Broken key

Erin stood at the foot of the porch of the Octagon House and looked off down the path that Heather had taken. She balled her hands in fists and cursed herself. How could she be so inconsiderate? She had been so impatient to learn the stories of all the coven members at the behest of Hattie. Erin in no way blamed the woman, she definitely blamed herself for not thinking of other's feelings.

Why did she ask Heather when it looked like the mare was having a nice time soaking up the sun. She could have done a million and one things all of them leaving the nightmare alone and not asking about her story. But no! She had to ask for Heather's story and she thereby caused the woman emotional pain.

As Erin walked up the stairs and back into the house she was overwhelmed with remorse. The guilt she was feeling was about to swallow her whole. "I'm sorry." She mumbled to herself as the house was eerily quiet. Where was everyone she thought to herself.

She stood at the entranceway to the Octagon House, she couldn't hear anything not even the noise of shuffling feet. She shrugged her shoulders and headed up the staircase to her room. Erin didn't feel like bothering anyone else today!

***

Hattie stood over the boy, Matthew. It had appeared that he had been heavily sedated when they had rescued him from the prison. She only realized that after the young man woke up and she was using the term, 'woke up' very loosely. The boy was screaming and flailing his body and she was afraid she would hurt himself or someone else. She used her herbal magic, similar to modern day sedatives, to calm the boy back down and knock him out.

What was wrong with him? Hattie thought to herself as she brought her hands to her head and ran them through her hair. This was beyond frustrating. He was the key, but right now he was a very broken key and there was no obvious way of fixing him.

Hattie let out a scream as her anger and frustration bubbled out.

Hattie turned as she heard a chuckle behind her.

"So close and yet so far away."

"Elizabet, what are you doing down here?" Hattie spoke as she turned to once again face Matthew.

"Well, I figured you could use some help?" Elizabet smirked

Hattie shook her head, "And please, what will you figure out what we don't know already? Pray tell, how will you help?"

Elizabet walked over to stand on the oppostite side of the bed and faced Hattie. She put her hands on her hips, "Tch, you have no faith in me dear sister. You know I can help, I have my methods."

Hattie tilted her head to the side and raised her brows, "Elizabet, you can't sex him awake!"

Elizabet threw her head back and laughed, hard. "You know damn well, that isn't what I'm talking about! But! That was a good one."

Hattie shook her head in disapproval, "No, the other options I think that is far too dangerous at this juncture."

"It's sure to work." Reasoned Elizabet.

"The chance of success is minimal and the chance for failure is too great. Particularly when failure means death."

Elizabet let out a groan, "Yeah...." she trailed off and just stared at the the unconscious boy in front of her.

"I was thinking about using Heather's particular talents." Hattie offered.

"What?! Hattie, that makes absolutely no sense at all. She causes nightmares. And damn, did you know what she was capable of?"

Hattie recalled from her memories, Heather as the young nightmare, "Yes, I am. She is far more capable than you would give her credit for."

"So, are you saying we want to scare this boy awake? I don't think that is reasonable. About the same as sexing him awake!"

"No, I want to understand why he is in the state he is in. His behavior reminds me of a nightmare's actions." Hattie said as she put her hand on the boy. She noticed his cool hand went to go fetch a blanket from storage. "We have to do something. If we don't-" She stopped unable to continue.

Elizabet understood, "we will all be dead or enslaved if we don't find a way to find the lady of the lakes. And he," she said indicating Matthew, "is our ticket to the lady. To our savior."

Hattie nodded and placed the blanket carefully on Matthew.

***

At the compound, the Wendigo arrived and the sight before him was unfortunate. Bodies covered the yard. He knew who caused this, he knew who was to blame. He knew what they took, without even having to go down to the basement, the boy was gone. His leverage was gone.

Anger coursed through his body. He knelt down and took one of the unconscious humans and consumed his flesh and very essence.