Coven: Rising from the Ashes discussion

Each weekday over 40,000 cars cross Lake Pontchartrain on the longest bridge in the world. A great place to bring the family.

Damian and Antonio were on the lake shore watchignt he highway bridge. The two were arguing like no other. "Listen...I'm sicka dn tired of waiting for you to stop lying...Youc na either tell em the truth abotu everything now or I'm leaving and youw ill never see me or Julian ever again." Antonio told him glaring coldly.

Orlaith had asked her brother to let her out of the stuffy nurses room and take a little rest outside where she could soak up some rays and feel the calming wind on her skin despite her slow healing rate. She had gotten a summer dress and hat from her brother along with a few other things that made her smile at how worried he was about her. She preferred he fussed and worried instead of looking like someone about to pop from not doing anything. She was lying on a bench tranquilly when she heard arguing. "Julian? What's wrong? What's going on..?" She asked, slowly leaning up onto her elbows, squinting from the sun, bringing her hat further over her eyes as a shield from the rays.

Antonio heard Orlaith. He turns hsi ehad seieng her..."Great another one." Damian was sjust as enthusiastic to see her. "What can I do for you today?" He asked coldly. "I figured helping you people out was enough now what do you want?" He demands looking them over. His features even darker witht he sun behind them setting....it was odd givne the moon was high and no longer red, but it was sitll high and the sun had seemed to stop moving jsut recently startingto set again.

(( Myles isn't with her ))

((Oh my bad...sorry))

((fixed it.))

(( Its ok ))

Orlaith leaned against the arm of the bench and and frowned at such words aimed at her, like she was vermin. She wrapped one arm around her middle and gave a small smile, dipping her head from the sun. "Nothing thank you. I was just resting here to blow the cobwebs off from the nurses office." She told Damian, giving both boys a concerned look. "Is everything ok? Whats wrong? Is Julian ok? You two were arguing just a moment ago." She murmured, taking a deep soothing breath, twitching as some of her stitches pulled a little.

Antonio smile sa bit mroe relaxed, "Julian is fien and don't worry we have our reasons for arguing. Damian is jsut a nitwit sometiems. "He says as if it were common conversation. "So you are one fo the witches formt eh school...what si your gift. damian told me each one ahs their own gifts that few oif any others have. Unique to that witch..."

Orlaith looked to Damian slightly wary of his presence considering their last conversation together. She held onto her hat as the wind blew over her. "Oh good I'm glad he's ok." She smiled with a sigh, sinking lower against the arm of the bench. "It's ok, my brother can be a nit wit sometimes too." She chuckled softly, looking down at her patched up hands. "Gift... interesting way of putting it." She murmured. "I know I have telekinesis and the sight but my unique gift is something I'm not sure about. You see I only just gained my powers yesterday. In fact I find them to be rather frightening at times. But I can somehow tell what I'm capable of as if my body knows what to do but my mind doesn't." She murmured with a frown before looking up at them with a smile. "Sorry, I'm babbling. But I'm sure your brother knows, after all he had an inkling in the nurses office."

Antonio raises an eyebrow, "An inkling?" He looked at Damian curiously. "So agian you are not telling me things. I'm done..." He says standing..."I'm goignto find Ezequiel then Julian. I'm tired of your lies, damian."
Damain stands about to stop him but decides against it. "Wait...." he downs hsi ehad. He looks at the witch anf glares. "Can't you bother someoen else?!" He huffs out and turns hsi back to her sitting down and propping his arms on hsi knees.

Orlaith blinked in surprise as she watched Antonio storm off. "Wait...." But her breath was wasted as she watched him disappear. "I-I'm sorry... I wasn't trying to cause harm, I was just stating vague facts that I remember." She told him, feeling almost sorry for him, almost. "But maybe it would be good for your brothers. After all it is what got Julian into trouble. You don't want the rest to get into trouble too." She murmured. "My brother told me of your new leaf." She sighed. "Maybe it is a chance for you to find out what you truly want to do with your life, find someone you want to be with. To actually have a life." She suggested.

