Author's Note- This is set in the Burning Times in the Medieval time frame, so if I make some mistakes, I deeply apologise. Hopefully everything is generally right! :)

Loosly based on NightWorld and Sweep. Don't own either. (Breaks down and crys)

Thankyou to the first reviewers to this!! JasmineIII, Ang, katysays22, incarnated-soul and Galahad Cat. I hope y'all like this story coz I lurve writing it.

Chapter 2

"I will be back soon Faith" she whispered to the still unconscious animal. She wrapped her scarf around her neck. It was a cold night; she presumed it was the Goddess's doing, as if it were a sign of grief for Millie.

Leaving the hut with ma's arm linked in hers, ambling their way to Willow's Cave. They walked in silence and Siena could hear the crunching of leaves that their feet made, the noises of the crickets and the tinkling sound of the stream.

"Are you afraid?" Ma asked softly as they reached the cave. Siena shook her head vigorously, obstinate in proving herself. She had never been allowed to watch the ceremony before. Her throat felt dry and it was as if a frog was leaping up and down in her stomach. This was the darkest magick that Willow had ever dared to practice, it was highly dangerous and risky to capture a spirit and send it on its way.

Both entered the room quietly, they found they were the last to arrive. Denise motioned to her and she swiftly strolled over to sit beside her. "My ma and Uncle Sternlion escorted me here early. Ma had to prepare for the summoning part of the ceremony since she is head priestess" she reminded Siena.

"Aren't you pleased that we are sitting so close to where they will soon summon Millie Winchester?" she asked animatedly. Nodding her head, she tried to contain the fear of a chance that something might go wrong. Smiling and pushing her paranoid thoughts away, she turned her eyes towards the front.

The cave was lit up by the blaze of fire-lit torches. Gabrielle Langanty appeared from the shadows and gestured for everyone to rise. "We bless the Goddess for this night and today we will summon and send Millie Winchester through the last journey" she said with dramatic flair.

The head priestess then clapped her hands once, the ritual signal for the beginning of every Willow gathering. Gabrielle drew a large circle on the ground and they all stepped in before she closed it. Everyone held hands and Denise's mother begun the ritual.

She started a chant and soon others joined in, walking around and around in the circle. Siena closed her eyes as the magick filled her body from head to toe. It was like a powerful crackling liquid flowing from the chants to her. It revitalized and replenished her like water from the most mystical spring of the world.

This was what witches celebrate and practice. It was so familiar and natural; she had been made to feel this energy, this spark, this life winding experience. She felt she could accomplish anything she set her mind to.

"Witches of Willow, let us end now" Gabrielle commanded. As soon as she said that, people withdrew their hands and sat down, their eyes shone with vitality. Siena opened her hand and concentrated. Burn. Red. Flame. She thought and felt an ember appear instantly in her palm. The fire glowed burning-hot red and she smiled broadly. This was the very first time that she had generated red witch fire. The second strongest fire a witch could make. Usually she could only produce yellow flames with her amount of power.

"Why are you so surprised? You are as strong in your skill as my ma" Denise whispered, making her face flush with delight. That was very high praise since the Head Priestess was considered one of the greatest witches in England.

Her attention was diverted as the head priestess prepared for the ceremony. Gabrielle closed her eyes briefly and when she opened them her gray eyes had suddenly changed to an eerily pale azure color.

The apprehension she felt earlier came rushing back to her. Surveying the room she found that many other young witches were also struck by fear. She heard the head priestess chanting again, except it was like nothing she had ever heard before. The words sounded twisted and it made shivers run up and down her spine.

Her gaze was now fixed on Gabrielle as the woman bent down and grabbed a handful of a purplish-blue powder and Dandelion leaves. "Goddess, Bring Millie Winchester here, lavin deplitilm RISBLIET" she shouted the last word.

Nothing happened. Then Siena heard the muttering of the witches around her. Before she knew what was happening the room dissolved and was replaced with blinding pitch-black darkness. However hard she tried, her eyes could not adjust to the dark. She could not even see her hands, which were in front of her.

