The morning light broke over St. Kindred Hospital bringing a sense of peace to the place. Many of the occupants found themselves able to find a reprieve from their ailments, even if for some, the relief would only be temporary. The patients slept without issues of pain or anxiety. And the staff was able to take a break for the time being. Emily seemed to be the only one not willing to rest.
Emily sat at Mark’s bedside against the advice of the doctors and nurses. Not that her being with him was an issue. The problem was her own condition. She had been rushed in with second-degree burns covering most of her arm and the side of her head. An hour-long procedure followed, grafting her with synthetic skin to repair the damage. Afterward, she was to lay in bed for at least one full day. Instead, she was here, scarring be damned.
The door to the room opened but Emily did not turn to see who was there. She expected another doctor or nurse who would tell her the same thing she had been told a dozen times at this point. When a delicate, familiar hand was placed on her shoulder, she knew otherwise. Looking saw Rachael, along with Andy and Olivia.
“You’re back!” Emily sprung up and went to hug Andy only to hold off when the stinging sensation traced over her injuries. She still tried by leaning sideways to give an awkward embrace with just one arm.
“And you look terrible,” Andy commented. “Worse than I imagined after Olivia told me what happened. But, I know, you’ll be fine. How about Mark?” He looked at his best friend laying on the hospital bed.
“Mark’s stable,” Emily answered. “But there’s no knowing when he’ll wake up. I’ve been considering going into the Dream Realm. Of course,” looking at Rachael, “I can’t do that without you.”
“We can do that if it’s necessary,” Rachael agreed to the possibility. “But first, Jesus, like Andy just said, I didn’t think you’d be this badly beaten up—”
“Not a big deal.” Emily looked firmly at Olivia but not with any animosity to assure her, “It’s not a big deal. Olivia saved my life in the process of blowing me up. Better that than the alternative.”
“I can’t believe that Hunter wasn’t banished,” Rachael was concerned. “If I had known, I would’ve stayed.”
“Then I’m glad you didn’t know,” Emily admitted. “You had something more important to do. We handled ourselves well enough anyway. Olivia is pretty damn strong. And,” a soft smile came to her, “you won’t believe this,” then she gave the slightest disappointed frown, “you might not even like this. Ligaya’s back.”
“I know,” Rachael was caught up with everything. “That’s good,” her tone more neutral than positive or negative. After the two of them dealt with The Raven Man, she had already begun to change, her distrustful feelings waning. Being told about how Ligaya saved the day helped to completely move past any remaining doubt. Though, Rachael still did not know Ligaya. The two were strangers. At least that was better than enemies. “I’ll have to thank her for saving your life.”
Emily smiled. Then a look of positive surprise overtook her expression as she began to hear the movement of bedding. She turned to look at Mark and she smiled even wider than a second ago.
“What’s going on?” Mark asked as he stared with groggy eyes at everybody in the room. Then he focused on Emily to see her covered in skin grafts, bandages, and bruises. He took her hand, squeezing tightly, then said, “You look badass.”
“Looks like life is going back to normal,” Emily could tell.
Marcy stood in the courtroom and listened as Judge Cane made a final verdict, “After hearing the testimonies of various experts and taking into account new information about the crime Miss Lox was tried for, I have determined that she is not a danger to society and is hereby acquitted of any wrongdoing. In fact, she has been wrongly committed for the last three years to a mental institution where she did not belong. For these damages, she is additionally being rewarded a sum of three hundred thousand dollars from the state.
“I also want to apologize to you, personally, Miss Lox. I find it shameful that your interest in witchcraft was used as some kind of excuse to have you locked away. My daughter is going through a similar phase, and I would be appalled if she was arrested because of a hobby. This isn’t the eighteen hundreds anymore. We’ve moved passed witch hunts.
“The court is dismissed.”
Marcy stood outside the judicial building, in the light of day, as a free woman. It felt weird to her. For three years she had been locked away. It only took one day to change that.
“Congratulations, Lox,” Detective Gram offered as he blew smoke into the air. “What are you going to do with your winnings?”
“Seems like a larger compensation than I should have received,” Marcy mentioned.
“The numbers were adjusted a bit,” he admitted. “Though, so were the facts seeing as you weren’t wrongfully committed. But the circumstances have changed. Seems Witches are more integral to Darkess these days.”
“I agree with you,” Marcy acknowledged. “I think magic is making its way back into this world, and you’ll be needing us. And, with what I just said in mind, I know what I’m going to do.”
“Enlighten me.”
“Is that why you’re here, detective?” Marcy presumed. “To keep an eye on me.”