Damian huffs, "Yeah whatever....I mean I have turned a new leaf, but at what risk? I am losing Antonio and possibly Ezequiel and Julian. I mean sure I am on the side of witches for the time being, but Antonio is going to try and leave with Julian. I won't see either fo thema nd now julian is apart fo your Coven he will be considered a Rogue and will be hunted down." He explains almsot depressingly.

Orlaith sighed. "I noticed you said for the time being...." She muttered. "So I'm assuming you are turning this leaf for selfish reason and now that you can't have what you want most you are going to go back to your old ways with more information." She shook her head. "I don't know if I pity you or feel sorry for you." She picked at the frayed bits of bandage on her hand. "Besides Julian is safe. Mathew is no longer in rule so Julian is safe unless the new councils decision says otherwise, which I feel they won't make the same mistake twice. Honesty is the best policy. Your brothers are scared because they don't know you anymore. Don't you think this is the perfect opportunity to let them get to know you all over again, the real you, not the fake you." She told him with a shrug. "Amongst the dark is always a spec of light waiting for you to make the most of it."

Damain rolls hsi eyes, "I wish everytihng were that easy." He looks at her as if trying to focus on something within. "Listen, thanks for your help, but as far as my plans go it is my business nto yours." He says coldly. "My brothers are my own problem, why not worry about issues of your own, like what your brother might say abotu your relationshipw ith Stefan." He coudln't help but try and point out facts that could destroy her. "I expect a new war will eb starting...the hunters have enough witches for their project...you have a new enemy now. My assistance only goes so far." He says as if telling her that he helped them once nad he won't be doing it again. "I mean...that I will not be fighting anyone." He tries to elaborate a bit mroe easily. "Besdies I think I will eb hunting down a new Coven. This one has been taken down a notch enough for things to go the way the hutners want it to, but I said I wouldn't hurt you gusy anymore...that is jsut for your coven."

Orlaith shook her head and sighed, leaning her head back to soak up some sun and wind. "You might not be a hunter, but you still hunt for emotional vital points. I suppose its ingrained into you so you can't get rid of everything." She murmured softly. "You should try seeing the positive, make light of the difficult. Not condemn everyone and everything. Not everyone is evil. I can see now that your supposed leaf turning was a brief and fleeting thing. I won't be surprised if I find myself at the mercy of one of your weapons once again..." She sighed. "If you want to help for real, show your brothers that you are no longer the man you once were, you could save the witches that were taken for the project. It might make them think twice, if not I would suggest you just talk. They just want their brother back, but they want the real brother not the fake. Just try it. It might take a while for them to come around. But really wouldn't you freak out if you found out your brothers were a lie?"

((gtg be on tomorrow.))

(( ok ))

Damian was almost convinced by her until her last words, "You forget my brother was already a lie. He kept it from us that he was a witch and I'm sorry but that is a crime unforgiveable in my family. They were each to be trained as Iw as. Ezequiel was next in line. Then Antonio. Julian was to be traine dby all three f us and supposed to ebt he greatest witch hunter of the age." He says hating the fact of what Julian was. "I lvoe him no matter what, but I can't always keep him safe. He will die at the ahnds fo the hunters. they know where oyu are now and they will be back to take out the Supreme. Cordelia will fall." He says sounding threatening, but at the same time it was as if that was hsi version of showing eh was trying to care.

Orlaith just smiled. "Well then I guess you are both on even grounds. Although Julian has one point against you, he at least confessed, you haven't told your brothers a thing. But you can't force something on someone, not everyone is destined to be a hunter or a witch. There is certainly more to life. I mean look at me. I was meant to be a witch, but I lived like a human for quite a while. And guess what I kind of liked it, apart from being bullied of course but then again, humans go through the same thing right? Besides... I would have thought by now that you would have noticed your little brother isn't so little anymore. Sure he makes mistakes but who doesn't we are all human at heart. As for the threat, we knew it was coming one day, it was the planning for it that was the hard part. After all even earthquakes have after shocks right?"

Damian looks at her skeptically. "Julian didn't come out and say it. You and that Stefan guy told me. I see no reason in changing my htoughts or ways except the fact I want him safe. Antonio is jsut as hidden in hsi own secrets, they are jsut less life altering." He says coldly. "Ezequiel has nothing to hide. he is normal...jsut as I thought I was." He looks her over. "I wouldn't expect a witch to fully understand anyway."

