The Panther

Shadow Magik

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats- Survivor

"We are really excited about you being here. Kammy was telling us about your coven problem. I don't understand why you were excommunicated," Mrs. Ramirez asked while we were having breakfast. Kam did say born wolves have no filters between their brains and their mouths. Why would they? They live among humans, who's going to make them shut up?

"I don't really understand why myself," I answered despite the obvious snide. "They're probably scared that I might flip them inside out with the sound of their own voice,"

"So, you're like an alpha witch?" Pedro, Emilia's younger brother asked.

"More like the alpha of alpha witches," Kam corrected.

"That's tight," he nodded before scooping a couple of spoonfuls of eggs into his mouth.

"Why don't you just remove the problem then?" Sofia, Pedro's twin asked. They're sixteen. It's weird to think that I had been sixteen just three years ago. I feel a lot older than that.

"Witches aren't like wolves. There aren't very many of us and not all of us can have children. Killing our kind in cold blood because they don't want to give up their power is out of the question," Kam answered knowing that if I answer it's going to sound like a threat. "We have a more exciting method,"

"Like alienating?" she scoffed.

"Yeah," I answered. "It's a lot more fun than being dead too,"

"How would you know?" she scoffed.

"Oh, I've died and gone to hell twice now," I took a drink of my orange juice.

"Let's change the subject," Mrs. Ramirez cleared her throat. "Ricardo?"

"Colton tells me you're having trouble contacting your panther," Alpha Rick smirked.

"She's mad at me. I have to really coax her out if I even want to remember her name,"

"Do you remember it now?"

"Yes, her name is Citlali,"

"Why is she mad at you? What did you do to her?" Sofia asked.

"After finishing my mating ritual I told my mate to go f**k himself," I sat back. The alpha and his mate both laughed.

"Mates are a complex topic here. It's rare for wolves to find their other halves and when some do, they don't want to turn them. It takes a special kind of human to accept the transition. Even those who get training die sometimes," he explained. "It's nothing short of a miracle when mates are born into wolf bloodlines," he took his mate's hand and smiled. "What are you fighting? Why not give in to the bond?"

"First, I did. Repeatedly,"

"Baby," Colt flicked a grain of rice at me, They all laughed.

"Aspen is complicated. It's not just our bond as panthers. His love can be a little overwhelming. He's a high priest, he's a panther, he's a vampire, a demon, and an angel all in one and all of these different traits all love a certain way. It also doesn't help that he's not a very trusting person. Until we can establish mutual trust between us, Citlali is going to be s**t out of luck,"

"That's rough," he nodded. "How did he come to be what he is?"

"His dad didn't have children, sir. He created experiments,"

"I thought you said not all witches can have kids," Sofia mocked. I want to throw my fork at her. The giggly feeling inside of me tells me Citlali feels the same way.

"Mages don't have that problem," Kam answered putting her hand over mine. "Alpha Rick. A friendly reminder that while Baby has great manners and has already expressed her gratitude repeatedly, the panther inside of her is not as human as she is. Citlali is a very old, very powerful little kitty and she has a very strong temperament. Poking at the two of them can be dangerous," she looked at Sofia. "This isn't an alpha pup kind of argument. There's a real danger in angering one of these cat things,"

"Colton," Sofia glared at her. "Your sister's servant just threatened me,"

"Stop," I growled when Citlali surfaced. She immobilized me by straightening my spine so I'm looking up at the ceiling. My claws came out and buried them into the table to keep her from moving. "Citlali, stop. She's a little girl,"

"Baby?" Colton called out.

"Please, you said you'd be nice. You wanted outside, right? Calm down," I growled. I groaned gripping the table tightly when she pushed her pelt over my body and then pulled it all back in, letting me go. I growled panting as my body locked up in pain. I hate it when she does that to me.

"Hey, hey," Kam held me up when I was finally able to breathe.

