I knelt in front of him, looking straight into his traitor's eyes. Sweat melted with the bloody scratches on his cheekbones. No words had passed his lips for quite a time now. He would not speak about what he had done to me. I didn't need an explanation, I knew the reason, and he knew that no matter what, he would pay the price. I was quite curious about how he could possibly say to redeem himself, though.
Sam shivered as I tried to get a taste of his soul, if he had one. He was brave, I couldn't take that from him ; but he was stupid, nonetheless. My silence, my stiffness, was more terrifying than anything else. I looked at him, trying to figure out what I was going to do with him. I loved this man. I thought he did too, but a true lover would not stab you literally in the back, in your own room.
Hot pain still radiated from my back. He had me good, probably nicked one of my kidney. But it didn't hurt that much, what hurt was my body trying to fix itself as fast as possible. Healing spells, a true blessing. Well, a curse, technically, but it was worth it. My coven wasn't going to be happy, body-link was always a mess, each witche took the shot. Although it definitely felt like she took it all.
I stood up, sighting, letting the anger out as swiftly as I could. Anger issues, some said. I wanted to punch the life out of him. Feast upon his heart, hear him scream his petty excuses until death...nothing unusual.
Apparently, good people talked through problems. I could give it a try. I sit on my laundry pile ; from that far, Sam looked pathetic. Why did I start dated him anyway ? Oh, right, the face.
"You tried to kill me. On Valentine's day."
Bitter words off my tongue. A dagger instead of chocolates.
"I'm sorry. I wish I stabbed you sooner."
It hurt more that I wished it did. He was devoted. They were all devoted. To take me down. Kill me. Me, the leader of the Orcana Coven. But I took pride off that, I tried, at least, after I stopped counting how many people had come visit me uninvited with my death order in mind. And yet, I was still there.
But this time, it was different. Sam wasn't uninvited, he had been by my side for a long time. He had been there in the high and lows, mostly lows since my mother died. He had been there when I took charge of the Coven. He encouraged the members to pledge to me instead of running away like all the other cowards. He was my boyfriend, for god's sake.
And now...I look at him and I see a hearless bastard. Or was he ?
"You know what ? Generally, at this moment, I would just slash your throat and send your body to nothingness, but... I feel like listening to you."
I tried to cheer up, and the only thing that put a smile on my face was imagining his surprise when I crack open the gate to hell just to push his body into it. So there I was, calm, soothed.
He waited a moment before saying anything. He was probably afraid I would snap at the first sound of his voice. But I restrained myself, forced me to hear, listened every sound he would make. For memories.
"You are killing us all, Sia. The entire coven is going to die because of your arrogance. Retire, stop that now, and you will not have to worry about anyone else coming up."
No, I couldn't stay still. He wasn't even different from the others ; the same flat, gentle, easy words. He was no fun. He was disappointing.
"The only ones dying for the moment are the idiots coming up to my house with death spells and fancy ancient knives." I snapped back.
"If you don't give up the lead of the Coven, more will come, you know this."
"Then more will die."
He sighted, and roll his eyes at me.
"You are not strong enough to be the leader, Sia. Let someone else take charge."
I laughed at that last part. Now, I knew who had talked him into this. He wasn't concerned about the wellbeing of the Coven at all. All he wanted was to run the Coven, like a child wanting a toy he cannot have.
"Someone like who ? Lester ? This man is not even a real warlock."
"Neither are you." He corrected.
I groaned, but he kept going.
"You are not your mother. You will never be. You have nor her experience, nor her wisdom, not even h..."
Every word built up my rage. But these words were all lies.
"My mother was not wise, she was murdered. And you are trying to do the same, with me."
"Not for the same reason. We had to come to this because you didn't listened to us when we told you you weren't good for the job !"
"I legitimately took charge of the Coven, as her unique daughter and blood relative. I did all the vows to the Coven, I cannot be replaced until someone proves me unable to run. That is the rule."
I knew the rules. I had them at breakfast. He couldn't counter that. Greater dangers followed those who didn't abbey by the witch's rules. Unfortunately, attempted murder was common and accepted, when the power was passed. She was tested. It was getting tiring.
"Sia, half of the circle left you when you passed head of the Coven. Doesn't that tell you something ?"
"They were scared. Like you are. Like everyone else telling me I'm not strong enough ! What makes me unworthy as your friends like to say ?"
"You know nothing about witchcraft, Sia."
"I know what my mother told me."
"Your mother taught you nursery rhymes, games and party tricks. True witches are hard to find, and you are not one."
Sam said, smirking.
Smirking. He dares smirk at me, like he won. Did he won ? Did I missed something ? Panic ran through me as I looked for the dagger ; old, covered in markings. Magic. I turned to him.
"What did you do ?"
For the first time in a while, I felt genuinely scared. Fear. Weakness.
"You don't need to die to be proven enable to run the Coven. Although that would have been okay too."
"What do you mean ?"
"Sia Bell, you are no longer the head of the Orcana Coven."
I couldn't help but give a dazzle look at him. Every word coming out his mouth made no sense to me. And just like that, he stood up from the chair I'd pinned him to, and left. The rest of the day was a blur, just pure rage, against my furniture.
