𝐊𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐀

𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 . VIII .

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 𝓓reaming came naturally to the exhausted witch as she slipped into her slumber. A well deserved slumber at that. Yet did she deserve the revival of memories past haunting her mind. The further she slipped into her dream the more that the world began to form around her, fading in and engulfing her. She found herself walking up the steps to her once great aunts house in which Evelyn had left to the coven, she had no use for it as her own apartment was closer to the magic shop she had been working in since she finished high school. The floors creaked with each step up the porch and the witch opened the door and made her way into the rather packed building. She wiped her feet at the door and took a coin from her jacket and placed it in the bowl beside the door, an old LaRue tradition. She remembered how at a young age Josephine had explained to her that the money left in the bowl was an offering for ancestors long gone and once the bowl was full then the family would be gifted with great prosperity. With the coin placed down Evelyn made her way further into the room which created a great silence to fall over the room. All eyes falling to the young witch, the girl having just turned 18 she was seen as nothing more than a child in the eyes of the elder witches that called the meeting. Yet here she was.

     " ah, glad you could join us. " Martha scoffed , head of the Benoit family it was expected that she wasn't happy about the arrangement. Beside Martha was Madame Marlow who greeted Evelyn with the ever cheerful smile, the elder woman wore her usual drapes of as many fabrics as she could find; it was like a wave of vibrant clouds when she walked. She was a black woman, her hair in dreads and intertwined with trinkets and thread as colorful as the fabrics she covered herself in. She was the spirit and heart of the Garden district community and to have her on side was a blessing. " Come over an' sit down Ev. " She spoke, gesturing to the grand chair that sat at the head of the room. A seat she never thought she'd get to sit in. It was known as the ivy throne, a chair carved from New Orleans oak with its signature interwoven branches reaching skyward. The seat had be dawned with thread, beads and crystals from leaders past of the coven.

Evelyn took in a deep breath as she made her way over to the seat, only to have Martha stand between her and the seat. " She's not sitting in that chair till the vote has passed. " Martha snapped, her already questionable rage level beginning to show and the meeting hadn't begun. Yet where there was Martha's rage there was Madame Marlow's calmness. A small nod and Evelyn was gestured to stand beside the elder witch in which she happily did.

Madame Marlow stepped forward and hushed the coven members who had joined them for the meeting. " Now now, y'all hush. " She began, gesturing her hands to the group in which did as asked and fell quiet. " with the recent passin' of not only our leader but the regent of our nine covens we mus' decide on who's to lead us in these troublin' times. Followin' tradition I present to you Evelyn. As Josephine never had no children of her own the title falls to the next LaRue. " Madame Marlow looks back over to Evelyn as did the whole coven. All but Martha who held a face like thunder beside the last LaRue. "- but, it seems not all of us are wantin' to keep to tradition. " Madame Marlow concluded as she looked past Evelyn and then to Martha who stepped forward. The witch herself was well into her 40s, had been a fiery and opinionated member of the coven for many years and had always been the devil's advocate in coven meetings.

     " My fellow Garden Coven witches, we've spent decades under the rule of a witch who allowed the vampires of this city to force us into submission. We bent to their will and we have the chance now to stand up, rumors of Vincent Griffith becoming Regent have filled this city. A tremé witch. Josephine was regent and now they're going to pass that onto a tremé witch? No, we've been the lead coven for decades now and that won't change under my rule. Screw tradition, this girl has no chance at leading us. May I remind you all this is Lousia's girl! We'll crumble under her. " Martha spoke the words with such passion, such anger and all directed towards Evelyn. The LaRue was well aware of the hatred that Martha held for her great aunt, all due to the Fauline Cottage and a certain inhabitant. The room remained silent, a few witches exchanging looks with each other at the words that settled over them. Madame Marlow subtly nudged Evelyn's shoulder and nodded to her, a silent encouragement to counter the slander that had just been thrown.

Evelyn cleared her throat and stepped forward, the eyes of the room returning to her. She had to play this carefully, the damage that Martha could bring with her regime to stand above the other covens and potentially the regent was only bound to lead to pain and destruction. There had to be a way to do this correctly. Martha looked back to Evelyn as the girl prepared to speak with a smug glance, sure her words were enough to sway their community.

     " Martha's right.- " Evelyn began. The room looking stunned and a few scattered gasps followed, Evelyn paused and turned to look over at Martha who shared the same expression. " -we've sat back and allowed the ruling vampires of this community to destroy us. They've crushed us and abused us and Josephine favored peace over power. We lost our regent, our leader... our friend... and family but from that we gained a new, with the coming of a new regent comes a new era. - " The coven was silent as Evelyn spoke, never before had they seen such confidence from the once rebellious teen. Before them they were seeing the LaRue witch grow into her position. "- If it be a tremé then let it be, a french, an algier, gentilly or even a ninth ward... let them lead, for the face of its people is nothing more than just that. What makes the nine covens? Certainly not the regent, nor the current leaders who stand beneath them; it's the people. The families, the children, the elders, those practicing and those not and what we need is a leader to advise a regent to do what's right for us, to make sure the garden coven is heard, for we are not ones to be silent. We have never been silent and that's not going to start now. I've seen what power in the wrong hands looks like, I've grown up with the knowledge that one day I'm to lead my people and I intend to do just that. I'm a LaRue, it's in my blood and if you'll have me I will stand as leader of our coven. "

No one spoke a word, looking between one and other once more. The first to speak was Madame Marlow once more, moving to place a hand on Evelyn's shoulder before gesturing out with her other as she addressed the coven. " So, d'we have any who oppose to Miss LaRue here taking over from her great aunt? Make y'rself heard. " Evelyn looked to the people, looking for anyone who doubted her and waited for hands to rise against her. But no one did. Not a single hand rose. They believed in her. A small relieved smile formed on her lips, the faith of her people swirling around her soul. Beside her she heard the low growl from Martha as she grabbed her bag and barged her way through the crowd to leave the house. Evelyn watched as she left, knowing this wasn't over.

The new leader turned to face the ivy throne and breathed in deeply, responsibility and power landing on her shoulder. Stepping up she took her seat within the carved chair, the coven watching and breaking into applause at the appointing of their new Maîtresse. 

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