Witches of The Eclipse

Mirrin sat at the edge of her seat, her eyes wandering the finely decorated room around her. Portraits of people from the fifteenth and sixteenth century, guarded by gilded frames, lined the walls. She leaned forward, her fingers tracing the ornate gold leaf patterns that adorned the frames, marvelling at the intricate craftsmanship.

"These must be ancient," Mirrin murmured to herself, her breath fogging the glass that protected the delicate paintings. She tented her fingertips on the glass, finding her senses lost in the muted colours and textures of the aged parchment and chipped paint. Mirrin could almost smell the scent of earthy dyes and hear the soft scratching of bristles on canvas.

She jumped back as a throat cleared behind her, causing the painting to wobble slightly on the wall. Mirrin's heart raced for a moment before the frame settled, and she exhaled a shaky breath. "Probably not a great idea to break the Founding Four on your first day, Fledgling," a husky voice sounded from behind her.

Mirrin turned to face the newcomer, her breath hitching in her chest. The woman was stunning, though Mirrin found it hard to pinpoint exactly why. She looked no older than Mirrin herself, perhaps even younger, but there was an air of experience about her that belied her youthful appearance. The woman's dark, secretive eyes, the colour of hot tar, narrowed as she took in Mirrin's dishevelled clothes and wandering gaze.

What the hell is going on here, she thought as the woman slinked her way forward, almost catlike in her movements. Mirrin swallowed hard as alarm bells began sounding in her head. She felt her pulse quicken as the beautiful brunet reached out to touch her.

NO!! Mirrin shouted in her mind, unable to form the word with her mouth, she felt trapped and her mind flashed back to darker times as she tried to move away.

I’m being spelled, she thought, allowing her breathing to even out, forcing her heart rate to slow. The woman stopped mid-motion and glared at her. Mirrin felt her power leak out of her, forming a shield, something she had learned to do at an early age. She felt her power envelop her body, warm and familiar. The scent of wood smoke and incense filled her head as the air around her buzzed. She felt the other woman grit her teeth as she tried to push into Mirrin’s personal space, only to be rejected and thrown back against the cluttered wall. Almost knocking another damned portrait off the wall.

Mirrin felt her power enter her eyes and she knew they had turned from her usual dark brown to a startling gold. She reached a hand forward and something grabbed at the woman’s throat. She would only scare her, no need to push it any further than that. It was likely that this was some bully who bit off more than they could chew when they walked into the room and saw a new face. She closed the air around the girl’s neck. She was just a girl now, still beautiful in her own way, but young and seemingly foolish.

I was right, she was spelling me, instead of being angry, Mirrin found herself impressed. She would still scare her, but hopefully this girl could be a friend soon.

Heck, she’s cute, maybe if I don’t scare her away, we can grab a coffee, she smiled at the girl, who looked slightly terrified. Mirrin remembered the Magick in her eyes and allowed them to run back to her natural brown. The girl seemed to calm down at that.

“Please do not touch me without my consent,” Mirrin asked, firmly. Personal space was a big deal to her, since she’d had so little of it growing up. The girl nodded frantically, pawing at her lightly constricted throat. Mirrin hadn’t cut her breathing off, she had just held on tight enough to get her message across. She released the air and allowed the girl to slide down the wall coughing, more for show than due to actual damage, she assumed.

Her power dissipated almost as soon as it had surged. She felt its deep thrum within her body, and smiled lightly, knowing that it was singing to her for using it. Her Magick was almost like a pet in that way, it liked to be taken out and used every so often and would turn sulky if she neglected it. There were times in the past where she had been unable to use it, and it understood that. Her Magick felt sentient. Knowing when it was safe, and when it wasn’t, was a necessity during her childhood, and her Magick seemed to know that as much as she did. She shook herself out of her reverie and approached the girl, who seemed a bit weary now. Mirrin extended her hand.

