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Lilia sat herself slowly on the log Teen was brooding on. “How are you feeling?”
The boy- Billy, she reminded herself, even if part of her still wanted to call him William as he’d been when she met him the first time- shrugged. “I don’t know,” he sighed. “I almost killed you guys. If Rio hadn’t made me stop, I could have thrown you off the Road. I did throw Agatha off the Road. All because I couldn’t keep control of my powers. Just like Agatha said she couldn’t.” He frowned at the ground. “And the worst part is I still don’t know if I believe her. All she does is lie. She killed Alice. All for power, and it doesn’t even look like she can use any of what she stole.”
“Why do you say that?”
“If she could, why didn’t she stop me? She wouldn’t have let me kill her if she had magick.”
“No, I imagine not,” Lilia said. “But we can’t know what she was thinking in that moment, either. We can’t hear her thoughts, not even you.” She shifted towards him slightly, tilting his face towards her for his full attention. “What do you know about Agatha’s powers, Billy?”
His brow furrowed in confusion. “That she steals magick from other witches. That once they blast her, she takes and takes until she kills them.”
Lilia hummed thoughtfully. “That’s what most people think. What if I told you it’s not the whole truth about it.”
“What do you mean? She’s been doing it for centuries.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s the whole story, sweetheart.”
“What are her powers, actually, then?” Bill asked.
“Well,” Lilia said. “It requires something of a history lesson, but I’ll make it brief for you. Blood witches like Alice are actually quite rare. Most witches don’t produce offspring that have magick as well. And Evanora was no exception.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. Agatha clearly has magick.”
“She does, but her powers aren’t as evil as people across history have made them out to be. Being a witch that siphons magick like she does isn’t something someone is born with, either. They’d be a little more heard of than just our Agatha, wouldn’t they? No, a siphon isn’t born but created. It’s a defense mechanism that the body develops after years being attacked by magick. Instead of harming the victim, they absorb the power enough to be able to protect themselves. Once that magick is used, however, it gets depleted and won’t return. Born witches may use all the magick in their reserves and be unable to use magick for a time, but it will regenerate until that witch can use it again. Siphons can’t create their own magick, they can only use what they’re given.”
Billy face pinched. “It’s not given. It’s stolen. She takes magick from other witches.”
“No, Teen, it’s given. Because she can’t draw magick out of people on her own, she has to be attacked. The only magick she’s ever taken was first used against her. Over the centuries she’s gotten good at making people angry enough to attack her, but they still were the ones to initiate it. Even Alice, even though her intentions were good.”
The boy’s mouth twisted in a sneer. “What, so you’re saying it was Alice’s fault she died? How was she supposed to know that would happen? Agatha has had this ability for years. She’s had to have figured out how to stop by now.”
“I’m not saying that anything was Alice’s fault. She was brave and she cared deeply about every member of this coven, but that doesn’t change the fact that what happened wasn’t Agatha’s fault either.” Lilia explained gently. “A siphon can’t control their gift. It pulls and pulls until whatever being that attacked them is no longer a threat. And since a witch’s magick is tied directly to their life force, that means until death. There is no controlling that power.”
“If that’s the case, then why did she kill so many people over the years? When the magick wore off, she could have just lived her life like a normal person.” Billy said.
“Well, you have to take more than just magick into the equation to make sense of it. Agatha wasn’t born into your society. She was born in Salem during the Witch Trials. She was eighteen when her own mother tried to kill her. She was young and in a world where women couldn’t have land, money, jobs. No rights. No safety. No coven. Utterly alone.”
The boy’s eyes softened a little. “She wanted to protect herself.”
“I imagine that was the idea, yes. But when witches heard what had happened to her mother’s coven, they shunned her. I was traveling around Salem myself around that time. She was made out to be evil. For all that siphons aren’t well understood today, they were almost unheard of at that time. They were considered to be evil. Some claimed that she was possessed by a demon or was cursed by the devil. And as such, she was shunned by both witches and humans.”
“Wait,” Billy said, brow furrowed in confusion. “In the trial. Agatha’s mom said she was born evil. If what you’re saying is right, she wasn’t born with magick. How could she have been born evil if she didn’t have her powers yet?”
Lilia smiled, proud that he’d connected the dots. “That’s exactly right. Doesn’t make any sense, does it?”
“So, she was born with her power? And that’s why her mom hated her?”
“No. Agatha was born with no magick and no powers. I actually knew her as a child if you can believe it.”