"You're a f*****g b***h," I growled at Citlali. "Stay in there for all I care. I can come back if I die you can't,"

"This is progress, believe it or not," Alpha Rick came over to me. He made me look up at him. "You're going to have to break her,"

"How?" I asked sitting up.

"You let it hurt you. Like breaking a fever. Once the worst of it has passed, you will dominate her. Not the other way around,"

"I was afraid you were going to say that," I nodded. "I want to start right away,"

"Really?" he asked looking me over.

"I have things to do," I nodded. "I have to help my brother first,"

"Yes, of course," his eyes shot to Colt worriedly.

"Now?" he asked. "Is it going to hurt?"

"Yeah," Kam and I said at the same time.

"I'll let you know when the pain will begin. For now, wear something black. All of it. No other color," I added. "I'll start setting up,"

"Go, the faster this is done, the better," Alpha Rick encouraged him.

Colton is different. He's changed so much. The last time I talked to him it felt a lot like he was admitting that he had lost everything he believed in. What he's found here is amazing. Kam and I walked back to the barn. After settling in for the last couple of days, I made us a small practicing area where the library is. I set up the table where I'm going to help him channel his shadow magik and teach him how to do it himself after every full moon.

I took what I needed from the grimoire I gave my dad. Things that I thought he would go through while dad is figuring out what he wants to do. I had everything I needed concerning the spell in my room already. Kam can't be in here when I do it. No one else can. The only reason I'm going to be able to help him step by step is because we share the same dad. Alpha Rick and Colton came over from the staircase.

"More plants?" Colton asked.

"Yeah," I nodded looking up at him. "The most powerful spells and remedies come from their natural elements. Usually, it's plants,"

"When it's not plants?" he asked.

"One step at a time," Kam laughed when I had trouble answering that question.

"What are you making right now?" he asked.

"Well, you asked me to help you with your magik. You've been stuck for a while and I found that it's because of your transition from human to wolf. We're not meant to be more than one thing. So, what happens is that the power points in your body kind of clog up when you shift back. Especially because you're not using magik,"

"Every time?" he asked. I nodded. "You're going to have to do this every month?"

"No, you're going to have to do this for yourself every month. This is a very personal spell. I can only be present once to help you but you're going to have to do this on your own after,"

"Oh," he sat down.

"I'll always be here for what you need but like I said. This is personal for you. When you do this no one else can be present. Shadow magik is tricky. It's more possessive than elemental. It invades more than it puts together. Which is why those who use it are almost always warriors. Like grandpa and dad,"

"Okay," he nodded.

"So, if there's another person in the room with you, it might want to latch itself on them. Hense the inmate part,"

"Okay, show me," he smiled.

"You can have this one when we're done. This is to crush your ingredients together,"

"How do you know all this stuff already? I mean you've only been a witch a year and a half but it looks like you've been doing this your whole life,"

"Good question. Ten points for Gryffindor," Kam laughed. I shook my head.

"I don't know. Before this, all I had was music. The more I played the more I wanted but I didn't know what it was that I wanted. It was like a need for something without knowing what it was and it was exhausting. I pulled away from everything and anyone trying to find a release of what I was looking for and nothing else ever made sense. Until now.

"It scares the hell out of me but when I'm learning and using I finally feel complete and the more I learn the more I fall in love. It's liberating and a lot of it is simple. Protection spells, love potions. daily rituals. All of those things combined with the music is-" I paused. "The only thing keeping me alive right now. The demon left a really deep dark scar on my soul and some days it wins. So, I put all of my energy into all of this. The easiest and the strongest element in all of this is gardening,"

"Amen," Kam nodded. "Five points to Ravenclaw,"

"I didn't know that you still felt that," Colt looked down at his interlocked fingers.

"It's never going to go away," Kam sat next to him. "All she can do is ride along with it,"

"All right. Here is what you will need. Lavender, rosemary, amethyst, Hawaiian black salt, frankincense, black obsidian shards, and clove oil,"

"I'm not going to eat that am I?"

