Hellfire

Interval Seven

'The Lennox Coven hasn't been in contact with the Oceanic.' A distant voice whispered to Lucius from the depths of his bat, a voice he recognised from years ago as the bat mimicked the witch who'd spoken.

The voice changed, rasping with age and the northern English lilt. 'The Cainhurst Coven hasn't been in contact with the Oceanic.'

A rougher voice snapped now. 'The Pendle Coven has sent a witch in April to enter the Oceanic.'

Lucius flicked his gaze accusingly to Tabitha who shrugged lightly.

'I thought she contacted you, Lucius.' Tabitha drawled as she observed the vial through squinted eyes, observing the specks of blood intently.

Lucius tapped the armrest lightly, his expression still and his lower arms still bared from the recent threat. He was tense, his body knotted as Susan bloodied from wounds and an attempt at making her explode floated about his mind. He was furious the Beaumonts were trying to dig into Susan's nature to force him to bend to them, furious she'd been hurt again, furious Tabitha had known the Oceanic had been entered and not told him, furious his mother was roaming Susan's sleep and threatening her.

'I was contacted by no one. Neither the Pendle Crone, nor by this witch.' He said icily.

'Well, the witch wanted to enter the Oceanic. Apparently, she was suffering from sleep-paralysis. A haunting. I told her I couldn't let her in, and that she had to contact you.' She shrugged. 'I never heard from her again, so I never thought anything of it. It's not like anyone can get in there without you knowing.'

'She had.'

Tabitha frowned as she tilted the blood he'd found. He knew who had left it, and it just made this whole thing messier.

'You didn't recognise this witch?'

'No.' Tabitha said firmly. 'But even if I did, she's not yours anymore. Remember?'

He said nothing. She was right. Whoever this witch was, she didn't know or care for him any longer.

'Did the witch give a reason?' Lucius asked of the bat.

The bat twittered and relayed the rest of the message.

'We needed Irma.' The Pendle Crone's voice said sharply through the mouth of his bat. 'And we have claims over Irma that you don't, Vortigern. She's being dealt with. Leave her with us.'

Tabitha hummed. 'As I said, a witch was being haunted by Irma. She's gone because they want her gone.'

It irritated him though that they hadn't gone through him though.

'They're likely either overwhelmed or something's wrong.' Tabitha pressed. 'The Covens are unhappy currently. Murmurings of that the Matriarch is ill is creeping down from the north and tensions are flying like fireworks. Some even mutter of civil war.'

Which meant he wouldn't get anything out of the Pendles if they had their own battles to fight, nor could he badger them regardless. He wasn't outwardly supposed to be contacting them, a single bat was risky enough to their survival. If it was found he was working with them, the more extreme Covens may take that as a betrayal, and Lucius couldn't risk bringing any harm to the Pendles.

'I can seek out information, but I see this as a non-issue.' Tabitha said airily. 'And, to be honest, I'm surprised they left Irma Murgatroyd in the first place.'

'She was too strong, so the Oceanic was her prison.' Lucius muttered. 'One I guarded.'

Tabitha didn't seem too concerned though. 'It's a witch problem.'