Moon Kissed (Currently Editing)

Chapter 8

Third person's POV
In the silent night, an owl hooted, craning its head to the side as the full moon made its unblinking eyes shine.
A bat hissed and flew into a distance, not bothering to look back and see what had taken its place on the branch of a tree.
All was quiet, then a twig snapped as a hooded figure calmly made her way through the thick mass of trees, her heart indecisive.
She reached the designated meeting place - a white oak tree - and sighed a little in relief when she noticed the second party hadn't arrived yet.
Turning around, she bit her tongue to stop the scream that tore at her throat as a bright pair of eyes - one blue and the other red - stared deeply into hers.
"You came." Was all the person said as she took a step back.
Regaining her composure, she defiantly stated with her head held high, "I said I would."
The other - a girl - laughed and did a little dance around her, turning into a black cat,
"Happy birthday Arielle. How was the party? I bet my powers you got some pretty decent gifts." The witch said before licking her paw.
"Thank you. As a matter of fact, I did get lots of great gifts. Lissa gave me this really beautiful necklace that -"
"What did you say?" The witch cut in.
Arielle gulped in fear as her lower lip quivered slightly.
"She gave me a beautiful gift. A necklace. Made from magic."
With a scoff, the feline hopped onto a rock and commented, "Of course it was. And now I bet you're having second thoughts about performing the spell."
Arielle hung her head, admitting with a little nod, "I am. She looked really happy when I told her I loved it. It was the sweetest thing."
"Why wouldn't it be? Don't be naive, Arielle. She's just showing off. Just rubbing the fact she's growing stronger in your face. I'm sure the whole room was speechless while she gave you your present."
"Juni I'm - wait… she's getting stronger?" Arielle asked as her doubt began to fade.
"May I see the necklace?" Juni requested, turning back into her human form in a short frilly black dress.
Arielle nodded and brought it out of her satchel. Juni pointed a finger at the shiny piece of jewelry, examining it closely as it began to float.
She reached out to touch it and a spark erupted suddenly, causing her to jump back in fright.
"She's… Her power is growing stronger by the hour. Pretty soon, she'll be invincible." Juni said and smirked in satisfaction as her seed of deceit was sown.
Arielle said nothing for a while then stated with dark eyes, "Looks like we'll have to put her in her place. Let's do the ritual."
Like a gleeful puppy, Juni pulled her puppet to a large, old oak tree and asked her to go on her knees. Arielle complied and Juni followed suit. With a snap of her fingers, a black shiny goblet appeared in her hand. Quietly, she muttered incoherent words and a clear liquid began to drip from thin air into the goblet till it was half full.
Arielle watched intensely as Juni grabbed a handful of dirt from the roots of the oak tree - mixed with sparkly red dust - and poured it into the goblet, never losing track of her chant. The clear liquid turned blood red and she stopped speaking.
"Drink. And everything will change. Better for you, worse for her."
Arielle hesitated briefly, and Juni reassured. "Trust me. She'll wish she'd never been born."
With her mind made up, Arielle took the goblet and downed the liquid in one gulp.
Her once warm green eyes turned red, then back to green.
Juni nodded approvingly, then stated "To keep nature from coming after you in an attempt to restore balance, we have to give them an offering. Give me your hand."
Arielle did as she was told and Juni - after turning one of her fingers into a claw - made a deep cut on her palm.
Arielle clenched her hand into a fist and drops of her blood fell onto the dark soil.
"It is done. Heal yourself." Juni instructed.
"How?" Arielle wondered out loud.
"Will it. If you want it - whatever it is - just will it and it shall come to pass."
Arielle closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She could feel the power coursing through her veins. She wasn't entirely sure this would work but now … now she could feel it. All the possibilities … everything she's ever wanted.
All within reach.
Keep calm. You can do this, she told herself quietly.
Then she said in a firm voice, full of faith and power.
"Heal."
A dark shadow appeared over the injured palm and vanished seconds later, with the cut gone as well.
"You're ready. Although you have much to learn, it doesn't matter. We'll be able to teach your sister a lesson." Juni grinned.
Arielle did the same and then they - an ancient witch who could already see her plan coming together and a young girl who's life took a very wrong turn - both went their separate ways.
Silence retutured once more to the woods and anyone would have thought it was all over.
Unfortunately, they'd be dead wrong.
The full moon reached its apex and the silver rays shone brightly onto the spot where crimson drops of blood could be seen as well as glittering red dust.
As if they were being pulled by an unseen force, both things merged together and sank into the ground. A raven black rose grew on the spot and to its left and right, red flames sprouted out of the ground and began to spread around the forest, occasionally changing its direction.
Woodland creatures fled in fear but the flames did not stop. Not until its goal had been achieved.
The flames disappeared as suddenly as they had come, leaving behind black smoke that didn't fade.
Instead it formed a cloud that floated about restlessly, flashes of lightning dancing within as a loud scream pierced through the darkness of the night.