The fog came in as the sun took its morning breath, rolling in through the mountains like dry ice billowing over a container being opened. This was different fog; it created a deadly silence and staleness in the air. The animals in the mountain woods seemed to sense the unrest of the fog and scattered to their homes.
At first, Athena didn’t think much of it and was quite oblivious. Sure, she noticed the fog from her living room window as she did her morning routine. However, she had put it to the back of her mind. It wasn’t until she stepped out onto her patio to drink her morning cup of tea, that Athena noticed the electricity in the air sizzled her skin, followed by the eerie silence. No chirping of the morning birds, or rustle of leaves from other creatures moving through the woods. Dread filled the pit of her stomach.
Athena’s phone vibrated in her pocket within moments. She pulled it out to see a text from her best friend, Mel. Do you feel that? It read. Athena quickly tapped the call button. It rang once. “Thena,” Mel breathed into the line. “You feel it? Something strange is in the air. It’s an electricity I’ve never felt before.” Mel whispered.
“Yes… and the strange fog in the mountains,” Athena shivered. “Mel… Do you think this is an omen? Aunt Aurora—”
“Thena, we haven’t had Darklings around here in centuries…”
“You know what she saw…”
“No, I refuse to believe it.”
“Mel, this could be the first sign!” She rushed.
“No! Stop!”
Athena turned to look out over the mountains, again. The fog seemed to hold its place hovering just above the tree line. The sun’s golden rays reached out over it, stretching out of the darkness—shattering colors of purples, oranges, and reds. Suddenly the wind picked up followed by whispered warnings. “Darkness hunts…”
“Mel…” Athena shivered. “If you aren’t outside, step outside now.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Step outside!” She commanded.
“Okay, okay…” Mel mumbled.
“Darkness is coming… It’s coming for all those who hold the blood of ancients… It comes for the blood of witches… Darkness hunts…” The voices whispered in the wind like a mantra.
“It’s a Darkling…” Athena whispered, seeing flickering in the distance. A black figure floated through the fog. Glowing eyes, before quickly disappearing.
“Thena…”
“Mel, we can’t ignore this … You heard the wind and I’ve seen the eyes in the mountains… The Darklings are coming,” Athena whispered. Her fingers turned blue as ice spread from her fingertips to the mug, turning it and the tea into a block of ice.
Blinking in the morning light, the glowing eyes appeared closer. Her mug slipped from her hands and shattered onto the patio floor. She stood there for a moment surrounded by shreds of ceramic and frozen tea.
“Thena? Thena?” Mel’s voice called out in the distance. “What happened?”
“It’s the eyes…”
“Thena? Are you okay?”
Athena took a deep breath centering herself and drawing on the Goddess. With a wave of her hand the mug knitted itself back together, and was back in her hand, the tea now evaporated. “I’m okay, now,” she replied, breathing deeply, again. “Call the others we need the coven. The alarm needs to be sounded. If they don’t already sense it.”
“I will, High Priestess,” Mel addressed her formally before disconnecting.
Centering herself. She could sense the darkness now, coming through the woods. She was unsure why she hadn’t noticed it sooner. It was stronger than anything she had ever felt before. Athena could feel the evil essence seeping into her soul as she connected with it drawing her in. She felt herself spinning down a vortex of blackness. Quickly, Athena released her connection before becoming completely sucked in. As the most powerful High Priestess to ever be born into the Beatrix Coven Athena was also prone to the darkness as well as the light.
Darklings in the forest. Athena had just taken over as High Priestess of the coven a few months ago and already they had omens of terrible things to come. She ran a hand through her shoulder-length strawberry-blonde hair and rubbed her forehead. She knew she needed to consult the cards before meeting with the coven.
Athena quickly entered her home. She lived in an old 200-year-old house on the border of the mountains with her Aunt Aurora and Grandmother Agnes. The house had barely been upgraded besides the necessities and she loved that about it. Athena traveled to the grand living room where a giant red brick fireplace dominated the room.
They kept their altar on the mantle. Athena lit the tall white candle that was the centerpiece. She reached for her well-loved and well-used tarot cards before heading to the coffee table in front of the couch. Sitting on the floor in front of the table Athena said a prayer to the goddess, taking deep even breaths, focusing her energy, and shuffling the deck. Once she felt at peace, Athena spread the cards out in an arch on the table.
Closing her eyes, Athena summoned her magic from the goddess and slowed her breathing as she brushed her fingers across the worn cards. Until one card felt hot under her fingertips, calling to her. The goddess had spoken. Athena pulled the card from the arch and flipped it over, opening her eyes. Upheaval. Chaos. The upright Tower Card shined like the devil back at her. The danger was approaching. The aged card animated as the people threw themselves from the burning tower plummeting to the waves below as lightning lit up the sky on the card. Utter chaos. Not a good sign. The Goddess’s warning was there, change was coming.
To be continued…
Savannah M. Kammer 