The Witch Bearer
Disclaimer: Twilight and all it's characters belong to Stephanie Meyer
Chapter 13.
The day broke with an eerie calmness. No birds sang in the morning sunlight. No breeze stirred the nearby leaves.
It was as though the world was empty and still, as though time had stopped.
Bella woke to the silence and felt a tingle of awareness in the recesses of her mind, a blackness that heralded evil, heralded Naberius.
Carefully, she eased from the bed and from Edward's arms. She pulled on her jeans and a t-shirt, carefully adding her magic amulets as well. Edward did not wake. She eased out of the RV and into the dawning day.
The fire had died down to glowing embers and a couple of the guards nodded to her in greeting. She was offered a cup of coffee from the campfire and she smiled, making her way over to them.
"Doesn't your RV have a kitchen?" she asked quietly.
They grinned, and one replied, "Yeah, but it's not the same. If you camp, then you should have food cooked from the fire."
Bella chuckled softly and sipped it, her eyes scanning their surroundings.
"It's been quiet."
She nodded faintly, "Just be careful. I can feel his presence. He's close."
They studied her before nodding.
Bella finished off the coffee in her mug, and was soon joined by the others of her coven.
Alice looked a little tired, but Bella knew that Jasper had fed from her by the hickey looking mark on Alice's neck. Bella's own mark was rather faded now, but still visible if one looked closely, but Alice's mark was a vivid reminder of Jasper's mark of over protectiveness and possessiveness he felt about her.
Rosalie looked pensive, but tried to be her usual, jovial self. Kate and Esme were nervous, but the five of them went for a walk together so that Bella could speak to them, give them one last heart to heart before the battle.
It had been tempting to Bella to get out her scrying bowl to find out which of her friends she would lose, but she refused to do it, not wanting to know beforehand.
Everything was to happen for a reason and if she knew about it, would it change anything she might do to change the outcome? Would the outcome she hoped for be the right outcome if she changed her tactics to save someone that was meant to be injured or die?
The greater good would be to destroy Naberius. She had to keep that in mind above all things.
They walked to the Circle and stepped within its hallowed ring. Each naturally took their places in the Circle.
Alice took the East quarter, as she was the witch of Air and represented the Goddess Khaos. Khaos, in Ancient Greek mythology, was the lower atmosphere which surrounded the earth - invisible air and gloomy mist. Khaos literally meant the gap, the space between heaven and earth. Rosalie took the West quarter, as she was the witch of Water and the representative of the Goddess Kalypso, a Greek water Goddess. Kalypso's name means "Hidden" or "Hider". Esme took the North quarter, as she was the witch of the Earth and the representative of the Goddess Gaia, the Earth Goddess. Kate took the South quarter, representing Fire, and the Goddess Hestia.
Bella took the center, for she represented Spirit and Magic. She was the channel, the instrument, and the director, the High Priestess.
They all sat down in their spots, sitting cross-legged on the ground, their hands on their knees, palms down. Their backs were straight, sitting tall, yet relaxed. Bella led them in the grounding and centering meditation, using this to help focus their thoughts and energies, to keep them from worrying too much about what was to come. When they were all relaxed and much more calm, she smiled and they all joined one another in the center of the circle to talk.
"I want everyone to know that I'm really grateful for your friendship these past couple of years," she said to them, "Even now…at this junction in time, when we are in the greatest danger of our lives, that you are willing to help me despite the odds, it means a lot to me."
The others reached out and touched her arms, "It will turn out. You'll see."
But at what cost, Bella wondered.
They continued on, carrying on their conversations, going over the plan, remembered their spells. They each had a mirror they would use for protection, a personal weapon, as well as their spells, but it was Bella that would be the most vulnerable. Naberius wanted her and she would be too busy trying to bind him, then banish him, and would not be able to protect herself. It was up to the other four in the Circle to keep Naberius from interrupting Bella.
In the Circle, the witches held the greatest amount of power, but even then, it was going to be a very tight battle. Naberius was a formidable demon in his own right, made even more powerful by the kills he'd made and the curse against the Swan family.
The Circle would not hold him out for very long and once he was inside, the battle would be fierce and fast paced.
The men were aware of where the women were and on occasion, they would take a walk by to make sure everything was OK. However, they left them alone to do what they needed to do.
Edward was not all thrilled. He had not been happy to wake alone, and that few minutes of panic did not sit well with him. It wasn't until he had hurriedly dressed and stepped out of the RV that he learned she had gone into the woods with her coven sisters.
Jasper joined them after sunset and with final preparations and plans, they set off to meet up with the women.
