Alaric walks along the edge of the trees, facing the town, continually circling it. He can hear the faint hum of music and voices, his mind fixing on Willow’s so he can follow her and make sure she’s safe. It’s not that he doesn’t trust the others, but he couldn’t forgive himself if anything happened to her. He’d barely been able to for what had happened to Yasmine…
Focus, Alaric. Focus. Hours pass by uneventfully as he hears her drinking and laughing, clearly drunk.
“I’m going to the toilet,” He hears her say, his head shaking as he almost immediately figures out the intention behind her voice. Almost mockingly he stands waiting. Five minutes pass by and she still hasn’t spoken, but she’s probably just getting some air, right? She’s allowed to have a break if she needs it, clubs can be loud, and-
“Olivia, honey,” he hears, and his ears prick up. Alaric glances up
Alaric looks at her, unsure whether he should tell her. She sees his hesitation.“Either you can tell me, or I’ll ask Camille.”Alaric nods, taking a deep breath before he begins.“Yasmine was a powerful and amazing witch. This was before you were born, Willow. She was a Depraysie like you. The fact that we dated was frowned up; everyone warned me it would end in a war.”Willow nods, listening intently.“Anyway, a witch and werewolf falling in love isn’t good, especially not for vampires. They often use witches for their own gain so them being with a werewolf is dangerous to a vampire. Yasmine was turned; most witches lose their powers once they’re turned but she didn’t. She went to the witches to try to wipe them out.”“She-”“Just listen, Willow. Of course, the werewolves knew that I loved Yasmine. We couldn’t let her kill all the witches. Unfortunat
She feels her body making the journey, almost trancelike, her mind elsewhere, and when she arrives at the graveyard Camille welcomes her with a smile.“It was always going to happen, Willow, witches don’t belong with werewolves. Do you want to come to the main house and meet some of the others?” She looks at Willow with a warm, open expression, waiting for an answer to her question. Willow glances behind her, feeling like she needs to run back to Alaric but resisting, her head nodding slowly as she begins to follow Camille to the house. Walking in through the huge, opposing front door, she sees a few people sitting around and talking, their words trailing into silence as they look at her with wonder.“Everyone, this is Willow. Willow, these are just a few of the local witches, there are more of us elsewhere, of course.&rd
There’s a light knock that prompts her to walk to the door, opening it to discover Azalea holding a map and a small bead.“So I’ve been instructed to find out where the teddy is that this bead belongs to,” she says as she walks into the room. Willow nods, watching as the young girl clears the table, placing the map down and the bead on the map. She looks at Willow, waiting.“Well, any suggestions?”Willow laughs.“I just tried it myself Azalea, I’m sorry but I don’t think I’ll be able to help you. I didn’t say anything; I just saw where the person was.” She kneels down next to Azalea feeling guilty; she promised she’d help. Seeing as she can’t do that, she can at least sit with her. Her eyes flutter closed b
Willow looks down at herself. She has to admit, the dress is impressive. It clings to her body like it was made for her, a deep blue fabric that reminds her of the ocean. The hem stops halfway down her thighs: not so high that it’s revealing, but high enough to tease. She has no doubts that she’ll enjoy tonight. It is the first night since she arrived here that she’s free from everyone watching her, asking her what she learnt today, or whether she can do this or that.Walking down the old, grand stairs she smiles, seeing Camille hurriedly putting something away in a drawer before leaning down to lock it with a sturdy key that hangs around her neck. Willow shoots her a curious look and the older woman shrugs.“It’s my personal stuff. I just don’t want anyone reading it, that’s all.”Willow nods wordlessly; she doesn’t feel comfortable enough to grab a glass of water here, let alone go snooping in drawers. Will
Stepping outside, she pulls her phone from her pocket and idly swipes around the screen while she waits.“You’re a fool.”Turning, she sees Camille with the other witches behind her.“It’s wrong, Willow, you and him together. It is wrong.”“Maybe it is, Camille, but I’ve already lived a lie for years, not knowing the truth. I won’t do it again.”“Is everything okay?” Alaric emerges from the door of the club and comes over, his arm wrapping around Willow, sensing her upset. He looks at Camille and the others, feeling Willow’s body tense up when images flash through her mind, pulling herself away from Alaric and marching up to Camille.“It wa
Eventually, it’s Zander who breaks the silence first. “I’m so sorry for everything she did to you, Willow, and to you as well, Alaric,” he says. “She had no right to get involved in personal relationships, or to hide everything from you, either. The deeds to the house are kept in a bank with the money, which is all legally yours now. It’s your birth right. I guess she just got so used to the fact she was the only magic-practicing Depraysie around that she just didn’t want to let it go.”Alaric nods. “It’s fine, I’m just glad it’s over now. I should be going, anyway.” It’s late now- or early, he supposes, seeing as they hadn’t even left the club until around midnight.“No, look, stay here, and you too, Willow. This is your house. We were told that you are the reason the three worlds
“So, what else do we need to talk about?”“So much, Willow, although you seem to know some things already. Like how the werewolves and witches agreed not to cause each other harm unless it’s in self-defence, and how a witch is never to use magic against a werewolf. We stay out of each other's worlds.” Willow nods and smiles.“That’s changing, Alaric, I don’t know how but it is. If we could get the witches, werewolves and vampires back together, the witches could help the Ceprimora walk during the day, rebuild that relationship from all those centuries ago, and control the Monventla.” She has accepted she is the one to do it, she just doesn’t yet know how.“It won’t be easy. Not all witches will be as accepting as Zander is. Some may even fight you on it.”Willow knows it will be a battle to get most witches to even listen. It will take a new magic on its own to make them realise
“Zander, what are your thoughts if I start writing down spells and stuff I hear in my mind and turn them into a grimoire? I know the witches lost all theirs, so if I can then surely that’s a good thing? I know it could take years but surely if I can write down the main it could be a big help.”“I’m not sure, Willow. If a vampire got their hands on it and a witch agreed to help them, it could be deadly. The witches were lucky they were burnt and not taken in the first place; had the vampires taken the grimoires, they could have used a witch against us.”“It’s a good idea,” comes a voice. “It means the leaders of each coven around the world could protect the covens against vampires.”The three of them turn to see Camille standing in the doorway. “I apologise for my attitude towards you both, Willow and Alaric. Now I can’t feel my powers, the magic has woken me up.”Zander sm