Prologue
The smell of damp earth and magic was thick in the air.
Leaves crackled under the little girl's feet as she headed deeper into the deepest part of the forest, the leafless, skeletal branches of petrified trees clawing at the tar-black sky, no light penetrating through it. The wind whispered through the girl's ears, dark murmurs of what was going to transpire and warnings to run while she still could constants in the wind's breathy words.
No, the girl thought stubbornly, her mind already set. I'm going to go through with this. And you can't make me.
Ignoring the wind, the girl continued on, her black boots crunching on the autumn leaves, but the sound didn't reach far before dissolving into the cloying silence.
She continued to walk, until she could see the orange glow of firelight up ahead, the faint sound of crackling flames a grateful reprieve from the defeating silence.
Grinning, the raven-haired girl quickened her pace, trying to keep herself from full-on sprinting, her excitement made tangible by her desire to get to the source of the light and sound. As she got closer, she could hear the murmurs and whisperings of the people in the hidden clearing, until at last, she made it through.
It was a clearing, hidden by the outside world by that passage of trees that no one dared go into. In it was stones, both whole and broken, their rough surfaces carved with symbols of magic, and the Five Elements. Hanging from the trees surrounding the clearing in a rough circle were lanterns made out of wood filled with floating witchfire, casting the clearing in shades of purple, red, green and black, with raven feathers, quartz, moonstones, amethyst, healing crystals and bundles of nightshade, belladonna, foxglove, witch hazel and oleander hanging underneath, mimicking wind chimes. Long branches of rowan, ash and oak stood like sentries against the rocks, the powerful magic from them humming in the air. Incense and spice and the metallic, smokey smell of magic was thick in the air, creating an alluring perfume. And in the middle of it all was a huge bonfire, with orange flames that leapt into the sky, ripping at it with burning talons, snapping and cracking, the embers dancing above the wild flames like goblins.
And surrounding the bonfire were twice a dozen cloaked figures.
They turned at her arrival, the orange light of the flames casting them in darkness, their shadows reaching monstrously towards her. The figure in the middle, the leader, pulled the hood of her cloak off, revealing curly white hair, a face as wrinkled as a walnut and as brown as chocolate and sharp, twinkling coal-black eyes, filled with a wisdom of both this world and of another world.
"Welcome, Samantha Manson," the woman greeted in a molasses-rich voice. "Are you ready to join us?"
The girl, Sam Manson, sucked in a breath and nodded.
"I am."
The witch leader parted, and like a wave her coven did the same, allowing a clear path to the fire... and a stone bench with a closed book resting on it.
Walking up to it, Sam looked at the book and asked, "What do I do, Mrs. Charles?"
"You prove to us that you can become part of our coven, and then you can sign," the head witch, Mrs. Charles, instructed, standing behind Sam. "But remember, child, once you've signed your name in the Book of Moons, once you've pledged your allegiance to the Triple Goddess, and to the Moon Goddess, there is no going back. No second chances. And no backing out."
Sam gulped and asked, "Will I still be able to see my friends and family?"
Mrs. Charles sighed heavily.
"No. Once you have made your pledge and signed, you will have left your mortal life behind. All of your time will be spent honing your craft, learning more about the witch world, which will be conducted at Viper Academy. And when you have fully mastered your craft, and have graduated, you will have become a full-fledged member of the coven, never to see the mortal world except for certain times," Mrs. Charles answered.
"Do you still accept becoming a witch and starting your education of witchcraft and sorcery, even knowing this?"
Sam, although upset at not seeing her best friends ever again, nodded.
"I accept that. It is what my Grandma would want, after all."
Mrs. Charles nodded. "Ida would be proud of you for doing this. But if you still want to back out, you can just walk away."
"I don't want to back out. I want to do this," Sam firmly told her.
Mrs. Charles nodded in acceptance.
"Then you may begin your tests."
With a snap of her fingers, the book was replaced by a steel bowl. Inside was a small pile of dirt, streaks of ash running through it.
"Before you learn more advanced witchcraft, you must master control of the four classical elements. They are key to all magics; a storm, for instance, can be created with combining the elements of water, air and fire to create clouds, rain, wind, thunder and lightning. If you don't master these, then you won't be able to master magic that relies on them," Mrs. Charles explained, demonstrating by using wind, water and flame to create a miniature storm, complete with lightning and thunder, before making it disperse with a wave of her hand.
"Summon the four elements."
Sam nodded, and stretched out her hand, prepared to summon the four classical elements. With a deep breath, Sam tried to make the earth in there rise up. Since it was already in there, it seemed to be the easiest.
