Chapter 8: Something Wicked.
"JASMINE!" Sophie shouted as she banged on the door of the plantation. This was the last place she wanted to be but this was the safer option.
It had been a few weeks since the broken leg incident and Sophie hadn't seen any of the originals. She had gone back to her life like she hadn't just spent a few months essentially as a prisoner of the world's most powerful family.
She banged until she saw a shadow moving behind the door. A few seconds later a scowling witch stood looking at her, still on crutches and looking a lot more pregnant.
"Can I help you?"
"I needed to warn you!" Sophie said, trying her hardest to hide her other reason. She did want Jasmine to know, but she wasn't safe either. Here was the best place for her.
"About?" Jazz raised her eyebrow slightly.
"The Witches. Sabine told Agnes about the vision she had of your babies. Agnes just ambushed me. She injected me with a cursed object called the Needle of Sorrows."
"And?"
"They still think we're linked. The Needle of Sorrow is designed to induce a miscarriage." Sophie said slowly and Jasmine groaned loudly.
"You better come in." Jasmine stepped aside. "Follow me."
Sophie followed behind Jasmine as she hobbled towards the kitchen. It was only when they got to the kitchen that Sophie noticed the jet black puppy following her. "You got a puppy?" She asked smiling.
Jasmine turned back the best she could on crutches and smiled, " Yeah he's called Snuffle's, but we just call him Snuff for short."
"Snuffles?" Sophie raised an eyebrow and Jasmine chuckled.
"It's a family name." She answered. Though Sophie just had more questions. They were all blew from her mind as they reached the kitchen. Every counter was littered with bowls and food. A little grey monster was at work cooking. Sophie jumped and screamed. Startling Jazz, the eld and Snuffles. "Jesus, Sophie."
"What is that?!" She asked.
"I is Winky. Rude lady." The house elf tutted and Jasmine laughed.
"As Winky told you, she is Winky. The house elf I hired to help with the cooking now that you have gone." Jazz smirked.
"You replaced me with a house elf?" She asked affronted.
"If it makes you feel any better, neither I nor Winky can get the gumbo to taste like yours. Hence the mess. I think that's why Winky is in a bit of a mood." Jazz shrugged.
"Well, I can help whilst we discuss the witches?" Sophie offered and Jasmine smiled widely.
"Please! It's almost been six weeks since I've had a bowl of your gumbo!" She sulked. "This doesn't mean I'm not still angry!"
"It's a step in the right direction though?"
"A shuffle."
-x-
Jasmine was almost crying tears of joy as she sat down to eat. "So, Agnes thinks my babies or one of them will bring about the end of Witches?"
"Yes and she's convinced the rest of the Coven that killing you is more important than getting Davina back."
"Well, at least that's one good thing to come from this," Jasmine said. Davina wouldn't be a target for a while.
"You don't seem worried?" Sophie was confused.
"I'm on house arrest for another week until this damn cast comes off. I'm six months pregnant. Stress is not an option." It was mid-April and Jasmine was trying to keep her cool. Teddy's 1st birthday was next week and she didn't want anything to ruin that. Plus the first anniversary of the Battle. There was already a lot on her plate. Homocidal Witches weren't one. She was safe, Davina was safe and managing her powers better and Jasmine was hungry. That would be dealt with first. "Besides I have new wards in place. Anyone who means me or my babies any harm will be turned into dust as soon as they pass the front door."
Sophie's eyes widened, "Is that how you knew you could trust me?"
Jasmine shrugged. "Yeah, or you'd be dust. Once the witches discover that we're no longer linked, I think this will be their first destination. Oh and just a small warning. Davina has the same wards around where she is. They're rather handy."
"Thanks," Sophie said slowly.
"Don't mention it." Jazz smirked and continued eating. "Now, what are we going to do about your witches?" Once I'm off house arrest, I won't be as safe as I am now. Either they need to be convinced otherwise or I need to deal with them."
"Well, I'd rather we convinced them. Agnes is the last of our elders, she's the only Witch left with a direct connection to our ancestors."
"If she can be convinced, I'll spare her. I can't make you any promises though Sophie. My babies come before anyone."
"That's all I ask." The witch smiled. "I know how important family is."
-x-
-x-
Jasmine was mixing cookie dough as Nik's armed wrapped around her waist from behind. Sophie had left a little after they had finished eating. She already had a batch in the over for her daily visit to Davina.
"What happened to being a cool, Mum? Who doesn't bake cookies and knit sweaters." He said and Jasmine rolled her eye's.
