Black Roses

Chapter Five - Iris

The Sticks and Stones shop smells of overpowering herbs and an overuse of burning oils. The shelves are lined with crystals of all shapes and colours. The one that stands out to Iris the most is the rough, oval shaped stone on its own. On the outside, it's grey in colour and appears completely unnoticeable compared to the others. Looking the same as any other ordinary stone found in the dirt, it's easily overlooked. But the inside, beneath the layer of grey, is a range of sparkling purple outbursts of crystals. The look of it captivates Iris enough to pull her fingers in the air to trace them across the pointed edges.

Miss Tate's voice removes Iris's attention from the crystal and across the room, "Careful with that one. You could lose a few toes, maybe even a tongue!"

"Really?"

"Of course not dear," Miss Tate laughs out, trying to spook Iris, "Come on, we have work to do."

Picking up her feet, Iris stands tall and strides over to Miss Tate, following her out the shops glass door, hearing the ding of the bell as it closes behind them. Just outside the shop, waits a group of people. A coven. This particular coven is made up of the local province leaders. All of them looking for answers from their High Priestess, Miss Tate.

Together, with Iris at the back of the crowd, they walk through the town and dive into the misty forest. Within the forests boarders, the coven gathers and undergoes their witchy business. Deep enough in so that no one can hear or see them but close enough that they are still within Rosenberg's boundaries. The meeting ground for the coven is marked by ancient markings from the original witch coven, protected by the ancestors. A ring of trees, all bearing the marks of those that came before, surrounds the safe grounds for all their business. Once they arrive and enter the ring, they can speak freely.

The leader of the closest province, Victor, has the first say. "It has been months since the first disappearance, and still nothing has been done. No action has been taken to stop this. Now we have dead bodies on our hands and no means of justice for our fallen elders. Something must be done. Before we too, are targets."

The surrounding provinces, including other covens apart from this towns, have had missing elders and those who have been found, have emerged dead. Miss Tate has given a lot of this information to Iris throughout the past few months. Still, she chooses to stand back and let the superiors take the lead, not wishing to overstep. The aim of attending these gatherings is to gain the covens trust and become a friend, not only to Miss Tate, but to all the surrounding witches. But the task has been deemed difficult. In the past, alliances between shifters and witches have been complicated – they've never had an alliance before. Iris wishes to change that.

Victor returns to his place in the circle, but remains angry, Iris can sense it. This superior is a lot angrier than the others, full of a rage the others are lacking. Of all the superior witches, Iris is most cautious of Victor. Watching him these last couple of visits, she finds herself glad he isn’t a hound. There is something in his eyes that she simply doesn’t trust but has never been able to identify what it is exactly – a glimpse of evil perhaps.

Next to step forward is Jessie, the superior from the province to have the latest murder. Her mother was the elder, and with her death, Jessie has been declared superior. "Victor is right. We can no longer sit and wait for the next corpse to be dropped on our doorsteps. Someone needs to investigate. The lower level witches of my province have discovered a lead, a day or two trip out of Rosenberg."

Miss Tate, as an elder and the coven's high priestess, is in charge of electing witches to provinces and determining who is capable of handling which tasks. This task is labelled high risk as so many members of the coven have been killed. Which is why Miss Tate has called upon her immortal friend.

Iris met Miss Tate years ago, back when she was merely a lower witch in a distant province. Iris was on the run, trying to hide from Katherine's hounds. She stumbled across a magic store, back then ‘Sticks and Stones’ was much smaller and was owned by the elder at the time. Without hesitation, Miss Tate let Iris in. No questions asked. All Miss Tate saw was a distressed girl, trying to get away from something. Opening up the door for her, she let Iris hide, masking her scent with the herbs in the store, until it was safe to continue her journey. Ever since, they have been helping each other and asking questions later. Whether it be shifter related or witch related. Iris has never let Miss Tate down and vice versa. The two regularly drink tea and complain about their lives together. Lately, with the high number of witch deaths, the conversations have turned grave and urgent.

Now, it's Iris's turn to help her friend out. Miss Tate steps forward and declares, "I have brought a shifter to help us."

This is the first mention of Iris's presence and the coven doesn't seem to be taking the news well. The superiors all release a sigh of disappointment and doubt. None of them believe that any kind of shifter would like to willingly help the witches. Since anyone can remember, there has always been dangerous tension between the two anomalies.

Victor steps forward to protest, "Shifters are everything we stand against. They represent the abuse of our power, of these lands. It is a betrayal to our ancestors."

Putting her hand in the air, Miss Tate stops the remark and defends Iris and those like her, "Shifters did not betray those that came before. Only one human girl did. We should not hold the actions of one above an entire race. She can help. If you will not place your trust with her, place it with me."

The members of the circle look between each other, contemplating the offer. Each of them trying to determine whether or not they are desperate enough to ask for aid from an outsider. Jessie's fear of more loss, forces her out of the silence, "Will you help us, shifter?"

