Thirteen
The gentle hum of the engine lulled me into a relaxed haze. The open book before me began to blur as the letters moved about like they had a mind of their own. I had to squeeze my eyes shut and rub them with my fingers. Trying to refocus, I opened my eyes and looked at the cabin around me.
Darkness filled the windows of the private jet. The faint sound of the wind outside blended with the hum of the engine. My gaze shifted to the chairs around me, filled with my family and my coven.
Mother sat across from me, about ten feet away. Her eyes were closed and a small ruby red smile glowed against her pale skin. She was wearing her silky white dress, but no hat. Her hair lay in long waves with each end turning into a slight curl. She appeared in deep meditation and had been like that most of the trip since we left the family's private airport.
Aunt Lily, Dana and Beth sat in a small cluster of chairs to my right. The three of them were talking and reminiscing about their life together before Aunt Lily passed. Bringing her back returned a light to my cousin's eyes. They were so happy to have their mother back, it was like life was worth living again.
My gaze fell to the open book on my lap. The words had returned to their original positions, arcane rites, histories and spells plain as day. I had spent most of the flight re-reading the ancient rites to blood covens and the information filled my mind like an overflowing bowl of soup. I had memorized the many spells and rites from our family's collection.
I glanced over to a small stand by my chair. It was bolted to the floor so it wouldn't move. On it, a glass of whiskey stood and a stack of arcane books I had taken with us once we left the estate. My gaze fell on a black book among the stack, the Libro De Nocte joining us on our journey.
My mind wondered for a moment, knowing that at any time, the famed Book of Night would leave our possession to appear elsewhere. I was surprised the book had been with us for so long. When the time comes for the book to depart my possession, I looked forward to trying to find it again.
I returned to the book on my lap. Thoughts lingered on the rites needed to grow our coven's power. It wasn't enough to simply tether our souls to each other. We had to grow our strength so we could stand a chance with the challenges to come. The hunters that invaded our home were not the first and they certainly won't be the last. I couldn't leave things to chance any more. My family had lived in secret, bringing dark knowledge to the world. The safety of the mansion was compromised and we couldn't risk having any new hunters showing up to stop us.
The dark rift glowed in my thoughts. We had achieved something that had not been accomplished on the Earth Realm before. We created the first of sixteen conduits to spread the influence of the dark gods to our world. There had been plenty of stories of others performing such rites, but in my research, I couldn't find a single instance that they succeeded. Part of me wondered if it was out of fear to achieve such a thing. It wouldn't be the first-time people boasted about great deeds and never performed them. We actually did it and now, we were on a jet to another country to grow our power and create a second rift.
I happened to glance up to my mother again as she slowly opened her eyes. Her gaze was warm and inviting. Heat crawled up my neck as I stared at her. The unholy thoughts and feelings overrode any sense of logic. What we were, was not depraved. It was natural for us. Those parts that wanted to pull me away, saying what we were doing was wrong, had drifted away. They hadn't returned and I didn't expect them to. We were family and our bond would only grow.
"Gerald, how are you? You look tired," Rose said warmly.
Aunt Lily, Dana and Beth stopped talking to each other and looked over with attentive eyes.
I smiled. "I'm a little tired, but we have a lot to talk about before we touchdown."
Rose's smile grew wider. "We are here for our High Priest."
I relaxed in my chair as I looked to the four beautiful women before me. "Building a blood coven is more than just binding our loyalties together. We have to be an able and functioning group. We must tap into the many aspects of mystical energies to make us stronger and skilled for the coming trials before us."
Dana nodded. "I remember reading about gaining aspects. We have to discover and align with energies. Each aspect grants something that can be used to further a coven's goals."
Aunt Lily nodded. "It means bridging souls between worlds and elements."
I looked over to my mother, "I know you and Aunt Lily were part of the dream lands, but I think you both can still gain new aspects or enhance your already existing aspects."
Rose nodded. "Tapping into an aspect will also allow everyone in the coven to share pieces of those aspects. At this moment, sister Lily and I have access to some of the darker aspects of Draygon and the other dark gods, but it is limited and very draining."
Lily nodded with understanding eyes. "When the hunters attacked, binding their minds drained me terribly. But if we complete the rites, I would not be so dependent on feeding from our dear Gerald as frequently."
I looked over and grinned. "Aunt Lily, I have no issue with you feeding as much as you want."
Lily smiled, but looked to the side. "I still feel terrible about before. I was so hungry and I..." she trailed off.
My mother kept her warm smile. "Even we can have our weak moments. With the chance of hunters finding and trying to stop us, we must be prepared for the worst."
I watched as my mother stood. Her seven-foot height nearly touched the ceiling of the private jet.
Rose looked around to everyone gathered with a silent, commanding strength. It was hidden behind her beauty, but it was felt by everyone present.
"We will arrive in Dublin in a few hours. A limo will be waiting for us to drive all of us to Castle Umbra, our ancestorial home. Once we are settled in, we can plan and plot the aspect rites and take steps to create a second rift."
I gave a small nod. "I must ensure I've learned the proper rites. It will mean we will have to stay at Castle Umbra for some time. When we have all completed the rites and grown our coven's power, we can acquire a sufficient enough sacrifice for the next rift. After that, we will leave Castle Umbra and to our next location for the third rift."
Rose bowed her head to me. "Our High Priest will be instrumental to the rituals and we must be prepared for what he will need from all of us."
Heads nodded in agreement.
Beth looked over to me with a concern etched into her gaze. "What about Aunt Violet?"
Myself and everyone looked at Beth.
Beth looked down and continued, "I assume that is why we are going to Dublin first. Cousin Theodore has made Dublin his home for the last eight years, ever since Aunt Violet passed. Are we going to bring him into the coven and summon Violet?"
I regarded Beth with a shrewd gaze. One of the things I loved about her was below her meek appearance, she had a keen and ever working mind. She played the part well of someone who was shy and introverted, but we all knew she could be devious and manipulative if she really wanted something.
I spoke up with an understanding tone, "Mother and Aunt Lily have great power, but it is incomplete. Bringing back Aunt Violet would bridge their hearts and power."