Demons (Darkness #4)(39)

“There is an interesting twist on today’s routine outing. We found some witches.”

Toa drifted in, his anxiety quickly being tucked back into wherever he stored it when his intellect was fired up. “Witches?”

“Yes. Apparently they cannot only access the elements, but Sasha noted that she found unity with them. That she joined with them, in some way. I don’t think it was an established link, but from what it seemed, it wasn’t far from.”

Toa sat down slowly, riveted. “Explain.”

Dominicous went over their encounter, re-explaining some nuances only Toa would find intriguing. When he was finished, Toa had yet to blink.

“What do you think?” Dominicous asked.

“She said she felt unity? That was the word she used?”

Dominicous tilted his head yes.

Toa sat back slowly and clasped his hands. “There was much talk in the old era of covens and unity. A form of sisterhood. Within these circles, as they called them, the women grew and expanded, creating a circular form of hierarchy greatly different to that of men. A matriarch would steer their united minds, much like within elephant culture. Within this protective horde, they would bind together, the strong helping the weak by bringing them into a collective whole.”

“Synergy,” Dominicous said, finally rubbing his temples. Mood swings and now lectures. He didn’t know how Sasha did it. Toa would not sit comfortably until he had all the riddles in his environment solved, and with Sasha, there were more riddles than solutions.

“Synergy, yes. Comes from the Greek word synergia. Meaning working together. In modern times it simply means the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Corporations use this ideology within their vertical integration.”

Dominicous exhaled slowly, rubbing faster.

“I am encouraged that Sasha was able to join this magical myth,” Toa reflected.

“Maybe it’s not a myth.”

“Oh, I have no doubt. I just hadn’t seen the theory in practice. I am intrigued and hopeful at the same time. This could be a helping hand—a team for Sasha to grow within. Tell me, did they have any control over their magic?”

“I think they could just call the elements. But Sasha did say one of them helped her unravel a tough spot in the spell.”

Toa leaned forward, his attention unwavering. “Fascinating. I wish to meet them. Did you bring them back?”

“No. Sasha travels with a group of people that keep her grounded. Their unique bond works because it isn’t confined to the strict and disciplined hierarchy Stefan has created—”

Toa waved away the words like he might a swarm of mosquitos. “I know who guards her. They show their love through their humor or malice. What is the point?”

“Her troupe isn’t conducive to a first greeting. The witches were intrigued but hesitant. One has children, I understand.”

“Didn’t they just dose them and haul them back?”

Dominicous took his fingers from his temples. “Sasha is not from our people. She has more regard for humans than…many do.”

“Pity—oh, don’t go choosing this topic to suddenly get serious about. I agree, we need to change our philosophies with regards to humans if we ever expect to live cohesively, yes. But let’s not forget, we’ve been hunted, tortured, and burned at the stake by their hand. You still have the scars to show it, I might remind you. Suddenly making way for an inferior species, a species that is capable of more violence than we have shown at the worst of times—capable of that violence to each other no less—is a tough pill to choke down.”

“Humans, as a mass, can be small-minded, yes, showing extreme aggression when afraid. But wouldn’t it be just as small-minded to show the same attributes? Wouldn’t you rather rise above their simpleton fears and embrace what they have to offer instead? On an individual level, humans are capable of great understanding. Shouldn’t we be, then, too?”

Toa leveled a placating look at Dominicous. “Can we have this debate another time? I don’t have the energy.”

“Of course,” Dominicous conceded, bowing his head slightly. “And when we have that debate, I will mention that interacting more with humans, without the use of pheromones, will help us find groups of women like these witches. It was a sort of social club. One or two do tarot—maybe they have the gift of sight. There are bound to be more. I would like to speak with Stefan and Sasha about where to possibly look. And there is the child to think of. Or children, hopefully.”

“Do you suspect these witches you found will seek us out? They can see us—Sasha’s influence must have opened their eyes.”

“Or possibly, actually working with the elements helped them expand their mind to take in more of their surroundings. All humans can see us if they really look.”

“True.” Toa sat in repose for a moment, pondering. He rose slowly. “If these witches worked with Sasha as you say, then I might be able to work in a backdoor to link with her.”

“If I were you, I would let Stefan facilitate that link. He seems to connect with her easily—to balance out her flow.”

“I don’t trust him.”

“Being afraid is different than not trusting.”

Toa’s icy blue eyes shocked into Dominicous. “I am afraid because I don’t trust him. He is capable of great violence while being haunted by extreme emotional demons. That is not a great combination.”