Part 10: Darkness
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Central Park
==========
"We have to get her healed," Calliope knew she had to take over the part of care giver. Heavynne looked traumatized, but Calliope couldn't read her at all.
Ravyn was sprawled over Kane's lap, her badly charred cheek still sizzling from the heat, emitting the sickening aroma of fried flesh. Matt was still trying to wake Lita. Austin shook his head, finally managing to stand and move over to Calliope.
"What the hell happened, woman?" he asked, his tone aggravated, blue eyes concerned.
Mick joined them, looking down at Ravyn. "She needs a hospital." He said quietly, trying to quell the need to vomit. Jericho was already retching, throwing up the Southern and cran he'd drunk that night.
"She needs healing Power-but I can't do it without Heavynne's help," the violet eyed witch paused. "But she doesn't seem all that useful right now." The blonde witch was sitting, hugging her knees, regressing after having stood up to Bearer, Undertaker and Sara. Her head was on her knees, blonde tresses falling like a curtain around her head, shielding her from the outside world.
Jericho felt better after the liquor was out of his stomach. He went over to Heavynne, putting his arm around her shoulder, talking quietly to her.
Calliope couldn't hear what he was saying, but it was obviously helping. Her sister looked up, green eyes starting to clear.
"Ravyn needs help," she whispered.
"I know," Calliope helped her sister to her feet, noting Jericho didn't move far from her side. "We can take her to Mama Moon's. It's not far from here."
Heavynne nodded, turning to Kane. "Can you carry her?"
He grunted, standing and lifting Ravyn into his arms in one motion. It was a gruesome picture. The masked giant, clothed in black from head to foot, holding the raven haired witch, her normally pale cheek charred to cinders. Luckily, it was only her cheek. Her eye was undamaged. Calliope wasn't sure if they could even fix what was damaged.
"Can you stay and make sure Matt and Lita get home safe?" Calliope asked Mick, gesturing to Matt as he finally helped Lita to her feet.
The bushy haired man nodded, brown eyes solemn and kind. "Sure," then he moved to the couple, helping Matt lead Lita to a park bench to sit on to regain her composure.
Calliope led the way, Austin walking beside her. She felt safer with him there, even if he couldn't defeat Undertaker without magick. He was like a port in a storm, strong, sturdy and always certain to be there.
She looked at him, eyeing his strong jaw, firm mouth, and bald head under the street lights. He caught her gaze, his blue eyes seemed to burn and icy fire. Then he nodded, and looked away.
"How much further, Witch?" he asked.
Calliope shook her head. Now wasn't the time to get mushy on a man. Now was the time to help her sister. Again.
Mother Moon's Shoppe
==================
Mother Moon had a shoppe near Central Park, in a run down neighbourhood accessible from the park by back alleys. The shoppe was frequented by all neighbouring magicians and spellweavers. Mother Moon was a High Priestess of a family tradition of Stregan Witchcraft. She was a hearty, middle aged Italian woman. A single mother to two sons and one daughter, and a foster mother to nearly anyone that entered her shoppe or her home.
Calliope pushed on the door of the stone building, which stood out like a sore thumb. The door was old and wooden, with "Mother Moon's Shoppe" painted on it in swirling yellow letters. Protective runes and sigils were also painted on the doorway and small window at the front.
The chimes on the door had the woman coming quickly to their aide.
"What happened?" Mother Moon asked, then stopped. She could read it all from the unconscious girl. "I see," then she looked to Calliope. "We need to build up a block around the stores so they can't find us here."
Calliope nodded, moving to the altar on the North wall. She lifted the dish of sea salt, and moved quickly around the room, blessing the building as she did so.
"By salt and Earth
Mother of Birth
Mother of Mirth
Bless us!"
She chanted, until she returned to the altar, where she lifted the dish of black ashes. She followed the same path, chanting anew.
"By ashes of Fire
By flames of the pyre
God of war and ire
Protect us!"
She chanted until she returned to the altar, where she lifted the censer of sweet smelling incense. She followed the same path, chanting anew.
"By smoke of sage
By words of age
By the mage
Purify Us!"
She chanted until she returned to the altar and set the incense back down. Then she picked up a black handled ritual dagger, following the same path, she drew a circle, then a circle from floor to ceiling. Violet energy followed the blade's path, pulsing around the group inside the buiding.
"As above!"
Calliope raised the tip of the blade above her head, then plunged it into the dirt ground of the shoppe.
"So below!"
The energy surged, blocking the senses of the Masters and the Ministry.
