The Cost of Betrayal

Chapter Eleven

    Gamma was sipping tea next to her current book, "Where Cruelty Lies," when Maura came down the stairs. 

    "My sweet dear," Gamma said looking up at her granddaughter, "Didn't you sleep well?" 

    Maura didn't bother to stifle her yawn, and shook her head, "No, Gamma, my dreams were terrible last night." 

    "What happened?" she asked as she poured her granddaughter a cup of tea and passed it to her. 

    Maura took the cup with a look of gratitude, "Gamma, this place was terrible! It was dark, smokey, and smelled of rotten eggs." 

    Gamma's brows furrowed, to her, this sounded like some level of hell. "Honey, why would have been in a place like that? You're such a good girl." 

    Maura shook her head, "I don't know, but there was a woman there. She was pleading with me to help her." 

    "Help her? How?"

    Maura shrugged her shoulders, "I'm not sure about exactly what. Only that I am to guide and help someone. I can not reject him." 

    "Reject?" Gamma asked. 

    Maura looked at the clock, she gasped at the time, "Gamma, I'm sorry. I have to get to school." She got up and hurriedly kissed her grandmother on the cheek and rushed out the door. 

    Gamma shook her head, she wasn't going to let this go. She was going to have to make a trip. Now. 

    **********

    Damara noticed a subtle change in her son as he walked towards the dining room table. She smiled at him, "Hello, Birsha. Sleep well?" He seemed more sure of himself, and that made her happy. She wanted nothing more than for him to be confident and the best at what he could be. 

    Birsha nodded, he sure had. Not only did he make the hundred dollars off those boys, but Chastity would be going out with him this evening. The boys had been eager to learn his power, and he was more than willing to show them. They caught on quickly, but could only go a little way before they reappeared. This was surprising to Birsha, as he was able to go so far so quickly. 

    His mind replayed the night before. 

    "Imagine what you want and then go for it," he said to the three witches in front of him. 

    The boys faded from sight, only to reappear a few feet away. Chastity didn't even so much as fade slightly, she pouted and crossed her arms petulantly. "This is harder than I thought." 

    Birsha chuckled, "Don't worry, we'll figure out what to do for you." He smirked at her, she returned the smirk and winked at him. 

    "Maybe I didn't go very far, because I have what I want." 

    He looked down into her eyes, "And what is that?" 

    "You." She stood on her tiptoes and pecked him on the cheek. She knew exactly what to say to get what she wanted. You can bet your bottom dollar she would do it too. 

    Birsha was surprised at her answer. He didn't know how to respond. This was the first time any female had shown any interest in him. 

    "Well, we can continue this conversation tomorrow night?" he asked. 

    She nodded and looked up at him from beneath her eyelids, her lashes fluttering seductively. 

    The boys interrupted them just then, "So you gonna teach us more?" The bulkier of the two asked. 

    Birsha nodded, "Sure thing, what else do you want me to teach you?" 

    The boys weren't sure, all they knew was that this guy exuded the power they wished they had. Whether he knew it or not. 

    ************

    Circe was watching Aislinn as she placed a few stones on the altar. They were getting ready for the winter solstice and their offerings. Suddenly the broom fell over from the opposite side of the room. 

    Aislinn looked over at Circe, "I was wondering when that was going to happen." 

    "Who's coming dear?" Circe asked. 

    Aislinn smiled, an old friend. As Aislinn spoke the doorbell chimed, alerting them to their guest. 

    "Ah, hello love!" Aislinn greeted. "I was wondering when you'd arrive." 

    The grey-haired crone smiled at her friend, "Our cousin is useless for this, she only has the whole coven at heart."

    Aislinn nodded as she listened to the woman, "Circe, why don't you get us some tea?" 

    Circe looked from her friend to her sister, she had seen this a long time ago. "Is Maura okay?" 

    The old woman nodded, "For now." 

    Circe handed her sister a cup of tea, "And just how is dear old Prudence?" 

    Cicily shook her head, "The same as always," She sighed heavily, "How I envy you and your ability to leave." 

    Circe smiled and patted her sister's hand, "Sweetie, I didn't have a choice." She and Jakob had to leave the coven years ago. They weren't even supposed to be speaking with Cicily.

    "We all do, but for now, how do I help Maura?" 

    "What happened? Aislinn asked stirring her tea carefully clockwise. 

    Cicily quickly went into everything that has been happening, from Maura's birth up until recently. Aislinn had already known about much of it, Prudence was her half-sister after all and had already come to her once. But these new developments troubled Aislinn. 

    "So she really is the one chosen by the Fates to help the coven?" Circe asked softly. Maybe once Maura fixed the coven she and her brother could return. 

    "There's more," Cicily added, breaking Circe from her thoughts. 

    "What's more?" 

    "The boy that was born just hours before her," Cicily swallowed hard. "I believe he is tied to Maura." 

    Circe's brows stitched together in concern, "Tied? How?" 

    "I think she's to be fated mates with him." 

    Circe and Aislinn put their tea down simultaneously, "That can't be. Witches aren't fated to mates!" Circe cried. This couldn't happen to her family, not again.

    Cicily shrugged sadly, "But I must digress, it seems that this is what is happening." She filled the other two in on everything that has happened to Maura, including the information that Maura gave her this morning. 

    Aislinn tapped her chin thoughtfully, "This doesn't sound good, not at all." 

    Circe pursed her lips, biting her bottom one before speaking, "Who is this young man, and who was the woman that didn't want Maura to reject him? What is so important about this boy?" 

    Cicily shook her head, "I wish I knew. I have gone so far as to ask Hecate to protect Maura. I'll do anything to ensure that she is happy before I leave this earth." 

    Aislinn had seen into the future and she was worried for her friend, she knew that things were going to go very much south before they could go well for Maura. "She's very strong, Cicily. Of that, you can be sure. Now, about this young man, what's his name?" 

    "His name is Birsha," Cicily said. 

    Aislinn looked at Cicily, "Are you sure he is the same age as Maura?" Aislinn knew that name, and she knew it well. This wasn't possible. 

    Cicily nodded emphatically, "Yes, He is the child of Damara and Ferox of our Coven." 

    Aislinn thought for a minute, "When you return, I need to go with you. I must speak with these two. They must be very powerful." 

    Cicily chuckled, "Not likely, they are two green witches with minimal talent." 

    Aislinn bit her lip and nodded, "I understand. I will still need to speak with them. We'll need to leave quickly." Aislinn disappeared from view and returned a short time later. She had a bag on her shoulder and another in her hand. 

    "I guess that means we leave now," Cicily said sadly. 

    "

    Cicily nodded, she didn't want this for her granddaughter, not one bit. "