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2024-10-29 19:42:56We arrive at my temporary house in the woods together. Cornel in his blacked out hire van, with Dante’s motorbike stashed in the back, and Tay as his passenger. We’re behind in Cora's car, keeping close to them and silently lost in our own thoughts as we mull this over. It’s late and growing dark with a high bright moon tonight, yet I’m completely unsettled. The moon usually brings me comfort and peace but instead it feels like it’s bearing down on me with heaviness and urgency.
I’ve no idea if bringing the hunter to the place where I currently reside is a good idea, considering his immunity to magick and the fact he may yet pose a threat, but I’ve no other options. We need privacy from mortals, and we need a quiet space to sit down and see where we go from here. I don't like him, but Cornel and Cora seem to be fast warming to the arrogant idiot. Somehow finding him strangely trustworthy and I of course disag
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Cruden Tale (Awakening spin off) 26
'You mean who he is now won't be who he ends up?' Cora gasps, her expression stricken.'How can you be sure?' Dante snaps at me, coming out of his own thoughts, a storm moving into those blue eyes and darkening them effectively. His mood changing rapidly and a darkness like a black cloud collecting in the air. He doesn’t like this idea that he won’t be in control of who he is.'Because I have known your kind. I was a part in removing you all from this earth. None of you started out as killing machines. You were children who played, and laughed, and grew in the loving arms of your families, and then when you were awakened you lost all compassion and emotion. Cut off everything they felt, even for their loved ones. You will too. That’s when you will do what you were created for, without blinking.'The room falls silent as everyone ponders what I’m saying.'So, he’s still a threat? An unpredictable one who could turn at any time
Cruden Tale (Awakening spin off) 27
'Over my dead body!' Deborah yells manically into my face and stomps away from us in an erratic fashion in the altar room, shielding Annabel behind her white robes rather viciously. Glaring at me as though I’m her mortal enemy, while Annabel silently blinks at us with a look of utter defeat. It’s been thirty minutes of hysterics, tantrums and yelling and I am so done with all of it.'That's do-able.' I shrug, admiring my nails flippantly and sigh heavily, feeling Cora’s side eye as she tries to gauge my seriousness. My mood has been one of irritation since I was awoken from dreams of a certain hunter laying hands on me and sapping the last morsels of my power away. A nightmarish and helpless dream with that cocky ass laughing at my inability to wield any kind of magick. Now I’m dealing with an almighty freak out by the pretend witch and I am so close to flexing my violent streak.'But not how she will handle it, of course!' Cora in
Cruden Tale (Awakening spin off) 28
Annabel's eyes are wide as saucers as she meanders the house in which I’m busy packing my trunks and cases and have left her to explore. Cora departed once dropping us here after flying home, to let us get acquainted, and to go organise the travel arrangements to Scotland on my behalf.'You really have a lot of ingredients and books about witchcraft.' Annabel states naively, eyes wide in awe at everything she’s been looking at, obviously only used to the feeble attempts at magick from her coven family. They seemed more based in crystals, candles, and herbs, and had probably never seen or heard of most of what I deem a spell necessity. This is like a treasure trove of oddities for the girl.'You have a lot to learn with me, Annabel.' I nod at her, gesturing with a head tilt to a grimoire laid on the low table by the couch.'That one is a good starting point, it belonged to a witch who was very young when she began it. Younger than you and charts all h
Cruden Tale (Awakening spin off) 29
'Baby? I'm wounded.' He clutches his heart and pulls a mock hurt expression, pouting my way with doe eyes that do nothing for me.'After all the intimate moments we’ve shared, how can you call me a stranger?' He takes my silence as something amusing and goes back to cradling his glass on his chest, unzipping his jacket to reveal a white t-shirt that’s a little too tight to be appropriate. I swirl my hand over my case, muttering insults under my breath, and watch the vial piece back together almost instantly and the contents are sucked along with it, back inside. Shutting him out the best I can and undoing what he made me break.'I don't mind him seeing.' Annabel blinks at me with innocence, ignoring the gravity of the situation, undeterred by my obviously fowl temper around Dante. I hold my tongue and continue packing, trying to not lose my cool with this child already, as I know I have to build trust, not resentment.'Yeah, honey bunch, the ki
Cruden Tale (Awakening spin off) Leyanne's Journal
November 27th My name is Leyanne Cruden, I have graced these lands for what feels like an eternity, although compared to humans I guess I have lived that. I have persevered through some of the worst and best decades and now I find myself in present day, the 2020’s. I keep this journal wherever I go to record my thoughts and feelings, my memories, so that my mind can let go of the mundane yet never lose a way to reminisce because I have lived hundreds of lifetimes. I hope that one day all that remains of me are these memories and I would have finally found peace in death, although it seems unlikely.I have practised in the magical arts since my birth to my mortal mother and always known I was different. I was born with a knowledge she never possessed and abilities that terrified her, terrified people around me.My father was non-existent, a travelling high priest known as a Dru wit, but in modern times you refer to them as druids. Little is kn