Billy’s eyes widened. “Wait, really? When? And why did you pretend you didn’t recognize Agatha when we came for you?”
“She was only a child when I met her. I knew she was floating around, but over three and a half centuries since meeting a little girl and you forget a little bit what they look like. She was young when I met her. Only eight.”
Lilia stood with her coven in front of a nice cabin deep in the woods of Salem. They’d been travelling for days in search of a coven that could help them. Members of their group had been falling ill left and right, but there was no green witch that could heal them, and no potion that could cure the illness. All of Lilia’s divination attempts had yielded the same result. Someone was cursing them and if they didn’t find a powerful witch to help break it, their coven would die.
Lilia’s coven leader, Emily, marched forward, knocking on the door, and it creaked open within only a few moments, just a crack. Enough to see a single blue eye peek through. “Who is it?”
Emily smiled softly at the girl. “Hello, there. My name is Emily. I am travelling with my friends, and we were hoping to speak to Evanora Harkness. Do you know where I could find her?”
The crack widened just slightly, half a face visible now, looking at their group before nodding slowly. “Please wait here for a moment.”
It was only a minute later that they heard movement inside, the small voice crying in pain as light flashed through closed curtains. “What did I tell you about disturbing me, child?! Under no circumstances!”
“Mother, please, they’re witches who need help!”
A moment of silence. “Why didn’t you lead with that, foolish girl!” Another flash through the curtains, another cry, and Lilia exchanged uneasy glances with her nearest sister of the craft, an older witch named Esther. They were interrupted by the door opening once more, the intimidating figure of who they could only assume to be Evanora filling the frame. “Please, excuse my daughter, she is still learning. Come in, I would be more than happy to help in whatever way I can. Can I offer any refreshments? You must be hungry after your travels.”
Emily nodded slowly. “We are more than grateful to accept whatever you can offer. We’ve come a long way to meet with you. We met another coven many months ago that had nothing but praise about your abilities.”
The other coven leader gestured to a large table by the fire. “Please, take a seat. I will have my daughter bring you something to eat and drink.” She turned her head. “Agatha!” She screeched loudly. “Come here now.”
Bare feet slapped hurriedly on wood floors as the girl that had answered the door ran into the room, and, oh, it made Lilia’s heart ache. She was stick thin, all elbows and knees, big blue eyes red rimmed. Her brown hair was a tangled mess, like it hadn’t been properly cared for in several moons, and she had dirt smeared on her cheeks and cakes around her fingernails. There was a basket of fresh produce in her arms, which trembled under the weight. If Lilia had to guess, she was probably working in the garden they’d glimpsed behind the cabin when they’d arrived. “Yes, mother?”
“Fetch a pitcher of water and something for our guests to eat. Quickly, girl.”
“Yes, mother, right away.” The basket of produce was left near the stove as Agatha hurried away. Within minutes, she’d returned, a pitcher of water in her hands that she deposited on the table, rushing back quickly with six cups, one for each member of the coven, and her mother. She filled each cup carefully with shaking hands. Then she ran from the room, back again with bread and cheese that she distributed the same as she did the water. When she was done, she stepped back, standing a few paces away with the pitcher. Her eyes were trained on the table, on everyone’s cups, darting forward to fill them when they got low, like some bastardization of the cupbearers the wealthy had.
Evanora smiled kindly at them. “Now, what brought you to me?”
Lilia didn’t hear a single word that was spoken after that, eyes on the girl. Small, sad, afraid. There was something about her, something that lingered in her aura, in the very air around her. The candles in the room flickered with a slight wind as Lilia’s mind took her away from their table. Away to a different time, a different place with people she didn’t recognize. A common occurrence when she was a child, but one that she didn’t experience much as an adult.
When she returned, everyone was staring at her, including a watery set of blue eyes. Lilia blinked a couple times. “What?” she asked.
Her coven leader forced a smile to Evanora. “Please, pardon her. She was blessed with the Sight, but every gift comes with a cost. She slips from us sometimes.”
Evanora’s gaze cut through Lilia like a blade, but she nodded slowly. “Of course. Well, in reference to your problems, I will search through my tomes tonight and search for the right spell. I do not have space in my home for you to sleep, but you are more than welcome to make camp in the back. You may take whatever you need from the garden and woods. If there is anything else you require, just tell Agatha and she will make sure you get it. I will see you in the morning.”
She swept from the room, leaving the coven to disperse themselves. Agatha blinked a couple of times before carefully schooling her expression and gesturing to the door at the back of the cabin. “The garden is through here. We have bedrolls to lend if you do not have supplies of your own.”
