Archive of Our Own

Work Text

This story will begin in 2010 and end in 2012Belos/Philip is 368
Orsan is 68
Vitimir is 49
Miss Amelia is 48
Adrian is 44
Dell and Gwendolyn are 44
Hettie is 34
Eberwolf is 32
Argos is 30
Terra & Mason are 29
Diana is 28
Ortega is 27
Darius is 27
Lilith is 17
Steve is 16
Raine is 16
Eda is 15
Kikimora is 14 The bare minimum you can join the Emperor's Coven is 14 ( you are considered a ward of the state until 20)

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Nobody said that joining the Emperor's Coven would be easy. On top of the initial tryouts, you had to go through 2 years of extensive, often times gruelling training. However, in Lilith's professional opinion, the worst part of the training was the segregation. The genders were segregated into gender-specific dorms and often did drills separately. The reason was to keep any whoopsie babies from occurring. However, it also meant Lilith couldn't spend much time with her boyfriend: Steve.It made the moments they did get to spend together even more special. " Clawthorne!" Lilith looked up from her training book. In training, you get one day a week to yourself. The sexes could mingle (within reason) and go where they pleased as long as they stayed on the compound. Steve was on the other side of the compound's courtyard. He had his training book with him. " Over here!" Lilith didn't need to be told twice. She got up and, clutching her book to her chest, rushed over to her beloved. Steve, the book still in hand, embraced his girlfriend and twirled her around.It had been a good week since the two had a moment together. "Disengage!" Ah! Well, that was short-lived. It seemed like there was always an instructor monitoring the fresh blood. " Clawthorne! Truhart!" It didn't help that this particular instructor knew the couple. She was Diana Alexis Shay, and she had known Steve since he was knee-high to a grasshopper. Combat boots and a fluttering white cloak stomped over. The pair departed. The black bird mask, much different than what regular scouts wore, glimmered in the sunlight. " How many times do I have to remind you of the rules?!"Acts of affection were banned. Although there was no rule barring fully-fledged Emperor Coven scouts from being in relationships with each other ( so long as it the opposite sex), the same did not apply to the trainees. Again, the last thing anybody wanted to deal with was a trainee getting pregnant from a fling. Being in a relationship was a privilege that Steve and Lilith did not yet have. They let go of each other and bowed their heads in shame, dropping their books to take up formation.There was a specific way to stand as an Emperor's Coven scout. Chin up, chest out, shoulders back, stomach in. Eyes were to be facing forward. Keeping the heels together, with the toes apart with the feet at a 45-degree angle, you were to stand as still as a stone. Arms were held behind the back. It was one of the first things they taught you in training. Diana stomped over, black bird mask gleaming in the sunlight, and assessed the pair. Her long beak was in the shape of a heron's. It glared at the new recruits.Assessments were common in situations like these. Everyone else in the immediate area took notice of the event. " Fix your hair, Clawthorne!" Diana snapped. A few curly dark auburn strands had come loose. Lilith tried to not grimace. When in formation, you were not to show any emotion. Blank face, eyes front, ready to take orders. Lucky for Lilith, she was already an expert at this. Life with her parents had prepared her for this kind of abuse." Retie your bootstraps, Truhart!" Yes, Ma'am! " Physical affection is strictly forbidden." Now it was time for public humiliation. Diana turned and called the fresh blood into formation, much to their annoyance, keeping Lilith and Steve separated. They were the black sheep. Screaming ensued. In the Emperor's Coven, you needed to be desensitized to verbal abuse. One could not survive the hardships of the field while 'soft.' As such, little instances like these were used as teaching tools.It saved time for more important things and kept trainees on their toes. It weeded out the weak from the strong. Diana shrieked like a harpy in Lilith's ear, admonishing her for her 'lack of professionalism.' Steve got the same treatment. Just because he was the closest thing Diana had to a son did not mean he was immune to her wrath. It's okay. He understood she was doing her job. " This is not your private love shack!" Diana screamed. " We are not here to offer a place for you to make out and make problems! Am I clear?!" Yes, Ma'am! " Louder!" YES, MA'AM!" I will be watching your every move! Your every breath! The slightest further disrespect will result in punishment! Am I understood?!" Yes, Ma'am! " Good!" Diana turned and addressed the rest of the formation. " This is a lesson to all of you!" Yes, Ma'am! Understood, Ma'am! " Dismissed!" Everybody dispersed. Steve and Lilith made to fix their appearances.Diana turned back to them. " Follow me, Clawthorne!" Her voice was firm. Oh, shit! The punishment was not over. Lilith paled and swallowed. What did this mean? Was she getting kicked out of the Emperor's Coven? Was this the end? Lilith spared a glance at Steve, who was helpless in this situation and grabbed her book. Then, wordlessly, she followed Diana as everybody silently watched. Sweat drizzled down Lilith's temples as she was led through bleak halls and past dormitories. Was this it? Had Lilith given up everything just to be kicked out over a hug? That wasn't fair!Lilith had nothing else to lose at this point. There was nothing to go back to. Her parents had kicked her to the curb. Her sister hated her. 'How could you?!' Gwendolyn's voice rang in her ears. 'You cursed your sister?!' It was an accident! I didn't mean to! It was only supposed to be for one day! 'Get out of my house! You're no longer welcome here! You ruined my daughter's life!' Diana opened the door to an office and motioned for Lilith to go in.The poor Clawthorne was on the verge of tears. The door shut. Diana told Lilith to sit in the chair before the desk. Diana sat in the one behind it. The mask was removed, revealing pretty freckles and short pale ginger hair. Golden eyes had a soft expression. Lilith swallowed. Fingers laced together. " I've noticed something about you, Lilith." Diana didn't have an ounce of hate in her voice. It was jarring. This was the same lady who had just gotten done screaming at her.Was that a good or a bad thing? Lilith didn't know. She was too busy trying not to shit herself in fear. Again, she swallowed back bile. Diana took notice. " At ease, scout." Nobody was going home today. Diana made that very clear. " I want to talk to you about something else." What had happened in the courtyard was now ancient history. Lilith stiffened. She nodded to show that she was listening. " I have noticed that you don't act like a regular new recruit." I'm sorry, Ma'am! I- " I wasn't done talking yet."Sorry. " As I was saying, you don't act normal." Lilith felt her stomach twist into knots. " We don't regularly get individuals like you here, but when we do... we need to go through a process." Diana opened a drawer and pulled out a giant ass stack of papers before summoning a pen. Lilith fought the urge to quirk an eyebrow. What was going on? Diana cut straight to the chase. " I know that you came from an abusive background."Steve was a wealth of knowledge. Likewise, it was plain to the naked eye. " You didn't get those scars on your arms from falling down the stairs." Pen was put to paper. " So... let's make this easier for everybody and get it off our chest, okay?" What happened next was standard procedure. When a teenager enters the Emperor's Coven with clear signs of abuse, reports need to be made. Are there any children left at home? Who are the parents? Abuse in the Boiling Isles is not taken lightly. Investigations have to be started and carried out.It was non-negotiable. However, for Lilith, she found herself fighting to speak. Old habits were biting her in the ass. From a very young age, her parents had bashed it in her head to deny and deflect when it came to questions. The abuse was not talked about. Dell and Gwendolyn understood what would happen if they were found out. Lilith felt like her throat was closing up.She wanted to be good and give answers... but that fear still stood. Deep down, Lilith was still a scared little girl. 'You've disgraced the Clawthorne clan! Your own family! What is wrong with you?!' Gwendolyn's voice once again screamed in Lilith's ears. ' Don't you fucking dare say a thing, Lilith! You've already done enough damage to this family!' Diana sat there, waiting patiently. Lilith looked around her. She felt like a bird in a cage. What was she supposed to do?! ' Don't you dare speak!' " Hey, Kiddo."Diana could see an internal meltdown from a mile away. Her voice was gentle. It was a beacon of light in an otherwise dark situation. " Look at me." Lilith did. She was shaking like a leaf. " You don't have to be scared of them anymore. They aren't here." Then why did it still hurt so much?! The words escaped Lilith's mouth. Lilith hugged her arms and started to weep. Oh! Now she was in trouble for sure! Belos didn't want a crybaby in his ranks, right? Wrong. Diana got up and moved like the wind.The chair Lilith was in moved. Diana squatted before it. She gently took Lilith's hands and gave them a squeeze. There was something maternal there. Diana understood that Lilith was only 17. She had come from rough roots. In the Emperor's Coven, you are not looked down upon for this. You are embraced and helped. Why? Simple. Belos wasn't all that bad. He understood.He demanded that his instructors understand. At the end of the day, the Emperor's Coven was a family. " Look at me." Lilith sniffed and did. " I get that it's hard to let that part of you go." The scared little girl. " But they aren't here to hurt you anymore." There was nothing Dell and Gwendolyn could do to Lilith now. " We are a family here at the Emperor's Coven, and we make sure those who hurt our family can't do it again." Lilith shuddered and said that she understood. Her hands were squeezed again. She said that she was still scared." Sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is admit we are afraid." However, you cannot let it consume you. " We have to push through our fear and place it in the back of our minds." It didn't help anybody out in the field. " You are strong, Lilith. You have made it this far and passed all your courses with flying colours. You can't let this keep holding you back." Which it was. Diana told Lilith that all the fear and regret in her heart kept her from being her best self. " It will destroy you from the inside out." What do I do then?Diana looked at the awaiting papers and pen. The perspective shifted to Steve. Time fast-forwarded to a few hours later. " Hey!" Steve looked up from his training book and notes. He was now in the compound's library. Standing at the other end was Lilith. Her curls were tucked away. Steve immediately knew that she had been crying. Uh oh! What the fuck did Diana do to his girlfriend?! Steve made to stand, ready to attack, but was quickly put at ease by Lilith. " It's okay!" She sat down across from him and explained the situation.Steve listened intently. " Honestly, it really helped me to get it off my chest." Good! Steve was glad. He understood how much the whole family issue bothered Lilith. However, at the same time, he also understood that this didn't mean Lilith was okay. The scars and pain were still there. She looked down at the table and sighed. " Diana said that they're going to investigate my parents." And how do you feel about that? " Well... I don't know." Glad? Guilty? Lilith was a swirl of emotion.Things shifted to another incident.