Cruden Tale (Awakening spin off) 1
The breeze lifted the layers of my lightweight tunic dress up in a swirling motion from my legging-clad thighs, twisting them in an uncomfortable way which irritated me. Always one to dress the part of ancient witch, with layers and jewellery surrounding my naturally slender frame and yet it can be inconvenient when travelling to different climates. I push them down in annoyed flicks, with my eyes closed and facing the sun, trying to remain focused. Listening intently to the sounds of my companion ravens in the nearby trees. The feathery friends are always a constant in my travels, my protection, my companions, but yet today something is notably different among their crony calls. Pulling me towards them with intrigue. A new voice among them stands out like a sore thumb to my trained and observant ear. A shrill, high-pitched chatter among the ramblings and insults of my birds.Jangling the bangles on my right arm I send out a gentle vibration across the ground and towards them
Cruden Tale (Awakening spin off) 2
'Cora? Isn't she some damned little wild witch from east of the Rhine? She has barely the power to grow a fungus let alone trail the mighty Leyanne.' Rinny snorted, unconcealed dislike for any other witches in my domain. Her cute loyal love for me shining through.'Shut up, you're showing your age, Rinny dear. They don't refer to those parts as East of the Rhine anymore. It's Germany now. Not a particularly magical name but it suits the modern humans, I guess.''I am well aware, darling, but habits die hard when you pass a thousand years old, luvvie. I don’t know why they have to keep changing things when our old ways and names were perfectly fine.''Cora leaving the shores of safety to trail after me are a most definite sign that something is centering where I am. My skin is almost crawling with the buzz I feel around me and the energy in this place is heavy. Newark is meant to be some centre of earth point of interest from tribal rituals or some nonsense
Cruden Tale (Awakening spin off) 3
By moonrise I’m back in my room at the Clairmont's quaint white picket fence house, drawing back the curtains as I unload my alter items from my wooden chest that I carry wherever I travel. Just in time to ready for tonight and all I need to prepare, despite being weary from walking around all day. I have to do this every month when the moon comes full circle again and I feel like this time is long overdue.I move to cover the table by the window under the light of the moon with a black velvet cloth to absorb the rays. My carved wooden trinket box, engraved with a pentagram, filled with my healing stones and runes that have travelled with me for a lifetime are laid to the left. My crystal ball, more of a sentimental keepsake from a Roma witch I met some hundred years ago and holds a modicum of gypsy magic is laid to the right. A black candle and a white for balance, both steeped in rose water and oil before burning, are laid to the back, standing tal
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Cruden Tale (Awakening spin off) 29
'Baby? I'm wounded.' He clutches his heart and pulls a mock hurt expression, pouting my way with doe eyes that do nothing for me.'After all the intimate moments we’ve shared, how can you call me a stranger?' He takes my silence as something amusing and goes back to cradling his glass on his chest, unzipping his jacket to reveal a white t-shirt that’s a little too tight to be appropriate. I swirl my hand over my case, muttering insults under my breath, and watch the vial piece back together almost instantly and the contents are sucked along with it, back inside. Shutting him out the best I can and undoing what he made me break.'I don't mind him seeing.' Annabel blinks at me with innocence, ignoring the gravity of the situation, undeterred by my obviously fowl temper around Dante. I hold my tongue and continue packing, trying to not lose my cool with this child already, as I know I have to build trust, not resentment.'Yeah, honey bunch, the ki
Cruden Tale (Awakening spin off) 28
Annabel's eyes are wide as saucers as she meanders the house in which I’m busy packing my trunks and cases and have left her to explore. Cora departed once dropping us here after flying home, to let us get acquainted, and to go organise the travel arrangements to Scotland on my behalf.'You really have a lot of ingredients and books about witchcraft.' Annabel states naively, eyes wide in awe at everything she’s been looking at, obviously only used to the feeble attempts at magick from her coven family. They seemed more based in crystals, candles, and herbs, and had probably never seen or heard of most of what I deem a spell necessity. This is like a treasure trove of oddities for the girl.'You have a lot to learn with me, Annabel.' I nod at her, gesturing with a head tilt to a grimoire laid on the low table by the couch.'That one is a good starting point, it belonged to a witch who was very young when she began it. Younger than you and charts all h
Cruden Tale (Awakening spin off) 27
'Over my dead body!' Deborah yells manically into my face and stomps away from us in an erratic fashion in the altar room, shielding Annabel behind her white robes rather viciously. Glaring at me as though I’m her mortal enemy, while Annabel silently blinks at us with a look of utter defeat. It’s been thirty minutes of hysterics, tantrums and yelling and I am so done with all of it.'That's do-able.' I shrug, admiring my nails flippantly and sigh heavily, feeling Cora’s side eye as she tries to gauge my seriousness. My mood has been one of irritation since I was awoken from dreams of a certain hunter laying hands on me and sapping the last morsels of my power away. A nightmarish and helpless dream with that cocky ass laughing at my inability to wield any kind of magick. Now I’m dealing with an almighty freak out by the pretend witch and I am so close to flexing my violent streak.'But not how she will handle it, of course!' Cora in
