The Dark Society

96

The Lady of Victories needed an accountable and charismatic ruler, so as the invocation began, Luen finalized the transition. From then on, he and Paul reviewed Harold's scriptures and prepared "The Queen's Emerald"--a sacred gem once adorned by the ordained witch and a treasure that belonged to her one true coven, the Pious Sect.

The luster of the stone was brilliant, adorned within a ubiquitous cloak of diamonds. As a result, Leon revered its power, seemingly captivated, as panic engulfed Paul's spirit.

Likewise, Luen feared the outcomes of unleashing such an unrivaled force, knowing he would also play a pivotal role in Karen's death. Witnessing this, Paul focused, since Harold's magic often had adverse effects.

"How will we live with ourselves?" Leon inquired.

Paul approached, appearing exceedingly anxious.

"I can't explain it," he confessed. "The coven's disillusionment, the Morgans' resurgence--nothing makes sense."

He continued, "Nevertheless, the transition has begun."

Luen contemplated. "Karen may not survive," he warned. "Moreover, the odds of her viability diminish if this union is successful. Therefore, we'll kill her before she can truly live."

Paul smirked. "With this ailment, she'll die anyway," he asserted. "Whereas with renewed strength, such burdens will dissipate and she'll become most formidable."

After he said this, Leon gazed upon Karen and recalled her naivety and forsaken innocence. All the more, he knew Paul was right--her disease was beyond anyone's control.

"Now isn't the time to second-guess our choices or concede to doubt," he stated. "Besides, the less people know, the better."

"Speaking of which," Leon added, "when Jessica learns what's happened, she'll kill us."

"Nonetheless, Karen will be a species' savior, as will Samantha and Sabrina," he divulged. "An inevitability I intend to exploit."

From then on, Paul prepared as Leon grasped Karen's hand. She felt warm and ready, as normal, but Luen felt troubled and remained reluctant to act. Like Paul, he also feared the rise of the genus and the war between ancestries.

Paul and Leon lurked in the shadows following the ritual, waiting. Unfortunately, neither had performed a sacramental fusion before, but Karen's spirit was strong and would help ensure its success. Similarly, hidden hatreds existed within her that had now been awakened.

Setting aside that in the eyes of the world she was a mortal child, it stands to reason that Karen's loss of sanctity hadn't been by choice. Given this, she wouldn't be the first to integrate the spirit.

The Morgan sisters also stood to inherit their ancestor's wisdom. But until then, the day witches would hold prominent and dominating roles over Samantha and Sabrina--consolations that the other sects had endured for centuries but sought to discredit.

Karen's invocation with Nemesis would be validated one day, but until such time, the ritual was complete, and even without an abundance of spells, it had worked.