Orlaith sighed. "Well I would have preferred for Julian to tell you first but considering your volatile ways we were worried about you doing exactly what you have already done. Besides at least he owned up to his mistakes, at least he owned up and told the truth and waited for what ever consequences came his way. You on the other hand are being very cowardly. If I were one of your brothers I would be ticked off as well." She murmured, still hurt by his witch comment. "You know, I may be a witch now, but I understand a lot more than your small mind might realise." Sighing she closed her eyes. "But doesn't this tell you how scared Julian was to even talk to you guys. I met him and he tried to hide himself from me. He was lying to himself and to you. How supportive and loving were you as a family if Julian couldn't even bring up the courage to talk to you before he ever met me. I could tell he'd had his power for a while before he met me. Somehow instinctively I think he was scared of you guys. You know even when we first met, you seemed charming, but to me you didn't seem the type to be approachable, how bad is that. That was before either of us knew what the other was. You are so stuck and so blind, I don't think you remember what it's like to be a family, to have love to have a bond that despite your tiffs you still care for each other. For brothers, you seem just like acquaintances or friends to me."

((Back from the beach sorry it took so long. I'll be on more now that school is starting back for Jayden.))

Damian glares feeling hsi own blood pressure rising by the second. He simply glared at her trying so hard to hold back the urge of killing ehr. "Listen, witch. You don't know me or my brothers half as well as you try to think you do." He points out coldly. "I loved...I mean lvoe Julian and always have. Antonio and Ezequiel both got jobs to help me take care of him. We want what's best for him, but clearly fate has brought him down the worst of paths and he is lost to what hopes I had for him. He is a good kid who does no wrong, but he is sitll a witch and like a witch I can't simply force all of my training to the back of my mind and forget it. I was born and bred to kill witches. I'm a bred hunter and I cna't push that aside. Even if I am triyng hard to be on your side for him. I won't go any further than ensuring hsi safety. Those witches who got caught by my team well...that's your problem. I'm on your side, but only for Julian. I won't betray what I was broguht up to be simply becuase I'm on your side. I'll always be a hunter and you know that jsut as well as I do. Once a hunter always a hunter....once a witch always a witch." He stands and walks behind her. "I know how Ezequiel will react tot he news, but I also know that something bigger is headed your way and the hunters are going to have a field day with it. All the more reason to start training both Antonio and Ezequiel for their birthrights."

Orlaith could practically feel the blood lust pressed against her heart, it was almost painful to breath and yet she could only feel sorrow for Damian, not fear. "You don't love your brothers. You don't know the meaning of the word. You just like the idea of loving them, of being close because you see them more as potential genius hunters more than family, you see them as a business proposal that will bring you closer to your goal. I really wish I knew what haunted you so badly that you hate witches, but from what I can see, you've been forced to learn to hate, hate so much that you barely have room for anything else." She was surprised to feel a tear hit her hand. She sat up onto her knees slowly and turned to face Damian. "Fate has a way of showing us what we need most with the cruelest of fashions." She pulled him into a hug. "I hope I can help you when you are hurting the most. I hope you find what your shattered heart needs to mend it again. I hope you can find the light soon enough to save what might be lost forever to you if you don't. Don't be afraid to be your true self." She pulled away and offered a tearful smile, hooking her finger into his collar, pulling him forward to kiss his forehead in a motherly way. "Go on and spread your wings and see what it feels like to soar in an open sky. Don't let them clip you and narrow your path to the clouds." She murmured softly, letting him go and laying back against the arm of the bench. "I'd recommend you watch the sun set, it's something to behold around this time of the season." She told him like nothing had happened.

((reply tomorrow.))

(( that's fine ))

(?)

Zoe found herself standing around ten feet away from the hunter and Orlaith. She sighed when she saw the other witch, too relieved to bother about what in the world she would be at the lake for. Zoe closed the distance between them, starting to speak before she even came to a stop. "You, hunter... Damian, isn't it?" She glanced at Orlaith. "Is anyone else here? Are you injured?" In Zoe's eyes, the witch looked a lot better now than before, which almost concerned her even more instead of comforting her.

