I turn off my laptop heaving a sigh of exasperation, I should be working on my first book taking advantage of my free Sunday before going back to the studio, the same book I wrote and re-wrote several times because I'm never satisfied, but the truth is that I can't focus on.
Being a witness of a ritual after many years brought memories to my mind: my grandmother in front of her altar mumbling a prayer, the smell of plants and herbs, candle wax burning, energy flowing... I was very anxious when I arrived but felt curiosity too, I wondered how so many witches coming from different traditions could gather together and perform a ritual suitable for all of them, but it seemed to work pretty well for them and even their energies are complementary. It was amazing to feel them focused on honouring the Goddess but worried about me and supporting me at the same time, I felt powerful and capable of achieving whatever I wanted. The hunter didn't like it at all, of course, I could almost feel him writhing like a furious snake in my mind.
Suddenly, I saw myself snatching the athame from Ruby's hand and stabbing her chest. I knew I could do it if I moved fast enough while she was focused on the pentacle. If the High Priestess died, the coven would lose their leader and all the witches would be weaker: the Mexican, the druid and the guy would be easy preys, the hunter was worried about the queens of voodoo because they were supposed to control powerful spirits and the Viking, well, they're only good at foretelling the future... This way, only the mother and the baby would be alive, and the hunter wouldn't let that girl grow up to become an adult and dangerous witch.
That thought triggered my druid's rage, no one would hurt my goddaughter, not even myself. They both fought for control in my mind till I started feeling dizzy, I missed the end of the ritual because I don't remember anything till I noticed that Ruby was hugging me and carrying me to the couch. I felt embarrassed because I ruined the night and only wanted to enjoy my time with the girls, having dinner and forgetting that I'd almost stabbed their leader and, suddenly, I saw her... Standing behind Lester for a split second: the blurry silhouette of a girl, the body outline was undefined and I couldn't tell if she was blonde or brunette but I knew who she was... the girlfriend he'd meet in a few months. I thought I was going crazy, to be honest, but Vinnia told me it was normal, the more time I spend surrounded by magic, the easier would be for me to control some of the gifts I was born with... I miss my grandmother, I wish I could ask her for advice.
The coven left early because they wanted me to rest properly and, of course, Ruby told me to stay in her home and ran a bath for me with herbs, candles and essential oils, forcing me to enjoy it while she cleaned the kitchen and the altar. I felt relaxed and happy when I got in bed, it felt like floating in a cloud only hugging a beautiful witch and with a black cat warming my feet. The hunter had hidden and I sighed satisfied.
"You haven't told me your story..."
"What do you want to know?" Ruby whispers wearily before yawning and turning her head to kiss my forehead. "You smell heavenly..."
"You're responsible for that... How did you know you were a witch?"
"My mom is... very special." The tattoo artist chuckles and turns on the mattress to be able to look at me, she tangles her soft fingers in my hair while speaking and my eyes follow the lines of the tattoos on her arm. "She's a bohemian style witch, like a hippy from the 60s but able to read tarot cards... I guess you could say she's a member of the eclectic Wicca, she doesn't follow a particular line and has been interested in several pagan religions: she can pray to Diana or tries to contacts the fairies' world, the Egyptian Isis or the Greek Persephone. My mom is always studying and learning new things which is great because, even if my childhood was weird and difficult sometimes, I never got bored and was raised by a woman with an open mind who make me discover a whole new world."
