The Witch On The Mountain

Chapter 17

I sat on the Cotten white sheets awaiting Melinda's return. She had warned me not to make a mess of myself.

I wondered what Nathan was doing, was he thinking of me too? I was almost remorseful that I would be abandoning these women.

'No we aren't.'

The door opened  and Melinda came in now dressed in white.

"Come." She said holding the door open. I followed her lead nodding my head as I followed her. She led me to a large dining room, where the other women had too changed into white.

They sat around a large table the two seats at the head vacant. Melinda sat at the far end.

"Sit."Covent leader said motioning to the seat at one head of the table.

I listened to her instruction taking my seat, somewhat disappointed that Melinda was so far away.

The table was filled with an assortment of food, a whole roasted pig and duck, potatoes, wild vegetables, root tubers, cakes, cookies, sweet meats and more.

My plate had been filled for me, with an assortment of fruits and vegetables. The other women looked up at me finally giving me the opportunity to inspect their faces.

There was covent leader, her hair brown with a hue of red, aged features showing wisdom but lacking the wrinkles that came with old age. Then there was a woman also striking , seemingly as youthful as covent leader with black hair and a heart shaped face, another brunette but not Melinda. A blonde with pale blue eyes, she looked to be around my age or slightly older than myself. Then their was Melinda at the far end.

"Eat Azula." Covent leader instructed.

I reached down taking a bite of a leafy vegetable. As if waiting the group began eating, taking apart the various dishes on the table.

Dinner was a delicious but quiet affair. After discovering the texture and flavor of flesh form Nathan vegetables had become lacking and unsatisfying.

I finished my meal quickly as did the rest of the group. Melinda cleared away the empty plates after everyone finished eating, all specs of food removed from the room.

The lady's all looked to me as Melinda returned,  retaking her seat.

"The time has come to dawn your position." Covent leader said rising. She said an incantation and a wooden crown like object appeared  before us on the white table lining. Along side it appeared a clear goblet with and equally clear liquid. Was it water?

Covent leader and the blonde rose simultaneously, covent leader taking the crown the other witch taking the goblet. They approached the crown placed firmly on my head but carefully.

The goblet was placed before me by the blonde woman, who I noticed was wearing gloves.

"Take the goblet and partake of it's richness. With its liquid you are clean." The woman spoke.

I glanced around the room before taking the goblet in hand, raising it to my opened mouth. Something peculiar happened as the liquid made contact with my lips, the moisture splashing my lips but tasting like nothing in particular.

The goblet cracked and the liquid became murky.

A sense of dread took over me, making me look up at the varying shocked and angry faces around me. Was that not suppose to happen? Covent leader pinned me down fuming.

"You dirty bitch." Her hand came down hard on my face knocking the goblet to the side, it's contents spilling to the floor.

I looked up at her in shock, clutching  my throbbing cheek. Covent leader had never hit me before. I glanced around round the room the women all red in the face.

"What have you been doing!" Covent leader demanded shaking my shoulders. I shrunk back afraid.

"Answer me!" She demanded.

I looked up at her bitting my tongue. "Nothing!" I lied quickly.

Another hard hit came this time to my chest. I cried out at my lost of breath.

"Liar!" She exclaimed.

She turned to the dark haired woman. "Get me the vial!" She exclaimed burning daggers into me with her fierce gaze.

The woman said an incantation and a vial of yellow liquid materializing up through her skin. Covent leader snatched the container angrily.

Before I knew it the blonde pulled my head back forcing my mouth open, the contains of the vial burning as it spilled down my throat.

Covent leader forced my head back asking me again.

"Now what have you been doing up in that cabin. There must have been someone with you! Who was with you!"

I bit my tongue trying to stop the words from spewing past my lips but the truth fell from my tongue against my consent.

"Nathaniel was with me." I said the words spilling out.

A blow to my back knocked the wind out of me "whore" she spat, her face impossibly redder than before.

"Who is he, where did he come from?!" She said lifting her hand to strike again.

"He's a werewolf from the pack on the other side of the mountain." I said still trying to catch my breath.

Not Melinda spoke up. "She must be his mate. He didn't mark her, why wouldn't he?" She said rising to join the others who had gathered around me.

"Did he mate you?" the blonde asked.

I was confused unsure of how to answer. "I don't know what that is" I said bracing for another hit.

"He mustn't have, or the goblet would have broken if he did. It only cracked. There's no mark on her I would have seen it." Melinda spoke from behind the group.

They all turned to her then to me. "But he must have done something. What did he do?" The black haired one directed her question to me.

"He fed me animals and touched me."

Another hit rained down on me this time a blow to the back of the head. " After all this time I waisted, feeding you, raising you, ensuring you weren't sullied. You find some beast to undo it all. I should have left you to die where I found you!"

Covent leader's words stung more than her hits. I was a pawn? A slave kept alive for a selfish purpose? But what was it? Was my existence just a mercy of her whim.

"The one thing a worthless no one like you could be useful for and now you go and fuck up all my plans." A kick punctuated her anger. She lifted her hand to plant yet another hit but Melinda stopped her.

"Stop this, she can still be useful. The goblet cracked but didn't break. Beating her will only sully her more." I looked up at them from my place on the floor.

They all surrounded me like group of Carnivores looking over their prey. The bruises that were sure to have formed ached as I tried to move.

I wondered what Nathaniel was doing. All thoughts of an awakening left my mind. These actions weren't a way to power, they were a way to something sinister. I knew whatever these Witches were planning was not to my favor.

Covent leader looked to the black haired woman and she produced a blue vial, her angry form taking it wordlessly.

" I Thank that wolf for not taking you fully because it's the only thing that stopped my plans from being ruined." She pulled my head back trying to pour the unknown veil into my mouth but I resisted.

Two of the other women held me down forcing me into submission. Covent leader forced the liquid down my throat, this one burning more than the previous one.

My Vision began to blur, the world around me becoming a spotty hazy. Slowly I lost the fight with consciousness and I wondered what fate would befall me.

I clung to the thought that Nathaniel would end his life so we could be together in death.

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