Prelude

The sun was just setting as a coven of witches gathered in the living room of their Elder's home. It was a rather large room, decorated with floral wallpaper and couch cusions, a black shag rug in the middle of the room, and a beautifuly crafted stone fireplace across from the room's entrance. It was large enough for 16 witches to sit or stand comfortably as they waited for their Elder to join them.

And just as they were all settled and starting to whisper to eachother about why they were all called together, the double doors leading to the room opened up. The blonde-haired Elder, Ophelia Abbott, who looked much to young for her age, stood before her coven, with two of her closests confidants at her flanks. Ophelia looked rather stuning tonight in a slim fitting red silk dress that flowed freely to the floor, and a warm smile on her face.

"I would like to thank you all for making it out here this evening," She began as all eyes fell on her. "I know it was a last minute decision to cal the meeting, but I felt it was urgent." She crossed the room to the fireplace, where she turned and looked at the others again.

"I'm sure you are all aware of the vampire's control over this town and everyone in it." Heads nodded. "I'm also sure you have heard that one of our own was slautered at their hands, may her soul rest in peace." More heads nodded. "Our kind is always being punished by the vampires, have been for years now since they rose to claim this town as theirs. They say they mean well, that they have the power they have to keep peace between all the races, but I know it's all lies."

"They've made us their slaves, their leader has made us do his bidding out of fear of our own death. And I am tired of it. Our recent loss was a brave young woman who I knew quite well. She worked for the vampire leader himself, very close to him, and she tried to kill him for all of us. Unfortunately, her attempt failed, and she was killed for her act. I will not let her death go in vain. We can't kill him directly. We have to knock his feet out from under him."

"How do you suggest we do this, Elder?" several asked.

"We somehow go after Christyl Tremaine. She's the highest ranked vampire in Mission Falls. She's just one piece of Nikolai's game, one step in our ultimate plan to save our kind."

"We can't all go after her, Elder,"

"I am aware of this." Ophelia snapped rather abruptly. "I am aware that I don't have a well thought out plan. That's why I asked us all to gather. So we could discuss it."

"What about the Hunter's?" A new voice called out from a far corner.

"What is your name?" Ophelia asked.

"Trevor Prescott," He answered. Ophelia nodded her head.

"You're one of the new members. Of course. Listen, Trevor, I can't just ask the Hunters for their help. I'm not on the best terms with one of their head leaders, and besides certain ones hunt witches as well."

"I know some that don't, though. And I know a specific one who would gladly help us. She's younger than me, but she is highly ranked for her age."

Ophelia crossed her arms as the Coven began to whisper. "And how do you know this Hunter?"

"She's my cousin. My father was a Hunter before he married my mother. His side of the family respects good witches, like us. I know she would love to help us. She hates vampires with a passion Hunters havent seen since our Founder."

"Well," Ophelia looked at the others. "What do you think? Should we let a young girl help us kil Lady Tremaine?" They all nodded their heads in unison. Ophelia looked at Trevor.

"The Coven has agreed. Bring your cousin to me. Then our plan will be in motion."

A/N:

Thank you for taking an interest in Cinders and Ashes, the first book in the Mission Falls series I am writing! I apologize if there are any grammatical errors, as I am using WordPad since my new laptop doesn't have Microsoft Word on it yet, and WordPad doesn't have spell check, lol.

Please, leave a review with your thoughts on the prelude, so that I can fix or add anything to make it better!

Hope your strings of curiosity have been pulled.

Until the first chapter,

B. Hatley