Chapter 5

Agatha

I met with Selene, the Moon Goddess. My mother kept a lot from me. My mother was not a mere witch. She was to be named the High Priestess of her coven. The Sisters of Eternity. Ophelia, the witch causing the war, is my aunt. She almost killed the other coven members so she can take their power, but my mother ran away. Ophelia wanted to merge their powers so they can have the power that could match that of a deity. 

I did not know what her end game was. I have been searching and trying to understand why she wants the deity's power. One thing for certain is my aunt was succeeding in her plan. Her magic was growing. Hard as I have been trying to meditate, I seem to be unstable with my magic. Everything laid heavy on my shoulders.

"Agatha?"

Liv shook me, but I kept my sitting position with my legs crossed with both my fisted hands on each knee. I have been trying to find my wolf, but Ophelia's magic was blocking me. Her knowledge of my wolf shouldn't be possible. I didn't know I had a wolf until recently. She shouldn't be aware.

"We need to get you to the coven," Liv added after doing a spell to link our thoughts.

"No," I shook my head. 

"Agatha, please," Liv sighed, "Listen to me."

I ignored her and closed my eyes. She knew how important it was for me to focus. I needed a clear head. Her prying in my head like my mother used to do only made me unstable and angry. 

"Get out of my head Liv," I inhaled, opening my eyes. "I won't ask you again."

"We can help you. Ophelia is banished. She can't step foot near the temple. Her dark magic can't give her access."

"I said no," I repeated. "I need to find my wolf."

"You will be able to summon your wolf from the temple, Agatha." Liv sighed.

"That will take days. You said it yourself that the temple is far and you have no magic to make us get there." I sigh. "I can't do that kind of spell with this wound. You told me it requires plenty of energy."

"Agatha, don't be stubborn. I made a promise to your mother to keep you safe. The temple is the safest place."

"For how long?" I crossed my arms. "You keep telling me that my powerful aunt can't get to the temple, but she made the sun disappear. I can feel her magic calling to me in my sleep. How certain are you she will not ambush us there?"

"Agatha," Liv shouts and whispered, "You must tell me when Ophelia does that," she whispers and grips my temple.

Her fingers were digging into my skull, making me hear a pitched sound in my head. It sounded like a siren's screech. It was painful that she too had a nosebleed from the spell. I gasped and glared at her. 

"Don't do that again."

"I'm sorry, but we have no choice. Ophelia can't know where we are. She shouldn't be that powerful. Her magic growing means she did something bad again," Liv murmurs. "I have to warn the others. We need to move."

"Maybe you should lose the illusion. Keep your natural form. You are wasting energy."

"I only wanted to make you comfortable," she gave me a sympathetic look.

"I would rather you lose the illusion and be yourself. You need all the energy. You still need to tell me everything." I gave her a pointed look.

"I will," she looked down, "But now we need to work a spell to get your voice back. I have been looking in my grimoire and found this ancient spell that can make me search your mind and see what happened." I was glaring at her. "I will be able to reverse the spell if I knew the words."

"Don't change the subject and distract me by dangling, getting my voice back. My voice is not a priority. You know it."

"Okay," Liv nodded.

She whispered, and the glamour of her young self slowly dissipated. It still amazed me how she was using her energy to keep her youth. She walked close and sat on the rock in front of me. She sat there looking down for a long while, thinking before she looked at me.

"Your mother was to become the High Priestess of the Sisters of Eternity." she sighed, "Ophelia is the oldest and the coven thought she would be the next High Priestess but the temple didn't choose her." I frowned, looking at her.

"I know you told me about the her role but what does that mean?"

"The Temple of Eternity moves constantly. Every time a High Priestess is chosen. The temple changes its location."

"How does all of this fit with my mother and aunt. Why did my mother run?"

"The temple is a fickle thing. It chooses its beholder. Your mother, Tabita, knew before the ceremony that she had been chosen, but couldn't let Ophelia face the devastation. She tried to give her power to Ophelia. It didn't work. Ophelia thought your mother was taking her birthright. She wanted them to merge and share he power but that to wasn't possible." She sighed. "That's why your mother left."

"That can't be the end of the story," I leaned forward. "You can't expect me to believe that this is all to it."