“Mirrin Matthews, nice to meet you,” She smiled as kindly as she could, having just been attacked by this girl. The brunet stuck out her hand and grabbed Mirrin’s, pulling her down to sit beside her. Before Mirrin’s Magick could surge again the girl pulled back and peered intently at Mirrin’s face.

"You don't look like one of the founders, but why do you have gold eyes?" the woman asked, her tone somewhere between curious and suspicious. Mirrin raised an eyebrow in response, unsure of how to answer. The brunette studied her for a moment longer before huffing and turning away.

"Talea, my name is Talea. I'm Goody Clara's favourite student," the woman - Talea - said, rubbing at her throat lightly. Mirrin noticed the slight redness there and felt a pang of guilt. "Although I might not be for much longer. Sorry about that, I'd heard that a new girl had arrived, and I wanted to test what you're capable of."

Mirrin couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corner of her mouth. "Yea, sorry about that, I wasn't going to hurt you. I just wanted the spell to stop," she ruffled the short hair at the back of her head and managed to look apologetic.

Talea's eyes widened, and she let out a quiet breath. "You knew it was a spell?!" she asked, sounding almost awed. Mirrin nodded, and Talea quickly offered her a hand up from the floor. Mirrin considered pulling the other girl back down to continue their conversation, but decided against it.

"Yea, I felt the spell energy when I tried to talk, I couldn't say 'No' and it triggered me," Mirrin explained, carefully omitting the details of her past that had led to such a strong reaction. She didn't want to scare a potential new friend away before she even had a chance to get to know her.

"The spell energy," Talea murmured, mimicking Mirrin's head scratch unconsciously as she muttered, "I've never met anyone that can do that before." She looked at Mirrin with a mixture of wonder and caution in her eyes. "Might want to keep that to yourself if you want to get along here, love."

Mirrin felt a flush of warmth at the term of endearment, struggling to suppress a goofy grin. She had never had much in the way of affection in her life, and little things like that still made her heart skip a beat. Besides, now that Talea wasn't trying to charm her, Mirrin could see that the brunette was definitely cute.

"I'll be sure to keep that in mind, then," Mirrin replied, hoping the pink tinge to her brown skin wasn't too obvious.

"Ah, Talea, I see you found our newest member after all," a posh, sounding voice called out from the doorway. Mirrin turned to see a tall, African-American man enter the room. "Does she pass your inspection?"

Talea looked properly chastised at the dry tone, a clear message that she should not have tested the new student. Mirrin smiled at Talea's hot blush and turned her full attention to the man.

"Goodman Dravon, a pleasure to see you again," she said, extending her hand towards him. The man's large, dark hands enfolded her own, almost causing her hand to disappear.

"And you Ms. Matthews," he said, smiling warmly. His teeth were a striking white against the bright, pink of his lips. "The Council requests your presence. If you are finished with Goody Talea, that is?"

Mirrin looked over at Talea, who made a shooing gesture. "Best not to keep them waiting, love. We'll talk more when you get back!" Talea's eyes held a glimmer of excitement, and Mirrin couldn't help but return her smile.

"Excellent," Dravon said, gesturing for Mirrin to follow. "After you, my dear." Mirrin nodded and fell into step behind him, casting one last glance over her shoulder at Talea before disappearing through the ornate doorway.

As Dravon led her down a series of dimly lit hallways, Mirrin couldn't help but feel a twinge of trepidation. She had only just arrived at this strange place, and already she was being summoned to meet the council. What did they want with her?

Mirrin took a deep, steadying breath, trying to calm the nervous flutter in her stomach. She had come so far, faced so much, and she refused to let her nerves get the better of her now. Whatever they wanted, she would face it head-on.

The tall, wooden doors they stopped in front of were imposing, the intricate carvings and heavy ironwork evoking a sense of power and authority. Dravon placed a large hand on Mirrin's shoulder, offering her a reassuring smile.

"Are you ready?" he asked, his voice quiet and respectful - a far cry from the chastising tone he had used with Talea earlier.

Mirrin met his gaze and nodded, straightening her spine. "Yes, I am."

