Lucida takes a moment, and then nods, a slight smile on her face. “I think you’re right. We’ll need to come up with some protocols, but I agree, this would be good for the entire coven.”
With one more look at each of us, Lucida pulls out a chair and sits down. “To answer your question,” she looks at Roman. “No, there will be no geas or magical binding. You’re here of your own free will. Is there anyone who would like to walk away from this position?”
When no one responds, Lucida nods. “Very well. Welcome to the new Luminara coven council.” She threads her fingers together on the scarred tabletop, her bracelets clanking with a soft chime.
“We have another important matter to discuss before I let you go. This has been put off for too long. Now that we have a council, we need to decide what to do with the witches who endangered our coven.”
At a recent coven event, the old council tried to do a very risky spell that would have ensured their curses never rebounded on them. The spell failed and they were put under house arrest until their fates could be determined. Of course Tucker and Francesca managed to wriggle out of that punishment by being part of the council trials, but now that they have officially failed the trials, they’re overdue punishment for their actions.
“Our first task is to determine what should happen to members of the old council that are currently being held under house arrest.”
It doesn’t take long for us to determine our next steps. There’s little debate around the worn-out table. Even Hannah, who wasn’t born into a family that suffers from the curses of Mystic Hollows knows exactly what the previous council members tried to do.
Lucida nods and pushes away from the table, standing tall. “I’ll gather the coven. I need to introduce our new council, and it’s finally time to bring justice back to the witches of this town.”
She turns to Roman. “Can you speak with Bram?”
Our proposal of the council’s punishment depends on his brother's assistance.
Roman pulls out his phone. “I highly doubt there’ll be an issue with this, but I’ll confirm.”
For the trials, Lucida used old-fashioned letters to get in touch with all of us. That was just to be formal, because we are, after all, witches. She could have used magic. She pulls out a vial from her pocket full of glittering sand. Pouring a handful into her palm, she leans down to whisper. I’m close enough that I hear her commanding the witches of our coven to join us at the Tenebris house. She blows the sand from her hand, but it doesn’t fall onto the table. It scatters in an invisible wind, and then zips out the door in swirling streams of sparkles.
Several pieces stay here in the room. A single kernel of sand pelts me in the face before zipping into my ear and whispering the words that Lucida just said. “Your presence is required at the Tenebris coven house immediately.”
Piper is quiet as we walk into the auditorium. Lucida ushers us up to the stage. I think we should change this practice as well. I don’t want to lord above the rest of the coven. The old council members did that for years. Look how well that turned out for everyone.
The auditorium quickly fills in. The chatter is loud, and we’re the topic of their conversations. I feel like an animal in the zoo on display as curious, and sometimes disdainful, looks are thrown our way from the rest of the coven. They’re fully aware that the trials to find our new council members have been going on. I’m sure they know exactly why we’re standing here up on stage.
Lucida claps her hands to gain everyone’s attention, her bracelets jangling together. She flips her long, wavy hair over her shoulder and smiles out at the crowd.
“Thank you all for coming on such short notice. I wouldn’t have sent out an urgent request, but there’s something you’ve been waiting on for too long for us to continue to delay. First, I want to announce that our final council members have been chosen. These five individuals passed the tests that notonly assessed their powers, but also their ability to respond to situations with empathy, and care. They are the type of individuals who will lead our coven into a new dawn. They will listen to one another, to you, and that will only make us stronger.”
There’re a few cheers and whoops and general applause that surprises me. Not that I thought we were disliked or anything, but it appears as though most of the witches really are happy with their new council. I only hope I don’t fuck this all up.
Lucida smiles at us and then turns toward the crowd, her face growing serious. “The other reason I brought you all here tonight is because it’s time to deal with the old council members. They betrayed our trust and set out to harm our entire coven.”
The door opens and a line of witches walks forward as though being pushed by an invisible hand. They include Josephine’s mother Francesca Delvaux, who’s wearing a pressed pantsuit like she’s walking into a business meeting. Roman and Bram’s father, Vincent Blackthorn, who's being moved forward by a magical pressure, and looking worse for the wear. He’s usually styled in thousand dollar suits and his salt and pepper hair never has a strand out of place. Tonight, he has an impressive growth of beard covering his face and he looks drawn. I guess house arrest hasn’t been to his liking. Behind him is Philip Masters. He’s always been an ass kissing, petty piece of shit. I’ve never seen him without a smug look on his face, except for right now. His collared golf shirt is stained and wrinkled, as are his khakis. His pale brown hair is slicked back off his face with, I’m assuming, his own grease. The man needs a fucking shower.
Ava’s father, Ivan Vandenberg, stumbles in behind Philip, fighting each step with no success. He’s barrel chested with a belly that hangs over his belted pants. This really seems to be the uniform of dickhead men who think they know better than everyone else.
Selene, who was the former leader of the Lumen coven, skitters in with a snarl on her face. The woman is a bag of bones, one step up from being an actual skeleton. She’s about as warm as a sack of bones too. They’re all pieces of shit, but besides Tucker, I hate her the most. She sold out her entire coven for a taste of power.
Finally, at the rear of the group, fighting the magical force pushing him forward, is Tucker Beaumont. His face is red from rage, but he can’t do anything more than gnash his teeth together. The magic guides them to a spot before the stage. People form an arc around the group, leaving space, but not allowing them much room at all.
Lucida looks down on them with disgust. “The council has determined that the punishment for your crimes against the Luminara coven is to strip you of all magic.”
Francesca screams. The six former council members shriek and cry out. Philip’s shoulders are shaking from his sobs. Tucker bellows out profanities, cursing out everyone from Lucida to Piper. He stares at my wife, hate dripping from his gaze. I step in front of Piper, blocking his view. She sets a hand on my arm, squeezes, and then pushes me aside.
“It’s okay. I deserve to watch his punishment. I’m owed that much.”
Bram joins Lucida and the rest of the council on stage. Roman and Bram’s father shakes his head, sweat beating on his forehead. He knows what his son is capable of. Bram has shadow magic that can suck the magic right out of a person.
“Are you able to do all six tonight?” Lucida asks, her brow furrowed, as if she’s only now considering this is a lot to ask. “And make it permanent?”
“Yes.” Bram doesn’t take his eyes off his father.
He stretches out his hands and cracks his knuckles as shadows leak from his skin. They fall to the ground, like a rollingfog of darkness. As if a living entity, it crawls over the edge of the stage and branches off in six directions, one for each of the damned council members.
