Shade: Welcome to this beautiful night, my children... Yes, the long-awaited second part of "Witchcraft" arrived. Here I will start to be very explicit, touching the M-rating, therefore, those who can not stand the gore or satanism, better throw back.

I repeat it again: Spells, magic and rituals taken from authentic sources will be used. Refrain, please, from imitating them. If you cause a catastrophe for them, do not go complaining ... As Pilatus, Shade and Sess will wash their hands.

WARNINGS: +18. Scenes of violence and gore. Strong and highly blasphemous language. Witchcraft and profane acts... And a little bit of Yaoi (?)

Today's playlist: Faustus, by Dark Moor.

Lost II:

Witchcraft, part 2: The Novice's Card

("The one that walks with wolves...)

"...We've been struck down

Down in this Hell

Spells surround me day and night

Stricken by the force of evil light

The force of evil light"

Slayer, Black Magic.

A butterfly, big and black, was giving little bangs against the glass. Outside was a fragment of the sky, so leaden and gray that it didn't seem to be possible that it was just two o'clock of the afternoon… A thin and almost translucent hand unlocked the bolt of the window, pushing it towards out. A cold draught slipped past inside, making tremble the crystals. The young servant rubbed his eyes, half-closed by the fatigue, observing as the black butterfly fluttered slowly away towards the low branches of the cedar that was growing close to the wall, moldy with the years.

He was in the square tower, which was the highest place in the whole castle. It was a dark place, lonely and full of dust, but at least it was quiet. In fact, this place had been "Len's room" in his first days in the house... Although he already had his own room, the blond boy liked this nook, more than anything because of the beautiful view it had; From there he could see the roofs of the houses and the twisted trees. With a slight sigh he closed the window again, only to see reflected in the dirty glass the dark circles under his eyelids, the blue eyes enlarged by a gray shade, the hollow cheeks revealing the shapes of the skull, the almost phantasmagoric pallor, the messy and dirty blond hair and... there, between the folds of his shirt, the red circle.

Len kept looking at that circular red wound in the skin, still open and that was causing him some stinging. They had done it with enough depth, so that, even if years passed and Len became old, he would see that white and sinister ring as an eternal and annoying reminder of what he had promised to do in order to save his ass:

The artistry of Evil: Witchcraft.

The servant didn't know what to expect when he had to meet those characters, but there was one thing for sure: They would teach him... or rather, force him to practice things contrary to nature: The legend of the witch, that evil being who make magic potions and fly on a broom, was very rich in those centuries. Good folks always spoke of them with fear, because they were said to have powers of death or healing; it was believed that they ruin the crops and poison the ponds; that snakes, ravens and wolves obey them; that they are even able to darken the sun and to dye the moon with blood, as the book of Revelations predicted... It was that halo of mystery and horror that surrounded those dark beings that gathered in the depths of the forests... where Len was would be forced to go.

The blond's gaze turned from the red circle to the pine needles in the distance: They had told him, just before releasing him, to meet them after three days, after when he hear "the signal" he must go to the forest, following "the path marked by the river"... Len didn't understand a shit what means that, but he didn't dare to disobey: They would easily go for his ass if he didn't show up. In addition, they had spared his life... And Len was determined to keep his head in its place, because if he die... What would be then of his beloved Rin...?

And exactly, Duke Gakupo had emerged from the forest, where he had disappeared for a few hours, embracing Gumi and Rin around the waist... And both girls were naked. Len opened the window abruptly: His twin's skin was so pale it almost glowed in the dim darkness. Gakupo was almost dragging her, because the girl was moaning and shrinking as she walked, as if she were cold... And it was cold outside indeed! Worried, the servant ran down the stairs, taking two layers of the hall rack, and just when he had opened the door to cover his sister... Gakupo threw Gumi on him.

―Take care of Gumi, the poor thing is very cold... If she gets sick, it will be your fault―And he dragged poor Rin with him up the stairs... as if she was an animal.

Len's hand squeezed Gumi's wrist so hard that hurt her. The green-haired girl let out a scream and yanked herself away from him, running to her owner to complain... And the reprimand Len received for that was pretty fucking ugly.

