The Witches Curse

Sam, Amber, Michelle, and Ash sat around a table at Diane's, they'd gotten there a few minutes earlier and were still waiting on Mya, Taylor, and Jane. Gem had called and said they'd be late, Hunter was on a call to her father. None of them liked the idea that Hunter was in town and could now relay all their information straight back to the Gathering. Michelle had assured them that she would do just that because Hunter was a good girl who never did any wrong, at least that was the front she showed everybody. Michelle knew better. Her sister always had an ulterior motive for whatever she did. Her father never saw that side. He groomed her from the start to be on the Gathering Council, along with him and their mother, whom she hardly ever spoke to. Michelle never had the drive to be on the council with them, she would rather be down in the trenches with the rest of the lowly factions. Fighting the fight from ground zero. She loved her father, her mother too, but the way the council went about business and dealt with problems wasn't always the way she would. Some problems had to be faced and dealt with in person, not by some faceless few who walked in, changed everything, and walked away, not caring what the consequences were of what they'd done. She couldn't be like that. She wouldn't.  "So, if we have it right, and Ava and Trudy took over your town, what are we going to do?" Sam picked up her cup of coffee and sipped. "Do we know any good witches who could undo a barrier spell?" "I don't know any, but Amber might," Michelle said and gestured to Amber who stood with Diane at the counter. She'd gotten up to get more sugar. "I know she dealt with some and must know a few." "She dealt with witches?" Sam frowned. "I thought a shaman made them? Not that I know the difference." "One did, but when he died, she had to start looking for an alternative, the contract with your father was lifelong, and it's inevitable that agents would die along the way, so she had to find someone else, she never settled on a witch though."  Michelle looked up when Mya, Jane, and Taylor walked in. She waited for them to stop at the table. "Get your orders to Diane, we need to sit and talk without interruptions." "Will do, what do you guys want?" Jane asked and after taking their orders went to give it to Diane. She walked back with Amber in tow.  "Are the kids settled?" "Yes. But Jane has some interesting information, she got from more than one of the kids." Mya said and looked over at Jane.  "So at first I thought nothing of it, I mean these kids are scared and were just ripped from the only home they knew. But when the third one came to me and told me the same story I started paying attention. We found another four that said the same." She looked over at Taylor.  "Yeah, when Jane told us about the three kids, we went around and asked the others. Turns out, it was just the human kids. The men that came in killed the dads, but took the moms away." "Wait, are you saying she kept all the woman alive?" Michelle asked.  "Yes, according to all the human kids we could speak to, who wasn't scared shitless, they took the moms away alive." "Why would she do that?" Amber asked. "Why not take the men too?" Amber smiled up at Diane when she set her milkshake down. "Thank you, I've been craving one of those for days."  "My pleasure. Did I hear you correctly? Did Ava keep the woman alive?" "According to the kids, yes. I'll go talk to them again, try and get more information from those that were too scared to talk to Mya and them. But if this is true, then she is either building a women-only army, which doesn't make sense or she has something else planned for them."  Diane looked pensive then shook her head.  "What is it, mom?"  "Nothing, I just thought I remembered something, but it slipped my mind, I'll talk to Alice see what she thinks too. Here are Hunter and Gem." She waited to take their orders then went back to the counter. Where Alice sat with Addi.  "Alice is pumping her full of sugar, she's not going to sleep tonight." Amber groaned. "I'm glad it's your turn." Michelle laughed.  "You take turns? I would just pretend to sleep through it." "I tried once, the smack on the head was enough to have me awake for two nights after that." "Whatever. Hunter, Gem, take a seat. Mya and they were just telling us how Ava is keeping the human mothers alive." "So we're going with the Ava theory now?" Hunter drawled.  "She's the only one with balls big enough to run Michelle out of town, and she's the only witch we know out for revenge. So yes." Sam said.  "Fine, but I still need a full report by tonight." Hunter held out a chair for Gem, who ignored her and went to sit next to Mya. Mya smiled up at Hunter. Who glared back at Mya. Mya shrugged and put her arm on the back of Gem's chair.  "Stop antagonizing the vampire, Mya. She seems like the unstable type." Sam jabbed a finger at Mya. "We don't need a war with more factions. Besides, she's here to help, right?"  "Right, of course, I am. My father told me that I'm to stay until this is solved, we don't need more humans getting involved, it's hard enough as it is to keep our kind and the rest secret when there are so many irresponsible beings out there."  "Yes, and we can't have humans finding out that 'our' kind drinks their blood, we are the only ones in the faction that actually feed on humans, except for some fae, but they are so few, it wouldn't make a difference. We are the real enemy here." Michelle barked.  "It's in your interest and those of the other factions that our kind, all of them, stay hidden. Humans will not respond well to us being in their midst."  "No, they won't." Sam agreed. "Look we all want the same thing here, to protect the humans in our towns, and the rest of the world. If Ava gets her way and builds an army, how long do you think before the whole world gets drawn to our fight?"  She waved a hand between them. "Fighting between ourselves is not solving any problems. You either learn to stand with us, or you go, we need all hands on deck not half in half out, more worried about the Gatherings image, allies."  "You have no right to speak to me that way."  "I do. You are in my town, my pack and my family are in danger, and I will not allow anyone to stand between us and stopping Ava and her minions. The alliance between me and Michelle is unbreakable, and if you and the Gathering can't accept that, and stand with us, we have no need for you." There was silence around the table as Hunter stared at Sam.  "Fine. But I am kept in the loop, I will not be shoved aside."  Hunter sat back in her chair.  "Agreed." Diane and Lucy walked up carrying their food and they all sat back and made space.  "Sam, a word?" Diane asked and walked back to the counter.  "And so the secrets start," Hunter mumbled.  "Enough, Hunt, if it has to do with us, Sam will tell us," Michelle said leaning in so only Hunter could hear her.  "Sure, I just hope you haven't put your trust in the wrong people."  "I haven't." Michelle eyed Hunter then Gem. "Did you two fight?"  "Fight? Ha, a fight would require her to talk to me."  "You hurt her. She needs more time."  "It's been three years, how much time does she need?" Hunter complained.  "You slept with her sister at your wedding. I'd have killed you." Michelle growled. "Maybe if you actually apologized instead of ignoring what you did, you'd get somewhere."  "I did, and I also tried to explain, but you swept her out of there so fast, I didn't really get the chance."  "She was heartbroken, and crying in my arms, begging me to take her away. She's my best friend."  "And I'm your sister. A little benefit of the doubt would have been nice."  "Were your pants not around your ankles? Did you not have Gina pinned to the wall when we walked in?"  "Yes, but..."  "So my mom has something for us to look into." Sam interrupted. "Mya since you and Jane are already going through the old records and Taylor runs the department down there, get the students to help you find anything on an all-women army. It would have been before my dad was alpha, during my grandfather's reign, my mom will speak to my grandma, maybe she has some ideas too."  "An all-women army?" Amber asked.  "Apparently, a witch back then also gathered humans, she spelled, cursed them to be her loyal followers, she made them do whatever she wanted, and if they died she'd just gather more." Sam frowned. "But those that died, would come back to life, but not themselves anymore."  "Seriously? Zombies now?" Hunter scoffed.  "As I said, apparently, that's why I need you three to find whatever you can on the matter."  "Yes ma'am," Mya said. "But if this is a women's army, we have a name for them."  "Really Mya not now." Taylor groaned and slapped a hand over her face. "What? It's good! The witches bitches." Mya grinned at the others. " Right?"  "You know, sometimes I want to go back to the beginning, where you hated me and didn't say much." Sam laughed.  "I kind of like it, it has a ring to it," Hunter said. Surprising everyone.  "See Sam, even Hunter here appreciates my humor."  "Wait, she'll get to know you, and then she'll hate you too." Sam shrugged when Amber hit her. "What?"  "Children. Both of you." Michelle laughed. They finished breakfast talking about other things, all of them aware that a member of the Gathering was sitting with them. They'd all have to be a little more careful around her, they all knew how the Gathering operated. Breaking up wolf packs was one of their favorite hobbies.  Lucy watched them. She kept her face neutral a smile plastered on. Did they forget that Sam killed her brother? That he was lying rotting in the basement of Amber's? Did none of them care that she had lost everything? They wanted her to go on like nothing changed, like what they'd done didn't matter. Why? Because he loved Mark because he was honest about who he was and who he loved? It was okay for them to love the same s*x, but Jake and Mark were not allowed?  So what if he was married? He didn't leave his wife and child, he didn't abandon them, he abandoned Jake, left him behind with a broken heart. They were sitting laughing, joking with each other, while her brother was lying in a cell. Did they even feed him? Was he dead? She didn't even know that much, she was too scared to ask, scared they would lock her up too, but she needed to know. If he was dead he deserved a funeral too. She'd find a way tonight, to sneak down and see for herself. Lucy knew how to use her body and good looks to get what she wanted. She'd bloody pay too if she had to. Sam didn't care about her pack, she only cared about Amber and their baby. If you weren't in that close-knit circle you were nothing to them. She would show them not to dismiss her, or her family.  