Chapter Nine Origins 2.3 Queen Martha saves the witches

'So long, master!' Atika declared, her voice dripping with triumph, as she stood before her former master, Mr. Edwards. He turned, expecting a prankster, but his eyes widened in shock as he beheld the woman he thought he'd never see again. His heart racing, he clutched his chest, and a heart attack struck him down. Rushed to the hospital, he lay unconscious, his world turned upside down. When he finally awoke, his family had vanished, but one person remained - Atika, the slave he thought he'd owned, now standing over him with a quiet victory in her eyes.

'What are you doing here? Only family is allowed,' the woman snapped, still trying to process the shock of Atika's sudden appearance. But Atika didn't give her a moment to recover.

'I am family too,' she declared, her voice firm and commanding. 'My daughter is your granddaughter, which makes us family. But I'm not here to make amends. I'm here for revenge, and I won't leave until I get it!' Atika's eyes blazed with a fierce determination, her anger and resentment finally unleashed after all these years.

'I knew it! You were a witch!' the man spat, his face twisted in malice. 'I'm glad you were sentenced to death!' But Atika just laughed, her eyes glinting with triumph. 'Yet, here I am, very much alive, despite your best efforts. You foolishly meddled with the wrong witch tribe. I was the next queen of the white witches, and you had me assassinated. But now, the tables have turned. Today is your reckoning, old man!' Atika's voice dripped with vengeance, her words hanging in the air like a dark promise.

'But you were a witch, so you had to die!' the man sneered. Atika's expression turned fierce. 'I told you, I didn't sign the devil's book! And look at the chaos you unleashed - innocent people accused and killed. You're a greedy pig, responsible for the blood of your own siblings! This time, the tables have turned. You're the one who's going to face justice. I'll make sure you receive the punishment you deserve, and I'll be the one to make it happen!' Atika's voice was laced with venom, her words a promise of retribution.

'I'm not a witch, so no one will touch me! And stay away from my family!' the man shouted, but Atika just laughed. 'Which family? Where's your daughter? Your son? Your wife? They don't care about you because they know you're vile. And by the way, my daughter is a witch too - the next queen of the witches. That's why I had to beg for her life, and they fell for it. In other words, you've been harboring a witch. I knew it wasn't over, just the beginning.' Atika's eyes gleamed with triumph, her words dripping with sweet revenge.

'I knew it! That's why I didn't trust that black girl. Wait until the court finds out - I hope she'll be glad to join you in hell!' But Atika just smiled. 'Not on my watch. And how do you plan to expose me? The moment you mention my name, they'll turn the tables and accuse you of witchcraft instead. Remember, you hadn't changed your will, so my daughter remains the rightful successor to your properties. I know you want to disinherit her in favor of your grandson, but you won't live to see that happen!' Atika's voice was laced with a deadly promise, her eyes glinting with a fierce determination.

'What! Never! If I die at your hands, I'll haunt her, I won't rest!' The man's voice was laced with venom, but Atika just smiled. 'You want to play hard? Bring it on!' Atika accepted the challenge, but then her expression changed, a sly grin spreading across her face. 'Actually, I won't kill you. No, this is what will happen: you'll live a long life, forced to watch as my daughter inherits your precious properties. Oh, hail Queen Martha!' Atika's voice dripped with triumph, her words a promise of a fate worse than death - a life of bitter regret and powerlessness.

'What are you implying, witch? You think I'm afraid of you? No, I'm not,' the man sneered, but Atika just chuckled. 'If you say so... You know that everything I've said is just a spell away. Let me explain. You'll die of a stroke, but first, I'll take your speech. You won't be able to utter a word about what's happening to you. And that's not all - I'll make sure you become a shell of a man, unable to do anything but soil yourself like a cabbage. You'll experience the agony of childbirth, feeling every pain that you and your team inflicted on those you accused of witchcraft - the burning, the strangling, the humiliation. It's all coming for you, but you won't die from it... because you're already in hell!' Atika's voice was a cold, calculated promise of revenge, her words weaving a dark and terrifying spell.

