Chapter 3 Rise to High Priest

I awoke the following morning, the remnants of last night's events lingering in my mind like fragments of a vivid dream. As I gazed into the vanity mirror perched atop my desk, reality struck me with undeniable clarity. The reflection, looking back, was altered, transformed by forces I could scarcely comprehend. There was no escaping the truth—I had changed in ways I'd never imagined possible.

Stepping onto the school grounds felt like crossing into an entirely different realm. No longer was I just another face among the ocean of students; I now felt elevated, as if I resided on a higher plane of existence. I suddenly grasped the condescending attitudes of witches towards normies. Their lives appeared so simple, so mundane, and yet I could sense the unyielding power that flowed through us. If they ever discovered the depths of our abilities, I had no doubt they would turn against us without a moment's hesitation. This revelation shifted the lens through which I viewed my classmates, drawing a stark line between our worlds.

Fawn was waiting for me outside the school, her presence radiating a newfound confidence that ignited a fire within me. As we strode into the building, our stride was infused with a boldness we hadn't possessed before. Gone were the days of lightheartedness and carefree laughter; now, we upheld an air of undeniable purpose. It was remarkable how the awakening of our true selves had reshaped our very beings.

Fawn shot me a sultry glance, her nymph heritage bubbling to the surface in a captivating dance of allure. A smile erupted on my face as I realized how her enchanting powers colored her interactions with those around her. My own burgeoning magic seemed to draw me down a similar path, sharpening my desires and longing toward the exquisite allure of the fairer sex. Lilith, the legendary figure of empowerment and freedom, had never settled for the confines of a single lover; she reveled in her unrestrained allure. Now, I, too, felt that intoxicating sense of empowerment surging through every fiber of my being.

The school day unfolded in familiar rhythms. Most students remained indifferent while hushed whispers trailed in our wake, tinged with curiosity and speculation. But in that moment, none of it resonated—there were grander destinies awaiting us on the horizon.

As the final bell rang and the day surrendered to twilight, it beckoned the time for the council meeting, where our destinies would intertwine with secrets only the chosen few could fathom.

My mother and I approached Elder Kate’s home, an opulent mansion that loomed impressively against the twilight sky, its grandeur only heightened by the sprawling, untamed gardens that stretched out behind it. I had always cherished our visits, vibrant gatherings filled with laughter and mischief, where my sisters and I roamed freely while the council convened in hushed, serious discussions. But tonight marked a significant shift. I was no longer merely an observer; I was about to be thrust into the heart of it all.

As we crossed the threshold into the magnificent foyer, the golden light of the chandelier flickered, casting long shadows that danced across the polished black marble floors. The atmosphere was thick with the aromas of incense and ancient magic, a potent blend that felt as if it pulsed within my veins, awakening something deep inside me. The room was alive with witches, their murmured conversations wrapping around us, laced with an unmistakable tension that hinted at the weighty matters at hand. It felt as if the very walls were holding their breath, anticipating what was to come.

Elder Kate stood elegantly by the imposing stone fireplace, her figure draped in rich crimson robes that billowed slightly with her movements, accentuating her regal presence. When her piercing gaze fell upon me and my mother, it was like an invisible cloak settling over my shoulders, heavy with expectation and unspoken challenges.

“Ah, you’ve arrived,” she greeted with a smooth and reassuring voice. “And just in time.”

I squared my shoulders, determination coursing through me. “Elder Kate.”

Her eyes sparkled with a mix of wisdom and something else I couldn’t quite decipher. “Your power has settled in, hasn’t it?”

“Yes,” I responded, my voice steady yet filled with the anticipation of what lay ahead.

A slow, knowing smile graced her lips, deepening the lines of her face. “Good. Then it’s time you learn what it truly means to carry it.”

The meeting began with the traditional blessing, and then Elder Kate’s voice rang through the chamber with authority.

“Now is the moment for us to embrace our newfound ranks—to comprehend the profound reason we have been bestowed with these extraordinary powers. We are favored by the Goddess through Legion General Lilith, who fell from grace alongside Lucifer at the divine behest of the Goddess herself. We are entrusted with the sacred duty of safeguarding the Earth Mother from the desolation inflicted upon her by the Church and the Warlocks.”

