Chapter 8

Maya leaned back against the sofa, her eyes flicking over the others in the room. "So, what's the story here?"

Sam mirrored her posture, leaning back as well, a smirk playing on his lips. "You're asking the right person." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "Clarissa's the one teaching us everything—what's what, who's who, all that jazz. It's only interesting when she's wearing one of her low-cut shirts."

"Got it." Maya nodded, rolling her eyes.

Sam's grin widened. "Harper's the golden child of this whole operation. She farts rainbows and pisses gold. She's really nice, though—like, annoyingly nice. I had a crush on her until I realized how many low-cut shirts Auntie Clarissa owns..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "Point is, Harper's nice, she's cute, and apparently her family is some divine creation or something."

Maya couldn't help but chuckle. She wondered why she'd never talked to Sam Turner before.

"The Duponts are this legendary French family of witches," Sam continued, "one of the most powerful bloodlines. I like to remind Clarissa it's 'one of' the most powerful, not 'the' most powerful."

"That might be why you haven't scored yet," Maya pointed out with a smirk.

Sam paused, considering this. "Yeah, you might have a point there."

Maya laughed, finding herself enjoying the conversation more than she expected.

"So, Harper was the first to awaken because, as Clarissa loves to remind us, their family is one of the strongest bloodlines and natural leaders of this coven," Sam explained. "Her powers awakened while she was standing over her parents' graves in the dead of night. It started raining the moment it happened."

"That's not safe," Maya frowned.

"Well, she beat the odds of 'cute girl alone in the dark,'" Sam shrugged. "I was next to awaken. I'd had another fight with my mom and was running away. I got into an accident—should have died, but I walked out unscathed, except my clothes were on fire. So there I was, butt naked, trying to figure out what just happened. Clarissa sent Harper to recruit me. Turns out the magic shielded me from the flames during my awakening, but now I'm as flammable as the next guy."

Maya's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow."

"Then there's Stiles," Sam continued, his tone growing more serious. "He had a huge fight with his dad, who beat him. For the first time, Stiles hit back. His powers awakened in that moment. Lightning struck the tree outside their house and split it in two."

Maya froze, horrified. She hadn't known Angelo had such problems at home.

"His dad's a miserable drunk," Sam said bitterly. "Used to push him around, but that day, Stiles had enough and fought back. Since then, his dad hasn't laid a hand on him. The old man lost his powers years ago for abusing them. The Elders stripped them away, which made him the miserable asshole he is."

Maya felt a surge of anger and sympathy for Angelo. She glanced over at him, now helping Harper and Clarissa, and wondered how he'd managed to keep it all hidden.

Maya exhaled slowly, processing the flood of information. "What about Jason? How did his powers awaken?"

"Jason was out swimming at Allatoona Lake," Sam began, clearly well-versed in everyone's awakening stories. "He hit his head during a night dive, and the lake froze over. Dawson was with him, and in his desperation to get to Jason, his power awoke, causing a mini earthquake that shattered the ice."

Maya's gaze flickered to Sam, a mix of curiosity and apprehension in her eyes. "And we all know how I joined this merry little family—surprise incest, pure and simple."

Sam laughed, a deep, amused chuckle. "Yeah, that was a shocker for everyone."

Maya blushed furiously, slugging Sam on the shoulder. "Jerk."

"So now that Clarissa has the complete set, she wants to bind our coven," Sam said, his tone growing more serious. "She's been talking about it since I joined—about how once we had the sixth member, we could perform the binding ceremony. It's supposed to make us more powerful and protect us, but she's been pretty tight-lipped about the details."

"Binding the coven?" Maya frowned, her discomfort evident. "I don't like the sound of that. It feels...permanent. I'm here for answers, not to sign away my life to some coven."

"It's called a coven," Sam corrected with a smirk.

"Whatever," Maya huffed. "I don't like this idea."

"And what idea is that, Miss Burns?" Clarissa's voice cut through the conversation.

Maya took a deep breath, turning to face her. "What does it mean to bind a coven? It sounds permanent."

Clarissa stepped closer, her expression serious. "It's a necessary precaution now that the six of you have active powers. This coven is an old one, and with all six members, your powers will start drawing on each other's. You'll get a power boost, but without control, innocent people could get hurt. Binding the coven will allow you to master and control your powers."

Sam leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Thing is, I don't like slow, and I don't like the thought of being bound. It's like being tied down. I don't do tied down."

"Me neither," Maya agreed, rubbing her arms. "I come from a long line of people who get fidgety with long-term commitments. Just look at my mother."

"Your mother was bound to our coven; she didn't have problems with commitment," Clarissa retorted, folding her arms. "She understood the necessity of being bound—to be whole and not six fragmented pieces. She knew the importance of being part of something greater than herself."

"Then why aren't you a coven anymore?" Maya demanded. "Why did she leave if it was so wonderful?"

Clarissa sighed, genuine emotion softening her features. "Our group was already broken by the time your mother left, due to Sam's father's death."

