The Hunted

Chapter 9

Faith watched from the corner of Hazel's home as the three other witches spoke to one another about what just occurred. She felt like she were just a child not invited into the 'adults' conversation. She paced back and foeth with fear pouring out of her. She knew by the look on the faces of the rest of the woman that Mabye it was best that she wasn't apart of there discussion.

"She has the power of deflection." Hazel spoke to both Ann, and Clare.

"She has two powers?" Clare asked. The slightest bit of jealousy escaping her voice.

"Yes," Ann said sadly. "It makes sense now."

"What do you mean?" Hazel asked.

"Faith had a twin for the briefest of time, but I lost the baby before the second trimester." Ann addmited. "Her powers must of transfered to Faith." She said, and hazel agreed. It was not a uncommon occurrence.

"Deflection?" Clare asked peeking her head over to catch a glimpse of Faith.

"It is a very rare power." Hazel said weary. "Although it's useful, It can also become dangerous."

"What do you mean?" Ann asked, worried for her daughters safety.

"Like hunters, magic has no affect on her." Hazel said, as she to glanced at Faith. Fear grew within the coven leader as she took a breath. "We will have to keep a eye one her."

"Why?" Clare said. She couldn't imagine a power more innocent. Clare's mother had the power of flame. She recalled her mother always trying to keep herself calm just in order not to burn the house down. now that was something to keep your eye on, but deflection? That was harmless, right? She thought.

"The power itself is harmless, but if she were ever to go dark we would be as useless as humans to stop her.." Hazel said. "That would never happened!" Ann defended, angry that Hazel would even suggest otherwise. Clare let out a breath torn between both woman. "Faith wouldn't go dark" Clare agreed. "she doesn't have it in her... but it doesn't hurt to look after her. she's going though alot and probably doesn't understand most of what's going on. I'll watch her." Clare reassured Hazel.

"She will be a powerful witch," Hazel said as she glanced over at the small framed, dark haired girl in the Conner of the room.

"She already is." Ann agreed with a smile.
                              ~~

Hazel, Ann, and Clare spent the rest of the day teaching Clare all the Basics of Witchcraft. First they told her about her powers, and how she would have to be extra careful when being tempted by dark magic. This scared her. She felt out of place with the rest of the coven. She didn't want to be feared by them, but she could see in each of there faces that deep down she was. She couldn't blame them. As a witch you Resort to your magic to fix any problem you might have, but if she somehow became the problem they would be defenseless against her. She wanted to believe that she herself was a good person, who doesn't want to think of themselfs in that way? But no one starts off with wanting to hurt people. Every person is born good until they are corrupted.. at lest  that's what she believed anyhow.

Faith practiced using her telekinesis but found it hard to simply move a leaf. "Don't over work yourself." Hazel said. "You are very powerful, your abilitys will come to you soon enough.. don't force it." She said as she went back inside her house and brought out the covens spell book. She sketched Faiths name into the first inside page beside her mother's. The book seemed to glow a bright yellow as she wrote down 'Faith Penn'
"The book has accepted you." Hazel said with a smile. 

Faith did a double take. Had she really just suggest that a book "accepted her?" As if it were alive? Able to think? Could this day get any crazier? She thought. Probably.

"Now it is time for you to receive your pendant." She finished as she put her hands together, then extended them forward.  "afferte mihi flamma" She wispered. Little to Faiths knowledge   the translation was "bring me flame" in Latin. Faith gasped at the sight of red orbs, mist, and flame erupting from Hazel's hands and she began to swirl her hands in a circular motion. Suddenly Hazel snapped her hands together and the orbs disappeared. When she opened her hands once more she was now holding a pendant. Faiths eyes took a closer look at it. It was extraordinary. The pendant was a silver teardroped  shaped neckless that had intricate patterns around the edges. Faith didnt know if it was just her imagination, or if the neckless was really calling out to her. She could sware she felt it's very magic as if it were her own. Hazel walked over to Faith and placed the neckless around her neck.

Hazel could sense Faiths doubt. "Don't be cunfused child. This pendant is to connect you with our coven." She said as she pointed at her own neck were a similar neckless lay. Faith glanced to Clare, and Ann's necks to see that they to had pendants. "Without it you will still have your powers, but together we can draw strength from each other in times of need. It is important that you keep it on, alright?" Hazel asked.

Faith glanced down at her pendant. It felt weightless against her neck as if it were apart of her body itself. "Will it help me control my magic?" She asked hopful. "No," Hazel responded truthfully. "Self control can only be learned, not given." She finished. Hazel wished it were that easy, but she knew such a spell would be for personal gain, and nothing good comes from that kind of magic.

"Oh," faith wispered disappointed. Clare had mentioned that the more she used her powers the stronger they would become, and that scared Faith.

Ann walked over to her and placed a hand on her cheek. Her daughter looked so grown to her in that moment.  "I'm so proud of you darling." She said with a smile. "Thanks," Faith said, but her voice sounded far away. Ann frowned "It's going to be fine, I promise." She said.

Faith pulled her mother into a hug. She relaxed as she felt her mother's arms rap around her. "You have always been daddy's girl." Ann said in Faiths ear with a smile. Ann's husband was only human, but to her he had more inner strength then any other magical creature she had ever met. "Thats why i have no doubt that youll be just fine."

Faith smiled, but had to force herself to stop the tears from falling. The strong man that her mother spoke off practicality died with Ann's disappearance. And now with her being gone to? She couldn't even imagine what her father was going through at this very moment.

Ann pulled away from her daughter, and turned back to to the rest of the coven. "It's been a long day, and it's almost sundown. We have dinner with the Dumases soon so we better get going." She told Hazel who nodded in agreement.

"It was a pleasure Faith," Hazel said with a smile. "Welcome to the coven"

Faith swallowed hard. It was official now. No more running, or denying what she was. She wasn't just responsible for herself anymore but the safety of the coven. Her mother guided her to the cart where Charly awaited, once again mouth full of grass.

                               ~~
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Photo is of Faiths pendant.