-

Dravon pushed the doors open with a gentle nudge, allowing them to swing inward. Mirrin stepped through, her eyes immediately drawn to the figures seated around the long, ornately decorated table before her.

There were six of them, plus Dravon, who took his seat at the end. In the centre sat an elegant-looking woman, her crimson and gold gown glinting in the low light. Mirrin recognized her from their previous correspondence - Mistress Oleander Ravenfeather, the leader of The Arcana Council.

To Oleander's right was a man with a bold, white beard and muted grey attire. His piercing gaze was not unkind, but Mirrin felt the weight of it as he studied her. This must be Master Evander Duskhollow, the elder warlock Mirrin had heard so much about.

The other council members, a mix of men and women, observed Mirrin with varying degrees of interest and wariness. Mirrin felt a tingle along her senses, as if something - or someone - was trying to reach into her mind. She instinctively threw up a shield, the familiar scent of wood smoke and incense filling the air around her.

Oleander's lips curved into a slight smile. "Ah, young Ms. Matthews, it's a pleasure to meet you in the flesh," she said, her voice rich and resonant. "We've asked you here to assess where you stand in your education."

Mirrin cleared her throat, interrupting Oleander before she could continue. "Mistress, there has been no real 'education' to speak of," she said, putting air quotes around the word 'education'. "I've only recently inherited my Witch's Bible, and I've just started to learn what I am."

It was the truth. Mirrin had only just turned eighteen and gained access to her family's vault, thanks to the guiding hand of Goodman Dravon. She had thought the vault would only contain bad memories and scar tissue, but had been proven wrong. The proof of her magical heritage lay in the weathered, leather-bound book that now rested in her rucksack, the name "Mirthbane" etched into the cover in faded gold lettering.

Oleander nodded, her expression softening. "I see. Well, that makes our task a bit more challenging, but no less important." She glanced around the table, meeting the eyes of the other council members. "Evander, if you would?"

The white-bearded man leaned forward, fixing Mirrin with a piercing stare. "Child, what did you do once you discovered the book?" His voice was worn with age, and Mirrin felt the edge of Magick flutter against her mind. She tensed, her own power surging to the surface in response.

NO! she shouted silently, and her Magick lashed out, pushing the intruder away. One of the younger council members, a raven-haired woman with piercing eyes, flew out of her seat at the force of Mirrin's mental shove. Mirrin recognized her magical signature as the same one who had fluttered against her consciousness earlier.

Clara picked herself up, anger blazing in her eyes as she flung a hand out towards Mirrin. Mirrin felt her Magick react without conscious direction, and was soothed as her shield hugged her body, breathing the scent of wood smoke and incense into her mind.

"Clara, that is quite enough," Evander's voice cut through the charged atmosphere, his tone hard and unyielding. "The child has every right to defend herself. And Oleander, really, she will tell us all she wants to and nothing more."

Mirrin felt a surge of gratitude towards Evander for coming to her defence. She also detected the lap of Magick and brought her shield up once more, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the council members. There was an Empath among them, then - she would need to tread carefully.

Her gaze landed on a pale, lanky man with fine features and black hair. He looked startled by her emotional response, and Mirrin couldn't help the small grin that tugged at her lips. He nodded at her in acknowledgment, and she returned the gesture, silently promising not to let her guard down.

"Now, on to the matter of your education, young lady," Evander began, his voice softer than it had been moments ago. "We are aware that it has not been easy for you, and yet, here you stand before us, a fledgling Witch." Mirrin scoffed at his mention of the difficulty she had faced, but waited for him to continue.

"We can tell by your quick spellcasting and even quicker reactions that you are well on your way to being successful in our Coven, and we," he paused, glancing around the table at the varied reactions of the other council members, "yes, we, are prepared to offer you our protection as you learn and grow with us."

Mirrin felt her shield, there were no more magical intrusions and she knew they were finally being honest with her. She smiled gently at Evander and bowed at the council with arms open, a symbolic gesture she had read about in her Witch's Bible that showed complete acceptance of their offer.