“No, I’m not your handler,” he promised. “You are free. Even from spying eyes. Though, maybe not bureaucracy. Take this.” He passed over a business card that had nothing but a series of numbers on it. “That’ll help you get in contact with the committee. Their opening up a new seat. Whichever one of you Witches is interested, make the call. Doesn’t matter who. But it does need to be filled or else things might start to roll back.”
“This is a lot more representation than I thought we would be getting,” Marcy was surprised.
“Just be sure to thank the commissioner when you see her,” he told.
“I guess I’ll be seeing you around a lot more, detective.”
“Probably,” he assumed as well. “And, I guess, since we’ll be working together, you can just call me Jamie.”
Marcy smiled with a perplexed expression at how personal he was acting. She agreed, “Okay,” with stipulations, “but then you have to call me Marcy.”
“Not on my life, Lox,” Jamie refused to do so. “Now,” he pointed toward the parking lot, “seems your friend has come to pick you up.”
Marcy looked to see Rachael having parked. That was the cue to go. But, as Marcy did, she gave a final wave goodbye to the detective as she called out to him, “See you later, Jamie.”
Rachael and Emily stood outside after stepping out of the house with luggage in hand.
“So, you’re really off to Alaska then?” Emily found that surprising.
“I’ve put off going for long enough,” Rachael assured she was committed to her travel arrangements. “Absolutely, I’m happy with how things are after what happened. Those terrible events were honestly good for us. Well, I don’t want to speak for everybody. But, for me, I came out better. And I feel closer to you and the others than I have in a long time.”
“I have to agree with you,” Emily added to her shared feelings. “We’ve gotten closer, that’s to say, we’re as close as we used to be when we were younger. You and I. Mark and me. Marcy, maybe.” Emily sighed. “I … obviously still have animosity toward her but … She’s a crazy person who’s trying to protect the things she loves. That doesn’t justify her actions, but she isn’t bad.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that.” Rachael gave an approving smile. “Now, you should say that again to her.”
“I already did,” Emily was a step ahead. “We’ve got a ways to go but I remember why we became friends. Just like you need to do the same with—”
“Don’t,” Rachael rejected the comparison. “I’ve resolved my issue. Though, it was easier for me since I can see I was being biased. Human spirits are tricky things. But they’re not all bad. Ligaya and I—”
“Yo,” Ligaya uttered as she appeared in a blink beside Rachael. Rachael tightened her shoulders in surprise. “You called my name?”
Rachael shook off her chitters, exhaled her shudders, and said, after inhaling through her nose, “Yes. You were mentioned in our conversation. Emily still thinks we’re not getting along. I wouldn’t say we’re best friends yet, but we’ve gotten to know each other.”
After an intense pause that intensified the moment to the point the intensity began to deflate, Ligaya said so seriously, “She still hates me.”
“I knew it,” Emily jested along since what she actually knew was that Ligaya was joking.
“How about you both shut up?” Rachael proposed.
Emily snickered lightly.
Ligaya maintained her apathetic self with ease. Though, she showed consideration by asking Rachael, “So, I guess you’re leaving again.”
“I am,” Rachael answered. “Traveling and photography are still my passions. I don’t think I’ll ever stop doing either now that I’ve made a life and career around them. However, when I get back, and I promise I’ll be coming back, I’ll stay for longer than a couple of days. And I’ll plan fewer trips in the future so I’m around more often.”
“Great—”
“Nope,” Rachael stopped Ligaya from saying what she was going to say. “I know you’re about to be sarcastic with me. You’ll probably say something like, ‘More cleansing to look forward to,’ in your emo tone. We’ve moved passed that.”
“We have?” Ligaya acted like she had not been part of any such discussion. “I don’t remember. Maybe you can re-enlighten me.”
“I’ve apologized plenty,” Rachael said in half-real frustration. “And I’ll apologize again because I know I was in the wrong. I’m sorry. But you’re annoying.”
Emily was beginning to laugh a little louder which interrupted the bit. “It does seem like you two are getting along.”
Rachael looked at Emily for a second, her mood calming, then looked to Ligaya, saying to her in complete sincerity, “Maybe I’ll see you around if being out in the world gets lonely.”
“You just have to say my name,” Ligaya acted as if that gave her an advantage.
“Ligaya!” Rachael called out loudly in a sensuous, breathy tone. She was not afraid to embarrass herself, especially when her action embarrassed another that she was at odds with. Now she understood why Andy did it so much to her, and why Mark and Emily did it so much to each other.
Ligaya cringed. “Okay. None of that.”
“I’m going to make sure to do it exactly like that,” Rachael threatened.
“Well,” Ligaya threatened back, “I hope you like being alone.”
“I am a Crone,” Rachael defined herself. “Just in a younger body. And I should be heading off now to seclude myself or else I’ll miss my flight. You two take care. And, I already said goodbye to them, but say goodbye again to the others.”
