The Covens Circle: the halo series, #2

By SR S

When JJ O'Malley was betrayed by someone she loves, the hunt for vengeance begins. Stepping away from everything and everyone she knows; JJ becomes entailed in the world of magic. Making a journey on foot through the mountains, with the witches from all the covens, JJ cannot face the truth of what she caused and turns magic on herself. Caught in the afterlife of the abyss, JJ's soul is compromised by the ancestors and given the gift of all knowledge.

            Sent back into the mortal world as the entity she was given at birth, JJ has now become Halo. Rejected by all those around her when she opens her eyes, Halo's darker side erupts sending the witch realm into a panic. Struggling to maintain what good is left in her, Halo sets out on a magical journey to learn who and what she is.

• Language: English
• Publisher: SrS
• Release date: Jul 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393602576

Book preview

Chapters

Kaitlin: New Beginnings

JJ: The Journey

JJ: The Witches

Leebo: Perpetual Darkness

Cornelius: Confrontation

JJ: Unlikely Friendship

Kaitlin: Vanished

Garius:  Hide and Seek

JJ: Time

Garius: Frustration

JJ: Face to Face

Gris El: The Beginning, Middle and End

Gris El: Into the Darkness

Garius: The Decision

Kaitlin: Immortality

Gris El: The Unseen Truth

JJ: Letting Go

Gris El: Final Destination

Maximus: The Cottage

Roxy: The Council of Elders

Halo: The Abyss

Halo: Pretending

Garius: Glorious

Maximus: Unstoppable

Halo: Caught Inside a Shell

Gris El: Ticking Time Bomb

Maximus: Why Not Ask

Garius: Seesaws

Halo: A Dirty Deed

Kaitlin: Pretenses

Arturo: Revelations

Kaitlin: We’ll See About That

Jebadiah: The Coast is Clear

Garius: Dead End

Halo: Jenny Hawl

Jennie Hawl: Lil Jeb

Halo: Ghosts of the Past

Master Waters: An Air of Mystery

Halo: Quid Pro Quo

Mrs. Hawl: Crazy is as Crazy Does

Ketra: We Have a Problem

Halo: No Regrets

Ketra: Perhaps I Was Wrong

Arturo: Torture

Halo: Alone

Mrs. Hawl: Innocence Lost

Kaitlin: A Living Nightmare

Gris El: The Witch Whisperer

Mistress Waters: Release

Gris El: Time to Go Home

Ketra: Verbatim

Mrs. Hawl: Eavesdropping

Halo: The Calm Before the Storm

Gris El: Treason

Jebadiah: To the Rescue

Harriet Comsa: Silence

Halo: Righting a Wrong

Roxy: Dead Witch Walking

Gris El: A Traitor Amongst Us

Halo: Experiment

Master Waters: Friend or Foe

Kaitlin: The Truth Comes Out

Roxy: At the Stroke of Noon

Halo:

Roxy: Execution

Halo: Hell Hath No Fury

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Dear Diary, if someone would have told me a year ago that I would have met and fallen in love with a vampire, much like anyone else, I would have thought they were crazy. I did. I don’t know why it never really freaked me out. Maybe my Awa prepared me in her way with the bedtime stories of watchers, guardians, immortals, and healers, but when you're little, you don’t much pay attention.  Your subconscious, well that’s a different story.  Mine absorbed all of it and left me remotely ready for that day when I met one of the above.  Three gorgeous brothers walked into my moms and my life, and I fell in love with one of them — Garius Fedore; annoying, handsome, competitive, and ultimately mine.

I was always the outcast. The daughter to Kaitlin O’Malley, who was dying and Patrick O’Malley, who was already dead.  The poor girl who was pretty much hated by all her peers, especially Becky Thomas.  Most summers brought on a small reprieve from teenage drama and ass beatings.  I worked more hours at the diner during those months and felt somewhat normal if that’s possible. This past year, however, was something out of a book, not just any old book, THE book.  The book of love, innocence, betrayal, and murder seemed to be my life.