Almost on instinct, the magic that flowed through Sam's veins spread throughout her arm and out her fingers, a rush that Sam greeted and controlled, focusing it on the earth. The earth quivered once, and rose up, a tower of dirt and soil, granules of hidden sand trickling down.
Sam sighed in relief, overjoyed that she had controlled the earth so easily. Releasing the grip her magic had on the earth, the soil tumbled back into the bowel, once again a small pile.
With a flick of her hand, Sam summoned wind, or tried to. The breeze she wanted wouldn't come, as if it was still trapped in that passage.
With a frown, Sam flicked her hand again, her magic tugging and pulling at the stubborn wind, until it finally gave and a breeze filled the clearing, blowing her ebony hair. It was harsher than Sam would have wanted, but beggars can't be choosers. With another flick of her hand, Sam sent the breeze back, glad that she could control air... somewhat.
Deciding to try fire next, Sam snapped her fingers, and a blazing inferno arose in the bowl, hungrily eating at the dirt, the raging flames trying to match the bonfire's own flames.
Eyes widening at how greedy the small fire was, Sam hurriedly tried to make it smaller, and it did become smaller, slightly. But another snap of her fingers had the fire gone and a pile of blackened earth left behind and the tang of smoke was the only evidence if left behind.
With water being the only element left, Sam commanded for it to appear, and a small sphere of water appeared, trembling in the air, but didn't burst into water droplets.
With a relieved sigh, Sam commanded it to go away. It burst into thousands of water droplets, but it had still gone.
Mrs. Charles applauded her and said, "Well, you've got a good control over the four elements. You controlled Earth really well, so that may be your main element, along with Water, but you struggled with Fire and Air. Don't worry, you'll work on them at the academy.
"Now," she went on and waved her hand, making the bowl disappear and replace it with a bottle, "levitate that bottle with a spell."
Easy, Sam thought. The spell instantly came to mind and she commanded in Latin, "Supernatet."
The bottle instantly levitated. Still keeping eye contact, Sam ordered, "Minus," and the bottle floated back down on the table.
"Excellent, Samantha. Now, can you levitate it... but with your mind?" Mrs. Charles asked, but the words were barely out of her mouth when the bottle shot up into the air before it quickly made it's descent back down.
Sam looked at Mrs, Charles and inquired, "Does this mean I've passed my tests, Mrs. Charles."
Mrs. Charles shook her head no.
"There's one more test to pass."
Waving her hand again to get rid of the bottle, with the book once again on the table, Mrs. Charles looked at Sam and said, "As you well know, Samantha, your family has been very gifted at the art of healing. It is why the earth calls to you more than any element. It strengthens you, and provides you with the herbs and plants that you may need for healing potions, spells, poultices, balms and salves. Healing is a gracious magic, and you and your family, the Mansons, are the greatest family of healers to have ever lived, spanning throughout the ages. You understand?"
Sam swallowed, her throat dry at how much expectations of her being as good a healer as her ancestors, and her grandmother certainly was, weighed on her. But she still nodded.
"Good. Now, to pass this test, heal me."
Sam's brow furrowed, conveying the confusion she felt.
"But Mrs. Charles, you're not injured. Why do you—"
But the question was replaced by a scream as Sam watched in horror as Mrs. Charles used a knife to slice her palm open.
Wincing from the pain, Mrs. Charles thrust her palm into Sam's face.
"Heal the cut on my palm."
Still trembling in horror from witnessing the leader of the coven cut herself, Sam stammered, "I c-can't. I d-don't kn-know any he-healing spells."
"Samantha, like I said, your family is especially gifted at healing. The power is in you."
Sam shook her head, tears springing to her eyes at the fact that she wouldn't pass this final test. "I ca-can't. I'm sorry."
"Samantha, do you know about the phoenix?"
Sadness at her not passing the last test was replaced by confusion. "Yes. But I-I don't know w-why it has to do with healing?"
"The phoenix is the firebird, a being connected with the element of fire. It lives for a thousand years before it dies in a nest of ashes and is reborn again. However, the phoenix is a symbol of healing. Do you know why?"
Sam's eyes widened, the violet irises glimmering with tears. "Because it has healing tears," she whispered.
Mrs. Charles nodded, smiling.
Sam fixed Mrs. Charles with a stunned look.
"Are... are you saying that I can heal people with my tears?"
Mrs. Charles answered, "Yes; every Manson with the gift can heal people with their tears. Sometimes with their blood, but it is forbidden now, along with other forms of blood magic.
"Now, let your tears heal my cut."
Again, Mrs. Charles thrusted her palm into Sam's face.
