The Gentle Witch And Her Fierce Alpha

The Ritual

Xantha rushed through the forest, careful not to trip in her boots. Even sick her mother had demanded she be present and she scowled. It was getting harder to pretend that she liked the rituals, that she liked being one of them. When she was younger and easily manipulate, Xantha had taken part in the cruel rituals without a second thought, unaffected by the magic she wielded without a care.

But now she was older, 22 and four years older than poor Serena. She'd watched her sister grow up, unloved and demeaned by her sisters and mother. Serena never lost her smile or her kindness, Xantha marveled. She'd shown her family nothing but love no matter what. Slowly Xantha had begun to question everything. Why couldn't they use their magic and knowledge for good? Just because they possessed dark magic didn't mean it couldn't be helpful in some way.

Xantha also couldn't stomach the killing of innocent creatures as well as other races for their own purposes. The screams and pleading turned her stomach and haunted her in her dreams at night. Xantha wanted no part of any of this anymore, t.he only thing stopping her from leaving was Serena's situation. She couldn't leave her little sister behind to get killed or worse, her life force drained to keep her family young.

Stella met her at the normal space, her dark brown eyes looking her over in amusement. Xantha stared back, challenging her older sister to get out of her way. Stella was the oldest daughter of the family and her mother's favourite. Her long black hair drifted to her backside with random stripes of red, the result of a ritual gone wrong when she was younger. Stella rather liked it, making her look more like a dark witch than ever. She was clad only in a basic cloak, the ritual requiring them all to be skyclad.

"Guess you are not taking part" Stella said snootily as she flipped her hair back and moved to the side.

"Not feeling well" Xantha said evenly as she took in the circle of stones and her mother's coven sitting around it, waiting for the right time to start.

"Xantha" a voice screeched and she fought the urge to cover her ears and bolt, instead turning with a fake smile on her face.

"Mother" she greeted the woman storming up to her with a frown of displeasure on her face.

Her mother raised furious brown eyes at her, hands on her slim waist, hair tied in a messy plait. Her spells had kept her young for hundreds of years and she could be mistaken as Xantha and Stella's sister with the same dark hair and eye colours as they had, her skin pale and free from blemishes and wrinkles.

"Why aren't you dresses in a cloak" she snapped, waving her arms around with dismay.

"You know that when I'm sick my magic goes awry and can cause havoc" she protested "it would be foolish for me to take part in the ritual."

Her mother closed her eyes "I know" she admitted with a grimace, Xantha rejoicing at the thought she wouldn't be needed and hoping she would be sent home. Her hopes were soon dashed.

"We need thirteen witches to hold the circle" Isadora her mother said as Xantha gave a nervous gulp.

"What happened to the two you normally have as extras for this kind of thing?"

"They both were too sick with the flu to attend" Isadora cried dramatically as she looked at her daughter who was slowly realising what was about to happen.

"You will have to join the circle" Isadora said heavily, her cloak brushing the forest floor as she turned to stare at her coven with a smile.

"I don't think that's a good idea" Xantha said hastily but her mother waved her objections away.

"You can keep your dress on, it's not really necessary to be skyclad for this, we just like to be" Isadora said briefly "go sit in your usual spot. We will just have to hope your magic cooperates."

S**t thought Xantha. There was nothing wrong with her magic but she wasn't going to take part in the spell either. She was going to have to get creative if she didn't want to be found out.

Xantha staggered over to her part of the circle and flopped down with a heavy heart, scowling as she heard the other witches talking "this is gonna be so good"

"Bet they scream"

"I need my wrinkles to go"

"I wonder how long the sacrifice will last."

On and On they went as Xantha sat silently trying not to listen. Their voices were light, as though they were discussing pleasant topics like the weather rather than the actual fact they were about to kill someone. LL for the sake of staying young thought Xantha bitterly, ignoring her sisters cold smile across the circle as she smirked at Xantha. Slowly the full moon began to rise, the forest dark and the air chilly. Xantha shivered as one by one, members of the coven stood up and disrobed, standing completely naked as they waited.

Xantha was the last to rise, resolutely keeping her clothing on as she stared at the ground, feeling sick to her stomach. Isadora came striding in, her pale skin almost glowing as she stared at her coven with delight. "It is time" she intoned "to lend our power as we drain the life of our sacrifice and absorb their life force."

She clicked her fingers as four of the women strode off, returning with a struggling figure, clad in chains that the women clutched tightly in their hands. The sacrifice fought desperately, unable to see as they wrestled him to the centre of the circle, and tied him to the lone wooden pole in the middle. Xantha could hear muffled sounds from beneath the hood that covered their face and surmised that the poor thing had been gagged as well.

The witches returned to their posts as Isadora clapped her hands and walked forward. "Ladies" she trilled "our sacrifice for tonight."

She pulled the hood off with a flourish as the other witches gave a yell and whistled in excitement. A man stared at them, his green eyes filled with hatred as he glared at them. His brown hair was tied back in a long ponytail and his face was menacing to look at. His muscles strained beneath his simple black clothes and Xantha felt pity. From his smell she could tell he was a vampire, strong but helpless against dark magic. His straining at the chains, caused the witches to laugh and mock his attempts as Xantha looked away.

The chains would be spelled she knew, preventing the vampire from escaping. Isadora stood back and flung her hands up into the air "Let's begin" she shrilled.

Xantha cut another look at the man and froze, all the air rushing out of her lungs as she felt something strange pull at her. He was so beautiful, so regal and the urge to touch him overwhelming. What was this feeling? It was unlike anything she had felt before. She watched in shock as his head shot up and his green eyes met hers directly. The gag drifted from his mouth and she watched as he mouthed the words "help me" as she began to wrestle with her conscience.