Page 7 of Blood Coven

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SILVANIA

THE YEAR OF THE MOON

RED

Her knees cried with every step she took toward home, making her feel as old as her grandmother. Her posture slanted from the throbbing in her lower back. Tears continued to sting the cuts on her cheek. The unrelenting forest path took advantage of her trembling state, tripping her twice. The second time, she fell on all fours. As she crouched, she wondered if she would even be able to get up. With hands bleeding from the rocks that dug into her flesh, she crawled forward another few meters before two pairs of bare feet appeared. They almost seemed to glow, pale in the moonlight that filled the sky.

Red glanced up at the hand extended to her. With fear in her stomach, not knowing what accepting this hand would mean for her, Red grabbed hold of it. Standing before her were two strikingly beautiful brunettes, their smiles and oval-shaped faces nearly identical. She realized they were the Floarea sisters. Tatiana was the same age as Red, and Lilianna was younger by two years. Rumors passed through the town of their mischief, blaming them for all sorts of trouble, including stealing pies from window sills and releasing rats into local establishments.

But the smiles they wore now were not threatening; they were friendly and sympathetic. Lilianna had a twig in her hair as though she had been rolling in the dirt, her mess of locks giving her the appearance that she was more child than young woman. By contrast, Tatiana’s features spoke of cunning wit paired with something almost matronly. Red knew Tatiana took over many roles in the Floarea home when their mother died. Her pale green eyes swam with understanding. Her extended hand was a gesture of…what? No one ever helps me off my knees; people only put me there.

Tatiana spoke first. “You best stay out with us, Red.” She gestured to Red’s hands, covered in dirt and blood. “You’ll be much safer out here.”

Lilianna chimed in. “Everyone knows what happens within the walls of your home. We’ve seen your bruises from a distance.” She leaned in to study Red’s cheeks. “Up close, they are much worse.”

Shame spread throughout Red’s body, and she cast her eyes to the ground, focusing on her tattered shoes.

Tatiana put two fingers underneath Red’s chin, gently lifting her face so she looked them in the eyes again.

“I am already late,” Red whispered sheepishly.

“Exactly.” Lilianna grinned. “If you never return home, they cannot touch you.”

Tatiana grabbed both of Red’s ice-cold hands; hers were so warm, they almost burned. How could they be so warm when they were out in the chill?

Tatiana seemed to answer the thoughts on her mind. “We can help protect you. It’s what we do.”

“Protect me how?” Red asked, curiosity and terror rushing through her at the same time. She worried following them would lead to something far worse than abuse when she returned home.

“Come.” Lilianna stood a few steps away, beckoning for Red and Tatiana to follow her. She walked back toward the glow of the fire that had been there when Red first passed by. Lilianna’s long mousy hair reached her mid-back, partially tucked into the strap of her white dress. All the girls Red had seen so far wore white nightgowns. Such garments were far too intimate to wear outdoors, particularly in this cold. And yet it was Red, clad in her crimson cloak and thick winter skirt, who shivered in the cold.

Before she knew it, she was following Lilianna while Tatiana walked beside her, holding her shaking hand. Soon, two other girls came into view, looking like wraiths dancing around the fire. She recognized Alina, her arms waving above her head, observing everything around her. The other figure moved too wildly for Red to see. As if she knew what Red was thinking, she paused long enough to make eye contact. Red recoiled.

Everyone knew Sorin was a witch.

“Red,” Sorin said with a gentle nod of her head. Her dress had slipped over one of her dark shoulders. She gracefully stepped around the roaring fire and stopped just before Red. A giant rat sat on her other shoulder, peering up from underneath the fabric of her nightgown. Sorin lifted her hand and touched Red’s blushing cheek. “We’ve been expecting you.”

“Y-you have?” Red asked, studying the illuminated faces of all four girls.

“You are very important to us, for you have a gift,” Alina said, stepping closer to Red.

“I th-think you are mistaken,” Red stammered, but deep down, she knew Alina was right. It’s in my blood, she reminded herself as she looked at the tall, imposing witch standing before her. Her eyes darted to Sorin’s rat.

“Put that creature away, Sorin. You’re going to scare her!” Tatiana scolded.

Sorin grabbed the rat from her shoulder and held its plump body in both hands, tilting her head back and lifting it over her head. The rat reached for her, its little claws scraping her lips. She kissed it on the nose and placed it back on her shoulder, where it nestled into her black hair.

The rat’s beady eyes stared into Red, the flames flickering.

“Lucien likes you,” Sorin said, stroking the rat gently. “Are you scared, Red?”

These feelings; are they fear? Red wasn’t sure. She was thrilled by the new stirrings inside her, yet she knew what happened to girls who lingered in the forest and dabbled in the forbidden Craft.

She looked around, avoiding Sorin’s sharp stare. Alina’s gaze was no less foreboding, yet Red felt safe around her. Tatiana and Lilianna still smiled with welcoming expressions and softness. They were the youngest of the group. Alina was almost nineteen, and Sorin was quite a bit older, her age unknown to Red. The only person who moved to Silvania in Red’s lifetime was Sorin Nabita.

“I must go home,” Red told them. “I wish to stay, I do…but I fear what will happen should I return home any later than I already am.”

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