She threw it at the wall, and it immediately combusted into flames. Eira put up a barrier, but they were still pushed back from the sheer magnitude of the explosion.
Wait a minute.
She threw out a glass bottle with a floral scent, and Quill screamed bloody murder. "Not the hair oil!"
"I can make more. Again, Cage."
Cage threw another fireball. "Don't tell me what to do."
The entire cavern shook, and water rushed in from the outside. Flooding it till they were ankle deep in record time. "Quill, go first, and we'll push from behind you. Cage try to stroke the flames a little more. Let's get out of here!"
Eira's eyes filled with crazed victory as they pressed on through the flames. The barrier around them got smaller and smaller as they pressed on. Soon, waves were crashing against Quill's shield, and the water level had risen to Snowy's chest.
"Quill, let down your shield, hold your breath, and curl into a ball."
"What?"
"Stop saying that and do it!"
Quill took a deep breath and bounced on the balls of her feet. Her shield grew smaller, and she hunched down to Eira's height. Eira expanded her barrier, grabbed onto her new 'coven', and threw them all out into the open water-filled hole they had made.
Although the barrier protected them from sinking, there was limited air inside it. Eira cursed and pushed them closer to the surface.
They bobbed below the surface and then suddenly popped out onto... the floor?
The bubble popped and Eira pushed her long hair out of her face, accidentally wacking Cage in the nose. She sputtered and lashed out blindly while gasping for air.
Quill shivered and crawled further up the surface. "Was that supposed to be so fast—Hey!"
Eira dragged Quill back to her side as her brows knitted. Her nose scrunched, and she sniffed the air.
Cage finally brushed her hair out of her eyes and rubbed debris out of them. "What is it?" She blinked away the rubble and sat back on her calves. "Oh."
Breathlessly, they took in what was before them. Water flooded in from the hole they had made by blasting through the previous wall. However, the water didn't show any signs of breaching dry land.
"What is this place?" Quill wondered aloud and got up on shaky legs. Water dripped from her hair onto her skin and made tiny pitter-patter sounds.
A huge sea cavern filled to the brim with bones, black water, cave drawings, and treasure chests littered it. Above the mounds of decades, perhaps even centuries-old blood-soaked treasures were thrones.
Numerous gigantic thrones. Made of every type of bone and stone known and unknown to man. Some were finely crafted and jeweled. Others twisted and gnarled. Radiating a horrifying aura rife with killing intent.
Cage took a step back, and recognition dawned on her. "Kali?" As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them.
Eira and Quill's ears perked up. At the same time, they asked. "Who's Kali?"
"We should leave. Right now." She backed away and started looking for ways out. All mothers save us. Help us.
"Cage? Do you know something about this?"
Eira reached out to touch something, and Cage caught her hand before it landed. Deathly serious, she brought herself to eye level. "Don't. Touch. Anything."
"..."
Feeling more uneasy as time passed awkwardly during their staring contest, Quill asked hesitantly."Cage?"
"It's a tomb. I think. For forbidden things." She spat out with distaste. We must leave. "Out. We have to get out of here." We can never ever let anyone know. Oh Mother. Guide me out of this shadow...of burning everlasting death!
"Don't tell anyone else...If we make it out. Don't ever tell anyone else about this place." That last part was directed towards Eira, and she tilted her head. "Fine."
Cage didn't trust a word out of her lying little mouth, but now wasn't the time. "Found it!"
They both whipped their heads towards Quill, who was leaning over a tidepool filled to the brim with water. She licked the water and grimaced. "Yes, that's sea water. We should go now. It looks choppy."
"..." Eira sent a longing-filled glance towards the treasure and weighed the two in her mind. Treasure or escape?
"Today, pipsqueak!"
"..."
Rocks and rubble fell behind them as they swam inside a hamster ball to freedom.
At the main hall.
Fallon and Puppet enjoyed a rare quiet meal since their two companions and the new recruit had been taken to the Pit. Live here as long as you do under constant surveillance. You'll break a few rules in the process. So, almost everyone has spent a night or two in the caves.
"Should we try to sneak some food to them?" Fallon played with her food and looked downcast.
It's practically a rite of passage for Hawthorne Witches.
Puppet, on the other hand, didn't share the same sentiment. "Cage is a…freak. She probably likes the quiet." And the opportunity to get her lick back at the tot. She shook out her green curls and continued."Quill is probably suffering, but we can make it up to her when her term is over. She respects the rules more than anyone else and might get offended if we break them."
Fallon muttered under her breath. "If we get caught."
Puppet dropped her food and shot her friend a pointed look.
Fallon sighed, and her ears twitched. She grinned as the latest gossip filtered into her ears. "What about the baby? She was so little. I heard she caused Cage to cry. Some say the little one took her ability and used it against her."
Puppet shrugged and finished her meal. "Then she's probably fine too. The little bloodsucker is probably having them for breakfast right–"
"QUICK!" A hooded young woman ran into the mess hall without regard to her usual manners. "The cave. The Pit is collapsing. The elders. Get the elders!"
Blood drained from their faces, and they abandoned their food so they could go save the coven. The wind whipped around their clothes, and they felt others joining them on their run.
"Please make it out…Gren?!"
A troll larger than most of the other Novitates nodded without needing further explanation. Gren's the best healer our class has to offer.
