Chapter 63

“Sisters, we have visitors. These are Lucifer’s children, and they are here to help us find Michelle and their own sibling.” Marie introduced. There were at least six women sitting around the table that most of them looked unimpressed or annoyed to see us. But two of them had wide eyes and they looked surprised.
“Oh my gosh, it’s Taehyung!” one of the girls whispered but we could clearly hear her. I could hear Yoongi snicker behind me whilst I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
“He’s really handsome in person!” The other girl whispered. Even without looking at him I could see the shit-eating smirk on Taehyung’s face.
“Ladies, focus! Woy!” Marie hissed behind us. I watched as Ella moved the ladies to make room for the three of us and Yoongi and I made sure that Taehyung sit in between us.
“Alright, let’s get this over with.” Yoongi mumbled. The older woman across from us reached out her hand.
“I need a droplet of your blood from any of you.” She instructed. Yoongi immediately held his palm out and the woman did not waste any more second as she suddenly pulled out a small knife and sliced the middle of his skin. Ella gasped next to us, but Yoongi remained unfazed, his stare unwavering at the woman. He then closed his palm and let the blood ooze out of him, a droplet hitting the map below and staining the paper.
All seven witches, including Ella, held hands and began chanting an unfamiliar language, and as they did, I could see Yoongi’s bloodstain begin to move against the paper. A small thin line made out of the bloodstain began to move around the map until it stopped in a wide, plain area. I gazed at the map as a whole and realized that it was the map within Italy only, and from where we were currently situated, and where the blood has led us, it seemed that Lilly was only a mile away from us.
“Where is this place?” Taehyung asked.
“This is a few meters away from Mount Vesuvius. The host’s mansion is hidden in the highest peak of this mount, and it is said that no mortal can see it, but only the supernatural’s.” One which replied. As I stared down at the map, the blood slowly continued to move deeper into the area, and I could only assume that this witch was leading Lilly towards the host.
“If you do not hurry, you might not be able to make it.” Marie said as she hovered behind us, staring at the map as well. “Any of the witches who wish to help find Michelle and bring her back—”
“I will.” Ella quickly volunteered. “Michelle and I are the closest, so I think she’ll listen to me if I would be the one to find her.”
“Very well, then.” Marie said. “Will you be alright if you went with these…”
“Marie, I’ll be fine.” Ella replied pointedly. “They’re alright. We’ll help each other.”
“Oh, please.” One which piped in with a scoff. “Ella, you’re too naïve and kind-hearted to see that these demons would kill you the moment you bust a wrong move. They will only use you until they get what they want.”
This witch does not seem to know how to shut up.
“Alessandra, even if that is the case, what choice do we have??” Ella snapped back. “Do you all not want Michelle to come back to us? Try to bring her back into the light??”
Everyone remained silent. The three of us kept quiet knowing that this was family matter, and we had no business in interrupting lest we wanted our organs to be burned.
“I thought so.” Ella clarified. She then stood up and faced us. “Let’s go, we don’t have much time.”

***

Ella’s POV
We easily reached the forest leading up to Mount Vesuvius in no less than ten seconds after we finalized the plan back at home. I was still trying to get used to the whole teleportation thing that I found myself getting nauseous at the sudden sensation.
The siblings must have sensed my sudden weakness and I watched as Taehyung tried to meet my eyes with a worried gaze.
“Feeling, okay?” He asked as he studied my face, contorted with the feeling of resisting the urge to vomit. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I nodded and met his gaze.
“Yes, I’m okay. I’m still trying to get used to the whole teleportation thing.” I replied honestly. My reply made a smile inch up to his flawless face.
“You’ll get used to it soon, Ella.” Irene said in an encouraging tone before looking at the woods ahead of us. It was dark inside and the thick branches stretched out towards each other like vines. The trees must be at least a hundred feet tall considering its towering height; a few mists of clouds can be seen looming over what seems to be the tip of Douglas-fir and Lodgepole pines.
“Alright, you guys ready?” Irene asked aloud. The four of us were just standing there, staring at the dark path ahead of us, probably asking the same questions and wondering whether we could still make it out alive; considering that the moment we stepped foot on Mount Vesuvius, all powers would be stripped off of supernatural’s.
“Let’s go, let’s not waste any more time.” Yoongi declared. And so, we began our walk towards the dark and stony path towards the woods, the faint and echoing sounds of birds and unknown creatures lingering in my ears. I’m a witch, yes, and we are known to be genuine friends of animals, but we can only do so much for them and vice versa. We are called to also protect the creatures, but it was never a promise that animals could give the same thing back.
I allowed my magic to seep through my veins, lingering at the tips of my fingertips as we trudged through the forest. It was slowly nearing nighttime and the slivers of light entering the woods were slowly fading away, and we were soon swallowed in darkness.
“How ironic is it that even if we are children of Lucifer, we were never gifted to see clearly in the dark?” Yoongi joked and I could hear Taehyung chuckle from behind me.
“We’d be unstoppable by then.” He replied smugly.
“Great. Does anyone have a flashlight? We could be killed in seconds if we keep walking around blindly and talking loudly.” Irene sighed. I couldn’t help the smile that made its way to my lips as I held out the palms of my hands.
“Not to worry,” I assured them. Since my magic was waiting by the tips of my fingers, I was easily able to produce the morning light, the warmth of the summer sun exuding from the palms of my hands. I could hear their gasps in amazement as light glowed from both my palms, lighting up the dark that surrounded us. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to allow us to walk in the dark without tripping.
“Witchcraft still amazes me,” Yoongi breathed out as the four of continued to move ahead.
“Not all witches can do this, though. If you’re a witch of the dark, there’s no way you can harness the light from the sun—or the moon. Those witches work better in the dark.” I told them as I closed my other palm and the light vanished, but it only made the light from my other hand glow brighter.
“You said you are a Luna, right?” Irene asked, engaging in small conversation. “What does that exactly mean? Do you witches worship the moon? Or are you immune to its fatal powers?”
I smiled at her genuine curiosity. “We’re not really immune to it, no. We only harness what we can, and that goes the same for the sun and the galaxy too. Since our coven believes in the moon goddesses and prays to them, we are blessed with strong immunity from its powers that if other witches can get a hold of it, they could die. But we’re not necessarily invincible, either. If we upset the moon goddesses, it can be over for us.”
“Wait, did you say moon goddesses? As in, plural?” Yoongi asked unsure.
I nodded. “Her name is Hecate, but she comes in three forms; the Maiden, Mother and Crone, each of which symbolizes both a separate stage in the female life cycle and a phase of the Moon, and often rules one of the realms of heavens, earth, and underworld. But from a peace treaty and agreement pleaded by your father centuries ago, Hecate agreed and blessed him to rule over the underworld and in return Lucifer does not harm innocent mortals as well as witches who pray to her—which is my coven.”
Taehyung let out a low whistle. “Can’t believe our father begged on his knees in front of a celestial goddess, it’s probably something I’d exchange my immortality to see.”
Yoongi snickered and I could hear the small slap of skin against skin followed by a small cry of pain. Irene apparently smacked Taehyung by his head.