The Witches of the Forest; The Final Battle: The Witches of the Forest, #6

By Darrel Day

This is the sixth and final segment of the series Witches of the Forest. It will take you from the beginning to the end and back to the beginning again. 
This coven of witches has battled demons, warlocks and witches from the dark side. They have seen the past, present and the future in an attempt to protect the forest that holds their secrets. Witches have sacrificed their lives to see that the forest lived on.  
From Salem Village, two centuries ago, this coven was created to keep good on the right side of world. Through witch hunts, burning and hangings they have found a way to move forward. In a world that both fears and stands in awe of the witches, they find their safety and peace deep inside the forest. 
A new queen is born and takes her rightful place in the coven. Eli, brother to Queen Rachel returns one more time to steal what he believes is his by birthright. Somebody has to win and someone must die. Losing this battle will end the coven and the witches of the Forest.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Darrel Day
• Release date: Oct 25, 2016
• ISBN: 9781506159249

Darrel Day

Darrel Day is a 12 time published author of suspense thrillers, short story collections and biographies. His books are available in both print and on all e-readers.  Residing in a smalltown in Iowa, Darrel enjoys the outdoors where he gathers inspiration for his writing.

Book preview

Chapter  1

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With no sign of Eli for a year, the coven spoke of returning to their lives amongst mortals. The cottage had protected them, allowing time to rebuild their strengths.

I wish I knew where he has gone to as I fear he has been waiting for this day to come. The air is heavy and I feel as if the battle is at hand. The girls have been taught as best we could and we are never going to be more ready.

Then let’s do this, My Queen. Debra and Matthew will be here to watch over the cottage. The girls will be with Johnathon and yourself. If we are to do battle, the time has never been better.

All agreed with Timothy and one by one they began to leave the realm of the cottage. Elizabeth asked for and was granted permission to stay at the cabin. She could not know when the change would happen and dared not be surrounded by mortals when it did.

It was quiet as each said their goodbyes and left. Deanna drove towards her home in the mountains while Sarah found her peace near the ocean. She would return to Salem one day as her life was now in that time era. She could not protect the children of old from where she was now. Rachel would go to her house just outside of the forest with just herself and the girls first. Johnathon would stay at the cottage with Elizabeth until Rachel called for him. Ellie and Karen were strong enough to defend themselves but feigned being needy now and then. It gave Johnathon reason to be.

It was an unspoken agreement that Rachel and Johnathon never be intimate. Rachel was part of Jacob and would remain so for the rest of her life. She visited Jacob in the flames whenever she could. Johnathon had grown close to Elizabeth and they had found comfort and love with one another. Ellie seemed alright with her father and Elizabeth, now known as Eliza. The name change was for her protection from those that sought to kill her. She would remain with Johnathon at the cabin where they could keep watch for Eli.

Eliza’s twins, Selena and Topaz, stayed with their mother. If she changed to the creature they did not have the knowledge yet to control themselves. They would take on her same form until their mother had returned to human form.  Rachel had places she needed to go to take care of the coven. Some of the tasks she needed to take on would take her outside of the forest. Her powers were lessened in the city though she still remained second in strength only to her daughter Karen.

The queens of old would stay near the cabin to give Johnathon, the mortal, as he had come to be known as, added protection. Grace, the changeling, worked with Eliza to teach her how better to control her changes. She would perhaps bring Eliza to a place that she could mingle with the public. She wanted the chance to see all that she had lost to the demon. Her innocence was gone forever but she had regained her dignity.

I will be taking the girls to the city with me for a time. I want them to know some sort of normal life before they return to live here. Karen knows that she will one day be Queen and she strives to learn all she can. I want her to ease some so that she is not lost in the coven. I have a home in the city and we will reside there for a time.

It makes no sense to me at all, Rachel. Those two girls have gone from new born to teens in a matter of a year. How is it that you think people won’t notice when Karen walks into whatever grade and she is a freaking adult? Have you stopped to think about that? It will happen and then you will have some serious explaining to do.

"I am neither daft nor ignorant to your words Johnathon. I have thought about it and they will be schooled at home with a tutor that is part of the coven. People walking the streets will not care how fast they age. I will be constantly conscious of what they do and who they know. Your concern is valid but I think I have this one."

I would keep Ellie here as we had spoken of first. She is my daughter too. I do not want her harmed in some way.

You need not worry as I am very capable of taking care of her. I will return after a time unless Eli decides to emerge. I will know by the other witches and the forest. They can speak to me whether I am here or there. Take care of those you have here and please, protect the cabin. If we should lose our hold here then I fear the coven may fall.

I question the end result of all of this, Queen. It has been seen what will become of the coven and Karen. Why must we watch over something we know still stands fifty years from now?

Eliza, your question is not one that should be ignored. It is hard to follow the ways of the coven as we do know things of the future. We strive not to rush ahead to fix or change things that might bring harm to anyone of our coven. What we have learned is that nothing is etched in cement for us. Time and the things that happen in the past or future can change. Actions we take in the present reflect on both the past and future. The fabric of time is thin and easily torn by magic. A rip in the fabric can allow alterations of everything that has or will one day occur.

Not meaning to interrupt but, why don’t we simply go back in time to where we know that Eli would be? We could go there as a full coven and kill him. That would end the need to remain so secretive, would it not?

Eli, like me, has protection from time movements. Though we could go back as you say, he would know that we have traveled. He would take measures to assure his own safety. Without such protection, we would be vulnerable to attacks whenever a witch or warlock decided to destroy us. I wish in the case of my brother that it were not so, but it is. In order to catch him unaware, more powers than I possess would be needed. Someday I hope that Karen finds just such a power. For now, we must play by the rules.

I understand and I have promised my life to this coven that took me in. I will keep that promise and fight to my own death for you and your family. Go now and show your girls the world that I hope to return to one day.

Rachel bid them farewell and took her girls to the cabin at the other side of the forest. She saw the cabin and her heart began to beat harder in her chest. She could already feel Jacob’s presence and she smiled. Debra and Matthew, keeping watch over the cabin, met them at the door. Debra smiled and hugged the two girls.

The last time I saw you two, which wasn’t long ago, you were tiny babies. Look at you both now. You must be nearing teen years or better.

I am about fifteen, though that is just our best guess. We are not certain of what our ages are. Ellie grew much faster than I did and she seems to be more than two years older than me.

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