The Dark Witch Luna Queen

Ezmeralda POV:

If someone would have told me as a child that leading a coven with thousands of witches would carry this much stress I would have thought differently about it. I don’t know how my mother handled it so effortlessly and managed to seem so well put together. My sister, Dahlia, never had much interest in becoming Queen, instead desiring to lead the covens out East. When she became of age, we had a beautiful ceremony for her and she was named the leader of the east coven. She has been gone a year now. I miss her being here all the time but this is good for her and she is actually really happy. I needed to remind myself to take a weekend to go and visit with her, see all the new changes that she had made. Goddess knows, given the bank account statements, she has been making a lot of changes.

There has been a shift in the air lately. I walked outside of my house, onto the porch and took a deep breath. There was nothing like the wonderful smell of the woods in the mornings. I leaned against the railings and looked over my shoulder to see my best friend sitting on the new dark brown swing I had installed just days ago. I know something is coming, deep down I can feel it, but I just can’t figure out what it is.

“You look so deep in thought over there.” Mariah said, closing her book, pulling me from my thoughts. I took in her features as the morning sun rested on her dark brown hair. She was a little taller than me at 5’11, a strong body build. She took pride in working out because she had always wanted to rely on her strength in case she couldn’t get a spell out fast enough. “You know me a little too well at times.” I laughed. Mariah has been my best friend since we were small children. She has been there for me through literally everything and it only made sense to honor her loyalty by making her my right hand woman. Since she is always reading a book, studying our different ways of life, that is why I decided to have her named as head of the elders. She may be young but she is incredibly smart and able to see different outcomes and plan for each one. She is also incredibly witty. A take no crap type of person, which is one of the reasons we get along so well, we were never one to hold back our thoughts and feelings with the other no matter what they are.

“I’ve had years of experience, so tell me what is on your mind.” Mariah replied. I stopped walking and turned to her, “Have you noticed anything different lately?” I asked her. "This last week I have felt this knot in the pit of my stomach." This isn’t the normal connection I have with everyone. This is one out of fear, like a gut wrenching feeling you get right before something tragic happens. Mariahs’ bright blue eyes stood out gently on her pale skin. “Actually I have. It’s like bad juju or something. Is that why we are going to see your mom?” She asked. “Yes, maybe she can help us figure out what it is. I texted Dahlia to let her know I would be calling her tonight because I want to see if everything is alright out east, or if maybe she senses something is wrong too.” I replied. “You don’t think it’s the wolves or vampires do you?” Mariah asked. It wasn’t common for us to have a scuffle with one of them but for the majority of the time they stayed on their lands. “I don’t think so. Even if it was, I would just tell the alpha king, or the vampire queen.

It would be up to them to handle them at first.” I replied. I’ve only met with them a couple times. The alpha king was pretty level headed for the most part but the vampire queen was as ruthless as I heard. Or maybe she is just set that way so no one tries anything against her. Either way we all decided it was best to let each race handle their own unless something major has happened. We stay out of their business and they stay out of ours. “I’ve been hearing that the rogues are starting to get out of control. Maybe that is what we are feeling. There is an imbalance in nature.” Mariah said.

I turned my head slightly and looked at her. “What have you heard?” I asked. She now had my absolute full attention. This was the first time I was hearing they were causing big problems. “Some scouts that came back home from the west said they had seen a large amount of rogues scouting around the borders.” Mariah replied. “Not close to ours though, right?” I asked. “Correct. Just around the royal lands.” Mariah replied. “I’ll send word to the alpha king but that is not our problem.” I said. Sometimes I miss the days where we all helped each other but it seems like when we became adults we drifted with no intentions of fixing anything. “Let’s just see what your mom thinks, sometimes you have a tendency to overthink when you are stressed out about it all.” Mariah said, knocking on her door. “Ah, my beauties come in!” My mother said, swinging the door open.

