NOVEL NEXT Chapter 27: Chapter 26
Disclaimer : I Own Nothin'
Power stone count for bonus chapter 72/100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The ritual site was deep within the forest, where the towering trees whispered with the wind, their ancient boughs swaying as if observing the ceremony about to unfold. The ground was soft with moss, and the air was thick with the scent of damp earth, burning herbs, and the faint metallic tang of blood yet to be spilled. The flickering flames of torches cast eerie shadows across the clearing, and the faint hum of nocturnal creatures provided an ominous backdrop to the sacred rite.
I began the ritual, the ancient words rolling off my tongue like a hymn older than time itself. The little witch stood before me, her expression a mixture of defiance and apprehension. I instructed her to cut her palm, to let her blood mingle with the soil, to call upon her ancestors with prayers only her bloodline could wield. She hesitated for only a moment before pressing the blade against her skin, crimson droplets falling onto the rune-marked earth beneath us. As she chanted, the power within the ritual shifted, its focus drawn toward Marie-Anne Claire, the closest and strongest ancestor of the Claire witches. I had known her well—intimately so—and it was through that connection that I directed the energy of the rite.
The harvest was complete. When the ritual concluded, the weight of its success settled over us like a shroud. The little witch would now have access to her magic, unrestricted and potent, the research of the Claire witches flowing through her veins. The remnants of the coven's collective power would be easier for her to harness, her affinity to all elements subtly enhanced by the ties strengthened through the ritual. Sacrifice had been made, and in magic, sacrifice was always the foundation upon which power was built.
The girl swayed slightly, exhausted from the ritual's toll. As the remaining witches took a step forward, concern evident in their eyes, I raised a hand, halting their movement. My voice was calm but firm as I turned to her.
"Well, little witch, do you wish to return to your coven, or would you rather come under my tutelage?" My words hung in the air like a challenge. "You would be free to leave at any time—I abhor chains—but you must swear a bargain: what you learn from me shall never be used against me or my siblings unless I request it."
The witches surrounding us stilled. They were beginning to realize what had just happened—that I had revealed my magic, that I had chosen to take an apprentice after so many years, and that I had done so with a New Orleans witch. Some recoiled, disgusted by the notion. Others, the wiser ones, regarded me with calculating interest, recognizing the power and opportunity this presented.
The little ball of fury and rebellion that stood before me met my gaze, her dark eyes unreadable. Then, after a long moment, she answered.
"Yes."
I smirked. "Well then. Shall we? My tour of the city was rudely interrupted by this business, and I intend to rectify that. You must know the best places in this era, and I'll determine whether any still meet my standards."
Davina's POV
The rich aroma of New Orleans gumbo filled the air, mingling with the scent of aged wood and faint traces of protective magic. We sat in one of the city's oldest establishments, a place he had chosen with an air of nostalgia. The restaurant had remained neutral through the years, its protection woven into the very walls by spells old and potent, layered over generations.
As I took a bite, I felt it—a strange restraint on my magic, like an invisible hand guiding it, ensuring it would only respond if my intent was defensive. The sensation was unfamiliar, almost unnatural.
As if reading my thoughts, he spoke. "Hmm. You seem to be wondering about the protections of this place."
I looked up, startled. He was watching me with that ever-present smirk, the one that made it impossible to tell whether he was amused or simply indulging in some long-forgotten memory.
"It was a joint effort between a feisty Claire witch and me," he continued. "Strong, but not impenetrable. The true architect was a friend of mine—Artesia. A remarkable woman. She asked me once how she could keep herself safe, knowing she would always be a target. So, I wove protections based on intent. If anyone wished her harm, they wouldn't be able to find the place at all. Innovative at the time… I wonder if it still is."
His voice carried that distant, ancient quality again, and I found myself caught between curiosity and disbelief.
He was asking me something—I barely registered the words before I answered. "No… magic like this isn't widely practiced anymore. They say only the Immortal Warlock could teach it, and after he disappeared, the craft barely progressed."
A heavy sigh escaped him, and I saw the shadow of disappointment flicker across his face. "I create magic, and witches would rather play politics than advance their craft. What a waste."
I stiffened at his words. A challenge.
"I hope you, little witchling, won't embarrass my tutelage."
The realization hit me like a lightning strike, my breath catching in my throat. My eyes widened as I truly looked at him—at the impossible weight of his presence, the way history clung to him like a second skin.
The Immortal Warlock.
My cheeks warmed as his lips curled into that knowing smile.
My grandmother had always told me…
"Ah. Mary-Alice should be your grandmother, right?" he mused, his tone tinged with a bittersweet nostalgia.
I swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes."
He exhaled a quiet chuckle. "She raised a fine young witch. But tell me… where is she? I couldn't find her. The Mary-Alice I knew would burn down anyone who dared to harm her kin."
The lump in my throat thickened. My fingers clenched around the spoon. "She passed away."
Silence. A flicker of something—grief, perhaps—passed through his ancient eyes.
"Ah…" he murmured, lifting his glass. "To Mary-Alice. My friend. My partner in crime."
I blinked away the sting in my eyes, raising my own drink.
"To Mary-Alice."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is the Wednesday chap guys enjoy
check out my other fics on pat under snippets
as for this fic's chapters I will do a mass release on pat till 32 on Saturday as I am dealing with hectic schedule with work for my dad
HP - 4 Chapters
Daemon(SI) - 5 Chapters
Klaus (SI) - 1 Chap
P@treon/LUCIFER482(replace the @ with an "a").
Tier Benefits:
Free Members: Access to one chapter ahead of all other platforms.
Grunts: Access to two chapters ahead.
Barons and Originals: Access to all chapters as soon as they're ready.Current chap on pat
free members - ch 26
grunts - till ch 27
barons and originals - till ch 28