The inhuman manner of being called 'shifter' sends chills through Iris. She wasn't always a shifter. She was once human. A simple, common girl who had a life of ordinary circumstances, with a boring and innocent future mapped out. Iris is from a time where women didn't have power, or at least didn't display it publicly. She grew up forcing her true nature away, ignoring how deeply she longed for freedom and power. In the 12th century, Iris idolized those who did possess the ability to hold themselves up without a man's hand. Although she paid little attention to the things she did not understand, Iris still saw greatness and modelled her life after the women who gave their lives for empowerment and righteous equality.

Looking back on the small, seemingly insignificant human existence she had, she remembers witches, even in her time. Great women who shone with power and independence, despite the laws. There was one witch in particular that rages through her mind. Millicent.

When Iris was growing up, she had a friend and her name was Millicent. The two girls did everything together for many years. The black haired, short girl from across the road was always there when Iris needed her. Millicent was strong-willed and determined to force the world to see women as people. She believed and envisioned a world with equals. Her light and guidance helped Iris transform from an obedient, accepting girl to an empowered force to be reckoned with. Millicent showed Iris a side of herself that she wasn't aware existed.

After Iris was turned, she feared the consequences of telling her best friend, worried she'd lose her. Not sure if equality meant the supernaturally altered as well. Little did Iris know, Millicent already discovered the truth. Even kept a secret or two of her own. The Blackwood's didn't have much time for escape once they were infected. Almost immediately, Katherine was hunting them. Iris was the first to be found, trying to make it to Millicent. Before Katherine could capture her, Millicent stepped in front, and used her powers to intercept Katherine's. The gesture not only revealed Millicent's witch heritage to Iris, but also to Katherine. Wanting as much power as she could get her hands on, Katherine sucked the life from the young witches body, killing her and absorbing her powers all at the same time. With her dying breath, Millicent looked to Iris and told her to run. The only reason Iris survived Katherine's wrath that first, horrid day as a shifter, was because of Millicent.

The sacrifice and loss of her dear friend fuels Iris's motivation and determination to rid the town of Katherine and her evil minions. The things Millicent taught her about individuality and enriching potential, helps keep Iris focused. Feeling a deep and untouched connection to all witches – knowing that somewhere, somehow, Millicent is an ancestor, helping them all from up above – helps Iris make decisions like this one. Without hesitating, Iris looks to Jessie with her answer, "My name is Iris, and I'll do whatever it takes to bring justice to those who were lost. I swear on my own ancestors, my loyalties lie with this circle."

"What about her shifter family? The Blackwood name has quite the reputation…" Victor voices his skepticism loudly while dismissing Iris's presence and talking over her to Miss Tate.

"They are my blood. They come with the help. But they will not bring harm to this coven. They shall protect all witches as I do."

Victor steps forward to force his doubt in the conversation but Jessie reaches her arm across his chest and stops him, "We accept your help. Thank you for your contribution."

The rage buried in Victor’s actions wants to be released, Iris can smell it in the pores of his skin. But he doesn't say another word. Either do the other circle members. While they may have their reservation about the shifter kind, they're desperate for the help and are willing to let Miss Tate bring Iris into the mission.

The circle disperses, leaving Miss Tate and Iris alone amongst the marked trees. Throughout her lifetime, Iris has come across many markings, like those etched into the bark.

"What does this mean?" Iris stands in the centre and spins, pointing at each of the trees.

"Each tree represents each of the bloodlines. Each superior elder and their families all started with thirteen people. The first coven, it was born within this circle. Nowadays, the circle is just a pretentious name for an elite group of snobby superiors who think they rule the world."

"Aren't you the leader of them all?"

"Exactly."

They walk back to Sticks and Stones for a cup of tea before Iris leaves for the manor. Using natural herbs and flowers, Miss Tate makes the sweetest tea, delicious for everyone who drinks it. No one has ever disliked the tea. Miss Tate calls it her magic touch but Iris simply believes she laces it with some form of addictive drug.

Sitting on the small, metal garden table with the matching pair of metal chairs, Iris drinks her tea while Miss Tate worries. With her shifter senses tingling, she looks over her cup and stares at her friend as she sips the warm liquid. Eventually, Miss Tate gives in, "Are you sure you're up for this mission? It's a lot to ask of someone, especially since you aren't a witch."

Placing the floral tea cup back on its saucer, Iris enforces her assurance, "Of course I'm sure. I may not be a witch, but I am a friend. And I refuse to watch you lose members, especially if I know I can help."

"But…"

"No. No more discussing it, no more checking if I'm okay. I'm going ahead with it, and that's final. I'm an immortal killer, I think I can handle myself."

Miss Tate raises her eyebrows and lifts her cup to her cracked, pale lips. Hiding behind the cup, she murmurs to herself, "Whatever you say you grumpy old fart."

"You know I can hear you…"

"Exactly."

The women smile at each other and finish their tea. While Iris longs for another cup, she knows she must resist, "Next time," she promises. For now, she must return to the manor and recruit some of her siblings to aid her in the witches mission. Piece of cake, she thinks to herself before remembering the family she was…blessed with – just so happen to be a group of immortal, stubborn children.