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Contrary to popular belief, the Emperor's Coven did not starve its members. Food was never withheld as punishment. Nobody was fed nutrition less slop. Tales of trainees being starved to death came from the heads of wild witches. Only fools would create an Emperor who doesn't feed his minions, for the easiest way to cause rebellion is to not meet basic needs.Take away a man's food if you wish to see him riot. " Thank you," Lilith said as she took her tray from the attendant on the kitchen staff. The smell of freshly made food was everywhere. The attendant nodded and called for the next in line as Lilith moved along. In the Emperor's Coven, trainees are fed fresh, nutrition-packed food 3 times a day. Today's dinner was roast with seasonal vegetables and the Boiling Isles answer to mashed potatoes. It was a healthy serving, far more than Lilith was used to eating, and, sitting with Steve (it was co-mingled day), Lilith looked at it with wide eyes.She didn't think she would ever get used to the regular feedings. " What's up?" Steve asked. He had been enjoying his food. Damn, it was good. The mash looked like chunky baby vomit, but that was okay! It still tasted good. Lilith looked up and swallowed. She admitted that this was a little much. " I don't think it's any more than yesterday." Eh... not what I meant. Lilith sighed and took up her fork. A light went off in Steve's head. " Oh!" His gaze grew sympathetic.Steve recalled Lilith telling him about the food situation back home. You see, Gwendolyn was notoriously lazy. She only cooked when she felt like it, which was not often, and Dell was the same. As such, Lilith had grown up not knowing what having three GOOD meals was like regularly. She had grown up cooking little 'meals' for her and her sister out of the cupboard. Really, the only time Gwendolyn managed to heave herself off the couch or out of bed to cook was on special occasions- like birthdays.Those were the exceptions. " You gotta live in the present, Lils," Steve said. He didn't know what else to say. " I get it." He really did. He was the boy who had grown up in and out of foster care and had to take medication to soothe his crippling PTSD symptoms. " But... uh... um..." Steve took a bite of his mashed potatoes. " You can't let them get to you." I know. Lilith said she was well aware. However, it was hard. " Did something happen with them?" Yes.Earlier that day, Diana had pulled Lilith out of lessons to give an update on the investigation regarding her parents. " They weren't at the house." Steve perked up. He listened intently. " Nobody was. Diana said the report detailed how it had been abandoned." Meaning Dell and Gwendolyn had read the writing on the wall and flown the coop. Lilith said she wasn't surprised. " I never told you this, but they do that." Dell and Gwendolyn had many debts to pay, and their go-to was to relocate when somebody came sniffing for them. " I'm honestly not surprised."Steve wasn't either. He wasn't a big fan of his girlfriend's parents. What kind of people kick their own daughter to the curb? Sure, Lilith had made a big mistake. Nobody deserved to be cursed. However, they didn't have to dropkick her out of the family! Honestly, Dell and Gwendolyn reminded Steve of his own parents. They were people who had never wanted children- they had just had sex and dealt with the consequences. Steve looked at the sadness oozing off his girlfriend and grimaced. Titan, he wished he could hug her.Lilith was a creature who thrived off physical affection. When deprived of something in childhood, you are guaranteed to crave it later in life. Lilith had very seldom received love from her parents growing up. All the adoration had been reserved for Edalyn. A simple 'I love you' was scarce. A hug? Pah! Those were reserved for special occasions. As such, Lilith craved physical attention. Kisses, hugs, hand holding. Everything pure and innocent was desired. Steve had never met a girl who enjoyed being kissed as much as Lilith before. The sadness and desperation seeped off her whenever their lips met.It went the same way for Steve. The couple was a pair of broken kids in a mixed up world. However, rules had to be kept. " It's going to be okay!" Steve put on a bright and cheerful nature. Lilith perked up. " Forget about those jerks! They don't mean anything!" They're my parents, Steve. I... I just can't. Lilith poked at her food and then cut into her meat. There was no point in starving herself. " I know." Steve sighed. " I'm just trying to cheer you up." I know. Thank you. " No problem." A silence fell over the couple. They ate and let the sounds of the cafeteria wash over them. They felt eyes on their backs thanks to the instructors on watch. The heat of the food filled them. Lilith started to come off as less sad.Sometimes, all it takes is being physically near the person you love. " So." Steve started several minutes into the meal. " I heard that we'll be starting Construction Magic soon." Yeah, Lilith had heard that too. In the Emperor's Coven, scouts had access to all forms of magic. It was a privilege. " Honestly, I can't wait!" Steve was eager to master all forms of magic. Lilith said she was curious to see how much of a learning curve it would be. " If it was anything like Potions, it'll be nothing!" Potions are WAY different than Construction. " True."Construction Magic, despite the dumb name, dealt with Earth (or rather Demon Realm) magic. It was rooted in nature and creation. A powerful Construction Witch or Demon could create structures in the blink of an eye and shift the ground beneath their feet. What was once prairie could become mountains. Where there were forests could become a dense swamp. Honestly, the name of 'Construction' was misleading. It was so much more than that.Cobblers, blacksmiths, tailors, builders, and designers. They all used this magic. It was magic that worked with the physical and was the backbone of the Demon Realm. One could argue that it was one of the more vital magics. " I wonder if we'll get to use power glyphs." Lilith thought aloud. Steve shrugged. Honestly, he wanted to see what he could do on his own. " Me too."A whistle was blown. Meal time was over. The day was winding down, and it was time for the genders to return to segregated lives. Steve and Lilith put their trays away and said they loved each other before being divided once more. They kept each other's gazes for as long as possible as the instructors rounded up their wards and directed them back to the dormitories. It was time to get your stuff, head to the showers, and prepare for the nightly ritual.What was the nightly ritual? Well, it was certainly something that did not happen in actual militaries. No, this was something deeply routed in the Demon Realm. Its roots stemmed from ancient times. With the lights dimmed, sitting in a circle on the floor around an instructor, the trainees would engage in a ritualistic chanting infused with Bard magic. The instructor would play the lute and sing a song, combining Bard magic to ease the trainee's mind and relax the muscles. It was a form of therapy.It was to help bring about a night of restful sleep. As somebody who struggled with sleep, Belos had put this protocol in place to ensure his Coven didn't have the restless sleep he did. Likewise, it also improved productivity. Lilith sat in the circle, eyes closed, clad in dark shorts and a T-shirt, and let the magic wash over her. Diana had a beautiful voice. It was always her who sang. Her Swedish lute plucked away and played a gentle song.Saddle your soul and let it rideA great sense of calm engulfed Lilith. She sighed and let the words take hold of her soul. No longer was she a woman but a raven. Her raven. As her body moved into bed, a dream overtook Lilith. She was flying. Her inky black wings flapped gracefully. As an Avian Beast Keeper, Lilith had a close connection to her animal familiar. She had been gifted the ability to turn into a raven at will.She flapped her wings and flew through her dreamscape. Towering bone mountains appeared all around her. Gentle snow fell from the skies. Something was sounding in Lilith, mysteriously cold and luring. It was ancient, deep in her blood. Suddenly, a giant tree sprouted up on a mountain, and Lilith flew to greet it. She did not know why.The young Clawthorne did not think to ask questions. Landing, turning back into a woman, Lilith's Valkyrie wings spread out from her back and swept the snow away on either side of her. They were a pale blue. Mint green eyes looked at the tree, which was towering and glowing gold. Ancient runes were etched into the wood. Lilith didn't know what they meant. Gazing up, she saw that the branches resembled the horns of Peryton. They were long and thin, stretching out towards Lilith.Why? Lilith stood there, wondering why this was the case, and suddenly felt something wrap around her neck. Hands went to her throat, but the fingers were broken. Ouch! Pain spread from the nails to the palm, and Lilith pulled her hands away to watch them deform. What the fuck?! Everything turned nightmarish. The world was coated in a deep red. The snow became black. Lilith's Valkyrie wings were ripped off. Pain! Pain! Pain! Lilith fell to her knees. She cried out. However, all that came was a howl. " Clawthorne!" A familiar voice. " Lilith!"Mint green eyes flew open. Lilith was no longer in her bunk. She was somewhere else. The ceiling she was staring at was different. It was spackled. Lilith blinked and realized that blurry figures were peering down at her. " Lilith!" Diana? Yes. Lilith blinked and saw the freckles and pale ginger hair. 'Is it morning already?' No. It was in the middle of the night. It just so happened that Lilith decided to have a medical emergency as she slept.One minute she had been peacefully asleep, and the next having a horrible seizure that woke the whole dorm up. Whoops! Lilith's head cleared, and she asked what was going on. Where was she? The answer: the compound's infirmary. The instructors had acted fast once Lilith had stopped flopping around like a fish. Now it was just a case of procedure, protocol, and questions. Lilith was the first to ask one. " What happened?"Good question. The perspective shifted to Steve, who was awoken. Although it was not protocol, Diana had asked one of her comrades to do this. " Wah?!" The instructor, Ortega, practically dragged Steve out of bed and quietly said to follow him. " Am I in trouble?" Just follow me. And so Steve did. What else would he do? Sit there? No. He had to follow. And, thank fuck he did! Lilith needed him more than ever. Ortega gave Steve the skinny as they walked. " WHAT?!" The compound shook.Lilith wiped her eyes, for she had broke down sobbing in fear that this would be the nail in her coffin, and looked up at the sight of Steve. Oh, thank Titan! It was him! Steve rushed into the room and asked Lilith if she was okay. He made to go and embrace her but was held back by Diana. Rules had to be followed.It was non-negotiable.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Diana sighed. Abuse cases were never fun to deal with. " It looks like it's an allergic reaction." The Healer assigned to Lilith's situation informed everyone. The teenager's eyes widened. Allergic reaction? What?! Lilith didn't have any allergies. At least, not any that she knew of. However, the rash forming on her arms and legs said otherwise. " It's severe... but treatable." The Healer turned to look at Lilith." What did you have tonight? Was there anything you ingested that isn't part of your regular diet?" No. At least, Lilith didn't think so. She looked to Steve, to Diana, and then to Ortega. What was she supposed to say? What was she supposed to do? Lilith was scared. She was out in the open. Again, Diana sighed. Gently, she reiterated the Healer's question. Her voice was motherly.It put Lilith at slight ease. " Well... dinner tasted a little different than normal," Lilith admitted that she wasn't used to eating cooked meats. " Growing up, my Mom never really cooked." The group listened intently. A light went off in Ortega's head. He knew that the chefs in the compound used seasoning salt containing an array of herbs, spices, and other ingredients. Perhaps, he thought, Lilith had an allergic reaction to something in the seasoning salt? Situations like that had arisen with trainees before.The chefs really needed to stop using seasoning salt. " Do you think it could be the seasoning salt?" Ortega asked. Everybody looked at him. The man stroked his wiry black beard. The Healer said that was a possibility. Steve asked Lilith if she was used to eating the ingredient, to which Lilith tilted her head. She innocently asked what seasoning salt was. " Yeah... it's probably that." Ortega turned to leave. Diana asked him where he was going. " The kitchens. I'm going to go see what is even in that stuff."The Healer told him to come back with a bit of it. If they could get a list of the ingredients, they could run tests and find out what had made Lilith sick. " Alright." Ortega paused. " Follow me, Truhart." Ortega could use his arms. And, when Steve put up a fuss, for he understandably didn't want to leave Lilith, Ortega put his metaphorical instructor boots on. " NOW!" Alright! Alright! " It's 'YES, SIR!'" Yes, Sir! " Good! Now follow me!" And so they went.It was a quiet affair. Ortega was tired, Steve was anxious, and nobody wanted to wake the trainees. Titan, that would be horrid. Sure, the adults were fine. They could go back to sleep. But the youngsters? No. The minimum age you could join was 14, but that did not mean it was because Belos wanted child soldiers. No, those taken in young were mostly mercy cases. The orphans, the runaways, and the urchins. Those who were taken in. And, understandably, they were treated as children.Training for them wouldn't start for another 2 years. Instead, they lived at the compound, were educated in all forms of magic, and often got adopted by instructors. Walking out into the