As I walked into her house she immediately engulfed me in a hug, as she let go I was able to see just how beautiful she is, for the young age of 102. What? We witches live a long time. Sometimes when I look at her, it is like looking into a mirror. We both have the same bright green eyes and slim body. My mother once had solid straight black hair like I do, but with her age she now has a couple light gray streaks in the front of her hair that she turned into bangs. She is slimmer than I am, my body is a little more built and my shoulders are broader than hers and she only stood at 5’7 while I am 5’9. There was only one difference magic wise between us, that made us stand out a lot more than the other dark witches, a big difference.

My mother and I have the ability to control fire, and call to it when we need it most. Something about our family line being fire witches gives us this ability, but for some reason, my fire has changed from red to green. With her fire, she has to call to it for it to come while mine comes at merely a thought. Mine has also proven to burn hotter than hers does and I can shape mine and wield it to my discretion. “Hey momma, how are you today?” I asked, hugging her quickly. “I am good, retirement is starting to get a little boring though but I always love seeing my two girls.” My mother replied. “It’s always good to see you, Evanora.” Mariah said smiling. “We have a question for you mom. Have you noticed or felt anything different lately?” I asked. We followed her through the kitchen and into the living room where she gestured for us to sit down. “There is a disturbance but I don’t think it has anything to do with the witches. Have either of you talked to the vampires or wolves? Maybe they are having a fight or something.” My mother replied.

Maybe she was right, if it was among the witches I would have known. One of the perks of being Queen is I have a direct link to all of them. We don’t have super hearing like the vampires and we can’t mind link like the wolves so our elders did a ritual many years ago to make it so any and all queens and possibly kings are able to feel the others. “Tell me what you feel.” My mother added pulling me out of my thoughts. “One minute it’s like a pull to an area and then I get this really uneasy feeling. More so from myself than the others. I honestly don’t feel like the others are in any sort of danger.” I replied, staring into her jaded green eyes. “Well, why don’t you follow the pull and see where it takes you.” My mother said, “I wouldn’t be comfortable going on my own, in case something were to happen.” I replied. “As if you really need the back up.” My mother winked at me, making me laugh. “True, but that doesn’t mean I would go blindly into a situation. You taught me better than that.” I replied.

I looked over at Mariah and smiled, “Just like the old days. Ready?” I asked. “Aren’t I always? Let’s go and round everyone up. We will see you later mom.” Mariah replied, jumping to her feet. “I would say to stay out of trouble but the two of you never do. Just be safe.” My mother replied. “I’ll call you when we get back home. I’m sure it’s nothing.” I said. “Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, we are very in tune with what happens in nature, even the smallest things can make us feel uneasy. Just follow the pull, you know if you ever need me just call to me and I’ll be there before you know it.” My mother replied, kissing me on the cheek. Two things I could always count on were my mother and best friend.

Before we could get too far my mother called out to me. “Don’t forget to take Talon with you. He would be upset if you didn’t.” My mother said, I smiled at her and nodded my head. I would never go anywhere without Talon, or Mariah for that matter. When I turned back around I looked around the little place we built. Most people think we live in a swamp but I like the little village town we built up. We felt closer to nature being out in the woods and with a little help from magic we now have houses, a small school for the children where the elders teach them about everything they will need to know. It was something my mother started to design just a little before I was born and honestly it is a smart idea. It’s not that we didn’t have time to teach the children, it was more of who better to teach them than the elders themselves. Even though we are labeled as dark witches there are still things we can’t do. There is a difference between dark magic and forbidden magic. Anyone who touches the forbidden magic starts to change in ways no one ever should. They start growing reptile-like bodies and snake eyes. They can bend the forbidden magic so that it will do exactly what they want it to do. When this happens, they become a Black Witch and they have no limits when it comes to using the forbidden magic. and When this happens it causes a great threat to the rest of us and it isn't something we can allow to be in the world. A black witch becomes soulless, and we have seen them turn humans into their own personal animals, putting them on grazing grounds just to be sacrificed for their spells.

