Page 2 of Dark Flame

“But when this vampire taints the witch–a Sinclair, if her red hair is indicative-he’ll spread Darkness into her, ruining one of your daughters.”

Perhaps that is what is needed. Balance, after all, is the only way the world truly functions.The Goddess’s manifestation fades away again, the outline of the moon becoming clear once more while her final words ring through Freya’s mind.You will see this come to pass, Freya. Help if you must, but do not intervene in a manner that will change the outcomes. It is the only way.

Freya settles beside the bank, the images of the couples imbedding into her mind, where they’ll remain for the centuries they’ll take to come true. Until then, the bloodshed continues while she can do nothing but let fate run its course.

Fate, of course, is a fickle bitch. Despite the Goddess’s visions, fate has her own plans for the couples…and she isn’t kind.

* * *

From the journalof Clarice Sinclair…

June 1521

I have recently concluded casting a protection barrier around the coven’s territory while asking myself, when will the Goddess save us? When will She protect her daughters?

We have been at war for much too long—and we are losing. Too many of our coven have been lost to us in recent months. We are a fraction of what we used to be.

Today marks the day we have lost yet another, this one particularly close to me. My dear sister, Elizabeth, was attacked by a vampire. Drained of her blood, all to feed the undead soul originally bred from demons. I do not understand why Hecate is allowing demons, and thus the Devil, to win.

After her body finished burning on the pyre, Hazel, the High Priestess of the coven, announced she has been working on a new curse with some of the elders. A spell I am in disbelief over her performing. She has nearly forsaken Hecate by using black magick—a dangerous feat, but one I now pray will benefit the cause.

Before Elizabeth’s body burned, Hazel collected a few drops of her blood, explaining the use of a deceased witch’s blood would ensure the curse’s potency. With it, she cast the hex onto our bloodline for all those coming after me. Elizabeth was the eldest Sinclair daughter, the first-born; therefore, it will only affect the eldest daughter of each generation of Sinclair women. This means Annabelle—Elizabeth’s daughter, my niece, and a mere baby—has now been placed in danger by our High Priestess.

I do not agree with Hazel’s choice. She has not helped witches but sentenced future Sinclair women to death.

A cure to vampirism now runs in Annabelle’s blood. In the blood of every first-born Sinclair witch.

The High Priestess claims it will assist in extinguishing vampires from Earth. That if the Goddess does not wish to save us from the demons’ children, we must come up with our own solutions.

I will protect Annabelle in ways unlike any before. She’s a baby and will now be hunted by the vampires who wish for humanity again. Hazel seeks to end vampirism, but the demonic bloodsuckers will not be satisfied with a couple sips to change back. No. They’ll likely drain my niece for dead. And if not her, then every first-born Sinclair witch the future produces.

The High Priestess did not end the war between witches and vampires.

She’s deepened it.

Clarice

* * *

A few months ago…

May 15th

“We’ve just gotten reports of breaking news. What you see here behind me is the house of Emily and John Sinclair, who tragically died in a house fire. At approximately midnight, neighbours phoned 9-1-1 about smoke nearby. When police and firefighters arrived on scene, two bodies were found burned beyond recognition, but are presumed to be the homeowners, Emily and John Sinclair. Their adult daughter is alive and unharmed—as is the house, save for minimal interior damage, strangely enough. It has left authorities questioning how a fire large enough to trap a family inside did not seem to have lasting effects on the structure. Foul play is suspected, but no leads have been released yet. Tim, back to you.”

* * *

Me again.Makes no sense, right? It will soon, I promise.

For now, we must wait a few more weeks.

Oh, don’t bitch. I’ve waited centuries, witnessing entirely too much bloodshed. Needless to say, I’ll doanythingto help the first couple get together.

Get your popcorn ready. It’ll be a show.

Oh, remember that thought I had after the Goddess’s visit?Fate, of course, is a fickle bitch.Remember that point, won’t you? It sets the stage for what’s to come.

And oh, it’sgood…