This is a companion to "New Reality" https://www.nifty.org/nifty/bisexual/adult-youth/new-reality/

 

Both stories stand alone, but in the future, I'm planning a story that will combine them in some way.

 

You can comment as you like at Jst4fun2nyt@gmail.com.

 

My stories aren't masturbation fodder, but they are sexual, and I break many taboos. If you're looking to get off, this isn't your story. If incest, sex between adults and children, or homosexual acts offend you, this isn't your story either. If reading this is illegal where you are, or of you are underage, I'll trust you to quietly go away.

 

Text copyright ©Justin Forfun 2020-2021 All rights reserved.

 

This work is fully protected under the United States Copyright Laws © 17 USC§§ 101, 102(a), 302(a).   All rights reserved.  Placing or posting any or all of this story on any website, or distribution of any of these works in any way (in part or in whole) without the explicit consent of the author is strictly prohibited.  Any and all copyright infringements will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.  Any names, characters, or incidents are the product of the author's imagination and are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental, and no harm or slanderous intent is implied or intended.

 

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Twin Trials

Chapter 1

 

There was a loud clap of thunder and the glass in the old windows rattled as if they were about to shatter. I sat bolt upright and looked outside. The rain was beating on the glass in sheets but I could see the old oak in the front yard as it swayed in the wind. A bright flash was followed almost instantly by another loud clap of thunder that shook the whole house.

 

I grinned as I looked at the sleeping boy in my bed. I leaned down and kissed him on the cheek as I said. "Wake up little boy, it's your birthday and we have to get going."

 

"Mmmpfh... I don't wanna get up yet." Jeramiah mumbled as he rolled away from me.

 

"But there's a storm! You know what that means?" I asked, excited about the weather.

 

"We're gonna get wet, now let me sleep!"

 

"That's not what I meant and you know it!" I shouted as I pulled the sheet off his naked body and started to tickle him.

 

He squirmed and kicked as he squealed "Get off me! Leave me alone!"

 

The door opened and I heard my mother say "Zachariah Samuel Corey stop picking on your brother!"

"But Mama, we'll be late if he doesn't get up!" I whined.

 

"That may be, but you won't sit down all day if I have to tan your hide. Now both of you, get moving, this storm is a wonderful omen. I hope it lasts." She said, as she walked to the window to peer outside.

 

My twin brother, seeing his chance for revenge, twisted around and wrapped his arms around me, tackling me to the bed and sat astride my hips. "My turn!" he shouted, as he tickled my ribs. He winked at me as he ground his butt over my morning wood.

 

My mother turned around and lightly slapped him on the shoulder "No time for that either, boys. Get up and get down to breakfast. The Elders are waiting and they're eager to get started."

 

"Ok Mama, we'll be right down." Jeramiah said as he got off of me and headed for our bathroom. I joined him at the toilet and when we were done, we ran naked down the back stairs to the kitchen and came to a screeching halt. There stood the Grand High Wizard. He looked us over, then smiled and opened his arms for a hug.

 

"Pappy!!!" we both shouted as we rushed to embrace him. Then I asked "Why are you here?"

"I'm here to see my boys initiated. Anyone know when that is?" he asked as he tried to tickle us both.

 

Jeramiah squirmed and pulled away as he said "You know that's today, you're silly!"

 

I just hugged him tighter and said "I'm so glad you're here Pappy. I've missed you."

 

"And I've missed you too. I'm spending the whole summer here though. I have some work to do locally."

 

Jeramiah and I looked at each other and grinned. I knew I was seeing my excitement reflected back at me in my twin's face. Did he mean what we hoped he meant? We had both begged him to be our official teacher, but we knew his job kept him busy. Of course, he'd taught us things over the years during his visits, but all of that was just kid's stuff. Today was our thirteenth birthday and we were to become adult members of the Coven. Today, we officially became wizards.

 

We sat and tore into breakfast. Mama was an incredible cook, and no one, not even Grandma, could make biscuits and gravy like her. There were scrambled eggs, sausages, and toast too, but I just mixed it all together and shoveled it into my mouth. My twin brother did the same, as we were eager to get to the Grove.

 

"Slow down boys, at least try to taste it before you swallow!" Mama said, laughing.

 

"A healthy appetite is a good thing, Martha. They need a little meat on those bones, I can count their ribs." Granny Sarah said, as she stirred a pot on the wood stove.

