Chapter 4 Sacred Union

Moaning in frustration, Nora readjusted the spaghetti straps of her dress. She opened a small door and saw herself in the mirror, and it took her a moment to see the crisp white lace dress.

She knew the incident was just a formality, and while she felt it was demeaning to be forced to wear white to represent her pure and vulgar identity, she had to admit that the dress did look good on her.

As she recalled the ceremony, she could almost feel her body bursting with excitement. Things are finally coming to an end and she's going to expose Joo-ran as a traitor and a coward in front of people. She only hopes that when she unmasks him for what he really is and exposes his true strength, people will be on her side instead of shrinking back out of fear.

Nora knew she had to be brave, someone would surely say her words were nothing more than the ramblings of a desperate woman, but what she saw in that sphere was enough to convince her. All she had to do was figure out a way to show people the same thing.

She shook her head slightly and cleared her throat before she started to walk out of the cabin. She could hear a few cheers from a distance, and she couldn't help but feel a little bitter. Blue lilies lined the path leading her to the square.

It reminded her of the lilies she had placed on her father's grave when no one dared to say his name, let alone a decent condolence. Part of her tells herself that she's doing this to improve the Coven, but another part of her insists that the real reason she's so desperate for them to see Zoran's real collar is because of the notion of revenge.

As she walked through the town square, she could hear voices around her.

Their eyes shot right into her flesh as they blocked her skin. She was only relieved when she was finally able to stop in the middle of the opening. She watched other girls her age gather together. It is said that during these rituals, people are destined to find their mare. For a witch past the age of eighteen, finding her life partner is normal, but the last thing she wants to think about is spending the rest of her life with a man. call.

She was pulled back into thought when she heard the loud echo of fists beating drums. As she watched the other women kneel, she felt her body stiffen from the sound.

She felt his presence before she could even see him, noticing in her mind that he seemed to have only grown stronger. She should have backed off then. It's really silly, but she's never really been one to say no to a challenge.

"Welcome to all. Today we gather in the divine union to bless our Maidens. May they grow and grow, and may they add strength to our covenant. We will now begin the ceremony by dancing around the Fountain of Memory.` ' he said in a forceful tone. What followed was an air of imminence, as if the crowd was watching a ballet on the edge of their seats before the women slowly rose to their feet.

Seeing the fountain from a distance, she couldn't help but smile, feeling as if it was within reach.

The freedom she longed for.

They made their way down the path, and the rest of the witches would croon before they stood by the fountain. It is said to be enchanted and has the power to allow you to see what you most desire.

This was part of the ceremony that Nora dreaded most. She didn't know what to see when she gazed into the fountain, and she wasn't sure if she was ready or willing to be so vulnerable.

Her thoughts vanished abruptly as they paused on the tiled floor beside the fountain before Zoran reappeared before them. "Now each maiden will bare herself before the fountain to show us that she is pure of heart and we will honor her like a coven by empowering her on this day. Rebecca goes first. He spoke, and Nora watched as the redheaded girl who had been the meanest of them all stepped forward. There was a distinct smirk on her face as she stood up.

"Close your eyes now and open your heart. Let the fountain be your guide, allow you to embrace your brothers and sisters like family, and when it's over, you'll find the other half of your soul," he told her. Nora noticed the smirk on Rebecca's face.

"Oh. I'm sure I'll be worthy. I'm worried about some foundling. I don't need her to pollute the rest of our magic," she murmured. Nora equipped several chucks in the cloud and was surprised when Zoran ignored them.

"Go on. This is not the time for us to argue," he said aloud to her, and she swallowed his words immediately and did as he said. Nora watched as the rest of the coven closed their eyes before she did too. As Zoran speaks, she can feel her connection to the fountain grow. "Now bless your sister."

Nora felt the magic flow from her as if her body seemed out of control. "Blessed are you, my child," Zoran said after a moment, smiling gently at Rebecca. Nora watched the rest of the girls move forward and followed, and felt a little nervous.

"Nora. You are next." Zhuo Ran said to her bitterly. She clenched her fists and walked forward with restless steps. No one cheered when she stood in front of the fountain. "Come out with an honest heart," he warned. She nodded, then closed her eyes as a picture of her father came to mind.

Suddenly, her pent-up rage welled up, and before anyone could react, she reached for the little thing in the braid and threw it into the fountain while everyone else had their eyes closed.

The ground shook instantly, and the fountain turned red, causing everyone to stare at her with wide eyes.

"What did you do?" Zoran growled angrily.

"It's time for everyone to see you, a demon with angel wings," she began.