...

He limped almost out of the frozen yard to the stable, walking in a crooked way from the ten blows that Gakupo gave him with his whip on his back... But Len didn't feel the pain at all.

Innovator neighed happily to see him when he opened the door of his barn, but then almost backed away when he saw Len's eyes: They were ... frosty, like the ice of the ponds in winter. Without saying a word, he knotted the reins and mounted on him, spurred him with his heels and went out quietly to the bushes that delimited the forest inside. And when he was far enough away, he made him jog to the muddy dirt road that bounded on one side of the blue-green river, lined with reeds...

At that moment, a horrible shriek, like that of a monstrous bird, arrived brought by the wind to their ears... That should be "the signal". Len spurred the horse and he galloped off. Soon the dirt road was replaced by a clearing surrounded by trees and bushes; in a nearby tree, a strange mark of claws, as if a bear had scratched the trunk... And several meters ahead, the mark was repeated... He knew that this was "the path indicated by the river". He made Innovator rear up and he crossed the clearing to the trees where the marks were. The wind threw his hair back, while his heart was beating wildly, but not with fear... but with emotion. Emotion before what could bring you at the end of that path.

He heard the infernal shriek again, a little louder. Even with his heart jumping like a hare, Len stopped at the last tree that had the mark, because behind it formed a kind of stony path, something hidden in the brush and that it descended sharply down a small hill to a group of trees in the distance. Innovator snorted and shook his head, nervous.

―Calm down―Len whispered, patting the silky neck of the chestnut horse―. If it's any consolation... I have much more fear than you.

He advanced the horse downhill. The excitement of the gallop had dissipated, returning that crushing feeling to his chest. As they advanced, the young man's and animal's breaths became more stony... Finally, among the low branches of some trees, the dark silhouette of a house could be glimpsed. As he drew closer, Len noted that it was a kind of small, somewhat crooked hut. The abnormal stillness around it seemed to betray a prolonged abandonment... until a wisp of steam came out of a small metal fireplace, also twisted, as if it were cooking something... For a moment, Len was tempted to go back... But at the same time he felt the petrified muscles, the same as the animal, because when he moved the reins, Innovator didn't move. Was it some spell that held them...?

Then they heard a harsh voice, which sounded like the hiss of a cobra:

―Well done, boy. Get off your saddle and get closer.

Len swallowed hard and gathering an almost supernatural effort, climbed out of his saddle. Holding the reins tight, Len walked forward, nervously watching the gray beams from the surrounding trees. Although he didn't see anyone, the servant knew that they were observing him... He stopped in front of the door, which was open... And leaning against the door frame, there was a young woman with long fire-red hair, smiling at him placidly.

―You're the Novice, aren't you? Welcome you.

Len didn't understand:― The... novice (1)?― The young girl gave a mocking laugh, much like Sweet Ann's.

―Oh, poor thing: You barely know our world, right?― The woman approached him, who immediately became very tense―; Relax, I'm not going to eat you.―She giggled―: My name is Miki, you're Len, right? The Old Man told us about you... And we hope you don't disappoint us, nee?―She looked inside―:They're waiting for you... Give me your horse; no worries, I'll take good care of him.

Innovator neighed nervously to see the stranger woman approach him, but Len reassured him with a gesture. Miki pulled from her clothes a strand of oatmeal that the horse smelled interested. He devoured it in a second, while he docily allowed himself to be caressed by her.―You're very cute... let's go for a little walk―She took out another strand and walked away, with the horse following her greedily.

Len sighed as he stood alone in front of the fragrant darkness behind the door... He turned once more back, watching the small clearing, as still and silent as a few minutes ago. A last feeling of retreat seized him for a moment... but he knew that it was too late to back out.