 

"She's right though Sarah, Martha's cooking is too good not to taste it." Pappy said as he slowly ate his biscuits and gravy.

 

I inhaled deeply and asked "Is that for the ceremony, Granny Sarah?"

"It is boy, tell me what you smell and why I'm using it." She said as she waved her hands through the steam to push the scents towards us.

 

I inhaled again and thought for a moment. "It's a cleansing wash, vervain, sage, and peppermint."

Jeramiah spoke up "Vervain and sage to cleanse the space. The mint is to keep out evil. But I smell mugwort too, that shouldn't be in that mix, should it?"

"That's in the other kettle, a tea of mugwort and mint, before you go to the Grove." She said, placing the lid on one pot and removing the lid from a second one. "It will enhance your visions and protect you from evil."

"Will you use dried sage in the Grove too?"

"The other Elders are already preparing the Grove, boys, don't you worry. We've been looking forward to this day for 13 years." Grandfather said, between bites.

 

"It's just our initiation, Pappy. Hundreds of witches and wizards go through it." Jeramiah said, taking a drink of his milk.

 

"Yes, but yours is special. I can't say more until it's done, but many of us have been waiting for this day. Nothing this exciting has happened in the Corey family since 1624 when Grandfather Giles was initiated."

 

Jeramiah and I sat stunned. Comparing us to Giles Corey was like comparing a human child to George Washington. Giles Corey was a legend among our people, giving his life during the Salem witch trials while maintaining his silence to protect his family, and the Coven. How in the name of the gods did we compare with him?

"Finish your food, boys, then drink Granny Sarah's tea, it's almost time. Zachariah, you're first. Where's your robe?"

I took the cup from Granny and drank it down. The mint hid the horrid taste of the mugwort and it wasn't half bad, then I rushed up the stairs and grabbed my robe. I grabbed Jeramiah's too, since I'm such a wonderful brother, then tossed it over his head as I walked past him to the kitchen door.

 

"We have to get to the Grove." Pappy said. "We'll send a guide when it's your time. Jeramiah, when your brother leaves, drink your tea, and wait for your guide. As you approach, an initiate will take your robe. No clothing is allowed inside the Sacred Grove."

We both said "Yes Pappy."

He smiled and kissed us both on the cheek as he said "It's time for things to be official, boys. Address me as Master and follow my instructions, without question, until I say otherwise."

We both lowered our heads and said "Yes Master."

"Good. Now, I'll see you again shortly." And with that, Mama and Granny Sarah followed Pappy, er, The Grand High Wizard into the woods behind our old barn.

 

I turned to Jeramiah and said "Are you as nervous as I am?"

"I'm wishing I hadn't eaten so much. My stomach is turning over, I'm so scared. What if we screw it up?"

I smiled, relieved to know I wasn't the only one who was terrified. No one had told us what to expect, no matter how we tried to trick them into telling us, no one would talk about our initiation. Jacob Howe had gone through his last month and no matter how hard we tried, he wouldn't speak a word about it. I thought about that for a moment, then said "Well, if Jacob can pass the test, surely we can."

 

"Tests?!" Jeramiah squeaked "How can they test us when no one has officially taught us anything? Please say there's not a test of some kind?"

I put my arm around my little brother. We're twins, but he was born 16 minutes after me, so I'm the big brother, and we've always related to each other as such. I'm the leader, he's the follower. I dive in and get us into a jam, he sits back and thinks and solves whatever problems I've created. On our first day of school, I was the one that walked up to the group of kids and introduced us while he stayed two steps behind me and watched everyone. That evening, he told me who would be our best friends and who we should avoid.

 

"If there is a test, it won't be anything we're not ready for. Pappy wouldn't do that to us. I think it's just some kinda fancy ritual where we're presented to the Coven as members of a long line of witches and wizards."

"Do you think they know what we can do? Will they test us for that kinda stuff?" he asked, concerned.

 

"I don't think they'll test us for it. Like Granny Sarah said, some witches have magic while others depend on written spells, incantations, potions, or items. Just relax, Bro. You're going to be a great wizard. You have to, how else will people know how great I am, if you're not there to be second best?" I said, trying to get him to relax and laugh.

 

"You're right. I'll have to be a great wizard, to save your butt like I always do!" he said with a grin.

