(Note: All characters in this story are 18 or over)
WitchHart: Dark Temptation
Prologue
The year is 1970, eerie, dense fog has drifted from Lake Huron into the small town of Pine Bay. As it snakes through the streets, a gray station wagon with wood paneling attempts to stay ahead of the dense cloud. The car speeds out of Pine Bay's north end and onto a gravel backroad. Inside, Father James Eldridge tries to maintain control as fog begins to overtake the vehicle. The priest is middle aged with a bald head, weathered ebony skin and a thin black beard. "Hang on Faith," he says while briefly glancing to his passenger.
A young woman with curled chestnut hair and fair skin looks at Father Eldridge with wide, sky blue eyes and nods. "Be careful Father." With visibility hindered by overwhelming fog, the car begins to drift off the road. Despite his best efforts, Eldridge cannot navigate back to the road and crashes into a tree. Thankfully, seatbelts allow the pair to escape impact with only a few minor cuts. After a few moments of recovery, they make their way out of the wrecked station wagon. "It's like it was chasing us," Faith says in reference to the eerie fog.
"It was," Father Eldridge replies as he leans into the back seat. He retrieves a canvas bag and shotgun before returning to his companion. The priest puts the strapped bag over his shoulder, reaches in and pulls out a silver cross. Each edge of the holy symbol comes to a point. "We are dealing with forces beyond this world," Eldridge explains as Faith takes the cross. The young woman gives and understanding nod as they continue on foot into a wooded area. Waiting for them on the other side is a fog shrouded manor sitting atop a bayside cliff. The sound of waves crashing on the rocky shore below adds and extra sense of dread as Faith and Eldridge approach the manor's back door. "Remember," the priest says before they enter, "get William and get out. I will deal with the rest."
Inside, the echoing cries of a baby lead them into an old, stone walled basement. After rounding a corner, Faith is taken back by the sight of two figures in hooded black cloaks. Her son lies before them on a pine alter. It's adorned with black cloth and a thick candle made of green wax. "William!" Faith cries out. The figures turn, revealing themselves as Faith's husband, John Pryce and his mother Victoria. He's in his mid-30's with thick black hair and a mustache. She's in her late 60's with faded blonde hair.
"Hello Faith," John says with a devilish grin. "You're just in time to witness the ritual."
"There will be no ritual tonight!" Eldridge exclaims as he cocks his shotgun and points it at the cloaked couple. "Step away from the child!"
"That's not going to happen!," Victoria retorts while holding up her right hand and magically conjuring a green fireball. The fiery attack hits the priest's shoulder, sending he and the gun flying in opposite directions. Eldridge hits his head hard upon impacting the floor and passes out. Faith rushes to him, examines the burn and checks for a pulse. Relieved her companion is still alive, she turns towards the couple. "How can you do this John? He's our son!"
"Family Legacy," John replies. Mother and I are the latest in a long line of Pryce warlocks and witches. "William is a child of destiny that has been prophesized in our coven for generations. That prophecy came to pass when your rare, pure soul mixed with my equally evil one.
Faith gets a perplexed expression on her face as tears form. "I...I don't understand."
"It's actually quite simple dear," John's mother explains, "A child born with perfect balance will become more powerful than any witch or warlock from either side and usher in an era of pure light or darkness. This ritual will ensure he follows the dark path."
"No! I will not allow that to happen!" In an act fueled with pure adrenaline and love, Faith surges forward with the cross Eldridge gave her. The pointed symbol pierces John's heart before he or his mother can react.
"You'll pay for that!" The elder Pryce screams out as she conjures and hurls a green fireball at her daughter in law. Faith pulls the cross from John and holds it in front of the blast. This protects her from being burned like Eldridge, but, the attack still sends her flying backwards into the wall. The impact knocks the wind out of Faith, causing her to slump down to a seated position. Victoria looks down at the body of her son. Continued cries from the child prompt a devilish smile when she looks back up. "My son's death was not part of the plan, however, he already served his purpose. William will usher in an era of darkness and ensure our family legacy lasts forever."
