Chapter 14 - Tabitha's Wrath

Tabitha returned to her cave quickly after encountering the Fallen Eagle pack and the witches. She had known those idiots were below her waiting, and she had let herself get caught. Tabitha wanted the twins to know she was coming for them.

She was going to make a surprise attack, but she had gotten tired of just watching. Maybe it was foolish to let them know of her existence and the Black Sphere coven, but Tabitha believed she was more powerful than them, so she no longer cared.

She was curious to see the young warlock's role in this fight. From what Tabitha had witnessed, he had some strong magic but was still unsure of himself. As she was thinking, she decided it was time to summon her witches.

She closed her eyes and said her summoning spell. Tabitha could feel their confusion, and some were showing defiance, trying to break the connection. Tabitha refused to let them go, and once she could feel all of them heading her way, she opened her eyes.

They should arrive in her cave within the hour. Tabitha started preparing for them. She hadn't told them why they were coming. She figured as their High Priestess; it shouldn't matter. They should be ready to do whatever she wanted them to do when she wanted it.

Tabitha knew they were aware of the power of the Emerald Stone witches. She planned on convincing them that they all needed to work together to defeat the witches when in reality, she was setting them up for failure so she could get the twins herself.

She could hear the witches coming toward her, and many of them were complaining. Tabitha thought it was time to remind them who the boss was. As they arrived at the entrance of the cave, she saw Clara leading the way into the cave. Clara was the one she liked the least of all the witches she had under her.

"Tabitha, what the hell do you think you're doing calling us out here in the middle of nowhere?" She walked up to Tabitha with her arms crossed in defiance. Clara had only agreed to join Black Sphere because she had heard how powerful Tabitha's mother, Brielle was. On the other hand, Tabitha liked to pretend she was powerful, but Clara believed she was nothing but a fool.

"How dare you question my summons, you little swine? I'm the High Priestess of the Black Sphere, so you will do as I say." Tabitha spoke loudly so all the witches could hear. She expected them to clap, cheer or bow to her, but instead, she heard laughing. When she looked at the witches before her, most were laughing or trying not to.

"Tabitha, we're tired of your games. You're not fit to be a High Priestess unless maybe it's the High Priestess of rat droppings." This time Tabitha heard even more laughing in the crowd. She was angered beyond words being spoken to in this manner.

"Clara, those will be the last disrespectful words you will ever speak to me." Tabitha raised her hand and blew a light blue powder in Clara's face.

The other witches watched in horror as Clara screamed in agony while grabbing her throat and falling to her knees. Tabitha laughed in wicked delight. The powder would find its way into the body and eat away at a person's vocal cords. So they would still be alive but mute. The strength Tabitha had made worked on witches, vampires, and shifters.

"What's the matter, Clara dear? I can't hear you." Tabitha threw her head back and laughed again as Clara tried to scream at her. Tabitha then looked at the other witches watching the scene unfold in front of them.

"Do any of you no backbone witches have anything you want to say? I have a lot more powder here." Tabitha showed them the large glass jar she was holding and shook it at them. They all covered their mouths and shook their heads no. She looked over at Clara, who was still on her knees trying to scream, and Tabitha kicked her to the ground.

"Now, if any of you get any bright ideas like your friend Clara here, the same or worse will happen to you. I have brought you all here for a reason. I have located the Emerald Stone twins. They're not far from here. We're going to attack their pack and kidnap the witches so we can get those stones. We will then be the most powerful coven in the world, and we can rule it all."

The witches looked at each other, trying to determine if what Tabitha said was true. If she was telling the truth, how would they all share the stones? If she was lying, then why would she bring them here?

"Alright, Tabitha, we will follow you to defeat the Emerald Stone witches. Tell us what you want us to do." Marian was the one who spoke. She didn't particularly like Tabitha, but they would all benefit from this fight if she were true to her word.

"First, we must practice our magic to all work together. I have been observing the Emerald Stone twins, and they work as one unit. Even their wolves have magic and can mix it with their witches magic. They have a young warlock who joined their pack and will fight with them. He doesn't seem to have as much control over his magic, but we'll need to be careful because the twins have been training him."

Marian looked around at the other witches, who all nodded their understanding. However, some of them were apprehensive. If the Emerald Stone witches were preparing for a fight, then would Black Sphere be able to defeat them?

"Tabitha, do the twins know that you're here?" Marian watched Tabitha's face for any deception.

"Yes. While I was observing them yesterday, their mates, the Alpha and Beta of the Fallen Eagle pack found me hiding. They took me to the witches, and I told them I would be coming for them. I then did the spell of invisibility and left." Tabitha didn't think it was wise to let them know she let the wolves catch her on purpose.

Marian saw something in Tabitha's eyes that told her she wasn't telling them everything. Although, she wouldn't question it because she didn't want to end up like Clara.

"When do you plan on striking Tabitha?" Marian knew it would be soon, or she wouldn't have brought them all to her cave.

"On the next full moon in about three weeks. That should give us plenty of time to prepare and learn to work together." The witches all nodded and began talking about what was to come.
___________________
In the shadows, the others watched the discussion between the witches. When they felt the energy of the black magic in the air, they knew they had to get to Tabitha's cave to see what was happening.

They now knew when the witches would attack so they could report it to the being. They slithered out of the cave and back toward the Fallen Eagle pack so they could update the being. The invisible one stayed behind to continue watching.

The being was giddy like a child on Christman morning. He was excited to see what would happen with the fight between the good witches and the evil witches. He told the others to watch the preparations on both sides.

The being didn't doubt that the twins would defeat the Black Sphere. The Balck Sphere was powerful, but they would be like weak humans against the Emerald Stone twins. The being laughed as he thought of the demise of the Black Sphere, otherwise known as the joke of black magic.