"No, there are sharp parts in this," Kam glared at him. "That's a protection spell,"

"I know what it is," I laughed.

"Why would he need a protection spell to help him?"

"There is nothing wrong with him. This is a protection spell for his kind of magik. What do you need to do for a protection spell to work?"

"Channel it?" she asked.

"Exactly. Channeling this spell will help settle his magik after a shift during the full moon,"

"Wait, I don't have to do this every time I shift?" Colt raised his hand.

"No, you're choosing to shift. During the full moon, the urge is strong because technically you're cursed. A full moon is a celestial event that pushes you into those instincts. Which is why it throws your magik circuits out of wack. Shifters were my first distraction,"

"Oh,"

"And you haven't thought of doing things like this for yourself?" Alpha Rick asked.

"I have. I've tried everything I could get my hands on this past year. But I don't have some wolf spirit or cat spirit inside of me. Were-cats are some of the strongest spirits in shifter history. When they walk the earth, they don't just walk around creating bloodlines. Like all cats, they demand excellence. They're gods in their own way. This one," I tapped my chest. "She's the mother of those cats. The one inside of Aspen is the father. The last time they were here, they conquered the entire Mayan culture. They reshaped it. They're not packs like you guys. They create tribes or as we call them, cults. I'm talking Manson-type s**t.

"Panthers are a lot like demons. They possess. Once they inhabit a vessel, if the mind and soul of that vessel isn't strong enough, they take over. Fully. The soul dies and the vessel belongs to the spirit. That's how dominating they are. I've tried a lot of things to keep my head during the full moon and it's only served to threaten her. She knows she can't take over. She tried tricking me into thinking we were friends but she's never been away from her mate this long until now. He's usually the one telling her what to do,"

"That sucks," Colton sighed. "I feel like an ass for encouraging you to give in to it,"

"Don't, I would have done it anyway," I shrugged. "Okay, so. You crush the easiest and smallest ingredients first. A couple of dry lavender nugs. Big pinch of rosemary. Big pinch of this salt," I put them all in the mortar and began to crush them all together. "Once they're a fine powder like this," I showed him. "You add the stones. Don't be afraid to use your puppy strength. This is lava rock. It's not going to break,"

"Why am I excited about this?" he asked.

"Magik calls to you, kid," Kam ruffled his hair.

"The smaller the pieces the easier it will be to crush them," I began to add the rest of the ingredients. Once everything was crushed, I pushed the oil and the mortar over to him. Kam got up and went over to Alpha Rick.

"Time to step outside. The first time hurts because she has to give his shadow magik a boost. He's really backed up," she explained.

"I'll be outside, Colton," Alpha Rick placed his hand on Colton's shoulder reassuringly. Colt looked up at him the way he used to look up at James. I've never seen him look at my dad that way.

"You okay?" Colt asked when the door downstairs shut.

"Yeah," I nodded.

"You don't look okay,"

"I'm just questioning my decision to come here. That's all,"

"Why?" he asked worriedly.

"Colt, you might not see it but you've made a family here. They love you. I mean they have an extremely dangerous cat in their barn for you. You have a home. That man would kill for you, Colt. I see it in the way they all look at you. Sofia wasn't taking her shot at me because I'm stronger than her. She's upset about how happy you are over me being here. She's jealous. You're her brother now,"

"I'm you're brother too,"

"I know and you will always be my brother. I just-" I sighed. "Aspen was created with a purpose. Where he goes, danger follows. He might be a little preoccupied right now but he's going to want me to be with him and I don't want to put you or your family in the middle of all of that,"

"So, you're just going to leave me again?"

"Not right now but you have to accept that I will have to eventually. This spell, it's not just a protection spell for you. It's for all of them. It's going to keep anyone who isn't welcome out and after every full moon whether you're on the premises or not it's only going to get stronger,"

"Are you serious?"

