III | The Shadow, the Siren, and the Sage-2
585 Words
IT HAS BEGUN, Satyena projected as she used an unlock spell to open the door to the service elevator, and stepped in. The complex of the Witch Doctors is in flames.
She had returned to Home Coven in secret and accessed the utility floor of what had once been a high-rise hotel; now, as she slid the cage door closed and pressed the button that would take her to the uppermost floor (the former restaurant which was Sister Samain’s personal residence), she wondered if she would be able to carry out her end of the deal. For what she hadn’t told Jeremiah and Jasper was the true extent of Samain’s power: that the witch might, if she became aware of Satyena’s presence in Home Coven (and in the service elevator especially!), cast any manner of spells and misdirects—indeed, that with her power she could make Satyena see things that weren’t there or not see things that were; that she could freeze her blood and stop her very heart if she so chose; that it all depended on surprise, and above all, luck. It all depended upon Satyena’s ability to conceal her physical presence for as long as humanly possible—to keep Samain engaged no matter the level of effort—while at the same time completely masking Jasper’s psychical footprint ...
Do you hear me, Sister Samain? she repeated as the elevator rattled steadily upward. I tell you that your plan has worked, and that the Witch Doctors will soon be no more. Why do you not answer?
I am here, came her reply at considerable length, causing Satyena to jump, for its closeness and clarity were startling. And yes, I know ... I am monitoring the situation through the Transom.
Satyena’s heart skipped a beat. Through the Transom? She seized upon the thought as soon as it manifested, taking care to shield what followed from Samain’s certain inspection. If that were true, then it meant it was at least possible that Samain had eavesdropped upon their entire conversation; that she perhaps even knew of Satyena’s intent to kill her—and that meant she could be walking directly into a trap. But how is that possible, Sister Samain? No witch has ever penetrated the Transom ... what wellspring of power have you drawn upon that you could do such a thing?
Again, there was a silence, which gave Satyena the impression that penetrating the Transom might be coming at a terrible cost to her old nemesis; and she immediately sought to exploit her condition by pressing her with further questions: Is it something that you can teach us, Samain? Something you can teach all the witches? Why, if—
Silence, Satyena! Why do you carry on in such a way, when you know, surely, that penetrating the Transom requires all of my attention? Besides, we have other matters to discuss—you and I, alone—when the time is right. What matters now is that you stay as close to the Witch Doctor, our fool, our Puck, our King for a Day, as possible, and push the trust spell as needed. There can be no further contact between us until it is over—do you understand?
Satyena watched as the numbers above the door winked on and off. 11 ... 12 ... 13 ...
Our fool, our Puck, our King for a Day, she thought, ensuring her interior was well-hidden from Samain’s view. Ah, but Puck was a trickster as well as a servant, Sister Samain, and the night is young. Who can yet say who will be the fool, nor King or Queen for a Day?
Then to Samain she projected: I understand. When it is over, my High Priestess.
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