The Witch's Covenant: Guardians of the Realm

Prologue

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Welcome back to my fictional little world featuring Agathario and Son. The following story is a sequel to The Salem Witch and the Sorceress of New Orleans, however, it can be read as a standalone story. 

Like my last story, I have a playlist on Spotify with songs that correlate with each chapter I write. I will pop the link in here for you, if you choose to listen as you read.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6ElTkkkzy7tY4obRX1B22n?si=8462b4aa9aaa4c3a

I am having so much fun getting lost in this world I've created, and I hope, as you continue to read (or start to read!), that you also have just as much fun.

Love, Cyberlatte.

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SONG: Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God) by Kate Bush

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The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden light over the Bayou, illuminating the lush greenery and the gentle ripples of the water. Nicholas flitted between the sunroom and the kitchen, a whirlwind of energy and anticipation. Tomorrow, he would turn sixteen, a milestone that filled him with excitement and a strange, creeping trepidation he couldn't shake. 

For days now, there had been an anchor lodged deep in his gut, a persistent knot of anxiety pulling tighter with each passing hour. He didn't know where it came from or why it had suddenly appeared at the start of the week. It felt as though something was waiting for him, just beyond the horizon, something he couldn't name, couldn't touch—but it was there, watching. 

The house was warm and alive with magic. The air was thick with the scents of fresh herbs and the sweetness of cake batter, as if the very fabric of their home hummed with love and life. 

In the kitchen, Rio was busy at work, her hands deftly mixing ingredients in a large bowl. Flour dusted her cheeks, and her dark hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders as she hummed a cheerful tune, the soft sound blending with the clinking of utensils. 

"Are you peeking?" Rio teased, glancing over her shoulder at Nicholas, who hovered near the doorway, trying not to be too obvious in his curiosity. "You're supposed to be pretending not to know what I'm doing here." 

Nicholas smirked, though the knot in his stomach still twisted. "I'm not peeking, I swear." He backed away slowly, moving toward the sunroom where Agatha was, but not before catching a whiff of what Rio was baking. Vanilla, with a hint of spice. 

He slipped into the sunroom where Agatha was standing near the windows, her hands gracefully weaving through the air as she whispered an incantation under her breath. She was surrounded by an array of vibrant plants and shimmering light, the soft sun filtering through the glass casting rainbows across the floor. A soft glow shimmered around her as the charm she was working on began to take shape—a glistening pendant, swirling with her magic, meant for him. 

"That's going to be beautiful, Mom," Nicholas said, his voice soft.Agatha looked up, her pale eyes sparkling. 

"And practical," she added with a wink, "to keep you safe, always." 

As the two mothers worked on their surprises, Nicholas couldn't help but feel the tension building again. It wasn't excitement, it was something heavier. He shifted from foot to foot, that gnawing in his stomach pulling at him. 

"I don't know why, but..." he began, his voice trailing off, unsure how to explain what had been bothering him. "It's just, ever since this week started, I've had this feeling—like something bad is coming."Agatha turned to him fully, her expression softening with concern.