 

I was happy to see it had worked, and he was relaxed enough to tease me back. I was about to say something else when I saw it. Standing at the edge of the woods was a huge deer, his antlers were bigger than any I'd seen, and he had to be six feet tall. I would've said he was a moose, but I know the difference, and this was a white tail deer, a buck. As I looked at him, he seemed to be staring at me, waiting.

 

"Hey, look at that. I think that's my guide. I've never seen a deer that big, have you?"

"Never. And he's staring at you. Try walking out there, see what he does."

I turned from the deer to look at my brother and he just motioned for me to go on. I stepped off the porch and slowly walked towards the deer. My robe was quickly soaked and I could feel the mud squishing between my toes as I approached the huge buck. It didn't move and when I was just a few feet from it, I slowly reached out. It snorted, and leaned out to smell my offered hand and then it licked my palm. I slowly turned my hand over and gently petted its nose, then ran my hand over its neck.

 

It snorted again, then turned and walked a few yards into the woods. I stood frozen until it turned and looked at me, seeming to wait for me to follow. I looked back to Jeramiah and he was looking on in amazement. He noticed me looking, and motioned for me to follow, so I turned and followed the buck. It led me into the woods that I had played in all my life, yet they seemed different somehow. I saw the hollow log we used for hide and seek, and the huge oak tree I fell from when I was 9, breaking my arm. I thought to myself that they should be farther east, but I trusted my guide and ignored my own sense of direction.

 

I had been following for what seemed like an hour when Jacob Howe seemed to appear beside a large oak tree. He smiled at me and reached for my robe, so I pulled it off and handed it to him. Neither of us was ashamed of being naked, as we'd all grown up in Coven homes, where clothing was rarely worn. He handed me a ceremonial knife. The long, curving blade tapered to a point, and the handle was made from yellow birch. I remembered the properties of the wood as felt the protection and cleansing powers it held.

 

Jacob stepped back and raised his hand, indicating where I should go. I looked around for the buck, but it was gone. I walked several yards the direction Jacob had pointed, then I saw it. There, in the middle of a circle of oaks, was a small platform. The Grand High Wizard stood at one end, with the entire Coven standing in a semi-circle facing him and the platform. Then I noticed it, or rather, him. There was a boy, maybe 9 years old, naked and tied to the platform, asleep. I stood there, taking all this in, then The Grand High Wizard looked at me and motioned for me to approach.

 

As I stepped forward, he said "Zachariah Samuel Corey, son of John and Martha, grandson of Jeramiah and Sarah, descendant of Giles Corey, step into the Sacred Grove and face your fate."

I walked to the head of the platform, glancing at the boy as I passed him, then stood facing my grandfather.

 

He continued "The humans killed Giles Corey because he was one of us, yet to his dying breath, he kept the faith and kept his silence. For over three hundred years, his descendants have lived on this land, after fleeing the persecution in Salem. Today, Zachariah comes before us, to discover his destiny. Today, we will test this young wizard, and if he shows promise, he will join us. Zachariah Samuel Corey, are you ready to face your test? Are you ready to live your destiny?"

I gulped. My stomach wanted to show everyone my breakfast but I held it down. The knife was shaking in my sweaty palm and I was afraid I'd drop it. I took a breath and said in a shaking voice "I am Master."

 

"Turn and face the boy." He said, pointing to the boy on the platform. As I turned, he said "This boy is a direct descendant of George Corwin, High Sherriff of Salem, and the man responsible for the death of Giles Corey. Your ancestors' blood is on his hands. Your test, young wizard, is to take his life, as his family took your ancestors'."

 

I stood frozen in shock. Did my Pappy expect me to kill a child? Is this what it means to be a wizard? Killing isn't right, and this boy had done nothing to me, yet his family had persecuted mine and driven them almost a hundred miles from their home. Justice demanded that something is done, but this? This wasn't justice, this was revenge. This was cold blooded murder.

 

I must have delayed too long because The Grand High Wizard again said "You must kill the boy. You must avenge your ancestors."

 

I looked down at the sleeping boy, then at the knife in my hands. I could feel the power coming from the yellow birch in the handle. Protection and cleansing were properties of this sacred wood, but also leadership, luck, and loyalty. Loyalty to my family. Loyalty to my Coven. My hand wrapped tighter around the knife as I raised it, then I quickly slashed down. The blade was incredibly sharp, and cut deep. I raised my hand again, and again, and as the blade made its cuts.

 

Tears fell from my eyes as I turned to face my Grandfather. I bowed my head in submission, hoping I had done well.