Deceit (Gallows Hill #1)

37. Chapter Thirty Six

Chapter Thirty Six

Skyla

“ W hat? The witch trials? I don’t know. Some kids claimed that women in the town were witches and possessed them or something. It started a mad hunt for witches and a bunch of innocent people died. What about it?” I ask.

All the guys share uneasy looks between each other, Liam silently shaking his head at Ronan like he’s begging him not to share anything with me. My eyes stay on Ronan as I lift a waiting eyebrow.

Ronan rubs his hand against his jaw, staring at the ground before looking back to me.

“The history books got most of it right…but not all. Yes, many died unnecessarily, but there were witches in Salem, still are too.”

“What? Witches? Like cauldrons, spells and all that?” I scoff.

“No, you’re thinking of the dramatized Hollywood version of witches, but people who practice various forms of magic, harnessing energy from nature and darker forces, yes,” Vincent corrects.

My brows furrow, a disbelieving look on my face as Ronan continues.

“No one truly knows what happened with the trials. Some say the women were wrongfully accused, others say they really were practitioners of magic. Either way, the town turned to chaos. Once the trials had ended, it didn’t stop there.”

“Our ancestors knew that there were remaining witches, furious ones,” Liam intervenes. “And even those that had been executed, most of them had families. Children, spouses, siblings. Some in Salem, others in nearby towns and states.”

“And, rightfully so, they wanted revenge,” Vincent adds on.

“So, what were the townsfolk of Salem to do?” Ronan asks. “They decided there was safety and power in numbers and thus—”

“The Brethren was born,” I guess, causing all three to nod their heads in agreement.

“Holy shit. So it’s not a society, it really is a cult. It’s an anti-witch culty protection group,” I guffaw, unbelieving of my own words.

“To put it simply,” Vincent agrees.

“You guys don’t actually believe this shit, though, right?” I ask.

They all have uneasy looks, even Vincent as he continues.

“I’ve seen a lot over the last two years, enough to know that as much as the Brethren lie to us, there is an equal amount of truth to our practices, to our protection. They are very much out there, active and waiting.”

My mind is reeling as I do my best to comprehend all of this.

“I don’t understand. Is that who my stalker is? One of them?”

“We suspect,” Ronan says.

“Why me? What did I do?”

“You’re important to the Brethren, which means you’re a perfect target. No better day than to form a union of strength, than on one of their most sacred days. They believe the veil between this world and the spirit world is lowered on that day, giving them more strength and connection to cause more damage and chaos.”

“I still don’t get it. It’s not like Asher and I getting married is all of a sudden going to make us untouchable. What’s the point?”

Liam winces as he shakes his head from side to side.

“That’s where the practices and beliefs get…muddled. As a part of the newest generation, I agree with you. Though the older generation, like Asher’s father and yours….”

“They believe it is a key element to maintaining our lineage and power,” Ronan fills in.

“But that’s fucking crazy.”

Vincent nods. “We didn’t claim them to be sane, Siren.”

“Well, what am I supposed to do? Do I just marry Asher and hope for the best? Hope this cult or coven or whatever doesn’t come for me? What about after we’re married? Will they lose interest?”

“Not likely,” Vincent says.

A sinking feeling settles in my stomach as I nod.

“So, do I just live my life always on edge until one day they do catch up and kill me?”

“That will not happen,” Vincent says vehemently, while Liam and Ronan mimic the same sentiments.

“We will protect you, Skyla, trust that. Things are…shifting and for now, we all have to play our part in this song and dance. I just…I thought I had more time,” he says with a shake of his head.

Yeah, well it sounds like if these crazy witches, or at least descendants of witches, get a hold of me, my time is literally up, so same here.