courtyard, Ortega kept quiet. Steve did the same. Passing by the building where the youngsters were kept was done in deathly silence. Nobody wanted a gaggle of kids in the midst of puberty waking up." Here we are," Ortega whispered as soon as the pair arrived at the cafeteria's building. He summoned his many keys and searched for the one for the door. Titan, there was a lot. The compound had over ten structural installments and even more rooms to manage. The cafeteria's building was only one floor, created from dark red bricks that cast ominous shadows onto an already ghostly courtyard. It engulfed the pair in darkness, with only the pale colour of Steve's horn showing their existence, and the teenager just stood there as Ortega searched.He really needed to get his situation under control. Steve's thoughts were with Lilith. Never before had he seen her sick. It was scary! The image of rashes on Lilith's arms and legs twisted and warped in his mind. The teenager imagined his girlfriend's entire body riddled with horrific, weeping rashes, which scared him. " Lilith's going to be okay, right?" Steve sheepishly asked Ortega, immediately biting his tongue. The caramel-skinned man looked up from his keys and at Steve. His gaze was stiff. " Sorry, Sir."" You really love this girl, don't you?" A nod. Ortega sighed and abandoned his task for a moment. He reached out and grabbed Steve's shoulder. " You're a good kid, Steven." Eyes stared down at bare feet. Ortega grimaced and shook the shoulder. " A damn good kid." Ortega knew Steve's story. How could he not? Diana was his childhood friend and closest confidant. " I get that you're worried about her... I would be if it was my girl. But you don't gotta worry. The Healing team here is top-notch." Promise? " Promise! I went to school with half of them!"Speaking of the Healer situation, the focus shifted back to Lilith. " Am I going to go home over this?" Lilith sheepishly asked. Oh, she was so scared. It seemed like this was the type of thing that would send somebody home. Surely, Belos wouldn't want somebody riddled with allergies in his ranks... right? Wrong. Belos couldn't give two shits about something like that. Diana shook her head and put her hands on her hips. She told Lilith that she was worrying about nothing. Scouts were allowed to have allergies. Diana herself was severely allergic to silver. " You are?"" Ever since I was little!" That put Lilith slightly at ease. The Healer left to fetch a potion made to soothe the growing rash. Now it was just Diana and Lilith. There was a moment of pause. Then, relaxing slightly, Diana sighed. " Look- it is neither here nor there if you are allergic to something. We just put it in your medical file and work around it." If it was something involving food, then a specialized diet would be planned. " We have plenty of trainees who need to have specialized meals." Lilith looked down at her hands and said she didn't want special treatment.She didn't feel like she deserved it. " Well, if you NEED it, we give it to you! Don't act like an idiot, Clawthorne. You're smarter than that." The Healer returned with the potion in tow. " There now!" Diana smiled and nodded to the Healer. " Just what we need!" Lilith was made to drink the whole thing and then given water to balance the awful taste. Diana told Lilith to rest. " I'm going to see what is taking Ortega and Truhart so long." In short: they were searching through the spices." Why does nobody label stuff here?!" Ortega tossed another jar of mystery spices to Steve, whose arms quickly grew full of assorted flavour boosters. " What is even this?" Ortega popped the top off a bottle of some mystery liquid and sniffed it. " Toad's spit." Ick. The sour smell punched Ortega in the nose. It was immediately corked. The bottle was put back on the shelf. " Why do we even need toad's spit?" Steve said he heard it tasted good on salads. " I wasn't asking you, Truhart!" Sorry, Sir.The search continued. Ortega found mint, witchnut, and everything minus seasoning salt. It didn't seem to be anywhere in sight! Ugh. Ortega wished he had spent more time in the kitchen. Maybe then he would know how to identify it. " How's it going in here?" Diana's voice echoed through the walk-in pantry. Steve and Ortega turned to look at her in the doorway. Her eyebrow quirked at Steve. " What's going on in here?" A search. " It looks more like you are robbing it."It took Diana less than five seconds to locate the seasoning salt. " The label is always on the bottom." Diana showed Ortega, amused by his expression. Ortega rolled his eyes and folded his arms. How was he supposed to know that? It wasn't like he went to cooking school! " Ah well... now you know." Diana turned to Steve, instructing him to stay behind and put everything away. " I want it as you found it. The chefs get cranky when you move their stuff around." Steve nodded. He then asked how Lilith was. " She's good! We gave her some potion to deal with the rash!"Things shifted back to Lilith. She didn't know if it was the time or the potion, but she was getting sleepy. Like, very much so. Lilith lay on the infirmary bed and curled in on herself. Her eyes fluttered close. Thoughts became sluggish and weary. However, just as unconsciousness was creeping in, Ortega and Diana returned. The seasoning salt had been given to the Healer, who quickly got the list of ingredients from the bottle. Now it was time to ask questions. Forced to sit up, looking like she was about to pass out, Lilith was asked several questions.There was nothing in her medical file to go off. Actually, there was next to nothing in it. When somebody joins the Emperor's Coven, their medical files are collected from the necessary places and given to those in charge. However, as was often the case with abuse cases, there was next to nothing for Lilith. No immunization records, no birth certificate, there was absolutely nothing. When Lilith was told this, she couldn't help but be confused. " But my parents took us to a Healer every year!" Well, there was no record of it.The Healer sighed and pressed a hand to her temple. " Let me ask you this: did your parents take you to somebody who worked in an office or at home?" Lilith said the latter. The Healer she had been taken to had worked out of her house. Either the Clawthornes went to her, or she came to them. The Healer exhaled with an air of annoyance. " Of course." Is that a problem? " Yes."Lilith had been a victim of 'alternative healing.' Instead of seeing trained professionals in the Healing Coven, Lilith had been seen and cared for by wild witches parading around as professionals. Lilith gasped at this information. " What?!" But that was sinful! It was wrong! Immediately, Lilith clenched up and asked if that was means of dismissal. And, once more, she had her fears put to bed. The Healer said that because Lilith was a minor, she hadn't broken any laws by associating with wild magic.The same could not be said for her parents. THEY had broken the law- more than just one. On top of associating with wild magic, they had refused to immunize their daughters. The Healer said that Lilith showed all the signs of somebody without the proper vaccinations. " But they made us get a needle every year!" Again, the Healer had an answer for that. She stated that it was common for alternative Healers to jab 'patients' with 'alternative medicines.' It could be anything from cleaning solutions to toad spit. " Is that I was always so sick as a kid?" Most definitely. " Oh... then... what now?"Easy. Tests, observation, and immunizations. " So... needles?" Yes. Lots of needles. Lilith paled at the thought. Oh, she hated needles. There was nothing more that Lilith hated than needles. They were one of her worst fears. Childishly, she asked if they really HAD to do that." You want to stay in the Emperor's Coven?" Yes. " Then you have to get needles." Lilith shuddered and hugged her arms. Once more, Diana came in and put on her maternal mask. She told Lilith that it would be okay. The Healer seconded that. " They'll be over before you know it!" Ortega, who also feared needles, said they didn't hurt as much as you'd think they would. Most of the fear came just from the buildup to the jab. However, Lilith was not convinced. She started to hyperventilate. Her whole body shook.The scars on Lilith's wrists came off as silver in the light. Regarding abuse cases, one must remember that even little things can have a giant impact. The adults understood this. They were quick to connect the dots. And so, as they had been trained, they approached this situation gently. Diana said that she would stick around and help Lilith through the motions. And, as she did that, things shifted back to Steve.He looked up at the sound of somebody entering the kitchen.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Splat! A giant hand made of Abomination goop flew forward and latched onto Steve's chest, pushing him into the spice shelves. The lights shut off. " Ack!" He wriggled, finding that he was stuck. Who the fuck had shot him with goop?! The answer appeared in the doorway. Illuminated by a ball of light, looking very fierce, was a foreboding shadow. " What do you want with me?!" Steve cried. He struggled against his bindings. " I wasn't doing anything!"" Then why are you in here?!" A very squeaky voice demanded. Steve stopped his wiggling to deadpan. It was like a puppy's chew toy was talking. The shadow shrank, and the light revealed an itty bitty tiny Demon. Glad in a nightgown, she had red skin, stood several heads shorter than her comrades, and had three-toes, talon-clad arms, and legs similar to a bird's. " Stealing food?!"" Who even are you?!" Steve asked. He noticed this girl's claws were coloured dark brown. Her left eye had a yellow sclera and a brownish-red iris; inversely, her right eye had a red sclera and yellow iris. Her mouth featured sharp yellowish teeth and a single upturned tusk that quirked up in a growl. She demanded to know if Steve was stealing or not. " No! I'm cleaning up!" Dinner was hours ago! Don't you dare lie to my face! " I'm not!" Steve cast a spell and freed himself of the bindings. He landed on the floor with a thump.Several spices landed beside him. Their tops spilled and created a mess. " Great! Now look what you've done!" Steve groaned and then glared at the itty-bitty girl. " Thanks a lot!" Sarcasm. The girl scoffed and folded her arms, still ready to fight. " Just buzz off back to bed." Not before you tell me what you are doing in here! " Why do you even care? WHO are you?!"Based on her voice and appearance, Steve guessed she was one of the 14-year-olds. Ugh. So much for being quiet. Suddenly, Steve was made aware of more folks in the kitchen. A gentle voice asked if the intruder had been caught. A light turned on. Steve grimaced at the shift in lighting.He was met with a gaggle of teenage girls behind the red Demon as things shifted to Lilith. It was safe to say that she was not having a fun time. Her eyes were wide as saucers as she stared at the vast array of giant needles being rolled out by the Healer. Instinctively, she pulled her legs to her chest and scooted back on the bed. " Clawthorne." A hand rested on her shoulder. Lilith looked and saw Diana. Ortega grabbed her other shoulder. They were prepared to pin Lilith if they had to. " It's okay. They're just needles." That was the problem!Lilith stared at them and wondered why they had to be so big. She trembled when the Healer took one and filled it with a clear liquid. She asked what that was. " Well, first and foremost, we'll need to get your vaccinations situated ." The Healer explained. " Usually, we do this right after you are born, but given the circumstances... well, we need to get them under control." Lilith cursed her parents. This was all their fault! She wouldn't be in this mess if they had just taken her to a hospital! 'Wait...' Perhaps they did.Lilith asked how the Healer was sure she didn't have her vaccines. There was a level of desperation in her voice. " You can tell just by looking at somebody." When it came to Witches and Demons, it was easy to tell. Healers were trained to tell the difference. " I knew you weren't the moment I saw you." She started to tap the bubbles out of the syringe. Lilith whimpered. " It's okay, though! This doesn't hurt." Bullshit! All needles hurt! The grip on Lilith tightened. The last thing Diana and Ortega wanted was to have their student go off and cause trouble. The Healer turned to Lilith and smiled. " Alright, deep breaths!" Things shifted.Steve's ass was being chewed out by an Instructor, Trinity, who had been awoken by a frightened teenager and was convinced that Steve was stealing food. " We do not steal from our brothers and sisters!" She had a shrill voice, like a Harpy, and Steve had to fight to not flinch at the action. A spray of spit covered his face. Ick. " This is grounds for termination, scout! The Emperor's Coven does NOT condone or keep thieves in its ranks!"Steve kept a brave face and stayed in formation. He seriously did not expect to see this happening tonight. Ah, well. He waited for Trinity to take a breath, glancing at the teenagers, who huddled like wet puppies, for they were not used to the screaming as he was, and then spoke. " Permission to speak, Ma'am!" Out with it! " I was not stealing. I came with Instructor Ortega Muhammed El Misri to collect spices and then told to clean up!" Trinity did not believe Steve. Not only was Ortega a piss-poor cook, but why would he want spice in the middle of the night?!" Ma'am! Permission to speak again!" Out with it! " One of the female trainees had a medical incident, and Instructor Ortega thought it could be linked to spices, Ma'am!" The teenagers perked up. Well, that was a weird lie. The way Steve said it sounded like it was real. He spoke with such conviction. " He left with Instructor Diana Alexis Shay and left me here to clean up! They are currently in the infirmary!" Regarding the instructors, things cut back to them.They were not having fun. Lilith was proving a tough cookie to handle. Her veins were not cooperating, and the Healer was having trouble getting things started. The poor girl, held down by the adults, was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Her shoulders heaved, and her teeth firmly dug into her bottom lip. Oh, she hated needles. " It's alright." The Healer soothed. She pressed down into Lilith's forearm. " My, my- you have such dainty veins!" That wasn't a good thing! Lilith made a pained, almost dog-like noise and wriggled. " Stay still! I can't get a good hold if you are as squirmy as a newborn!"" Sorry!" Lilith shook her head. She tried her best to calm down. This was a nightmare for her! Lilith didn't want to be here. She wanted to go to her bunk, curl up, and sleep. Titan, what would Lilith give for a bit of slumber. Lilith was as tired as she was frightened. The seizure had taken the piss out of her. No amount of basic training, cleaning, or exercise compared to this type of weariness. She was exhausted. And, then, Lilith yelped. The needle was in!Diana used her free hand and covered her student's eyes. Ortega put his hand on hers. Together, they watched as a mistake was corrected. They sighed with relief when it was all over. Removing their hands from Lilith, they let her sit up and praised her for her courage. " Is that it?" She timidly asked. The Healer said she would give Lilith a moment to recoup and rest. Then, it was time for testing. " O-okay." The sound of the infirmary door opening shifted the mood. Trinity and Steve had come, the former dragging the latter by the ear, and Ortega was summoned." Yeah," the man folded his arms. Trinity had demanded clarification." I did tell him to clean up." He then spun it and put it on Trinity. " Why were your teenagers out and about?" Trinity deflated and sighed. She stated that somebody had awoken the poor things, and they were sure they were facing down a serial killer. Ortega's gaze softened. " Ah, poor kiddos." Indeed. " Well, you better get back to them, Trinny. We don't want tired kiddos on our hands." Trinity nodded. Ortega then turned to Steve. " You should head back to bed as well." But- " No. You get your ass back to bed."Steve had training in the morning. However, he did not hesitate to ask if he could say goodnight to Lilith first. He needed to see her. The poor thing was an internal mess. Ortega watched Trinity leave, sighed, and then shook his head. " Fine- but make it quick." Steve didn't need to be told twice. He rushed into the room Lilith was in just as Diana walked out. She was surprised by the sight of Steve. She then looked at Ortega and asked what was going on. " Your kid is saying goodnight to his girlfriend." My kid? " Yeah." Ortega leaned against a wall and folded his arms. " Your kid. He's practically yours, Di." Diana smirked.In a way, she supposed Steve was hers. She had known him for years. And, starting a conversation with her best friend, time back-peddled. Diana was younger now and talking to her secret husband, the Golden Guard, Argos. " It'll be easy!" He was pretty excited, for today was the day he had gotten clearance to see the boy he had been overseeing: Steven H. Truhart. Oh, Argos loved to talk about the boy. Saved from abuse, Steve was a very special 12-year-old, and Argos adored him. " You'll act as my security! It's no big deal!"Argos also adored Diana. Every moment spent together was a precious memory. The two understood each other in ways that they only understood. Was their love forbidden? Yes. Golden Guards were not allowed to have relationships. Belos had even robbed Argos of his testicles to ensure nothing could happen should Argos stray from his chosen fate. However, Diana didn't care. She still loved Argos, with or without his nuts.Beneath his stern yet charming nature, there was an intense warmth to him. He made Diana feel beautiful and powerful. He adored her hair and freckles. Diana wouldn't know what she would do without him. The same could be said for Steve. The scene shifted, and Diana now stood outside a foster home. It was a humble cottage. Argos, not in his iconic golden attire but plain clothes, smiled wide as the door opened. A scruffy-haired, hornless Steve ran out, followed by the foster mother in charge of him. " Argos!"Argos embraced the child. " I missed you!" It had been a month since the two had last seen each other. Steve was hugged hard and broke down crying. " I thought you forgot me!" There was weight to that. Diana's heart sank. Argos had told her that Steve was an abuse/abandonment case. His parents had left him with his incestuous grandmother on a whim. Argos pulled back and wiped the tears away.He apologized for taking so long to come back. " I was busy working." Steve sniffed. He asked if Argos had forgotten him. " Never!" Argos was genuine. He hugged Steve again. " I will never forget you, Kiddo! How can I?! You're my buddy!" Diana's heart warmed at the sight. Argos was surprisingly awesome with kids. Perhaps it was the Wolf, for he was a Wolf-Walker, but he just cared for them in a paternal sense. A hand went to Diana's heart.Things then shifted when Steve caught sight of Diana. " Didi!" He let go of Argos and rushed over to Diana, hugging her. " You're back!" Yes, she was. At that time, Diana had left her regular duties as a scout for an entire year to train as an instructor. The woman accepted the hug and smiled behind the mask. " Your letter said you wouldn't be back till the end of the school year!" Ah, yes. The letters. Both Argos and Diana had written to Steve. It was both a safety and bonding measure. Although the foster care style in the Boiling Isles was better than most in the Demon Realm, there were always bad foster parents.Steve had gone through several in his life. However, what mattered now was the sweetness of the past. Steve was happy to see Diana and Argos, who had come to pick him up for a day filled with fun and adventure. Back in the present, Ortega posed a question to Diana. " Ya know, I never got why you never adopted that boy." Diana perked. She then looked saddened. Secretly, she had always dreamt of a day when she and Argos, as man and wife, could sign Steve's papers and take him home. However, some things weren't meant to be." It doesn't matter," Diana said. " He's his own man now." A man that was back in bed and probably riddled with anxiety. Diana hoped he would get some sleep. " Let's focus on the Clawthorne and get through this night." Ortega agreed.Things shifted to the morning.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Gentle rays of sleepy morning light peaked over the copper-coloured needle trees surrounding the Ulna compound. Long fingers of morning reached out and melted over the stone structures, bathing the maroon roofs in a deliberate sense of warmth that shivered at the sound of a bell being rung. It was time for the trainees to awaken, but Steve didn't want to.Oh, he was so tired. Cracking his eyelids open, he stared at the top of his bunk and wondered if risking everything for a few minutes of sleep was worth it. 'It's not.' Steve wasn't in the mood to get his ass chewed out by an Instructor. And so, sitting up, Steve cracked his neck and sighed. There was a strict morning routine that trainees had to follow. When you first arrive, the Instructors require a lot of noise, yelling and jostling to get everyone out of their bunks.Steve didn't miss those days. No, now all it took was the sound of the bell to get everybody up. And, once up, you were expected to make your bed, get into your uniform, make sure everything was immaculate, and then get in formation and wait for an Instructor to collect you. Once that was done, trainees were taken to the yard for the first exercises of the day. It was a lot of stretches, crunches, and warm-up routines designed to shake out any remnants of sleep. Hastily shoving his toothbrush in his mouth, Steve sat on his newly made bed and started lacing up his boots. A thought of how Lilith was doing popped into his head.Itchy. Lilith was itchy, swollen, and hadn't slept a wink. How could she? Her night had been spent in utter agony and in the bathroom. Tiredly looking at her usually bony fingers, Lilith likened them to sausages. The skin was covered in an angry red rash. " Well," The Healer said, forcing Lilith to look up. The dark-skinned woman now had a clipboard in tow. " It seems like you are allergic to Skin Badger dandruff." Yay! Lilith asked through a swollen tongue what they needed to do to stop the reaction. " You're not going to like it."More needles. With two Healers holding her down, Lilith was jabbed again and tried her best to not wriggle. " There!" The Healers released Lilith, letting her sit up, and the one in charge, whom Lilith still didn't know the name of, told the young Clawthorne that the effects of her allergy should wear off in a couple of hours. Lilith asked when she would be able to return to training. " We're gonna keep you for the day for monitoring, but you should be able to return tomorrow." Lilith grimaced.She asked if this would put her behind in her graduation process. " You can always talk to Diana about making up time." Lilith nodded. That was definitely something she was going to do. She then asked what she was supposed to do in the meantime. " Sleep." Lilith needed her sleep. It was not an option. Drawing a magic circle, the Healer put Lilith into a deep slumber and then moved her to a new bed- one in the infirmary hall. Lilith didn't notice the shift as the focus returned to Steve. He was doing calisthenics.The exercise was being led by Ortega. To see him shirtless was quite a sight. Ortega, like most scouts, was jacked. His cooper skin glimmered in the morning light, and his chest hairs were as dark as night, twisting and curling like tornados. Ortega had put his dreadlocks up, and Steve couldn't help but notice, as he worked his body, that Ortega was the only Instructor to have such a hairstyle. However, at the same time, Steve understood why.Ortega was a Shabah Matjoul, a semi-migratory minority group of Witches that originated from the Sandy Palms Desert with a unique culture. Although loyal to Belos, they had their own customs, such as the men growing their hair out and into dreadlocks once they hit 18. They were forbidden from shaving their heads. The same was said for beards. Although they could trim it, they could not shave. And, thanks to the Treaty of Understanding, Belos allowed members of this group to keep their dreads should they join his Coven.Really, so long as it didn't interfere with the uniform, Belos couldn't care about how his scouts looked. He had more important things to worry about. Ortega worked his magic and continued to lead everybody as Steve tried to shake off the desire to sleep. Titan, he was tired. Last night had taken the piss out of him. " Eyes open, Truhart!" Ortega snapped. Steve hadn't realized he had closed his eyes. " Do a lap around the yard!" Oop! Steve had no choice but to obey. Steve started his run after getting out of the exercise formation and feeling humiliated.Ortega took this moment to lecture as he continued to work out. " We must ALWAYS be diligent! You never know when the enemy will strike!" Everybody took that to heart. " There will be times when you will be up to 2-3 days at a time! You must learn to prepare your body for that!" Yes, Sir! " To sleep while on duty is to put your comrades at risk! My father once witnessed a man be gutted by a wild witch after dozing off!" Steve recalled how Ortega was the son of the Great Amr El Misri: a scout renowned for his brutality against wild witches and a founding member of the ' Nightcrawlers.'What were the Nightcrawlers? Simple. They were an infamous ' coloured' cavalry scout regiment founded by Amr El Misri, Japesh 'Jeffery' Singh, and Sir Alexander Shay at the birth of the Empire. They