THE CURSED WITCH

Hayley Gilbert, a 21years old witch from

the moonlight circle. The coven consists of only female witches with different powers. Some are gifted with bewitching, some the power to exorcise, some the power of healing but for Hayley, she was gifted with all of these gift and is said to be the most powerful witch of her time.

She was Born from a line of very powerful ancestral witches.

During the 18th century, a very dark magic was performed in the moonlight circle with the blood of five virgins which broke the link to the ancestors cause the ancestors are where they draw their strength directly from and without the help of the ancestors, a coven is weak and can be attacked by the witch hunters at any time. After the link was broken, the moonlight circle lived in fear for a long time, they were preyed upon and slaughtered like nothing until they finally received a prophecy about a miracle child who is yet to be born, and the moonlight circle began to search for the witch pregnant with the miracle child that will save their race. They found the witch whom belong to the coven of twelve sister's and waited for when Maria will be due to give birth, through a dark magic, they were able to kidnap Maria from her coven cause it was only through dark magic that they could defeat the twelve sisters. Through the birth of this baby the link between the ancestors were restored, Maria was killed by the leader of the moonlight circle and the only way the link would remain was if the child never fell in love. She was to be their redemption, she was going to untouchable by any power, she was born to be a god on Earth as long as she never falls in love with a man. After Hayley was born, the link to the ancestral spirit was restored, the coven made sure Hayley got everything she ever needed, Hayley grew into a very powerful witch who went to school, associated with the outside world but concealed her true identity from the outside world until she met the surgeon who turned her life apart. She was not meant to fall in love especially not with a human, but sooner it was bound to happen and above all with a man born of the blood of a witch hunter.

That was an impossible love that could never happen but they were bound to make it happen. History would repeat itself as a war between the witch hunters and the witches of the moonlight circle started, the witches sort out to seek help from other coven but then more secrets are unveiled and the dark powers of Hayley which should never be released are bound to arise.

CHAPTER ONE

HOW IT ALL STARTED

Hayley and Tiana are both in a car returning from a fashion event, Hayley is driving but can't stop talking about today's event. They both graduated from the same fashion school after which they decided to start up a small fashion business they were actually making good clothes, and the store seems to be doing well. These was the first time they were invited to a fashion event and either of them couldn't hide their excitement as they kept talking non-stop about how good they taught the event was.

Tiana brings out her phone from her black purse sitting on her laps, she began to scroll through the pictures she took at the event, they were pictures of modeling wearing the best designs made by popular designers, showing them to the excited Hayley, Hayley drift her eyes away from the road and suddenly they were fixed on the phone and she failed to notice that she was swerving into the wrong lane, Hayley only realized it when the car coming in front kept horning. Looking at the road, she became confuse and frantically drag the steering into the other side of the road.

" Hayley watch out!!"

Tiana warned as she held on to her seatbelt tie trying to alert Hayley who was struggling with the wheel about the impending danger ahead but before Hayley could take any further action, their car clashed right in front of the pole ahead.

As the car came head to head with the pole, Hayley could feel the force it took for the car to finally stop. Only then did she realize she was bleeding. But it didn't matter to her at that point, she was more concern about Tiana who seems to be unconscious right now.

" Tiana! Tiana!! Tiana!!!"

She kept shouting until Tiana slowly opens her eyes, she seems weak, the shattered glass were all over her body, there were traces of blood but it didn't seems to belong to her.

" Tiana are you hurt?!"

A concern Hayley questioned, Tiana stares at her and is shock to see so much blood dripping from Hayley's head. Turns out she had sustained a head injury but failed to even notice.

" Hayley!! Your head, you are bleeding"

Tiana announced and within a few seconds, Hayley lost consciousness.

Tiana quickly pick up her phone lying beside her in the car and quickly dialed 911. Confuse Tiana didn't really know what else to do, but she could see Hayley loosing so much blood, she became more scared afraid of what might happen.