'Please, spare me... Is there another way to solve this? Kill me, but please, I'll pay the victims' families everything!' The old man begged, but Atika's expression remained unyielding. 'Pay? You think money can bring back the lives you've destroyed? It's too late for that, master. However, I'll show leniency - I'll remove the labor pains, perhaps that was too extreme. As for the victims' families, they'll receive compensation from everyone involved, including the jury. Don't worry about the paperwork; a magic spell will take care of that. Consider this a gift, not a curse. And from now on, I'll be your godmother!' With a wave of her hand, Atika vanished, leaving the old man to face his fate.

The Edwards family received devastating news from the hospital: Mr. Edwards had suffered a severe stroke, leaving him unable to speak or move. Despite the doctors' best efforts, he showed no signs of recovery. Only Kim and Martha knew the dark truth behind his condition. Kim was too afraid to speak out, fearing accusations of witchcraft would follow. She suspected Atika's involvement, knowing that all those who had participated in the witch trials had suffered a similar fate. Kim was terrified, believing she was next on the list. She was an innocent victim, used by her father as a pawn in his vendetta against Atika.

Martha's life returned to normal, despite her stepmother's attempts to belittle her with cruel words. However, Martha's spirits remained unshaken, thanks to Atika's watchful presence. The wise woman was like a guardian angel, lifting Martha's mood whenever she felt down. The stepmother was baffled, unable to understand why Martha continued to show her kindness despite all the hurt she had inflicted. This only added to the new Mrs. Edwards' frustration, as she tried to change her ways but found it too late. In the end, Martha simply rose above her, leaving the stepmother to wallow in her own regret.

On her sixteenth birthday, Martha's mother appeared, announcing it was time for her to claim her rightful place in the kingdom. But first, Martha had a crucial task to complete: freeing all the witches imprisoned, both black and white, for she was their destined queen.

'But Mother, how can I do this without being discovered?' Martha asked, fearful of suffering the same fate as her mother.

'Don't worry, child,' her mother reassured her. 'I will be your shadow, guiding and protecting you. We will harness the power of the full moon, and together, we will liberate the witches.' With that, Martha's journey as a powerful young queen began, her mother's wisdom and magic by her side.

At midnight, under the radiant full moon, Queen Martha I performed a sacred ritual, one that only an innocent and pure-hearted witch like herself could execute. As the white witch and rightful royal, her powers were amplified, making the ritual even more potent. As the moon reached its zenith, shining brighter than ever, the prison cells holding the captive witches swung open, and the witches were finally free. The night air was filled with the sweet scent of liberation, as the witches emerged from their long imprisonment, their magic and spirits renewed.

Meanwhile, Atika worked tirelessly to prepare the necessary paperwork for the long-overdue settlements for the victims of the Salem witch hunt, just as she had promised Mr. Edwards. With the legalities in order, she guided Martha, who in turn led the freed witches to their promised land. The witches finally found a place to call home, settling in the picturesque Port Lavender, nestled in the heart of Heather Lands. This marked the beginning of a new era, one of peace, prosperity, and freedom for the witch community, thanks to the tireless efforts of Atika, Martha, and their unwavering dedication to justice.

The neighbors warmly welcomed Queen Martha to her rightful domain, a land nestled between two ancient enemies: the vampires and the werewolves. For centuries, they had been embroiled in a bitter feud, yet neither side truly understood the reason behind their animosity. As Martha navigated her new surroundings, she found herself caught up in a whirlwind of teenage romance. She began dating the charming vampire brothers, Lothario and Roberto, who swept her off her feet with their mysterious allure and captivating charm. Little did they know, their love would soon become the key to bridging the centuries-old divide between their species.

And so, the legend of Queen Martha I came to be, with her capital flourishing in Arcacia. Yet, I believe Atika deserves more recognition for being the true source of Martha's strength and power. As I pass down this tale to my children, I encourage them to share it with their own, keeping the legacy alive. The Full Moon Festival remains a sacred celebration for the witches, but interestingly, the wolves refrain from participating, as it mysteriously weakens their powers. Though I'm not a wolf myself, I've come to understand this quirk, and I'll continue to honor the festival's significance in our witchy heritage.