Chapter Eight

Kalum

The sun shines on us as we move through the houses of the Fifteen. It was planned so that members of the Fifteen would always live close together. We all ran back to our houses to change into our ceremonial white shifts, to properly welcome the Salem Coven. Our plan is simple: Don't give them any reason to be angry and make sure Emira is within our sights always. Emira walks up front with her older brother by her side. Her long white shift ties around her neck and sits tightly around her torso. A gold and silver braided belt wraps around her waist. The shift flows freely down her legs and stops by her knees in the front while her train reaches her ankles. A pair of golden sandals wrap around her slender ankles. Her platinum blonde hair bounces against her back with every step, rustling the golden band that sits on her head like a tiara. The symbol at the front of it is burned into my memory. A four pointed star cradled by a crescent moon. The symbol of the Aether Witch. I look at the Fifteen walking with me. The girls wear similar outfits as Emira, but with their symbol on their golden tiaras. The guys are dressed like me. A white tank top, a pair of white jeans shorts and golden sandals. We also wear a golden band around our heads with our symbols. We march down the street towards the beach. The sound of our footsteps disappear as we walk on to the soft sand. A crowd of civilian witches has gathered on the left side of the beach. The adults stare at us with worried eyes, but the kids wave enthusiastically. I see my grandparents in the front row. A little girl with long black hair and sun kissed skin waves at me. I give my little sister a small smile, to keep her happy, but give my grandparents a brave face. They nod and each place a hand on my sister's shoulders. I look to the other side of the beach and see what Luna was so worried about. Fifteen people stand together in a group. They are dressed in black versions of our ceremonial shifts. They each have a black pentagram filled with ancient runes and symbols tattooed on their foreheads, right underneath their silver versions of our bands.

Those tattoos are gateways for spirits! Emira's voice echoes through my head. By the growing intensity in my group I know that Emira said that to everyone. By having them on their foreheads, they are allowing spirits to freely enter their minds and bodies. It's very dangerous. Luna nods and walks forwards. We wait a beat and then follow suit, Emira boxed in the middle. The Salem Coven march towards us and meet us halfway. They stare at us with shaded eyes, full of hidden anger. Luna clears her throat and speaks up.

"I, Luna Spring, Moon Witch of the White Cove Coven's Fifteen, welcome you to our home and invite you to a meeting in our Sacred Hall." Luna bows her head. A man steps forward.

"I, Adham Blackburn, Shadow Witch of the Salem Coven's Fifteen, thank you for your welcome and accept your invitation." Luna nods and looks at me over her shoulder. I nod and walk to the water. I can feel twenty-nine sets of eyes on my back, but only one of them matters. Her's. Emira's. My soulmate's. I am doing this for her safety. The strength that she sends me, despite the fear flowing through her, is why I love her. The salty breeze coming from the calm sea calms most of my raging nerves. I hold out my hands and call to the water. It ripples as it answers me. I throw my arms out to the sides and the water parts like the red sea. A light glimmers at the end of the passage. I turn back to Luna and nod.

"If you would follow us, we will take you to our Sacred Hall." Luna walks towards me with six of my friends. The remaining seven wait for the Salem Coven to follow Luna's group and then follow behind them. Luna smiles at me as she walks past me and into the sea. Stella, Ben, Hanna, Miranda, Daniel and David follow after her. A cold chill passes through me as the Salem Coven walks past me. I can practically feel the spirits hanging around them. As soon as they pass me, I shiver involuntarily. The remaining of my friends, Emira, Alex, Jake, Eddie, Astra, my dad and my mom walk towards me. I slink in with them and walk beside Emira, taking her soft hand in mine. We follow the Salem Coven into the sea. The large variety of Californian sea life swims next to us as we walk along the seafloor. Eddie stumbles in front of us and scratches his head. But he does more than that. Whilst he scratches his head, he also taps the back of his head three times. He wants to tell us something. We decided before meeting the Salem Coven, that if someone wanted to say something, the person was to tap their heads three times and Emira would open a telepathic link between all of us. I look to my right and my eyes lock onto Emira's. She nods and her pink eyes shine brighter for a moment.

I have created a telepathic link between us, Emira's voice enters the minds of me and my friends. Eddie, what did you want to tell us. Eddie nods slightly and holds his hand out towards the water on his right side. A dolphin swims closer to him and in the distance swims an entire pod of dolphins, all whose eyes are on us.

The dolphins can sense our turmoil. They have sent word to the Mer folk and they are on their way. The dolphins will swim with us and protect us if anything happens. They will also wait for us while we are inside and make sure that we get back to shore safely. The Mer folk will be around us, invisible. Eddie's voice is a strange change from Emira's. But welcome nonetheless.

Tell them thank you. Emira takes over. Everyone, game faces on, we are entering the Hall now. I stand taller and prepare myself for the oncoming discussion. The Hall sits at the bottom of the sea. It was built by the first White Cove Coven hundreds of years ago. Its white alabaster walls and tall windows shimmer behind a golden veil. Green gardens stretch along the circumference of the building, patches of flowers of every color decorate the grass. Luna leads the first half of our group through the veil and walks up the white alabaster stairs and through the large double oak doors. The Salem Coven walks after them with an added hesitation in their step. Alex and Jake lead our half through the barrier. Followed by Hanna and my mom, then my dad and Eddie. I feel a slight nip at my skin as I pass through the magical barrier. I look behind me and watch Emira pass through the barrier. The second the barrier touches her skin she lights up. Her skin glows brighter than the moon and her long pale blond hair floats around her head. The whites of her eyes turn hot pink and she takes a deep breath. The same colored mist swirls around her hands and arms. The second that she leaves the barrier, she turns back to normal. I stare at her, completely breathless.