After several hours of waiting, an ambulance finally arrived and Tiana followed them to the hospital.

While Hayley was getting treated, Tiana sat at the waiting area, rubbing both palms together as tears welled up in her eyes. She felt like it was her fault and if she didn't show those pictures to her, Hayley would be focus on the road and won't be in this predicament and here she was with no injury at all. As a doctor walked towards her accompanied by a nurse, Tiana quickly stood up, wiping away those tears in her eyes.

" Doctor how is she"

Trying not to panic, she questioned.

" I would like to speak to her guardian"

The doctor announced.

" Doctor, am her room mate, I brought her here, you can talk to me"

" Your friend developed a serious brain injury during the accident, we were able to operate on her, but right now, we can only hope for the best"

" What do you mean 'hope for the best'?"

Her jaw dropped, she was trying to process the meaning of what he just said, but nothing seems to be processing in her brain right at the moment.

" Well after the Surgery, she fell into coma and right now, we can only watch and hope there is improvement."

" You are saying Hayley is in coma right now? No! It not possible, it was just a minor accident"

Tiana welled uncontrollable.

" Am sorry miss!"

That was all he heard to say. There was sympathy in his eyes, he gave her arms a squeeze and walked away.

Tiana sat close to Hayley, she couldn't believe what was happening, just when their business was about to experience a turn around, her best friend is suddenly lying unconscious with no hope of waking up. Tiana contacted Hayley's Aunt for she knew fully well that Hayley was an orphan.

When the coven received a phone call from Tiana about what had happened to Hayley, they sent Alex over for she was a healer and Hayley's childhood friend.

Alexis walked into the ward to see Tiana in tears, she felt sorry for her that she couldn't tell Tiana everything she needed to know about Hayley. The moment Tiana stepped out of the ward, Alex quickly shut the door.

She brought out her book of shadows, four red candles, a pot of herbs mix with chamomile, mugwort, lamb's Crest, plantain and mayweed. After assembling them in order around unconscious Hayley, she sat on the floor both her legs crossed as she close her eyes. She began to enchant the spell written in her book of shadows.

" ut lytel spere, gif her innie sie

It lytel spere, gif her innie sy

It lytel spere, gif her innie sy"

She kept enchanting and then suddenly there is a large wind, her eyes became black, her neck backward and she was enchanting more loud, the atmosphere became intense. A force began to lift Hayley away from the bed, the more Alex enchanted, the higher Hayley was going up until Alex suddenly stop as Hayley fell to the ground with full force and she slowly opened her eyes.

" Alex?"

" Welcome back, you owe me a drink?"

" What happened?"

A confuse Hayley ask as she stood up from the ground scanning her body in other to understand what had happened.

" You were in an accident with your room mate, help me clean up before she comes back unless you have an explanation for these"

Both of them began to pick up the items and slashing them into the bag as quickly as possible and then, there is a knock at the door, Hayley immediately rushed back to the bed covering herself with the blanket.

As Tiana walks into the hospital ward, she was so surprise that she didn't even realize the pizza box she was holding fell off. She stood there for more than an hour staring at Hayley her mouth wide open.

" Tiana! Why are you staring at me, come on inside!!"

" Hayley! Ooh my God, the doctor said you went into coma and he wasn't sure when you would wake up!! Is this really you!!"

Surprised Tiana slowly move closer to Hayley, and as she touch Hayley on the cheek, she wanted to be sure it was really her best friend who was in a fatal accident yesterday.

" Am fine! It me, you don't need to be surprise, the doctors can also make mistakes"

" I guess I came here for nothing!"

Alex mumbled exchanging a quick glance with Hayley.

" I need to call the doctor, we need to be sure everything is fine"

Tiana exclaim as she stood up but Hayley grab her arm.