Naberius shimmered into view just as the moon came into view over the circle. He was in fine form this evening, having just recently fed on the terror and death of another helpless victim.
He laughed aloud, his laughter ringing through the woods, and he made his way toward the Circle's edge.
As a supernatural creature, he could see the edge of the Circle clearly, glowing with a white light. He knew that if he tried to pass over the boundary, it would hurt him.
Each of the quarters had one of the witches. They stood back far enough as not to be grabbed and pulled through, out of the Circle, but still stood as sentinels to protect the Swan.
Bella stood in the center of the Circle, at an altar. She looked up when he came into view, her eyes going for him, knowing he was there.
Bella picked up a long piece of white thread and a small square mirror, about the shape of a deck of cards. It was framed in black wood and in the wood was inscriptions of white. They were strange glyphs, ancient writing long since lost to mortal man.
She looked at him and spoke, "Naberius, I call you forth to hear my words and will. Henceforth, you shall do no more harm, nor shall kill. Bound to me by ancient curse, so shall I be freed by time long passed, but you shall not be unleashed, instead held fast."
Naberius could feel the rising of power and see the swirling tendrils seeking him. He roared with rage and took to the air, furious at her audacity. How dare the little witch try to use magic against him! As if HE could be held against his will by her little tricks!
He beat against the boundary of the Circle, creating a sizzling noise as he tried to penetrate. His claws scraped and tore at the shields.
Bella took a deep breath in and used the scents of the magic herbs to calm her. She needed to focus. Glancing at the others, she could see they were on alert, watching Naberius. They all knew he would be able to break through the boundary and were ready.
She began to wind the thread around the mirror, chanting, "Wound and bound, wound and bound, so the words of will resound. I bind Naberius in this magic glass, held for all time, trapped in misty past. Bind his evil for eternity, times three times three times three. As I will this, so will it be!"
Naberius gave an ear piercing shriek and both Edward and Jasper wanted to open fire on him, but could not, not without the risk of hitting one of the witches, or somehow turning the tide into Naberius' favor.
The men were antsy and their fingers itched to fire their weapons, but they waited for Edward and Jasper's orders.
The moment Naberius breached the barrier, the witches were in motion. It was obvious they had never done battle before, but what they lacked in experience, they gave their all in their effort.
As Naberius dove for them, the witches raised their hands, and he shrieked in rage. They were armed with mirrors! He moved back, trying to maneuver around them, to get to Bella, but they were ready to block with him the mirrors.
Bella was still chanting the spell and the magic she was raising was getting stronger. She was beginning to glow a golden color, and tendrils grew from the mirror, wavering in the air like octopus legs, seeking prey.
Naberius could feel the draw of the spell, the binding, and it infuriated him. He started attacking the witches to better try and destroy them to get to Bella. Attacking one meant four others to use their mirrors against him. Still, he had to fight the spell, the magic, and the witches. He had to claim Bella, steal her magic and her soul.
He turned his attention to the witches, his goal was to destroy them. Perhaps striking them down would cause Bella to falter.
He turned to the weakest one. Esme. He snarled at her, running toward her, claws outstretched.
Esme was so horrified that she could not move. It was different when one was protecting another, but to be the target, it was horrifying. She could see the black aura surrounding Naberius, could feel how it tried to attack her own aura, suck in her powers.
Then, suddenly, she was falling to the ground as she was shoved from her spot, breaking the stillness she was under. She rolled and brought the mirror up, but it hadn't been Naberius that knocked her down. She watched in horror as Alice was struck by the demon, they both went down to the ground.
Naberius snarled and clawed at Alice, she struggled beneath him and cursed, then screamed as the pain of his claws penetrated and broke skin and flesh.
Jasper looked stunned at what he saw, and then all hell broke loose. He roared in rage and ran through the boundary, ignoring the pain of it. He dove at Naberius, fangs extended, nails long and sharp. He knocked Naberius off of Alice and the two fought.
Alice was dragged back from the fray by the coven and she groaned in pain. She was cold and weak, and knew she was dying, but just couldn't raise up enough emotion to care anymore. The girls tried to staunch the bleeding, but there was just so many wounds and Naberius' poison was starting to spread.
Jasper, she thought, I'm sorry.
Bella continued to chant, the spell was getting stronger and the glowing tendrils were lengthening, becoming larger.
She could feel Naberius fighting the draw, the darkness of his aura was saving him from the binding.
She was so close to succeeding, but she didn't have enough within her.
Trust in your magic and let the rest happen as it happens and it will be as it should be.
Trust in her magic.
She sobbed softly.
"Goddess, help me!"
