The Witch's Irresistible Love

Chapter 10: The Three Witches

3 Nights Later...

The pale, vaporous moon brightened my room as I switched off the lights. I don’t sleep with the lights on because I love the calmness of the night. Listening to the sound of nature brings me internal peace. I twisted my head towards the window and caught the transparent, white curtains sway to the direction of the gently breeze.

Sitting in the front of the standing mirror at my reflection, I brushed through my red locks. The amazonite necklace on my neck sparkled, and the blueness brightened my dark room.

My strawberry red hair was straight from the top and coils at the edge. I raised my gaze at the clock. It was 11: 45 p.m. I gently walked to my baby’s crib and watched on them. They looked pretty by the day, but the more I watched, the more I was curious about what the future holds for the both of them. I took out a small scissors from my side and cut off a little from my baby boy’s hair. It’s eight days since their birth but I haven’t given them any name, yet. The boy had black shiny hair and hazel eyes, like Damon. While the girl was the younger version of me. After cutting from their hair, I walked back to my bed and, in an instant, disappeared.

I appeared in the coven, in which other witches were awaiting. We were four. As it is; Ember Zane, Chantelle Harvey, Hazel Hughes and I represent the four pillars of the world. A member can only join our coven through any of the four of us and we hold major powers of the secret society. The three other leaders, were older than me by over 30 years. I joined the coven in place of my grandmother.

“All hail the gods of earth and spirituality. All hail the goddess of creation and inspiration.” They prostrated to the position, glorifying the moon before I joined.

“You are the ones that help the weak and the orphaned.” I started. “You are my backbone. You are the root that held me until this moment. I came to thank you for the good times. High priestess, here is my vow.” I held my baby’s hair to the direction of Ember Zane, the high priestess.

“Are you sure these belong to your babies?” She pressed.

“Yes, my soul is tied to yours. I’d never hide things from you.” I smiled at them. “You are the sun that watches all I do, and you are the moon that knows all my secrets.”

“High priestess. Let’s check it out.” Chantelle, the druidess among us suggested.

Ember opened her hand, and a black pot moulded out of red clay, appeared in her hand.

It was hot and flaming. She sprinkled some herbs on it, and its smoke filled the atmosphere. Watching the expression on Hazel and Chantelle’s faces, one would know they were as curious as I was. Ember stretched the Calabash at me and I placed their hair in it. It crackled out into red flames as Ember started reciting the incantations.

“When it’s morning, the night would bow to its presence. Adelaide seeks refuge in you! She said she doesn’t want to be a lone wolf in her territory. Because a lone wolf comes into confusion the moment it fights alone. She said she wants her children to be successful and live long! She wants the goodness of life to find them.” The fire we circled burned brighter after she screamed out the required panegyrics.

She looked into the pot with fixated eyes. The white smoke suddenly puffed out black and she raised her eyes at the three of us. Her mysterious gaze sudden turned into a loud laughter and the rest joined.

“Congratulations! It’s a great news indeed.”

“Thanks so much.” I muttered.

"Your children would bring joy and happiness. Your children would grow, but they won’t live over 20 days. That’s a long life, isn’t it?" Ember said.

“I congratulate you, Adelaide. You’re really blessed. At least people would know you had children.” Hazel raised.

The three of them bursted out into such boisterous laughter that my smile immediately dropped.

“20 days! That’s almost 3 weeks. You should be happy, my dear. Some children come in and die on the same day. Others die with the children in them but you survived. You should be thankful.” Chantelle advised. “Adelaide! 20 days of grace is good news. You should be rejoicing.”

“W..wait, please. Calm down. You meant to say 20 years, right?” I corrected. “My children are going to live for 20 years, right? Because I don’t understand all what you’ve just said.”

They turned to me with weird looks. As if I’d suddenly gone deaf.

“I thought you’re well educated. You’ve written a lot of books. Even if you don’t remember letters, you should know what 20 days means. 2 weeks and 6 Days. They won’t live for 21 days.” Chantelle explained.

“Ah! High priestess! Should I think of the 7 solid years I spent without having a child of my own? Or the 9 months I spent in endless pains and discomfort, if not for God and I. Is that what I should think of? As the eyes of the gods, you’re now saying 20 days... Whose children is that for?!” I spat at the three witches in pain. I didn't know when tears started pouring out of my eyes, but this was just out of it.

“Look, don’t let me deceive you, that’s the number of days your children would spend on earth. They are twins, so are their life, destiny, soul and spirit are together as one. They are inseparable, and they only have 20 days to live.” Ember pointed out.

“Ahhh!” I exclaimed in disbelief.

“Yes!” they answered and disappeared into the thin air. I looked around, it was only me left with the crackling fire.

“Oh, this has been your plan all this while?” I waved my hand down and the burning fire settled, slowly burning out.

“I endured, I suffered, and I waited, just to be a mother. Now the three of you decide to take my babies away from me? I’d show you I’m a warrior and a survivor. The battle line is drawn!” I hissed and appeared in my room.

I watched my babies stir in their sleep while I watched over them. Their white skin looked pale in the moon light's reflection. I couldn’t help but to think about Ember’s words. Just 20 days. It’s already the eighth day after their birth. That night, I couldn’t help but to think. How do I get about saving my children’s life in the hands of death within 12 days?