"Mrs Weasley sent me her recipe, so I decided to bake and just for that, you're not getting any."
"Isn't this what WInky's for?"
"Winky still has duties at Hogwarts. Until she returns. I'll be baking." She smiled. She had contemplated giving up and just eating the dough.
"Well, If I do say so myself, this suits you." He kissed her cheek and Jasmine smiled.
"Still not getting any!"
"Oh come on, love! I was nice." He moaned.
"Save the world, then you can have cookies."
"You are my world, Jasmine Potter."
"And now I want to vomit," She giggled and Nik growled picking her up and spinning her, though she could tell he was being as careful as possible. "You big cheese ball." He put her down and shook his head. "Sophie stopped by today."
"Oh? So is that flour or Sophie?" He asked feigning worry, but the humour in his voice was evident.
"Flour. Sophie survived the wards. I can trust her." She smiled. "Her coven however.."
"Oh, here we go again." He growled. "I thought them disappearing was too good to be true."
"Ditto," She smirked. "Apparently, Sabine, the witch who determined that I was having twins, had a premonition of our babies. They're going to be the end of all Nature Witches."
"Look at them. Already making me proud." Klaus uttered and Jasmine shot him a glare.
"Anyway, Agnes, their elder, tried to use a cursed object on me through Sophie. She wisely hadn't told them that she and I unlinked. It would have forced a miscarriage." She smiled.
"So, now I have to deal with them too?" He sighed.
"Too?"
"I think Marcel is starting to see through my act."
"Then stop acting. I know you want to."
"It's not as easy as that, Jazz. I want our home back. Marcellus would never willingly hand it over." He sighed and Jasmine frowned.
"Do what you need to do, but I promised Sophie that we'd try to convince the witches before we resorted to violence. Agnes is their last elder."
"I'll see what I can do, Love." He smiled before heading for the door. "Save me a cookie." He shouted back and Jasmine rolled her eyes.
-x-
Jasmine was used to her Daily routine. She'd portkey directly from the Plantation to Davina's room. Usually with something warm, winky had cooked. This had been her ritual for almost 6 weeks.
Davina was showing small signs of progress but her magic was still out of control. They had practised some of Jasmine's exercises. Davina said she was feeling slightly less explosive after their sessions but Jasmine could feel the power radiating from the girl. It was growing. Jazz feared that Davina wouldn't be able to hold it much longer.
Those feelings were better kept under wraps though. The safer Davina felt. The better.
"Have you got it?" she asked with a smile.
"I think so." Davina smiled back with slight worry.
"Whilst I was at Hogwarts, one of my most valuable possessions was an invisibility cloak. If you can get this spell right, it'll work just the same. Then we'll focus on making objects and other people around you invisible too. Ready?"
Davina nodded and began to chant.
Jasmine smiled as the little witch began to disappear from view.
A bang from the church below startled both of them and Davina stopped the spell. Jasmine frowned.
"What was that?" Davina asked her eyes wide with worry.
"Stay here, Davina," Jasmine said in what she now called her mum voice. "If it's the witches. The safest place for you is this room. Keep trying the spell."
Davina nodded and Jasmine left the room as quickly as her body and crutches could take her. Once she was down the stairs, the voices in the church were clearer. Nik was there.
She came into view of those in the church. A few police officers were there and Agnes was sat in the pews, her hands cuffed together. She looked scared and rightly so.
Klaus and Kieran were stood closer to the altar.
"This is outrageous!" Agnes exclaimed and Klaus chuckled. The witch was watching Jasmine with badly hidden confusion. "What are the charges?!"
"Please, Agnes. You know that Marcel runs the vampires in this town." Father Kieran said as he was handed a folded cloth. Jasmine could guess what was inside before it was even revealed. The 'Needle of Sorrows'. "Who do you think runs everything else?" He held it out towards Klaus. "I believe this is what you were looking for?"
Nik sped towards the priest and took the dark object.
"Hello, Agnes," Nik smirked.
Jasmine was quick to join Nik and have a look at the ugly syringe. Poor Sophie was lucky to not have bled out.
"That's what you attacked Sophie with? Merlin, you witches and your trinkets." Jazz was unimpressed.
"Why don't you just go ahead and kill me already? I've done my part. Those devil spawn in you will be dead come midnight." Agnes spat.
Kieran, who was finding it hard to keep his cool, stepped forward to berate the old hag, but Jasmine placed her hand on his shoulder.
"She isn't worth it, Father. Dark objects are for those who can't use magic and cowards like her." Jasmine smiled grimly. "She will get what's coming to her."
