The High Priestess of Shadows

Chapter 8

"We got all the witches to help us," Will said walking into the meeting which was being again, held in his room.

"How?" everyone who was already there asked simultaneously.

"Lilly and Sophie being there was a huge help," he explained.

"It wasn't exactly easy but we did it," Lilly said taking a seat next to Catalina and Will sat next to her. Sophie sat next to Abigail causing Lilly to move so close to Will that she was practically on top of him.

"That's great but now- we have to figure out a way to get them all out in time for the meeting," David said.

"We're way ahead of you," Alfred said.

"We came up with a plan," Clifton continued.

"If all of us here go into a cell and take charge if of a witch then we can get them out in time," Alfred finished with a grin.

"That's brilliant!" Lilly said excitedly as everyone else nodded in agreement.

"What if they don't trust us?" Hadley asked.

"We have to make sure that they know us as part of the rebellion so they'll come with us," Thomas said.

"What we need is some kind of symbol so we can be recognized," Cadman said.

Aaron who was silent throughout all of this then spoke up. "We can use a burning branch pin as our symbol. To represent the burning of the old ways and fire is sacred to the witches. Isn't it?" Lilly nodded. It wasn't perfect but it would get the message across.

"The plans are in place let's all get some rest we need to begin getting the witches up to speed tomorrow and we have to begin securing the exits that we can get them to," David said. "Good night."

"Blessed be," Lilly said without thinking then blanched. She said a witch version of goodbye in a room full of Knights.

"What's that mean?" Will asked looking genuinely curious.

"It's like when you say go in peace. But our version," Sophie said saving her. Lilly shit shot her a grateful look before the other women got up to leave.

When everyone else was gone Lilly rose and made her way to the door. "Lilly, stay tonight. It's too late to go back down. They will have more guards at this hour and we'll get caught for sure."

"Will-" she began but he cut her off -before she could finish her sentence.

"It's only one night and you can take my bed I'll stay out here. I wouldn't make a lady sleep out here," he said.

Lilly was reluctant but followed him into the bedroom anyway. "You should stay here," she insisted.

"Lilly, stop being so stubborn and accept the offer. Please."

"No I couldn't." He sighed and pushed her onto the bed. She screamed slightly in surprise and blushed when he landed on top of her.

Their lips accidentally met as she squirmed under his firm hold and she froze. An explosion went off on her head as she felt the contact. He recoiled quickly but not as quickly as he could have. Did he fell feel it too? "Well, good night," he said awkwardly making his way to the door leaving her lying on the bed. "See you tomorrow."

"Good night," she managed to choke out in reply just before he shut the door. They kissed, accidentally, but still she felt something. She didn't know if it was a good feeling or not but it was something. That was her last thought before she drifted to sleep.

She was running. That was the first thing that registered in her mind, the second was the fear. The total mind numbing, hair raising -terror that was causing tears to spill from her eyes and her legs to propel her faster through the darkness. She saw her mistress ahead yelling something. "You failed me!" she screeched. "You swore to protect the Coven with your life and you failed. Everyone is dead because of you. If you had stayed then you could have given others a chance to escape. But you didn't. You are the reason they're all dead. You and only you are to blame!" Her mistress screamed as she ran past her and she saw the faces of her fallen Coven flashing past her. Joyce, Maxwell, Grace, Jillian, Glenn, Richard and countless others passed her. They were all dead because of her. She had failed. Her tears started came coming even faster and she wanted to scream that she was sorry but she couldn't stop herself- from running. She was always running away from something. She couldn't help but scream as the last time she had seen her Coven played out before her.

"Lilly, Lilly," they said. "Come on, Lilly." No, that wasn't any witches voice. Will. He was the one calling to her. She opened her eyes and saw his concerned face hovering over hers.

Her heart was racing and she was covered in sweat. "Are you alright?" he asked. "I heard you scream and when I came in you were having a nightmare."

"I'm fine," she said shakily unwilling to admit her fear to him.

"Talking always helps me get over something that scares me," he said kindly. "You want to tell me? I promise that it'll be our secret."

Lilly considered his offer momentarily before shaking her head. She wasn't about to admit her weakness to a Knight even if he was a good person who genuinely wanted to help. He sighs but gets up to leave regardless. "Sweet dreams, Lilly." he says opening the door.

"Wait," she said quickly. "Don't go." He raised his eyebrow in question.

"Do you want to tell me about it now?" he asked.

"No, I... I just don't want to be alone," she hated this but she really didn't think that she could be by herself at the moment.

He paused for a moment -thinking before shutting the door and coming over to her. "Are you sure?" She nods quickly and he lays lies down next to her above the cover so they don't touch. "Good night," he whispers in the darkness.

She shivers slightly as his breath tickles her skin. "Good night," she said back snuggling slightly into his side. Her head fit just under his chin and their bodies molded together even with the blanket deprecating them. She fell asleep slightly listening to his even breathing.

Again she dreamt but this wasn't an ordinary dream. Someone was using magic.

"Lilly?" they called. She couldn't identify the speaker, they were shrouded in must mist and their voice was being distorted. "Are you there?"

"Gabe?" she called finally recognizing his presence.

"There you are," he said walking out of the fog and into the clearing. It looked just like back home. She was struck with a sudden pang of homesickness as she looked at the familiar square that was in the middle of their village. Every last detail was exactly as she remembered it, the wooden shops surrounding it and roads leading towards people's homes and the well worn track path leading to her home. Even the smell was the same, incest , herbs and cooking food, it made her smile even as tears prickled in her eyes.

"Are you alright?" Gabe asked. "Where are you? We can stage a breakout and we'll be gone before they knew what hit them."

"How did you get to contact me?" she asked avoiding his questions expertly.

"I got out of the chains and managed to catch you while you were asleep," he said. "You didn't answer my questions yet."

Damn, he knew her too well. It was probably because he was her personal guard, charged to protect her from anything that he deemed a threat. That was pretty much everything but she didn't mind it was like having an older brother looking- after her.

"I'm fine," she said still avoiding the other question. "How are you?"

He knew she was avoiding it but didn't pursue the matter any further. "I'm as well as can be expected after being locked in a cell for days."

"Is it true?" he asked after a moments pause.

"What?"

"That there's a rebellion like you said when you came with the Knight. Is it true? Or were you being forced to say that?"

"It's true and no one's forcing me to do anything," she said.

He nodded slowly considering -her words and their implications. "Are there enough people to do the spell?"

"Exactly thirteen. We convinced all the witches to help," she said slightly smug because she had convinced all of them to assist them. "Everyone from our Coven and some others who were are captive here." Lilly felt herself being slightly shaken awake. "Bye Gabe," she said quickly grabbing him into a hug before pulling herself out of the dream-world and slipping back into her body.