Little did I know that I am what the legends call a Healer.  Sounds cool, right? It’s not.  My genetic make-up produces an antidote to heal. Still looks cool, right? Again, it’s not. I can’t just cure anyone, no—no, that would be awesome. Instead, I can only heal one individual, only one vampire, and in doing so, I would have to die. See how it’s not so cool.  Or maybe it is cool for everyone else but the healer.  Anyway, I am the target of all non-breathing, pasty-faced vampires, (not all vampires are pasty white).

Long story short, girl meets vampire, girl falls in love with a vampire, and that vampire kills girls’ mom. Which brings me to this moment in time. Revenge. They say revenge is bittersweet; I guess we’ll see.  Until next time diary. JJ

Chapter 1

Kaitlin: New Beginnings

As I stepped out of the dense forest, Arturo remained on the hammock, listening to the sounds of the night. In the moonlight, I radiated in my new, immortal skin.  My former beauty had magnified.

I heard the crickets chirp, only now they were crisp and clear like I had been hearing them through a thick layer of pudding all my life. The pleas of Gary carried on the wind, along with the broken sobs of my daughter, and finally Artie’s sigh of despair. I reached down slowly and folded my fingers around his. I didn’t look at him. I didn’t have to.

Artie, I think the three of us need to talk, I stated as we continued to swing on the hammock.

Agreed.

Can we go out into the woods?

If that is what you want, Kaitlin. Garius, you need to come with us. I whispered into the wind, knowing my brother would hear me.

I rose from the hammock, never letting go of his hand. His grace and quickness matched my own as we walked into the forest, Gary’s footsteps echoing behind us. I gave no thought to my legs, which carried me forward, now healthy and eternal. My energy seemed limitless, and it would need to stay that way for the war that was to come.

Chapter 2

JJ: The Journey

I left the only home I have ever known and entered into the darkness... right, left...right, left...right, left. With every step, I began to lose the very essence of who I was. That young girl was dying as I forged forward to no place in particular. She died too soon.

Right, left...right, left...right, left.

Here I was, walking into the unknown. Though I had no set direction, it felt as if my legs had an agenda of their own and would take me to where I belonged.

Right, left...right, left...right, left.

My dad is dead.

Right, left.

My Awa is dead.

Right, left.

My mom is dead. My mom is dead.

My feet had stopped moving, and I found myself standing in the grass. My feet had brought me to my daddy. Oh my God, I’m alone.

It was here that I stood and screamed, "Why?" I screamed at the top of my lungs until my throat couldn’t yell anymore. It was here that I felt the nose that had followed me quietly, watched and listened, and now gave a gentle nudge to my hand to let me know that I was not alone.

It was here that I felt the strength of my dad enter into my heels as I stood upon his grave. It soaked into the soles of my feet, ran up my legs, and gave me the strength to pick myself up and off the grass. The feeling crept into my stomach and allowed me to feel the hunger of revenge. It mounted up further into my heart and allowed me to feel courage and love; climbed higher to my shoulders so I could hold them square with pride and determination; spread into my neck and allowed me to hold my head up; and branched into my brain and brought with it knowledge and memories.

I looked down at my mom’s ever-faithful companion. He must have felt my dad’s strength as well, for, in his body, I could see a mirrored image of myself. He returned my stare, and in them, I could see the honor of all guardians, the pain of all healers, the future of all mortals, and the destruction of all evil. I patted him on the head and swung my backpack over my shoulder.  

Hey, Dad, I won’t be around for a while, but I think you already knew that. Mom is coming to be with you today. I know you have waited for quite a while. Could you do me a favor, Daddy? Tell mom I love her and I’m sorry; she’ll understand, I hope. I love you, Daddy.