" That won't be necessary T. Am fine, can't you see"

" I know. But I also know what I saw yesterday. We just need to make sure everything is fine, let me get the doctor"

Tiana got away from Hayley's grip and hurriedly left the ward in search of a doctor.

" Hayley, you are a powerful witch, you could have stopped the accident, why did you let it happen?"

Alex questioned, she blink her dark narrow eyes as her long curly hair fell to her shoulder. A dark skin Afro-American, with an a average height. She didn't have much facial beauty, but is endow with large curves.

" I told you, I don't use magic while am at work or with Tiana, it too risky"

" But your life was also at risk, don't you think you need to start taking care of yourself, we need you now more than ever"

" Need me? What is going on?"

Hayley ask curiously.

" There was a prophecy from the ancestors through Becca last night, war is coming, the witch hunters are now acquiring dark objects, they are getting ready and the coven leader has called for a meeting today. You need to be present!!"

Alex narrated while Hayley listened carefully, but just when she was about to speak, Tiana rushed in accompany by a doctor.

The moment they both walked in, Hayley's eyes clock into his green eyes. She was lost in his eyes, something seems to be drawing her to him, but she just couldn't figure it out. He walks close to her, the sound of his footsteps echoing in her ears, his skin seems so bright to her that they shinning right into her eyes, his tall and masculine figure were alluring and as he touched her, Hayley felt an electricity, power left her body, she could feel it. She could sense a strong power of a Ndace.

" Hayley! Hayley!! Hayley!!!"

Alex and Tiana were both calling her at the top of their voice, but she was too far away from them to have heard it.

" Miss Hayley!"

Doctor Kelvin called calmly but the voice seems to have possessed some kind of Authority against her, it roared in her ears, and she startled as she almost jumped to her feet.

" Hayley are you alright?"

Alex ask piercing her with those dark eyes.

" Is everything alright?"

" Yeah am fine"

" Miss Hayley I think I need to run some test on you, to make sure you are not having any seizures and also to be sure there are no further brain injuries"

Doc. Kelvin explained calmly his green eyes seems so calm and yet piercing.

" No! Doctor, no need for that, am perfectly fine"

" You lost a lot of blood during the surgery, there were so many complications after which you went into shock, but here you are right now, sitting upright and speaking to me like nothing happened, I need to run some test and have a grasps of the situation."

" Doctor! I assure you am perfectly fine, I just need you to discharge me"

" Hayley, you need to calm down, I think the doctor is right!"

Tiana tried calming her down but Hayley was getting worked up.

" please just a few test!"

He spoke staring at her with a pleading eyes, despite how firmly Hayley wanted to refuse, she just couldn't say no to those pleading eyes of his.

" Fine! Just one more test and am out of here"

" Yes! Just one!"

He replied her as his lips curled into a gentle smile and he exit the ward.

" Tiana can you please go get me some pad, I think am seeing my period!"

" Yeah! Sure"

Tiana picks up her purse from the side of the bed and walks away. Alex quickly shut the door and turn to Hayley with an inquisitive look.

" The doctor, you saw something right, what did you see?"

Alex ask.

" Alex you need to go now and call the circle to a gathering. The Ndace bloodline, you have heard of it right?"

" Yes off course! The Masters of the witch hunters that had the power to take away all a witches magic. They were all killed by the coven of twelve sisters during the 20th century, what about them?"

" I think not all of them were killed, the doctor, the blood of am Ndace runs through his vein!!"

" What!!! Hayley are you sure? Cause I remember coven leader telling us story of how they were all massacred"

" Am sure Alex, the moment he touched me, power left my body, the connection is so strong, it can't be mistaken!!"

" Then am afraid indeed there is war far greater than all of us coming, I have to leave now, I will go alert the circle"

Alex picks up her black bag containing her healing properties and hurriedly left.

After hours of waiting for the doctor, Hayley fell asleep while Tiana who was back with a packet of pad sat on the couch reading a magazine.