“Have a safe trip.”
“Young miss,” a stranger called out. “Young miss.”
Ligaya heard the call but paid no mind. Often, she unintentionally eavesdropped on conversations during her walks around the city. Knowing that nobody could see her also meant that nobody was talking to her either. Anything that even sounded to be directed her way was to be ignored at this point in her existence.
“A! A! Young miss!” The stranger called out louder.
Hearing the persistence coming from whoever did make Ligaya turn. Not because she believed the call was directed at her, but because she was curious who was trying to get whose attention so badly. The answer to the former was an old, thin black man wearing a down jacket, sports sunglasses, and a red beanie. Though there was no telling exactly where he was looking, the fact that he was facing and staring in her general direction made herself the answer to the latter. But, just in case, she looked behind her to see if there was possibly another woman standing there. Others were walking around downtown, some across the street, and others up the block. However, …
“Yes, you,” he confirmed as he pointed and smiled.
That was a surprise to Ligaya, but she assumed, “You must be a ghost.”
“A,” he was smiling, “I’m old but I ain’t dead yet.”
That was even more surprising to Ligaya. For him to see her could only be possible if he had magic potential. But, instead of saying anything that might come off strange in case that was not true, she did nothing more than apologize, “Sorry.”
“It’s not a thing,” he assured. “I’m sorry that I bothered you, in fact. You walkin like no one’s getting in your way. But I wanted to ask … you know. I’m embarrassed. My daughter’s your age, and her birthday’s today, and I got nothin, and I thought maybe you might give me an idea. What do girls like?”
Ligaya began to genuinely think about the question because she did not know what she, herself, would like. However, this interaction brought the realization she needed and knew, “What’s most important is for her to be acknowledged. But that’s not much of a gift. Maybe food and that?”
“To be acknowledged?” the man nodded his head, impressed. “That’s pretty profound. I’ll find a way to package it. Thanks for your help. You have a lovely day, young miss.” He took a quick look both ways down the road and jaywalked as he went about his day.
The disruption felt like a sudden awakening for Ligaya. As she returned to her walk, she quickly noticed that the people around her, though they did not interact with her directly as the man had done, they were still responding to her. They gave her space instead of walking straight through like she was not there. Eyes shifted her way, seeing her, then shifted away, not wanting to be rude by staring. Cars waited on her to cross the street. Doors were held open for her. She was no longer a ghost wandering through the world. She existed.
This regaining of her physical form had started happening not too long ago, and now it seemed to have finally set in.
Andy stared blankly at his hand as he connected one memory to another. He was thinking of his sister and the condition of her hands after they had returned from the Otherworld. He then remembered The Crone and that she was missing several fingers as well. They shared the disfigurement, but he could not remember if the injuries were the exact same. He felt knowing the answer was of the utmost importance for he would then be able to realize something that he had forgotten. If the injuries were identical, then that would mean the two of them were—
“What you thinking about?” Olivia intruded on his silence.
Andy returned his focus to the world and lifted his chin to look at her. The idea faded from his mind only retaining the bare minimum. His response ended up being simply, “My sister.”
“You sad that she’s already off on her next adventure?” Olivia assumed.
“Yeah,” he accepted as the reason. “Which is rude of her. She gets us to start believing in magic and then leaves before teaching us a thing.”
“She’ll be back soon enough. Though, it would’ve been nice to learn from her,” Olivia agreed. “But we can always rely on Emily and Marcy to show us some things. But, now that I think about it, could Rachael even show you anything? You said that you weren’t capable of Ritual Craft?”
“The Crone said I had no talent for it,” he specifically detailed.
“Your sister is strictly a Ritual Craft Witch,” she reminded. “So, hm, she could teach us things but not much we could use to improve our own magic.”
Andy took another second to begin connecting threads, that of his sister and The Crone having the same type of magical ability. But, instead of getting lost in speculation like before, he would rather remain here with Olivia. “We can still learn plenty alongside each other. In fact, you already seem to know what you’re doing. You can be my teacher. Which, with that said, where were we? I did kind of zone out.”
Together they sat face-to-face inside a magic circle they had set up in the middle of their living room. Their only light, for they had shut off the lamps and closed the blinds, were candles placed around. They continued to commune with one another and their Arcane Body.
“How’s the business?” Marcy asked Emily while entering her home once being let inside.
“Good,” Emily responded as she stepped back into the hallway. “Better even. Now that we Witches are recognized among the otherworldly, I’m getting more customers. How about you? How’s freedom been?”
