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 The Curse of Arnford Manor

   By Mythical Traveller [mythmanxvi (at) hotmail.com]

   Epilogue



   Thirty-four men were been killed in the Holliston riot of July 15, 1931.
Dozens more were seriously injured.  162 were charged with a slew of
various violent crimes as a result.  Due to the misleading influence of the
curse, none of the men who participated in the riot could recollect what
had happened that night.  The massacre received nation-wide press coverage
and was blamed solely on the stresses of the Great Depression.  As a
result, the government responded with a generous amount of funding, geared
into rejuvenating the Holliston economy.

   As Nerine anticipated, Theresa Colby's recovery from the soul toxin she
had suckled from Serina Arnford's breast was dreadfully traumatic.  The
coven took her unconscious body back to her own bedroom, where she endured
three and a half days of fever, chills, seizures, sharp pain and vivid
nightmares, before finally reawakening.  Nerine remained by her side and
administered expert care to her throughout the ordeal.  She remained sickly
for several more weeks, though she eventually recovered to full health. 
However, the grief of losing her beloved fiance (under circumstances she
did not remember), would linger with her for the rest of her life.

   After an appropriate length of time had passed since Theresa's recovery,
the coven approached Gerald Colby hoping to somehow barter their
flourishing corn farm in Nebraska for The Arnford.  Gerald Colby would not
hear of such a deal.  To their sheer amazement, he signed the deed of The
Arnford over to them for free.  Though he was unclear on much of what had
happened the night of the riot, he knew for certain that if it hadn't been
for Nina and her family, he would have lost his most precious asset: his
daughter.  He owed them more than he could ever repay.

   The witches sold their farm and lived off the profits.  Their mothers
moved to Holliston to join their daughters in their grand new home.  The
coven changed the name of the house back to "Arnford Manor".

   After a few years, Demi happened upon the secret door in the original
basement, which led to the bunker Riley Vandelul alluded to in his journal.
It turned out that the bunker had been converted into a mausoleum, with
only a single sarcophagus interred within - that of Marcia Arnford.  The
guilt of the curse had been cleansed from her bones and the witches
believed that she was finally at peace, wherever she was.

   Serina Arnford lived out her mortal days wrapped in a straight jacket,
in a padded room in an asylum.  She did nothing but snarl and spit at
anyone who came near her.  A century and a half of being at one with a
curse had destroyed whatever semblance of empathy or rationality she may
once have had.  To the administration and the state, she was only ever
known as "Jane Doe."

   The coven never came across another manifestation that could be traced
back to Serina Arnford.  As far as the witches could tell, all of her
remaining twisted children died as virgins.

   Following their wedding, Swift Coyote would lay with each of Nina's
sisters occasionally and even had an additional son with Levinia and a son
and second daughter with Nerine.  But it was not a betrayal of trust
because he did so with Nina's blessing.  Besides, his affection for the
other witches could not compare to the deep emotional connection he had
with his wife.  Their marriage was blessed with two further daughters in
addition to their first, the future High Priestess of Fire.

   Swift Coyote was an adoring father to all his children.  He taught them
the skills of a nimble warrior and how to defend themselves against those
who persecuted them for their unconventional faith.  The teachings that had
been passed on to him from Speaks With Stones were added to the coven's
wealth of arcane knowledge.

   Nina and Swift Coyote shared a long, happy marriage.  They lived
together in Arnford Manor for over fifty years, until death did they part.

   Arnford Manor is still the cherished family home of the Coven of the
Four Paths to this very day.  Our heroes' great-granddaughters, Adamine,
Ava, Sera and Brooke have grown into powerful witches.  Rumour has it that
they've recently discovered a young man whose strong seed makes him an
excellent candidate to help them become the new high priestesses...





   The End





   Partially inspired by the wonderful works of Jim Balent and Holly
Golightly.

   Thank you for reading.  I hope you enjoyed "The Curse of Arnford Manor."
If you liked this, my other story, "Witches' Rising" follows the Coven of
the Four Paths in a modern setting.