Love's incandescence

Nary a soul walked through the streets of willows bark, the red witches were soon to begin their 'ceremony' as it was.The street was cloaked in darkness and hung heavily with an eerie silence; red glows from lit torches penetrated the endless black.Amidst dead trees and rocky grounds stood a huge brick house built with careful gloom and precise misery.Through unrestricted windows on the ground floor, twelve figures cloaked in black stood in a dark --save for the hearth-- bare room to carry out a coven ritual. Two figures within a human circle of ten stood by a boiling cauldron filled with unknown liquids.Huddled in a corner of the room sat eight children, the glow from the hearth outlined their faces, all young faces varying with expressions of; confusion, attentiveness and intrigue.Seated between two young witches, or rather squashed between, was six years old Nadea, the flames from the fireplace outlined a young transfixed face with fragile features; a pert nose, little rosy lip

Making her way through familiar rocky paths and wilted trees ladened with snow, but never quite leaving the coven grounds, she finally came across her haven. A glaring contrast to the dead trees and dried grounds, her little garden bloomed with life and greenry. From where she was, she could smell the delightful mix of fragrance. Nearing the garden, an array of heady floral scents wafted through her nose, small evergreen topiaries greeted her sights, yellow daffodils and red petunias a beautiful contrast. Going over to the wooden bench on the small lawn, she sat and absently watched as furry little birds fluttered round the flowers.A peaceful sigh escaped her lips, all her creation. She didn't know how long she sat like that, inhaling the fragrant air and watching the beautiful vitality of nature  Before she died, h

The throne room, just like the grand hall, was anything but warm, walls of pure ice and windows covered with dark pleated drapes stretched to high vaulted ceilings, connecting to archways and fluted columns.Furnitures were meted out in pale shades around the room. And it was just her luck --which was often bad-- that they were having a meeting.Beneath the ice throne where the king sat, were ice aristocrats. Immediately, she fell into a deep curtsy, she was surprised she didn't topple over her feet. "Rise!" She rose to meet the King's unfriendly scrutiny. For a moment, she stood there dumbly, quaking in her boots. "I." She finally spoke up. "Have come to make a personal request,

A loud sound cut through the noise, reducing its volume. Everyone went quiet The class doors were pushed open and Keira walked in. "Alright girls, that's the lunch bell." She called amidst the resonating sound.The girl's all stood and pushed towards the dinning hall, by now already knowing the way.Lunch was neither quiet nor tense as it was before. All the witches had acquainted themselves and were connoting freely.When lunch was over, she made her way to her room with Ochen at her side. They had not mastered the way to their rooms yet so they followed behind Keira, passing through the maze of corridors and hallways that was the right wing. "I can predict the days ahead of us." Ochen whined."What?" Asked Dea."I fear I might die of boredom as it is. I spoke with my maid and she said the stable master might allow us a horse or two to go ridding with, but she also sai

Throwing her hood over her head she rushed to the door, the tiny creek it made as she opened it echoed through the empty hallway.The night hid her clandestine movements but unfortunately, didn't mute the hurried patter of her footsteps. The candles in sconces attached to the walls illuminated the way. After misplacing her way a good number of times she skittered into the grand hall and headed for the blue hall.Sure enough, a cloaked figure came rushing towards her. Ochen grabbed her hand and led her through the hall into the last door,and then they climbed an extremely long staircase.Just when Dea was starting to think there was no end to the continuous stairway they entered a hall.The candles on the walls revealed the red carpets which they strode upon. There was a point where the hallway branched off at both sides, Ochen led her through the right opening.They walked hurriedly, trying