3. Chapter 3

3

Chapter 3

Rowan

I step into the grand chamber of the Conclave, my heart fluttering like a trapped bird in my chest. The cavernous room, with its vaulted ceilings and ancient stone walls, seems to close in around me. We seldom meet here, always opting for the open spaces of nature. The fact that the High Priestess has chosen this place makes things seem more ominous, somehow.

Witches from every coven fill the space, their hushed whispers creating a buzz of tension that makes my skin prickle.

Gran's hand at the small of my back steadies me as we make our way to our designated seats. I catch sight of Kara's worried glance, Dad's set jaw, and Mom's trembling hands. We're a united front, but I've never felt more alone.

The scent of sage and lavender hangs in the air, mingling with the earthy smell of old books and candle wax. Ornate tapestries depicting our history line the walls, their vibrant colors a bright contrast to the somber mood.

As we settle into our places, I notice the other coven leaders. Lysandra Starfire of the Silver Moon, her silvery hair gleaming in the low light. Aurora Greenleaf, her emerald robes rustling as she leans in to whisper to Marina Tidecaller. And there, with eyes that seem to burn right through me, Morgan Shadowmaster of the Shadow Veil.

Keep it together, Rowan. You're just here to tell your story.

"You can do this," I mutter under my breath, trying to calm my nerves.

A hush falls over the room as the High Priestess glides to the center, her eyes scanning the gathered witches. When she speaks, her voice rings out with crystal clarity, silencing even the faintest whispers.

"Esteemed members of the Conclave, we gather here today to address a matter of grave importance."

I swallow hard, feeling the weight of every eye in the room. This is it. The moment when everything changes. A quick glance at Gran steadies me, though.

She'll be with me…every step of the way.

Gran rises, tall and regal as she faces the assembly. I feel a surge of gratitude for her strength, her unwavering presence beside me.

"Honorable members…friends," she begins, her voice steady and calm. "We come before you today with a matter of utmost urgency. My granddaughter, Rowan, has experienced an extraordinary and troubling series of events involving the vampire Lord Darick Drake."

I can feel the tension in the room ratchet up a notch. Vampires . The very word sends a tremor of unease through the gathered witches.

Gran continues, her tone measured. "Rowan developed an unexpected psychic connection with this vampire. While the nature of this connection remains unclear, it led to several encounters between them."

I feel my cheeks burn as murmurs rustle around the chamber. Gran raises a hand, silencing them.

"However, the true gravity of the situation came to light during their last meeting. Rowan discovered photographs on Darick's phone – photographs of her sister, Mia, who, as we know, has been missing for over a year."

The murmurs turn to gasps. I see shock and outrage on the faces around me.

"The photos showed Mia in captivity," Gran says, her voice tight with controlled emotion. Mom stifles a sob, and Dad's arm tightens around her shoulders. "This revelation led to an intense magical reaction from Rowan. In her distress and anger, she inadvertently…caused the vampire's death."

There's a moment of taut silence, and then all hell breaks loose. Voices rise in shock, disbelief, and what sounds disturbingly like approval. I shrink in my seat, overwhelmed by the reaction.

Gran waits for the noise to die down before continuing. "We bring this matter before the Conclave not only because of the apparent vampire involvement in Mia's disappearance but also due to the unprecedented nature of Rowan's connection to Darick Drake and the magical outburst that followed."

She pauses, her gaze sweeping across the assembly. "We seek your wisdom and guidance in how to proceed, both in our search for Mia and in understanding the implications of these events."

Gran takes her seat beside me. The silence that follows is deafening, filled with unspoken questions and barely contained reactions.

I take a deep breath, bracing myself for what's to come.

"You…you killed a vampire?" Morgan barks out unexpectedly. "You killed a fucking vampire? Do you have any idea—?"

"Silence!" Without turning to look at him, Seraphina's stony gaze falls on me, and my stomach does a somersault. "Rowan Blackwood," she intones, "please step forward and share your account of these events."

