"Johnathan!" Isabel's body moved before her mind registered what had happened. She watched dispassionately as the Wiccan's arm hit the ground with a heavy thud. The athame blade had cut through the skin, tendons, and bone like it was soft butter against a chef's knife. Johnathan stood no chance against Isabel's meticulous training and perfectionist nature. If she had severed the limb with a normal blade, the recovery would have been smooth as the cut was clean. However, the athame steel blade would make the reattachment virtually impossible.
An abrupt rain shower poured around the group of Wiccans. She was grateful for the rain as it held the tears that ran down her face. As a Custos, showing emotion while dealing out punishment would make her look weak. Though Isabel would walk away from all of this blameless, there was still hot, ugly guilt that sat at the bottom of her gut. Inherently, Isabel was a protector. She did not enjoy the act of killing, merciful or not.
The Custos were guardians of the inheritors of Earth, Aurelia had told her daughter when she was young. If a Custos gave an order, that contradicted the orders of her parents, the Coven, the Council of magic, or anyone of authority; the Custos orders were to be followed at all costs. It was the way of life of the Magick communities. Custos were the Chosen of Magick, the guardians as well as the representatives of Magick.
Johnathan Harris was a decent guy. Honestly, Isabel could easily say he was a good guy. Paid his dues to the Coven, took care of his immediate family, and was a decent friend to anyone who knew him; and yet, he stood there and was in the middle of casting a spell to bind her when she was explicit in her orders. Her, the Ventus Custos, the Livingstone Heir; even when she told them all what would happen if they did so! Isabel's will harden when she heard the dying screams of humans. She raised her hand up, fingers spread, and her magic was will. Isabel shouted, ❝Veni lutum! Adiuro eum!❞
Dirt rose up upon her command and bound Johnathan within until only his head was visible. From the corner of her eye, she saw James pick up the two Wiccans with his magic and continuously slam them into the side of a brick building until they were knocked unconscious. It broke her heart that these Wiccans could so easily ignore her when she gave her warnings. Did they think because she was a minor that she would not live up to her word? She studied Johnathan, who held his head up high. "Was I not clear?"
"They're just worthless humans. There are, what? More than 7 billion of these worthless pigs in the world, Isa-" Isabel immediately cut him off. The guilt that she felt dissipated at the thought of her given name, the precious gift from her mother and father given to her, being said by any of these Wiccans made her sick. Her eyes flared with her magic, an unholy glow behind her eyes.
"You! Do not get to call me so familiarly. I gave my warnings, and you chose to ignore them. You are the highest-ranking Wiccan after my apprentice on this patrol, so you will face the brunt of the consequence for defying a direct order from the Custos."
"I only answer to those who lead the Coven." Isabel laughed. That response was so juvenile, so child-like that Isabel could not help but laugh. Johnathan held his head up waiting for Isabel to behead him with the athame in her hands. Another Wiccan patrol member had taken the moment to throw herself to Isabel's feet.
"Custos, I beg for your mercy, please! High Priestess Gabriella preyed upon our weakness, Custos. Please, have mercy! Johnathan's wife is with child and the others have young families within the coven!" Isabel's eyes never left Johnathan, ignoring the weeping Wiccan. James was upon the two of them in seconds, tearing away the Wiccan and throwing her where the others laid unconscious. "CUSTOS PLEASE!"
Miriam Harper fought against James as she tried to rush between Isabel and Johnathan. She was the only member of this patrol to not fight against her when she tried to move forward. Isabel knew Miriam only through Miriam's grandfather, Master Harper. Master Harper was a wordsmith and often oversaw most of the Master and Apprentice bondings. Isabel made a point to request Master Harper when she was making her bond with James. He was meticulous in his work.
"I die today in the name of the Coven, Miriam! Do not beg this child for mercy, she is a demon in Wiccan skin to ruin the Thubans!" Isabel tilted her head. While it was true that begging would not help them, it was a bit off the nose to call her a demon in Wiccan skin when she was following the Code of Magick. All they had to do was follow her orders, stop the demon from entering the home, find the Wiccan who summoned the demon and end the patrol with no one dying or giving her a reason to make an example out of them.
It really was not that hard to follow. Isabel thought she was making it very easy for the patrol teams.
"Who the hell said I was going to kill you? I said that you would forfeit your life if you disregard my orders, and you have. Instead, I am going to make sure you live, Johnathan Harris. Live with their deaths staining your hands, Wiccan and mortal alike," Isabel said. Her eyes were cold and an empty smile graced her face.
She turned to the two unconscious Wiccans as Johnathan stared in horror. He finally understood what she meant. Isabel raised her arm up, an action that desperately wanted to fight against. She did not want to have to spill the blood of Wiccans that night, but the reputation of the Custos and her honor in her word was being tested. They attacked her charge while James was only acting on her orders.
Her hands spread, she called out the spells, ❝Veni. Ventus Tornare!❞
Like puppets, the two Wiccans rose and were dragged by an invisible force towards her. The air around the two Wiccans kept the two of them from moving, like an invisible tornado. Isabel ignored how Johnathan started to fight against the compact dirt that bound him. She ignored how Miriam kept pleading with her. Isabel gripped the athame that previously severed Johnathan's dominant arm from his body.
Isabel was going to be the ones to count the dead. She was the one who mourned them, the one who failed to protect them; and for Wiccans to just look down on her. Isabel snapped her fingers, awakening the unconscious Wiccans. "For forsaking the Ventus Custos, disregarding the direct orders of a Custos for that of a mere High Priestess, and endangering the last Wiccan of a Magick Noble Family and her ward; Johnathan Harris this is your punishment. To know that you have allowed the deaths of these Wiccans, you will live and forever find yourself never redeemed for your slight. You and that of your blood will never know the grace of magic ever again. And know this, I will bind their children and loved ones because of your actions. You've patrolled with Custos before, and yet you spit on the title and power."
Isabel ignored her heart that broke as she beheaded the two Wiccans, one right after another. Their heads falling to the ground and rolling to his feet. Johnathan lost his will to fight against the dirt the moment the second head had dropped. Isabel was sparing Miriam, if only because of Master Harper.
Isabel moved and stood next to the man, "All you had to do was follow simple instructions. Instead, you chose to betray my trust and besmirch my honor. I hope whatever Gabriella Lucchesi promised you for this was worth it because I am going to make sure everyone in the Magick communities all around the world know that you chose the empty promises of a Wiccan High Priestess over a teenage Custos who has nothing to live for but the honor she can bring her deceased parents. This I swear, on my pride as a Livingstone, my honor as the Ventus Custos, and by the Code of Magick."
A moment of silence before the wind whipped around the Wiccans, taking Isabel's vow and binding it. There were few words in the modern English language that could invoke magic like a vow. Magick took the intent of a Wiccan over the language. The older languages helped magic flow from a Wiccan. However, Isabel had heard that Wiccans in different countries were able to use their mother language to invoke magic.
"James, send the bodies straight to Thuban High Priestess' rooms along with this filth. Make sure to cover up the mess these idiots made before you leave the area. I am going to go after whatever demon was summoned tonight and hopefully find some survivors," Isabel said as she glared at the forms of the dispatched patrol team. If this was the quality that the Thubans boasted of, Isabel was better off restoring the Asaruludu Coven. "If I am lucky, I might be able to get some clues as to which coven is authorizing unsanctioned demonic summoning. Catch up with me whenever you are finished or send me a message on your status and your location."
"And Harper?" James asked. Isabel and James turned to the Wiccan in question, who stared in shock at the heads. Isabel had no doubt that this would color Miriam's view. However, there was a demon loose and Isabel was not about to have a foolish Wiccan going around trying to avenge her friends.
"Bind her and alert Master Harper to send for her. Leave her within the Thuban Coven walls. Tell him that she had no hand in their plot, but that I am severely disappointed that she stood by and did nothing. Remind him that I am the Ventus Custos as well as the Livingstone Heir if he gives you any fuss."
James nodded his head before Isabel took off into the house. The two of them had already killed seven Wiccans between the two of them, Isabel just wanted to protect people. She did not want to behead Wiccans, did not want to sever their limbs; she did not want to have to use Wiccans as examples to make sure that her orders were obeyed by the people who were supposed to obey them.
Isabel just wanted to fulfill her duties and learn more magic.
She rushed forward. Either a solitary Wiccan or a Coven had dangerous plans to create an imbalance in this world, she wanted to know who and what they were planning. The Livingstone heir hoped that she was not too late. She prayed to her patrons that she could at least save one soul.