They'll be fine. They have to be fine. They'll be fine.
Together they ran as a unit towards the cliffs where the pit had already collapsed, taking a good chunk of the cliff it was connected to along with it. Debris and rubble floated in the choppy water.
The elders arrived later. Hypatia even seemed to be in a rare good mood. However, the Forest Lord didn't seem to be able to contain herself. She almost leapt into the water.
"Hypatia?" Her eyes slowly changed colors under her veil.
She assured her halfheartedly. "Don't worry. We'll fish her out and get our best girls to revive her if need—"
A certain someone couldn't wait to intervene."Revive? That's a pretty hastily made assumption. Don't you think?"
From over a hilltop in damp clothing came the three of them. Relatively unharmed and appearing to have climbed the hill next to the beach in order to reach the valley. Sand filled their shoes and squelched when pressed down.
Unhooded and unveiled was a young girl. A dark elf with smaller pointed ears than normal, heterochromia eyes, and…sharp teeth. Although she was strikingly beautiful and even doll-like. Something about her seemed off…The look in her eyes was too mature.
"R—" The guard behind the Forest Lord clapped her hand over her master's mouth before she could utter her name.
Eira rolled her eyes and walked over to the group. Hooded and dressed in their Sunday funeral best. It really is a cult.
Then again, cults are useful. Tons of free labor, blind subordination, and I'm sure I can think of other benefits if you can give me enough time. But the cost of food and toiletries must be astronomical.
"What happened?" Hypatia tried and failed to keep the disappointment out of her voice. She couldn't be blamed after all. What she thought was a happy accident had unfortunately been dealt with…However, what is wrong with her? Something's wrong.
"What happened to you?"
The Forest Lord kneeled down and observed the Initiate with the concern you would expect from an adult. Yet it seemed a bit…much.
What is this? This is my daughter. This is my daughter, right?
She brushed Miseria's hair back and tried to catch her attention. Yet it seemed difficult. She was purposefully avoiding eye contact with her and instead staring down Hypatia. With an intensity that was uncharacteristic of her.
Cage grimaced at their interaction and thought quietly. Checks out. That's gonna make killing her a little harder, but a little poison never hurt anybody.
Quill trembled terribly as she tried to breathe again. Just the thought of being underwater. Unable to breathe. Lungs and eyes exploding.
Hypatia narrowed her eyes, and Eira mimicked the action playfully. Even though the eyes were different. Her eyes widened, and she stumbled back. No. Is she…?
"Mi-Mother, I'm hungry. Please guide me to that man." She said it mock sweetly and smiled from ear to ear.
Miseria? Niathe frowned and tried to look directly into her eyes. Something definitely wasn't right. Miseria always faces my gaze head-on like she's asking for a fight, and she always sheathes her fangs out of some kind of misguided guilt, bashfulness, or shame. This…
This is not my daughter.
Niathe's gaze hardened, and she nodded simply. She took Eira's cold hand and led her into the valley.
Cage and Quill silently became part of the crowd. Fallon and Puppet helped them back to their shared dorm. When they finally entered the house, they were barraged with questions.
"Why is she so big?"
Lucian didn't hide his surprise as he took in the much taller and older version of the little bloodsucker he had met a few days ago. She smiled sweetly at him, and he frowned.
She dropped the smile and demanded. "Give me your arm."
Erichean frowned and locked eyes with Naithe, who had a dark expression. His eyes flashed with awareness, and he braced himself. A small blade fit itself between his fingers, and he tracked her movements with his eyes.
What happened to my little rabbit?
Eira lowered her gaze and licked her lips. Her blank, happy eyes betrayed nothing as she stopped waiting for a response and snatched Lucian's hand away. Her fangs sank into his arm, and her eyes rolled back in pleasure.
So much better than those broken dolls and the snow. Yeah, this is it.
[Leave.]
She furrowed her brows and sucked harder.
No.
[You know you're not allowed to take control like this. Leave willingly, and I'll spare you for further use another day. Continue, and I'll lock you up so far away from the light you'll forget you had eyes.]
"..."
Eira paused, and her fangs receded a little. The thought of giving up control was…unbearable. But so was never having it again.
[You saved her, and you will continue to. She's safe now and doesn't need you. Come back.]
Her fangs retreated back into her gums, and she closed her eyes. You better let me out again. I still have plans for that woman.
[Hmm. Me too.]
Eira kept her eyes closed until it was time.
Bright eyes dimmed once again and became more lively in a split second. Cautious and unsure. Her entire body language changed. Relaxing from its previous predatory stance, she licked her lips.
"What the hell?" Confused, she turned around and went back towards Lucian, who was slowly healing.
Niathe's chest heaved, and she turned the false child around. Yet it was not the same one as before. Angry, vengeful mismatched eyes faced her head-on and filled up with accusatory blame.
"What's wrong with you? Let go of me! Was solitary confinement not—" Miseria coughed and stumbled back when Niathe threw herself at her. She struggled awkwardly and took stock of her new body.
Wow! You did great! I'm finally a somewhat normal height. I can't wait to be able to use these hands to eat and cook in the real world.
Penguin was silent for a moment before he replied in a tone designed to match her excitement. [I'm so glad. I live to please.]