Then she heard the wailing. It was not loud, but since the room was deadly quiet, the sound became much louder and echoed around the walls of the cave. Her legs started shaking involuntarily.

She had never heard such an awful sound. It was the sounds of beings that had been eternally tormented. The wailing was unspeakable, like someone calling fruitlessly for help that would not come. Siena steadied herself from falling over. In her mind she felt like she had really fallen into a deep pit of despair, agony and the deepest sadness imaginable.

A bright blue flame appeared unexpectedly. Her eyes focused and saw Gabrielle who stood still and calm as water encased in frost. The head priestess's eyes still glowered that astounding blue, the exact color that was flickering in the palm of her hand.

"Millie Winchester, are you here with us? If so, I command you to speak now" she said loudly, but with a sense of composure in her voice. A voice spoke was so sudden and abrupt, that it startled everyone, except Gabrielle Langanty, who now had a smile quirking at the sides of her lips.

"I am here, witches of Willow," a raspy voice answered. It was the spirit of the deceased Millie. A whoosh of cold air passed Siena and she trembled. Not because of the coldness, but of her fright and inquisitiveness.

"Jameilite Ter Desponitism! Maziq Katezenebe" Gabrielle yelled, waving her arms radically. As she finished the spell. A clash of thunder sounded above their heads and a purple-blue cloud swirled around in circles.

Now she was truly terrified. Her whole body froze and her throat was parched, like she had lost the ability to talk. This was dark magick, the very worst. It just felt wrong. Sending spirits away wasn't a job that the witches were meant to do. Millie's fate should be in the hands of the Goddess herself. Destiny.

"Canived Pabilero Tidni, Tidni!" Gabrielle continued her voice was piercing and rising with every word she spoke. The air in the small cave persisted in getting colder and chafed the skin on her arms and face. She realized what was going on at this moment.

Millie's spirit was being sucked into the cloud. The head priestess was forcing the ghost into the cloud above. Siena's fear turned into anger. How could they force Millie Winchester into that? What if it isn't the place where kind-hearted people go when they died? What if it was the opposite place, hell? Her thoughts made her impulsive and she was just about to put an end to this when she heard Gabrielle scream the last of the spell.

"Infernonite HACEZIUM!" And just like that, everything went back to what it was before. The rays of the moon shone through the opening of the cave, the flames of the torches burned ferociously. The temperature was warm, making Siena smile with relief. It was over. Finally over.

She felt someone wrap themselves around her. "It's over, it's over" Denise sobbed, voicing what she had been feeling. Siena decided one thing that night. She was never going to bear witness to one of these ceremonies again. It was a most horrific experience.

The night sky was amazing. There were countless stars scattered all over the sky, with not one cloud blocking the view. It was a shame none took the time to admire the sight.

Denise Langanty quivered as she thought of what had been transpired. She was outside the Willow cave, waiting for her ma, Gabrielle. She indolently pointed her index finger towards the sky and started absently counting the stars.

Her head was pounding with all the emotions and thoughts. Confusion, nervousness, fear and absolute disbelief, that was what she felt. Nearly all the witches had gone home. Most had hastily left when the ceremony was completed, evidently afraid of the whole event. Others had lingered to ask ma about what had happened.

"I think it is time my daughter and I head home" Denise turned her head to see ma and some other witches step gingerly out of the cave. They all wore smiles on their faces, the sight dismayed her. How could they be so joyful?

Gabrielle walked to her, waving and blessing the other witches. "Come now child, let us go home. Tomorrow is another long journey," she said, sounding weary. Ma had lines at the sides of her gray eyes and her lips were pursed. She seemed so old, although she was only a witch of 45 years.

Ma slumped as they made their way to the small cottage they shared. Uncle Sternlion lived next to them, so they always felt safe, even if her father had disappeared.

Benjamin Piton had never married ma, in fact he had already been married when ma and the man met. Ma had never known this until she told Benjamin that she was with child. He had gotten irritated and violent.

