Chapter 9 Judas kiss

The Scorpio coven(5 years ago)

The feast of feasts, they called it. No, this was slaughter. Eleanor watched her fellow witches slit their own throat with the belief that they were thanking the great one for their powers. Her mother stood up from her makeshift throne holding a goblet and went ahead to fill it with the blood of the now dead witches, they were four in number. High mother raised the goblet midair and said, "The proud one, We have kept our end of the bargain. Great one, give us power anew. Take this witches to paradise and give us power." High mother then pointed the red filled cup to her sisters.

There was a great wail among other witches as they raced to have a sip from the goblet. Each wanted to be the power-house and each going back dejected that they haven't been chosen. Her mother noticed she had not had hers and pointed the cup right to her face, she could not refuse, she dared not. Eleanor took the goblet and took a huge gulp on the content. She suddenly felt a force take control of her body, It was like she had lost control over it. This only made the witches go hysterical as they praised their false god. Eleanor could feel her feet rise from the ground and float to the skies. A voice that was not her's spoke, "Take Astoria."

It was a frightening experience for Eleanor but nobody seemed to care. All she could hear was praises of the great destructor. She knew they were referring to her or rather the power that now resided in her soul. The power got stripped immediately and Eleanor fell to the ground. She turned to where the road to Astoria needed. The destruction was inevitable. It did not stand a chance against her coven after all they weren't the first kingdom to fall but this time was different, she was the keeper of the power-house, the great destructor.

***

"What's growing?" Lucas repeated for the second time as Eleanor stood like she was just a figurine.

"The power-house somehow it's flourishing." She said, more to herself than him.

What was the power house? He inquired.

"You!" She replied then began to pace across the room.

"But you're human... No...except..it can't be.." Eleanor said to herself unable to keep it her thoughts.

"Eleanor, I just spewed lightning from my mouth. What is going on?" Lucas demanded, pulling Eleanor close.

"The power house, it's trying to flourish so it's turning you to a supernatural." She revealed.

"And that means?" Lucas inquired further.

Eleanor did not know what was happening but she dared not say this. She had been the cause of his predicament anyway. The only thing she could piece was he was transitioning into a Pegasus. He had began to unlock latent abilities like lightning breathing and when he spewed the lightning bolt, she had felt a surge of new powers flow through her. She was certain the other witches would have felt it too and this would only make her mission tougher. She needed a suitable lie.

"Soon you'll be a Pegasus permanently. It's now or never. You no longer have time. It's either you give the curse to Isabelle or leave your family once again and permanently. Moreover, I'd be forced to take you to my coven."

Lucas' sinuses tightened and he found it difficult to breathe. This was a hard choice he had to make.

"Lucas!" Eleanor called him."you have to do it."

The words only made his head spin. Why did the choice have to be so hard?his mind reeled on how Isabelle would picture him when he had done the unthinkable or how his family would probably never forgive him if he left them again.

"I need time to think." Lucas asserted.

Eleanor sighed and disappeared like she was never there after saying words that chilled Lucas to the spine, "You don't have time. It's Isabelle or your family. The choice is yours."

This was Lucas' ultimatum and frankly he didn't want to choose.

***

The party was over and Isabelle and a drunk Frederick arrived to the carriage. Isabelle noticed the presence of a Lady.

"Who's she?" She queried an alcohol reeking Frederick. Alcohol wasn't enough to wipe the spell off Frederick.

"Your new maid." He said before drifting back to sleep.

The carriage began moving and Isabelle began to dutifully inspect the maid like an envious wife would. The woman noticed her stare and asked if there was any problem.

"Nothing." Isabelle replied."I'm just wondering if you're is new catch."

A wicked idea flashed through Eleanor's mind. This was her opportunity to bond with Isabelle.

"That dog." She said, eyeing Frederick who still slept like a baby."I'll rather die than be his. No offence, madame."