had many victories, such as the raiding of the Blackmore Pack, the Seige of Ismouth, and the Battle for Liverton. Likewise, they were the first instance in the Empire's young history of three groups of Witches serving together. As Amr had been Shabah Matjoul, Jeffery had been a Sainik (a minority group of witches failing from the Toe region of the Boiling Isles), and Alexander was what was called a 'Full-Blooded' Witch- meaning he had descended from Witches coming from the Hinterlands.Friends, comrades, and brothers. Steve had dreamed of joining the Nightcrawlers as a boy. He had always felt that he would find his place there, for he was a hybrid of Demon and Witch. Finishing his lap, Steve came to stand before Ortega and put his hands on his knees, panting. " Formation!" Steve did as asked but couldn't stop panting. His throat was screaming for water. Sweat drizzled down his body. Boy, the sun was starting to heat things up. Swallowing back his spit, feeling like he was going to pass out, Steve waited for orders. Once more, he was made an example of. However, the lesson fell short of its intended meaning when Steve suddenly fainted." Ah, poo..." Ortega sighed. Things shifted back to Lilith. She was passed out when her beloved was dragged into the infirmary. Everybody worth their salt passes out at least once during training. The Instructors expected it. Usually, those who pass out make for the best scouts. Steve was dumped onto the examination table and released to the Healers. " Sorry, Dola," Ortega told the Head Healer. Dola was not impressed. She put her hands on her hips, frowning behind her mask. She then looked at her new patient and asked if this was 'Diana's kid'? " Yeah... it is."Diana was not happy. Switching off with another Instructor, Diana left everything to come down to the infirmary once she had heard what happened. " Where is he?!" Diana roared as she busted through the doors. Ortega looked up and thought that she had been quicker than he expected. However, that could be the Singh in her. Diana marched to Ortega and jabbed a finger to his chest. " What did you do to my kid!" Easy! Easy! Ortega put up his hands and then motioned to Steve, who was being attended to by Dola. " Oh, thank fuck!" Diana went to Steve.Her black mask glimmered in the light. " You okay?" Steve looked up from where he was being given fluids and smiled sheepishly. Diana took hold of his chin and inspected 'her kid.' " Titan, that is a nasty bruise!" Steve had fallen on his face. His poor nose was bruised. Blood marred his features. Diana automatically cast a spell to heal what had been damaged- much to Dola's displeasure. Hey! That was her job! She made the sentiment known. " Sorry." Diana wasn't. She turned back to Ortega and glared behind the mask. " What were you even making him do?!"Ortega stated the facts. " Ugh." Diana put a hand to her temple. " Didn't you get the memo?" What? Ortega tilted his head. " Argos doesn't want us putting the kiddos through laps till Monday," Diana stated that the Golden Guard had specified the ensuing heat wave was the reason why. Ortega was surprised. Moving out to the hall with Diana on his toes, Ortega summoned his scroll and checked his mailbox. He searched through his notifications and found that there was nothing new. " Huh." Diana peaked over his shoulder and quirked a brow. " Try refreshing it." Still nothing.Ortega grew frustrated and cursed the scroll. " It always does this!" Ortega blamed the age. Diana suggested that Ortega get a new one. " With what free time?" Scouts only got a single day off- not including holidays. " Exactly when can I mosey into town and go to the scroll store, Di?" You don't need to be bitchy about it. " Sorry." Ortega checked his junk folder and frowned deeply. " Stupid piece of shit." Diana got an idea." Why don't you order one and have it delivered here?" Are we allowed to do that? " I know Trinity does it with her special juices. " Huh." The focus shifted back to Steve as the adults talked. He was given an ice pack and a glass of icy water. Upon asking when he could return to training, Dola said he wasn't leaving till he was cooled down. She then told him to drink all his water before dealing with other patients. Steve downed the drink and let the coolness flow through him. It felt good. Diana entered the room, Ortega nowhere to be seen, for he had trainees to return to." Didi." Steve addressed her. Diana smirked behind the mask. She walked up and pressed the back of her hand to Steve's cheek, checking his temperature. " You don't have to do this." Yes, I do. Diana said that she had an obligation as an Instructor. " Yeah... but shouldn't you be with students?" Diana told Steve to never mind. Removing her hand, Diana sighed and refilled Steve's drink in the nearby sink. " Did I hear you call me your kid?" A pause. Diana told Steve that he was delirious from the heat. Steve smirked.In a sense, Diana was more like his mother than his biological one. Could she be a little annoying? Yes. However, she was always there when you needed her to be. She was very much her father's daughter. " How's your sister?" Nidhi. Diana turned around with the refilled glass and said her older sister was doing good. " I remember you said she was having marriage troubles in her last letter." They worked it out. " Good." Steve took the drink and took a sip. His head was swirling with thoughts. " You still plan to go home for Punarjanm?" Yes.Punarjanm was an important holiday for the Sainik culture, which Diana was a part of. Japesh 'Jeffery' Singh was her Uncle. The holiday itself commemorated the summer heat and was also recognized as a harvest festival with celebrations centred around Titan worship and selflessness. Lasting a weekend, Punarjanm was celebrated with feasting, colourful flower arrangements, artistic performances, and prayer. Diana celebrated it every year. " I look forward to seeing everybody again." Steve couldn't help but wonder what it was like to go home to see family.What was it like to be wanted? To have a family that wanted you as much as you wanted them? Diana said she had no doubt her father would be glad to see her... and put her to work with the Kelpies. " Suryast is with foal." Again? " Yeah." I thought you said your Dad was done with breeding. " Yeah, well... Kasht somehow got through the nets and...well.." Steve said Alexander seriously needed to reconsider gelding the 'old bastard.' " Hey! Kasht has sired MANY winners!" Argos' famous 'The Count' included.Perhaps the most famous Kelpie on the Isles. " Besides, Papa doesn't have the heart to do it himself." You could always hire somebody. " Eh... true. Now, finish your water and cool down. You have serious training to return to!"Things shifted once more.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Diana sighed. No matter what she did, her heart couldn't get into the drills. Yes, her body and mouth were moving, and she was doing her job, but her mind was elsewhere. It was back in Talus, already celebrating Punarjanm. Oh, Diana loved Punarjanm. It was an excuse to go home and spend time with family- who adored when she came. Diana's mother, Kuriva, always prepared a feast beforehand of ethnic Sainik cuisine for the occasion.The staples were Diana's favourites. Tandoori cockatrice, gulab jamun, palak paneer, and aloo paratha. Diana thought of how her mother would always run to her, squealing like a flying piglet, and hug her when they saw each other. Women in the Sainik culture were extra affectionate with their children. Unlike some mothers Diana had the misfortune of dealing with, such as Steve's, a useless drunk, Kuvira was warm and bright. Was she traditional, often begging her youngest to retire early and settle down with one of the many suitors her parents had arranged for her? Yes.She came from a good place. " Work out those muscles!" Diana's voice sounded off in her ears. " Let the magic flow through you!" Diana's heart stayed with her mother. She wondered what Kuvira was doing right now. ' Probably working with the Kelpies.' Kuriva adored Kelpies, for they were considered sacred in the Sainik culture. Why, some of the best Kelpie breeders were Sainik. After all, they were the culture that had domesticated the water equine nearly 5,000 years ago. "Needleworth! Loosen your back! You look like you have a stick up your ass!" Yes, Ma'am!Diana had never had that problem during training. Actually, the instructors used to tell her that she was too fluid, too dance-like for her own good. However, that was expected. After all, like many women in the Sainik culture, Diana was a trained mehndi dancer. Why, Nidhi made her money by running and operating a mehndi dance studio held under the Bard Coven. It was literally her job to teach others how to be dancers!Why, the business was so successful that girls who had studied beneath Nidhi had gone on to star in big-name films as dancers. Sometimes, when Diana was home, she would help her older sister by helping instruct dance classes. She had the licensing for that. " Stop, stop, stop!" Diana got everybody into formation. " You're all too stiff!" Magic couldn't flow effectively through the body when it was tense. " Did any of you even do your morning stretches?!" We had a horrible sleep!The entire class placed the blame on Lilith. The Clawthorne's seizure had caused quite a stir in the dorms. It wasn't every day that a girl fell off her bed and started violently convulsing on the ground. " It's not our fault!" Diana sighed and frowned behind the mask. No, it wasn't. She would have reacted the same way if it had been her. " Blame Lilith!" Diana calmed the girls and decided to shift today's teaching plan. Thankfully, she knew a way to fix this problem.A Sainik solution. Diana took a page from her sister's book and, removing her mask and outer layers of her uniform, told the girls to get into formation. " As some of you know, I am Sainik." The class was confused. What was instructor Shay doing? " And a trained mehndi dancer," Diana explained that the mehndi dance was strongly linked to magic." When a trained mehndi dancer dances, she can relax her body and channel her bile sac," Diana explained that, because of recent events, today's warm-up drills would be different. When asked if this was cultural appropriation, Diana scoffed. " That thought makes you sound like the old snobs back in Talus!" Diana outstretched her arms. " The Boiling Isles is a place where cultures are shared! Emperor Belos encourages his scouts to be familiar with all customs!" He did? " Yes! Now! All of you follow my lead."Diana began to dance. Her being transformed from a stuffy instructor to a graceful dancer. Diana took things slow, just as she would if she was teaching a class for Nidhi, and showed her girls exactly how to channel their bile sacs. " When we dance, we activate something within our bile sacs." It was one of the reasons why dancing was vital in the Boiling Isles. It was a staple of the culture.Witches danced at weddings and funerals, baptisms, and birthdays. Sometimes, you didn't need a reason to dance. It was an expression of the self. It could be seen as a declaration of love. Whether in the skies or on the ground, dancing was a staple. Belos had no control over that aspect of life. Regardless of what your species was or your culture, dancing was guaranteed. Diana moved elegantly and was relaxed.It would have been better with music. Usually, whenever Diana taught dance, music would be playing. That was another essential part of the Boiling Isles culture: playing music! Every group, regardless if they were Witch or Demon, played music. There was a whole Bard Coven, for Titan's sake. Yes, the Demon Realm was filled with music, but the Boiling Isles had a special connection with it. Diana enjoyed singing and playing her Swedish lute.Ah, her Swedish lute. Taught by her father on the steps of their Talus home, Diana had been playing as long as she had been dancing. Dancing, Diana fondly remembered how her mother would fuss over the instrument. " Oh, Didi! Don't you want to try something more... close to home?" There were plenty of Sainik instruments to choose from. The Sitar, Tabla, Tanpura, and Mridangam had all been offered to Diana at some point in her life. However, Diana kept her Swedish lute- which had helped her during her Emperor's Coven training.All Emperor Coven scouts are required to learn a musical instrument. It was non-negotiable. Although Belos disliked music, he demanded his scouts learn how to play. Why? Well, because it was a staple of the Boiling Isles! Belos was not a foolish man. He knew how to make his people happy and toe the line. Moving her hips in a rhythmic, circular motion, Diana told her girls to let the magic flow through them. She explained how it was like a river." Most Witches and Demons keep their magic inside their hearts and fingers. You were taught how to channel it into your Palismen in school." A valid form of magic