On shaky legs, I rise and make my way to the center of the room. I take a deep breath, pushing my glasses up my nose.

"I- I'm not sure where to begin," I say, my voice trembling. Clearing my throat, I try again. "It started with voices in my head. At first, I thought I was going nuts."

A few titters ripple through the group, and I feel my cheeks burn. But as I continue, my voice grows stronger.

"The voice belonged to Darick Drake, though I didn't know it at first. We formed some kind of…mental connection. I could hear his thoughts, feel his emotions. It was intense and confusing."

I describe our first meeting in the sacred grove, carefully omitting the more intimate details. As I speak, I notice the room hanging on my every word.

"The connection seemed to amplify my magic," I explain, gaining confidence. "Spells that I could never manage before suddenly came easily. It was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time."

I pause, gathering my thoughts before tackling the hardest part. "During our last…" I clear my throat, "encounter, I saw something on Darick's phone. Photos of my sister, Mia. She looked…she looked like she was being held captive, bound…bloody…."

Gasps and murmurs hiss around me. I press on, my voice steady now.

"I was overwhelmed with anger and fear. My magic just…burst out of me. I didn't mean to, but suddenly, Darick was engulfed in flames. And then…he was gone. Just ash."

There's more of that deafening silence while I stand there, heart in my throat, waiting for someone to speak.

They all do. And at once.

I stand frozen in the center, frozen by the sudden onslaught of sound and fury as outraged voices bounce off of ancient stone walls.

"This is an act of war!" Aurora's voice rises above the din as she stands. "The vampires have crossed a line. We must strike back immediately!"

The scent of ozone fills the air, crackling with the intensity of magical energy being unleashed by agitated witches.

"Wait!" Marina counters, her usually soothing voice sharp with urgency. "We can't just rush into conflict without considering the consequences. What if there are other witches held captive?"

Shit!

It's something I never considered before, but I should have.

Lysandra rises, a hand raised. "We must consult the stars before making any rash decisions. The celestial alignments may offer guidance in these troubled times."

A snort of derision cuts through the chamber. All eyes turn to Morgan Shadowmaster, his dark eyes glittering dangerously. "Stargazing won't bring back the missing witches or protect us from further vampire aggression. We need action, not contemplation."

The angry energy in the room feels like it's pressing against my skin, hot and coarse. I can taste the metallic tang of fear and fury on my tongue.

"And what of Rowan?" someone calls out. "Her power has clearly grown. Could this be a sign? Some sort of omen?"

The attention swings back to me. It makes me want to disappear into the floor, wishing I were anywhere but here.

Astra Moonshadow rises. "We must tread carefully here," she says, her tone measured but skeptical. "Illusions and hidden truths are my domain, and I sense there's more to this story than meets the eye. Before we take any drastic actions, we need to uncover what's really happening."

My stomach drops. I can feel the doubt radiating from her, and it makes my palms sweat. I push my glasses up my nose yet again. "I have shared what I know, Lady Moonshadow," I say firmly. At least everything that feels relevant. "If there's more to this story, I'm not aware of it."

Astra's eyes narrow. "And yet, you formed a connection with this vampire? One that amplified your magic, you say. That's…unusual, to say the least."

I fight down a wave of panic. She's probing, and I know what she's implying. Exactly what kind of connection did we have? I really don't want to go there. I need to steer this conversation away from dangerous waters.

"My only concern was finding Mia," I insist, my voice tight. "Yes, my magic grew stronger, but I was using that strength to try to locate my sister. That's all that matters here."

Astra tilts her head, clearly unconvinced. "And the vampire's death? Was that also in service of finding your sister?"

"What do you mean?" My brow furrows.

Astra is silent for a moment, considering me. "Your sister was taken. You, of all people, would have reason to bear a grudge. Who could blame you for luring him in and—"

"What?" I blurt. "Are you saying that I planned this?" It's unthinkable.

