I am so sorry about the long wait, I haven't updated since June!

So, firstly I want to thank every person that has followed, favoured and reviewed this fiction.

And I'm going to say it (or write it, in this case) just this once: this is not inspired by AHS: Coven. Okay? I would have otherwise put it down as a crossover; ShadowClub and LookOutReader, when I said I liked constructive criticism I didn't mean your type of comments. By stating : "this is like AHS, and I don't like it" you don't really voice a valuable opinion regarding my fic. So take your bitchy commentary elsewhere. Peace.

Now back to the story...

Chapter IV: The Bravery of the Cowards

Rachel spent most of her days studying. Or catching up.

She'd wake, have breakfast with Emma, and study. She took lots of notes -as only a good student would do- and wrote down her theories regarding her new...life.

She'd exchanged a few words with Marley, regarding her gardening, but other than that the other girls had only talked to her a few times, and only in regards of the mundane world.

Rachel felt bad for them. They'd lived their whole lives isolated from society.

Emma however politely suggested not to divulge in such matters, according to her, no good would come out of it.

Sue had been a different story. Her brusque personality was...quite a handful to take in. She obviously didn't like Rachel and thought it funny to give her a few degrading nicknames. The girl didn't understand her behaviour, usually her professors adored her. Okay maybe not adored but never disliked her that much, regardless of her once upon a time strong personality, they appreciated the effort she put into her work.

They'd all left to 'train in the woods' and Rachel had found herself alone in the huge house. Curiosity got the better of her and she left her desk and books, heading down to have a little snack. All the food they had were branded bio, Rachel was quite sure that there weren't any shops for miles and miles, and an organic food shop? Dream on.

It had started to rain and the sky was now clouded by dark clouds.

Inside it was eerily quiet, the only sound was that of the rain against the windows.

Rachel inched closer to the sliding doors that were in the living room, she slid one open, and stuck her head outside.

The cold and fresh air mixed with the familiar smell of the rain, was intoxicatingly pleasing.

It cleared her mind a little.

"You'll catch a cold moron."

Rachel's head snapped back in. Quinn was standing a few feet away looking smug.

"Planning on going somewhere?" She questioned, inching threateningly close.

"Like you do?" Rachel was quick to retort.

Quinn sneered, raising a perfectly immaculate eyebrow. "What I do is none of your concern, outsider. You don't have a say in what we do."

That was incredibly ridiculous. "Are you being serious right now?"

Quinn's frown deepened. "I am. Do not provoke me girl."

Rachel remained puzzled at the other girl unusual way of speaking. "Or what?" She prodded.

Quinn lips parted but not a word was spoken. Her concentrated look was what alarmed Rachel. Her mouth moved yet no word was uttered. Her eyes were partly closed.

She looked otherworldly, as if something had taken possession of her body.

Worried Rachel was about to shake her before realising that her own body had frozen. She couldn't move. Her chest felt heavy as stone, and each breath was agonising.

She is doing this to you…

Quinn no longer seemed in a trance. Her coy smile made Rachel want to rip her face off. And Rachel wasn't usually one for violence.

"Weakling." The blonde girl murmured closing the distance between them. She lifted an elegant long hand to the shorter girl's chest and pushed. Rachel fell, painfully hitting the floor. She couldn't turn around or call out for help. She was a rag-doll, and Quinn, the puppet master, was in complete control. It was terrifying and unsettling.

Rachel knew she was witnessing magic.

Witches had never felt so real.

It was then, while she was immobilised on the floor, that Rachel wondered wherever Tom must felt the same thing. Not the pain, but the fear of having no control whatsoever over something so unnatural...And although so far, all the books she'd read said that magic was as natural as air itself...the concept of it was...unthinkable.

"Tell me who sent you?" Quinn demanded, towering menacingly above the other girl.

"No one you dumb blonde!" Rachel screamed pulling the taller girl down.

They tussled on the floor, pulling and hitting one another.

Emma's booming voice stopped them from continuing. "Enough, both of you!"

The two girl eyed each other carefully before pushing themselves up.

"Now, I don't like to think of you as petty children, but you do like to prove me wrong."

Rachel was about to defend herself -she started it! but stopped short when she met Emma's stoic stare.

"I've already asked the other girls to behave accordingly, no more sneaking behind my back Quinn, understand?"

Apparently the other girls secret meeting hadn't been so secretive after all. Not that Rachel wasn't glad about it. Hopefully they would all stop behaving like...silly bullies.

Bullies.

Whatever Emma said next was lost on her.

It was odd how quickly Rachel had gotten used to her new home. Maybe because for the past year she had been in a sort of limbo, and hadn't noticed how much she'd missed being with other people. Not that after Finn she'd been completely alone. Her fathers might have ignored her new depressed self but there was always Tom. Tom who had been her only friend… but it was better not to dwell on Tom.