As we turned to leave, I could have sworn that the limbs of the tree dipped down, bowing to me, and as I walked away, a warm breeze brushed against my face, bringing with it the scents of all those I had lost. With renewed strength, my feet hit the gravel road and set their course. From now on, I would live by intuition, led by example, and never look back. Witches had covens, healers had homes, guardians had posts, and that vampire bitch must have a den. I would not give up. Revenge comes at a price; I knew that, and I intended to pay whatever the cost.  I slowed my pace, crouched down, and patted Cash’s head. 

I don’t know if you understand what I said, boy, but it’s just you and me now. He responded to me with a whimper and leaned his head into my chest. We’ll be okay, I promise, boy. I continued to scratch his head and behind his ears. I stood up and took a final glance behind me. We had traveled a reasonable distance, and the only things behind me now were memories and emptiness. It was the memories that drove me away and forward; forward was the only direction left.

Alrighty, Cash, here we go. You ready? He wagged his tail as his answer. That simple gesture gave me the courage to plunge headfirst into our new life.

We were just out of town. I had decided to use the shortcut my dad, and I used to take through the woods, which eventually brought us out to a two-lane road that led to a major highway. It was here that I heard him yell for me. He yelled my name over and over, the sound growing closer by the second. It would only be a matter of minutes before he would find me in the darkness of night; somehow, I sensed that the darkness was no barrier for him.

A hand covered my mouth, and I jerked in surprise. Child, come quick, a voice whispered in my ear. Child, it’s Mr. Comsa. Calm down; we are here to help you, not harm you. Tell your dog not to attack me. Nod your head if you understand.

I nodded.

Good. If I take my hand from your mouth, will you not scream?

I nodded, the hand slowly lifted itself from my mouth, and Mr. Comsa stepped around me so that I could see him.

Child, you must come quickly.

Why? How’d you know I was here?

There’s no time to explain now, but I promise you we will. The vampire is almost here, and I don’t know how long the coven can keep the wall up.

Wall? We? Questions popped out of my mouth of their own accord, but I could see Mr. Comsa was not going to answer any of them at this second. He was right: Gary was just about on top of us.

Don’t move! Mr. Comsa’s command came at barely a whisper, and I was about to argue when Gary came out from around a large tree, his nose slightly elevated. He inhaled deeply, then slowly walked forward and swung his head from left to right, looking for me. I couldn’t figure out why Gary didn’t see me; I stood a mere six feet in front of him. Slowly he turned his head and looked directly at me. It was over; he had found me. So, why didn’t he grab me?

Johnny, where are you? he shouted out. I could hear the frustration in his voice. He stepped forward another two feet and stopped. A small sliver of the moon touched down between the leaves of the massive oak trees and laid its gentle rays on his face. My heart wrenched at the pain that was written all over his face, but within seconds, the memory of my mother being given over to the Watcher replaced all other emotions and feelings. A small nudge reminded me of my destiny laid out before me, and with that reminder, I stood utterly motionless for what seemed like an eternity until he was gone. Mr. Comsa laid his hand gently on my shoulder and led Cash and me into the deep forest. Our footsteps made no sounds on the mossy earth beneath us, and in the distance, we continued to hear the voices of those looking for me.

I walked as if in a trance, I felt safe as Cash bumped into my leg, letting me know he was still there. The night animals seemed to stop their nightly rituals as we passed, quietly observing us with an air of curiosity. Finally, we stepped into a clearing where the dawning new morning cast a soft light on the dome-shaped cottage sitting in the center of it. It looked like it belonged on one of Thomas Kincaid’s cards.

The moment my foot stepped out from the forest and into the grassy knoll surrounding the home, a feeling of tranquility settled on me, allowing memories of the night to replace my anger and confusion. As we walked towards the front door, I found my feet heavy, like being caught in quicksand, and it was sucking me down. My body shook with the sobs that I could no longer keep at bay; tears spilled out of my eyes and dropped onto the already dew-laden blades of grass.  I fell to the ground, curled into a fetal position, and granted grief to enter me, fill me with despair and spill forth the pain. Behind my closed eyes, I recounted the last moments of my mom’s life and the feeling of helplessness as she died at the hands of the watcher.