The doctor finally walks in holding a patient chart ad he stare at Hayley who was having a nap, his eyes filled with questions that no one could answer.

" Doctor! Is the result back? How is she?"

Tiana ask alerting Hayley who slowly opens her eyes.

" Well! All the test I did, they all came back negative, we couldn't find anything not even traces of the injury"

" That good news right?"

Tiana questioned

" Yes! It is good news!"

" See! I told you, can I go now?"

" Yes you will be discharge, but you will need to come back monthly for check up just in case something pops up"

He explained further, a smirk across his face.

" That okay by me"

" Okay. The nurse in charge will get you a discharge form, you can leave after filling it"

" Thank you doctor, am really grateful"

Tiana greeted with courtesy as he steps out of the ward.

After Hayley was discharged, they both went back to their apartment, A two bedroom apartment and a living room. Walking into the living room, Hayley felt alive cause she could feel the warmness of the air around her high-end leather sofa she got last year from an auction, the television set is all new, was a birthday present to Tiana at the beginning of these year. Hayley walks over to the fridge and was so elated to see that it was well stock with her favorite mango juice. Hayley finally sat on the couch close to the frame of her mom placed on the wall, she never met mummy, but she had hired an artist and have the coven leader who was there when Hayley was born describe her mom while the artist made a sketch of it, and since then it has always been her favorite spot in that house. It a small apartment, but it felt homely to the both of them considering how well systematic Tiana is in arranging her stuffs, ranging from the books, to her designs, her flowers, they all had a systematic position that felt cozy and well kept.

After Hayley finished having her bottle of mango juice, she fell asleep on the couch while Tiana decided to go to the store.

Deep in her sleep, Hayley could hear the voice of Doctor Kelvin calling her out, no matter how hard she tried running away from the voice, it just kept calling while moving closer and immediately she opened her eyes panting heavily with traces of sweat all over her body

Hayley quickly had a quick bath and rush to the coven.

The moonlight circle are a group of modern witches, some of them are professor, Artist, business tycoon, fashion designer and so on but more than anything, they try hard to conceal their real identity from their friends and colleagues at work. Their gathering is always held at an abandon church at Decatur street. Hayley arrived at the abandon church and was shock to see a sore sight, a dead body lying on the floor as the whole members of the circle gathered around.

" Hayley! Finally you are here, what kept you so long?"

The coven leader known as mother Agnes ask. A middle age woman probably in her early sixties, light skin and blonde hair. She has a height that could almost be mistaken for a giant.

" Am sorry Mother Agnes! I had to wait for my roommate to leave first. What happened to Aurora?!"

"The witch hunters! I think they are trying to send us a warning!"

" A warning, why, we have stayed away from them for a long time avoiding trouble, why are they trying to start a war?"

Hayley questioned. Everyone was in tears, Aurora just recently got married and was offered a position at her husband's company, then the coven isn't sure how to explain these to them.

" Mother Agnes, I can bring her back to life, let me try a spell......"

" No Hayley! It is only dark magic that can bring the dead back to life, we need our ancestors now more than ever, we do not want to provoke them"

" And yet the witch hunters are using dark objects to destroy us, yet they claim we are the evil, we need to strike now!!"

" Yes!!"

The circle members all agreed in unison. Their heart was filled with anger and yet there was these fear among them all no one dare to speak of.

" Calm down everyone, we will send a more deeper message to them, but first we need to know how she died, Aurora was a powerful witch, if someone was able to kill her, then it must have been a person she didn't consider a threat."

She tried sinking the words into each and every of them. Then she stopped to take a quick glance at them, she needed to be sure they were getting her point.

" Hayley! I will need you to perform a locator spell"

" Why? Who are we trying to find?"