"You're a piece of work, Agnes. But, guess what? I'm quite a piece of work myself. You know, I contemplated leaving bits of you artfully arranged outside your family's tomb? I thought it would leave a fitting message." Nik snarled.
"Leave her, Nik," Jasmine said stonily. "First I'd like to let her know that her little plan isn't going to work." Jasmine frowned falsely and Agnes looked murderous. "But, you knew that already didn't you, Agnes?"
"It's not possible. The needle never fails." She hissed. "Sophie is linked to your demon children. It's only a matter of time."
"The disbelief in your own words is pathetic. If I were cursed, the effects would be obvious. You failed. Sophie and I are no longer linked. We haven't been for weeks." Jazz stated. "My babies will live."
"For now." The witch shouted. "Those abominations are a threat to me and my coven."
Jasmine felt Klaus tense behind her, but she kept her cool, before sighing.
"These babies are not only core witches, but thanks to their psychotic grandmother, they'll carry the nature witch jean too. They won't be a threat to their own kind. That's not how we'll raise them."
"It cannot be left to chance. They have to die. It's for the greater good of our coven." She said plainly.
"Well then. You've just signed your own death warrant, Agnes. I had a deal with Sophie. Your life would be spared if you could be convinced. I now see you're too stuck in your ways to even consider Sabine might have been wrong. Nik?"
The man in question sped over to the witch and grabbed her in a headlock, he could snap her neck at a moment's notice but Jazz shock her head and turned to Kieran. "It's your call, Kieran."
"I can't believe you made a deal with them!" Agnes struggled as she spoke to Kieran.
"After what you did to Sean, I'd deal with the devil himself just to make you suffer!" He hissed. The pain in his voice raw.
"You can't hurt me. The entire witch community will turn against you!" Agnes cried. Her pleas becoming more desperate.
"That's why he isn't going to kill you." Jasmine said plainly. She turned to Kieran who only nodded. "I am."
Nik let the old witch go and moved away, but Agnes was rooted to the ground.
"When we first met. You called me something." Jasmine strolled closer. "Décès, was it? Now I'm not fluent in French but it isn't hard to guess what that means. Death. You don't know how right you were." She finished, as she was only a few feet away.
Jasmine locked eyes with the old witch, no more laughter on her face.
"The first time I actually killed someone, with my bare hands, I was eleven. The guilt and remorse I felt were enough to make me never want to experience it again. I think it took my dying, for me to see that some people are better off in death. My babies aren't. You are." Jazz glared, allowing herself to feel the anger she had been hiding away for the past few weeks. Her magic crackled across her skin like electric. The movements of it almost visible to the naked eye. Klaus would swear it he saw the power radiated from her. Jazz felt the anger and sadness flow through her in the same direction. All gliding towards the tip of her right index finger.
This was something she had been practising. Instead of just releasing the pent-up magic from every angle and surface of her body, she had been concentrating it to certain parts of her body and then releasing it. So far everything she had tried had worked and the magic had made larger changes to smaller areas. There was now a whole allotment of lilies in her garden.
This was the first time she was channelling her anger. Her rage towards the elders of the quarter witches. The magic stopped, a small bomb was now collected at the tip of her finger.
"I have no idea where you'll end up, Agnes." Jasmine reached her outstretched finger forward and hovered between the witches eyes. "But make sure as hell you don't come back."
When her finger connected with Agnes' forehead the elderly woman sagged to the floor. No screams, no blood. Just death.
"Well, that was anticlimactic," Nik commented.
"I think it was fitting. She didn't deserve the time torture take." Jazz said nonchalantly. Jasmine left the room to say by to Davina who had mastered the spell in the short amount of time it took Jasmine to kill a witch. She promised she'd be back in the morning with another spell and baked goods.
Jasmine felt so good, her leg was no longer hurting, her worries were ou the window. Though she knew it was probably just the upside of letting go of all her anger.
She decided to leave the church the human way, leaving Nik and Kieran to deal with the dead witch.
A stroll down bourbon street was just what she needed. Warded from magical attacks of course.
A smile on her face and a skip in her step, Jazz, walked as well as she could without her crutches and her leg still in a cast, but magical attacks weren't always in the form spells.
She didn't expect the blunt force to the back of her head and the darkness that flooded her vision.
-x-
That's the end of Chapter 8.
Jasmine had a good run, right until the end. As always, let me know how you feel about this story and if you have any idea on how to improve it. Let me know.
Kat xoxo