Daughters of Creation

Chapter Two: Ineffable (Part One)

"Incapable of being expressed in words"
— Ineffable

October 11

Six unmatched chairs gathered around an equally non matching dining table. And like those chairs, six unique witches sat at the table, smoke from different incenses twisting through the air around them. Rosalyn sat at the head, placed there as the eldest, rolling the bottom of her lip through her teeth. Unconsciously she rubbed the vine that had snaked around her wrist, her thumb tracing the deep greens of her tattoo that never seemed to stop growing, moving. The vines and flowers crawling across her body were unlike the tree inked on her back, its leaves changing colors with the seasons. No, the vines and flowers marking her skin seemed to have a life of their own; no master to rule or guide their expansion, their growth.

Just like her magic.

Millicent sat directly across from her at the other end of the table as she was the youngest. Rosalyn glanced over the five witches that sat at her table. To her left, as the second oldest, Emerson sat shifting in her seat, hazel eyes wide, unable to stop looking at Emrie Michele; to her right she watched Emrie Michele sit stock still as she told the others of what she'd seen; on the other side of Emerson, Vela couldn't stop the gasps that kept coming from her, the shadows and lights flickering around her as her emotions rose; and across from Vela, Dana couldn't stop shaking her head. Her entire coven, what was left of it, sat before her and Rosalyn felt her blood boil at the thought of someone trying to endanger her family. Again. They weren't sisters by blood (besides herself and Millicent) but their lives ran thicker together than blood could ever tie people.

"I don't know what brought on the vision, but I think it has something to do with the rising numbers of Guards in Strey." Emrie Michele concluded, licking her lips as she leaned back in her chair looking exhausted and weary. The shadows under her eyes seemed more prominent.

It'll only be a matter of time before Guards come knocking on our door demanding answers. These murders and rise in Guards and Ri's vision are all connected—somehow it's all connected—and when, not if, those Guards come we need to be prepared for them ... Rosalyn lost herself in thought. The Veil's in trouble and its protectors will be out for blood, especially if the Five have anything to say about it.

Rosalyn's thoughts darkened toward the Guards. As an organization that protected the Veil, the safehaven for all divine, its members were dipped in midnight; darkened by the past and covered in ashes and bleeding drops of gold on clothes darker than coal. The Guards were supposed to protect the divine, the children of Ellowyn, but she couldn't help the curl of her lip when the name of those who murdered her people passed from her lips. The Guards were many things but protectors wouldn't be the first thing she called them — and the sudden number in Guards showing themselves didn't bode well.

"Should we tell someone? About Ri's vision that is." Dana broke the trance that had fallen over them.

"And who would we tell? We certainly can't go to the Guards. Not with our record and history with those douchebags in black." Millicent snorted, fire in her voice.

"Millicent Teya Octavius!" Rosalyn reprimanded, staring her sister down, though she fought down the twitch of her lips that would betray her. "You don't need to say douchebags. You're only sixteen."

Vela chuckled. "She's got you there, Lys."

Rosalyn huffed, rolling her eyes. This outnumbered she didn't feel like arguing. "Maybe so, but at least I saved cursing for when I was truly angry."

"Yes, because losing your temper at not one Guard but five is saving your cursing for when you're angry." Emrie Michele jumped in, blue eyes sparkling.