Page 6 of Blood Coven

She continued, unfazed. “There have been werewolf trials throughout the continent. Men and women have been found naked and covered in blood after the nights of the full moon, surrounded by slaughtered livestock and even their own family members. Very few can control their impulses under the moon curse—the scent of familiarity brings them home, where they wake to their wives and children ripped apart by their own hands.”

Matthias stared his mother down. “Perhaps in a month’s time, I will have your blood on my hands. Trust me. I will not feel an ounce of guilt.”

Before she could retort, the door hinges’ groan filled the house, silencing them both. Matthias looked up to see the only person who could convince him to stay. His little sister entered the house gracefully, her bare feet padding along the floor.

It had been ten years since he last saw her, and she had evolved from a skinny eleven-year-old into a beautiful young woman. Only her green eyes remained unchanged. Her gaze met her brother’s, and her face erupted into a grin. She dropped her basket of autumn mushrooms and berries, and rushed to throw her arms around his neck and shoulders.

Matthias hugged her back; she smelled of the damp forests and hints of lavender. Her waist-length brown hair was a mess from being out in the woods.

Finally, she released him, continuing to stare as she beamed. “Brother…”

“Juniper, I am so glad to see you,” he said. His only regret had been leaving her behind, but he could never have offered her the shelter and safety that Azalea could. Matthias had always known his sister would follow their mother’s path into witchcraft. But while Azalea was cruel, Juniper possessed something she didn’t: compassion.

“Why have you returned?” she asked him. “You look and sound dreadful. Has something happened?”

Matthias placed a hand on her shoulder. “I have not come on good terms.”

“But he is staying,” Azalea added. “Unless, of course, he chooses death.”

“What is she talking about?” Juniper stared at Matthias, then glanced at her mother when she didn’t get an answer. “Mama, what are you saying? He finally returns home, and already you force him out?”

Azalea raised a conspicuous eyebrow but said nothing. Her expression made it clear that she expected him to fill his sister in, to admit that he had failed at keeping himself safe and had come crawling back for help. But Matthias wasn’t going to let Azalea control him. He turned his attention back to Juniper. If he speculated correctly, she too would be a successful witch like their mother by now, and perhaps she could help him without the ultimatum.

I hope after all these years, Azalea hasn’t corrupted Juniper.

He looked into the green eyes that didn’t belong in their family and sighed. “I was attacked by a pack of wolves, and now I fear my fate is to be one of them.”

“The moon curse,” Juniper gasped, expression softening with pity and sorrow.

Matthias nodded.

“Mama, you must get it out of him,” Juniper demanded, turning towards their mother. “I care not for your differences; he is your son. He is my brother. What is your cost? What are you asking of him?”

“A life for a life,” Azalea said simply, clasping her hands before her. “I save his life. He remains with us in Ocleau—to protect us.”

“We do not need protection,” Juniper argued. “We can handle the trespassers.”

“Have you had trouble?” Matthias asked, directing the question to his mother. Like most towns, Ocleau forbade witchcraft, and, like most towns, it chose to overlook the town witch because she was useful. So far, Ocleau had not burned, hanged, or crushed a single witch. Yet.

“Rocks thrown at the house, threats, someone tried to start a fire…” Juniper admitted. “It is nothing we cannot handle ourselves.” But her tone betrayed her fear. She turned her attention to Azalea. “Mama, do not make him agree to your terms.”

“Then say goodbye to your beloved brother again, child,” Azalea sneered. “For when he wakes with the blood of others on his hands in a month’s time, he will be put on trial and killed for what he has become.”

“Azalea, that is enough.” Matthias croaked, exhausted. “Only when you prove you can rid me of this curse will I consider your conditions.”

Azalea turned her back to her children and marched to a book-covered table, where candles had dripped wax pools on the worn, weathered surface. She shuffled through the artifacts, some old enough to crumble if held too tightly. Within seconds, she dug out a book and carried it back to the fire.

She flipped through the pages, her eyes darting back and forth until she found what she sought. She twisted the book, so Juniper and Matthias could read. It felt wrong to gaze upon the forbidden words, but Matthias was desperate.

Juniper nodded carefully. “Yes, displacement. Of course. I was thinking the very same.”

“Displacement? What does that mean?” Matthias asked, looking between his mother and his sister.

“It means we must take the curse from you and put it into someone else. The curse cannot simply be removed. It must go somewhere, or rather, into another body,” Juniper explained.

“So, someone else must suffer my fate?” Matthias asked weakly, his stomach sinking at the thought.

“Moreso, they must be willing,” Azalea added.

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