Chapter 4: The Test

Lizzie sunk back into her seat as Cleo stood up and made her way to the podium. The skulls crunched slightly as she sat, a sign that the bones were old and were weakening.

" Looks like I need more skulls." Lizzie chuckled, the smirk on her lips told me she really just wanted to hunt.

Blood and bone witches get the blood and bones from mortals, so they developed a tradition of making the hunt for the perfect blood or bone a game. It was a gruesome game that left many dead- mainly young women and children because their blood and bones are the best.

I snapped back to the moment and turned my attention back on Cleo as she made her way to the podium.

As she walked she had this air of confidence around her. She always was very confident. Since we were nine years old she was certain she was going to be a blood witch.

Most of us don’t believe her, she comes from a long line of bone witches. Your magic type is normally the same type as your family. Nathan - her uncle - is the only person in her family in the last fifty years who isn't a bone witch.

She stood before the podium. Wasting little time, she picked up the blade, sliced her palm, and dropped the blood into the bowl.

A few seconds later the bowl of blood lit up a bright red. Cleo is a blood witch just like she thought. She smirked with pride as she took a seat next to her mam. Her mam and uncle had looks of pride on their faces. Having a blood witch in the family is a high honor. 

" Naomi Riggs, step up to the podium." Lizzie commanded. 

Shooting one last smug look to me Naomi got up and made her way to the podium. I suspect she like her whole family will be a familiar witch. But who knows she could be a surprise like Cleo.

She took a clean knife ran the silver blade across her palm, allowing the blood to drip into the bowl. My suspicions were proven right when the falcon squawked. It busted out the cage and flew to her, landing somewhat gracefully onto her shoulder. Naomi winced as the falcon's sharp talons dug into her shoulder. I even winced like it was happening to me.

" Sister, get us another falcon." Lizzie said to Maxine, who immediately went away.

A minutes later she came back carrying a new cage with a falcon perched in it. She placed it onto the stand then retreated back to her seat beside her sister.

" Tobias Benson, step up to the podium." Lizzie commanded.

I pushed myself up and walked up the podium. My shoes pushed up some dirt making miny plumes of dust.

As I walked closer to the podium my calm demeanor changed. My stomach twisted into itself tighter and tighter with every stride. I began to feel dizzy, my eyes became slightly blurry.

Come on Tobias snap out of it.

Why are you so nervous all of a sudden?

You are a fierce warlock toughen up!

Don't let your mam see you cower!

Don't let any of them think you're weak!

I picked up the third and final knife. The metal handle felt cold against my skin. I took a deep, shaky breath.

Come on Tobias, you can do this!

You can do this.

Just one little slice.

I looked at my mam one last time before running the blade across my palm. It wasn't very painful, just a quick slice followed by a mild sting. I tipped my bleeding hand over the bowl and allowed my warm blood to trickle down into it. I tore a piece of my shirt and wrapped it around the cut. The light fabric was quickly turned a dark red as the blood spread.

Unlike Cloe and Naomi's test, none of the bowls immediately lit up. We all silently waited for the result. The seconds turned to minutes. When the four-minute mark hit my stomach began to do flips.

Why isn't anything lighting up?

Do I not have power?

Will they have to kick me out?

If they kick me out where would I go?

Five-minute mark hit. My mam looked away in shame, the rest of the coven just shook their heads. Lizzie clicked her tongue against the roof of her mouth.

" Well, this is unexpected, such a shame too. Tobias Benson I hear......"

Just as she was about to go in the bowl of bones lit up a bright red.

The coven sighed in relief, my mam slouched her shoulders, like a weight was lifted. Naomi on the other hand looked upset, bone magic outranks familiar magic so that means I win this challenge.

I nodded then turned around to take a seat with my mam. As I turned around loud gasps filled the air. The gasps were followed by the sound of a falcon's shriek and the flapping of wings. I spun around just in time as the falcon landed on my shoulder. His large talons dug into my shoulder, small drops of blood-stained my shirt. But I didn't care I was more shocked by what was happening.

How could this be possible?

How can I be a familiar and a bone warlock?

More gasps arose as the bowl of blood lit up as well. Almost immediately after the blood lit up the blade lit up as well.

Lizzie stood up, she was completely shocked, everyone was.

" Well, this is unexpected." She gasped.

" And never heard of in the history of witches." Maxine praised.

She was right. Never once in the entire history of witches and warlocks has there been one with two powers let alone four.

The entire coven looked up at me, their eyes filled with amazement, fear, confusement, and joy. My mam on the other hand just looked proud.

I too was also proud of myself. My mam was right.  All these years she was right. I was going to be the most powerful warlock this world will ever see. 

I smirked at my falcon who was trying to get at my bleeding hand.

The blade of the assassin flew to my hand. The light illuminating from the blade died as my hand wrapped around the handle. 

Looks like the devil granted me my wish and so much more.