The Coven Reborn
Copyright© 2026 by Phillip Marks
Chapter 14: The Cabal’s Inquiry
Supernatural Sex Story: Chapter 14: The Cabal’s Inquiry - The Coven of the Moonlit Grove recruits a new member and faces a new supernatural threat as it enters a new era.
Caution: This Supernatural Sex Story contains strong sexual content, including Ma/Fa Fa/Fa Consensual Fiction Magic Light Bond
Amber was laying on a large bed in a room at Nebelgutt. Justin Duke had removed the handcuffs and leg irons. We had taken off her shoes and jacket, placing them near a chair across the bedroom. Franziska had searched Amber’s backpack. It contained some clothes, toiletries, and her ID. It too was near the chair in the room.
Franziska was standing next to me as we observed our guest on a security camera. “How is our team?” I asked my coven-sister.
“Okay overall,” answered Franziska. Rayven is awake and feeling fine after the ritual. Duane is with Coral and Delia; he’s kind of acting like a big baby about the whole thing.”
I smiled. “That sounds like him. He just needs a little extra attention is all.”
Franziska smiled crookedly as well.
“Why did that ritual hit Rayven so much harder than me?”
“During a sexual ritual most of the energy is channeled through the female participant. It’s just how men and women handle magic differently.”
I nodded. “Makes sense.”
“Amber’s room is magically sealed. She can’t break the doors or windows of the bedroom or the bathroom. She could break items in the room – this camera, the TV, or items of furniture but that would be kind of pointless on her part. We’ll have to deliver food and blood manually.”
“I hope we have enough blood,” I said.
“Well, Sabrine always keeps a small amount for her alchemy. She ordered five pints from the medical place she gets it from. We got the delivery yesterday. My concern is whether or not cold blood will feed this girl.”
“We’ll deal with that if we have to.”
“And the Cabal?” asked Franziska.
“I figure by this time they’ve used a similar location spell to what we did. I doubt they can scry into Nebelgutt but they will get a good idea of the power this place has. Ultimately the Cabal has two options: they can send someone to talk or they can try to seize the girl. That’s the risk.”
“It’s a big one Michael,” said Franziska seriously.
“It is – I’ve never debated that. My bet is the Cabal will want to talk. I doubt one of their assaults could get through Nebelgutt’s defenses. They would have to bring in one of their Masters or even a Grand Master to do that.”
“In any case they’ll know all about us, both the money and Nebelgutt,” said Franziska.
“Yeah, but that’s unavoidable. I’m pretty sure the Cabal can buy and sell countries. They won’t give a damn about the Rathmore Family Trust. Nebelgutt, on the other hand ... I’m sure they will be very interested in Nebelgutt’s power. The wild card in Callistra. She’s old, powerful, and enigmatic which together makes her really dangerous. She is also helping us in a way. I wish I knew why.”
“Cabalistic politics are way too dangerous for me,” said Franziska.
“Me too. It looks like our friend is waking up.”
On the camera Amber moved her head and arm groggily. She rolled over to one side. Sabrine’s alchemical elixir was wearing off. A moment later Amber sat up on the bed, looking around in a panic.
There was a flash of bluish energy as Franziska’s teleport spell sent us into the room. My coven-sister and I were both dressed in dark robes, though hers showed quite a bit more skin than my outfit did. I was holding my staff, Sunshard. Franziska had a different weapon, a short, rod-like spear called Willbreaker. I honestly didn’t really want to know what it did.
Amber swung herself around, getting on all fours atop the bed. “Where am I!?” she demanded.
“Calm down,” I replied, trying to keep my voice even and flat. I shifted slightly, putting my side toward the angry vampire.
“Answer my question!” Amber hissed.
“You are at a place called Nebelgutt in upstate New York. It is safe. No one will harm you here,” said Franziska.
“Who are you? Why did you kidnap me?”
“We are members of the Coven of the Moonlit Grove,” I said. “My name is Michael Renard. This is my coven-sister Franziska. She is our quarter-mistress.”
Amber visibly calmed down.
“You know my name,” I continued. “How do you know my name?”
Amber’s eyes narrowed as she considered her answer.
“How?” I asked again.
She still hesitated.
“Listen Amber,” I said forcefully. “We want to help you. If we hadn’t taken you the police would’ve gunned you down in the street. You have to let us help you, though. If you fight us it will not go well.” I moved Sunshard forward. “This is my staff. It is called Sunshard. It does many things and I’m sure you can guess what one of those things is from the name. What happens next depends upon you.”
Amber’s deep brown eyes shot between me, Sunshard, and Franziska. “Release me!” she demanded.
“No,” said Franziska flatly.
“I heard your name from Donny Ruthman. He runs a shelter in New York City. He was trying to help me. He gave me some money and told me to go to Albany. Donny said I should find you.”
I nodded. “That’s the connection,” I said quietly.
“Why are you holding me?” asked Amber.
“You killed someone –”
“I was defending myself!” interrupted Amber.
“I’m sure you were,” I continued. “You killed a police canine and assaulted an officer.”
“I was defending myself!” said Amber again. “I just want to be left alone!”
“Unfortunately that is no longer an option,” said Franziska.