" No one in particular, let make use of an item belonging to Aurora and hopes the ancestors reveal to you what we are searching for"

They all gathered round the tomb of each ancestors, a candle lighten on the floor, a large snail shell each for each circle member, the book of shadows at their middle open to the page of locator spell, and Aurora's wrist watch placed on top of it. They all held hands together, their eyes closed, total focus and they all began to chant the spell in unison.

" Oh thee our ancestors

We call on thee to reveal to us

What is hidden, find me now

What I seek, by moon

By sun, earth, air fire and sea"

They kept chanting non stop, channeling all their energy into the magic, the wind began to blow, they could feel it, the connection with their ancestors, it as strong as ever. Suddenly Hayley departed from the circle and began to drift away into the air floating away. They did not stop, they kept chanting, the more they chant, the stronger they could feel the bound, the closer they could feel their ancestors. Hayley's eyes were shut tie, but suddenly she open them and was no longer among the circle, she was now standing in the midst of the ancestors, all in black robe, their faces could not be seen by Hayley.

" Welcome our daughter! The time has come"

They spoke in unison, their voice echoing loud in her ear.

" The witch hunters have grown so powerful, they have acquired a rare and powerful dark object that belongs to the lineage of the GENTALS COVEN of dark witches, but they are yet to be able to use it, cause there are only two people who can access it magic, someone from the bloodline of the GENTALS COVEN or the one you have met that disturbs your sleep. The last of Ndace. On no account should his identity be revealed to the witch hunters, if not, he will be their greatest weapon. Go now!! Inform the circle to cast an illusion spell around the coven and wait for further instructions. The Time has come, the reason of your existence is here, get ready, do not be distracted!!!"

Their voice so loud as Hayley covered her ear so tie and as she opened her eyes, she was standing right in the midst of the circle. The enchantment has stopped and they were all waiting for her to reveal that which is unknown.

" What was revealed to you?"

Elder Melissa ask.

" The Ancestors want the circle to cast and illusion spell and wait for further instructions"

Hayley narrated, she wasn't sure if she wanted to reveal about the doctor to them for she knew that if the circle finds out about the doctor being a weapon to the witch hunters, they will immediately get rid of him. Mother Agnes could sense Hayley was withholding some information, so she ask again.

" Is that all the ancestors instructed?"

" Yes mother!"

Hayley answered avoiding eye contact with the coven leader.

" So we still not have information about Aurora's killer, we must find the killer. For now everyone go back home, I will send a message if a gathering is required"

" Yes mother Agnes!"

They all spoke in unison as the circle scattered and everyone began to walk away from the church.

" Hayley!!"

Alexis called.

" You didn't inform mother about the doctor?"

" I don't think I should"

" What! Why?"

" Alex keep your voice down, let get away from here first"

Hayley drag Alex by her wrist, walking hurriedly away from the church.

" First! There was another reveal about him by the ancestors, he is a weapon for the witch hunters and as such his identity should never be known to them"

" And you didn't think it was necessary to bring such information to Mother Agnes?!"

" What do you think will happen to the poor doctor who does nothing else but save lives?"

" Hayley! Aurora is dead!! Killed by this same people you are protecting!"

" Am not protecting them Alex! He knows nothing about all these! He save lives, and I think it should remain so, but if I inform mother Agnes about his identity, she wouldn't care about anything else except for destroying him"

" You do know there will be a punishment for you by the ancestors, you withheld what was revealed to you, it dangerous for a life not worth it"

" Every life is worth saving Alex, I think it high time the coven realize that death is not the only way to deal with their enemies"

" Hayley you can't blame anyone right now, we are at war and at war, desperate measures are taken!!"

" I do not agree with you. I have to go now Alex. Tiana and I got a huge offer at the event we attended. We are going to be making fifty dress for a start up modeling company"

" Wow! Hayley that beautiful!"

" Yes! And the manager has assured us that if we do well, more contract will start coming"

" Glad to hear! Am impressed. The both of you have been working really hard, at this point, I think you need to employ me so you can finally have some rest"

Alex joked as they both laugh.