Mother Moon led the way to the back part of the store, where her bedroom and kitchen were housed. She had Kane lay Ravyn on the quilt on the bed. It had the pattern of a large pentacle in the center, with crescent moons all around it in circles.
The robust woman puttered about the shoppe, gathering herbs and crystals. She ground the herbs with a mortar and pestel, then added some rain water to make a paste. She looked at the group who were watching her.
The masked man, imposing in his garb of black. The bald man, sceptical blue eyes watching her with suspicion. The blonde man, interest flickering in brown eyes. Of course, Calliope and Heavynne knew what she was doing. Mother Moon grasped the two Witches' arms.
"One at the foot of the bed, one at the head of the bed. Left and right," she told them. They followed her directions.
Then she grabbed the blonde man and the masked man. She could sense Power on both of them. The masked one's power reeked of evil, but the blonde one carried a purity beyond his knowledge.
She pushed the masked one to the top of the bed on Calliope's side, and the blonde one opposite of her.
Then Mother Moon straddled Ravyn's unconscious body, rubbing the herbal paste over the charred flesh. She covered it in a pure white cloth. Then she placed a pure quartz crystal point over it, laying it on its side on the cloth.
"Link hands around us," she commanded the four, as the blue eyed man looked on. "Now, chant this," Mother Moon paused, going into the trance as she always did when great healing was called for. Her eyes rolled in the back of her head, and a white light glowed about her body.
Calliope watched in fascination. Mother Moon held Power no one knew of. She held the Power of the Mother Goddess. And tonight, Calliope could feel it.
The chant began in Mother Moon's chest, moving deep into her throat, emanating from her lips with a resonance like a church organ.
"Burned flesh
Charred skin
Heal now
Light within."
Calliope took up the chant, followed by Heavynne. Jericho followed, and she could tell he could sense the Power in the room. She looked to Kane. He was chanting, his raspy voice reverberating with the equal Power of Mother Moon. But it was Dark Power. It was magic, not Magick.
The chanting became intoxicating, and lasted for what seemed like only a few moments. But Calliope was exhausted when Mother Moon finally exited her trance, peeling the cloth from Ravyn's face to reveal the skin was healed.
Ravyn awoke slowly, seeing Mother Moon leaning over her. Calliope, Kane, Jericho and Heavynne stood around the bed, all looking exhausted.
"What happened?" the oldest cliché in the book. But Ravyn wasn't quite sure what else to ask, since the last thing she remembered was being in Central Park-and at that thought, the rest of the night came back to her. Undertaker, Paul Bearer and Sara were there. She'd stopped the Fire from Bearer, receiving it full in the cheek. The memory of the pain brought her hand to her cheek. She vaguely remembered a burning smell, the feeling of her flesh being charred under the Power. Now, she could feel only slight ripples in her skin.
Ravyn sat up. "My cheek-"
"Is healed child," Mother Moon told her. "The scars will go away as well. I will give you a salve to apply morning and night. It shall be gone in a week."
Ravyn looked at Heavynne. Her sister's eyes seemed not quite right. Broken.
She looked to Calliope. She looked different as well. Older. Or perhaps only more mature.
Then she looked to Kane. His eyes were trained her. He blinked, then said in her mind. "You're awake."
Ravyn nodded. "I'm awake," she replied aloud. She didn't want him in her mind at that moment.
Mother Moon quickly shooed the group from the bedroom, telling them Ravyn needed her rest in order to heal. Then the middle aged woman sat beside her.
"What is the darkness I see in you, Ravyn?" she asked her, her voice gentle but determined.
Ravyn stiffened. She was uncomfortable with this line of questioning. "There is no darkness in me."
"There is, child," kind gray eyes looked into her face. Ravyn slammed a wall up in her mind when she felt the prying. The woman's hands moved to her back, touching the raised markings of the raven tattoo. "It is here, it is in your stomach, your mind, and it is moving to your soul."
"That's ridiculous," Ravyn stood from the bed, pushing the woman from her. "I'm going home. I want to be in my own bed." Then she pushed through the curtain, leaving the building with a determined step.
Calliope stared after her sister, sensing something wasn't right. There was too much anger there. She took the salve from Moon Mother, the woman avoided her questioning looks. The group hurried after Ravyn, but she teleported herself, remembering how to do that from the time in the ring with Kane. She ended up in her room. She removed her clothing, going into the bathroom, and drawing a hot bath. Then she lit some candles in the room, turned off the light, locked the door and slid into the tub.
And she dreamt.