“So are you just going to keep me here forever?” spat Amber.
“Obviously no,” I said. “But that is a discussion for another day. Are you hungry?”
Amber just looked down and scowled.
“I take that as a yes,” I said. Almost on cue Delia appeared in a flash of magic. Our newest coven-sister was holding a tray – it held a large ham sandwich on rye, a bottle of water, a bowl of chips, and a second bowl of deep red liquid.
“Hi, I’m Delia.” said the girl as she set the tray on the bed and stepped back. “Your name is Amber right?”
Amber just scowled and looked at the food.
“The sandwich is ham and swiss,” said Delia. “The bread is from Frellike’s in town. It’s really good.”
Amber dipped her finger in the red liquid and licked it off. “This is human blood,” she commented.
“Yeah,” I said. “Will that work for you?”
“Yes,” said Amber. “It’s like eating fast food for me but this will work.”
“Good,” I replied.
Amber wasn’t paying attention anymore. She was attacking her food. The girl drank the blood first, lifting the bowl and simply gulping it down. She wiped her mouth and drank some water before moving onto the sandwich a second later. “Well, that answers a question,” I said rhetorically. Amber just glared at me.
“The remote for the TV is on the nightstand. Hit the red button to turn it on. It’s pretty easy to use,” I said.
“When you’re done I’ll come back and get your tray Amber. It was nice to meet you,” said Delia.
My coven-sisters and I disappeared a moment later, reappearing in my office. Franziska immediately sighed.
“Well, we got her calmed down at least, and the blood situation will work,” I said.
“It’s too bad she is so angry. She’s a pretty girl,” commented Delia. “I have a schedule worked out for her mealtimes. It’ll be a bit challenging with her being a night owl but we can make it work.”
“She’s a killer,” said Franziska solemnly. “The longer she is here the more danger we are in.”
I nodded. “I wonder why Ruthman would refer this person to me?”
“That’s unknown unless you ask him. It might simply be gifted insight. Some people just have more of a sense of the supernatural than others,” responded Franziska.
The next morning I was in my office going over some additional paperwork Donny Ruthman had sent me. Apparently he was no worse for the Amber situation. The Feds had released him shortly after they had seized all the evidence from the state murder case. All charges had been dropped. The fact that the Cabal was able to ‘call in a favor’ with a federal agency was a bit disconcerting. I was waiting for the next phase of this situation to begin and I didn’t wait long.
I got a text from Rayven up on the fourth floor asking me to come up by her quickly. I had tasked her and Sabrine with keeping an eye on Nebelgutt’s masking illusion and defenses as well as physically watching for intruders. I arrived up by my coven-sisters in a few minutes.
Rayven smiled broadly at me as I approached. The two girls were sitting in one of the dormer windows in a small room off our common area. Sabrine was looking outside with a pair of old binoculars. “We have company Michael,” said Rayven.
I looked out the window. Indeed we did. A single man was at the gates of Nebelgutt. A motorcycle was parked on the road behind him and both his helmet and a colorful motorcycle jacket was sitting on it’s seat. A backpack was nearby. He had drawn a simple ritual circle in front of the old crumbling gate and three burning sandalwood candles encircled the rune. He was lost in the intricacies of spellcasting.
“Looks like he is using the decan Sphandor, probing Nebelgutt’s defenses. The spell is not aggressive but it’s definitely there,” said Sabrine.
“Knock, knock – is anyone home?” commented Rayven.
“The guy is kind of hot too,” said Sabrine, smiling.
“Sabrine! You’re such a slut!” said Rayven.
“What? The dude is cut. What do you want me to say? I wish he would take his shirt off.” answered Sabrine.
“Let me look,” I requested, taking the binoculars from Sabrine. I examined the scene in front of me quickly. “Okay, this is our answer. We should head down there; one of you needs to come with me.”
“I will,” said Rayven.
“Sounds good,” I replied.
“Should we go in full ritual gear?” she asked.
“I don’t think so. He seems to be pretty casual. My guess is that this is a messenger.” I handed the binoculars back to Sabrine and turned to Rayven. “I’m ready when you are.”
Sabrine continued to observe. “Spellcasting is easier when a guy takes his shirt off,” she said to herself.
Rayven placed her hand on my shoulder and a moment later we appeared at the gate of Nebelgutt. The young man we had been watching stopped his spell immediately and stepped back a bit in surprise. He regained his composure quickly. Sabrine was right – the sandy-haired man was quite good-looking.
“You are members of the Coven of the Moonlit Grove,” said the man, bowing his head.
“We are,” I answered.
“It is a great honor to met you. I bear greetings from your friends in the Breath of Amaunet Lodge. My master, the Adeptus Morgan, seeks a council of opinions with your leader, the respected and powerful Adeptus Michael Renard. The right honorable theoricus Raymond Magnieur will also be in attendance.” The man held out his hands and a scroll magically appeared in it.
“Ah ... okay,” I began, a bit taken aback by the man’s formality. “I’m Michael, this is my coven-sister Rayven.”
“It is an honor to be in your presence adept,” said the man without raising his eyes. Rayven and I exchanged a strange glance.