Her future might have not been secure, and really, it wasn't. Discovering that she was a witch had been quite the shocker. And knowing that she was the youngest witch? Yeah, not completely stress-free, not when she knew there were otherworldly creatures roaming around and about and killing other witches. Although according to Emma there hadn't been any recent deaths.

She started attending the same lessons as the other girls, and weirdly enough by the time December stroll by she had come to think of both Marley and Britt as her own friends. Obviously, she wasn't about to tell them as much, it was her secret to keep.

Santana hadn't stopped behaving like...well Santana, and Tina was very shy yet they did talk occasionally.

Brittany in particular loved hearing about the outside; Emma might have forbade her from going on about her previous life but Britt had a way of making Rachel at ease that it would have been practically impossible not to blabber. She avoided talking about her last year, that had been a no-brainer.

Most importantly, Rachel had come to love magic. She had learnt an array of different spells and often practised them with Emma's sensation that magic brought was addictive.

It seemed that Rachel had found a place in which to belong.

If only it weren't for the dawning sensation of imminent doom that came every night before she fell into a relentless sleep. It wasn't as if she wanted to spoil her new life...it was just hard to ignore those terribly vivid nightmares. Nightmare in which she often wandered in the same desolated land while red rain pour from a pitch black sky, the same eerie voices she'd first dreamt of would chant creepy rhymes; the worst part was that once she woke she would still smell the blood, the human blood. It's rusty and overpowering stench would not abandon her for days afterwards.

Emma had noticed something but had never pressured her into spilling her guts about it. "If you feel like talking, I'm here for you."

Rachel had felt awkward at the older woman's words. It seemed weird that the only adult figure she could rely on was a woman she'd just met. And their first meeting hadn't painted Emma to be a trustworthy figure.

It was after one particularly bad night that the girls were told to visit the woods on their own.

"Me and Sue have business to attend to. We won't be away long, we should be back come dawn." Emma had announced that morning, earning quite a mixed reaction from her students, Britt in particular didn't seem to like the idea of being 'alone'.

Regardless they left, and Rachel was for the first time alone with her fellow students.

As instructed by Sue they left for the woods, as they would have done any other Tuesday. They didn't talk much during their training, and Rachel appreciated that. Her mind was still reeling after her not-so-pleasing night. After their usual routine, which involved lots of running and jumping, she remained in one of the many wood's clearings, practising a minor spell when she heard someone approach her.

Quinn's blonde hair was pulled up into a high ponytail, she looked ready to kick some ass. Hopefully not Rachel's one.

"How may I help you?"Rachel mockingly asked, it was hard to pretend that she and Quinn were on good terms. They didn't fight, but they were a long way from 'okay' with one another.

Quinn didn't take the bait and sat on a log, completely at ease with her surroundings. She grew up in these woods, unlike me.

"I was just checking on your...technique, Emma asked me too."

Rachel gave a noncommittal reply, of course she asked you. "Well, I'm doing fine so…"

Quinn cocked her head sideways, her hardened expression dissolving in a more curious one. "Are you trying to change those leaves?"

Rachel sighed, resigned, before nodding. "I've just finished a volume on 'Recast' spells. I thought I might try to…"

"They aren't the easiest of spells, not many witches can do them."

"Warping reality never comes easily. I doubt these leaves want to change colour anyway, I mean they look good in green."

The sound of Quinn's laughter made her whip her head towards her. Quinn caught herself and 'recomposed' herself, it wasn't done quickly enough to wipe Rachel's grin from her face. It felt like a victory of sorts to make the ice queen smile.

Quinn picked up one of the leaves and inspected it. "The trick is not to mind. You have to believe that the world doesn't affect you the way it should. Otherwise it will be impossible to alter your reality." As she spoke the long, thin and needle-like leaf morphed slowly and then all at once into a flower, precisely a red rose.

Rachel's mouth opened but she was speechless. It was the single most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.

Quinn had gotten up and was now standing opposite to her. "There, you can keep it." She gently pushed the rose into Rachel's clammy hands.

Rachel desperately wanted to say something, thanks? It wouldn't have rendered how thankful she really was. So she just inspected the rose, it's velvety petals were strangely warm, and it's vivid red colour seemed to be glowing.

The trick is not to mind, Rachel closed her eyes and lightly squeezed the hand that was now holding the rose. Seconds trickled buy and nothing happened. She didn't care, she was focused on a dream she had only a few weeks before. The dream were she was running after a boy, a young boy. They played with one another by a willow tree. For some reason, that was obviously beyond her, she wanted to see that same willow tree again. She wanted to know that it really was real.

Quinn's surprised gasp made her open her eyes. The rose had fallen to the ground, and it seemed to be expanding. The earth beneath their feet shook, and both girls lost their balance and fell to the ground.

