Prologue - Encounter in the Night
The full moon hung brightly upon the night sky with an unexpected tint of red, those superstitious would ponder that something monumentally nefarious must have happened in this night for such phenomena, however at this moment few are aware that a new journey in the darkness has been started this night which and nobody could truly understand the significance of it.
The mortals of Greendale passed for a great scare, believing a Cyclone would devastate their homes, only to be relieved nothing happened, few understanding the extent of danger caused and subverted by the secret coven of witches hidden in the city. The girl whom was the center of it all now encounters herself in the roof of her home, how new platinum hair seeming to resonate with light of the moon and energy beyond anything she had known, now hers to wield.
A soft sigh escapes from her mouth, many feelings difficult to be expressed and the last months pass through her mind, like a movie. Months of proud challenge to the old traditions of her religion, fighting for freedom, the many mistakes made during this time, the collapse of her relationship, until her final capitulation on this very night to protect those she loved, freedom for power, power she wielded almost effortlessly to destroy an enemy that so many witches and warlocks trembled behind protective spells.
"Hellfire…the strongest fire, the flames that burn forever in hell and even the caster himself if he is not careful, and yet, it was so… easy. Was that the reason the Dark Lord insisted so very much for me to sign the book? Talent?" This same thought has been rewinding in her mind ever since she said goodbye to Harvey and isolated herself in the rooftop upon seeing. What scared her the most is remembering those witches that used hellfire, having studied their histories with Aunt Zelda, in particular one Spellman witch that ended up dead after failing to control the cursed fire.
The scariest part wasn't the ease she had with the spell, truly, even if it unsettled her, but the sensation of satisfaction that she felt while listening to the screams of the Greendale Thirteen and watching the emerald flames. She understood that was probably the result of them being the cause for her so sign her freedom away and the rush of power for the first time and yet, she saw in herself what many other witches were, viciousness, pettiness, a capacity for cruelty for their enemies, all things that honestly disgusted her until a few hours ago, however now she could barely muster disgust or guilty, only the fear of turning into someone else and picturing her friends reaction to it.
"I am a horrible person, aren't I?" muses the witch aloud to herself.
"You..are..you..girl. Don't..fear..or..hate..accept." A chilling voice echoes in her mind, one that she had just listened a few hours ago while in that fated clearing of her botched baptism. Her whole body freezes for a moment, barely registering the words themselves.
"He is…advising me?" She couldn't help the incredulity that settled in her mind after his words registered in her conscious mind. The atmosphere had become oppressive without her notice and her breath was heavy and yet the power in her veins became much more active, the pressure serving as a tonic that gave a peculiar feeling.
Sabrina's experience with the Dark Lord has always been negative, filled with defiance and yet just a few hours ago she swore to answer his calling in exchange for power beyond of mortal understanding and he delivered his side, could he be here to demand her side of the bargain already? The uneasy that has been developed turned in despair and then resignation in a record time, but she could not resist to ask a gnawing doubt of hers ever since she discovered the lengths the church had gone to secure her allegiance.
"Why do you spend so much time for me, why do you even care!?" Her tone was firmer than she felt and she suspected the Dark Lord already knew that.
"When...I...call...on...you, girl, you...must...answer, for...you...are...Lady Pandemonium" The oppressive and heavy atmosphere that settled around herself disappeared after his words and she could feel herself breathing easier, however, the platinum-haired witch barely slept that night, remembering the words "Lady…Pandemonium".