The Four Witches of the Four Realms

The Four Witches of the Four Realms

The time read 3 a.m.- the witching hour. Ahmya looked around the room attempting to find what woke her. The room was still, the sound of silence buzzing in her ears. Her throat dry Ahmya made her way down the hall towards the kitchen. It was then that she noticed her grandmother’s door ajar. The house appeared to shift under her, her heart sinking into her stomach.

Why is her door open?

Ahmya moved in with her grandmother when she was eight and in eleven years time Ahmya had never been beyond that threshold. From day one her grandmother made it very clear that she was never to go in there. Ahmya heard a voice of another in the room. She crept closer towards the door, her eyes peeking ever so slightly inside. Her grandmother was pacing something fierce.

“Cordelia, it is time. Your reign is ending. You must inform the girl. You must tell her now for your time is short.”

Her grandmother paused before the vintage nightstand. Her grey hair looked disheveled. She slumped down before the mirror as if defeated. The mirror appeared to have movement but Ahmya blamed the trickery of her eyes on the hour of morning. Ahmya leaned in closer, the floorboard creaking loudly beneath her.

Cordelia’s head snapped in Ahmya's direction. Ahmya hurried down the hall and into her bed, pretending to be asleep should her grandmother check in. Despite the heaviness of her eyes Ahmya’s mind wandered continuously. What did they mean by Cordelia’s time was short? What was it that Ahmya needed to know? Who was grandmother speaking with? With questions burning in her mind she at last fell into a deep sleep.

. . .

Ahmya sluggishly made her way down the hall and into the kitchen. A warm richness filled the room. Ahmya rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Cordelia turned from the oven and placed a hot plate of food onto the table. Ahmya seen the table was full of a variety of food. Stacks of waffles, pancakes, sausages, scrambled eggs, and more.

Where did all this food come from? Since the four witches of the realms had attacked the world, bringing forth the end of most civilizations, the government had then mandated that all food be held in reserve and shelved out a little at a time. How could it be that grandmother had all this at once?

Cordelia pulled up a seat across the table from Ahymya. Her eyes were heavy from a sleepless night. Her hands were tightly interwoven, her knuckles white from the embrace.

“Where did all the food come from grandmother?”

“No need for you to worry about that. Today is a special occasion.” Cordelia paused. “I know you heard something early this morning when you should have been sleeping.”

When Ahmya said nothing Cordelia continued.

“As you know, a few decades ago the four witches of the four realms rose up out of the earth and nearly destroyed our world. Many are living in a time of post- dystopia, attempting to rebuild even now. These four tainted our air, turned our soil into waste, and contaminated our water with their vile magic. They were close to destroying us but then they left. Many believe the witches suddenly fled because something more powerful was coming. They feared being destroyed, never being able to reign again. The truth is Ahmya — our family helped defeat them for now. In order to defeat the four witches of the four realms our coven sacrificed nearly everything. We retrieved the artifacts, each one connected to a witch. With the coven’s combined magic we were able to seal it together as one. But the moment the four of us were about to burn it in the presence of evil, they combated us with the unthinkable.”

Cordelia pulled her shirt down revealing a scar over her heart. “This scar will mark my end Ahmya. I have it on great authority that the witches are returning stronger than before. You have to leave for they will come here seeking vengeance. You have to leave to find your parents.”

Ahmyas heart was pounding. How could this be? Once the four witches retreated back into the earth the government went through each town, seeking out witches to burn for their treason against this planet. How could my parents possibly be alive?

Cordelia interrupted her thoughts, “I know what you’re thinking but your parents are very much alive, living in the shadows of the day, attempting to hide what they really are. When the killing of witches and warlocks began, that is after the coming of the four realm, your parents escaped through the towns around them in fear of being killed. They couldn’t chance your safety. While I have protected you from much, I have also hidden much from you. The food, as you’ve come to notice, is a small measure of my abilities. The monthly ration of food supplied from the government does not include us because they do not know about our existence. Therefore, I have provided for you while you have lived here Ahmya.”

Cordelia paused. She appeared to be studying Ahmya’s face fervently. “Ahmya, I need you to listen carefully. You must leave tonight. My time is drawing to a close and I mus —.”

Cordelia reached for her heart, doubled over, and fell onto the ground with a thud. She clawed at her heart like a feral beast, her eyes rolling back in her head, her mouth foaming. Her body began seizing. It felt like eternity as Ahmya watched in dismay and fear.

Cordelia’s body then relaxed. Ahmya searched for a pulse. There was none. “Come on grandmother! Wake up! You can’t leave me like this. Please!” Cordelia laid still on the floor, her hands bloodied from the self inflicted wounds to her chest. Despite Ahmya’s best efforts to help, Cordelia was dead and she was all alone. The tears poured down Ahmya’s face. Her stomach twisted. Her heart raced. Her grandmother was dead and she was all alone.

Ahmya noticed Cordelia’s bloodied hand was tightly grasped around a small object. Ahmya loosened her grasp to find what looked like a small heart shaped locket. Cordelia’s words from earlier rang in Ahmya’s ears.

This scar will mark my end.

In her flesh, beyond her scar, this locket must have been buried for such a time as this. As Ahmya held the locket it began to grow warm. As her focus intensified the cogs began to shift. The locket opened with a long hissssssss. Black smog fumed out like that of a steam locomotive. Once the smog cleared Ahmya was able to read the inscription carved inside.

Be careful what you seek for you will find it either in the dark or in the light.

…