The Ladies of Horror
Picture-Prompt Writing Challenge!
Beatrix
by Kathleen McCluskey
Beatrix hastily made the final touches on the coven’s end of the month ceremony. As the high priestess it was her solemn duty to ensure that tonight’s festivities were successful. She looked into the crystal orb and knew that the prophecy would come to pass. Her obligation that was made on the night of her birth would be fulfilled tonight. It was her destiny.
The autumnal equinox had passed making the coven invulnerable to outside forces. Now it was time to show respect to the elders that made this coven possible. Their purity sacrifice sanctified the land and bound the coven to it for all eternity.
The women patiently waited for Samhain and its power. The witches knew that during the festival the realm of the ancient ones was visible. The merging of Samhain and All Hallows Eve coupled with a full moon was a particularly special event. It hastened in the time when the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead was at its most delicate, making it easily penetrated.
The women gathered as darkness fell upon the coven. The large conifers swayed their mighty branches in respect to the gods that created them. Gale force winds pushed in a cyclone that made playful swirls in the middle of the sacred ring. Tall candelabras lined the circle, their flames danced in the breeze but were never extinguished. The sisters could feel the vibrations in the earth as the elder gods became more restless. The atmosphere was electric; the smell of ozone permeated the air as a cobalt blue mist began to churn and rise from the center. Ever-faithful the sisters all bowed in unison as they awaited their deity.
Beatrix entered the sacred circle; the trees immediately stopped moving and the air was still. Beatrix lifted her head to the heaven’s and howled. A deafening boom echoed from the mist and the earth began to fall inward. Beatrix’s long robe burst into flames as she vanished down into the pit. Three large, black scaled hands burst out of the middle and landed on the rim of the circle with an earth trembling blast. It’s large, blood stained talons dug into the soil. The sisters wanted to flee but waited to see the ancient one raise from its slumber. Its gnarled hands began to sink into the ground as the giant tried to lift itself out of the pit. The witches all scattered as the top of the ancient one’s head came into view. Its deep bellow woke the other beings; the murmur coming from within the pit grew louder and louder. They had done it; the ancient ones had been released.
The world would bow down to their new rulers.
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Fiction © Copyright Kathleen McCluskey
Image courtesy of Pixabay.com
More from Kathleen McCluskey:
The Long Fall: Book 1: The Inception of Horror
Lucifer always cunning and intelligent challenges father to a battle of wits. Being the angel of light he casts a judgemental eye upon mankind. He begins a war with his fellow archangels and God. Michael, along with his siblings defend their home and mankind from their deranged brother. Broad swords and hand to hand combat drench heaven in blood. The four apocalyptic steeds are released, each having their own destructive power. Betrayal and lust are at biblical levels. Understand the very creation of evil and the consequenses that transpire in the first of THE LONG FALL series.
Dragon Born: Book Three
Nyctophiliac Confessions:
Spreading the Writer's Word 