"Please Victoria," the injured Faith pleads, he's just a baby."
Victoria's smile turns to a scowl as she picks up Faith's cross and drives it into her daughter in law's chest. "I avoided the heart because I want you to witness William's dark corruption." Victoria lets out a sinister laugh and turns back to the alter. As Faith's life begins to fade, she feels something near the end of her fingers. A slow, blurred look reveals this to be Father Eldridge's shotgun. Faith summons every ounce of strength she has left to grasp and raise the weapon. Victoria sees this and is about to thwart the last ditch attempt on her life when a thrown cross hits her in the shoulder. She looks to see the source of the attack is a recovered Father Eldridge. Victoria raises her good arm to conjure a retaliation fireball. Her focus on the priest allows Faith to aim and fire the shotgun. The blast blows a hole in Victoria's gut and sends her stumbling to the floor. She crawls to her fallen son and softly mutters an unintelligible phrase before taking a final breath.
"Faith!," Eldridge cries out as he runs to her. "I'm going to go upstairs and call an ambulance."
Faith shakes her head, "It's too late Father. Please, let me hold him before I go." Eldridge somberly nods and retrieves the crying infant. William becomes calm when placed in his mother's arms. Faith gazes into the eyes of her son and smiles. Before drifting into death, she looks up at Father Eldridge. "Keep him on the path of light."
Eldridge wipes away tears, "I will."
Chapter 1
It's a cool, fall evening in Pine Bay. The town looks deserted, save for a handful of locations where citizens have gathered to tailgate and listen to the radio broadcast of a high school football game. One such place is Daz's Pizzeria. Like the other locations, the parking lot is filled with small groups huddled around a few radios. "It all comes down to this," the radio announcer says with a dramatic flare. "The Whitecaps are on their own 45 yard line with no timeouts and 20 seconds left in regulation. Down by 4, a field goal is no good, our boys need a touchdown."
In the neighboring town of Springville, the opposing crowd is at full throat. Coach Chet Jones gathers his Whitecaps into a tight huddle. "We're going to have one, maybe two shots at this." Jones turns to his senior quarterback. "Will, I want you to work the sideline so our receivers can get out of bounds."
Will shakes his head, "that isn't going to work Coach."
"Why not?"
"First," Will continues, "their corners have been playing our receivers tight all night. Second, they'll be expecting us to work the sideline."
Jones looks at the receivers who indicate they agree with their quarterback. "I'm open to suggestions."
Will gestures to the team's running back." Draw away the corners with sideline routes. Then have Hammer fake a chip block and slip into a deep wheel route."
Coach Jones nods as they break the huddle. "The defense is in a nickel formation," the radio announcer explains, "We're in a four receiver set. Hart is in the gun with Chris 'Hammer' Jackson flanked to his right."
Will looks around, then begins his cadence, "ready... hut... hut!" The center snaps the ball and the defensive line charges ahead. Protection holds firm as two receivers run 12 yard corner routes on each side with the other two running 5 yard out routes under them. As expected, the defense keys in on this. Hammer moves to a released linebacker as if he is going to chip block, but, side steps at the last second and explodes into his wheel route. The free backer dives to sack Will. Moments before impact, the quarterback rolls to his right and the backer eats dirt. A charging safety makes contact, however, Hart's tall, athletic frame allows him to shake off the sack attempt.
"Jackson has leverage!" The radio announcer exclaims. "Hart stops his roll, sets and releases an arcing spiral towards the end zone. Jackson loses his defender... gets under the pass... leaps...he's got it! The Whitecaps win with no time left on the clock!" The crowds in Pine Bay erupt with excitement.
At the game, a large team celebration ensues in the end zone. Will finds Hammer for a victory hug. "Nice catch man!"