((Sorry my notifications keep flipping out.))

Damian seemed almost taken back in fear he may be cursed or bewitched as the witch hugged him in a concerned embrace. Her words would have been touching were they coming form the mouth of a normal person. The sad thing was that he would never admit to anyone that she was completely right. As far as what hurts him and has destroyed his heart was what he feared the most to ever allow to resurface. Damian was lost for words, well mostly, until the other witch showed up asking if Orlaith was hurt. He had no reason to hurt the witch at this time for he did not feel physically threatened. What bothered him he saw no threat in either of them at all. Then looking at zoe's face he began to question who was she asking for the well being of? "Yes, I'm Damian what do you want, witch?" He calls her by her sort as if it were the most horrid term one could ever be called in a vain and crude manner.

Orlaith peeked up at Zoe from underneath her sun hat and gave a little smile, still holding onto her middle. "No no one else is here, I'm fine for now. Thank you." She told the girl, giving Damian a disappointed look at the tone of voice he used. "Be nice." She told him, turning her face to the sun, the golden and pink hues were painting the sky beautifully. "It's nearly over." She sighed softly, looking at her watch. It was only five minutes before the sun went back to sleep.

Damian looked at the beautiful sunset and felt an eerie tranquility form it. "Listen witches, as fun as this conversation could get I have a job to do. Not to worry he isn't in your coven, but a job is a job and I have to make money somehow." He says looking at his phone. As he looked up from it he saw Antonio and Ezequiel walking toward them. "Don't even think about gettign to your 'job' until you explain everythign to Ezequiel, here. He won't be left int he dark, Damian." Antonio's voice is cold and almsot hurt sounding. Damian's eyes look to Orlaith only for a moment as if looking for an answer in her or guidance almost. It was odd that he actually beleived she would help him in such a matter. "I can't deal with this right now." Damian says trying hard to sound serious without brekaing his strong character.

Orlaith was fast but extremely gentle as she placed a kind hand on Damian's arm, fingers barely brushing him. She didn't say a thing, didn't need to because she could tell as well as he could that they all needed it, needed to grow a new tree from the ashes of old. She watched the flash of sun as it sweetly went back under the covers of night before peeking up at the brothers as they arrived, giving a warm smile. "Why hello there. Its a pleasure to see you two again even if you may not recognise me. How are you two today, well this evening now?" She asked, arm still wrapped around her middle. "And by the way, my name is Orlaith or Orla if you find it difficult to say." Knowing that Damian knew it was aimed at him because of his constant witch comment.

((Should we wait for Apoorva?))

(( Not sure. I dunno if she'd be able to reply or not I'm not sure, it's your call. ))

((I'm back, was at a funeral))

Zoe nodded reluctantly at the humans, trying her best not to snap at them. "Whoever you two may be, I'm afraid Damian is right... He really does not have time to deal with this right now." She turned to the hunter, refraining from using her powers unless it became absolutely necessary to saving the rest of the coven. "I need your help. The hunters have taken the majority of our coven and it is now my job to get them to safety, if that's still possible. We would be willing to offer you protection from our kind and full anonymity if you would just give us the information and assistance we need." Zoe spoke with the sophistication of her age, though her youthful aura never faded.

((Oh, I'm sorry to hear that someone in your life had died, best thing to do is accept that it was their time. I know that were the person close to you this wouldn't make any of it any better. But I believe it is human nature to feel concerned to hear such news even when they have no idea of who you are speaking of and sorry does absolutely nothing. I lost an aunt and a brother a day apart from one another back in December last year.))