-----------------------
Central Park
==========
"We have to get her healed," Calliope knew she had to take over the part of care giver. Heavynne looked traumatized, but Calliope couldn't read her at all.
Ravyn was sprawled over Kane's lap, her badly charred cheek still sizzling from the heat, emitting the sickening aroma of fried flesh. Matt was still trying to wake Lita. Austin shook his head, finally managing to stand and move over to Calliope.
"What the hell happened, woman?" he asked, his tone aggravated, blue eyes concerned.
Mick joined them, looking down at Ravyn. "She needs a hospital." He said quietly, trying to quell the need to vomit. Jericho was already retching, throwing up the Southern and cran he'd drunk that night.
"She needs healing Power-but I can't do it without Heavynne's help," the violet eyed witch paused. "But she doesn't seem all that useful right now." The blonde witch was sitting, hugging her knees, regressing after having stood up to Bearer, Undertaker and Sara. Her head was on her knees, blonde tresses falling like a curtain around her head, shielding her from the outside world.
Jericho felt better after the liquor was out of his stomach. He went over to Heavynne, putting his arm around her shoulder, talking quietly to her.
Calliope couldn't hear what he was saying, but it was obviously helping. Her sister looked up, green eyes starting to clear.
"Ravyn needs help," she whispered.
"I know," Calliope helped her sister to her feet, noting Jericho didn't move far from her side. "We can take her to Mama Moon's. It's not far from here."
Heavynne nodded, turning to Kane. "Can you carry her?"
He grunted, standing and lifting Ravyn into his arms in one motion. It was a gruesome picture. The masked giant, clothed in black from head to foot, holding the raven haired witch, her normally pale cheek charred to cinders. Luckily, it was only her cheek. Her eye was undamaged. Calliope wasn't sure if they could even fix what was damaged.
"Can you stay and make sure Matt and Lita get home safe?" Calliope asked Mick, gesturing to Matt as he finally helped Lita to her feet.
The bushy haired man nodded, brown eyes solemn and kind. "Sure," then he moved to the couple, helping Matt lead Lita to a park bench to sit on to regain her composure.
Calliope led the way, Austin walking beside her. She felt safer with him there, even if he couldn't defeat Undertaker without magick. He was like a port in a storm, strong, sturdy and always certain to be there.
She looked at him, eyeing his strong jaw, firm mouth, and bald head under the street lights. He caught her gaze, his blue eyes seemed to burn and icy fire. Then he nodded, and looked away.
"How much further, Witch?" he asked.
Calliope shook her head. Now wasn't the time to get mushy on a man. Now was the time to help her sister. Again.
Mother Moon's Shoppe
==================
Mother Moon had a shoppe near Central Park, in a run down neighbourhood accessible from the park by back alleys. The shoppe was frequented by all neighbouring magicians and spellweavers. Mother Moon was a High Priestess of a family tradition of Stregan Witchcraft. She was a hearty, middle aged Italian woman. A single mother to two sons and one daughter, and a foster mother to nearly anyone that entered her shoppe or her home.
Calliope pushed on the door of the stone building, which stood out like a sore thumb. The door was old and wooden, with "Mother Moon's Shoppe" painted on it in swirling yellow letters. Protective runes and sigils were also painted on the doorway and small window at the front.
The chimes on the door had the woman coming quickly to their aide.
"What happened?" Mother Moon asked, then stopped. She could read it all from the unconscious girl. "I see," then she looked to Calliope. "We need to build up a block around the stores so they can't find us here."
Calliope nodded, moving to the altar on the North wall. She lifted the dish of sea salt, and moved quickly around the room, blessing the building as she did so.
"By salt and Earth
Mother of Birth
Mother of Mirth
Bless us!"
She chanted, until she returned to the altar, where she lifted the dish of black ashes. She followed the same path, chanting anew.
"By ashes of Fire
By flames of the pyre
God of war and ire
Protect us!"
She chanted until she returned to the altar, where she lifted the censer of sweet smelling incense. She followed the same path, chanting anew.
"By smoke of sage
By words of age
By the mage
Purify Us!"
She chanted until she returned to the altar and set the incense back down. Then she picked up a black handled ritual dagger, following the same path, she drew a circle, then a circle from floor to ceiling. Violet energy followed the blade's path, pulsing around the group inside the buiding.
"As above!"
Calliope raised the tip of the blade above her head, then plunged it into the dirt ground of the shoppe.
"So below!"
The energy surged, blocking the senses of the Masters and the Ministry.