The poor sacrificial humans were still able to see, hear, and feel everything happening around them and to them, and while they couldn’t move, or speak they were fully alive and awake and left to feel nothing but helplessness. We have ways of flushing the black witches out. We have created different basic needs, like lotion or perfume, to where if they touch it, it peels back the illusion that they hide behind and reveals their use of the forbidden magic. It’s been an ongoing battle between us and the black witches. However, also, as dark witches, we can’t touch white magic either. If we were to even try, too much of it can kill us, versus if a black witch touches it, it kills them instantly, it would be like us touching the sun. Just as we can't touch white magic, a white witch can't use dark magic, if they do it takes pieces of their souls until nothing is left and they are turned into black witches. White witches rely more on elements while we rely on natural herbs, potions and spells. I’ve never really sat down to speak to one to see what our actual differences are, but according to the elders, it isn’t something we need to concern ourselves with.

“Talon, where are you headed?” I asked. Like always he had his nose in a book reading about something, he and Mariah are alike in that way. “I was going to my office, where are you two headed?” Talon asked. “Rallying the troops. We have something to follow.” I replied. “Whoa, what do you mean you have something to follow?” Talon asked. He was my mentor, still is in a way, but now he more so guards me. Talon stands at 6’4, muscular body build, his hair color reminds me of salt and pepper with hazel eyes that look more green in the sun. I could tell he hadn’t shaved yet because there was a slight stubble on his face which normally means something is bothering him. His olive colored skin tone nearly turns to bronze as the sun falls on his arms.

I smiled softly at him, “We just left mom's house. I keep feeling this pull somewhere and she said the best bet is to follow it and see where it leads.” I replied. Talon slammed his book closed and his piercing eyes locked on mine. “Now I know you weren’t thinking of doing something like that and not telling me.” Talon said in a serious tone. “No, of course not! You are the first one we came across. I figured we could get Rowena, Malachi, and you and we would be fine.” I replied. The features on his face softened. Even though he was labeled my mentor he was more like a dad to me. No one knew what happened to my father or if he was even alive anymore. There were no pictures of him growing up and no one really spoke about him. I never put much thought into it since I’ve never met him and Talon has always filled that void inside nicely and I leaned on him for that role. “Good, let’s go and get the others so we can start. How is your mother doing by the way?” Talon asked.

Those two have always flirted with one another and I’m pretty sure they had, or might even still have, something going on between them but either they weren’t ready to admit it to anyone else or they were just being incredibly private about it. “Just ask her out already Talon, everyone knows you are in love with her.” Mariah giggled, making him smile. I still remember all the time that Talon would show up randomly at our house in clean cut outfits and flowers for both me and my mom. I think he is very good for her and he makes her happy.

It wouldn’t be hard for us to find Rowena and Malachi. Around this time they were at the training grounds with the younger witches. As we got closer I started feeling a pull and I looked over. There was nothing there and I felt my face scrunch up. “Malachi! Rowena!” Talon yelled out, making me jump. I looked over to see the two siblings jogging over to us. “What’s up?” Malachi asked. If you didn’t really know them, you would think that they are twins but Malachi is a couple years older than Rowena. Both of them had natural fire engine red hair with hazel eyes. “We need to go with Ezmeralda on a little trip. Gather your gear quickly.” Talon replied, not leaving them a chance to say anything else. They both ran off to the shed while we waited for them. I kept looking over, why did I feel like someone was watching me all of a sudden. “Ezie, hey now what is going on.” Mariah said. The fire within me was like a blazing shield that wrapped around us. “I want a protection spell in the grounds. Now.” I replied, not bothering to look over. “Madre natura ti invoco, proteggi questi terreni come faresti con me.’’ (Mother nature I call to thee, protect these grounds as you would me.)” Mariah whispered.

“Ezmeralda, talk to me about what is going on?” Talon asked, standing in front of me. “It’s like someone is watching. I don’t like it.” I whispered, still

not taking my eyes off of the woods. “Girls, stay in the middle of us.” Talon said. He stood a little closer to me while Rowena and Malachi stood to the front. “Where to queen?” Malachi asked. “Forward.” I replied, taking a step. I didn’t know what we were going to find but maybe I would get a little bit closer to what I was feeling..