Justice's Curse, Mercy's Blessing

When the world was new, the goddess Hecate stepped out of the primordial dark and created Vampires. They were her first children, born of shadows and rage. They covered the earth like a plague, rampaging and feasting on the blood of mortals with abandon. Death became a constant companion to the mortals who cowered in their homes when the light of day left the earth.

In desperation, the mortals cried out to Hecate, mother of the dark, for help and refuge. Crying of day and night without ceasing, the people pleaded for Hecate to have mercy and save humanity from the violence of her children.

Hecate heard the prayers of the people and relented. Although mortals were children of Theia and walkers of the day, Hecate had mercy on them and welcomed them into her darkness, and so the first witches were born. She taught these adopted daughters the mysteries of the spirit and the hidden knowledge of creation, the moments of blessing and of cursing.

Then Hecate, mother of darkness and queen of the night, called her first born children to her side-drinkers of blood and spirits of rage, formed in unrelenting cruelty and wild abandon-and she spoke to them.

“The children of day, beloved ones of Theia, Goddess of the dawn have cried out to me day and night without ceasing. Their cries have reached me in the primordial dark and have softened my resolve. No longer will they be only children of Theia, for today I have adopted them. They will sing prayers to me when the nightjars take wing, and I will cover them in safety until the dawn breaks.”

But the children of night had grown bold, glutted with the blood of mortal men, they rebelled against their mother Hecate.“Why should we obey you dark mother? You created us and the night is ours. They are nothing but cattle to be slaughtered and fed upon. We were created to feed, to rip and tear, and feast upon the blood of the earth. We will not turn away from what we are, and we will no longer obey your words.”

Hecate was wroth, her anger shook the darkness, and the stars hid their faces at her rage. And yet in that moment, she knew her first born children, whom she loved, would have to be chastised that the world might survive. Her tears fell, and her sorrow was felt by Theia, Goddess of the Dawn.

“Hecate, sister, why are you so desolate?” came the question from the far off echoes of morning.

“Because the first born of my creation seeks to rebel against me, and I must destroy them.” Hecate cried out in anguish.

“No sister, you must not unmake what you have made. I will help you show them a different path, one where light and dark can exist in harmony. Today they will hear Justice’s Curse and pray for Mercy’s Blessing.”

And so Hecate and Theia stood together, light and dark joining in that place that existed out of time and space, where the words light and dark held no meaning because there were no eyes to behold them. And together they wove a spell so powerful that all of creation shook with its song.

The Children of night were changed, the children of day also, and so began a different future for those brave enough to walk the path-a path still bloody, but at the end there was hope for those willing to reach beyond Justice’s Curse to see Mercy’s Blessing.

And so it began.

The Book Of The Weird Sisters

Estefania worked silently, adding the Mugwort leaves to her mixture, as she uttered the prayer that her grandmother taught her.

By moonlight’s silver and twilight’s gleam,

Open the pathways of mystic dream.

Mugwort and vervain, sage wild and bright,

Unveil the visions beyond mortal sight.

Spirits of wisdom, guardians rare,

Part now the veils of the ethereal air.

By herb and breath, by intention most true,

Reveal what is hidden, bring mysteries to view.

Third eye now opening, perception unfurled,

Beyond the illusions of the physical world.

Ancient connections now clearly in sight,

Blessed be the magic that dances tonight.

As she watched the bowl glowed a bright blue telling that her prayer had been heard and the potion was ready. Reaching for a small fabric bag she spooned the mixture into it and placed it in the pile of the others that she had already prepared. She brushed her long black hair back from her face as she worked. She wiped her hands on her homespun apron as she exhaled in relief the task completed.

Estafania was the second oldest of three sisters, her elder sister Agnes had married the village butcher and was now mother to 2 small sons who spent all their time getting into innocent mischief. The elders in the village doted on the boys and laughed at their antics.

Her younger sister Beatriz was still at home with Estafania’s mother and father. At just 10 years old, she was still playing with dolls and learning the history of the village and their people.

Estafania was 15, living on her own and apprenticed to her grandmother Therese, the village wise one. Therese was a woman of great power and a healer. Estafania loved her grandmother and was happy to learn the craft of the wise ones from her.

Everyone said that seeing Estafania was like seeing Therese in her prime. Tall and willowy, black hair that cascaded down her back, often with wild flowers woven through it in simple decoration. Her green eyes flashed with emotion whenever she was angry, and she had a beautiful alabaster complexion like fine porcelain.

Estafania was truly beautiful; many of the young men in the village wanted to court her, but she would have none of it. She preferred to study with her grandmother and learn the craft of a wise one.

As she finished putting the herbs in the pot she had simmering over the fire, she heard the door to the cottage open.

“Fania, how are you coming along with those spirit purses?” her grandmother asked, as she moved into the room, her gnarled walking stick tapping softly on the floor as she moved. She dropped into a chair by the fire and looked at her granddaughter.

“Ama, the spirit purses are done. Here they are.” Estefania placed one in her grandmother’s hand. Therese looked intently at the small pouch and softly tapped her stick on the floor in a complex rhythm. As she did, the pouch began to glow with the same soft blue light that Estafania had seen in her bowl.