―The Novice. That's how we name to all the neophytes who are going to start exercising our art―The old man growled as he lit a match to light a black candle that he placed between himself and the servant, who was sitting on the floor, surrounded by a circle of seven lighted candles of different colors. Len nodded, without stop looking his hands. Apart from the candles, the house was completely dark, making all the things inside it project long, narrow shadows: The walls were covered with shelves with hundreds of books and parchment rolls full of dust; There was the sound of slow gurgling coming from a pot in a dark corner. Throughout the house there was a strong smell of incense and spices. The faces of Taito and Sweet Ann looked long and almost ill. Miki, who had entered whistling a few moments after the blond boy, was sitting on the arm of a chair in the corner, still looking at him... Actually, everyone was watching him.

Len finally looked up and stared him into his eyes: It was practically the first time he was seeing his... Master without that hood of the first time: He was old, possibly with more than fifty years old, with spotted skin and aquiline nose; the gray eyes of the man scrutinized his without blinking, as if he saw his soul through his skin... Len felt shaky by that gaze, but didn't look away: Surely he was looking for some sign of weakness on him to dispatch him... The old man released a spasmodic laughter, showing his yellow teeth, large and broken.

―Every pet, even the most docile and weakest of among all, has a beast inside―The old man replied almost to himself, as he threw the match aside―; It's a matter of letting it emerge, as our Great Mother did... and whoever denies that, will suffer her terrible anger... None of us is anyone to confront her.―Len heard murmurs in what appeared to be Latin. He looked at the old man with a question in his eyes but not daring to interrupt; the old man cleared his throat―: "Itaerit illud!". It means "So be it!". Repeat it

―Ehm… Ehm… ¡Itaerit…illud!―Len muttered, hoping he hadn't said it wrongly.

―Good. As I said, the novice is the one who is just beginning, so it will be important that you come to the next Sabbat... and poor of you if you don't go―He whispered him threateningly, so Len nodded vehemently―. Good. There you will learn everything to realize all your desires... All the things you want and that will be fulfilled... Close your eyes, Len... and think of your greatest desire...

"My greatest desire..." Len whispered closing his eyes, trying to concentrate... but soon he let himself be enveloped by the perfume of the incense... What was it you most want in the whole world, Lenny...? He felt... he felt as if he was detaching himself from his body, as if it didn't respond to any of his movements... and yet, Len didn't get scared, but he was feel invaded every second of a pleasant slumber... Then, he heard the harsh voice ask:

―Answer me... What do you most desire...?

Len, in the state he was in at that moment... he almost didn't feel his that mouth is moving:

―I desire...

Desire… Desire… Desire…

―Do you desire to have wealth and power?

Wealth? Power? He was never powerful, nor was he interested in power; He was always a humble person. His parents were peasants, people who lived off the land to survive... Actually, the first time Len saw a coin was one day that the Governor of the region visited Asmodín and he had thrown coins into the avid crowd... The boy had watched dazed the shiny gold piece of metal between his little fingers... and then he saw his twin's eyes looking at the beautiful handkerchiefs that a peddler was exhibiting with juggling in a stall.

"Len, look! Look at that ribbon!" the girl had said pointing to a large white silk ribbon that rose again and again between the gypsy man's huge hands. He had noticed the child's interest and had told her that he would give it to her for five silver coins... Rin had looked desolate when she heard him: Five silver coins? She looked sadly at his parents, whom hadn't been able to catch a single coin among the small crowd that was still fighting over the remain coins... She was just going to leave, when...

"I have a gold coin, is that enough?" Rin had turned around at the sound of her brother's voice. And she was surprised to see him tie the ribbon in her hair... Her eyes filled with tears at that tender gesture. She hugged him tightly, thanking him. "Always to order, princess" Len had whispered her, kissing her cheek...

―No―Len whispered at last, smiling. The old man cleared his throat.

―Do you desire love?

―…―Love. That question was damn difficult, because... he couldn't deny it anymore, no, he couldn't: He loved Rin... And the worst thing is that it did not disgust him anymore, nor did he care... Do you want her love, Len? Oh, how much he wanted it! Those hair, that skin, those lips... All that. But... but he really loved her, despite being his own brother... Yes, Len wanted love, Rin's love... But never, he would never force her to something that she din't want, as the Duke of Venomania was doing to her… at that moment. His left fist clenched tightly, remembering the cries of pain from his beloved twin...

―…No.

―Do you want to have your freedom?

―No.

