Chapter 15: The song of the Stonechat

                                    

                                          
Set me free and change my ways.
Hey, you, Medicine Man; you know what the broken need.
Hey, you, I'll give you a dollar to take this pain away from me.
Medicine man - dorothy 
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Chaos filled the house during the short time they were downstairs. Half a dozen voices were talking over each other, their words vibrating against the walls.
Bruce was speaking loudly on his phone, while Suze conversed with a group of three women. One of them reminded Leonardo of Martha with her long black hair, but when she turned around, her eyes were a light lavender-grey that made her irises glow more than the other witches. Beside her stood a woman with cinnamon-colored skin and chestnut brown hair, and another with wild brown curls and large glasses, her eyes an uncommon indigo shade Leonardo had never seen before.
It was undeniable—the witches possessed a striking beauty and an otherworldly air that hung heavily in the cozy, normal living room. Beings of power, far beyond his comprehension, stood between the comfortable sofas and colorful pillows.
"James," the lavender-eyed woman stepped towards his father with a charming smile that could have made his mother turn red with rage and jealousy. "We are ready to take him in."
"Monique," James acknowledged her with a nod, laying a hand on her shoulder and drawing her closer. Leonardo watched their interaction closely. "Good that you're taking over. Has everyone arrived?"
"Just the three of us. We can't leave the academy unsupervised," Monique replied, leaning in to whisper something to James that Leonardo could overhear. "Those kids would burn down the whole building."
Suze approached them with a basket filled with herbs. "Let's begin."
"Where are Runa and Martha?" Leonardo noticed the empty sofas and the absence of Runa chilled the room. Suze blinked at him, momentarily forgetting he was still present.
"I gave them some sleeping draught. They'll need the rest," Suze explained calmly, her voice as still as a quiet rainy night. "I can give you some too, it helps with the healing," she offered, but Leonardo shook his head firmly before considering the pros and cons.
"I don't need it," he asserted, his voice growing stronger as his energy slowly returned and the throbbing pain receded into the background. "What will you do to Louis?" he asked, curiosity tinged with a hint of fear.
"You can watch, if you can handle it," Suze's tone was innocent, almost teasing, but her words sent a shiver down Leonardo's spine. If he had known what he was about to witness, he might have fled the house faster than he could say "witch." 
The small group of five made their way down to the cellar, carrying baskets and bags filled with various items. The heavy scent of herbs dominated the musty air of the basement. Their footsteps echoed loudly against the cold floor.
Bruce remained sullen in the doorway, arms crossed, while Suze gathered all the metal objects from the table and dumped them on the ground. She seemed nonchalant, a stark contrast to the fact that these were clearly tools meant for torture.
Leonardo leaned against the wall, seeking a spot free of blood. He wrinkled his nose when Louis sneered at him.
Louis realized things were not looking good for him and began cursing loudly when he saw Suze. He spat on the ground and openly glared at every member of the Coven, the dirty rag still in his shoulder wound.
The Coven clearly held no affection for him. Monique visibly wrinkled her nose and stepped closer to him. She slowly pulled on leather gloves and delicately placed a finger under his chin.