Midnight CEO

51

"Hello. Sorry I didn't catch your name." I said, shaking her hand feeling a sudden twang of jealously.

"Faith, my child, my name is Faith. I'm surprised Carter has not mentioned me before. It is my honor to have you here." She slightly bowed her head to me. Jake just kept staring at her like a kid staring at a dessert trolley.

"Thank you for helping us. I take it you know Carter well?" I raised my eyebrow sharply.

"Very well," she purred at me as her eyes twinkled. "He was very good to me. He is a great man, and I am happy to help in any way I can."

"Great, huh? That's nice." I felt my blood boil as I looked at how perfect this woman was. Funny how he never mentioned her or their previous relationship to me before.

"I remember you," Jake suddenly said, pointing at the beautiful Faith. "You and Carter used to, you know, like all the time. You guys were inseparable back in the early 1900s. I never told you this, but Callan and I used to hide in the closet when you would..."

"You dated Carter?" I blurted out cutting off Jake.

She smiled sweetly. "Dated? No, my child, I never dated Carter. We had more of a physical relationship, I guess you might say. He also saved my life more times than I can count."

I felt sick. "Great. Good to know." I crossed my arms over my chest in a huff.

"So, what is going on here?" Jake said, changing the subject quickly as he saw my demeanour.

"We are summoning the greatness from above. This land is now covered in darkness, and we must fight it, or we will surely all die. Even you, Jacob. You come from darkness, but you fight with the light inside you. That is what makes you a true hero." She closed her eyes and bowed her head slightly.

"Did you hear that? I'm a hero." He said, nudging me slightly. "Can I get that in writing?"

Faith laughed. "You always were the life of the party." She touched his cheek, and he almost fainted.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but it is time." The elderly witch said, bowing at Faith's feet. "He is close now."

"He?" I said, baffled. "Who is he?"

"Our light and saviour, of course. Come, join the protection circle, and you will be safe." She said, touching my cheek.

"What about me?" Jake said, taking my hand.

"You, Jacob, are our eyes and ears. I will be weak after he arrives, so I need you to watch my coven and protect them. They need a leader."

He didn't say anything. He just nodded his head at her and licked his lips as he stared at her.

"Thank you. You are a good man." Faith said, disappearing into the circle of chanting witches.

"Jake, stop it. Are you sure about this?" I said, biting my lip nervously.

"I remember her. She is one of the good ones. She knows what she is doing. I promise I'll stay close and if you need me, just call. I won't leave you again." He kissed my forehead and walked slowly towards the cave entrance.

I felt someone grab my hand, and I looked over to see the red-haired girl holding my hand. "It's ok. He is close now. He will save us," She smiled.

"Who? Who is this great saviour of yours?" I was pulled into the chanting circle.
She said something back, but I have no idea what she said as the witches' words were too loud for me to hear. All I could hear were the words. "Let there be light. Let there be light." I looked around, staring at the witches with their eyes closed and heads facing the sky. What is this? I felt something tingle around my body as they chanted louder; it was like pressure pulling on my body. I could feel myself being drawn to the centre of the circle, and in my mind, I could see the light, like a torch shining in the night sky.

"Welcome your greatness. Please, help us fight the darkness and end this war that threatens our way of life and your teaching. We need your strength and power to lift us towards the light. We pledge ourselves to you and pray to you to save us in our hour of need. Ariel, we need you." Faith yelled as the Fire next to us soared up towards the sky like a fire staircase. "Hear us and protect us from the darkness. Come to us and shower us with your light." She yelled as fire soared again. "Come to us," She bellowed and the witches chanted louder.

I felt my whole body trembling as the air around us started to swirl upwards like a hurricane. I closed my eyes, trying to concentrate on my feet staying on the ground. As strange as this sounds, I could hear someone in my head—a deep gravelly voice in my head like an old radio or dial-up connection. I just couldn't make out what he was saying.

"My lord, I can no longer hear you. Please, we need your protection from evil. I summon thee to take over my body. Live through me." Faith yelled as it echoed down the cave.

That was the last thing I heard before I felt my body being shot with what I can only assume is lightning. It ravaged my body, and I felt myself stiffen as it flowed through my blood. I couldn't move a muscle as I felt the shock waves again hit my body.

"You are the one," the voice said in my head. "You are the chosen one. You will defend your land with me." The voice was hissing in my ear. "I am here now." It said as I dropped to the ground with a thud. "You are the chosen one."