―So then, what do you really want?―Len opened his eyes and raised his head. The old man looked into his eyes... A wild light came from the eyes (formerly fearful) of Len, to release that long-awaited answer:

―…Revenge.

Miki, Taito and Sweet Ann looked at each other.

―You want to get revenge, huh?―The old man straightened and sighed―. It's not surprising, because many people go to our art to... retaliate, which no prayer in a church will fulfill...―He looked toward the ceiling―. His God above only causes misfortunes and sorrows to those who serve him, with the promise of a heavenly reward for giving "the other cheek"!―He spat on the ground with contempt―, while the good one suffer by sorrows, the evil one fattening by horrors...―His eyes shone feverishly―. Did you notice that?

―Yes...― Len said, breathing with agitation, losing control of himself―. Yes! I have been praying for weeks for my sister to be freed from that monster... without result! I'm just standing there while that... that... that fucking pig take her and rape her!―Len shrieked, completely out of his mind―. They tell us in the Church that if we pray to God, he will help us... That is a lie, a vile and disgusting fucking lie!

Taito and Sweet Ann let out squeals of rejoicing―That's right! Do not give the other cheek, Len!―Miki shrieked, completely aroused by his speech: Her sweet and seemingly inoffensive appearance had changed to a wild and uncontrolled one―: I had to work for a foreman to settle a debt... He beat me, he raped me and he never paid me... I prayed, like you, I prayed to that damned and despicable God, to help me... He only brought me more suffering! And... And you know what I did, Lenny?―Her chest was rising and falling by agitation―. I gave myself to magic, to spells, to the Mother Goddess... And I saw how his disgusting body swelled and rotted, twisted in his bed!

―I shit myself on the Church and on his fucking Cross!―Sweet Ann laughed, spitting on a lonely cross on the floor, making a crouching cat hiss―. We, we do not abide by the laws of that useless God, we abide by the laws of Lilith (2), the Great Mother, who was the first to stand up and charge her freedom... Under the eyes of the Mother, we are free, we decide our own destiny, without that damned bearded man and his disgusting book called Bible can tells us what to do―She approached the agitated boy―;...Thus, we are free, and we are powerful.

Sweet Ann and Miki crossed their arms in front and held each other firmly by the hands. They joined hands together with Taito and the old man, forming a semi circle, with crossed hands and outstretched... Len understood and crossed linked his hands, left hand with Miki, and right hand with the old warlock. He lowered his eyes, observing the flaming circle of the candles, feeling a tingle running down his skin across his back... As if the energy of each one of them, passed through his grasped hands... It was a delicious and intoxicating feeling.

―The world is represented as a circle; the cycle of agriculture is circular, like the cycle of the moon... They are light and darkness, dancing eternaly. The dark is integrated within us as life and death.― Sweet Ann explained in a calm voice―. Like a snake that eats its tail, like the needles of time in a clock... That is how she, the Great Goddess, is represented.

―She is one and are three, like the cycles of the moon: The maiden, The mother and the old woman... All represent the cycle of the year and its fruits... All represent that free soul, which not allowed herself to be locked by any owner, but rather she seeks her own desires... She has no shackles, no chains, no ties... Is she alone, who frees herself from the bonds of the patriarchal world, like a free wild beast... not like a chained dog―Taito continued, smiling at Len in an ironic way.

―Lilith, Mother Goddess, we have brought you here, to one of your children―the old man muttered, looking up at a small hole in the ceiling, where there was a fragment of the evening sky―, give him something of your enormous power as Queen of the World, with which you refused to submit to the orders of Yahweh and Adam... ―As if it were a magic spell, a cold and penetrating air slipped through the walls, slipping under Len's shirt, who felt it like if they were the mythical creature's soft hands, giving him a welcome hug... he let himself be penetrated by that sensation―...He has rejected the Cross, and surrendered to your benevolent and precious hand... "Blood is the Water of Life... "―And he fixed his gray eyes on Len―, ... and we offer it to you, so that you grant us freedom and power...