Mother Moon led the way to the back part of the store, where her bedroom and kitchen were housed. She had Kane lay Ravyn on the quilt on the bed. It had the pattern of a large pentacle in the center, with crescent moons all around it in circles.
The robust woman puttered about the shoppe, gathering herbs and crystals. She ground the herbs with a mortar and pestel, then added some rain water to make a paste. She looked at the group who were watching her.
The masked man, imposing in his garb of black. The bald man, sceptical blue eyes watching her with suspicion. The blonde man, interest flickering in brown eyes. Of course, Calliope and Heavynne knew what she was doing. Mother Moon grasped the two Witches' arms.
"One at the foot of the bed, one at the head of the bed. Left and right," she told them. They followed her directions.
Then she grabbed the blonde man and the masked man. She could sense Power on both of them. The masked one's power reeked of evil, but the blonde one carried a purity beyond his knowledge.
She pushed the masked one to the top of the bed on Calliope's side, and the blonde one opposite of her.
Then Mother Moon straddled Ravyn's unconscious body, rubbing the herbal paste over the charred flesh. She covered it in a pure white cloth. Then she placed a pure quartz crystal point over it, laying it on its side on the cloth.
"Link hands around us," she commanded the four, as the blue eyed man looked on. "Now, chant this," Mother Moon paused, going into the trance as she always did when great healing was called for. Her eyes rolled in the back of her head, and a white light glowed about her body.
Calliope watched in fascination. Mother Moon held Power no one knew of. She held the Power of the Mother Goddess. And tonight, Calliope could feel it.
The chant began in Mother Moon's chest, moving deep into her throat, emanating from her lips with a resonance like a church organ.
"Burned flesh
Charred skin
Heal now
Light within."
Calliope took up the chant, followed by Heavynne. Jericho followed, and she could tell he could sense the Power in the room. She looked to Kane. He was chanting, his raspy voice reverberating with the equal Power of Mother Moon. But it was Dark Power. It was magic, not Magick.
The chanting became intoxicating, and lasted for what seemed like only a few moments. But Calliope was exhausted when Mother Moon finally exited her trance, peeling the cloth from Ravyn's face to reveal the skin was healed.
Ravyn awoke slowly, seeing Mother Moon leaning over her. Calliope, Kane, Jericho and Heavynne stood around the bed, all looking exhausted.
"What happened?" the oldest cliché in the book. But Ravyn wasn't quite sure what else to ask, since the last thing she remembered was being in Central Park-and at that thought, the rest of the night came back to her. Undertaker, Paul Bearer and Sara were there. She'd stopped the Fire from Bearer, receiving it full in the cheek. The memory of the pain brought her hand to her cheek. She vaguely remembered a burning smell, the feeling of her flesh being charred under the Power. Now, she could feel only slight ripples in her skin.
Ravyn sat up. "My cheek-"
"Is healed child," Mother Moon told her. "The scars will go away as well. I will give you a salve to apply morning and night. It shall be gone in a week."
Ravyn looked at Heavynne. Her sister's eyes seemed not quite right. Broken.
She looked to Calliope. She looked different as well. Older. Or perhaps only more mature.
Then she looked to Kane. His eyes were trained her. He blinked, then said in her mind. "You're awake."
Ravyn nodded. "I'm awake," she replied aloud. She didn't want him in her mind at that moment.
Mother Moon quickly shooed the group from the bedroom, telling them Ravyn needed her rest in order to heal. Then the middle aged woman sat beside her.
"What is the darkness I see in you, Ravyn?" she asked her, her voice gentle but determined.
Ravyn stiffened. She was uncomfortable with this line of questioning. "There is no darkness in me."
"There is, child," kind gray eyes looked into her face. Ravyn slammed a wall up in her mind when she felt the prying. The woman's hands moved to her back, touching the raised markings of the raven tattoo. "It is here, it is in your stomach, your mind, and it is moving to your soul."
"That's ridiculous," Ravyn stood from the bed, pushing the woman from her. "I'm going home. I want to be in my own bed." Then she pushed through the curtain, leaving the building with a determined step.
Calliope stared after her sister, sensing something wasn't right. There was too much anger there. She took the salve from Moon Mother, the woman avoided her questioning looks. The group hurried after Ravyn, but she teleported herself, remembering how to do that from the time in the ring with Kane. She ended up in her room. She removed her clothing, going into the bathroom, and drawing a hot bath. Then she lit some candles in the room, turned off the light, locked the door and slid into the tub.
And she dreamt.