Sam thought that their greatest war was with Ava, she'd soon realize her mistake. Her brother always said the best way to break up something was from the inside. She was on the inside.  And she was ready to blow this whole pack to pieces.  "Okay, so first things first, we need to find a witch, we can't assess what Ava is up to if we can't get in there," Sam said as Lucy cleared their dishes. "We need eyes in Old Town."  "I can help with that," Hunter said. "I can use my contact at the Gathering to get us a good witch if you want me to?" She added.  "That would be great." Sam agreed. "If you could do that, we can figure out what next."  "I have to find a shaman. I might have to leave town for a few days." Amber spoke up.  "No," Sam said vehemently. "You are not leaving the safety of this pack."  "I have to. My contact will only speak to me, and I will take Mya with me."  "And Jane," Sam said. " Don't argue, I can get some of the other garrison to help Taylor, and we can get more students too."  "I can help there too, I'm good with going through books." Gem offered. "If that's okay with you Mich?"  "Of course. While we are here, we are part of the pack, right Sam?"  "Yes. We have to figure out what to do with the kids long term, we don't know how long this will take to sort out and they can't stay locked up in town hall."  "I will organize for them to be placed with fosters, my father will help set it up." Hunter offered.  "Really?" Michelle asked. "Yes, we do care about our people, and they were your people, so they are ours. I'll go make that call. Is there someone I can talk to about a more permanent base while I'm here?" She scrunched her nose. "Nothing against your hotel, but I like a hot bath now and again."  "Amber's has apartments for agents, we have two open at the moment, Gem you can have the other one," Ash spoke up for the first time. "Look, I agree we need to stop this woman, but we need to tread carefully. She's obviously got enough power to bar entry to Old Town and spell a bunch of humans. We need to be careful."  "You're right, Ash." Amber agreed. "And of course you can stay at the offices. I will speak to my contact too, maybe we can get a shaman to help." She sighed. "They are a bit more reliable."  "These shamans you speak of, do you mean like the old-time shamans?" Hunter asked as she stood.  "Yes, well more the fae kind, but close to it."  "I see, well good luck finding one, we have been trying to get in touch with some of the faes and they just seem to have gone underground, they are more afraid of living above ground than moles." She shrugged. "I'm going to go get my things and get settled. Is there someone that can show me where to go?"  "I will, I have to get to the office anyway, I want to make sure the lady taking over from me knows what's she's doing before I leave her with you lot," Taylor said and stood too.  "Thank you. I will get back to you on that witch, Sam. Keep me in the loop."  "We will," Sam assured her. They watched Hunter and Taylor leave. Then Michelle turned to Sam.  "She never helps without having an agenda. We should be careful."  "You don't think she will go behind our backs?"  "Hunter does whatever helps Hunter." Gem said. "Assume the worst and don't let the friendly face fool you." She sighed. "But if she says she's going to help, then she will. Just be careful what you share with her."  "Okay. Want to tell us what the history is between you two?" Amber asked. "She's my wife." Gem said simply.  "What?"  Amber and Sam asked at the same time.  "Yes, I was dumb enough to marry her. We don't live together, we haven't since the wedding. She had s*x with my sister in the bathroom where we held our reception."  "The same night?" Jane asked.  "Yes. Apparently, the party was a bit boring and she went to find a bit more excitement." Gem stood. "Look I have to go too. Don't judge her on what I just told you, that was between us. Can you two show me where to go to start the research?" She asked Jane and Mya.  "I'll do it." Jane offered. "You probably need to sort out your traveling arrangements."  "So do you!" Mya said and stood too. "We need to make sure our ships run smoothly while we're away, Sam will need protection while we're not here."  "Fine, come on then," Jane grumbled. She didn't feel like spending the rest of the day with Mya and her accusing stares. Ash laughed.  "Those two need to sort their s**t out."  "What s**t?" Michelle asked.  "They both love Taylor, Taylor loves them both, but Mya is not sure she wants that. So now they all walk around sulking the whole day."  "Mya just needs time." Sam defended Mya. She stood and held out her hand to Amber. "Come on, we need to talk and you need to tell me more about this contact of yours." She nodded to Ash and Michelle. "See you two later." Amber and Sam walked to Alice and Amber held out her arms for Addi who eagerly climbed into her mom's arms.  "If we make it through all this, and you still want me, I want that with you."  "What, a baby?" Ash asked incredulously.  "All of it, Ash, family, marriage, love, a life spent together. If I have to build my new town right next to Sam's to be with you, I will."  "Well now see, I was going to say I'll move wherever you want me to. But that sounds like a better plan. So let's get to sorting this s**t out, so we can start rebuilding our lives." Ash leaned over and kissed Michelle.