Emily smiled faintly. “That would be lovely, thank you. Lilia will help you carry them.”
Agatha nodded, waiting until Lilia presented herself, already knowing what her coven leader’s intentions were with the offer of aid. While the rest of her group exited the cabin, Lilia trailed behind the girl to a coat closet. There were several bed rolls on one side, and at the back of the other side of the closet was a small, flat pillow and a plush rabbit toy. A coat was folded on the pillow, likely used as a blanket. Lilia swallowed thickly. “Is this where you sleep, darling?”
Agatha nodded. “I am allowed to sleep in a room when I am good. Mother had to punish me three times over the last fortnight and as such, I lost my privileges.”
The divination witch frowned. “She had to punish you? What for?”
“I failed at her lessons and brought her shame, first. Then I failed to bring her herbs for a spell before nightfall, and then I did not finish my chores.”
“You haven’t slept in a bed in a fortnight?”
“Oh, no, Miss.” Agatha with a shake of her head. For a moment Lilia felt relief, but then the girl continued. “It has been much longer than that. I am a bad child, and I make a lot of mistakes.”
That was hard to hear. “I am sure that is not true. I do not think there are bad children. Just children that need to learn.”
“Mother says I am incapable of learning. She says I am weak and worthless.”
“Why does she say that? It does not sound very nice.”
Agatha shrugged. “Mother speaks only the truth. All her other sister witches have daughters that can do magick. I am just broken.”
Lilia let the bedrolls fall from her arms to kneel in front of Agatha. “You are not broken. You were born different, but different is not bad.”
Blue eyes filled with tears. “But I am always bad. I fail every spell she tried to teach me and I read every book she gave me, but I cannot do any of it. There is something wrong with me. Why would I be unable to do what others do with ease if I am not bad?”
“You may be unable to do magick, but that does not make you bad. Not everyone is born with magick, darling. And there is nothing wrong with that.”
“But Mother is the most powerful witch in our coven. I am her daughter, why could I not be like her?”
“The Goddesses are a loving group, child. They give us what we need to live our lives. Some need more than others and they give those people more than others because it is what they need.”
Agatha shook her head. “Mother said the Goddesses have abandoned me for they know I am unworthy. I do not have their favor. I feel she is right, most days.”
There was not a magickal bone in Agatha’s body, Lilia could sense that with ease. But there was an air of magick that lingered around her, nonetheless. Lilia suspected she knew why and did her best to comfort the child while she gathered up the fallen bedrolls. “Well, I think the Goddesses are there for any who worship them. Ensure that you do, and you might be surprised.”
The two made their way back outside where Agatha helped them set up the bedrolls before excusing herself for the night. Emily approached her as soon as the child was out of earshot. “Lilia?”
“Her mother told her the Goddesses abandoned her because she does not have magick. She sleeps in a closet because she cannot cast spells.” She lowered her voice, hoping no one would overhear. “I think her mother has been punishing her with magick.”
Emily leaned in. “Punishing how?”
“The girl is human, but I can feel magick around her. She cannot produce it, but she is drenched in it.”
Her coven leader nodded. “I noticed the same. You think her mother is, what, blasting her with magick?”
“Yes. That girl is not safe here, Emily. As witches, we are bound to protect our fellow covens and their families.”
“We are. But with no proof, we would only insult our host. We must wait until we see something."
Lilia nodded, understanding, but worrying, nonetheless.
~~ A scream cut through the night, pain and fear mingling in its tones. Light flashed behind the curtains on the cabin, and Lilia leapt from the ground, Emily close on her heels as they ran into the cabin. The followed the screams to a room towards the back of the cabin. Evanora stood over Agatha like a reaper, blue magick pulsing from her palms to her own child. “What have I told you? You are weak! You are unworthy of the knowledge you seek.”
Agatha shuddered and shook on the floor, writhing in pain. “Mother, I am sorry, I just wanted to help!”
“You do not seek knowledge above your station! Do you understand me? That is forbidden and you will be punished harshly!”
“I am sorry, Mother!”
The magick stopped abruptly as Emily shot her own blast at Evanora. Lilia collected the girl, curling her arms tightly around her in protection. “Shh, dear, it is okay. I will not let her hurt you again.”
Agatha sobbed into her shoulder, and Lilia stood, cupping the back of her head, feeling a tacky bump under her fingers. “Did she hit you as well, darling?”