Damian was taken abck that a witch was actually agreeign with him, but what bothered him the msot was that she offered protection from their kind. He was a witch hunter which meant even if hsi truce extended jsut to that coven they were offering protection to him so he may kill other witches outside of a coven. This certainly looked like an opportunity. "Deal...I'll give you whatever information you require my information will be more than enough assistance. I can get you in and out with only the issue of getting caught yourselves." He syas trying hard to not say witch as Orlaith pointed clearly that she was tired fo it.
Antonio looked in frustration, "Wait, what?! No he ahs time for this. I'm sorry if a few witches have been caught, but as far as I'm concerned family is mroe important than whatever pressing matters you have. I helped you guys out and I got little to no thanks for it and I'm still trying to accept the fact that whatever happened has been something hidden form the human population. That witches are real and that my olest brother is a fuckign witch hunter! Don't discuss importance of a matter to me until you ahve walked a day in my shoes with my family. I'm sure your family has denied you beyond all cost so don't dare start on me." antonio says huffing hard looking at Damian intently. Ezequiel frowns, "Okay, so I'm startign to believe that Damian is a witch hunter, but hoenstly niether of you two ladies apear harmful in anyway of needing to be killed. I mean witches...jsut a word used to describe those who practice the wiccan religion right? I mean so what people ractice voodoo in New Orleans too. What does any of that have to do with anything?" He asks trying so hard to keep an open mind about all of this.

Orlaith sighed knowing that all three boys had their own internal problem. She looked to Zoe. "Damian needs to explain or nothing will move forward and more people could get hurt. Five minutes won't hurt. Give them that at least." She asked, looking to Antonio and Ezequiel. "I know this is very confusing and trust me when I say we aren't going to hurt you. We have no reason to. Unfortunately Damian does not think this no matter what. Voodoos are for another time. Witches like myself and Zoe are not just Wiccan loving people. We are witches. Apologies but my magic has only just come to me so I'm not ver good at it yet but..." She picked up a pebble and placed it in her palm, concentrating on making it float an inch away from her hand, which was a feet in itself considering she couldn't make a pebble float before. "See nothing bad, just magical." She replaced the pebble with a flower, something lighter. "Watch." She made the flower dance around the boys. "This is just small scale, yes we all have our unique gifts." She eyed the boys. "But we are not evil. Only those who choose to wield their power for selfishly or irresponsibly are the ones who have given witches a bad name. Therefore hunters are real. Your brother is what he is. This is not a joke. He has injured someone I know severely but he's ok now. Though what your brother did wasn't acceptable, he is only human and we all make mistakes. It just takes one to forgive one." She smiled. "Damian... Would you like to enlighten your brothers further?" She asked bringing the flower back to herself.

Ezequiel's mouth was wide open and Antonio had simply learned to accept this much. Damian frowns taking a step closer and Antonio instinctively steps back a step. "Damian? Is this true?" Ezequiel asked with at last a clsoed jaw tightening each second. Damian merely nods, "Yeah...When we were given to our caretaker after mom died I was set into training almsot instantly. Apparently our mother was a hunter too. They trained me fully. You were supposed to be next then Antonio and Julian. However, recent events have allowed a discovery that Julian is not as he seems either. He is one of them. A spellcasting witch. My job is to rid the world of the foul beings that plague it. I set an attack ont eh school and attempted in killing a number of them while the many we could hear dup were captured and are probably being tortured right now. All my life I have worked on keeping the three of you from all of this, until this year when I learned there was a nest of them that's when I was going to allow your trianing to begin. After Julian's recent capture and saving him I realized he is still my little brother and it is my job to take careof him. My alliance to this coven is drawn by a thin line as I still will continue huntign and killing rogue witches and smaller covens." He explains trying to stay calm.

Ezequiel knew absolutely nothing as to what to say. Antonio looks at Damian coldly. "So that's it? You aren't going to aplogize for your error because you see no error, but you feel guilty for trying to kill Julian? I mean if he ahd gone missing longer than a day I'm sure we would ahve noticed even if we are not all at home on the smae time I mena really! We have worked our asses off to help him have a good life nad you ahve been going behind our back ssaying you were some sort of computer nerd while this whole time you are a trained killer."
Ezequiel steps forward. "I understand you wanted us protected form this, but why can't you jsut hunt the bad ones? I mean if it means that much to you do it for the right reasons. These are innocent people..." Antonio cuts in, His voice sounding like he was about to attack like a feral dog. "How many? How many innocents did you kill?"
Damian looks like the question was absurd as if he was suppose dot keep track of the count of witches he killed, but in reality he did. "At 132." He says plainly. "If innocent is what you want to consider them. I killed 132 witches. Women, children, even infants." Ezequiel's next words were to catch everyone off guard. "I'm in...When do I start trianing?" Antonio shove sEzequiel, "Are you insane? After hearing this you really aren't considering joining this act of murder?!" Ezequiel shove sAntonio back, "Well it's better than what you do to yourself and Julian supplying him with drugs...Yeah I knew the whole time...I knwo you two are on drugs and he isn't even legal to drink yet...He can't make those choices for himself correctly and I know you got him hooked."
Antonio was taken bakc in shock...Ezequiel looks at Orlaith and Zoe. "I'm only killing those who, like you said, misuse that pwoer. I'm keeping him in check and plus if he gets caught aiding you guys he won't want to go down alone without a fight."

