The Order of the Witches
1224 Words
“What the f**k have you done to her?” He knew it had to be some form of magic. The contractions couldn’t have stopped by themselves.
Crazy with anger he got up and caught hold of the woman's feeble arms. She was shorter than Eva and reached only his chest. “Have you killed my wife and my child?”
“If you think I am here to kill, I would have already done that! I am here to protect what is yours. This child is precious, don’t you know?” She looked at him as if he were a dimwit. “Touch her belly and feel for yourself.”
Still holding the woman by her wrist, he placed his right palm on Eva's belly and felt the tightening of her muscles. He relaxed as he felt a contraction in progress.
He hated these witches. They acted as if they were all knowing. They operated in secrecy and that made you feel frustrated and inadequate.
She continued in a condescending tone as if it was reserved to speak with a lesser mortal. “Knucklehead! I have given her some peace from the pains. The contractions are still on but your baby will be born only after the Blood moon enters its final phase. You wouldn’t want your wife to suffer for 8 more hours, would you?”
He released her, realising that she was only helping them, “can you make sure that you tell me what you are up to? I would have willfully strangled your neck.”
“Oh! No wonder Eva loves you so much!” she lifted her eyebrows. “She was always the one attracted to power and righteousness.” This time she gave him a motherly smile. “Now could you bring out some tea while your wife rests? I have flown all the way from Macquarie island you see! Brrr… Bloody cold out there!”
He brewed a hot chamomile tea, one of Eva's favourites and handed it to the old visitor. He asked, “What were you doing at Macquarie and who are you? Eva looked surprisingly calm seeing you."
“Must be because of my resemblance to her mother. I don’t think she remembers me. I had seen her when she was just a babe. I am Sarena, Eva’s aunt. I serve the Australian arm of The Order of the Witches. They couldn’t trust me to be the Australian head. Hell! I couldn’t trust myself in being the Australian head,” she chuckled.
Again her humour sounded out of place with John not knowing exactly what she found funny.
He was surprised by what she had revealed. He Knew about the Order of the Witches. It was headed by seven members from seven continents. The seven Heads.
He also knew about The Keeper of the Orb at Mt Kailasa who informed the Heads when a female witch was born or whenever a male witch would surface. They kept records of the Amenables and the Recalcitrants.
The Order along with The Keeper had together taken upon themselves to bring some relief to the chaotic lives of the witches when witch-hunting was at its prime. They had formed this secret society centuries ago to save the world from an end as the fight between the witches and the rest of the species got grimmer and deadlier.
Before the 16th century, it was easy. Humans couldn’t capture them and all the other creatures like the werewolves, vampires, Yaramayhawho, Garkain, etc lived in harmony. They weren't necessarily friendlies, but at least they did not kill each other. They knew that they had to be hidden from the humans so world peace could prevail.
He stroked his chin and said, "What's with serving the Order of the Witches?"
She chuckled again. “So, your mum was a witch, right?”
John rolled his eyes. “Yes,” he said. Not sure where this was heading.
“So you would know about the Amenables and Recalcitrants?”
“Yes.”
“Elaborate!” demanded Sarena.
“But shouldn’t you know it already?”
“We are killing time. Let’s just calibrate our versions of the witch world. You have grown up in a world where witches are hiding and always on the run. Why not talk about how we got here?” she insisted.
He looked at his sleeping wife and sighed, “The Amenables are the ones who follow The Order of the Witches. They get trained and nurtured by The Order. The Recalcitrants are the ones who reject The Order. They follow their own rules, self-guide and self learn. Some of the most powerful witches of our times have been Recalcitrants, but they are known to dabble in dark magic and do not hesitate to harm others.”
“Exactly!” Sarena exclaimed as if humouring a student. “I was a Recalcitrant. In fact, according to some of my friends, a very strong one at that. Eva’s mum was an Amenable. She was the strongest witch I knew. They were considering her to be the successor for the Head of Australia in the nineteen seventies.”
“So what happened? How did a strong witch get assassinated by Waru’s wolves?”
Sarena’s eyes darkened. “She was the most gentle person, always trusting, always seeing the good in the worst of times. She placed her trust in the wrong people,” she said spitefully.
He shuddered at her reaction, “Who? What happened? Does Eva know? “
“Those are questions for some other day mate,” her jovial self was back. “I loved my sister unconditionally. I switched sides the day I lost her and became an Amenable. I made sure Eva was well guarded. And then you happened.” She looked at him with motherly affection. “I am so sorry that you lost your parents to that fire.”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” John said.
Eva stirred, “John!”
He was at her side swiftly, “Eva! Baby! Are you alright?”
“Yes. The lady, where is she? Who is she?”
“I am your aunt darling,” said Sarena, walking up to her.
Eva grimaced as she felt the contraction again. “Quick, John, get me some hot water and blankets. It’s time.” Sarena ordered.
John handed her the blanket, placed the flask of hot water by her side and sat next to his wife, trying to comfort her, “It will be over soon honey. Hang in there.”
“I can see the baby’s head, Eva push!” said Sarena. Eva started bearing down, “PUSH girl! PUSH.” Sarena raised her voice, urging Eva.
Eva gathered all her strength and pushed down when the next contraction reached its peak. Finally, she felt the baby move out of her passage. Sarena passed the child over to John and deftly cut the cord. The baby's wails filled the room. Eva and John looked overwhelmed with tears in their eyes.
“Congratulations, James is born!" exclaimed Sarena boisterously.
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- Writer