It lasted barely a few heartbeats, and then it was over. Rachel could once again hear the forests reassuring sounds.

Head spinning she stood onto her uncertain feet feeling bitterly disappointed.

Not only had she achieved nothing, but she probably had managed to ruin Quinn's beautiful rose. Speaking of Quinn, she eyed the other girl, fearful of her reaction.

But Quinn wasn't angry, her eyes were fixated on something. Rachel followed her gaze and stopped short from saying whatever apologise she'd managed to conjure up.

The willow tree was there. Only a few feet from them; as if it had always been there.

"That was...incredible." Quinn spoke those words without tearing her eyes away from the tree. "Why a willow tree?"

"I have no idea why... maybe I just like them. I think me and willow trees share the same...vibe."

Quinn smiled again. Shy as it had begun it soon stretched into a full grin. "It was pretty wicked."

Rachel's cheek grew hotter and she gave a half hearted shrug. That's when she smelt it: the rose. While Quinn's rose no longer was there, since it had morphed into something else, it's perfume still hung in the air.

Now that is wicked.

The woman's hands shook.

She could feel it, the change.

Something had happened.

The boy was sleeping, completely unaware of the importance of that moment.

She knew that she could never reach her in time.

But her chant would.

Quinn and Rachel walked back to the house together, the other girls had apparently already left. They didn't speak to each other, but for once their silence wasn't one of animosity. Rachel felt happier than she'd been in a long time.

Their home had come into view, Rachel felt at once both relieved and sad. She wished that she and Quinn could just wander in the woods all day. What is wrong with you?

Quinn stopped in her tracks, and Rachel foolishly thought that maybe the blonde girl had also enjoyed their outing as much as she had. As if.

"Something is wrong."

Those weren't the words the brunette had expected her to say. "What do you mean?" She looked around, it all looked perfectly normal. Nothing had changed since they'd left the house that same morning.

A scream tore the air. An agonisingly pained sound that made Rachel jump. "What was that?!"

Quinn looked as shocked as she felt. "I don't…"

The scream continued, and Quinn bolted towards it. Rachel called after her, bad idea, never run towards the danger. S

he hesitated before running after her, to hell with danger.

They ran between the trees while the scream grew louder and louder, before ceasing completely. By then they'd reached a clearing. Tina was on the ground, her uniform was stained by a dark and quickly expanding red stain, her head hung heavy to one side, her eyes were glassy and empty. All those details made Rachel shiver.

Britt was holding her, rocking her body gently, while crying.

"Britt? What the hell is going on?" Quinn shouted, crouching beside her.

Rachel felt sick. Tom, he was also...

Brittany just sobbed harder.

Quinn gently yet firmly shook her. "Pull yourself together! Where are Santana and Marley?"

How could she be so brusque? Rachel shook away that thought. Quinn was right. What had happened?

"They...went...a-a-after them."

"Who? Who did this to Tina?"

Brittany didn't have time to answer for yet another scream made it's way trough the woods.

Rachel knew it was Marley.

Her body moved before her mind could tell her otherwise. She ran towards the scream.

Quinn, or maybe Brittany, called after her but she kept running.

She ran until her lungs felt about to explode, and she stopped only when she saw her, Marley. She was being held down by a massive shadow. Not a shadow, a creature. Something not human. It's body vaguely recalled one of a person, but the many spike-like bulges that covered it's body were anything but. Definitely not normal. It had horns and claws, it was otherworldly.

Rachel's brain regained it's consciousness, what was she to do?

Improvise, you are good at that. "Hey! Leave her!" She roared, she had to get it off Marley. Hoping that that thing would take the bait, even if it probably didn't understand her, hopefully it could at least hear her.

It did the trick. The creature whipped it's head towards her, revealing a mouth full of rows of sharp needle-like teeth.

Shit.

It was horrifying, and it was coming towards her.

Fear took over, freezing her on the spot.

She could not look away.

It will all be over now.

She had given up all to easily, but who could blame her? Tom and Finn were no longer alive, and she had only truly cared for them. Yes, maybe it was finally time to go.

A whisper filled her hears, brought by the cold wind, against all hope, it reached her.

"My child, you are more than this.

Vice is your desire,

daughter of blood and fire,

sinful from birth,

vice is your desire,

mortal flesh and bones,

undying chore,

for you will yield their powers,

yet be mine for every desire.

Corrupt their hearts."

By the end of the chant, the creature was towering over her. It stank of blood, as if it had come right out of one of Rachel's own nightmares. Its empty eye-sockets were the single most terrifying sight Rachel had ever seen, yet she did not scream.

I am better than you.

She parted her lips and said as much. "A pride look corrupts you." As she spoke that unfamiliar spell she trusted her hands towards her enemy, and from her fingertips came a flash of light; the creature leapt -far too late- as her lighting struck its target. The thing screeched as it caught fire, in a few seconds its lament ceased and its lifeless carcass hit the ground, while the fire vanished into thin air.