I replayed the entire night from start to finish, and I kept coming back to the one event that dealt the first blow of heartbreak to me, Gary handing over my mom to that monster. I will never be able to forgive him for doing that, no matter how much I am in love with him. I saw the raw anguish that was in his eyes, in the forest, and still, forgiveness was not possible.

I heard the faint calling of my name coming from within the woods, and I knew I had to get up and keep moving, but my legs wouldn’t cooperate. As his voice grew closer, a shimmer started to surround me, like talcum powder floating in the air and sparkling in the sun. I reached out my hand and carefully let my fingers touch it. My fingertips disappeared when they came into contact with the substance. A steady low chant started behind me, coming from inside the small cottage, and when I focused on the windows, I saw a countless number of unfamiliar faces. In the center of the large window, I saw Mr. and Mrs. Comsa, eyes closed, holding hands and repeating words over and over again.

I sensed his presence before I turned and saw him stepping over the line that separated trees from the meadow. Again, I realized that he couldn’t see me, and the pieces to the puzzle started to come together: a coven was behind me in the house, protecting me and making me invisible. I stood still, barely breathing, making sure I didn’t stick any part of my body into the shimmering flecks.

He looked tired as he hesitantly stepped forward into the clearing. My body betrayed me as my eyes rested on him, and the familiar bubbles erupted in my stomach. My lips ached to kiss him.

Johnny, I love you. I know you can hear me, I can feel you, please come out.

I closed my eyes, inhaled deeply through my nose, and softly exhaled through my mouth. This way of breathing slowed down my pulse and stifled all of my emotions so that he could feel nothing. I opened my eyes to find the clearing empty and Gary gone. A mixture of sadness and relief flooded over me, and my tears returned, this time for the love I had lost. It wasn’t until my eyes were dry, and I was entirely drained, that I realized I wasn’t alone. Artie sat across from me by the edge of the forest. He made no move towards me; he only sat there and stared. The shimmering cocoon that had once surrounded and protected me was gone, so I was fully aware that he could see me. We sat there and stared at each other in awkward silence, waiting for the other one to say something.

What do you want, Artie? My voice was barely audible, my throat was dry and cracked from screaming and yelling, not to mention how much my neck hurt from the gashes made by the Watcher’s claws.

JJ, we need to talk.

No, Artie, we don’t, I said as I started to get up from the ground, brushed off the moss that clung to me, and stretched out my back muscles.

You need to know the truth.

Really, Artie? Do you think I don’t know the truth? Let me tell you what I know. Your brother, you know the one, threw my mom to that monster. He didn’t flinch; he didn’t think twice; he just tossed her to the ground like a piece of meat for the dog. My voice had gained strength as the raw emotion started to bubble again. I got to watch my mom’s throat get half-torn-out by that bitch, and he did nothing. Nothing!

I turned to leave, but he was there, clasping my forearm so that I couldn’t walk away. A hot burning sensation started in the back of my neck and spread through my body like molten lava.

JJ, you have to listen to me, you’re in danger.

All of the pent-up anger I felt started to swirl within me like an unleashed tornado. I saw it form when I closed my eyes, and I watched, as it focused upon Artie’s hand on my arm. I opened my eyes as the power reached his hand, I felt when the energy left my body, and I watched as Artie was picked up off of his feet by the invisible force and thrown back into the forest, the ear-splitting crack of his body smashing into a tree. Slowly, I turned toward the small house, void of all emotion. I had a thousand questions, and I needed at least double that many answers.

Chapter 3

JJ: Witches

My body operated on autopilot and I never turned around once I entered into the haven of the coven. For all I knew, Artie was seriously injured or even dead. How I threw him was a mystery to me, but something deep down inside told me that all of my questions were about to be answered.

Welcome. Please, come in and sit down, Mrs. Comsa greeted me and led me to their kitchen table. You must be so confused, child.