The child only nodded into her neck, breaths still coming harshly. Evanora stood, glaring at Emily. “How dare you attack me in my own home after coming to me for help? That child is evil. She will only bring ruin on my coven!”
Lilia glared at her. “She is a human child that you have been mistreating for the entirety of her life. You are just blinded by your hatred of her.”
“I am the most powerful witch in this colony! I would not have a powerless child. That thing is not my daughter. She was stolen by the fae and replaced with this monster!”
Emily cut the argument by stepping between the pair. “You will not have to worry about her any longer. In the morning, we will be leaving with her, and you will not be required to care for her if you ever did at all.”
Evanora’s eyes narrowed. “You think you can just leave with what belongs to me? She is mine to punish. Mine to use.”
“We will not betray our witch kin over your delusions.”
“Won’t you?” Evanora asked. “I have the curse breaker you need ready at hand. It would save the lives of the rest of your coven. I know those you brought with you are not all of them. Would you sacrifice the lives of your sisters for what you claim is a human child? A human child would not be a part of your witch kin.”
Lilia watched as Emily went pale. The child in her arms squeezed her a little tighter, breaths hitching. The divination witch could see just how torn her mentor was. Leaving Agatha to her mother’s hand would no doubt lead only to her demise, but their coven needed to be helped as well.
Agatha straightened, facing the other two woman with a sniffle. “Take the spell.”
Emily turned to the girl in confusion. “You don’t know what you ask, child.”
“You came here to help your coven. They are ill. I am not worth their lives. Take the spell.”
Evanora huffed. “Even she knows her worth. Out of the kindness of my heart, I will allow you to stay the night, but you must be gone at first light.”
Emily’s jaw clenched. It was an impossible choice, but one that had to be made with the interest of her coven in mind. “Very well. But the child will stay the night in our care. To ensure you hold up your end of the bargain.”
“If you must,” Evanora said, disgruntled, but accepting.
The two witches left the cabin with Agatha clutching Lilia. Unable to look her coven leader in the eye, the divination witch walked past her, ignoring the pleading look she was given. “Let us take a moment by the river, hmm, dear? We will get you washed up, and we will see if I can clean out your hair. I could even put a couple of nice braids in it. How does that sound?”
“Very nice, Miss.”
“Just Lilia is fine, dear.”
Agatha tucked her head into the crook of her neck. “Lilia. That is a pretty name.”
“Thank you, darling.”
~~Billy’s eyes were wide when she finished her story. “You just left her there?”
“We did,” Lilia said. “It was an impossible decision, but for all I hated that it had to be made, I understood. We had to take care of the coven we’d travelled for.”
“But she was just a child, and you knew her mother was hurting her. There wasn’t someone you could tell? Someone who could help her?”
“It wasn’t like it is now, Billy,” she said with a shake of her head. “Children were the property of their parents and no one else could really interfere. Threatening to take Agatha at all was almost unheard of.”
Billy frowned. “How long did her mother do that to her before she could protect herself?”
“I don’t really know. Her mother tried to kill her when she was eighteen, but we don’t know exactly what happened to her in the years between our seeing her and the attack.” She let herself remember that night a little more clearly. Helping Agatha bathe in the river, covering and caring for her wounds, applying a poultice to the bruises scattered across her body. “I had a vision that night, though. I saw it when I slept.”
“What did it show you?”
She blinked, words tumbling from her mouth before she realized what happened. “Death will protect Agatha Harkness wherever she goes.” She opened her eyes to find herself at the same table she’d met Evanora at all those years ago. The group turned to look at her and Lilia’s eyes widened in horror as she realized what she said when she slipped away all those years ago. What she said must have sounded like an omen then. She tried to say something else, offer some word of comfort, but with the next blink she was back on the Road with Billy who was looking at her curiously. “What did you see that night?”
“That Death would protect her. I don’t understand still exactly what it meant, but it could not have been clearer. Death followed her throughout my dream, striking down those that dared to harm her.”
Billy’s brow furrowed. “Weird.” He sighed. “She really can’t control her ability?”
“No. There is no controlling it.”
He stood, brushing off his jeans. “I probably owe her an apology, then. Especially after throwing her in the mud."
Lilia smiled. “You do that.”
She cut her gaze to the other side of the clearing where Rio was using a damp cloth- where had she even found that? - to clean the muck from Agatha’s face and neck. They were talking quietly to each other and Lilia’s mind whirled. Rio was so familiar, but she just couldn’t remember where from.
She stood, making her way after Teen towards the fire. No matter. They had more important things to focus on.