“I certainly don’t know if I feel completely free,” Marcy admitted. “Your opinion …”
Emily sighed. “These things take time. The fact I’m talking to you so civilly should show that … huh,” she still struggled to admit because the shadow of the issue remained, “I don’t hate you, Marcy”
“That’s a good place to be,” Marcy accepted and moved on for now. “I’m guessing, being so busy, you won’t have time for what I came here to propose.”
“And that is?” Emily might as well hear the proposal out.
“I plan on starting a coven right here in Darkess,” Marcy revealed.
“Can you?” Emily threw the question out there followed immediately by another. “Should you?”
“I don’t know,” Marcy admitted. “But I’ll try. I’m going to a committee meeting soon and will propose this to them as well.”
“That’s a lot to ask for during your first meeting,” Emily warned.
“Is it?” Marcy did not feel that was the case. “Regardless, this is important. There are many girls, and some boys, that have magic potential, but either they drift away once they grow older because nobody nurtures them, or they can turn into what the Witch Hunters hunt. I want a place to raise them up and protect them.”
“That’s noble of you but don’t you think you might be painting a bigger target on your back and possibly on the backs of whoever joins? The last time there was a coven was Salem. And we both know what happened there.”
“The trials stoked fear and is one of the main reasons real magic is dying,” Marcy noted. “The hunters will come no matter what. I want to be ready and make others ready instead of live in fear, stop believing, and vanish from this world.”
“I, honestly, trust you.” Emily was impressed by the declaration. “So, did you come to ask me to join, because yeah, why not. You convinced me. Let’s see this through. Whatever is to come. I’m sure the others would want to be as much a part of this. Have you reached out to Rachael about your plan? Have you talked with Andy, Olivia, or Ligaya?”
“Not yet,” Marcy explained. “I wanted to come to you first. You see, joining isn’t the only thing I wanted to ask. I was hoping you’d be the Matriarch of the coven.”
Emily gave a small smile as she shut her eyes and looked slightly downward as her head shook just a little, followed by a single snicker. “No,” she said so blatantly without hesitation to even consider the suggestion. “Thank you for the offer. You thinking that I’m the best suited for the role shows how much you respect me. But you probably didn’t consider this, it’s you who should be the Matriarch. You came up with this idea. You are both caring and rational, though perhaps too much at times. But that can be a good thing for the leader of children with strange and strong abilities. And you’re already the committee representative of us Witches. Like I said, I trust you.”
“Me?” Marcy thought of herself in the position. “Matriarch.”
Marcy made her way deep into the capitol building well beyond where normal humans worked and resided. There were levels and levels of underground passageways and unoccupied offices that made a labyrinth to be lost in. This place was beyond rational existence, easily recognized as an otherworldly creation by otherworldly creatures to keep their secrets secret. Only the ones that were given directions would be able to make their way through. Marcy was one such person, succeeding in finding the conference room where the committee meeting would be held.
Through the door found a wide space that extended infinitely upward into pitch darkness. Yet, there was light that seemed to exist without a source. The grey walls, the blue carpet, and the large, oval desk in the center of the room appeared illuminated by standard lighting.
Currently sitting at the desk was only one person. She appeared to be in her mid-twenties while seeming even younger because of her short stature and thin frame. She wore a long-sleeved, thick police uniform made far more professional by her tie and adorning medals. But she did not act the profession as she stuffed her face with pie straight from the tin without any lady-like courtesy.
Only when “Miss Lox,” was noticed did the woman put her gluttony away to get up from her seat, taking the time to pick up her hat and tuck it under her arm, before walking over. She spoke with so much positive energy in her voice, “I’m glad that we finally get this chance to meet. I’m Shelby White. The Commissioner of the DNPD.”
“You’ve been the one going out of your way to help us,” Marcy recognized. “I’m grateful to you. But why?”
“I choose not to answer,” she denied. That was of course, “Kidding. I can go on about mysterious ways and how things need not be explained as of yet. But I leave the open-ended, unexplained hubbub for the older generations. We should just be straightforward even if the answers turn out to be kind of uninteresting. So, I shall. The world is shifting. You said it yourself when you talked to Detective Gram. We need to be prepared.”
“And what is this shift?” Marcy knew to ask since the hubbub was not actually answered.
Commissioner White gave a smile that was very serious. “You know how the Balic Building blew up because of a simple open Gateway? Another Gate might be opening if nothing is done. But this one is far larger and leads to a much more dangerous place. It won’t just be one floor of one building that goes boom. And that’s why Witches like yourself will be very helpful when the time comes. Sorry for the dreary reality.”
“Your honesty is appreciated,” Marcy showed her gratitude. “I hope I can be of use. There’s an important request that I wanted to talk to you and the rest about when they get here. It’s something I’m certain we’ll both benefit from.”