“I would gladly become part of your family, Misters and Mistresses,” she said, her voice steady and sure.

Evander was before her in an instant, his hand extended, palm held above her forehead. He sought permission to touch her with a look, a gesture Mirrin appreciated, and she closed her eyes as she pressed her forehead into his palm. Mirrin felt a warmth she could only describe as Family, Love, Hope and Home as it washed over her. Tears pricked at her closed eyelids, and she allowed them to flow freely as Evander stepped back.

“It is done, the introduction into our Coven is complete but the next step depends on you young one. This offer is contingent on your acceptance by our Coven members, a task that is daunting indeed but one that we all believe you will best with greatest success. For now, Dravon, if you would please show Ms. Matthews to her room?” Evander made his way back to Oleander’s side and sat down, placing his hand over hers on the lavish table before them. Dravon stood and bowed, then made his way to Mirrin’s side and showed her out of the room.

-

"Well, that went well!" Dravon's booming laugh echoed in the empty hallway, not even the thick carpets muffling his mirth. "It's been a while since I've seen Clara Blackwood thrown off her game."

Mirrin couldn't help but smile at his jovial tone. "Well, I don't appreciate it when people touch me without my permission, physically or mentally," she said, running her fingers through the short hair at the back of her neck. "I didn't mean to knock her away, though. I haven't learned how to control it yet."

Dravon's hand hovered over her shoulder, asking permission to touch her and giving her time to move away if she didn't accept. Mirrin stayed, and his hand settled as a warm weight. "Well, my child, that's what you're here to learn," he said, smiling warmly.

Mirrin felt a sense of relief wash over her. She was here, she was accepted, and she would learn. No more running, no more hiding. This was her chance to forge a new path, to become the witch she was meant to be.

As they walked, Dravon outlined the basic rules of The Arcana.

"Rule Number One, no Magick outside of the property, we have survived this long only by being a well-kept secret. Rule Two, no non-Magick visitors, see rule one. Rule Three, there are weekly coven meetings, we like to call them family meetings and all members are asked to attend. If you're not able to attend, please let one of your teachers know and we'll relay anything you missed that day, do not make it a habit to skip. Rule Four, please do not skip meals, this isn't really a rule, we just like to make sure you're well fed and healthy," he grinned at her, the warmth in his eyes making Mirrin smile in return.

"And finally, Rule Five, and this one is specifically for you, Mirrin. Do not let anyone else know you can sense spell energy."

Mirrin's brow furrowed in confusion. "But, is that a bad thing?" She felt exposed, out of her element. Dravon's smile had disappeared, and he spoke to her in hushed tones.

"There are some here who are from Olde families, and some of those families do not look highly on Witches or Warlocks who are able to sense Magick energy. It is not a skill passed down by generations, it is an innately possessed skill that Olde families fear. There were Dark Ages where those who possessed that power were hunted to extinction, believed to be harbingers of Darke Magick. Some of those superstitions survive today. Oleander and Evander have taken you in to protect you, so please, please do not put yourself in unnecessary danger by running your mouth."

Mirrin shut her mouth quickly, nodding her understanding. She hadn't read anything like that in her Witch's Bible, but if her ancestors had been Darke, it wasn't likely that they would have written 'Ye Olde Spells of Darke Magick' in there. She would have to speak to Talea about it when they had a moment, assuming that Talea wasn't from one of those Olde families.

Her head was spinning. "Alright, I'll leave you two to your chat," Dravon said, handing Mirrin off to the visitor that had stepped out of the shadows of her dormitory doorway. "Mirrin, this is Talea Godwin, her title is Goody Godwin and she's to be your mentor while you are here. Ms. Godwin hails from a Younge family and is the first of her family to join our Coven. Hope you two have a good night, and don't keep her awake with too many questions, Mirrin!"

Mirrin let out a mental sigh, surely Dravon had done that introduction on purpose, it was too specific of him to announce Talea as a Younge Witch.

"So! How did it go?" Talea was practically bouncing in place as Dravon departed, her eyes alight with curiosity. "Tell me everything!"