Cruden Tale (Awakening spin off) 26
'You mean who he is now won't be who he ends up?' Cora gasps, her expression stricken.'How can you be sure?' Dante snaps at me, coming out of his own thoughts, a storm moving into those blue eyes and darkening them effectively. His mood changing rapidly and a darkness like a black cloud collecting in the air. He doesn’t like this idea that he won’t be in control of who he is.'Because I have known your kind. I was a part in removing you all from this earth. None of you started out as killing machines. You were children who played, and laughed, and grew in the loving arms of your families, and then when you were awakened you lost all compassion and emotion. Cut off everything they felt, even for their loved ones. You will too. That’s when you will do what you were created for, without blinking.'The room falls silent as everyone ponders what I’m saying.'So, he’s still a threat? An unpredictable one who could turn at any time
Cruden Tale (Awakening spin off) 25
We arrive at my temporary house in the woods together. Cornel in his blacked out hire van, with Dante’s motorbike stashed in the back, and Tay as his passenger. We’re behind in Cora's car, keeping close to them and silently lost in our own thoughts as we mull this over. It’s late and growing dark with a high bright moon tonight, yet I’m completely unsettled. The moon usually brings me comfort and peace but instead it feels like it’s bearing down on me with heaviness and urgency.I’ve no idea if bringing the hunter to the place where I currently reside is a good idea, considering his immunity to magick and the fact he may yet pose a threat, but I’ve no other options. We need privacy from mortals, and we need a quiet space to sit down and see where we go from here. I don't like him, but Cornel and Cora seem to be fast warming to the arrogant idiot. Somehow finding him strangely trustworthy and I of course disag
Cruden Tale (Awakening spin off) 24
'And the security guards?' Cornel cuts in, his eyes moving down the hall in an attempt to locate them by searching for their body heat with his abilities.'Will wake up when I am a suitable distance away and not have a clue how they ended up sleeping on the job. It was a temporary and weak spell, unlike this one.' I throw my hair over my shoulder impatiently and glare back at the door from which I came out. Cursing him in there for being who I now have to deal with.'What happens now?' Cora’s inquisitive, less terrified now she knows Dante means no immediate danger and unsure how to broach the subject delicately. It’s obvious to all present that I’ve met my match and this man is someone I have no clue how to handle. What he is, combined with that arrogant personality, and cocky nature, are the worst traits ever. Just thinking about him brings my heated anger back to near boiling point.'We all go for a cosy chat, according to him. We wait for t
Cruden Tale (Awakening spin off) 23
'Ummm, we shall give you two a moment.' Cora butts in, her face flushed and eyes wide and tugs Cornel back out by the wrist in a hurried fashion, leaving me powerless to do anything but remain a prisoner over the muscular shouldered, idiot, holding me up. I squirm in his tight hold, outraged, and my anger growing, attempting to break free but he’s too strong.'Put me down!' I grind out through gritted teeth with a venomous tone. Once more, trying to push myself up on my arms to get some purchase so I can buck around. Without abilities I literally have no clue how to defend myself because I never learned to be physical.'Ask me nicely, sugar, and I'll think about it. I'm not sure I like this superior thing you got going on and reckon you could do with some time out. I could do this all day if that’s what it takes!' He chuckles and rocks me back further, so I fall down against his hard naked back like a ragdoll before he walks over to a locker and uses one ha
Cruden Tale (Awakening spin off) 22
'You can try all night, sweetcheeks, and you will always get the same results. I’m immune to all your hokery pokery and voodoo shit. So whatever this was, maybe you should just get it off your chest and explain. Oh, and nice accent by the way. I like a sexy foreigner. What is it? Irish? Scottish?' He walks casually to the wall and leans back against it slowly, stopping to unravel the bandages still wrapped around his hands that had kept his gloves on tightly. Seemingly unphased by any of this. Riling my inner bitch to extreme levels.'You're a hunter... I’m your prey... What is there to explain? I should be asking you what this is?' I stomp to my feet and brush myself down with spiky motions, anger simmering insanely and my confusion making me worse. Staring at him as though he has two heads and not sure if I ever met a hunter who was completely immune while powers still caused mayhem around him. It’s not how it used to work. They were dampeners who weakened
Cruden Tale (Awakening spin off) 21
I move swiftly along the corridor towards the unconscious men, finding a nearby room which I effortlessly unlock. I twist my hand in mid-air and watch the two lifeless bodies slide in without resistance so I can conceal them with a locked door. The corridor once again clear, showing no signs of what I’ve done and my magick should keep them out cold for an hour. It’s dimly lit now too, as I took care of that fact by turning out the remaining light bulbs minus a couple at the far end and casting myself in almost complete darkness immediately.My plan is simple. He can sense me for sure, but that doesn't mean I don’t have some element of surprise. If he can't lay eyes on me out here in the crevice of the wall then I can wait for him to pass and put my potion to use. It just needs to get into his lungs or on his skin and he will be rendered useless.I don't have much time, the commentator is announcing his victory already, echoing this way, and soon he&rs
