The Headmistresses of the Beltraine Sisterhood are pivotal figures in the governance and magical defenses of the Sisterhood. They are revered as the "Three Mothers," each embodying a distinct aspect of leadership, magic, and justice within the Sisterhood. Their presence is accompanied by their vestals, spectral creations that serve as extensions of their will and power.
Headmistresses and Their Roles
Mother Meirothea – Mother of Mercy
Description: The most jovial of the Mothers, Mother Meirothea possesses an ancient and benevolent presence. She is described with fulsome silver hair and deep creases on her face, lending her a wizened, almost ethereal appearance. Her voice is soothing, commanding respect and reverence among the witches.
Role: Meirothea represents mercy and healing within the Sisterhood. Her teachings emphasize the preservation of balance and order, even in the face of hostility from Nocteraia’s supernatural creatures.
Vestal: Paracelsus – A ghostly figure that wields the power of cauterizing light. It serves as a guardian of the Beltraine gates, incinerating intruders and ensuring only allies are admitted.
The Vampire Banishment
Mother Meirothea makes a rare appearance during a ritual called the "Chain of Glory," where a vampire is executed in the heart of the Sisterhood. As the ritual drains energy from the participants, including the reluctant Channeler Gloria, the vampire’s death is marked by purple flames and anguished screams. Afterward, Meirothea steps forward, her presence silencing the cheering crowd of witches. She commends the Sisters for their success but warns of larger threats on the horizon. Her vestal, Paracelsus, floats beside her, a shimmering beacon of purity and protection. It becomes clear that Meirothea’s calm, commanding words are not only meant to inspire but also to steel the Sisterhood against the battles to come.
The Whirlwind of Defense
During the demonstration, Mother Meirothea displayed her mastery of air, water, and fire, using a sophisticated blend of movement and energy control. Her contribution was a masterclass in defensive magic. When Mother Lysandra launched high-speed granite pellets at her, Meirothea responded with precision. She began spinning in place, seemingly caught off-guard, but her movements created a powerful wind vortex. This whirlwind deflected the incoming debris harmlessly around her, creating an orbit of fragmented stone. The wind's strength was enough to rip apart nearby fabric and disperse lingering embers. Her demonstration ended as she gracefully slowed her movements, dispelling the windstorm with a flourish. This moment was a testament to her ability to wield destructive power in a protective and controlled manner.
Mother Lysandra – Mother of Light
Description: The eldest and strictest of the Mothers, Mother Lysandra is noted for her long white hair and a demeanor that radiates both authority and discipline. Her gaze is described as piercing, capable of unearthing secrets.
Role: She enforces discipline and ensures the spiritual and mystical growth of the sisters, fostering a deep connection to the Crown Goddess’s light. Lysandra is deeply connected to the purity of magic and acts as the moral compass of the Sisterhood.
Vestal: Aurelius – A benevolent spirit of light and vapor, responsible for maintaining order within the dorms and Sisterhood structures. It projects a calming presence but ensures compliance with rules.
The Revelation of a Spy
During a tense meeting with the other Mothers, Mother Lysandra's piercing gaze locks onto Gloria, the young Channeler. Though she says nothing directly, her penetrating eyes seem to strip Gloria of her secrets, making her squirm under the scrutiny. Later, Lysandra’s vestal, Aurelius, intercepts a hidden spy attempting to escape the dorms with sensitive information about the Sisterhood. The ghostly vapor wraps around the intruder, immobilizing them with a soft but unyielding grip. When Lysandra arrives, she interrogates the captive with sharp, probing questions that reveal her strategic mind and strict sense of order. Her quiet authority and relentless pursuit of truth reaffirm her reputation as the most disciplined and perceptive of the Mothers.
The Unyielding Wall
Mother Lysandra's triad of earth, air, and water shone through in her calculated and unwavering command of earth. When Mother Crimsonia hurled a massive green fireball in her direction, Lysandra responded with startling efficiency. With a firm stomp of her staff, she summoned a block of granite from the floor that rose like a barrier between her and the oncoming inferno. Though the fireball initially seemed to burn through the shield, Lysandra’s quick reaction prevented further damage. She redirected the shattered granite pieces toward Meirothea, turning defense into offense. Her precision and adaptability demonstrated her mastery over earth magic and its multifaceted use in both defense and strategy.
Mother Crimsonia – Mother of Justice
Description: The youngest of the three, Mother Crimsonia is an austere figure with long fiery red hair. She rarely smiles, and her solemn approach inspires both fear and admiration.