“Excellent! You have mastered much in these last few months. You will make a strong wise one, The Weird Sisters have blessed you!” She put the pouch back on the table.

Estafania said, “Thank you Ama, it is because you are such a good teacher.”

She went to the fire and retrieved a pot filled with the simmered tea. She poured two cups before returning the pot to the hook above the fire and then sat down in the chair next to her grandmother. She placed one of the warm cups in her grandmother’s hands before picking up her own to savor the tea.

“Fania, you have mastered much of our art, you are proficient in healing, protection, and prophecy. There is little more that I can teach you. It is time for you to face your final test. Are you ready to receive it?” Therese leaned forward so she could look Estefania in the eye.

“Yes Ama, tell me what I have to do.”

“In Compostela, a small boy has come down with Bexigas and his family has sent a request for a wise one to come heal him. You will travel to Compostela and undertake his care. If you can heal him, your training will be complete.” Therese handed Fania a small parchment with the message that had come from Compostela.

Estafania took it and scanned through the information, all the while working on a plan in her head. She got up quickly and began to move around, pulling clay pots and fabric satchels of herbs and spices as she allowed her mind to work on the problem she was presented with.

Therese watched her granddaughter with a smile on her face, she could almost see how her mind worked while it attacked the problem she was presented with. Chamomile to calm the mind for rest, Yarrow to promote healing of blisters and cleanse the blood, St John’s Wort to cheer a melancholy disposition, and Comfrey to promote healing of wounds and prevent scarring.

Estafania placed all these herbs in her satchel and slung it over her shoulder. She closed her eyes and uttered a soft prayer to Hecate and Theia for a safe journey and true inspiration to heal those in need. As she was about to hug her grandmother goodbye and begin her journey, a thought floated up into her consciousness.

Travel dark paths in the company of the angels, Angelica will make sure that they are watching.

She turned around and grabbed the pot of Angelica and putting 3 pinches in a fabric bag, she hung it around her neck.

“Good, good, you hear the whispers of the Sisters. Go now and remember all I have taught you, stay to the path and walk in the light. Watch for the shadows and avoid the dark places, for there death waits to snatch the unwary and foolish.” She opened her arms for a hug.

Estafania hugged her grandmother and waited for her to trace the sign of blessing on her forehead. She felt the slight tingle of her grandmother’s power flow over her. She kissed her grandmother’s cheek in parting.

“I will return on the morrow, the deed done and the blessing received,” Estafania said, walking out and heading down the road.

Her grandmother watched her go and sent a silent prayer to the Sisters that they would watch over her until they met again. Estafania was the most promising student Therese had taught in the last 15 years, she had very high hopes for her granddaughter. She thought about Beatriz who was still too young to learn the craft and she smiled.

She would not be the one to take on that task, Estafania would train her sister and Therese would retire to watch the birds fly, the flowers grow and enjoy the quiet.

“Good luck my precious one, you are going to need it when your sister comes of age! She is even more talented than you, and wild as wind in a storm! I don’t envy the road ahead of you!”

Estafania walked along the road lost in her thoughts. She recalled all she knew about Bexigas, its symptoms, how it spread, how it damaged the body and what it took to cure it. The monotony of the road and her steps allowed her the ability to set her mind the task of creating a plan and a strategy.

As the sun continued to climb into the sky, she let her feet care for the road while her mind wandered the paths of knowledge she had learned from her grandmother. As she walked, she settled on a plan of attack to fight the disease plaguing the child.

The road continued to wind slowly traveling through a great stand of trees, sunlight dappled the road in shimmering gold, but there were places of shadow as well as light. Estefania snapped out of her musing as she felt the darkness pass over her, becoming instantly wary of the shadows that seemed to encroach upon her steps. As she walked she heard bleating; the sound seemed frantic. Estafania stopped to listen, trying to determine where the sound was coming from.

Then she saw a small lamb was caught in a briar thicket at the mouth of a cave. Estefania’s heart went out to it and she was consumed with pity. Estafania remembered her grandmother’s warning about staying on the path and walking in the light, but she pitied the small animal and resolved to help it free itself. If she moved fast, what harm could there be.

Estafania moved quickly, examining the bush, she realized that the quickest way to release the lamb would be from the side of the bush nearest the cave. She made her way there and with her back to the cave began to work quickly to calm the lamb and extract it from the thicket.

While she was working she scratched her hand on the long thorns and blood began to flow. She kept going until the lamb was free. She put it down so it could scamper away, and hoped that it would be able to find its mother and be reunited with its herd.

As she was rising to leave, a cloud passed over the sun and the forest was bathed in shadow. The mouth of the cave grew dark and a cold chill ran down Estafania’s back. Suddenly without warning she felt herself grabbed by strong hands and pulled backward into the dark.

Estafania had no time to scream or even to recognize what was happening before she felt the fangs pierce her throat. As her life was draining, she sent up a silent plea to the Weird Sisters that they would receive her into their arms and avenge her passing.