use. However, here, trainees could not rely on their Palimsmen, for they had given them up. To join the Emperor's Coven, one must relinquish custody of their Palismen to Belos. As such, other ways of magic had to be used. " In the Emperor's Coven, we rely on ourselves for magic." That was why it was so important to do drills. " There is no Palismen to aid you in magic use!"Diana twirled and drew a magic circle with her feet. Beautifully coloured flowers grew from the sand. Jerking her hip to the left and pointing, a blast of fire shot out of her fingers. The girls were amazed. " When you let your magic flow through you, you can accomplish great things!" Yet there was a limit. Everything had its end. Diana took a deep breath. " It's important that we always remember our limits!" Too much magic could result in health issues.Witches and Demons have died from using too much magic. Diana stopped, moved her arms so her hands were clasped against her heart to feel it, and found it fluttered like a bird. The girls followed her example. " Always keep your heart in mind when you do magic." It was the most essential part of the body. " In the next few weeks, we will be going over how to control it, your magic, and what to do if you feel like things are becoming compromised." Diana then let her hands rest on either side and asked how her students felt.All were positive. Unlike the usual drills, where they were purposefully pushed to their limits, the girls felt more refreshed than tired. Diana was pleased to hear that. She put her hands on her hips and beamed with pride. " Alright! Five minutes to rest, then we get back to normal drills!" It was important to rest your pupils. Any good instructor would tell you that." Get water, go to the bathroom, do whatever! Meet back in five!" Diana turned and went into the nearest compound building. She had to piss something wicked. However, comically, she was met by a gaggle of curious coworkers as soon as she opened the door. They had seen what Diana had been doing and were curious. " What?" She asked, shrugging. " Argos said we can't make them do laps till Monday, so I got creative!" There was a moment of pause.And then somebody spoke. " Can you teach my boys how to do that?!" What?! Diana burst out laughing and said that she would see. Usually, mehndi dancers were female. Actually, all of them were. However, Diana supposed she could make an exception. Then, loudly, she told everybody to move their butts because she had to seriously take a piss. The perspective shifted to Lilith, who was snuggly asleep. Dola walked over to check her pulse, for Lilith slept like a rock.It was eery. 'Still alive.' Dola removed her hand. She then sighed. 'Poor baby.' Dola looked down at the scars on Lilith and knew the poor girl had been through shit. 'What kind of parents could do this to their own kid?' Horrible ones. Dell and Gwendolyn didn't deserve Lilith. From what Dola had seen of the girl, she seemed like an utter sweetheart. Although to be fair, Dola thought everybody who came into her care were sweethearts. It was her nature.Dola moved away to go look after her other patients. Lilith snuggled into her pillow and sighed. She was in a peaceful, dreamless state. For the first time in a long time, Lilith wasn't plagued with worry. She was soothed by magic and allowed to exist. It was nice. Actually, it was downright heavenly. The very fact she had a soft pillow to lay her head on was more than what she would have gotten at home. As cruel punishment, with the brutal beatings, Lilith would have her pillows and blankets removed. It could be the dead of winter, and Lilith would be without anything but her mattress.Sometimes, that would be taken away as well. Too many nights were spent huddled on the freezing wooden floor, curled in the fetal position and shivering to stay warm. Any attempts to steal back what had been taken resulted in more beatings. Sometimes, if Lilith was thought to be extra bad, she would be locked in the workshop for the night. Those nights were preferable to being on the wooden floor. At least then Lilith could create a small fire in her father's furnace and keep warm.No child should have to go through that. Hugging her pillow, Lilith sighed again and curled slightly in. Her knees rose to her chest to protect her vital organs. It was an instinctual reaction. Warm, protection, and comfort. Returning to her, Dola felt saddened by the sight. This position was dubbed in the Healer's Coven as the 'Orphan Pose.' It was typical with children who had been abused/experienced severe trauma. " Poor baby." Dola looked, saw the folded blanket at the end of the bed, and moved to unfold it.She draped it over Lilith, tucking her in. The Emperor's Coven was made up of so much more than mindless masks and soldiers. " You're safe here," Dola told Lilith, brushing the curly red hair out of her face. Lilith involuntarily flinched. Dola grimaced. She would have to see about getting this ward into therapy. Keeping her as she was would make for an unpredictable and short-lived scout. Once more, Dola returned to her patients. Things shifted back to Diana. Everybody was back in formation and back to regular drills. However, all was not well, for there was trouble elsewhere.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Lilith lay in the bed, sleeping off her sickness. She was cozy under her blanket, locked in a dreamless sleep. However, the problem came when Dola looked over and saw not the body of a girl but a bird!There is a curious conviction with Beast Keepers. When they were ill, they sometimes turned into their animal forms. This is quite common with Beast Keepers who are young and untrained- they don’t know better. However, it was cause for concern. Beast Keepers could die like this.Dola rushed over to Lilith and threw back the blanket, revealing a beautiful black raven lying like it was dead. “Deary!” Dola scooped the bird up, cradling it. Lilith wasn’t dead, though she looked like it, and her deep slumber meant that return to regular form was impossible. “Deary, dearly! You’ve been having a terrible time of it!” Dola tickled Lilith’s glossy black beak, trying to wake her up.Lilith did not stir. Dola shook her head, holding the little bird close. “ Well, this is not good.” She put Lilith back in the bed. The blanket was pulled over her, leaving only the little head exposed. “Poor baby,” Dola walked away to try and find a remedy as things shifted to Talus and an elaborate ranch.Kelpie ranches were quite different from the ranches of the Human Realm. Kelpies were dangerous shape-shifting water creatures that could appear on land as horses. They were omnivores with sharp teeth, and they were opportunists. As such, the care for the Kelpie looked different from the horse.For one, their barn looked more like an indoor pool or aquarium than a rustic barn. Each stall was equipped with a dry and wet area. The Kelpie could turn and lie down in her dry area while also having a little pool that sank into an undergrown area at least ten feet deep.For another, feedings were a sordid mess. Lumps of wet dog food-like mash were given to each Kelpie. It was a mixture of the organs and meats butchers deemed unworthy of regular consumption and plant matter. Each Kelpie got a bucket full of it. This chore was what Alexander was doing now.Diana was the spitting image of him. He was a tall man of pale skin and ginger hair. His face was etched with his many years of living rough and chasing down criminals. A permanent weariness settled into his blue eyes. However, his most notable feature was his massive ginger beard.It was the first thing folks saw when they met Alexander, and it made him stand out even more than he already did when out in town. In Talus, not many men had glorious beards. Most were clean-shaven. “Come out ye black and tans..” Alexander sang as he dished out his herd’s breakfast, his voice thick with an Irish accent neither of his daughters had inherited. “Come out and fight me like a man!” He paused to pat the neck of The Count, who was momentarily staying with the Shays due to a bout of illness.The black beast craned his neck over the stall door and flared his nose in greeting. “Mornin’ Count!” Alexander said charmingly. “Better lookin’ than last night, aye?” Last night, The Count had been lethargic and in the characteristic ‘sick’ pose. His head was low to the ground, his posture was uncomfortable, and he wanted nothing more than to be left alone. However, that was common in sick Kelpies, especially those with what The Count had.Stangles. Spread by contagion and coming with the bacteria streptococcus equi, the symptoms were depression, high temperature, cough, thick discharge from the nostrils, and difficulty swallowing due to swollen lymph nodes. The treatment was isolation, good nursing, and heat applied to the swelling abscesses to encourage maturation. Steam inhalation had also been used, as well as a vaccine.Alexander worried for The Count. The Kelpie was Argos’ steed and the stud for Belos’ herd. The Emperor and Golden Guard had affection for the beast, wasting no time to ship him back to his breeder for care. The Count perked his ears at the sight of his reduced food intake. Alexander knew better than to give the Kelpie a big meal. When they were like this, food monitoration was required. Expertly, Alexander moved into the stall and offered the food to the Kelpie.He watched The Count struggle to eat. Every swallow took an eternity, which worried Alexander tremendously. Yes, The Count looked better, but this was still not good. “Poor lad.” This would not do. Alexander knew he would need to contact Argos and state the facts. A vet would need to be called out, more tests would need to be run, and the fateful quality of life would be discussed.Alexander finished his business in the barn and went to the farmhouse, fretting over the conversation. He was not the only one who was fretting. Back in Ulna, Lilith was awake, but she was not a girl. Perched on her bed frame, Lilith squawked and looked at Dola, who was trying to convince the bird to turn back into a girl.“Come now, Lilith.” Dola’s voice was soft. “ You have to turn back now. We can’t have you wandering around as a bird.” Lilith didn’t seem too worried about that. She clacked her beak and flapped her wings, ruffling her feathers. “Please, you must!”Dola knew what was going on. She had seen it before. Sometimes, when a Beast Keeper is abused, especially if they are young, they will take on their animal form and choose to stay like that. Lilith, who had been through much, most likely decided it was easier to be a bird. However, there was more to it. Lilith had gotten her mother’s voice in her head.It was screaming horrible things at her. The poor girl had convinced herself that all hope was lost. She would be thrown out of the Emperor’s Coven for being sick. “ Nobody wants you,” the voice of Gwendolyn told her. “ You’re pathetic, Lilith.”The world had gotten very dark for the girl. In her sickness, she could not fend off these words. She could not defend herself from her mind. And, wholeheartedly, Lilith started to believe what her mother was saying. She would be kicked out for being sick. Nobody wanted her. She was the most pathetic thing to exist. And so, desperately, Lilith’s brain had flicked the switch as a sort of protection effort.Dola sniffed and begged Lilith to turn back. “ You are safe here,” she coaxed. Sometimes, the switch could happen if the Beast Keeper felt unsafe. “Nothing awful is happening.” Lilith looked at Dola with sad black eyes. She cawed. “ I know you have been through a lot, but I promise there is nothing to fear. Please, you have to take your natural form.”Lilith didn’t want too. She wanted to be a bird. It was safer than being a Witch and getting kicked out of the scouts. She stayed rooted to her spot, though part of her just wanted to fly away. What was even the point anymore? Why was she here? Gwendolyn was right- she was pretty pathetic. Here she was, being a bird, when any proper Witch would be doing literally anything else.Lilith should be out with her comrades, training with Diana, but nope! Here she was- a bird. Lilith went deeper within herself. She wanted to stop thinking. She desired to stop feeling. All Lilith wanted was to not be afraid. Dola outstretched her hand. “ Come on,” she said. “ I have an idea of how to fix this.” Lilith hesitated. Did she want to be fixed?What did that entail? Things shifted to the castle, far away from Ulna and Talus. The Coven Heads and Belos were having their daily meetings. Today was standard fare. There was a sense of methodical dullness to it all. The Titan’s heartbeat was heard uncaringly overhead, for meetings were always held in the throne room.“ Productivity for the Construction Coven is up by 25% this quarter,” Mason read off his notes. “ Our highest exported goods are-” The door to the throne room opened, revealing the figure of Miss Amelia.