A low murmur rippled through the gathering, a tapestry of whispers that echoed the gravity of her words, yet no one dared to interrupt.

“The Church wields holy power granted by God, promising prosperity to humanity,” Elder Kate continued, her voice resonating with conviction. “But in their fervent quest, they wreak havoc upon Mother Earth, trampling her gifts in a relentless pursuit of gain. Warlocks, on the other hand, are the embodiment of evil; greedy men who siphon power from wherever they can, unyielding to the cries of both humankind and the Earth itself. The Church has sought to obliterate us before, yet we have risen from the ashes of our venerable foremothers—stronger, fiercer, and more resolute than ever.”

She paused, allowing her words to settle like a blanket of anticipation over us. The air in the room felt charged, heavy with the weight of her message. Then, her voice softened as if imparting a sacred secret.

“Per Lilith’s guidance during the ceremony of awakening last night, it is time for us to emerge from the shadows and reveal ourselves to the world. I have already dispatched messages to the other covens scattered across the globe. In one year’s time, we will convene to chart our course forward.”

The gravity of her proclamation sent a shiver of both fear and exhilaration down my spine as a wave of resolve surged through the gathered sisters.

She then turned her piercing gaze upon Fawn, her eyes gleaming with purpose. “You will join your sisters who are devoted to the protection of the flora in our region. You and your kin will engage in a fierce battle against the pollution that poisons our sacred plants.”

Then, her eyes locked onto mine, a piercing gaze that seemed to penetrate the very depths of my soul.

“High Priestess Lilith,” she began, her voice resonating with reverence and gravity. "You have been given the hardest job of all.”

I felt my breath hitch, caught in my throat like a whisper on the wind.

“I am sorry to place this burden upon one so young,” she continued, her expression softening with empathy, “but you have been chosen by Lilith herself. You stand now as the strongest among us—the most pivotal. No coven’s High Priestess could ever usurp your authority.”

My mind struggled to grasp the enormity of her words, swirls of disbelief and awe colliding within me. Before I could fully comprehend, she pressed on, “Please, let the coven support you with all our strength.”

A profound hush fell over the council chamber, wrapping around us like a heavy shroud, thick with the weight of Elder Kate’s proclamation. Each heartbeat reverberated in my chest, a frantic drum echoing my disbelief. High Priestess? The very mention of the title sent a shiver racing through me, not out of fear but from the sheer gravity of what it entailed.

In that fleeting moment during the ceremony, I had sensed the shift—the magnificent swell of Lilith's presence enveloping me, igniting a power within that coursed like wildfire. Yet, I had never anticipated this. To be named the leader of our coven, to wield authority over all witches—such an unexpected turn had shaken us all to our core. Not even Elder Kate, with her centuries of wisdom, had foreseen it.

As my power slipped from my grasp, like grains of sand through an open palm, it flowed outward, intertwining with the essence of those around me. I felt everything—each flicker of magic, each delicate thread binding us in unity. It was intoxicating, an exhilarating rush that transported me beyond the confines of my body. A living pulse of energy surged through the room, tethering me to each witch present, knitting our fates into an unbreakable tapestry. Gasps of wonder escaped their lips, filling the chamber with an electric hum as they felt their own magic intensify, awakening them as if they had just drawn in their very first breath anew.

Elder Kate was the first to recover from the charged atmosphere that enveloped the council chamber. Her piercing gaze flitted between me and my mother, a tempest of emotions swirling in her eyes—there was an unspoken query, one that seemed destined to remain unanswered, at least for now. Only the Goddess herself could provide clarity in this moment of uncertainty.

Then, with a quiet grace, my mother stepped forward, her demeanor a curious mix of determination and something deeper. Her face bore an unreadable expression, yet her voice resonated with unwavering conviction. “Elder Kate, I am prepared to take on the solemn task of guarding the High Priestess. No one shall breach her safety or bring her harm.”

She turned then, her piercing gaze locking onto mine, as steady as the ancient trees that surrounded our sacred grounds. “High Priestess, I pledge my sword to your protection from this day forth.”

