CHAPTER- 1
The music was deafening, it reverberated through out Corvina’s bones, the lights were blinding, neon shades of fuschia, lemon green and a smoky blue coloured her vision. She shook her sweat matted hair, dragging her slender fingers through them. One of her mortal friends offered her a drink in a red solo cup, Corvina stretched her hand out of reflex, but stopped midway. She could not end up intoxicated, her parents actually might turn her into a toad if she came to Dies Irae festival drunk. Being a rich, rude heiress was hard, when you were also a witch. She refused the drink and began swaying her body to the rhythm, closing her eyes and focusing on the present, the fun. Blood Moon, was a more gothic club, fancier than most, classy yet amazing with its deafening music and firework of colourful lights. It used to be an old castle in the beautiful country side of Pennsylvania, Romania. Now it served as one of the chic clubs for the high end. With her eyes closed, she could hear the pounding hearts of the other mortals and supernatural dancing, the whistles and shrill cries of joy. The salty scent of sweat invaded her nose. She loved it. This joy, this euphoria, she loved it. Her phone buzzed and her eyes fluttered open adjusting to the lights. She looked down to her phone in her hand. It was a text message, from her mother, commanding her to comeback immediately. She looked at the time on her phone, it was nearing eleven, she would be late for Dies Irae if she stayed any longer. The rituals started at twelve ‘o’ clock, right at witching hour. Corvina sighed, she could not miss it, otherwise her mother would definitely turn her into a toad. Her father didn’t mind the title of ‘Club Mania’ she had earned from society, she was his only daughter, who had just turned eighteen, so he had a soft spot for her. But her mother was different, she despised Corvina’s reputation, she hated the fact that Corvina didn’t care for her magical heritage. Her mother was a proud woman, and even prouder witch, the leader of the Nightfall coven. She always chided Corvina for not caring enough for her witch heritage considering she would be the next leader. Corvina sighed, she would have to leave now.
“La revedere, trebuie să plec acum.”, she hugged her friends who had come with her and exited the club.
The black car of her family sat outside the gates of the palace turned club, waiting for her. She adjusted her sequined dress and looked up to the tree beside her where her three pet crows sat.
“Mallus, Incus, Stapes! Come! We have to go now.”, she called out. She had first gotten her beloved crows on her tenth birthday, from her mother. She then named them after the ear bones, as they acted as her ears everywhere, spying for her. She had thought it was very funny, but her mother thought otherwise. She entered the expensive dark car, and the driver started the engine. She could see from the tinted window Mallus, Incus and Stapes following the car. She could see the numerous Grape vine estates of her family outside the window. She snuggled into her seat and waited to reach the Nightfall Mansion.
******
Corvina felt her tense muscle relax as she soaked in the hot water cleansing bath. The water was tinted a light pink with the pink salt and essential oils. There were dried lavender and herbs floating on the surface of the water. Her mother always said it was very important to do a simple cleansing ritual before going to the lake of Irae for the Dies Irae festival. The festival itself was very simple, all witches of the Nightfall coven, who had just turned eighteen took turns to go and look into the lake Irae, where they could see their destiny in the reflection of the water. A witch only got to this once in their life, only once they turned eighteen. As Corvina put on the loose white gown made of a soft ivory silk, with a tight bodice, and a billowing skirt. She let her raven hair loose, with only a single diamond encrusted hair pin. She could still smell the peppermint of her cleansing bath as she made her way into the car beside her mother wearing a tight black velvet dress. Her father was in a separate car. As the car made its way towards lake Irae, located a little outside Pennsylvania, in the moors of Romania, she saw another forty to fifty black cars following them. The rest of the coven. A slight fear began creeping into Corvina’s bones what would she see? Most saw symbols of luck, money, fame. Her mother had seen a symbol of authority and greatness. What would Corvina see? What was her destiny? Once she actually thought of it soberly, the solemness of the question scared her. The car came to a stop. They had arrived. Her mother exited the car motioning her to the same. Outside, in a clearing in the heart of a forest, just beside Lake Irae, all the witches of her coven stood assembled. The witches and warlocks who had just turned eighteen, and would be seeking their destiny in the lake, wore white gowns and tuxes, where as the rest of them wore dark clothes.
“First my daughter, Corvina Nightfall, the future leader of the Nightfall coven, shall be going to seek her Destiny. All witches wearing white please assemble to the left, and the rest to the right. Thank you, and a very happy Dies Irae to all!”, her mother announced, her voice regal and full of authority. Corvina sighed, she would make one lousy Coven Leader.
“Go.”, her mother signalled her to got to the lake. Corvina took a deep breath, trying to calm the hum in her body. She looked up to starlit sky, her three pet crows were above her. She was not alone. She brushed the pad of her thumb over her fingernails, and began walking towards the lake. She soon had moved far away from the clearing where the witches were gathered. She had reached Lake Irae. Mallus, Incus and stapes flew above her silently, her silent support system. She went to the edge of the crystal- clear lake, lit a silvery hue by the soft moonlight and stars. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears, as she looked down to glass like mirror of the lake.
“Dies Irae,
I pray to thee,
Show me,
My destiny.”
She mumbled the old spell she had been taught by her mother. It had been long since she had used her magic, and now she could feel it pound through her veins along with her heart. She opened her eyes. On the mirror of the lake was the face of the most beautiful man she had ever seen, he had silver eyes like the weeping sorrowful skies, and silver hair like the lightening which tore apart the weeping sky. He had a soft pale face, with high cheekbones and a slender nose. His face looked as though it had been carved of ivory. Corvina’s breath hitched, he was beautiful no doubt, but sweat began slicking her fingers as she realised whose face it was. The face before her made of stardust and moonlight, the face of a mourning sky, was the face of Death. It was the face of Thanatos, the God of Death, one of the faces all witches knew too well, from their tarot cards and idols. A small gasp left Corvina as she realised, she was destined to die.
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