Gabrielle had cried for days for fear that the man had killed the baby inside of her when he beat her and left. Denise was illegitimate, but it did not worry her in the least, she had a loving mother and uncle. It was all she ever needed.

As they stepped into their small but cozy house, Denise watched as ma bid her goodnight and slipped into her room and closed the door. Her ma was acting strange and distant these few days and it was hurting her.

They had been so close, like best friends as well as mother and daughter. Tears of resentment trickled down her face before she could prevent them. Enraged with herself, she ran into her room and shut the door. Reaching into her pouch, she took out a match and struck it.

Lighting the candle next to her bed, she glanced around her. Her bedroom was nothing special, but it was a lot more spacious than most. There was a simple wooden bed and a writing table. There was dust on the floorboards and her window was rusty and yellow at the sides, but she was deeply grateful. She had Uncle Sternlion to thank for all this.

Bending down and lifting one of the floorboards, she picked up her journal, or more commonly known to witches as a Book of Shadows, from its hiding place. It was not so much as a hiding place as it were a place to keep it from being destroyed. She had hid it there to preserve it, if anyone or anything set their house on fire, the journal would not burn up and be lost.

Taking her Book of Shadows with her, she grabbed her quill and ink from her writing table and clambered into bed. Delicately flipping the many pages, until she found a blank page, she settled in and started her entry.

14th July 1589

I watched as the humans killed Millie Winchester today. It was most horrible. I faltered and turned to Siena for condolence, which I am ashamed to say. I am 18 years old, one year older than she. I should have been braver.

Uncle Sternlion asked me to help at his shop today. He is doing well in his store, lucky it is stationed at the rich end of town, or he would have no business at all. I dislike the well-off humans and even Night World people. How could they be so wealthy and with barely lifting a finger? It is absurd!

A lady came into the store today, dressed as fashionably as anything and she had a maid doing the shopping for her. I know I should be content and praise the Goddess for what I have, but I cannot help but be envious of those people.

I rejoiced as Uncle Sternlion told me I could go home. It is not that I do not enjoy working for him; it was that the jealousy kept building inside of me. Goddess, give me strength. Soon he came back to our cottage and accompanied Ma and I to the Willow gathering.

The night was not what I had anticipated. Ma did the ceremony as she had always done, but this time there was something different. Her eyes changed from her lovely gray to an icy blue. This had never happened before. As she yelled the spell and guided Mille to the afterlife, she sounded...evil.

Forgive me Goddess for saying such a harsh thing about ma. But I was so frightened when it happened. It was fortunate that Siena was there with me. Ma is so different now and I am saddened by it. Please, let me be able to conquer this problem and help me change ma back to that caring, friendly woman that I dearly love.

Denise put a hand to her mouth as she yawned and put her journal aside, blowing out the candle. Everything will be all right. She could make it all right if she tried, she thought as she snuggled in her bed and closed her eyes.

"Siena, I need Bramble leaves, chamomile and feverfew" Marilynn called from the house.

Siena had just stepped out with her grass-woven basket when she heard ma call. There were already humans at her house and she inwardly seethed. She did not understand why ma still allowed those fiends into their house. If it were her decision, she would have rather starved.

Kicking the dirt in fury, she trudged into the woods. The herbs that ma needed were easy to find, they were the ones which ma constantly needed for the townspeople. She brought out her small knife and carefully cut a branch off a tree. Sheathing her tool, she picked the leaves that were attached to the branch inattentively.

Her thoughts were someplace else. If only I could do more than just pick these stupid herbs and for those malicious humans! She thought feeling a spurt of outrage. She threw the bare branch away in frustration.

Quickening her pace, she managed to collect all the ingredients ma had asked for, in a short amount of time. Making sure the cloth on top of the basket covered the herbs; she pulled up her dress a few inches and ran back home, jumping over small stumps on the ground.

The anger had vanished, running always helped her relieve stress, and it made her feel free of her troubles. As if someone had released the invisible shackles at her feet. However, the feeling of emancipation did not last long.

