Bab 16: The Aurora
Twelve members of the Aurora Coven stood in a circle, all clad in black robes concealing their faces. The orange flames crackled in the middle of them; the light it cast formed obscure shapes, twisting and turning in their surroundings. Their eyes remained on the fire, sparks flying in the cold air.
They held each other's hands as the High Priest led the ritual for that month, wrapped around each of their wrists was braided-cord bracelets ranging in different colours from red, blue to white signifying their ranks.
After their monthly ritual finished, most of the group scattered away when the High Priest made his way towards one of the Guardians of Purity members, Ali.
"Ali, we've received news from GoP.," he said, a folded piece of paper in his hand. Ali nodded in understanding; she originally came from the Guardians, a Sect of the Congregation.
Where she trained as a Mix slayer before joining the Aurora as a third-degree witch, everything that involved the mixed blood was her responsibility.
She nodded to the High Priest pulling down the hood of her robe as he handed her the piece of paper with a date and time, and she beckoned her chosen team. The one first-degree and 2-second degree followed behind her like a dog to its master.
They were going on a hunt.
Ali turned to Leander on the driver seat; the group was heading to the location. The Cauldron's Congregation had been blessed with sight and had seen that a hybrid was somewhere in New York City, her responsibility.
Serena, a second-degree, turned to Magnus, a first-degree warlock sitting beside her on the backseat, a red braided cord wrapped around his left wrist. She could see the fear in his eyes, causing the corner of her lips to curl, amused.
"You look like you're about to piss your pants, Magnus," she said, catching everyone's attention. Ali turned to look at them, "I'm trained for this. Don't worry." she said, earning a nod from the young man.
"I know we'll most likely be dealing with a newborn or a Mix child. But I just worry, I heard a story about a Mixed, who ripped apart three third degrees," he said, recalling his mother's story years ago. She had a position in the Cauldron before she retired. Thus she knew information most witches didn't.
Serena laughed, "Isn't that just like the boogeyman for Plebs." she said. "I wish," Ali said, eyes darkening. Of course, she heard of it before it happened ten years ago; she was just an Initiate back then, training the foundations of Witchcraft. The Mix, who was dubbed as the Behemoth, caused such panic within the Congregation after killing several third degrees, one of which was a High Priest within the Cauldron. The Cauldron is the inner branch of Congregation, made up of the most gifted High Priest/Priestess.
"I shouldn't tell you this, but since you'll be working with me in cases like this. I will." Ali started, "Behemoth, that's what we call it. And one of the victims was a member of the Cauldron." Ali said, surprising Serena at the revelation. She thought it was just one of those made-up stories or stories that made a life of its own, only to scare children. And the thought of someone capable of such a feat made her blood run cold.
High Priest/Priestess was a level of its own; it takes years to reach such a level. But a member of the Cauldron was in an entirely different stratosphere; they are capable of invoking gods and goddesses, something most of the Covens all around the world are not even capable of.
"And from my training in GoP, we were advised never to confront the Behemoth. But that's something we shouldn't worry about, since the last time the Behemoth was found ten years ago, the Seers were never able to track it again. It's believed that the Behemoth died after that." she said.
Leander turned to look at Ali, "What's about Aldren?" he asked, casually, not a tinge of fear was in his voice.
In the back seat, Magnus shot him a look, like a deer in headlights, as a Descendant, a witch or warlock that came from the original line of witches that built the Congregation. Also known as full-blooded witches, he was raised to never speak of the Abomination in non-sacred places. It was believed that the First Vampire/Werewolf can hear even the mention of his name and will bring anyone misfortune.
Leander scoffed, noticing the young first-degree's reaction, "You don't believe that do you?" he said; the boy he found was a scaredy-cat. "The mention of his name brings bad karma," Magnus said, earning a laugh from Leander. He didn't believe in that garbage.
"You didn't answer my question, boss." Leander turned to Ali, who was lost in thought.
"We are two three-degrees, a second and a first-degree. If we ever face him, we run," Ali said in a duh tone, earning a nod from the two in the backseat to them that was a sound plan. Considering the Abomination is the Congregation's number enemy, the MIx who couldn't be killed, even after so many centuries.
While Leander stayed silent as he parked across the given location, he had a personal vendetta against the Abomination. He was the reason as to why his lineage had been shamed in the world of Witches and Warlocks.
Like a demon in Christian lore, he had charmed his ancestors into turning their back to the Congregation. Only in his grandparents' time had they accepted back, and he planned on redeeming his family honour.
The second the car stilled, Ali got out of the vehicle. Her team followed behind her, she moved to the back of the car, and she turned to her team as she opened the trunk, revealing it empty.
She pulled the string, opening the false bottom, weapons stashed at the back. "If it were werewolves, we may receive resistance. So be ready," she said, familiar with the kinship of werewolves.
And with the Curse of Luna lifted, werewolves are far more dangerous than they were two years before.
The dirty blonde handed each one a kit, a wolfsbane/vervain tranquillizer gun, a handy wooden stake, and dagger made from silver each. She pulled an improvised mini crossbow.
Each of them hid their weapons under their long coats. They headed immediately towards the building; entering the lobby, the security asked them who they were visiting, and Ali blew a blue powder on his face before he could even react.
"We were never here, you never saw us. And I need you to turn off all the cameras." she instructed; the powder was something akin to a vampires Allure. The scent enabled her to hijack the man's mind.
The four entered the elevator, and they headed to the floor where their target was located. The Seer was always right; as long as they follow the instructions, they will cross paths with the target.
Hadiah
-- Hadiah diterima Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone