THE COVENANT REQUESTS YOUR PRESENCE.
That was what the note said when Ivrea read it multiple times. Under normal circumstances, no ordinary witch was allowed to attend the Covenant unless invited.
She walked to her room hurriedly and closed her door, leaning on it for support. Looking at her phone for the time, it seemed she only had a couple of hours to prepare.
"Oh, what should I do?" She stared at the note again one last time before folding and placing it back with trembling hands on the table.
She had longed and waited for this moment to arrive. But instead of excitement, all she felt was dread. Why?
She always wanted to be part of the Covenant, but at the moment, her mind kept reminding her of what she and Elisia did the other day.
"You can do this?" Ivrea quickly moved to her closet to look for the right clothes to wear because she could not decline such a request whether she was afraid to attend or not.
After a few minutes, she grabbed one and changed, hoping it would be enough to make her presentable. As she looked at the mirror, she wondered what fate awaited her at the gathering.
"Ivrea, I heard that the Covenant summoned your presence." Her mother's voice proudly echoed inside her room as she entered and walked toward her.
Her mother strode to the room with grace and elegance, looking like a supermodel. Well, she used to be one. She only stopped when she stood directly in front of her.
"Yes, Mom, I received a note earlier." She admitted, pointing to the brown parchment on her table.
"Finally, you finally earned your way inside the Circle of Power." Her eyes automatically shifted to her dress before hugging her and kissing her head. "You looked lovely in that dress."
Although her mother was one of the Heads of the Covenant, which consisted of five head witches, she still had no power in choosing the new members.
The Elder witches, the dead witches whose power was supreme, were the only ones who could assess who they deemed worthy to enter the next realm.
But only the Covenant Heads usually could have access to the Elder witches' messages.
"But Mom, how sure are you that this is not something else?" Her voice still quivered in anxiousness, feeling her nerves were about to burst out.
She quickly walked towards the window, out of her mother's grasp, and looked at the city before her. She wished that it was that simple. That the Elders only wanted to invite her into their circle and nothing more.
"Why is there a problem?" Diana walked towards her as her eyes watched her, studying her. Suddenly, she had to look away, afraid that her mother might see her internal struggle.
"Did something happen that you are not telling me?" Worry lines immediately appeared on her forehead.
She usually told her mother everything. But lately, all she could do was avoid her. Afraid her mother might discover her secret. She was not exactly good at lying to her mother.
"Nothing out of the ordinary," Ivrea responded, lying through her teeth, hoping she sounded convincing. But her mother's eyes expressed that she was not buying her act. "It is probably the nerves. The excitement about finally becoming part of the Covenant." She continued, but even she doubted her words.
She mustered as much confidence as she could, hoping it would be enough to convince her mother that nothing was wrong with her.
"Ivrea, you know you can tell me anything." Diana could probably sense her agitation as she sat down on her bed, patting the space beside her.
She wished she could tell her mother what was bothering her, but she could not break her promise to Elisia. At the same time, she was afraid of the consequence of spilling those secrets.
"There is nothing to tell." Ivrea insisted as she gazed down at the blue dress she chose to wear for this special day before going back to her mirror to finish arranging her face and hair.
She wished with all her heart that she could tell her mother. But Elisia forced her to promise never to breathe to any living soul what they had done, even swearing that the Elders were the ones who asked her to do it.
But what if Elisia was mistaken? What if the Elders had nothing to do with what they did. And now, the Elders learned of her participation in the ritual and were about to punish her. Suddenly, her heart was drumming again in her chest with fear of what was to come. But she still squared her shoulder, ready to face the consequence of her action.
"Ok." Her mother raised her hand in surrender, feeling that there was nothing else she could do. "Do you like some help with your hair?" Deciding to change the topic as she quickly moved to her back when she nodded.
Soon, they were walking along the hallways of the large mansion owned by the Head of the Covenant, Marcia. The mother of her friend, Elisia.
A few minutes later, they neared the closed double doors that would finally allow her a peek of what was going on inside the meetings of the Covenant.
Her heart was about to explode from the excitement of finally becoming part of this great society. But at the same time, her mind reminded her of the dread of being discovered.
"Are you ready?" Her mother asked as she escorted her near the door that automatically opened, revealing the grandest ballroom she had ever seen.
It seemed that there was a celebration happening inside as everyone wore their grandest clothes. Loud chatters echoed in the walls as waves of laughter bounced back from every corner of the enormous ballroom.
Her apprehension suddenly changed into confusion, wondering what was happening around her. Her eyes widened, seeing all the familiar faces enjoying the celebration.
"Diana!" One of the heads of the Covenant greeted her mother immediately as soon as they stepped foot in the door. "I am glad to see you."
"Marcia, I am also happy to see you." Her mother hugged the woman back. "By the way, I think you know my daughter, Ivrea." Diana proudly introduced her to the Covenant head.
"Of course, Elisia always mentions you. But it was unfortunate that we have not met until now." Marcia turned to her and also enveloped her in a hug. "I am sure Elisia would be so happy to see that you are joining us today."
"Where is Elisia?" Ivrea finally asked when Marcia finally let her go, wishing only to be able to find some breathing space. She could not think straight with her mother and another Covenant head constantly staring at her.
She wondered where her friend was. Unlike her, Elisia was welcomed to the Covenant last year. Although they were almost the same age, it appeared that she had proven her worth earlier than she did.
But the question that bugged her mind remained. She could not remember an incident that she did that would gain the interest of the Elders in her. Except.
Was that her ticket in the Circle of Power?