More vermin had arrived at her house. There seemed to be more and more people getting sick these days, it was probably because of the winter season that was approaching. Because she had collected all the herbs so promptly, there was nothing for her to do.

She was certainly not going into the house with all those humans swarming around, asking ma to cure them of their diseases. Siena massaged her temples and sighed, trying to think of a place to go. Placing the basket on the open window, she finally decided.

Town. Yes, that was where she would go. Denise's Uncle Thomas Sternlion could never handle all those customers that came to his store and her help would be lessening the workload for him. Sometimes when she offered assistance, Thomas would even be generous enough to pay her some much-needed money.

"Miss Hazelton! What are you doing here?" Thomas Sternlion exclaimed happily as he unloaded things out of a horse-drawn carriage. He was a man in his early forties, quite strong and very tall, but she could tell he was sweating from lifting all those heavy things.

"I am here to help you out of course!" she replied, reaching towards the loads and carried down a bundle of jam jars.

Thomas shook his head and stopped her abruptly. "Don't be like that, you are a lady Siena Hazelton and I will not allow you to carry loads" he smiled and pointed towards the shop. "Go now girl, inside the shop and help out Denise with the customers" he commanded, giving her a light encouraging push in the right direction.

Siena recognized a few witches from Willow here buying necessities. There were also some shapeshifters and one or two vampires. Not many humans here, she thought and cheered silently. She saw Denise at the counter, glaring at a woman who had a little girl. The little girl was begging her mother to buy candy and the mother was agreeing in a careless tone.

Denise was jealous, she could see it in her friend's eyes. She couldn't blame her though, some people were just fortunate and it was unfair. Her best friend turned her eyes away from the privileged people and spotted Siena.

"Siena, come over here!" she shouted, making the people in the shop stare at her distastefully. Denise didn't seem to care and continued gesturing to her. People were now murmuring things under their breath. Siena hurriedly made her way to her, whispering to her to stop gesturing and that others were talking. Her best friend merely shrugged.

They spent the next hour serving customers and organizing the jars and containers on the shelves. It was an enjoyable job, much easier than picking herbs. Denise was groaning quietly, her eyes were once again following the rich people as they brought more items then was necessary.

Shaking her head, she turned away and found herself peering out the window. People walked past like blurs in a painting. Past the people were a number of other stores. They all looked very plain except one.

The gray building captured her attention. It was the blacksmith, owned by an elderly old human called Mr. Macgregor. She did not know him well, but she knew ma had taken the time to inquire about his health at church a few times.

Witches had to attend the church services also to avoid suspicions from arising. Siena didn't mind though, in a way the Catholic religion was similar to Wicca. Her thoughts floated back to the blacksmith across the road.

She always hoped one day she would work there, but it was impossible. Ladies just did not do work that was considered labor for men. Sharpening swords and other weapons just seemed so appealing to her. In her opinion, swords were the best things that humans had invented. Getting her hands and face dirty was not a problem to her either, picking herbs didn't exactly keep her clean and she felt sure that she would be strong enough to handle weapons.

"What are you looking at?" Denise asked, making her jump a little. Her friend laughed at her reaction and persisted in putting the containers in order. "Well, you must tell me" she asked again impatiently.

"Denise, do you think I could ever work at Mr. McGregor's blacksmith store?" she said putting her thoughts into words. Siena watched as her friend turned her gaze to the blacksmith and shuddered.

"You truly want to work there?" Denise turned to face her and watched her intently; looking incredulous that Siena would actually want to work there.

Siena nodded eagerly, she felt confused as Denise kept looking at her skeptically and then heaved a sigh. Her eyes widened in surprise and curiosity as her best friend spoke again.

"I can make it happen" Denise said simply.

Y'all like this chapter? (nudges you all) Reviews would be greatly, deeply and forever cherised.

Ok, some ppl r probably wondering about Lost Without You, I'm putting it on hold for awhile, if you guyz really want me to post soon plz tell me by review or email. Thanx 4 ur time!!:)