"You did well."

Rachel fell to the ground, and the world turned black.

The boy didn't believe the woman, not at first.

She had taken him from his home into the wilderness.

She also kept calling him son, which he disliked immensely. He knew his mother, and that woman wasn't her.

Still, he had not tried to leave. Not yet.

For he believed her when she said he had a sister.

He knew it, deep down, deep in his bones, that it was true.

So he stayed with her.

She often disappeared, occasionally leaving one of her minions behind, to keep an eye on him.

He was soon enough able to make certain things happen, things that were unexplainable.

Weeks passed by, and he soon forgot about his other family. Or life, for that matter.

He would dream of horribly real monsters and metallic smelling rain.

He occasionally would dream of his younger self and a girl, who he believed to be his sister.

One December morning he woke with a start, he had once again dreamt of her.

And in that dream she was standing by a willow tree.

Rachel pried her eyes open, was her alarm clock broken? The light transpiring trough the curtains had woken her, and she pulled herself into a sitting position.

Brittany was sitting on a chair, by the foot of her bed. Her blonde head rested on the blankets, her breathing suggested that she was fast asleep. Her face was red and puffy. She had cried, a lot.

Rachel recalled then the monstrous thing that had hurt Tina...Tina, was she alright?

Rachel carefully yet quickly extracted herself from underneath her duvet. Outside her room the corridor was dark, the window's shutters were closed. She wobbled on uncertain legs to the stairs, before rushing down to the ground floor.

She heard Santana's voice, and felt sort of relieved. She's okay.

They were sitting in the living room, Santana, Quinn and Marley. What about Tina?

Their discussion stopped short once they saw her. She smiled uncertainly, they must now what happened. And why.

Marley enveloped her in a tight hug. "You saved me Rachel!"

I killed that thing. I did it. "Where is Tina?"

Marley looked ready to cry and that was her feared answer: she was dead.

"We couldn't do anything to…"Santana whispered, her eyes were glistening with tears. "I tried to...my spells did nothing."

"We knew it was too late. We'd already felt her leave us." Rachel hadn't felt Tina die so she didn't understand. "No spell can bring her back." Quinn's voice was as cold as ever. Unlike the other girls, she seemed to be calm and collected.

"Was it a demon?"

Santana's bitter laugh lacked any humour. "No, we would all be dead if it had been. There aren't many demons, and they certainly wouldn't bother killing weaklings like ourselves. They send their servants to do the dirty job."

"Are those the things that have been hunting us down? I mean witches."

"Yes," Quinn sighed rubbing her temples. "Emma and Sue must be on their way back. They know that one of us is dead. You can go lay down Rachel, that lighting spell you did...forget it. You are probably tired, go back to sleep."

"You should rest too Quinn, you carried Tina here, you must be tired now." Marley gently said, the concern showing on her face was practically palpable.

Quinn grumbled but obeyed, and together they took the stairs to the fourth floor, leaving behind the other girls.

"Spit it out." Quinn hissed facing her door.

"What?"

Quinn turned towards her with an unreadable expression. "Say it."

No point playing dumb, that's what she meant. "I didn't feel Tina die. I don't know why, I just don't feel this connection. I believed she was alive when I woke."

Quinn did not speak immediately, and when she did her voice wavered. "I envy that. We feel it. Each time they kill one of us, it's painful and horrible. The worst thing is when we die in larger numbers. Our mothers had gone for a hunt together when they were killed. All at once. I thought I could never withstand such a soul crushing pain."
What could Rachel say to that? I'm sorry?

She didn't. It only seemed fair for her to be honest in return.

"I can't imagine...such a thing. But I did feel like dying too when my boyfriend died. He...I loved him, more than anything and we had finally gotten out of our claustrophobic town when he died. And after that I felt as I'd died too. I was a zombie, a shadow. For nearly a year the only thing that kept me from killing myself was that I am a and always will be a coward. And I couldn't do it. I guess, what I'm trying to say is that I understand, in some way how you must have felt. Even without a real connection to Finn."

"You are not a coward Rachel." Quinn's words were barely more than a whisper and she immediately disappeared into her bedroom leaving Rachel alone in the empty corridor.

She hadn't told her that the single worst feeling she had experienced wasn't when Finn, her high-school sweetheart, had died.

Tom. His name alone made her lips quiver.

That night, that horrible night when everything changed, she had to be pulled away from his lifeless body by force. She'd shouted and screamed a series of obscenities she'd never even had thought about, while they took her away from him.

"Let me go! I want to be with him!"

No one knew just how much she'd loved him, the boy she killed.

And now, the body count increased.

Two.

Her eyes lingered on Tina's bedroom which was closed.

One way or another, death always found it's way to her.