A little, I stammered as I took a seat at the table. I started to look around and realized that the entire kitchen was filled with men and women. There were so many people that they trailed into the living room as well. All of them dressed in black, and all of them stared at me with the same look of curiosity on their faces.

Mrs. Comsa came back to the table with a tray of tea and sat to the left of me. Mr. Comsa sat to my right, and across from me was an elderly woman whose face was so wrinkly that it resembled the lines of a map. A milky white film covered her eyes, and her hair was pure white and very long. When she started to talk to me, I didn’t expect her voice to be gentle and heavily laced with a Hungarian accent.

Child, put your hands on the table, like this. You understand?

She put her hand's palm down on the tabletop as an example. Her fingers were bent horribly at different angles, making it impossible for them to lie flat against the table. Her nails were yellow, some long, some short, and under them was a considerable amount of dirt. I should have been repulsed, but oddly, I wasn’t. It all seemed fitting, somehow, and I felt utterly calm.

Like this? I set my hands on the table to mirror hers.

That’s perfect, child, she said as she laid her gnarled old hands on top of mine. Her right hand was hot, while her left hand was the exact opposite. It was so cold it began to hurt my hand, like when I would come in from playing in the snow, and my fingers would start to thaw with a burning feeling.

I’m JJ, by the way. I didn’t know why I blurted that out; usually, I did that when I was feeling nervous, but sitting here among these people, I felt a strange familiarity. A small giggle erupted from her, revealing that she only had two teeth: one large one on the top right and a small one on the bottom to the left. Her smile remained on her lips as she stared at me through her blind eyes.

I’m Gris El.

My lips involuntarily smiled back. Gris El was the kind of old lady you imagined all great-grandmoms looked.

Thank you all for helping me.

A low humming started to percolate around me.

Close your eyes, child, Gris El cooed to me.

The instant my eyes closed, the low humming started to take shape, and I realized it wasn’t humming at all, but voices, their voices, and they were all talking at once.

She’s just a child.

She’s strong, did you see what she did to that vampire?

Her powers far exceed what we could ever have imagined.

The rumors are true; she is the one; she will be the one to save us all.

She looks like her mother and father.

Did you see her mark? It glows, it’s unlike anything I have ever seen before.

The voices kept on and on, one voice blending into another one, on and on. A stabbing pain shot through my head, and I pulled my hands away. The second I did, the voices stopped, and the headache eased.

What the hell was that? A shudder ran through my body.

So, it is true, Gris El said to herself as she raised her frail body out of her chair and turned to face the hushed audience. My young sisters and brothers, as the high priestess of the eastern coven and the oldest witch here, I am ready to announce my findings.

Findings? High priestess? My confusion was growing in leaps and bounds as every second passed. I turned to look at Mr. Comsa for some form of explanation, but he placed his finger over his lips to tell me to be quiet.

It’s perfectly fine, Joshua; it is only natural for JJ to be confused as well as curious. Perhaps, JJ, if you could give me a moment, I think you will have a better understanding of what is going on. Her eyes twinkled at me with excited energy, and I knew that whatever had just happened was a big deal among this group of people. "My family, we have the child Halo among us, the chosen one, the child we have seen in the tea leaves and heard in the whispers of hope from our ancestors passed down from generation to generation. I have seen the truth in her, and my great-great-grandmother, who stands among us on the other side, has seen it in her as well. For centuries, people have condemned witchcraft, accused it of being the work of the devil. I do not deny that some indeed wield their magic wrapped in darkness. The time has come for those covens to be destroyed, the monsters they created to be destroyed, and it is the time for our covens to come together and unite.

The time of war between good and evil is coming, and before you, sits the one who was given great gifts from above. Witches, warlocks, vampires, werewolves, Guardians, Immortals, and Healers alike will stand together and defeat the dark ones. From here on in, we will all aid in teaching young JJ, helping her to understand, wield her power, and grow as the High Priestess of us all. Her journey must begin in Salem, among some of our strongest ancestors, who will tutor her and nurture her. Gris El turned to me, her right arm crossed over her chest, her crippled fingers made into a tight fist, set over her heart, and head bowed. My High Priestess, I welcome you into our coven, and pledge myself to you, in life and death."

