Chapter 19: Gwydion And Her Three Daughters

The village of Welden Kingdom was soaked up in the dampness of the water from above, landing thunders, and strong winds to the ground. T'was already alley, but few passersby glanced at the tavern's door.

The tavern's loud berserk waves of laughter, old men rumbling upon drinking their beers, and women scattering around serving and keeping the men company. Was what made the stormy night boisterous.

Every each one of them was distracted with their chatter as one spout, the tavern keeper, "Have you hags heard about women living at that tower near the red massive land?" He pertained to the volcano a few miles away.

One burst in laughter, "What do you wish to do? Get into their skin?" He gazed at the man beside him to ask support in his statement. Of course, the man shook his head.

"Oh, but have you heard? They possessed abilities like immortal beings. Many even said they curse men after making use of their souls." The one responded.

A man with a metal helmet and long beard stood up while slamming his hand with a bear on the wooden table.

"There are no talismans living at such a place!"

"We should seek it through ourselves and may as well stuck ours to theirs." The other one, who's thin and slander, suggested and sneered.

All of the men started screaming and chattering their indications. One by one they gathered into the tavern keeper's table banging all about how they could forge a journey set to the tower. These men were dressed in leathers and metals on their heads with beards and stinky breaths, always grabbing beers like it was their life.

The chatter goes but paused when a sudden slam was heard from the door opening. The men all halted their chitter and glance at the door.

Standing at the door was a woman. Hair as black as the raven's, lips as red as the rose, pale skin, and violet eyes beaming through the tavern's yellow lamplight, torches. She was wearing a black dress almost treated as a robe, with her hands on the walls; fingers pointy.

The men were struck by her luring beauty. As the woman looked dominant with her eyebrows thick.

She uttered, "Well, well, well, aren't you men having a lot of fun?"

The thin slender man tiptoed towards her. "And who may you be, beautiful lady?" He grabbed the woman's hand and peck the back of her palms.

The woman stared at him from his head to the tip of his finger on his toes. Wondered why such man would even have the vigour to outstand her.

'Poor man.' she thought and retrieved her hand from his hold. She started walking away from him and headed to her mark men.

Eventually, the hags who witness the thin man's actions and nonacceptance of his question laughed and mocked him. The thin man was disappointed.

"Give me a bottle of beer, keeper. I would want to spend the night with this glorious men." She requested.

Beside her was a good-looking fellow, drinking a bottle of beer and place quite the liking to her. She stared at him with temptation and went back to her jug of beer.

'What a lovely soul, perfect for Maurelle's.' She whispered inside her subconscious.

"Ah... Ah..." She moaned continuously as she gripped the man's back. It was red and slightly bleeding beyond her hold.

The man thrust like there was no forever. "Mmmm... More... Please..." She pretentiously pleads while embracing the man tightly.

However, she never felt even a slight pleasure. Not even an excruciating pain from her entrance. Her body was numb as the coldness touched her pale skin. It was a long-gone feeling.

"Ah...". She pretended to bemoan again when this man touched her chest and caressed it.

The man was enjoying the company while she was getting impatient. The man released his liquid insides as she closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his liquid.

'Disgusting!' She thought.

The man panted and raised his head to look at her. She landed her eyes on the man's pupils as she started to recite a spell inside her head making the man ask. "What is your name?"

She smiled cruelly and held the man's face. "I am the one and only Gwydion a witch of the Evil Shadow's and you will be engulfed by my breath." After saying that she pressed her lips on the man's and exhaled his soul.

The man struggled and attempted to lose from her kiss but she was too strong and before he could have escaped, his soul was already stolen by the woman named Gwydion.

She pushed the man to the side and breathe.

"Ah..." She sat, her violet eyes blistered and pupils dilated.

While the man slump had his eyes opened as the veins was bare and darkened, his mouth was pale and purple, breathless on the ground, and the bugs started to surround him. His soul was thoroughly stolen from his body. A moment ago there was still warmth yet in a mere second Gwydion took it away from him.

She stared at the window looking at the moon that shone through the night sky. The storm has eased and the crows and bats started to spread at the sky. He sneered and devilishly laughed.

—

"Where could mother have been? My hair... My nails... My face... Oh!" A lady dramatically said as she tapped each of her body parts.

Her hair was twirly and coloured strawberry blonde, eyes like sapphire blue, and reddish skin with spots on her cheeks. She is such a fine young lady and yet is such a dramatic brat, always complaining about her beauty whenever their mother was not around. Pretentious.

Her eldest sister glared at her. "Silence, Glinda! If I were you I would not dare to cry nor complain. Mother has locked us here to train our abilities and harness spells. While she," She paused as her ears quivered. She looked at the moon. "It seems she is already done." The lady whispered.

"Done with what, Sister Ravyn?" The lady who was called as Glinda asked, placed her palms on Ravyn's shoulder and stared at her sister's face.