Len opened his eyes as he felt the knife's edge slide down his forearm, but he didn't make a single sound of pain... He only squeezed his eyes. He looked up, watching the silver steel dripping his blood in the center of the circle, just above the black candle, which sizzled. Everyone let out a some primal scream, as if they were invoking her... Finally, they all broke loose at the same time, although Len almost collapsed... He came back to feel a light blow on his cheek, to see four pairs of eyes, looking at him with affability. The old man smiled.

―Maybe you can be a chained dog, but I feel that there, very hidden inside you... there is a wolf waiting to emerge―He smiled with the corners of the lips, palming the head of Len―; ... When you can free it, you will know your true freedom. Remember: Freedom is power.

―That I will... Master― the servant whispered, a smile on his pale face. The old man took him by the cheeks, and kissed him, sliding his tongue inside him. His lips were cold as ice... And Len felt no disgust at all: He had discovered a weapon to confront Duke Gakupo.

…

But the potion with the black rooster, the black goat and the purple hair didn't work. It was as if Duke Gakupo had drunk normal water: He swallowed it whole, without spasms or convulsions... and had the nerve to smile on his face.

You would think that at that moment Len had thrown the towel... But the next day he saw how that huge sack of bloody canvas was thrown into the small dirt hole in that corner of the courtyard, as if that was something troublesome to be out of sight of all, marked with a lonely wooden stake... When Gakupo had retired, Len discreetly approached and placed a small sempervivum, which was the only flower that flowering in autumn... so that those little ones couldn't have to stand such an unworthy burial as his father's monster had arranged for them. He gritted his teeth, when a gust of wind brought him the infernal and known whistle in the distance...

He couldn't surrender... If Akita Neru has been the next victim of the tragic potion to abort of Duke Gakupo (because he wanted to have his slaves always beautiful and slender... not fat and incapacitated for a pregnancy)... Who could assure him of that the next wouldn't be Rin?

"You won't always win, master," Len thought, abandoning that macabre and sad little cementery.

He followed during the following nights, simply escaping from the castle for a couple of hours to meet with the group: which is easy if you are the servant and you are forced to stay late turning off all the lights of the house and, by the time you had done it, everyone was asleep. When that happened, Len just slid silently out, woke Innovator and went into the woods, following the same signs.

But the weeks passed and the Duke's inmunity grew stronger and stronger... And Len's patience with the supposedly "infallible" witchcraft was started to fragment...

―This is not working: He's still alive―Len said with a grunt that almost sounded animal. Taito and Sweet Ann raised their eyebrows at the tone that he used.

―You're impatient, I understand―The Master of Ceremonies muttered (3), who was sitting on the floor―, but you must remember that our power is relative: It works different with each person.

―Different? So you're saying that I have to keep trying and failing until I find the right one? And all those ridiculous processes for an uncertain outcome!

―It would be better if you calm down, that getting angry you won't achieve anything―Miki whispered with some annoyance.

―Calm down! And how?!―Len's voice was getting shiller and shriller, and if he kept it up, only the bats could hear him―. You don't understand!

Did they not understand it? No, they didn't understand it: Rin was acting strange lately... Added to a slight swelling in her belly ... For Len is like the world would completedy over... NO!: It ended since long ago! And they are just asking him to calm down! The group's reproachful looks only made enraged him more: He punched the fragile wall with his fist, causing a picture of Lilith to fall to the floor, breaking the glass frame that protected it... He heard moans and hisses behind him. Surely they would think to kill him for doing that... What did that matter to him now, if it all was over for him and Rin...!

He felt a hand on his shoulder... That touch felt like lacerating fire: He turned abruptly and grabbed that hand tightly, to then be surprised: It was the Master of Ceremonies looking at him with a soft smile.

―I understand, Len. And I'm glad thatyou did that―Both Len and the other three were surprised.―. You stopped being afraid: You didn't get scared when I touched your shoulder, and you thought that I was going to kill you, didn't you? And you didn't run away or tried to hid, instead, you confronted me... not like a chained dog, but like a wolf. That is the answer.

―What the heck are you talking about, old man?―Len whispered, annoyed that he didn't understand what the hell he was saying. The man laughed.

―You stopped of being afraid. Having lost it, you already have full awareness of your being... You have always lived in fear, afraid of what the Duke of Venomania could do to you... And now, you faced death fearlessly, like the wolf to a buffalo, even when the buffalo is bigger than him... That's the key: The Duke has "tamed" you by fear, hasn't he?―Len was speechless. It was true: All these years he had always lived with constant fear of what the Duke could do to him... ―, and he thinks he has you defeated by using your sister... But you, my lad, you shouldn't give up: If you surrender... Nothing will be worth then in your fucking pathetic life!―He shook him hard―. Don't get carried away by impatience, because it can be as deadly as a viper... Be smart, Len: Guess his weak point and attack from there... Have you understood me?

―Yes... Yes...―Len muttered, still overwhelmed by the many things he had said. The old man took his arm and pushed him out of the house.

―You will not return until you find out. It will be your homework as a Novice. And I'll tell you something else...―He lowered his eyes, still smirking, just before closing the door.―; ...When you get that knowledge, you've already earned half of your wish... and that's something that witchcraft cannot do.

…

It was a night without a storm, but windy. The air made the windowpanes and cracks in the walls tremble... He heard little bangs on the door. He grumbled, for he was concentrating... on stirring the spoon "in the anti-clockwise sense every seven times of one in the right direction." He got up and rubbed his left leg, which had gone to sleep. He let it bubble slowly after tasting it with the wooden ladle: It needed little more of salt.

―Who is it?―He asked in a calm voice, but without lowering his guard: During all his years he had learned not to trust anyone, because only the Devil knew if they were the meddlers of the Inquisition:

Not long ago, he had observed how they had burned Maika in the main square of Asmodín, an old witch apprentice of his... The girl was burned in a few seconds, but she had enough time to shout to the crowd: "Hehehehe ... You are all cursed, and like me, fire will fall on your bodies! "

"Surely that will happen very soon... and I think that I know who will be the carrier of that hellish fire" he said to himself, as he opened the door and looked at the scraggly blond hair and flushed cheeks of the young servant.―Well?

―I... I immediately came to you, Master... My owner has made a deal with Satan to have his power... That's why... that he has that infernal ability to keep my sister and the other women to his pleasure... I found someone who has also lost a loved one by my master's hideous power... and who can help...

The old man smiled―Come in now, breathe a little and tell me everything... That way we can help you fulfill your wish―He pated softly his cheek―. Congratulations: Now you are ready, Len.

―Asmodeus. Your master owns Asmodeus―the Master of Ceremonies murmured, placing a long finger on a page of his book―. He is the Demon of Lust. He has great power and those who conjure him to his protection... aren't easy to overcome: that is, ordinary witchcraft doesn't take effect on them―He smiled with regret to see the face of desolation of the neophyte servant―... However, like everything in this world, he has a weak point. And this is...―He suddenly picked up a rat that was nibbling a piece of bread by the tail; before the eyes of Len and the others, he took a knife and buried it the rat's chest, silencing its horrible shrieks. He slid the knife down, opening its entire belly and pulling it out between the bloodstained fingers... ―...His heart. Take the book and read the footer.

Len's eyes settled on a rather weathered page, where a text was stuck beneath rather gruesome drawings of demons with long beards, deer horns and cadaverous faces, a footnote poking out that read:

―"...If you want to beat an Asmodeus protégé ("It sounds like Asmodin," Len thought when he saw that terrible name on paper) you must first offer a sacrifice to invoke the cancellation of the evil power of the protégé, and then of the life juices of the person offered, you will create a potion in which you will impregnate in a sharp metal, preferably tin or silver, in short, a... "

―"...Deep knife to the heart, impregnated with the poison, is enough to end the Beast" ―whispered the old man, completing the sentence and startling Len―. Here is to fulfill your wish: you must nail an iron to your master's heart and the spell that keeps your sister prisoner will be broken.

―Are... Are you sure of that?― Len whispered, eagerly watching that little paragraph, breathing hard. Would it be true? Would he fulfill the promise to his little sister?

Taito let out a laugh―If this doesn't work, just blow up the castle and problem solved, hehehe.

