Chapter 5: The Coven's Accusations

Lena's POV

"Well, well. We will meet again, little Lena."

A voice which was like honey mixed with poison said. I knew that voice and I hated that voice.

Elsa.

Standing in my Crib like she owned the place. Dressed in black which is sweeping the floor, her face pale, her cold eyes and she smiled like a snake.

Everyone was staring, the whole room went silent and I could feel the tension. It was thick and heavy.

I forced myself to stay calm, I couldn't let her see she rattled me.

"Elsa." Kept my voice flat. "What brings you here?"

She stepped forward, the temperature dropped, it actually got colder when she moved.

"Don't play dumb." She said and moved another step closer. "Know exactly why I'm here."

I crossed my arms, looking straight into hers. "Enlighten me."

The smile got wider, worse. "There was a disturbance tonight. Massive magical surge. Very unusual, it's very powerful." I paused for a moment. Let the words hang. "Came from right here, your precious little sanctuary."

My stomach dropped, I knew exactly what she meant. The magic I'd used on Darion? Should've been more careful, I should've hidden it better.

"Don't know what you're talking about."

"Liar!."

Those words cut like a blade.

I started walking around the room, my fingers trailing over chairs, over the bar but everyone was watching. Frozen and afraid.

"Always found you fascinating, Lena." My voice is soft now but dangerous. "Witch with no coven. No family, no history anyone can trace yet somehow you maintain this place for decades." She stopped and turned. "How does that work exactly?"

"Hard work and good intentions."

She laughed, cold and brittle manner. "Hard work. Adorable."

She moved closer, her voice dropping. "Think you're hiding something, I think you have forbidden knowledge, or artifacts or power that doesn't belong to you."

"That's ridiculous."

"Is it?" She replied with her eyes narrowed and sharp. "Then explain the energy I felt. It wasn't normal witchcraft. Was something else, something old and wild." She leaned in a loose way. Too close to me "Something you shouldn't have."

My heart was pounding but I refused to back down. "You're imagining things."

"Am I?" She questioned, straightened up and spoke louder. To the room. "Perhaps your residents would like to know what kind of power their keeper plays with. Power that could bring every hunter and council down on this place."

Nervous murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"Don't know what you're talking about."

"Then prove it." Smiled. Triumphant. "Let me inspect your sanctuary, workrooms, storage and private quarters. If you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear."

"Absolutely not."

"Ah. So you are hiding something."

"I'm protecting my residents' privacy." I replied in a voice hard and angry. "This is neutral ground, everyone here has a right to secrets, safety and that includes me."

"How convenient." She threw.

I stepped forward. Got in her face. Close enough to see the anger behind her smile. "Don't get to come into my home and make demands, Elsa. Don't care what you think you feel. This is my sanctuary. My rules. You're not welcome here."

Something flashed in her eyes. Real anger. Not fake sweetness.

"You're making a mistake."

"No. You are. By coming here and threatening me."

She stepped back. Smoothed her dress. Casual. But I could see the fury underneath. Barely controlled.

"Very well." Voice calm. Too calm. "If you won't cooperate I'll bring this before the local supernatural council."

Blood ran cold. Didn't let it show.

"Going to waste the council's time with paranoid fantasies?"

"Not paranoia when there's evidence." Smiled again. "Have three witnesses from my coven who felt the same disturbance. Have documentation. Timestamps. Magical signatures." Paused. "Council takes unauthorized power very seriously. Especially when it threatens the balance."

"There is no unauthorized power."

"Then you have nothing to worry about." Voice light. Mocking. "Council will investigate. Interview your residents. Inspect your sanctuary. If they find nothing..." Shrugged. "I'll apologize for the inconvenience."

"And if they find something?"

"Then this sanctuary gets dismantled." Said it simply. Like nothing. "And you'll be brought before the council to answer for whatever you've been hiding."

Clear threat, not just coming after me but coming after everything. My home, my residents and everything I built.

"Council will hear my petition within the week." Turned to leave. Paused at the door. "Oh, and Lena? Don't think about running. Would only make you look guilty."

She swept out. Door closing with a final click.

Nobody moved. Nobody spoke.

Then the room exploded.

"The council? She's bringing the council?"

"We're all getting questioned!"

"What if they shut this place down?"

"Knew this was too good to last!"

Panic spreading. Fast. Like wildfire. Could feel everything falling apart.

Then worse.

Three witches in the corner. Ones I'd sheltered months ago. Huddled together. Whispering. One spoke loud enough for everyone.

Moira. Sharp face. Sharper tongue.

"Maybe Elsa has a point." Look at me. Eyes hard. Suspicious. "How does Lena have this much power? Never explained it. Never joined a coven. What if she is hiding something dangerous?"

Another witch nodded. "Always wondered. The wards around this place are stronger than anything I've seen. And tonight..." Glanced at me. Nervous. Afraid. "Felt it too. That surge. Was... unnatural."

"Unnatural?" Voice is dangerous. Low.

Moira stood. Emboldened. "We deserve to know what we're living with. If you're using forbidden magic. If you have dangerous artifacts. We have a right to know. Our lives could be at risk."

"Your lives are at risk because I'm protecting you!" Voice rising. "All of you! Where else would you go? What other sanctuary would take you?"

"Maybe we'd be safer without whatever trouble you're bringing down on us." Moira shot back.

Other voices joined. Some defending. Some questions. The unity I'd worked for. Cracking. Breaking. Right down the middle.

Tormund appeared beside me. Hand on my shoulder. Steady.

"Everyone calm down." Voice firm. "Right now."

But damage was done, I could see it in their eyes, the doubt, fear and suspicion.

Elsa planted her seeds perfectly