Page 29 of Vampire's Vixen

My thoughts were interrupted when Nightshade began to speak.

“We are here tonight to welcome a new sister into our coven—to bind her to the Dark Moon Society, by word and by oath, for as long as the magic of this life lasts. Bring forth the supplicant.”

Nedra took hold of my forearm, leading me by her side. We had begun against the north pillar, that much I remembered, and now we walked in what felt like a zigzag manner. I quieted my thoughts and focused on the feel of the movement until I realized we were spiraling inward, first going deosil—clockwise, and then turning widdershins—counterclockwise, and I followed the pattern of the labyrinth in my mind until we reached a point where Nedra patted my arm for me to stop.

We were in front of the firepit. I could feel the warmth of the flames flickering on my face. Nedra gently led me a few steps farther and I could sense someone standing in front of us. By the perfume, I surmised it must be Nightshade. She wore a hyacinth-scented fragrance.

“Nedra, Sister of the Dark Moon, why have you come before me?”

Nedra cleared her throat. “I bring to you, Lady Nightshade, a woman who wishes to join our ranks and our coven.”

Another pause, then Nightshade said, “Let the supplicant state her name.”

That was my cue. “Maisy Ellen Tripwater.”

“Maisy Ellen Tripwater, you stand before me, seeking entrance to our coven. I give you this chance: if you have changed your mind, tell me, and I will set you free, unbound by any oath.”

“I haven’t changed my mind,” I said.

“Then listen well, to the words of the Witch Queen Heliesa, to these rites that have been passed down through generations and centuries of the Court Magika.” Nightshade fell silent, but that moment, a woman spoke, loud and clear. I knew approximately which way I was facing, and the voice came from the north.

“Hear now the Troth of Nine, the binding oath that all who wear the mantle of the Order of the Moon must pledge. First: I pledge my life to the Order, my loyalty, my honor. Once I am in the Order of the Moon, none save the Queen and her envoys may cast me out, and I pledge to honor this oath for the rest of my life.”

Next came a voice from the northeast—they were moving around the circle. “Second: I pledge to honor the Order of the Moon by my actions. I shall break no rules of the Court Magika, unless given leave by the Witch Queen Heliesa.”

From the east: “Third, I pledge to honor the Order of the Moon by my words. I will tell no secrets, I will keep silence when necessary, and will think before I speak, lest my words cast a cloud over the Order.”

The woman in the southeast corner was next. “Fourth: I will honor my fellow members, for there is no divisiveness within the Order of the Moon, nor room for hatred and combativeness.”

South came next. “Fifth: I will be present for all meetings, unless illness or special circumstances warrant my absence. I will notify the High Priestess if and when I cannot attend the meetings.”

After that, from the southwest came: “I will put in the work required, I will cast the spells, chant the chants, till the garden, stir the cauldron. I will not shirk my work unless previously excused.”

As I listened, I realized I had glazed over, sliding into a deep trance. The words were spoken like a catechism, and the even-tempered delivery helped me let go of my thoughts and fully take in what was being said to me. The blindfold helped too, heightening my listening.

The woman to the west said, “I promise to honor my gods, the gods of the Dark Moon Society, and the gods of the earth.”

And northwest spoke up: “I promise to honor the Queen, for she is our leader and she is the heart of magic incarnate within this world.”

Finally, when all eight had spoken, I recognized my aunt’s voice.

“Maisy Ellen Tripwater, do you pledge to these oaths, and above all, to honor yourself and keep to actions within this world that makes you true to yourself?”

“I do,” I said, feeling the weight of what I was pledging to descend on my shoulders.

Oaths among the witchblood weren’t just a string of words or a fair-weather promise. Oaths were binding, honor was integral, and when we made a promise, we did our best to keep it. Oh, sometimes you couldn’t avoid breaking a promise—but when that happened, we were honest about not being able to meet the expectation. And oaths made under the sight of the gods were soul-binding, which was why so many of witchblood never vowed “till death” in marriage vows.

“As long as love shall last” was a vow we could meet, and most of us felt it made us work harder on the relationship, since there wasn’t the expectation that we were locked in. But oaths to societies and to witchblood organizations, those could require lifelong loyalty.

“Will you uphold all the rules and expectations of the Dark Moon Society and the Order of the Moon, as long as you shall live?”

“I will,” I said, relaxing as I felt Aphrodite’s presence surround me, gently buoying me up. I was doing the right thing. This was what I was meant to do.

“Are you ready to enter our order, as a full member of the Dark Moon Society, with your oath to stand with us?”

I thought for a moment, but I already knew the answer. “I am.”

“Then remove the blindfold.”

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