Chapter 33 Sophia's Story My eyes narrow, my mind racing. "That man looked familiar... I've seen him before, but where?" Lucas nods in agreement. "I know what you mean, sis. I've seen him somewhere too. Let's get his picture from the security camera and do some digging." Sam's anxiety grows as they search the internet, finally finding a match. The stranger is revealed to be Sophia's brother, Alexander - a member of our own witches' coven. "Ah, no wonder he seemed so hostile," I say, as I become concerned. "Alexander has always been... intense. And he's not fond of vampires." he always seemed creepy to me. Lucas's eyes lock on Sam. "It seems Sophia's a witch, and her brother was helping her chaperone the prom. He saw you two exchange numbers..." Lucas shows him the surveillance video of him lurking in the shadows while Sam and Sophia were talking. Sam turns to me with great concern. "My mate is a witch, and her brother was determined to keep us apart. Please tell me she is not lik
Chapter 34 The Banishing As Matt revealed his visions, the tension in the room became perceivable. This man is under the influence of Shade, a powerful shadow demon, who is none other than Alexander, Sophia's brother. It was a chilling realization, that threatened to cast a dark shadow over their bond. As time passed, Alexander's behavior has become more and more erratic, and it was clear that Shade's malevolent influence was slowly taking over him. Matt knew that a final confrontation with Shade was unavoidable, and their destiny hung in the balance.I decided to convene a meeting of the Coven, as we all gathered in The Mystic Manor's meeting room. Sophia joined me in explaining what her brother had done and how he seemed to be possessed by a shadow demon named Shade, Lucas and I filled them in on our past encounters with Shade, so they fully understood what we were dealing with. During the meeting, we discussed their concerns about Alexander's condition and shared our ideas on ho
Chapter 35 Facing Foretold Death (***The ritual's success is met with a mix of emotions: relief, triumph, and a hint of unease. The group's combined efforts have saved Alexander from Shade's grasp, but the ease of the banishment raises suspicions. Bella's mother, a wise and experienced witch, senses that something is amiss.) As we stand in the eerie bayou, surrounded by the remnants of our powerful ritual, we can't shake off the feeling that we've only scratched the surface of a far more sinister plot. The goth girl from school, who had threatened Bella three years ago, lurks in the shadows, her presence a harbinger of the terror that's to come. Our victory is short-lived, as we soon realize that Shade has already found a new host. The demon's malevolent presence still lingers, waiting to strike when we least expect it. (The witches, vampires, and shamans must now confront the possibility that, as they stand there, bathed in the fading light of their ritual, they know that their jou
Chapter 36 Devastating News The next few months were quiet as we gathered intel on Shade. Sophia joins us for dinner. I had been dancing around my kitchen all day, listening to my playlist, while fixing my famous Shrimp Jambalaya and potato salad. and for dessert, a red velvet cake.As we sat at my table eating, I listened in with great interest to Sophia, a history teacher who loves learning about the supernatural realm, and she has intensive knowledge in this area. Her eyes light up as she listens to the conversation, her mind racing with ideas. "I think I can help you with that," she says, her voice filled with excitement. "As a history teacher, I've studied the supernatural realm extensively. I know of a few 'let's say otherworldly beings, who might be willing to help us take down Shade." Kie's eyes narrow, his expression skeptical. "Which species?" Sophia hesitates, collecting her thoughts before speaking. "Well, there's one in particular who might be willing to help us. His n
Chapter37 The funeral The day of the funeral arrives and the Delacroix family and friends gather to bid a final farewell to Karma's parents. The atmosphere is heavy with grief but also filled with love and support. Karma, accompanied by Me, Kie, Bella, Matt, Sam, Sophia, Lucas, Brent, Lyra, and Jameson walked into the somber ceremony, Karma's eyes brimming with tears. The mournful melodies of the funeral dirge envelop them, and the soft whispers of condolences from friends and family fill the air. As they take their seats, Karma's gaze falls upon the two coffins, adorned with white roses and surrounded by candles. Her heart aches, and she feels the weight of her loss like a crushing burden. Karma slowly walks up to her mom's casket, she removes a single white rose from the Casket spray, and returns to her seat, smelling the flower. and the eulogies flow like a river, each one a testament to the love and impact of Karma's parents. Tears stream down faces, and sobs echo through the si
Chapter 38 Silly Fight Bella and Matt sat on the steps by the swing hugging after, their silly fight about that girl from graduation day had escalated into a playful wrestling match, with Bella's hair hanging loosely out of her already messy bun and Matt's shirt slightly ripped, from when she pushed him off the steps, but then after he explained she felt silly. They both ran inside so the neighbor wouldn't see them when they came out to investigate the noise. Safely inside they paused, breathless and giggling, as they fell into each other's arms on the sofa. Matt's eyes locked onto Bella's, his gaze filled with a sudden intensity. "Tonight was supposed to be so different," he paused, out of breath, as he took her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers. "Bella," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "You know that I have loved you since the day we met when we were kids, right?" she shakes her head yeah " We've gone through so much together, and I don't want to go through one more
Chapter 39 Off To College Kie asked, "So, have you two lovebirds set a date yet?" Bella replied, "Not yet, Daddy. We decided to wait until after college." Matt added with a sly grin, "Yeah, I just didn't want her walking around campus without my ring on her finger, letting everyone know she's taken! I wanted to mark my territory, so to speak." Bella playfully slapped him, giggling. "As if I'd even consider anyone else!" Matt chuckled. "It was for those who might have thought they had a chance with you, my love!" Kie laughed at their banter, enjoying their playful dynamics, and then I entered the room, asking, "Hey, are you guys heading to college this fall or spring?" they all sat at the table, munching on pizza, "We all decided to go this fall. We just need to find a dorm together." Kie smiles. "Let me make a few calls. I think there are luxury suites for exchange students from wealthy families. I'll book one for you all. It'll be perfect – you'll have your own little palace o
Chapter 40 Vacation to Italy Kie and I sat across from each other, sipping wine and gazing into each other's eyes. Our romantic dinner was the perfect setting to rekindle the flame that had burned bright for so many years. As we savored the last bites of our meal, Kie reached for my hand. "You know, now that the kids are off at college, I think we deserve a break. A real break. Just the two of us." his eyes sparkled like he already had something in mind. I was excited. "I'd love that! Where did you have in mind?" as I took a bite of my dessert. Kie's smile grew sly. "Italy. Land of love, art, and delicious food. We can explore the countryside, hold hands in Rome, and make memories that'll last a lifetime." My heart skipped a beat. "That sounds incredible. the land of Love! When do we leave?" as I folded my napkin and laid it on the table, the waitress came to say what a pleasure it was to serve us, she waited as Kie laid her tip on the table, she bowed. Kie chuckled, his eyes cri