"So, the death of a member unbinds the coven?" Dawson interjected, eyes narrowed.

"Yes, unless another member of the same family is ready and willing to step into the vacated place," Clarissa explained. "Otherwise, a new coven would have to be formed, or the remaining members would be left volatile and vulnerable."

Maya was taken aback by the sincerity in Clarissa's eyes. It unnerved her.

"Your mother and I were friends once, Maya. I know her leaving you made you wary and untrusting, but you have to understand this is for your own good," Clarissa said, her gaze steady. "The coven must be bound. Maybe not today, or tomorrow, but soon. Otherwise, you'll all be in grave danger."

"Will you tell us now?" Harper's soft voice broke the tension. She hugged herself, looking unsure and worried. "Will you tell us what's coming? What are you so scared of?"

"Yeah, Clarissa," Jason added, placing a hand on Harper's shoulder. "You told us that once we had the sixth, you'd tell us."

"Soon," Clarissa promised, sadness etched into her features as she stood. "I need a drink." She headed towards the kitchen, disappearing through the swinging doors.

Harper watched her aunt go, worry etched on her face. Jason squeezed her shoulder, offering silent support.

Dawson sighed, and the rest of the unbound coven joined Maya and Sam in the seating area. Silence settled over them. "I think we should do it."

"Me too," Harper agreed quickly. "We've already felt a spike in our powers since Maya's blackout last night. And that's just the beginning."

Maya's eyes widened in shock. "You've felt an increase already?"

Jason nodded. "It's what every coven before us has done. We're safer that way, especially with Witch Hunters out there."

"If this is a vote, I'm voting no," Sam declared, crossing his arms. "I don't need to be bound to fry some Witch Hunters if they come after me." He smirked at Jason. "I'll protect you if you want."

Jason rolled his eyes. "Thanks, but I think I'll manage."

Maya looked around at her new family, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on her. She had come seeking answers, but what she found was a choice that could change her life forever.

Jason rolled his eyes. "I say no too."

Angelo surprised them all by agreeing. "I don't like the idea of 'binding.' It sounds restrictive."

"Exactly," Sam chimed in.

Dawson's gaze shifted to Maya, a silent plea in his eyes.

"Sorry," she said, folding her arms over her chest. "My vote's with these two. No."

Dawson sighed, obviously disappointed.

"So, we're at a stalemate," Harper frowned. "No one can be forced to make this choice, but I really do believe it's the best thing for our group. Really. I do."

Silence fell over the group as they stared unseeingly ahead, the weight of their decision pressing down on them. For the first time, they were a complete coven, and yet, never had they been so divided.

Maya spent the rest of the day with the coven at the Brew, absorbing the new world she was thrust into. She watched them perform spells, listened to Angelo talk passionately about the magical properties of various plants, and marveled at Harper's ability to recite entire passages from ancient texts by heart. The others were far ahead of her, having had more time to study and practice.

It was fascinating to observe their interactions. Despite Harper's petite and fragile appearance, the large, powerful boys deferred to her without question. Maya wondered if this unwavering loyalty was somehow ingrained in them, a part of their genetic makeup, since their ancestors had always followed the Dupont lineage.

She couldn't help but ponder whether anyone had ever rebelled against this hereditary leadership and what the consequences might have been. Was there a punishment for trying to usurp the leader's position?

Maya wasn't seeking leadership; she wasn't even sure she wanted to be part of this coven at all. But these were the questions that plagued her mind as she observed the group dynamic.

Listening to their conversations, she learned something fascinating. Each family had a book of spells, a family history with secrets recorded within its pages. Only Harper had her family's book, bequeathed to her by Clarissa upon her awakening. The others were searching for theirs without success.

Jason's mother had turned away from witchcraft and embraced Christianity, so he knew better than to ask her for it and was searching on his own. Dawson had broached the topic with his parents, but they deemed him unready, leaving him to search alone. Sam was out of luck, as his mother had no idea magic existed, much less that she had married into it.

That left Maya with the Burns' book of shadows. She could ask her father, but considering he lacked magic and apparently had never been told about his wife's abilities, it was probably better to search for it on her own.

Hopefully, her mother hadn't taken it with her when she left.

As the evening drew to a close, the group was still at an impasse. The unease was palpable, and Maya felt the tension in the air as they prepared to leave the Brew.

"We should meet again tomorrow," Dawson suggested, trying to maintain a semblance of unity. "We need to figure this out."

Harper nodded, her eyes still filled with worry. "Agreed. We can't stay divided like this."

"Fine by me," Sam said, standing up and stretching. "But I'm not changing my vote."

The others echoed their agreements, and soon they were dispersing, each lost in their own thoughts.

Maya walked home, her mind racing with the events of the day. She had come seeking answers about her past and her powers, but instead, she found herself entangled in something much bigger. She needed to find that book of shadows. It held the key to understanding her heritage and, perhaps, the strength to navigate the turbulent waters ahead.

As she reached her doorstep, she took a deep breath, steeling herself for the challenges to come. Whatever lay ahead, she would face it head-on. She had to.