Chapter 5-Everly

My alarm going off on my phone wakes me from the peaceful sleep I was in. Ugh, I hate mornings, but today is a special day. Today I leave the coven’s realm on my own. Today I start my adventure, and with that exciting thought, I hop out of bed as excitement burns in my veins. 

I quickly get dressed in black skinny jeans, a dark purple peasant-style top, and my black combat boots. I have on my necklace that my Mom gave me. I’m in love with all my wonderful and thoughtful gifts from my family. My grandparents give me my own grimoire to start filling with my own spells, potions, and notes. I’ve packed it along with everything else. 

I happily bounce to the kitchen, where my parents are preparing breakfast for the four of us. “Morning!” I greet my parents in a cheerful tone as I head to the coffee maker to pour myself a cup of coffee. 

“Morning, Little Nightmare.” My parents greet me in unison. 

“Ugh, how are you three so cheerful in the morning?” Kai grumbles, walking into the kitchen. 

“Did someone party too hard last night?” I jest as I pour my cup of coffee. 

“Now, now you two. Sit down and enjoy our family breakfast together. We don’t know when we will be all together again, and your Mom and I have some news to share.” Dad states as he waves a spatula at us. 

Kai grumbles something under his breath as he comes over to pour his own cup of coffee while I add sugar and cream to mine. I’m like Mom. I like my coffee to not taste like coffee. Of course, Kai drinks his coffee black like Dad. 

We all sit at our table in the kitchen. Damn, Mom went all out. She made french toast with fresh whipped cream, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage links, ham, hash browns, and there’s fresh fruit. I dig in, loading my plate with Mom's delicious food since I don’t know when I’ll be back to indulge in her cooking. 

Mom has always been a great cook. She taught me some, and we sometimes cook and bake together. I guess I’m just not into it yet. I feel like I’ll be more into it when I have my own family. Besides, it’s hard to cook when I’m training all the time with Dad to reap souls. Mom has me training in my wolf form as well. Not to mention learning to control my magic. Somehow, cooking and music have always been pushed to the back burner, but now I plan to combine my love of music with my duty to serve the coven. 

“So, what’s this news you need to share?” Kai asks, shoveling a piece of bacon down his throat. I roll my eyes at his overly boyish behavior. 

“Well, I’m not sure how to tell you kids this, but I’m pregnant,” Mom blurts out. 

“I knew it! I knew you were glowing, and you only have that special glow when you are pregnant,” I reply with a smug smile. 

“Seriously? I’m not changing diapers.” Kai adds. 

“If I can change diapers, you can too.” Dad counters. 

“Yeah, but you don’t change the dirty ones.” Kai counters back, and Dad glares at him. 

“Congratulations, Mom. It will be interesting to have a super baby sibling.” I add to have some encouragement to the conversation since my Dad and brother are acting like typical men. 

“Thank you. This doesn’t change your leaving. You can still leave, and if you want to come back for the baby to be born, you can, but I understand if you don’t want to or if you get busy.” Mom smiles. 

“Of course, I’m coming back for the baby’s birth. I wouldn't miss it. What do we have, about four or five months?” I inquire.

“Something like that.” 

“I’m still not changing poop diapers,” Kai grumbles. 

“Oh, stop being a baby. They can’t be that bad,” I tell him. 

“Easy for you to say you will just go back to the human realm after the baby is born. You will get to skip the poop diapers.” Kai counters. 

“Enough, Kai. We can worry about diaper duty when the time comes. Now, let's enjoy our breakfast, and then it’s time for me to take you to get your marking, Ever.” Dad shuts down Kai’s whine fest. 

How could I have forgotten the marking? I can’t wait to have my mark of the coven on my back like the rest of the official members. It’s a crow sitting on top of a skull with shadows swirling around it. It’s totally badass, and I’ve been dreaming about the Moment I get mine. 

After a fun breakfast with my family, Dad and I head out to do my marking. Excitement bubbles under the surface as we walk to the ceremony room. However, we stop a few feet after we leave our apartment. 

“Why are we stopping?” I inquire, confused. 

“Because, Little Nightmare, you are a part of my bloodline, and we get our marking from Death. Are you ready to go to Death’s realm and finally meet him?”

