However, a will containing a wisp of Henrietta Vane’s consciousness ensured that she won the battle for the custody rights of her niece. It declared that in the event of her death or inability to provide appropriate care for any of her children (borrowing a leaf from her mother’s predicament), her sister, Evanora Vane, was to be granted full custody.
No one knows that Evanora is the reason the Vane family still exist today. Realizing that with her niece’s nonchalant attitude, the realm of magic stood the risk of losing the Vane bloodline to posterity, she set out to find a suitable mate for the latter.
For some reason, the Tree of Life did not give life to any of the bodies containing Arielle’s seeds, so the best alternative was to mate with a mortal and hope that somehow, the child born from such union would inherit magic from her niece. There was a fat chance of that happening, but it was a better alternative, compared to the ‘biased’ Tree of Life.
Arielle Vane ended up being soulmates with the prince of the werewolves. The werewolves had no animosity with the witches, but they were not exactly allies either. Both of them understood the peculiarity of their union and decided that any wrong move on their part could destroy the shaky truce between their respective races.
Fortunately, the werewolf prince, Hansel Cannys, was not the only male child of his parents. His decision to abdicate his throne to be with Arielle was not received with open arms, but there was nothing that could be done. The prince had escaped with Arielle to a secluded location after performing the necessary procedures for abdication in secret with the support of his younger brother and his mother, who wished the young couple well.
They had six children, five of whom were werewolves. All six of them returned to the supernatural society when they came of age. Irrespective of their origins, they were accepted by the inhabitants of the realms of magic and that of the werewolves. They adapted quickly to the society, and even currently play key roles.
The lifespans of werewolves may be longer than humans, but it is a paltry amount compared to the witches and other members of the supernatural world. The prince’s union with Arielle Vane granted him a longer life span than werewolves, but it could still not be compared to that of an average witch. However, the couple lived a long and satisfying life, taking their last breaths together in their favourite cabin.
Everyone knows that Estelle Vane is the daughter of Arielle Vane, but no one knows that she has a father and even siblings who are of another race. She chose to take on her mother’s name not out of hatred or disrespect to her father, but in order to continue the lineage of the Vane family. This was a decision she took with the support of Evanora, Arielle, her father and even her elder werewolf siblings.
No one knows that after several millennia (and centuries after Arielle’s death), one of the bodies containing Arielle’s seed was blessed by the Tree of Life. Evanora named that seed Aveira Vischer. She raised the witchling until she Awakened, before sending her off to be trained by Estelle Vane. Aveira grew up to become the Jade Witch, and she adopted the name ‘Sandara Harrison’ when she became the protector of the humans.
No one knows that she worked behind the scenes to pave the way for Estelle Vane’s ascension to the position of the High Witch. Without her intervention, the latter would at most be recognised as a very powerful witch, nothing more.
No other soul apart from the members of the Witch Council knows that Evanora still exists. Everyone believes that she perished a long time ago, having reached the end of her life. Her decision to retire after a millennia of service and her subsequent absence from public gatherings makes the rumours sound true.
No one knows, and no one will ever know.
Evanora records the ‘unsavoury details’, as she likes to refer to them, in her personal journal. She has attached a wisp of her consciousness to it, such that it can only be read by her successor upon her demise.
At least, I didn’t perform too poorly for a mother. I tried my best and she knows it too.
The Silver Witch of the East proceeds to record some more ‘unsavoury details’ in her journal.
On the surface, and in the books of history, it would seem as if the witches won the war. but it cannot be forgotten that true victory is like a mathematical equation. The true winners are not always the last ones standing, and the true losers are not always the first to retreat. We won the battle, but it seems as though we may lose the war- only a fool would believe that the demons are gone for good.
This war of attrition has cost us a lot, and I fear that we may not be able to hold on for much longer. Fate or not, the demons may come out on top at the end of the day, and the sacrifices of our progenitors would have been in vain.
In the midst of her writing, a strange phenomenon occurs, causing her to stop writing.
The compendium she earlier put away opens of its own accord and the pages start to flip, one after another. Evanora moves closer to ascertain what is going on. Does Fate have a message for her again?
Her suspicions are proven right when the pages stop flipping and some random words are lifted off the page. The words make no sense until they start to glow and rearrange themselves.
Evanora braces herself.
Most times, messages from Fate are usually unclear and their meanings are obscure. But this time is different. This time the message is painfully succinct.
Oı Kόλaση επέσтρεψav.
The Hellions have returned.