Role: Crimsonia administers justice within the Sisterhood. She is unyielding in her pursuit of order and retribution, especially when threats loom over the safety of the witches.
Vestal: Obsidia – The most fearsome of the vestals, Obsidia is a dark, ghoulish apparition with deep gashes resembling torn cloth. It exudes a putrid stench and possesses the power to entice souls from bodies, an extension of Crimsonia’s lethal brand of justice.
A Lesson in Justice
Mother Crimsonia presides over a solemn chapel gathering where she addresses the rising threat of vampires in Nocteraia. Her words cut through the silence, each one deliberate and heavy with meaning. She speaks of the vampires' resentment toward the Salvia Moon, the magical phenomenon that burns them, and reminds the sisters of their duty to uphold the legacy of their ancestors. Her vestal, Obsidia, floats menacingly by her side, its gashes and putrid aura a chilling reminder of the cost of defiance. Crimsonia’s austere demeanor and haunting presence fill the room, leaving the young witches in awe of her unwavering resolve to deliver justice, even at great personal risk.
Mother Crimsonia – The Roar of Flames
As the Mother of Justice, Mother Crimsonia exhibited her prowess with fire and earth magic through an awe-inspiring display of sheer power. She began the demonstration by invoking a fiery incantation, summoning a colossal green fireball. Her voice echoed through the chapel, amplifying the intensity of the flames. Later, she showcased a unique defensive maneuver when challenged by an advanced fire spell from a student. Using Artageca magic, she combined her fire sign with her earth moon sign to forge a substitute of stone and swapped her position with it in an instant. This clever use of morphic arts and elemental synergy highlighted her quick thinking and immense magical skill, leaving the sisters both amazed and inspired.
Vestals and Their Features
Each vestal is a reflection of its creator's magical ethos and purpose:
Paracelsus: Embodies protection and purifying light, burning enemies while safeguarding allies.
Aurelius: Maintains harmony and order, its ethereal presence designed to inspire calm yet enforce discipline.
Obsidia: A manifestation of dark justice, it is an enforcer and a warning to all who defy the rules of the Sisterhood.
Significance in the Sisterhood
The Headmistresses and their vestals not only serve as leaders but also as the spiritual and magical anchors of the Beltraine Sisterhood. Together, they ensure the safety of the witches, teach the arcane arts, and uphold the doctrines of the Crown Goddess against threats like vampires and other supernatural entities. Their dynamic interplay of mercy, light, and justice forms the backbone of the Sisterhood's power and stability.
A cursed prophecy...a forbidden love... a war of spells and blood...
In Nocteraia, the moon controls everything. Its phases decide how people survive. But one phase, the Salvia Moon, stands out. Its deadly light forces vampires into hiding, keeping them weak while the witches of the Beltraine Sisterhood use its power to stay on top. Now, the vampires are tired of hiding and plan to fight back.
Draven Blackcross, the Vampire King, is in trouble. Other vampires don’t trust him because he once worked with witches, and some even suspect his daughter, Tamsyn Blackcross, might secretly be a witch herself. They’re not wrong. Tamsyn struggles to keep her growing magical powers hidden, while also dealing with her forbidden love for Kain Fangsworth, a vampire from a disgraced family. But Draven is more focused on an ancient prophecy about the BloodVeil, a powerful being born every century to bring destruction—and the biggest threat to his reign.
Desperate to save his crown, Draven comes up with a dangerous plan: destroy the Salvia Moon by attacking the witches at Beltraine. To make it happen, he sends a team of vampires, including Kain, on a risky mission straight into enemy territory.
Meanwhile, at the Beltraine Sisterhood— a gothic magical academy where young witches are schooled in ancient magic— the witches prepare for battle. But one of them has a secret: Gloria is a vampire pretending to be a witch. She’s surrounded by girls who would kill her if they knew the truth. Worse, as the only Channeler at Beltraine, Gloria’s job is to supply the witches with energy to fuel their magic—magic they use to destroy vampires like her.
As secrets come to light, betrayals are revealed, and the prophecy of the BloodVeil draws closer, Tamsyn, Kain, and Gloria must navigate love, loyalty, and survival in a fight that will decide the future of Nocteraia. Will the vampires break free, or will the witches keep control of the night?
Fans of A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness and The Black Witch by Laurie Forest will revel in this atmospheric blend of gothic fantasy, dangerous romance, and supernatural intrigue.
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