A ripple of murmurs unfurled through the gathered council, a chorus of astonishment mingling with reluctant approval. My breath hitched as I looked down at my mother—the woman who had nurtured me, who had been my guiding star through the labyrinthine mysteries of our lineage. And now, in this pivotal moment, she was swearing fealty to me.

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of destiny pressing against my chest, steadying myself against the tide of expectation. The room lingered in breathless anticipation, waiting for my acceptance of a fate that had already been sealed by Lilith and the divine Goddess. There could be no retreat from this path. I clenched my fists at my sides, feeling the undulating surge of magic still coursing through my veins, alive and vibrant.

“I accept your oath,” I declared, my voice rising above the murmurs, stronger and more resolute than I had anticipated. “And I will safeguard this coven with every ounce of my being.”

Elder Kate turned to my mother, her eyes widening in palpable shock as realization dawned.

“Elder Caroline… do you truly comprehend the magnitude of what you have just done?” she asked, disbelief tinging her voice like an unsteady chord.

My mother met her gaze with a fierce certainty, a quiet fire dancing in her eyes. “Yes, Mother, I fully understand the weight of my promise.”

Mother?

My breath caught in my throat, a sudden hush falling over the chamber. Elder Kate was my grandmother?

I had always felt the threads of our coven woven deeply into the fabric of my life, but this revelation shattered my expectations, reweaving my understanding of family. In just two days, my entire world had been turned upside down, leaving me to grapple with the enormity of these intertwining destinies.

But I pushed my own fears aside. Right now, my mother needed me more than ever.

“I would do it again and again if it meant I could wield my full power to protect my daughter,” she continued, her voice resonating with a fierce strength. “I have remained hidden within the coven for far too long. With my daughter’s blessing, I wish to unlock my true potential.”

She turned to me, her expression a mix of desperation and determination, her eyes shimmering with an intensity that made my heart race.

I understood her plea all too well. She was asking me to break the ancient bindings that had shackled her magic—those invisible chains that had been set upon her long ago by forces unknown.

I swallowed hard, the weight of the decision pressing down on me, and closed my eyes. Doubt wrestled within me, but my instincts surged forth, unwavering. I reached out with my own magic, the air around me shimmering as I sought to connect with hers, my energy brushing against her essence like a whisper.

There it was—the chains binding her power, dark and relentless.

I plucked at them with delicate precision, searching for the weakest link amongst the twisted strands. When I finally found it, I grasped it tightly, yanking it apart with a surge of raw magic.

A violent rush of energy surged through the room like a storm breaking free from the confines of the sky. Shadows writhed around my mother’s form, coiling and twisting like serpents released from their slumber. Her power filled the air, thick and suffocating, sending tremors through the very walls of the space we occupied. When she opened her eyes, they were a hollow abyss—jet black, devoid of light or humanity.

For a fleeting moment, she embodied darkness itself, an ancient and powerful force that chilled me to the core.

Then, just as swiftly, she seized control. The shadows receded, retreating like a tide, and she returned to the mother I had always known, though an afterglow of her dark power still lingered behind.

“Mother,” I whispered, my voice trembling as I still felt the lingering chill of her unleashed magic. “You promise to contain your power until it is truly needed?”

“Yes, my darling Lilith,” she replied, her voice softer now yet still threaded with an underlying intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

Even with her newfound control, I could sense the weight of her power—a deep, unsettling force that thrummed beneath the surface, a presence that made my skin crawl and my instincts scream. Now I understood why those bindings had been placed upon her.

I knew I would have to learn to ignore that unsettling essence to coexist with the darkness she now carried.

Because no matter how dark and daunting her power may seem, I found myself utterly needing my mother.

Elder Kate regarded her with a scrutiny that pierced the tension in the air, then turned to me with an expression that remained inscrutable. My mother took a bold step forward, the steadiness of her voice cutting through the buzzing anticipation that filled the chamber.

I gazed at her, my throat tightening with a mix of awe and fear. My mother, a shadow assassin cloaked in unimaginable power, stood before me now as my unwavering shield.