The rooms started to fill with the buzzing hum of dozens of voices. I knew if I closed my eyes that I would hear every one of them, but I kept my eyes open for fear of feeling that stabbing pain radiate through my head.

Slowly, one by one, all the witches and warlocks, starting with Mr. Comsa, stood before me with their fists over their heart and their heads bowed and pledged themselves to me. As each man and woman came to me, a heat started radiating on the back of my neck, the same familiar warmth I had felt whenever Gary and I were together.

I just sat there as each one came to me, and I graciously nodded my head over and over again. I was not sure how much time had passed, but the howling of Cash broke through the serene scene and had me up and out of my chair in a second. In all honesty, I had forgotten entirely about my companion. I ran through the crowd, who parted for me as I passed, reached the door, and threw it open, ready to do battle with anyone who had hurt my dog. Instead, I was brought up short by the scene before me.

Out of the forest, they came in droves, all in black, all heading towards the house. They came from the north, the south, the east, and the west. Behind me, the voices started thrumming again, answered by hundreds of new ones, and this time, I didn’t need to close my eyes to hear them. This time no pain invaded my head. I stood before them all, my neck burning as if someone had put a match to it.

A beautifully sculpted man, introduced himself to me as Jebadiah, then stepped forward, fist over his heart, and pledged the western coven of water to me. Instantly the burning in my neck was cooled by the feeling of a mountain stream.

A young woman named Roxy, dressed in Gothic fashion, stepped forward, fist over her heart, head bowed, and pledged the northern coven of Earth to me. All around me, I could smell the combination of dirt, fields of wheat, and freshly cut grass.

Next, a young boy named Maximus came forward, fist over heart, head bowed, and pledged the southern coven of Fire to me. A warmth radiated all around me, causing a sheer film of sweat to break out all over my skin.

Finally, Gris El stepped forward and pledged the Eastern coven of Air, and as she raised her bent hands to the sky, a gentle breeze blew away the heat and cooled my body. As each element was pledged to me, my birthmark itched and came alive.

Finally, without delay, a woman with hair as golden as wheat, skin bronzed by the sun, floated forward, fist over heart, but instead of bowing her head, she looked me straight in the eyes and greeted me. Merry meet, JJ, we have been waiting patiently for you. Welcome. She bowed her head. Little one, my name is Zoe, and I pledge to you the coven of spirits, as above so below. You are the embodiment of all.

A surge of energy shot through me; every single hair on my body had come alive and danced in the gentle breeze. All of the elements flushed against me simultaneously, and I felt giddy, euphoric...and even more confused than before. There was so much left to learn. The day was going to be a long one.

Chapter 4 

Leebo: Perpetual Darkness

I lay there and waited for my strength to recover, remaining silent to let him think he had conquered me. Lying dormant, hidden in the shadow of his dominance, I had learned much.

I heard her voice, and it seemed to calm the impatient beast living inside of me. So, this was the infamous Frederick von Guise, the brutal murderer of Altea. I smelled the blood that soaked into the ground, and it told me which direction freedom was. She brought life to him, and in doing so, took life from another. I understood now why my brothers had buried me and locked me in this earthen tomb, and rather than being angry, I was relieved. My only regret was the knowledge that I had hurt them, as well as JJ. My desire to drain her was still powerful, but I must remember that these were Frederick’s wants and feelings, not mine, and by doing so I held a silent power that I could use when the time was right.

It was in this state of limbo, when all light, physically and spiritually, was non-existent, that a voice whispered in my ear. Its gentle tone brought back many memories of myself as a small boy sheltered by my ma’ma’s arms. The familiar voice started the chant for shielding and invisibility, so those inside me and around me would not hear us communicate.

I