Mirrin smiled at her new friend's enthusiasm and walked over to the beautiful four-poster bed in the middle of the room. Her suitcases had been confiscated from her when she had come into the home, and she saw them sitting in the open closet on the other side.

"I'd say it went pretty well. They let me come here, didn't they?" Mirrin grinned at Talea and remembered something she had thought earlier. "Oh, by the way, would you like to go get a coffee or something tomorrow with me?" Talea smiled shyly and nodded, an expression Mirrin found utterly endearing.

The two girls sat at the edge of the bed, and Mirrin began to recount the events that had just transpired, carefully omitting any mention of her Mirthbane heritage or any further mention of her ability to sense spell energy. As she spoke, she couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging and excitement for the future. This was her chance to start anew, to become the witch she was always meant to be.

Talea listened intently, her eyes wide with wonder and no small amount of envy. "Wow, Mirrin, you really are something special, aren't you?" she murmured, nudging Mirrin playfully with her shoulder. "I can't wait to see what else you've got up your sleeve."

Mirrin chuckled, feeling a warmth bloom in her chest at Talea's words. "Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see," she said, her gaze meeting Talea's. For a moment, the world seemed to fade away, and Mirrin found herself lost in the depths of those captivating eyes.

A soft knock at the door broke the spell, and Mirrin reluctantly tore her gaze away. "Come in," she called, straightening her posture.

Dravon poked his head around the door, a wide grin plastered across his face. "Ah, you two are still in here! I was just coming to check on you, make sure you weren't getting into any trouble. And that you haven’t skipped your dinner." He winked at Mirrin, eliciting a giggle from Talea.

"We're behaving, I promise," Mirrin replied, unable to keep the amusement from her voice. Her stomach rumbled in response to his mention of dinner.

"Excellent, excellent." Dravon nodded approvingly. "Well, it sounds as if you may have skipped dinner after all. Mirrin, remember what we discussed, I’ll have a meal sent up for you both due to the events of today. And Talea, make sure she eats and gets some rest, hmm?"

"Yes, Goodman Dravon," Talea chirped, saluting him playfully. Mirrin hid a smile behind her hand, already feeling more at home in this strange new place than she ever had in her entire life.

As the door clicked shut behind Dravon, Talea turned to Mirrin, her expression suddenly serious. "So, what did he mean by that 'Rule Five' thing?" she asked, her brow furrowed in concern.

Mirrin sighed, running a hand through her hair. "You heard that?” Talea nodded and Mirrin continued.

“Apparently, there are some Olde families here who don't take kindly to Witches and Warlocks who can sense spell energy. Dravon said it's an innate skill, not something passed down, and that it was once used to hunt us to extinction." She shuddered, the weight of that revelation settling heavily on her shoulders.

Talea's eyes widened, and she reached out to squeeze Mirrin's hand reassuringly. "Hey, it's gonna be okay, alright? I've got your back, no matter what." Her expression darkened for a moment. "And if any of those Olde jerks try to give you trouble, they'll have me to deal with."

Mirrin couldn't help but smile at Talea's fierceness, a huge shift from the cold witch she met outside the council doors. "Thank you, Talea. I'm just... I'm still trying to wrap my head around all of this, you know?" She gestured vaguely around the room. "This place, my heritage, the council, Elves existing - it's a lot to take in."

Talea nodded sympathetically. "I can only imagine. But hey, you're not alone in this, okay? We're in it together." She bumped Mirrin's shoulder playfully. "And speaking of being in things together, how about that coffee tomorrow?"

Mirrin felt a grin spread across her face. "It's a date," she said, her heart fluttering at the prospect.

As the two girls settled into easy conversation as their supper arrived, Mirrin couldn't help but feel a sense of hope blossoming within her. For the first time in her life, she felt like she truly belonged somewhere, sharing a meal with someone who she could become close to. She didn’t know why but she felt that with Talea by her side, she was ready to face whatever challenges this new world had in store for her.