“The order has been operating for centuries, we have helped protect innocent witches and mortals from people who want to go after them for their craft. We were created during the witch hunts in Europe during the fifteenth century. Innocent women were being tortured and killed for things they didn’t do, and innocent witches were in danger of being destroyed for their craft. Think of me as your personal secret service detail. I will be here to watch your back and help in every way I can.” Caleb’s eyes flashed with pride as he explained his ‘order’.

Daphne had been told about the order as a young witch, but Gran told her she would never have to worry about calling on them. ‘Just keep your craft simple and pure and you will never have to worry about them’ she had told Daphne.

“So what do you propose?”

“I will be around, if I get word from the order about anything that can affect you, I will let you know, I suggest you start looking at more ways to increase your powers, and part of that is taking a student, or ideally building a coven.”

“Well that is out, the only other person in my family that would have had the gift is my cousin, and he Gran never taught him the craft, and in case you didn’t notice, this is a tiny town, so the likelihood of another witch being here is slim to none, I can do some research and look into some spells to practice to help build my craft, but I don’t know how well that will work. What if they find me?”

“That is why I am here, I have been assigned to keep that from happening and if they do, I will help you hide.”

Before Daphne could protest, her phone buzzed and her watch flashed. Shoot Mrs. Blake’s pies, she was running late on the delivery. “Look, I know this is important, but I have a business to run. I have a few ideas on a ritual I can perform tonight with the full moon.”

“That is fine, but I would still feel more comfortable if I stayed close by. I have a room at the inn at the end of the block so I am not too far.”

“I don’t think that is necessary.”

“But I do.”

“I don’t think they will find me and attack me in broad daylight.”

“Still, I will stay close, and out of the way.”

“Suit yourself, I have pies to deliver to a women’s social.”

With that Daphne walked out of the office while she processed this information.