Isabelle took no offence. Infact, she was beginning to like the new maid. She was very outspoken. The two broke into a mild laugh. They also heard the carriage rider break into a small laugh. Who didn't know the womanising ways of? Frederick. The two ladies quickly broke the barrier of aquaintances and soon became fast friends telling themselves stories of their life experiences some of which Eleanor made up. The carriage stopped at a halt when they arrived back at the mansion. Eleanor and Isabelle scurried inside to have more girl time which Isabelle had been lacking. Frederick was carried to his Chambers by one of his guards.

"So who do you love?" Eleanor asked, her face looking maleficent. She had been bored of the girl talk and wanted to delve on the more serious matters. The question got Isabelle by surprise but she quickly regained her composure and lied, "Frederick. He...might be hard to...come by but he's a keeper." Isabelle wished she could retrieve those vile words she had gifted to the ears of Eleanor but it was too late. They were out already.

The maid giggled, keeping a placid expression glued to her face.

"That's a lie. No sane woman can really love Frederick except you're marrying him for his money.

The truth hurts, someone once said. Well, it did. Isabelle was hurt. She did not love Frederick and she was only getting married to him for his money at least for her parent's sake.

"You're right. There's someone else." She confessed.

"Who?" Eleanor probed, all the acting was boring her.

"Lucas nightwood." She revealed. Eleanor let out an exaggerated gasp. She was really a great actress.

"I would leave this Frederick in a heartbeat for him. He's a good man." She said.

"I know but I can't just leave Frederick. You don't understand." Isabelle tried to explain.

Eleanor was tired of playing it cool. She wished she could hypnotise Isabelle but feared she would do more damage than harm. The gift sometimes scrambled the brain.

"If I were you and I knew I could not have him..." Eleanor paused, it was time for a little bit of magic."I'll have the time of my life with him even if it's just tonight. You only live once."

The job was done. Eleanor broke the hypnotism by coughing then took her leave stating she was tired. If Lucas was not ready to comply, she would have to aid him.

***

Isabelle rolled multiple times on her bed, occasionally punching the bed as if to blame it on her insomnia. She just could not shake the thought of Lucas in he head and when she slept. She had daydreams about Lucas.

"Maybe a swim will clear my thoughts?" Isabelle thought. She dressed in a light garment that was almost see through. It was a very late night and no one would be moving not after the party. Isabelle left Frederick's mansion refusing security and soon darted to the forest.

Speak of the devil! The same person that Isabelle had came to the river to clear her thought off was sitting right at the edge, his legs in the water and looking as cute as ever.

'The least you can do is join him' a voice sh could not shake off advised her. She sat close to Lucas, removing her footwear and dipping her feets into the cool currents below. Lucas turned to see the person who joined him. Isabelle sent him a smile when their eyes met.

"What are you doing here?" He questioned.

"I should be the one asking you that. This is my spot." She retorted.

They looked into their eyes again and silence ensued. The moon was out sending a perfect glow over the crystalline river, the nocturnal animals chirp and clatter sounded like soothing romantic music. It was the perfect time to kiss or be kissed.

"I have to go." Lucas hurriedly said, ruining the moment as he began to leave.

"I wonder what I did to ruin the moment?" Isabelle was sure he wanted to kiss her but he always backed down at the last moment. It was like something was holding him back.

Lucas moved quietly down the part that led to his home when a woman held him back with her palms.

"Lucas, " Eleanor said, her eyes teary like an anime or a puppy when they wanted something badly."Think of your family." She said and vanished.

She was right. He knew little to nothing of Isabelle and although he did not want to do it, he had no choice. He didn't ask for the curse and he shouldn't care. When he was done making himself a grouch, he headed back to the river. She was already in the river, each strand of hair dancing to the river's will. She was start naked and turned in surprise as she heard Lucas approach. He took his seat on the grass filled river bed, legs back in the water.

"I'm sorry for always ignoring you Isabelle and..." Lucas jumped into the water before his conciousness made him turn back. He pulled Isabelle close and she closed her eyes in anticipation of what was coming. Lucas cupped her hands on her delicate chin and brought his lips to kiss her and because this book is not mature we won't delve to the sweet details but I can assure you, it was electric.