...

"Very well, this is what you will do, Len: you will take these daggers and go to the Church of Asmodín, where the sacristan will be. As he must prepare for the evening masses, he will be alone...

―Who's there?―The priest whispered suddenly when he heard a kind of murmur coming from the other side of the hall. "Maybe it was a rat," he thought... but the rats, with their little manlike steps... you couldn't hear them breathing.

He picked up his lamp and turned into that hall, which led to an open air corridor where the rows of bones of various nuns and priests of the town were... There he saw a somewhat small figure, covered in black, bent over and leaving a white flower in front of a gravestone that ... if he wasn't wrong, it was where Sister Kaiko was buried, who had died years ago from the aftermath of smallpox sequels... In her gravestone was written:

Beloved Sister Kaiko

1361 – 1389

"Where your treasure is your heart will be also"

―Hello?

―Forgive me, father, because I have sinned... ―the hooded figure said with a kind of snake hiss, straightening and staring at him... The sacristan would later say that he had only seen his eyes, a fixed and frosty blue eyes... He soon took out a shining object from among the pockets of his esclavine. (5) The man was overwhelmed and began to retreat, muttering prayers, clinging to his rosary... Len only laughed.―. I didn't come to hurt you... I just came to leave a gift to a dear friend of mine and ask you to bless this.―He pointed to the two daggers, pointing them then at his stomach.―. Do it and I'll leave in peace, father.

―Eh... eh ...―The parish priest stammered, staring wide-eyed at the sharp ends, to which his trembling right hand moved―, in the nam-me of the F-father, the Son and the Ho-holy Spirit...

―Amen―Len whispered, sticking the dagger's point into the man's chest and sinking it a little, making him run out of the corridor, releasing the small lamp he was carrying and breaking it, wrapping everything in darkness...

...Then, you will go through the empty streets of the town, looking for a perfect candidate: Be careful when choosing; wait for it, like the spider in its web, when it uses the drops of water in its net, to attract the fly to its trap...

―You say ... hip... you say that there's a party around here?―the piglet's beggar whisper whom Len had approached: he was lanky, with black hair and a dirty beard. As he spoke, Len wrinkled his nose at the smell of liquor that he had.

―Oh yes, my dear friend Andy (6)... Right now I was going to there, to celebrate... the Harvest: There will be music, food, drinks, women...

―Women? hip ... Did you say women?! Then I'll accompany you, hip, friend!―Andy exclaimed getting up and following Len... or rather, leaning on Len, because he was staggering as he walked. The poor servant grumbled at the weight of the beggar, but internally, he smiled...

...And finally you take it to the forest, just behind that rock that is known as "Big Nose" so we can celebrate the Sabbat together... Good luck."

To be continued…

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Author's Note/Glossary:

(1) They are called "Novices" (referring to the novices of the nuns' apprentices in Christianity) to the new ones in the Coven, considering them in the lower part of the hierarchy of Witchcraft. Another name is Neophyte.

(2) Lilith is a biblical character. In the Jewish tradition they relate her to Adam's first wife (Yes, Lilith was there before Eve), but she, by refusing to submit to his wishes, fled from Eden and joined with demons from the Dead Sea, giving birth hundreds of monsters. There were (and still are) Lilith's cults all over the world, not only in Medieval Europe; which they usually call her "The Great Goddess" or "Great Mother", associating her in the Babylonian culture as "Ishtar". Mostly her followers are/were women (often called "Daughters of Lilith") but there were/are also men among her ranks.

(3) The Coven leader is also known as "Master of Ceremonies"

(4) Asmodeus is conceived as the demon responsible for perverting the sexual desires of humans, to motivate voluptuousness and to cause souls, according to Dante Aliguieri's universe and concept, to be condemned to the Second Circle of Hell. He is considered one of the most important demons by demonologists and represents the Lust in the Roman Christian concept of "Seven Capital Sins".

(5) The esclavine was a type of lightweight cape that had a hood and side pockets.

(6) This OC is the representation of Javier Andrew Avendaño, a *censored* from which we are taking revenge putting him as the "Sacrifice".