Orlaith held her hat as a gust of wind burst by and took a wobbly stand, brushing herself off. She held the flower in her hand and watched as the flower took flight, petals falling off and getting swept up in the wind as it went. Sighing she look at all three boys. "I wouldn't recommend getting yourself into something like this. But its not like I can stop you." She told Ezequiel. "I just hope you don't twist yourself into knots until all you can think of and see is darkness. The profession of hunting is what has turned your brother into what he is today with a couple of other catalysts. Plus be warned that from what I have witnessed this profession tends to have the hazard of dragging loved ones into the path of someone else's bullet." She shrugged. "Just... be careful." She fell back onto the bench, feeling nausious again. The drugs still hadn't quite filtered out of her system. Myles appeared out of thin air next to his sister. "Come on, times up, I have given you more than enough time, now its time for ...rest." He looked up in confusion when he saw the boys and Zoe. "Whats going on?" He asked.

((I'll wait for apoorva))

(( Thats fine ))

((Thanks for that... It was my uncle, he passed away from pancreatic cancer leaving my aunt a single mother to two very young daughters. It breaks my heart to think of what she's going through, but at least I'll be able to go through it with her. I'm very sorry for your losses as well.))

Unable to help herself, Zoe looked approvingly at Ezequiel. Yes, his loved ones would probably be in danger because of his decision to become a hunter, but this way she could be sure that Damian wouldn't go on killing innocents under the protection of the coven. Not only would that be immoral, but it would also reflect poorly on them. She glanced at Myles. "I am taking Damian, and maybe his brother, back with me. I don't know what you've been up to, but we need to help the others who aren't already dead by now. Without them we have no coven, and we owe them our allegiance now more than ever. Whoever is willing to help with no questions asked is welcome to join me." It seemed that everyone here was on their side now for one reason or another, even if some of these alliances were shaky. Zoe couldn't remember the last time she had felt so comfortable being in charge, and figured she was finally getting the hang of it after all these years. "I'll transport us back to the foyer first, and then we can get started."

Antonio frowns looking at Orlaith, "Are you okay?" He asked seeing Myles pop form nowhere, and I may be on your side, but I'm not doing anything with Damian. I'm moving out." Ezequiel laughs. "You will lose everything you own before you even get it because of your drug habits. Let me guess you want an apartment and you want Julian to move in with you when you can barely take care of yourself much less Julian." Damian rolls his eyes, He pushes past Myles knowing things will still be edgy and he stands by Zoe. Ezequiel does as well. Anrtnio had nor eaction or argument to make.

Myles sighed and knew it was about to get messy, messy enough to know he didn't want his sister involved. "Yes thank you, you don't have to remind me." He muttered with distaste as he helped his sister to her feet. Orlaith gave a weak smile. "I-I'm fine just a little sick after a little incident is all." She told the boy. "I just have to go back to the nurses office and I should be better." Myles held her close, giving an irritated look to Damian. "Don't mind me." He grumbled as Orlaith got a little pale in the face. "Right come on you." He looked to Zoe. "I'm willing to help but right now I'm taking care of her, if you need me you know where I'll be." Orlaith looked at Antonio. "Go with your brothers, you might find the answers your seeking." She told him before Myles disappeared with her as she was about to collapse to her knees.

"The longer we argue over trivial issues, the more people will die," Zoe said only loud enough to be audible. "This may be hard to digest, but I'm afraid I can't stand around and wait for this argument to be over." Deciding that it was the best course of action to minimize the arguments, Zoe disappeared as well with the three brothers back to the foyer, probably against Antonio's personal will.