My mouth drops slightly as I nod my head. I knew that I would go to Death’s realm one day and officially meet him. Death doesn’t like leaving his realm. So, while I know all about him, I’ve never met him. I figured I would meet him one day, but I never thought it would be today. 

Shadows come around us as they teleport us to Death’s realm. The shadows disappear, and I look around.  The room is all black stone, lit by fire on the walls in torches. Death sits on a throne made of bones. He wears a black cloak with jagged edges on the sleeves. His silver eyes peer out. Dad’s eyes are a much darker grey which are the same eyes Kai and I have. Shadows dance around the walls. There is a howler pup sitting at his feet. 

“Ah, I see you have brought me, my granddaughter.” Death's calm and eerie voice echoes around the room. 

“Yes, I’ve brought her for her marking,” Dad replies. 

“That’s right; you turned eighteen. Going off to the human realm?” 

“Yes, Sir.” 

“Oh, please, no formalities. You are my granddaughter. You may call me Grandpa. I’m glad you are going off to the human realm. I think you will have a self-discovery journey. Perhaps even meet your soulmate.” Death pauses as if he’s said too much. “I have a gift for you, Everly. I will gift your own howler pup to help guard you when you are away from the coven. You can disguise him to look like a regular dog. It’s good to have protection. You are far too valuable, my dear.” 

The howler pup at his side gets up and happily walks over to me. His slick black fur is shiny, and his fiery red eyes stare up at me. I bend down to pet him. He feels greasy, but a good greasy. His rough and jagged tongue licks my hand, and I giggle. 

“I’m going to call you Cas. Thank you, Grandpa.” I say with a wide smile. 

“Seriously, I wanted a howeler pup, and you gave my grumpy ass Cerberus instead,” Dad complains. 

“Oh, hush, son. Don’t you know grandparents spoil their grandkids and not their kids?” Death counters. Dad rolls his eyes with a sigh. It’s odd seeing my composed father act like an angsty teenager. 

“Well, Ever, are you ready for the marking? It will hurt, but only briefly.” Dad informs me.

“I’m ready,” I state confidently as I stand up from petting Cas. 

Death stands from his throne and walks over to me. He places his hand on my shoulder. I can’t see his face, but somehow I have a feeling I don’t want to. So I stare deeply into his glowing silver orbs. Death begins to chant in his own language. It's a language that I have studied and yet barely know. 

My back begins to burn as I feel the marking begin to form. Dad grabs my hand and lets me squeeze his hand tightly as the burning intensifies as Death continues his chant. The minute Death stops chanting, the burning stops, and the mark is set in place. 

“Now you are officially a member of The Coven of the Crow and Shadows.” Dad beams a proud smile at me. 

“Yes, she is. Now, time for you to go off to the human realm. Try not to get into too much trouble, and keep an eye out for your soulmate. He’s unique like you.” Death winks at me. 

Okay, I don’t know how to take that cryptic message, but Dad has always said Death enjoys being cryptic. I never understood what he meant till now. We say goodbye to Death, and then Dad teleports us home. 

I show off Cas to my Mom and brother. Kai whines about wanting a cool pet, and Dad tells him he will have to wait till he turns eighteen. Dad also has no sympathy for Kai because apparently, he always wanted a pet but was never allowed one. Once again, it’s odd seeing my Dad act like an angsty teen. Mom just shakes her head at him and Kai as she makes a joke about her being Dad’s Pet. It’s his nickname for her. Both Kai and I groan at their affection towards one another as they kiss. We are used to their public displays of affection towards one another, but we still like to give them a hard time when we can because isn’t that what kids are supposed to do?.

Before heading off to the human realm, I say my goodbyes to my family. I’m excited and nervous, but I’m ready for this. I’ve been waiting and plotting for way too long to take this journey. 

After saying goodbye to my family, I grab my stuff and Cas and use the shadows to teleport me to the human realm. I find one of the coven cars parked in a parking lot. I load my stuff and Cas into the back of the convertible Mustang. I pop on some music as the convertible top retracts. I  take off like a bat out of hell to the music academy as I enjoy the wind in my hair and the taste of freedom.