"Yes, everyone already on the premises won't be affected but those outside, will have to be invited in,"

"I feel like I should run that by the alpha first," he looked down at the bowl.

"Right, I should have led with that," I nodded. He pulled his phone out and dialed.

"Colt?" Alpha Rick answered after the first ring. He explained what was going on to him and I wasn't surprised when he instantly agreed. Colt looked up at me when he hung up.

"On the table, alpha boy," I tapped it after putting everything away. He jumped up on the wooden table and sat up with his legs crossed. I climbed up and sat across from him. "Pour the oil in," he opened the small vile and poured it into the bowl. I removed it from the table and put it on the shelf behind him with a wave of my hand. "Put your hands on the bowl. Repeat after me,"

"Okay," he nodded nervously. He put them on the bowl.

"It's not going to hurt at first but don't stop chanting until it's over. It'll hurt the most towards the end. If you stop, we're going to have to start all over,"

"Okay," he nodded.

"Ready?"

"Yeah," he took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

"Custodiant ab nocere," I whispered. "Say it,"

"Custodiant ab nocere," he whispered.

"Keep it going," I encouraged. I puckered my lips letting out a low whistle. A sound closer to a heavy wind blowing. I expanded the vibration of the low sound I pitched around him and began to spin it. The low hum swirled around him coaxing the shadows inside of him out.

The hum turned into a swoosh when the essence of his shadow magik met the vibrations. It's making it grow. I sat back as I guided the sound to the bowl. As soon as our combined powers met the protection mixture a hot black flame ignited inside. It burned up the oil and began to smoke heavily. The smoke made its way toward him before attacking his mouth and nose. Colton gasped for air taking in a significant amount of the smoke.

"Keep chanting," I reminded him.

It's painful to watch him like this. Had I not been trying to keep them out of my head, he would have asked for help a long time ago. With our magik combined, I feel stronger than I've ever felt before. It's like the shadow inside of him is helping my magik grow. No, not grow. It's doing something else. Not just to him but to me as well. The smoke continued to enter his body. The more of it he took the more painful it looks. I really hope that this is the only time it'll hurt and it's only hurting this badly because we waited so long.

"How much longer?" he groaned but didn't stop chanting. He's starting to sweat a lot.

"Until it stops hurting," I answered.

The morning light turned into late afternoon. His voice finally settled. The smoke inside of him slowly began to come out of his mouth. It started to stretch out thinly. He finally caught his breath and looked up at me, his eyes glowing red. They settled back to their pretty hazel. The smoke disappeared. I can feel the sensation all around us. The protection spell is working and it's probably one of the strongest protection spells anyone has ever cast before.

"What is that?" he asked looking around the room.

"That is all the proof you need to know that it worked," I laughed. He let out a heavy sigh and climbed off the table.

"How long have we been here?"

"Six hours,"

"What?" he looked up at me. "No way,"

"It's almost dark out," I pointed behind him.

"You stayed here with me the whole time? Did you have to?"

"No, I didn't. I stayed because I know how it feels after. It's a total rush but it kind of drains you,"

"Yeah, I feel heavy," he yawned.

"Come on. I'll help you back,"

He put his arm over my shoulders and let me help him down the stairs. I needed assistance from my panther who is surprisingly very present at the moment. His pack members were waiting for him outside. Emilia and her siblings rushed over to me. The worry on their faces kept me from fighting them. I just handed him over. I stepped back watching as they disappeared into the packhouse with him.

"You did it," Kam took my hand in hers. She pulled me to her. "You could have lied you know? Told him that he needed you,"

"That's the thing, K. He doesn't need me. Not anymore. One day I'm going to wake up and they're all going to be dead. I have to wrap my head around the idea that eternity means having to let everything I love go. There is never going to be a better practice than this right here. Letting go of the only person that loves me back as much as I love them. Besides, I'm not one to be the Alpha's little sister. Kill me now,"