"Has revenge never occurred to you before, child?" Astra is unblinking.

"I…I…" My mouth opens and closes because I know I've said these very words. That I wanted the vampires to pay. But to actually do it? "I would never," I say weakly.

There's a taut silence in the room, and then the High Priestess speaks again, "We cannot ignore the gravity of Rowan's experience, nor can we dismiss the information she has shared." Seraphina pauses, her gaze sweeping the room. "We will conduct a thorough investigation into Mia's disappearance and Darick Drake's involvement. No stone will be left unturned."

"It's all well and good worrying about what happened to Mia Blackburn. But what about the other issues?" Morgan interjects.

"Other issues?" Gran turns to him, her eyes like flint.

"What if this vampire overheard details of our defenses while he was involved in this…psychic connection with your granddaughter?" he says. "Our wards, our secrets… He may be dead now, but who's to say he didn't overhear something and tell others?"

My stomach twists. I've worried about it, too, those moments when Darick's presence in my mind felt invasive.

"I- I did worry about that," I admit. The room falls silent, hanging on my words. "There were times when I wondered if he could hear more than just my thoughts. But he assured me that he heard nothing." God, that sounds so weak. "And as my magic strengthened, I was able to block him out."

A stony silence follows his words. Who could blame them if they're not convinced? I keep my chin high and wait for the onslaught.

Gran stands again. "I think we may be missing something bigger. We must consider the possibility that Rowan's connection to Darick Drake is more than just a random occurrence." She pauses as if considering her next words. She goes on, "There are ancient prophecies that speak of a bridge between our worlds. A connection that could change everything."

There's a collective murmur from the others. I feel my eyes widen in shock. This is the first I'm hearing of any prophecy.

Astra Moonshadow leans forward, her earlier skepticism replaced by intense curiosity. "Evelyn," she says, her eyes gleaming, "are you suggesting that Rowan might be…"

She trails off, leaving the implication hanging in the air. I feel like I'm missing something crucial, some piece of information that everyone else seems to understand.

Seraphina raises a hand, silencing the room. "This revelation adds another layer to an already complex situation," she says, her voice measured. "I propose we arrange a meeting with the Blood Assembly. We must address Darick's death, Mia's disappearance, and these larger issues that have come to light."

The room buzzes with mixed reactions. Some nod in agreement, while others look appalled at the idea of another meeting with vampires.

"We shall put it to a vote," Seraphina declares. "All in favor of arranging a meeting with the vampire council, raise your hands."

I watch, my breath caught in my throat, as hands slowly rise. It's not unanimous, but it's clear – the majority agrees. The tension is spiraling again, and I can see the divide forming. Some witches nod in approval, while others scowl and mutter under their breath.

As the meeting concludes, I feel drained, like I've run a marathon. I'm about to turn and find my family when a voice stops me.

"Your story intrigues me, young Blackwood."

I spin around to find Astra Moonshadow standing before me.

"I hope, for all our sakes, that you're prepared for what might come next," she says, her expression enigmatic.

I swallow hard, unsure how to respond. Before I can formulate a reply, she's gone, leaving me in a swirl of confusion. I make my way back to my family, who've gathered together near the exit. Mom pulls me into a tight hug, and I can feel her trembling.

"It's going to be okay," Kara says, squeezing my shoulder. "We've got this, Ro. All of us."

"There's still a lot to discuss, Rowan." It's Dad now. "But you're my daughter, and I love you…no matter what happens."

I nod, grateful for their support, but I can't shake the weight of expectation that seems to have settled on my shoulders. As we move to leave, snippets of conversation drift to my ears.

"…could change everything…"

"…dangerous to trust vampires…"

"…the Blackwood girl might be the key…"

I push my glasses up, trying to block out the mix of supportive and doubtful voices. It's clear the witch community is divided, and I'm somehow at the center of it all.