“ Argos,” she had no qualms about interrupting meetings. The Golden Guard turned and regarded his mother behind his mask. “ You have an urgent message from Talus. It’s about The Count.”The Count had taken a turn for the worse. Desperate for food, The Count had taken in his food too fast, which had shocked his whole system. “ Alexander wants you on right now.” Miss Amelia said. Her face was etched with worry. Looking at Belos, who nodded, Argos went to his mother and exited the throne room. The Coven Heads looked to their leader.“Continue, Mason.” It was not long before a Healer from the Healer’s ward interrupted. Now, it was Hettie being called to arms- this time from Ulna. “ Go ahead.” Belos motioned a bit dully, almost bored. “ Please, Mason. Continue.” Argos suddenly came back in. “ A little soon,” Argos swallowed.“Alexander wants permission to call out a professional for Count,” Argos explained. Belos perked up. Was his stud so bad that the breeder wanted to call in a vet? Yes. “ He reckons Count will die within the hour unless we do something.”The stakes were just as high with Lilith. Hettie listened to Dola explain the situation and nodded, scroll pressed to her ear. “ Does she show any interest in eating?” No. “ And you say this is all because of an allergic reaction?”Dola tacked on the abuse investigation. “ I see. Well, attempt to stabilize with talk therapy. Call us if there is no progress by the end of the day. Worst comes to worse, I’ll arrange for her to be transported here for monitoring and treatment.” Dola understood the assignment. She thanked Hettie for her time and hung up the scroll, her charge perched on the back of the desk chair. She showed no interest in the cracker Dola had offered her.Lilith didn’t want to live if she could not be in the scouts. Dola told Lilith to stay and went to find the on-site therapist. Meanwhile, Alexander was speaking on his scroll to Belos. “I can have Bayek out ‘ere in no time,” Alexander explained. Bayek was Ortega’s older brother and a certified veterinarian. Belos knew him well, as he did with all the Nightcrawler children. “ He’s stayin’ at his Da’s place! It wouldn’t be any trouble at all.” Belos asked what The Count was doing now. Alexander leaned over and looked at the poor Kelpie, who lay miserably on his side, half in his dry and wet spots. “ He’s taking his chance by the looks of it.” Belos swallowed. He wondered if it would be worth it to save The Count.How much stock did he have in the beast loved by the Boiling Isles? “ And Bayek will be able to fix him?” Aye.“I reckon’ so. There hasn’t been a Kelpie Bayek has lost yet.”“Then make the call, Alex. I want to be kept updated.”“Aye. I’ll do that then, Belos.”Things shifted back to Ulna and to Steve.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Steve sighed and stared at the blackboard, listening to the lecture given. Being in the Emperor's Coven meant you had to be knowledgeable about all sorts of things. It was not just about being muscle. Sure, it was vital to be strong, but the brain was somebody's greatest asset. Today's lecture was about the early history of the Boiling Isles, which Steve adored.Ever since he was a small boy, he loved to learn about history. Sitting there, a thumb rubbing his upper lip, Steve listened intently, totally engulfed in the lesson. "By 857, the first Sainiks permanently migrated into the foot region and set up small settlements." The instructor droned on. " Recent archeological digs have discovered what we believe to be some of the first established stables among what is believed to be huts." Fascinating. Steve jotted that information down as things shifted to Talus.Bayek rode into Hytham Park and pulled his Kelpie to a stop. Generally, Witches of the feet region did not use Palismen as their transportation. They did not fit the cultural standard, and the wood used to make them was not local to the area. Likewise, they already had Kelpies at their disposal.Talus was home to the largest Kelpie population in the Boiling Isles. The marshy scenery and temperate climate made it suitable for them. Bayek rode a steed named Al Riyh, and she was the first foal The Count's dame, Beshi, had ever produced. The mare held her head high and took in the familiar sights of Hytham Park.In Talus, most houses are built in the Nalukettu style, with beautiful roofing and detailing. However, this was not the case for Alexander.His house was a classic Yorkshire cottage seemingly plucked from the dales of another world. Built of beige and grey stone, it was rather box-like. This translated to the rest of the working ranch. Alexander's home comprised a stone farmhouse, a guest house, a ranch hand house, and several barns and loose boxes.It was more a place for Kelpies than Witches. Everything in Alexander's ranch, officially called Hytham Park, was designed around Kelpies. Sat on a lavish seven hundred acres, the Hytham Park was renowned for its unique look and raising and training Kelpies for the Emperor's Coven. It was just as Bayek had left it, who dismounted and was immediately met with Kuriva.Alexander had gotten very lucky. Long dark hair went down to her elbows and was pulled back with a glimmering gold headband. Dark olive skin was smooth and delicate looking. A straight nose and golden doe eyes sat lovely in a heart-shaped face.This was Lady Kuriva Singh, the Tigress of Talus. However, to Bayek, she was just Auntie Kur-Kur. "Uncle is in the barn!" She cut straight to the chase. "He's bad, Bayek!" Bayek grimaced. He took his veterinary bag off his saddle as Kuriva took hold of Al Riyh's reins. " Welcome home, Riyh!" The Kelpie nuzzled her breeder as things eased back to Ulna.The stakes were just as high. Lilith perched on the back of a chair, preening her feathers. It was easy to keep them glossy with her beak. It felt as natural as breathing to her. However, the action was worrying. "You have to turn back into a girl," a new Healer said. She was the resident therapist, and Lilith had no intention of speaking to her.Speaking seemed rather pointless. " I know you are going through a lot, but you cannot end your story like this. You play with fire the longer you stay like this, Lilith." The scout stretched her wings and ruffled her feathers. If her story were to end, it might as well end as a bird. "Think about what you are doing. It's not worth it!" Lilith cawed and hopped onto the desk, rubbing her beak against the wood.It felt nice. The Healer sighed and left the room. Lilith heard murmurings and wondered what they were talking about. No doubt, they would try everything to make her a girl again. 'I like being a bird.' Lilith thought. It was easy. There were no stakes. She watched the door and tilted her head as she heard footsteps. Oh, they were going somewhere. That was nice for them. Lilith was fine where she was.There was a sense of security in the room. It had a lovely desk and chair, some shelves filled with books, and a lovely pink floral couch in the corner. Lilith flew over to it and got cozy between the cushions. She sank and wiggled her tail. The feeling was nice. It was safe and warm. Lilith must have dozed off, for she awoke and found herself staring at Steve."Lily?" Steve was very concerned. He outstretched his hand, and Lilith climbed onto his arm, perching there. " Oh, Lily. It's okay." No, it was not. Nothing was okay. Lilith was going to get kicked out of the scouts! They would not be able to graduate and work together! Lilith felt a tightness in her chest and cawed sadly.More sadness was at the castle. " Any word from Talus?" Argos asked his mother, who had just gotten off the scroll with Kuriva. She nodded. " And?" Miss Amelia sighed and cut to the chase."Bayek is trying a new treatment." Argos swallowed. He asked what that meant. " Exactly that. He is going to try something new and see how it goes." Miss Amelia rubbed her son's arm. She was well aware of how much Argos loved his steed.

" All we can do is hope and pray, Pup." Argos stiffly nodded.He had to keep a stiff upper lip. He said he would alert Belos and turned away from his mother. " Keep your scroll on you in case Bayek calls." Yeah. Argos would do that. Mother and son departed. A great weight filled Argos’ heart as he walked down the hall.The Count held great importance to Argos. The Kelpie was his personal favourite. He held great significance to the Empire. The Count was as iconic as his rider, and Argos did not know how the public would handle it if the Kelpie passed away.How would he handle it? Argos sighed and shook his head, moving along the halls like a ghost. Memories rushed through his mind of his time with his steed. The long journeys, the setting suns. How many miles had they walked together? How many adventures had they been on? Argos remembered how he loved to race Diana on The Count.Oh, how those two loved to ride together. Diana was born into the saddle, her first ride being days after her birth, and Argos loved to indulge her passion whenever they got together. Thoughts drifting to Talus, Argos thought of the free days of youth when he and his mother would go to Hytham Park and spend time with the family.Argos fondly recalled watching The Count as a foal, bumbling around the stall as his mother watched. “ I think there is something wrong with him.” Diana’s voice rang in his ears. He turned and looked at her, now a teenager.Her hair had been longer back then, going down to her back. Argos looked at the shiny black coat of the foal and the white blaze going down the face. He seemed fine. “He wobbles a lot.” Huh.“Maybe he is not used to life yet,” Argos said, Leaning over the door of the loose box. “He’s what? Two days?”“Eight.”Diana sighed and shook her head. “ Nidhi thinks he’ll take his chance soon,” Argos asked what Alexander thought. “Da doesn't know what to think. He is just waiting and seeing how it plays out.” Argos nodded. The Count wobbled over and sniffed the newcomers.Argos reached over and scratched the foal between the ears. He smirked. “Hey, Bud. You’re real handsome!” The Count lifted his head to mouth pale fingers. “You’re going to turn out to be a fine runner.” Diana scoffed and said otherwise. “ Hey! We all go through rough patches!” Argos turned to who would become his future secret wife. “ He is just having a tough start!”A tough start.Argos suddenly ran into Hettie, who was coming back from Belos’ office. “ Hey.” She said. Argos stopped and greeted his childhood friend. “ Any news about The Count?” Argos explained the situation. Hettie shook her head. “ I hope he pulls through.” She patted Argos’ arm.“Bayek will do all he can.” Hettie perked up. Bayek? Her heart thudded. Argos smirked. “ I’ll never understand why you two called off the engagement.” Hettie shrugged, quickly saying some things were not meant to be. An awkward moment was had.Argos coughed. “ So!” He moved topics. “ What was all that drama with you about?” Oh, that! Hettie perked up and explained things. “Really?” Argos was intrigued. “ And this is an abuse case?”“That is what they’re telling me. The recruit came from a bad background and was pushed over the edge by an allergic reaction.” Odd. Argos asked for the name. “Lilith Clawthorne.”Oh no.Argos gasped softly and then said he needed to go. And, once he was alone, he pulled out his scroll and dialled a secret number. “Hello?” Diana said.“I heard about Steve’s girlfriend.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

It happened all at once. One moment, Steve tried to coax Lilith to eat a cracker, and the next, Diana was on the scene. She was alight with concern and yet looked stern. "Clawthorne!" The raven perked at her maiden name. Diana came in, against Dola's wishes, and went straight to business."What do you think you are doing?" Her voice was mythic and almost otherworldly. She outstretched her hand, touching glossy black feathers, and then Lilith found herself on a mountain. A cold wind swirled snowflakes all around her.There was a distinct howl to it. Lilith gasped, now a girl, and fell to her knees. She hunched forward, helpless. " This is not you!" Lilith looked up and saw Diana.She was a towering figure adorned in a golden cloak. A white dress lay underneath it. Her short hair blew to and fro. "This is not how I have designed you!" The mentor told the student in a strict, almost disappointed tone. Lilith sobbed and hid her face in her hands. Or, at least, she tried.Her hands were no longer there. They were replaced by wings. Lilith suddenly found herself falling, tumbling down. "Pick yourself up!" Diana screeched, her body now a hawk. It soared and swooped down, correcting Lilith and getting her right. "Fly!" And Lilith did. She was suddenly flying, mountains below her. Diana was beside her.This was the woman whom Lilith placed her trust in. Diana was the one who would help her, guide her, and mould her into the warrior she was fated to become.The warrior she had been born to be. From her conception, Lilith had been destined for great things. Freed from the fabric of canonization, Lilith was slated to be the future of the Isles. She was brighter, prettier, and alive with passion. However, all that had been smothered until now.Hidden by jealous parents. "You cannot end like this." Diana suddenly became a woman, and the pair found themselves in an ancient tomb. Lilith was perched on her shoulder, gazing at a tapestry depicting the history of the Boiling Isles.“I was born out of the greatest legends to exist,” Diana explained, fondly running her hand over the forms of a hawk and a Bengal tiger. “My life has one meaning- to create the greatest warriors for the Empire.” Diana looked at the figure of a young red-haired girl.“There was a challenge to find the brightest and the best. We found you.” Diana smirked. "Out of fifty candidates, you were chosen. You proved yourself with your cunning and intellect." A pause. "Steve was right about you," Diana recalled the first time she had heard about Lilith.Steve had called her up during a stay at Hythem Park. "Hello?" Lilith and Diana were suddenly in the barn, looking at Diana holding her scroll to her ear. She wore jeans and a plain white T-shirt. There were riding boots on her feet.She had been helping with the Kelpies. "Didi!" Steve's voice rang out. He was chipper and excited. "You'll never guess what happened!" Diana held her scroll away from her ear and put it on speaker.She asked what was up. "I met a girl!" A special girl. Steve talked about how he had met Lilith, how she had stolen his heart, and how she agreed to be his girlfriend. "She's great! Oh, you'll love her!""You bring joy in more ways than you know, Clawthorne," Diana said, looking at her ward. Lilith swallowed as the barn melted away into a blank space.