"Swallowing souls, Glinda. Whatever would it be?" She answered and rolled her eyes. She felt Glinda's palms making her shoulders droop. "And would you please remove your hands on me? Glinda, such disgusting palms!"

Glinda got anxious with her palms and stared at it. There was not even a speck of dirt on it! Not a spit of water nor any grudges. She scoffed.

"The tension on your skin is madness, sister. Are you still dwelling with our little sister's greatness?" Glinda asked her with a dramatic voice again.

Ravyn snapped and pulled Glinda's hair. She felt mocked. "One word from you and I will snap your head!"

Glinda hissed. "Ah, but sister isn't it true?"

"Can't you see? Rather than greatness, she has been in deep slumber, she's being punished, Glinda. And I am made to watch you both. Now, clasp your mouth close."

"Alright! Just let my hair go already."

Ravyn forcibly released her hair and Glinda was taken aback. She gaze at the lady who was slumbering while tied up in silver chains inside a dark chamber.

The place they live in for years is at a dark tower beside a raging volcano. There, they were born and rather than coming from a blessed womb, the three sisters were created by their dead father's souls. Indeed, they were not sisters by blood. Different faces but same sole purpose. Their blood has been bewitched. Inside the tower, with stacks of dusty books and papers, three dark chambers, bottles of various spells and curses, materials made for witch evil doings, and a place made by spells itself.

These three sisters has been born by merely a month apart. The eldest daughter of the great witch Gwydion was Ravyn, she was quite a weak witch as Gwydion only ever tested this. Ravyn was a failure, a disappointment, and a fool witch as seen by her mother. Her attitude was confused seldom times by her mother. But who could possibly know this lady?

Glinda goes as the second child, she may not be strong but nor is she weak. However, she had odd behaviour. This lady has always been anxious about how she looks and smells. Was not her mother's favourite but blessed with beauty and charms. Perfect for her mother's plans as bait and trap more younger souls.

Lastly came was Maurelle, Gwydion had her spells right and cast on it without a single fail. Not only was Maurelle gifted with beauty and charm but was also a powerful witch. She followed her mother earnestly and harness her powers almost immediately as soon as she began. Gwydion placed her as the favourite. However, she was blessed with kindness. And with her kindness, she refuses to even trap any soul nor does she does the things Gwydion, her mother, demands her to do. This causes her to bound with silver chains on her wrist. Gwydion is gathering even more souls and growing them to cast evil spells inside Maurelle. Injecting it without her consent. Gwydion was merciless.

Speaking of Gwydion. The huge doors in the tower slammed open and revealed Gwydion. She looked like she has gathered a lot more souls than yesterday. Yet, the mother was deranged by her daughters.

"I could hear your little whines ever from that distance!" She shouted and pointed outside.

Glinda and Ravyn bowed their heads.

"You imbeciles! You are ought to keep your whining and focus on your spells! I despise you!" She shouted endlessly.

The sisters did nothing but to press their mouths shut. Although, Glinda was not pleased with all.

"Mother!" She dramatically called out to her and went towards her position. "How could you say such a thing! Look at me, my face has crumbled and turned into an old hag. I need souls, mother!" She plead and held her mother's cold hands, dramatically.

Instead of getting mad at Glinda, she grimaced at Ravyn. Making Ravyn flinch and pulling Glinda away from her mother.

"Stop your cries, daughters. You would not be much of worth for me but your same purpose. A bait." She uttered and head to Maurelle's chambers. She stared at her. "Maurelle will soon be reborn and she is bound to help me colonize the entire living land." She smirked.

Gwydion faced her two daughters outside who were bowing their heads. She was staring at them.

"As for you Ravyn and Glinda, do whatever I say and be responsible for your sister conditions. After all, she is the only one that can be a help." She then left them and went to another chamber and make another spell to cast on Maurelle.

Ravyn and Glinda stood quiet but when their mother entered a chamber they both head to Maurelle and stood beside her. Looking and observing her.

"What's so good about her? I can make better spells than her within a day of practice." She arrogantly said and crossed her arms.

"Ehem." Ravyn made a sound.

"W-Well, Of course, sister. You could do it within a second of practice." She faked a smile and looked somewhere else.

"Don't flatter yourself. Do it when you have outdone this peasant of a lady." Ravyn said as she glared at Maurelle.

"You act all good with her when she's awake. Why don't you outdo her yourself? I am not up for my mother's witchy demands. My beauty will all be destroyed." Then Glinda went out and head to her room. "You should rest, sister. The night's late."

Ravyn was left alone inside Maurelle's chambers. She had no better things to do but stood still and grimaced. "Maurelle, your father was the only one that made you different among us. Other than that, there is no such thing as your greatness. That's right, keep struggling until mother decides to slaughter you." She said before leaving her sister and heading to her bed.

—

"Ugh... My head..." Maurelle whispered her grunts.