"All you need to know is that Ophelia went to great length to get the power she has now. That's why she was banished. The temple can't grant her access. Its magic is very ancient."

"Even if she gets enough power like that of a deity," 

"Where did you get that from?" she asked.

 "I don't know." 

"Agatha," she moved and grabbed my shoulders, "You can't keep such a huge discovery. Where did you get that idea from?"

"Why must I tell you when you are not being honest with me?" I huffed.

"Silly child." She whispered and grabbed my temple.

I gasped at the sudden force until I was dragged into darkness. I tried looking around, but everywhere I looked was surrounded by darkness that was thick. A shiver ran down my spine. Something was grabbing at me and digging into my brain. I think I scream before my eye widen. I reached for the wet liquid on my nose. I wiped the blood with my fingers and stared at Liv. 

I hated her so much for doing this. I fisted my hand and got up on my feet. She tried to reach for my hand to stop me. I could feel the energy bubbling in the pit of my stomach and I yanked her off me. I didn't speak to her of my anger, but mind was certain that I needed to do some damage. I needed to let this force break loose.

The ground of the cave rumbled. Something registered to Liv, and she grabbed both my hands. She began convulsing with her eyes rolled back. She screamed foreign words that made me buckle to my knees. The energy felt like a shock and before long; the cave was shifting.

"Thank you Agatha," Liv smiled, looking at me, "We can finally go home."

I blink, looking up at her. The corner of my eyes caught glimpses of women surrounding us. They were chanting in the same foreign language. In the blink of an eye, the cave had materialized into something entirely different. The ground was solid. We looked to be somewhere unfamiliar.

"Sister," 

A woman pulled her cloak, just as all of them did, and ran to Liv. They embraced, their forehead touching before they whispered something together. I got up from my knees and watched all the strange woman in form of me.

"You came home," the woman beamed.

"Thanks to her," Liv pointed at me, "I took a huge chance."

"Welcome back Liv," another woman nodded. "You must be Agatha," 

I pushed my body back, eyeing everyone around me. I didn't know who these people were, and I didn't trust them. Liv had tricked me and channeled my magic into this place. I took a deep breath, ready to fight, but before I could use my magic, I was clutching to my head with both hands.

"You are safe here. There is no need for violence. This is a sacred temple." She moved closed and pulled me up, whispering, and I felt a calming breeze. "Liv should have told you that any attempt to use your magic for harm in here is forbidden. Sisters of Eternity are a peaceful race."

I knew I was mute, but that didn't stop me from laughing silently. She must have not met my mother and aunt. There was nothing peaceful about them.

"I know your mother and aunt, Agatha," she smiled at me, "Don't let this face fool you. I am much older that I look. Older than anyone here."

I scoffed, but she kept her smile. She whispered something and clamped her hand together before blowing inside her palms. There was a necklace that wasn't there. She smiled again and walked closer to me.

"May I?" she asked. I looked at Liv, who nodded. Not that I needed her help for anything here. I didn't trust her anymore. "Trust me." the woman spoke, "This will not harm you."

I looked around at the clocked women watching us. I didn't have a choice, so I slowly nodded. She moved around and placed the necklace around my neck. The moment it was around me, I heard a breathy sound resonating within me. She walked back in front of me and smile.

"Try saying something." she prompted.

"Who are you people?" I asked and stumbled, shocked.

"That is a charmed necklace. As long as you are within these walls. You will be able to speak."

"That is not what I asked."

"This is the Temple of Eternity. These are your sisters. We welcome you to take refuge here. This is your home for as long as you deem it fit."

"And who are you?" I asked shakingly, still adjusting to the sound of my voice.

The woman smiled and embraced me. "I am Cordelia. Your grandmother."

She pulled me back and grabbed both sides of my cheeks, her eyes shining with tears. I blinked, trying to speak. I might have the capability of speak thanks to the necklace, but I was speechless. This woman in front of me didn't look like anyone's grandmother. From where I stood. She looked younger that me.

Come to think of it. All of them looked to be my age or younger. Even Liv had taken the look of her younger self again. None of this was making sense. I had plenty of questions.

"I want to know everything," I demanded.

"All in due time. I promise. First, we need to get your wolf here before it's too late."

"How?" my jaw dropped.

"The temple sees all and knows all," she smiled. "We already prepared for the locating spell. All that was needed was you."