“But now you are throwing it all away, Lilith. You are killing yourself over the slightest incident!” Diana turned, and Lilith found herself standing before her. “Is that really how you want your story to end?!”“I am going to be kicked out of the scouts!” Lilith shot back, sobbing and afraid. “I am no good! I am pathetic!” Diana shook her head. She begged to differ.“Do you know how many people have allergies in our Coven? Why, Belos has allergies! You are making a mountain out of nothing!” Lilith bit her lower lip, ashamed. She looked away. Diana stepped closer.“Clawthorne, please. I know it can be scary when you have nobody to guide you. This situation is all so new to you. You think one wrong move will be the nail in your coffin, right?”Lilith looked down at her feet. "I don't want to fail the Empire." Her voice was small. "I am scared of failure. My whole life I trained for this, and now I am here. I am here and I am afraid." Diana nodded. She understood. She asked Lilith if she feared failure more than death."I do.""Sometimes, the strongest thing we can do is admit we are afraid. You have never received an ounce of love in your life. You used praise as a way to prove your worth." The background melted to the workshed. A young version of Lilith huddled in a corner for warmth."You've only wanted love. A single glance, a single touch. You were starved of love from the beginning and only got the shadow of it when you did something right." Lilith asked how Diana knew."You are not the first one to walk the shadows broken." Ghostly figures of scouts filled the room, standing in formation. "I have trained and met countless scouts like you, Lilith. We are a family of shattered glass." The words rang true.The scouts started to melt away. "When you are a part of this Coven, you become a part of our family. When you walk the shadows and adorn the mask, you lose whatever happened in your previous life." Diana started to circle Lilith.She shifted from a bird to a woman to a bird again. "We are scouts, born out of vengeance and justice. Crawlers of the night, sisters of steel, brothers of thunder. We are the chosen and the mighty. We walk the shadows to deliver the light of our Lord Titan.""You were chosen to walk this path. How can you do that when you are a bird? If you are dead?""I don't know.""Do you want to die?""No!""Then turn back." Lilith tried and failed. She was so weak. Her soul was exhausted. "Clawthorne!""I am trying!" Again and again, Lilith tried. However, she kept failing. Her body was so tired. "I don't have the strength!""Deep breath. I am here to help."Things shifted to the castle. Hettie received another call and sighed. "And you are saying that she is stuck?" Yes. The Healer on the other end, Dola, explained that Lilith was too weak to return to her natural form."Have you tried administering fluids?" Dola said that everything needed to be done was not available. Supplies were low, and Dola had been trying to get more supplies for a week. "Alright. Well, firstly, that won't do. I'll fill out a restock forum and get you what you need."A pause. "I want you to transfer the patient to the nearest hospital. She'll need fluids and monitoring." Trainees could be shipped out to Ulna General Hospital for specialized care. The castle plan could wait. "I'll send for Head Witch Graye Vernworth to meet you lot there."Adrian Graye Vernworth was close to Ulna, at his private cabin for vacation time. He was with his family and had strict orders to not be bothered. However, this was an emergency. Hanging up, Hettie called the cabin and waited for the line to pick up."Papa Pepperoni's Pizza Palace! How can we help you?" A young voice said. Hettie frowned. It was Sebastian, Adrian's middle child. He had five to his name, and Sebastian was his eldest son at six."Seba! I need you to go get your dad!"Sebastian frowned. "I can't," he looked out the window at the lake. Hettie asked why. What could Adrian be doing that would warrant him being unable to come to the crow!? "Pépère took him fishing."In the middle of the lake, on a little boat, Adrian looked ready to faint. His elderly father had decided to drag him out in the water to get dinner, and Adrian acted cat-like. "Hansuke!" Hercule shifted his grip on his fishing rod and looked at his middle-aged son.Their conversation was in French. "Calm down! This is supposed to be relaxing!" Adrian meowed sadly and then hissed at the water. His pure Witch father shook his head. " Why did I think this would be easy?"A little voice came from the shore. "Pépère! Pépère!" Both men looked up and at Sebastian. "Come back! Auntie Hettie needs Dad!"Meanwhile, at the castle, Argos was pacing.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Argos was having an anxiety attack. He had a scout down, his faithful steed was dying, and he was at the castle. Argos moved across the threshold of his room/office with nervousness. He felt hot to the touch. His heart was pounding against his chest.He stopped to open his window and found the cool breeze no help. Nothing was okay. Argos was helpless against all this. It was out of his hands. Swallowing bile, he groaned and sat on his bed, rubbing his face with gloved hands.Argos took them off and threw them to the side. The vine tattoo starting at his middle knuckle and running up his arm was visible. Argos had many tattoos. You would think he wouldn’t, for he was a public government figure, but he did. Flowers, abstract shapes, and henna designs went up both arms and covered his pectorals. A giant henna design covered his back.Belos did not mind them. His only gripe with them was that they had been expensive. In all, Argos had spent close to five hundred snails on his body art. Ah, well. Argos liked them. They reminded him of his achievements, battles, losses, and friends. Looking at his ring finger, Argos smirked. A black band hidden in intricate designs.It was the closest thing Argos would ever get to a wedding ring. He thought of Diana and hoped she had helped Lilith out. Argos had trust in his secret wife to get things done. She was swift and determined, never slacking on anything. Daughter to legends, it would be odd if she was unreliable. No, Argos trusted Diana.He just worried. His mind buzzed with the worst possible scenarios. There was a knock at the door. “It’s open.” Darius appeared. He was the newest Coven Head, fresh face and eager, and Argos had taken him under his wing. ‘A good distraction.’ “Mister Darius.” Argos stood up.“Mister Goldborn.” Darius had a stack of papers with him. No doubt, he needed help filing them. Adrian, Orsan, and the others offered to help the newcomer with the complex system of the Coven Head filing process. However, Argos knew they were all busy.Adrian was on vacation, and Orsan was doing an event. Vitimir was at said event, and Eberwolf was doing protocol Zoo inspections. Terra was recovering from yet another miscarriage, and Scooter was with her. The ones at work were Mason, Hettie, Darius, and himself.Mason and Hettie were scary when it came to teaching. They weren’t the best teachers. Darius smiled crookedly and asked if Argos could lend a helping hand. “I would love to, but I’m waiting for calls,” Darius asked if it was regarding The Count. “Yep! Poor bud.” Argos shook his head, sitting back down.“I dunno what I’m gonna do if we lose him,” Darius said that Argos had other Kelpies to ride. “It’s not about that.” Argos’ voice grew hard. “Count.. him and I have been through a lot. You don’t live until you have a good steed under you, and I reckon he’s the best I’ve ever had.” Argos then regarded Darius with a clinical eye.“You’re not much of a rider, huh?”“No.” Darius shook his head, setting his paperwork on Argos’ desk, and sat in the wooden chair. “I grew up in the city.” Argos nodded. That would do it. “We lived in a place that didn’t allow pets.” Argos nodded. He said that The Count was not a pet. He was a partner. “How? He can’t even talk.”Argos shrugged. “Oh, he talks plenty. It’s just in his language.” Argos rubbed the back of his neck. “I dunno. It’s just how he is. The old bastard, ah, he is special to me. You can’t understand because you have never been around them, but Kelpies are more than work animals or pets.”“They are friends. Me and Count. Heh. He is the most nasty thing to come out of Hytham Park, but he lets me do whatever to him. One time, when he was young, he and I went for a ride out to the rocks with a friend.” Darius asked where that was. “Out north, near the edge of the territory. They are an outcropping of old bone fragments. A-anyways, so there we were.” Things shifted to the past.The day was stunning. The sunlight dappled through the orange leaves. The grass was springy with dew. The soft song of birds paired well with the sound of hooves beating against soft dirt. Argos was with Diana on what was officially a patrol.Husband and wife used work as a means to spend time together. It was the off-season, which meant Diana was not training. As such, on the invitation of Belos, she was playing castle scout for the summer. Argos loved having her around for obvious reasons, and the two spent every second they could together.They started every day with a ride. Argos was on The Count, a young thing, and Diana was on Ciri, a sister of The Count of some years. As it went, young Kelpies were paired with older ones when riding. The older ones, especially mares, knew how to keep the youngsters in their place.And so they rode. Over flint stones and up hills did Diana and Argos ride. They sat expertly in the saddle. It was a second home for them. “It looks like a hot one today,” Diana commented. She gripped the reins to look up. “You’re gonna have to double the water in the barn,” Argos said the forecast was calling for rain. “Yes, but look how the bark is peeling.”“It's a hot day if it peels in a tight curl." That was Diana’s bushman roots talking. Her grandfather had been a bushman, her father was a bushman, and she was no different. Argos looked and saw she was correct. The trees were peeling their purple bark with a tight curl.“I suppose you’re right, Shay!”“Of course I am! You know how I am about these things!” Argos chuckled. There was then a shrill whinny in the distance. “What was that?!” Argos looked up and said he did not know. The Count tossed his head, ears perking. Ciri grew uneasy. She faltered and reared up slightly. “Woah! Easy, Girl! Easy! Woah!” Ciri settled. The whinny came again, followed by the sound of a whip.Argos said they should check it out. And so, riding towards the sound, Argos and Diana stayed neck and neck. They came across a bizarre sight. Men were on the rocks with brimmed hats, reddened faces, and panting Kelpies. However, Argos knew them to be not dangerous or wild. They were workmen, born and bred in the mountains.They went where they were needed and often worked on ranches. Raising a hand in greeting, Argos and Diana approached. “Howdy!” The men raised their hands back, showing their various sigils. They greeted Argos as ‘Golden Guard.’ “Whatever has you lot up here so early?”“Kelpies.” A big man with a burly beard the shade of wheat said, his eyes etched with worry. “There was a bump in the night from that rogue unicorn. She let the whole herd lose. Maybe a hundred broodmares with fouls just gone in the blink of an eye. Boss wants them back as soon as possible.”Darius interrupted. “So what did you do?”“Helped them.”Things moved along, and Argos and Diana found the herd soon enough. Argos was able to track them with his enhanced sense of smell. “But we found them on the hardest part of the rocks.” A wild chase began. Argos detailed how over a dozen men had joined a hard ride. Over flint stones and through dense bush did Argos and The Count ride.Argos had never ridden The Count so hard before. However, The Count was tough and weedy. He was proud and strong-chested. Argos let him have his head, and The Count gained foot gracefully. Then, the herd went down into a ravine. The men stopped. Why, even Diana stopped. It was too steep!Everyone stopped except Argos and The Count. “Wahoop!” The Count fearlessly lept down. Argos bent back in the saddle, sprays of flint and bone coming up around him. Downhill did the pair ride. The wind whistled. The Count pelted down in a streak of black, his golden rider firm in his seat. It was a splendid sight to see the pair traverse the uneven surface until they reached the bottom.Argos was breathless recalling the experience. He said that The Count kept riding hard. He chased down the mares and refused to slow his pace. “ I was barely controlling him,” Argos recalled fondly. “ He just knew what had to happen and that we had work to do.” He smirked. “ We must’ve ridden two good hours before we got them off the rocks.”Argos chuckled. “And, you know, he never fussed about it. He was focused and determined. We were in perfect communication the entire time. I have only ridden one other Kelpie like that, you know? Only one other Kelpie. No, Count is special.”“Huh. Well, if you say so.” Darius did not seem to share the enthusiasm. Argos frowned. He asked if Darius truly did not understand. “How can I? I’ve never ridden like that or at all!” Darius made a face. “And why would you want to do something like that? It sounds awful!” Argos asked for clarification.“Well, you must’ve sweated something awful while doing all that! Your clothes must’ve gotten ruined! I am sorry, call me a city boy, but I prefer to sweat as little as possible!” Argos barked a laugh.“Alright then! I’ll take your word for it!” Argos shook his head. “But, eventually, you’ll have to ride,” Darius asked why. “Because,” Argos looked Darius directly in the eye. “Belos demands all his Coven Heads know how.” Darius grimaced. Argos smirked. “Ah!” He slapped his knee. “Don’t worry about it! It’s not as nerve-wracking as you think. I’ll take you riding, and it’ll get in your blood- you can count on that.”Argos stood up. “Now, if you’ll take your leave. I am expecting a call.” Darius left, and Argos waited for a little longer. He distracted himself with paperwork and paced. Then, he got the call. “Hello?”“Count is gonna pull through.” Argos sighed with relief. “His riding days aren’t over yet, Argos. Tell Belos his barn still has a full stall.” Elsewhere, a raven got wrapped like a burrito.