Awkwardly leaning over it, Sam let a few tears drip onto the cut. Wisps of steam ross up and Mrs. Charles winced. But, in just a span of a few seconds, the cut miraculously healed—not even a scar remained. All because of Sam's tears and their healing properties.
Flexing her hand, Mrs. Charles smiled at Sam.
"Congratulations, Samantha Manson. You have passed your tests with flying colour. And now, you can pledge your allegiance to the Triple Goddess, Hecate, and her sister goddess, the Moon Goddess Selene, and sign your name in the Book of Moons and become a novice of the coven, with your graduation at the academy enabling you to be a full-fledged witch and member of the Raven Moon Coven. Now go ahead, and do it."
Sam nodded and turned to the book, ready to pledge her allegiance to Hecate and Selene.
The wind rose up, the whispers trying to dissuade her once again:
You don't know if you really want this.
You're only a young girl; you don't know what you want yet.
You'll be signing your life and loyalty away.
You'll never see your family and friends again.
You'll never have your mortal life again.
You're freedom will be signed away, forever.
You will never be a normal human again. Do you really want to give that up?
"I do," Sam whispered, "and I don't care. I will miss them, I will miss having a mortal life, but this is what I want. That, I am sure of."
Looking up at Mrs. Charles with bright, determined eyes, Sam said, "I am ready to do it."
Mrs. Charles nodded and stepped aside. Sam walked up to the stone table. The orange light of the bonfire washed over her face, the heat singeing the fine hairs on Sam's arms. Writhing in the flames were the faces of her parents and friends, people who she would leave behind once she pledged her loyalty.
People who could never be part of her witch life.
Steadying herself and staring straight into the flames, staring straight at those faces, Sam pledged, "I, Samantha Margaret Manson, daughter of Jeremy Christopher Manson and Pamela Maria Manson, granddaughter of Ida Josephine Manson, pledge myself to the Triple Goddess, Hecate, and her sister, the Moon Goddess, Selene. I swear my undying loyalty to them. I swear my allegiance to them and the coven. And I swear my complete fidelity to them and my future studies as a witch and as a novice, and future member, of the Raven Moon Coven, as all the Manson women and men who have the gift of magic have done before me. And on my life and the magic that flows through my veins, magic that was gifted to me by you, Goddesses of Magic and the Moon, that I will relinquish my mortal life forever and dedicate myself to you, and my future, glorious life as a witch.
"And with the moon, the stars, the flame and your watchful eyes as my witnesses," Sam went on, using the razor-sharp tip of the pen to prick her finger, the Book of Moons opening to the page where all the witches before her have signed their names, and let it drop onto the space beside a blank line, "I will sign my name in my own blood, and tie not only my undivided loyalty, but myself and my magic, to you, the Five Elements, the stars, moon and sun, the weather and the world beyond our own. And in doing so, I will make the vow that I will only use my magic for good, and not let the forces of darkness and evil corrupt me.
"That, is my pledge of allegiance to you, oh gracious Goddesses."
Picking up the pen, Sam dipped the already-bloodstained tip into the droplet of blood and pressed it to the worn parchment-like paper. With careful strokes, Sam wrote her name, ignoring the whispers that tried to convince her to not do this, until the last stroke was made, and her name was staring right back at her, the blood it was written in already changing to wet, black ink.
A rush of power flooded through Sam, and it was all the dark-haired girl could do to keep from screaming. It raced through her, set her blood aflame and froze it at once. Ice, fire and electricity filled her until that was all she was, the might of this ancient magic drowning her, but not killing her exactly.
And then, it finished.
The power flowed out, leaving her blood singing, the tips of her fingers tingling. Sam stumbled back, still feeling the effects of the powerful magic being given to her, until that too ebbed away. Panting, Sam turned to look at the coven and Mrs. Charles, who was smiling broadly.
"Welcome to the witch life, Novice Samantha Manson."
And done!
What's this? Another Danny Phantom AU story? Dang right it's another Danny Phantom AU story! And a story I wanted to publish on Halloween, but better late than never, right?
So in this story, Sam is a witch who, when she was seven, went through a sort-of initiation where, if she passed her tests, signed her name and made a pledge of allegiance to the goddesses Hecate and Selene, she would begin her life as a witch and as a novice, continuing her magical education at the Viper Academy, where if she graduates she will become a full member of the coven, but at a price: She will have to leave her mortal life behind and never see her mortal family and friends again.
I have to admit, this was inspired by the new Netflix show, "The Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina", which is a darker adapting of the Sabrina The Teenage Witch comics(and a show that I got insanely addicted to), but this will be unique enough that it won't be see as a complete rip-off of it.
I hope that you enjoyed this!
Please read and review!
GhostWriterGirl out!