Today is my initiation, where I will be bound into the circle. I will finally be able to cast freely, with absolutely no barriers. At thirteen, when you hit puberty us witches don't just get pimples and gross sweat stains but you can start to use magic and it's not until you turn eighteen that you get to use really magic, not the magic that is said with a few words or incantations like only lighting a candle or giving someone chickenpox. The circle will teach you to control your powers until we hit eighteen, they usually do this when everyone is in the range of that age. So I guess that's why it's today, the initiation will give us not only more freedom but where we will learn new and more powerful spells. I am taking part of the ceremony today so are five other witches like me.

So before I get ahead of myself, my family descends from a long line of witches, carried down into our bloodline. You can only be born a witch, the only other way is blood magic which is dark and something that shouldn't be toyed with. According to The High Sister's, blood magic is as old as us witches, humans, jealous of the witches power tried making their own. Using their blood and something of the other person, they created this demented way of casting. None of my family has encountered a blood user but my ancestors have, wars have happened long ago between the two.

So continuing about the ceremony, the five other witches are in fact four girls and oddly one boy. It is very rare for a boy to become a witch, we of course call them warlocks. He is the ninth known male witch, so being apart of the circle with him in it is very exciting for me.

My mom barges into the room, I yell hiding my body. "Mom! I'm naked." Lucifer my cat scurries under the bed. Terrified.

She waves her hand, fishing through my closet. "Please, Lana I've changed your diapers and we our both women we have the same things."

Yeah but my body hasn't been weighed down by gravity. "So mom things change, the body grows and you scared poor Lucifer."

"Have you decided what you wanted to wear, Lana the ceremony is in less than two hours."

"I was before you rudely interrupted me." She snapped her fingers. My brush flung across the room hitting me in the head. "Ow." I rub my head. "That was also very rude."

She lifts up her hand, waiting for me to say anything else. I stay quiet afraid of what she'll fling at me this time. You see every witch possess the same powers all around, casting the same spells too. But each individual witch has an elemental boost, whether it's fire, water, earth, air, or spirit. The ceremony also determines what elemental group you belong to so The High Sister of that element can help you control it and teach you about it.

"Mom I'm nervous."

She whirls around piles of clothes in her arms. "Why babygirl. You are going to do just fine, all you have to do is try and see if you possess a certain element."

That's the thing some witches don't have an element at all, we call them Cast Witches, where they strictly focus on spells, they are considered to be below a Elemental Witches. "What if I don't have an element."

"Baby even if you didn't you're still a witch, it makes you nothing lesser."

I brush through the tangles of my very straight red hair. Thanks to my mom we are natural redheads, with emerald green eyes, I hate my light freckles that flecked across my face but I felt somewhat unique. I braid small pieces of my hair, throughout my thick mane, simply out of habit. I put on light make up, the humid air outside messed with my makeup whenever I put just a little too much, thank you mother nature.

"How about this." She pulls out a dark green, strapless jumper, I don't even remember where that one came from but it will have to do.  

"I think that's perfect." My gold chained pendant, with a deep black stone hanging from the long necklace will look perfect with it. The necklace is a family heirloom passed down through generations, they say it protects whoever wears it.

Dressing quickly, I put on my brown, low wedged heels. I scratch my arm trying to unclip the strap to my bra. I loved my long nails but sometimes.

Walking out of my room, I go into the kitchen. Herbal tea wafts my face, calming me. It was my mom's specialty, she brewed the best herbs, for just about anything.

Since it took almost an hour to drive to the location of the ceremony we left right away. Climbing into our rusty blue truck I left the window down sticking my head out to soothe me. My mom reaches over taking my hand in hers, giving me an encouraging squeeze.

In an hour we reach the edge of the dense forest, other cars are parked here too. If you didn't travel through here before you would never find your way out, following the barely visible path we make our way to the circle. We come to a massive clearing, The High Sister's are at the center, six stone hedges surround them, each one represented an element.

There was six High Sister's.

Fia represented the fire element.

Alane represented the air element.

Waitilanni represented the water element.

Ela represented the earth element.

Sha Mia represented the spirit element.

And lastly Savanna represented a Cast Witch.

They are descendants of the oldest witches, the first. They are like our council, they set the rules of witchcraft, certain boundaries cannot be crossed or consequences will have to be paid. No one has strayed out of the circle so no one has been punished.

Groups of people stood off to the sides, talking amongst themselves. I don't recognize anyone here, I wasn't the most popular witch. The other four witches attending school with me through my entire life but not one of them had the time for me. Well they didn't want to make time for me. The warlock just moved to the area a year ago, he was home schooled. I have never met him.

Glancing around I can't help but feel a little underdressed. The others girls were wearing dresses and five inch heels. "You look wonderful, Lana."

I smile weakly. "Thanks mom."

Savanna the Cast Witch was considered the leader, I guess. She's the only one not swayed by power, which makes her more relatable. She calls us to order. "Please bring forth the witches that will participate in the ceremony."

"Good luck, babygirl." My mother pushes me forward.

I walk slowly, watching as the others appear out of the groups. I can't make out what the warlock looks like, he's on the opposite side of the clearing. Stopping a few feet from the stone hedges I wait for instructions.

"I will call the names of the witch, you come forward and enter the circle. From there we will instruct you." Her voice booms across the area, everyone hears her.

"Penny Soles. Come forward." I relax knowing I'm not the first to enter the circle.

Penny struts to the circle, her curly hair bouncing as she walks happily. She's so full of herself, as she enters the circle, no one can hear what's happening inside.

They exchange a few words before we all watch as she engulfs in a small tornado. As she whirls around her arms reach high above her, her legs not close to touching the ground and then as quickly as it started it ends with her slowing down catching her feet on the disturbed grass.

