Dark Shadows (#1 of Dark Shadows Series) |Old Version|

Chapter 14: Hecate

Hecate, like usual, stayed in her little office near the far end of the library. Candles floated around the small room, the multitude of crystals casting a range of colors across the dark room.

The goddess sat in the middle of the room, her eyes closed as she spoke the spell in her native tongue. Some of her followers had broken a sacred rule; it only seem fit to punish them for it.

As she spoke the spell, the candles flickered as the energy in the room grew darker and sinister. Hecate felt the darkness grow stronger inside her, slowly overtaking the good in her.

When she came to the last part of the spell, she felt the darkness explode within her, blowing out the candles. She sat there in the dark as the spell traveled to those who broke the rules. Slowly, the darkness began to retreat deep inside her, balancing itself with the light.

Standing up, she relit the candles before leaving the room, casting a spell so no one got in. Anyone naive in the ways of magic and witchcraft would cause chaos, making an inbalance in the world of light and dark.

This is what Hecate did. She oversaw good and evil so that they remained balance. Every good person had an evil person to counter-balance.

But that wasn't the only thing. She helps oversee the Underworld with Hades, making sure that the good and evil were placed in their proper resting place. She was in charge over the  ghosts that stayed in the castle, as well as the hell-hounds that guarded the perimeter of the Underworld and Tartarus.

She didn't mind it. Most time, she spent her days in her room, overseeing the balance.

Locking the door for safe measures, Hecate placed the key around her neck.

The cavern outside was dark, the favorite time for Hecate. This was when the darkness inside was itching to get out. It craved to be a part of the night, but she controlled herself.

"I wonder if that girl is still here."

The human girl, Katherine Bakers, fascinated her. Lord Hades had never taken in a girl before, not since Persephone. She had noticed the way that Hades started treating the girl after the first week. She knew that the front when they met was a scare; he was like a teddy bear.

The front was because of Persephone. She had made him so happy in the beginning. He made sure she was happy, allowing her to turn part of the castle and the garden into something she was proud of. But when she met that human man and decided to follow him in death, it tore the god in two.

She wondered if Katherine knew that she was staying in Persephone's old room?

It also intrigued her that Katherine held a resemblance to the late goddess. They both had the long, dark hair; the same innocent eyes; even the same body type. Only, Katherine was filled with an inner darkness that seemed to overfill, yet she never thought about herself.

Hecate knew about the girl from hearing her thoughts before she came to the Underworld. The darkness inside that girl was overbearing. Seeing her own sister murdered, her parents negleting her for years... It even made the fearful Goddess of Witchcraft feel pity for the human.

But Katherine was still good. Despite the hardships and trauma, she still cared for others, even if she didn't want to show it.

She was like Lord Hades.

They were good for each other. Hopefully, they realize that before their demons separated them.

Leaving the library, Hecate began to trudge her way to her chamber. It was dead silent, no servants or nymphs in the hallways. The silence was something Hecate was use to, but normally there was some noise and activity.

Shaking her head, she ignored it before continuing her way.

When she arrived at her chamber, something made her stop cold in her steps. The hairs stood on the back of her neck. Whatever was around her, was something that made the goddess hesitate.

She hurried into her room, quickly closing the door behind her. She realised a shaky breath, relaxing against the door.

Suddenly, there was a blast of bright light, as bright as the sun. Hecate hissed at the light, shielding her eyes. The light burned before dimming down. Hecate uncovered her eyes to see Apollo standing in the middle of the room, a crooked smile on his face.

Hecate never liked Apollo. He was too arrogant and cocky for his own good, going out to the mortal world to find a new girl to create new heroes. She never knew why he was obssessed with an heir.

"Hecate," Apollo greeted. "It's been a while."

"Here I was hoping to never see your smug face again."

Apollo placed his hand over his heart, pretending to be hurt. "I'm offended, Hecate."

"Why are you here?"

He chuckled. "I'm sure you're aware of the human, Katherine." She nodded. "And I'm sure you know a certain...taintness around her now, right?"

Hecate glared at the god. Of course she knew what happened. When she looked at Katherine's energy, it was tainted and violated. Images of red sores against pale skin, the flash of a camera... She knew it was Apollo who had took advantage of the girl. It made her blood boil.

"And that her feelings for my uncle are growing."

"Why are you here?"

"You're the Goddess of Magic and Witchcraft... So you know spells."

Hecate did not like where this is going...

"I want you to cast a spell on Katherine; one to make her mine to possess."