Hybrid Trilogy

Chapter 45 Determination

So They all went back into the hall & the lady Alcina sat with the assembled coven council, Nighmeara looked at her God-daughter (she appears to have a new-found strength & determination) "So can our children resist the calling of the Vampire" asked Agnashus "I mean I know that male children, will never be called upon, but I have a daughter & she bears the mark, & whilst I am acutely aware that there are many with daughters who too have the brand, I would just like to know if we can some how stop this assault on our children" he added clearly quite distressed " please remember my dear Agnashus that I too was marked as is my daughter, but I will not let my daughter or anyone else's for that matter, be taken" the lady said with a firmness that surprised even her.

She then turned her attention to Nighmeara "sister what information, have you managed to find out about the dark Witch Cassandra?" Nighmeara rifled through some parchments that the young Witch in the grey smock dress who had earlier brought in the bread & cheese, placed in front of her. "Well dearie her new power appears to have gone to her head, she by all accounts using it indiscriminately, she has killed many of our brothers & sisters" she began "no one, Witch or not is protected from her venom" Nighmeara concluded "she may well be my blood sister, but she killed my mother & I will no longer allow her reign of terror to continue!!" The lady said defiantly. Then addressing all at the table in a calm but very clearly resolute tone the lady Alcina said "take to the books my coven, somewhere there is the answers we seek, see if you can find a way we can stop our daughters from being taken." "Do ya no think we've tried dearie, & what about the dark Witch?" Nighmeara asked concerned that her God-daughter might be somehow losing her mind "I don't doubt that you will have tried my dear auntie, but you didn't have my help" as she said this the lady waved her hand over the back wall of the stage & an ornate wooden carved arched door appeared, with silver illuminated runes around it, slowly the doors swung open to reveal rows & rows of shelves laden with books, it appeared to stretch on & on far into the distance the lady smiled & said this is........" "This is the castle library" interjected Nighmeara in a shocked tone of disbelief "only Alcina have been in here, I thought it could only be accessed from within the walls of white source castle, & doesn't that mean the dark Witch Cassandra can gain access?" She asked "well the library is always available to the Alcina where ever or whenever they are, but don't worry only an Alcina can ever open it, now my brothers & sisters this library is everlasting & timeless so call on all to search through these halls somewhere lies the answer, & leave the dark Witch Cassandra to me" the lady said firmly.

Over the next 3 days they between them all along with all the villagers searched through the halls of the library reading all the books, scrolls & old grimoires, eventually finding a spell that could protect the children marked against the calling. When it was found the lady Alcina, called all the Witches & Warlocks of the high council to the coven meeting house. Following a short meeting, messages were sent to all Witches & Warlocks & over the next few hours the square began to fill, all the assembled villagers looking towards the lady Alcina, who stood calmly watching with an air of steely determination behind her Nighmeara stood holding young Isabella's hand, Agnashus & the 12 other coven council leaders stood along side them.

The lady raised her arms to quiet the increasing chatter & all the gathered Witches & Warlocks stopped talking amongst themselves & knelt before her, she looked around even the council & Isabella had all knelt. She took a moment to gather her self "rise my brothers & sisters now is not the time to stand on ceremony" she began calmly "now is the time for war" she added sternly. The throng all rose together in unison, the rustling sound as they did was almost deafening in the quiet .

"Myself & the coven council have worked tirelessly as you know to find a spell to prevent our young from being taken by Vampires" she began once again in a smooth calm voice she paused for effect casting her eyes over the gathered masses (I will need help with this battle, I will have to ask the Werewolves & Unity) she thought "& now we have found that spell she announced gasps & chattering rose up from the gathered crowd & again she raised her arms for quiet . "Now it is time to take back our home from the dark Witch & the Vampire" the lady said as the crowd looked on attentively "you need to know, if you don't already that the Vampire is evil & will give no quarter & also all of your sisters who are currently in the service of the Vampire, will be loyal only to their Vampire masters & Cassandra, so please my brothers & sisters be forever on your guard" she finished from the crowd someone shouted "how do we know that spell will work?" at this point young Isabella stepped forward "it WILL WORK BECAUSE SHE IS THE LADY ALCINA, WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?!"Isabella barked "and what would you know of it child?" another voice piped up.

The lady made to step in & Isabella stopped her (she is taking on the role of my daughter with ease I am so proud of her) the lady thought "I know it will work" she barked as she rolled up her sleeve "because I too am marked" she raised her voice still higher "& THE LADY ALCINA IS MY MOTHER!" The lady put a hand on Isabella's shoulder & gently drew her back, looking down & smiling. All the children marked or otherwise in the 3rd territory, came to the village to have the lady Alcina, cast the protection spell over them, & when that was done she called all the Witches & Warlocks back to the square "now that our children have the protection to keep them from the clutches of the Vampire, now it's time for you all to win back our home, I will deal with the problem that is the dark Witch Cassandra" she said firmly. "Now my brothers & sisters because I feel that she has a slight advantage, I must now go to gather some more support for our crusade but fear not I will return" the lady Alcina added calmly. Then from nowhere a plume of white smoke appeared enveloped her & she vanished.