Erin followed Elizabet into the house and to the library. A fire had been lit as the evening was getting cooler. There were eight seats around the room, 7 of them taken up by the new women. One seat was empty, no doubt for Elizabet thought Erin.
The women sat around and looked up as Elizabet walked in with the human girl following close behind Elizabet; akin to a puppy following it's master.
"Hello ladies, it is good to see you all here. It is good to be back again in your circle." She met each and every one of the women in the eye. "It is good to have our Coven together.
There were murmers of agreement uttered around the circle.
Dinah looked to and fro and spoke up, "Why now? Shouldn't this have been taken care of years ago? Why had we all been living in the shadows, hiding?"
"That is a very good question." Elizabet spoke up and shrugged her shoulders, "I haven't the faintest idea. Something happened and everything was sort of frozen."
Dinah narrowed her eyes at the woman across from her. "Well, I think we should figure that out before we head to battle, if we do not figure it out it may cost us our skins."
"We have to find her first. She will be our sword and shield. She can stand up to him, to them. Without her, I don't think our combined powers could defeat the beast."
The other women nodded their understanding with Elizabet. Dinah however, was not satisfied. Something felt wrong or off to her. Dinah looked over at Elizabet and studied the woman who stood in the middle of the circle with her human pet. Dinah knew that Elizabet was chosen to be the vessel. Why her? The coven naturally looked to her to lead, why? Dinah didn't know how she felt about it, her feelings mixed. She closed her mouth, for now she would follow Elizabet's lead, until a time that she felt Elizabet was leading the coven astray and then she would dissent.. A coven was a circle and there were no leaders in a circle, right?
Erin wanted to ask who the 'her' was that they were referring to. But chose not to. She still wasn't sure what she was doing here. When she noticed the sky turn dark and it was definitely late. Her mother would start to worry about her. She looked around nervously. Elizabet noticed the girl starting to panic. She motioned over to Hattie who understood.
Erin could slowly feel her eyes becoming heavy and her world turned black.
***
Erin awoke and her eyes fluttered open; sun streaming in through the windows. She panicked for a second, unsure of where she was. Then the previous days events came flooding over her. She was in the Octagon House. She had been kidnapped. She sat up suddenly flicking the covers, when had she come up to bed? When had she changed into a nightgown. Erin put her hands to her head and closed her eyes trying to recall. She couldn't remember anything. Why couldn't she remember anything?
Erin had seen the women put together a house that was in ruins. She had seen them charm a police officer, of course they could put her to sleep, that would be easy.
Erin could smelling something down in the kitchen. She didn't want to go down, but she wouldn't run away either. Her stomach growled and she threw on a robe that had been hanging on the door. She slowly peaked open through the door, the hall was empty.
Erin stepped out into the hall and began to quietly descend the steps. As she got to the front entrance Erin looked at the unguarded front door, maybe she would run...
"Good Morning Erin." A smiling Myrtle called Waving her over to join her at the table.
Erins shoulders sank, running away was never really an option.
"I've made some eggs and hash browns," Cicely called out. Holding out the plate full of the breakfast foods to the human girl.
Erin grabbed the plate, the food smelled delicious. She was getting ready to thank her when her eyes bugged out of her head and she dropped the plate, shattering to the floor.
"What the-" Erin screamed.
It was weird that Cicely was wearing sunglasses in the house. But it was more than that, her green hair was moving. Cicely had snakes in her head, she had them attached to her head. Erin slammed up against the wall trying to get away from the woman. From the monster.
Snakes. In. Her. Hair. She thought to herself. As Erin thought of the snakes the mythological creature Medusa came to mind. Medusa had had snakes on her head and if you looked into her eyes, you would turn to stone.
Oh No! Cicely wore sunglasses.
Hattie came up from behind and put a hand on her shoulder. "You're okay," she whispered. "Look at her hair, just green hair." Hattie's voice was smooth and calm. Erin felt the feelings rush over her. Her heart slowed down and she was able to take deep breaths.
Erin raised up her eyes. Avoiding Cicely's eyes and looked at her hair. Just green hair she thought to herself. But for just a moment the hair was normal dyed hair. But the illusion flickered and Erin could clearly see the snakes.
In less than 24 hours, Erin's world went black again as she passed out into the arms of Hattie who had been the closest.