She felt a warmth envelope her and a calmness spreading. The scent of flowers wafted over her.
She heard a voice in her mind, genteel and kind, loving, yet filled with strength and power.
"Are you prepared to sacrifice who you are?"
"Please, Mother Goddess, help me in this battle against Naberius!"
"Are you prepared to sacrifice who you are, my child?"
Bella did not hesitate. If she must die to defeat this evil then so be it.
" YES!!!" screamed Bella.
"So be it."
Bella felt a great rushing of power coming from the earth, and all of the magic they had charged their items came to her. She was a living battery of magic, a conduit of power.
Bella spread her arms and slowly lifted from the ground, glowing brighter and brighter until she was nothing but light. She continued to chant the words, and the tendrils exploded forward until they captured Naberius.
Naberius screamed in pain as the tendrils surrounded him, binding him, pulling him from Jasper. He struggled and cursed, but to no avail. He was being drawn to Bella and the mirror.
Jasper quickly rolled over and scrambled toward Alice, taking her into his arms. Her pulse was weak and her breathing shallow. He did the only thing he could do. He bit into his wrist, tearing a wound open. The blood welled up and over, and he pressed the wound to Alice's mouth.
"Drink, Alice. Don't die on me!"
The blood filled her mouth but she did not swallow. It trickled down her throat and he massaged her throat, coaxing her to swallow before she choked on the blood.
"Damn it, Alice! Drink!"
He continued to feed her his blood, never once did she swallow on her own volition. When he thought she had enough, he licked his wounds closed and scooped her into his arms. He stood and hurried away with her.
The other witches watched in awe as Bella became the embodiment of the Mother Goddess. This was wholly different than the ritual to invoke the Goddess!
Bella drew Naberius to her. He was struggling, his wings and arms pinned down so he could not fight. The bright light hurt him, weakened him. He snarled and fought against it, but could not free himself. She continued to chant the Binding spell, even though the words were unnecessary now. Intent and Will had been long surpassed by magic and power, rendering the actual speaking of the words unneeded.
The air was charged with so much power that it crackled like static electricity. They would even see the little lightning bolts that radiated from Bella.
They knelt on the ground before her.
"Witch! Whore!" Naberius spat out at her as the tendrils drew him to her.
Bella smiled, like a mother to a wayward son, calmly and lovingly. Her tone became soft and soothing, but the words remained the same.
"Wound and bound, wound and bound, so the words of will resound. I bind Naberius in this magic glass, held for all time, trapped in misty past. Bind his evil for eternity, times three times three times three. As love is the law, so will it be!"
Naberius screamed as he was pulled into the mirror, and then there was silence, except for the sound of Bella's magic.
Edward and the rest of the men watched in mute awe. Never in all of their lives had they seen anything like this and they would have been hard pressed to believe it had they not been here to witness it.
He couldn't help but be proud of Bella, of her strength, her courage, her abilities. He loved her. More than his own life, he loved her.
Bella slowly sank back to the ground and looked at the kneeling witches. She smiled and made her way over to them.
"I am proud of you, my Daughters," she said.
The witches knew this was not Bella speaking, and they looked at her in awe and love.
"You have done well. Bella is free from her curse, as are the Swans."
The glow brightened and then exploded with a great clap of thunder that shook the ground. Drifting lights fell around them, like glowing snowflakes, and was absorbed into the earth. Bella was left standing there, the mirror in her hand, its surface misty and clouded. She blinked, and then slowly crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Bella slowly climbed up from unconsciousness into waking. She left her eyes closed, mostly because she was just too tired to open them. She knew she was on a bed, that Edward was near, holding her hand, and she could hear voices some distance from them.
"I don't feel dead," she whispered.
Edward lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed it, "You're not. You just fainted."
"Did we win?"
"Yes, love. You did."
"How is everyone?"
Edward hesitated in replying and it was that hesitation that made her open her eyes, fighting the exhaustion to do so.
"Edward?"
"Bella…Alice…" he broke off, seeing the pain in Bella's face.
"She's…dead?"
"It's not that easy, Bella. Jasper's with her. He tried to Embrace her after Naberius attacked her. She's not responding like she should. We don't know why. She's not dead, but…"
Bella closed her eyes, tears spilling over. Edward moved to lie down with him, caressing her face, "Shh, Bella. Don't cry."
"Anyone else hurt?" she said softly, her throat tight with the sobs she was trying to control.
"No."
Bella was silent for a long time. Edward continued to caress her face, kiss her hand, comfort her. She was grateful for his presence, needing his warmth and his strength. She fell asleep in his arms.