The light was already crossing over her windows and touched the bristles of her hair to her cheek. And so, she sat and stared outside her window. There was no sun rather just a faint light coming from it. The dark cloud was still above them.

She heard clattering outside but refused to make any noise. She woke up on a soft bed and fluffy pillows placed below her head. Maurelle was shocked to see that there were no chains gripping her wrist. She remembered that her mother forced her to kill someone and yet she refused and disobeyed her.

"Was I released?" She asked herself.

"You were not. Finally! You have awakened." Someone from the door said.

She turned to face it and it was Ravyn, behind her was Glinda. It was her sisters who she does not understand their attitude but they are better than her mother.

"Sisters." She called out.

"You sure were lucky mother—" Glinda was halted by her sister Ravyn, as she tapped her shoulder to Glinda's.

"You are probably hungry. After all, you had an empty stomach when mother put you to sleep. Here, it was cooked just for you." Ravyn brought her a tray of water and porridge. She smiled walking towards the newly awaken sister, Maurelle. As she sat next to her on the soft bed.

Maurelle stared at the tray.

"Oh, it's not poisoned, Maurelle," Glinda said.

Maurelle was panicked. "I never thought it was, it's just..."

"Just?" The sisters asked in comparison.

"Did mother cook this?" She asked facing Ravyn.

Glinda looked at her and went to look at Ravyn. While Ravyn was staring at her. "I was the one who cooked it for you, dear sister. When did mother cook for us? Now, grab this and start eating." She handed her the tray and stood up to head outside her chambers.

"Also, Maurelle. Mother never did release you, you will be back to the silver chains before mother gets here. It was all sister Ravyn's plan." She gave Maurelle a hard stare before following Ravyn's footsteps.

Maurelle sighed and look back at her tray. "Sister Ravyn, thank you." She whispered and started eating.

While she eats. Tears rush down to her chin. She knew that from now on, she might not be in her sane mind once her mother inflicts a strong spell inside her. She'll lose her sanity and many lives will be slaughtered. The day that she will be reborn is the day of her despair.

"To be reborn is to dealt with death." She whispered under her breath.

The two sisters were sitting outside on their wooden table filled with bowls of worms and bottles of spells. Ravyn was eyeing the crumpled paper while Glinda had her hands intertwined supporting her chin.

"Staring at me like a fool, what is it that you want to say, Glinda." Ravyn did not raise her head and still was eyeing the paper when she said that.

Glinda sneered. "Sister, what are you scheming?" She asked.

"Scheming? Who's scheming?"

"You," Glinda said made Ravyn raise her head. "Do you think I would not notice? You released her from that casted silver chains when mother was away, instead of feeding her these worms with mother's spells you made her porridge and gave her bed and pillows. Everything said, what are you scheming with showing kindness?" Still so dramatically said.

Ravyn scoffed and smirked. "You dare run your mouth again? Glinda, this is not scheming rather 'tis to make her realize that being mother's favourite is no better than death."

Glinda narrowed her eyes. "I see, you are heading for that place." She leaned a bit forward. "However, sister you can not replace her. After all, you were a failed test. If mother knew about your greedy doings, she would not stay silent. I am telling you to be wary of what you do."

"Glinda, what foul mouth you are. Or do you want me feeding these worms to you instead?" Ravyn grabbed the bowl of worms and showed it to Glinda's face.

Glinda dramatically leaned back. "No!"

"If so, shut your blabber!" She said with emphasis.

After the two calmed down. Glinda runs her mouth once more. "I'm just saying, sister."

Ravyn did not dare to respond to her and continued reading at that crumpled paper. But in her subconscious, she wondered how was Maurelle became their mother's favourite. Instead of Maurelle, she was the one going through errands and stealing every soul her mother asked. Glinda and she were the ones that trapped more fellow while Maurelle only ever did were to stay inside the tower.

"Mother, is this your final decision?" She whispered.

"Did you say something, sister?" Glinda asked her while she was checking her fingers.

"Not for you to mind, Glinda." She responded.

'Once I will see through holes in this catastrophe, mother would choose me and only me. Not Maurelle nor Glinda. This bunch of fouls is always in my way. Killing them would only make things worse.' She stared at Maurelle inside the chambers eating. 'I will make sure mother would get very mad at you and decides to put you out of her grasp and place me! As the most powerful evil sorcerer.'

Glinda looked at her with suspicion in her eyes. She knows Ravyn, her sister, is up to something.

'Ravyn, don't you dare do it. Mother will disown you.'

Although, Glinda is confused as to why Maurelle was the one their mother chose to absorb her powers. She is not one bit placed in interest in being her mother's favourite.

"Ah, when will mother ask as to gather souls again. My beauty sickens if I stay in these walls." She complained.

"Oh, don't worry, Glinda. You will get your souls while I—"

"While you?" Glinda asked.

"Nothing. While I do nothing but absorb souls as well." She smiled evilly.

———————

ABYSSCESS