"Air!" Alane shouts, this time we can all hear as the Sister of the element Air stands.

Penny looks disappointed but thanks them and leaves, she returns to where she was standing.

"Clara Smith." She enters, her pixie brown hair matches her petite self. It's the sane process as when Penny entered, this time we watch as her body shudders under a water storm above her, consuming her completely before sputtering her out.

"Water!" Waitilanni screams the Sister of the element water, still soaking wet Clara trudges back to her spot.

"Jade Nicks." I watch as her long legs take her to the circle with every bit of confidence. She exchanges words with Savanna and before they could finish it seems as though her element could not wait. The earth takes over, vines wrap around her body, moving in her black hair. It makes me shudder to think how its feels.

"Earth." Ela sister of the element earth calls out. The vines travel back wherever they come from as Jade marches proudly out of the circle.

"Sabrina Brown." Another Penny clone bounds into the circle, her blonde curls bouncing annoyingly. We all watch as nothing happens to her, no element names itself known as she stands before the Sisters. She's a cast witch I can tell right away so can everyone else.

"Cast." Savanna calls out. Sabrina is trying to hold back tears as she saunters back to her place.

"Vincent Blackwell." My eyes instantly find him as he moves directly forward and into the circle. The only thing I can see is his dark hair and the way he wanders into the circle as if bored. He stands still, speaking with the sisters until the circle is shrouded in nothing but dark clouds. Nothing can be seen inside but the sound that comes from the circle is somewhat frightening. I step back when screams and wails are heard in the circle, when the darkness finally dissipates we see Vincent being caressed by dark shadows.

"Spirit." Sha Mia the sister of spirit calls out, she stands proud of her element. He's a rare warlock and gets a rare element, he is indeed lucky. Vincent saunters away unaffected by the choice.

"Lana Childs." As I hear my name I can't help but shake as I scramble to the circle. I feel all eyes on me as I focus on not falling over.

"Hello, young one. Welcome to the circle."

I nod my head, "Thank you, Sisters."

"Listen closely, to reach the elements you must call to them, envision yourself surrounded by the elements. Do not close your eyes Lana just feel."

I do as they are told so I think of the easiest way to call them, describe them first, Air is light, weightless. Water is cool, relaxing. Earth is wide, longing. Fire is burning, consuming. Spiri-." Before I finish the air becomes thick and warm, I feel sweat beginning to form as my head pounds. I see flames thicken across the floor around me, reaching my legs, I want to move away but I am unable to move, the fire consumes me completely, lifting me up in the air as if I weighed nothing. I peer down at myself, my body is engulfed in nothing but bright red flames licking at my skin but no pain is there. Why am I floating though, I fall to the ground, my feet landing firmly.

"Fire." Fia the sister of the element fire screams. I smile, a strong element.

"Air." Alana screams. What no that was a mistake.

Savanna peers down at me, "You have been gifted with two elements, Hekate has been kind. You may go."

In shock I stumble back to my spot, not daring to look at anyone. I could feel the others gaze on me, judging me.

"Come forth children. Repeat the oath of witchcraft."

No one starts so I begin, I also hear Vincent join me.

"I undertake this path of my own free will and for the good of myself. I will follow and obey my circles laws and rulings to the best of my ability. I do not seek power over others but aim to increase my own knowledge. I cast no spell against another's wishes or their best interests. I promise to keep my fellow witches identity secret and to help, protecting them from harm. I thank the goddess for this path and promise to uphold the traditions of the craft." Exhaling slowly I feel myself let go of my powers, I feel the air swirl around me, feeding the flames as they lick across my skin.

Everyone begins to recited their elements, "Air." "Water." "Earth." "Cast." "Spirit." I hesitate not knowing what element to choose.  "Fire and Air."

"Take these gifts and embrace them, they will always be with you. Children you are now bound to the circle."

Everyone screams, rejoicing in the witches that have joined the circle. I find myself smiling, two elements, has that even happened before. I hear someone approach me, I turn to see my mother. She's crying, tears streaming down her face. "I'm so proud of you, Lana."

I hug her tightly. "Thanks mom."

"Lana Childs and Vincent Blackwell please come forward." I let go of my mom,  curious as to what Savanna has to say.

As I approach her, I finally get to see Vincent, the famous warlock of my time. Holy Hekate. He was just handsome. His hair was dark, it wasn't long but it wasn't cut short either. His eyes were a dark brown, like chocolate, I loved chocolate. A straight nose, a strong jaw line that met slightly full lips. He had broad shoulders his black shirt barely containing his muscled arms, he wore dark blue jeans with black converse. He was some specimen.

"You understand that your gifts are rare and yours Lana are unnatural. You must both tread carefully."

"I understand sister." His voice was rough, intoxicating.

"Yes sister." I repeat after him.

"Lana you will have two mentors, talk with them both evenly." I could feel his eyes on me as she spoke. "Vincent your mentor is the last spirit user, only two other known spirit users were heard of and as for your gender I think the goddess has truly blessed you."

She looks at us both with leveled gazes, "Confide in each other, you are both unique. That is all, children." She turns to leave.

I stand there, finally I muck up the courage to look at him. "Hi, it's nice to meet you."

"Yeah whatever." He turns to leave taking his arrogant self with him. That just made him a little less attraction.

I turn to find my mother, not liking this warlock one bit. I mean who is he to think he is better than me in anyway, right. I gasp as my vision goes black, I can't see, why can't I see. Panicking, I feel myself fall to my knees connecting with the soft ground. That's when I hear the voice escaping from my mouth but it's not my voice.

"Death is near, one shall fall."

I felt myself fall.

Hearing nothing.

Seeing nothing.

I fall into darkness.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Until next time,

-Ash
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