The council chamber thrummed with vibrant energy, the air thick with magic as witches exchanged furtive glances. Many nodded in agreement while others fixed their eyes on me, a wild cocktail of curiosity, expectation, and perhaps a hint of awe flickering in their gazes. I could feel their magic intertwining with mine, a pulsating network of power binding us together. It was an intoxicating experience—overwhelming, exhilarating, and yet terrifying all at once.

Turning back to my mother, I searched her face for any sign of hesitation or doubt, for a glimpse of the woman who had always anchored me through the storms of my life. But there was nothing—only resolve radiating from her presence. She was unwavering in her conviction, sure of this path and sure of me.

“I swore to protect you, my daughter,” she declared, her voice resonating with an unyielding strength. “Not merely because you are mine by blood but because you are now woven into the very fabric of our shared destiny.”

With those words, she declared that I was our leader now. “I will give my life to ensure that no one dares to wrest that from you.”

The weight of her promise crashed over me like a tidal wave, flooding my senses. My mother—who had always been my guardian, my mentor—was now pledging her allegiance to me. This was not how it was supposed to be, not yet, and perhaps not ever.

I looked toward Elder Kate, then glanced at Fawn and the other witches encircling me. They were poised on the edge of anticipation, waiting to see if I would rise to the challenge or crumble beneath the heavy mantle of the title so suddenly thrust upon me.

The air hung heavy with a palpable electricity, thick with the weight of unspoken promises and unyielding anticipation. It pressed in around me, an invisible force urging me toward the precipice of destiny that I hadn’t even noticed I was teetering on. I inhaled sharply, my breath trembling as my fingers balled into tight fists at my sides, grounding me in that moment.

If Lilith had chosen me—if the Goddess had extended her divine blessing—I knew I could not turn away. This was a calling far greater than my own fears, a weightier burden than the doubts that clawed at my mind. I had no room for hesitation now.

With resolve tightening my spine, I summoned my magic, allowing it to surge through me like a tidal wave. It entwined with the energy of every witch present in the chamber, a vibrant tapestry of collective power that enveloped us all. I lifted my chin defiantly, locking eyes with my mother, the intensity of our gaze unyielding.

“Then I accept,” I proclaimed, my voice ringing out strong and clear, slicing through the thick air like a blade. “If this is my path, then I will walk it unwavering.”

As the words left my lips, a pulse of energy crackled through the room, an electric manifestation of the commitment I had just made, sealing my vow in an arcane bond.

Elder Kate's face softened into a rare smile, approval sparking in her wise, aged eyes. “Then let it be known—the era of our High Priestess has begun.”

A resounding cheer erupted from the gathered witches, their voices rising like a chorus of celebration, filled with reverence and unity. Yet, lurking beneath the jubilant din, I sensed it—shadows coiling around the fringes of my consciousness, an insidious whisper of something ancient and enigmatic, patiently waiting just beyond the veil of sight.

Elder Kate stepped forward then, placing a firm hand on my shoulder. “Then it is decided. The coven stands with you, High Priestess. And your mother stands before you, a blade in the dark, ensuring your path remains clear.”

The weight of responsibility settled deep into my bones, but this time, it didn’t feel quite as suffocating. With my mother’s pledge and with the strength of my sisters, I wasn’t walking this path alone.

Still, something deep inside me whispered of dangers yet unseen, of forces beyond our coven’s reach. If Lilith had chosen me to lead, it meant change was coming.

Elder Kate stepped forward, her presence commanding and steady, as she placed a firm hand on my shoulder. “Then it is decided. The coven stands united with you, High Priestess. And your mother stands before you, a blade in the dark, ensuring your path remains clear and unfettered.”

As the weight of that responsibility settled into my bones like a heavy cloak, I found that it felt different this time—less suffocating, more empowering. With my mother’s unwavering pledge and the fierce strength of my sisters surrounding me like a protective circle, I realized I was not journeying down this treacherous path alone.

Yet, beneath the surface of this newfound assurance, a whisper of unease stirred within me. It spoke of dangers lurking in the shadows, of ominous forces lurking beyond the fragile perimeter of our coven’s reach. If Lilith had chosen me to lead, then it was clear: change, both profound and transformative, was coming, like storm clouds gathering on the horizon.