[IC] Just Give Me A Sign

[SirensCall]

The orange glow surrounding them was quite ominous, and all she could see in her line of view was a wall of flames cutting her off from everyone she had grown to care about. Her amber eyes had a darker hue in them, her heart racing as she screams from the other side of the wall grew louder, but no matter what Ophelia tried, the wall remained between them.

“Hold on!! I’m coming!!” shouted through the flames, the screams becoming more frantic and panicky.

“Save yourself, Ophelia! I can handle this! Go!” a strong male voice shouted, but Ophelia couldn’t bring herself to leave as she continued trying to use her magic to douse the fire, but nothing was working. She could hear the screams still, and she could feel the tears burning in her eyes when the last one faded. She hit her knees, staring at the wall of fire as it slowly dwindled down, a figure standing before her as she stared at the bodies of her parents, her sister, and her brothers. She could hear the cackle.

“You see, this is why the Lockhart clan will never be as great as the Godwins.” The cloaked man cackled, but something snapped, and Lia stood before them with her eyes still leaking.

“And this is what you devoted type always do wrong….” She said, darkly, lifting her hands and touching his face, watching the light leave his eyes as she did. “You underestimate us Balanced souls and assume we don’t delve into necromancy.” She whispered and soon his body fell to the ground.

She could feel herself getting weak, but she needed to leave. Others would follow and try to finish the job that the fool now lying dead had started, but no matter what this had changed. Her life was different. She was now alone, but something caught her attention. Twigs snapping…

A cold sweat covered Ophelia’s face as she shot up in bed, her heart racing and breathing heavy. The nightmares were frequenting more and more as of late, and that meant nothing good. The witch with wavy golden strands pulled her knees to her chest and she sat in her locked bedroom of the cottage she shared with one other. Kathleen Emerson, a dark witch recently found to be balanced, hence why the vampire coven wanted the two living with each other. Ophelia Lockhart, the last witch in the great Lockhart line, and a soul so balanced that it was almost eerie.

Her manicured fingers found their way into her tangled tresses, and she clutched the sheet closer to her too. Her amber eyes finally adjusted to the darkness of her room, and she slowly got out of bed and crossed to the window. She had an east facing room, and the sun wasn’t quite to the horizon yet, but there was no use in her trying to sleep again. Not if all she was going to have bad dreams.

Not to mention, the body guards were due in soon. They always arrived at dawn, whether she and Kathleen were up or not, but it was coven orders. The elders had decided once they took in Lia that she would need protection, especially because of her nature, and Kathleen would need it as well.

Lia pulled her black robe around her form that was covered in a thin white tank top and a pair of fleece pajama pants. Early September was definitely colder this year than the last few, and once she slipped into her slippers, she headed downstairs and into the kitchen, and began making herself some tea and some breakfast for everyone. She opened he refrigerator and pulled out some eggs and sausage and began cooking.

This wasn’t an every morning thing, but she had to get her mind off of her dreams. She hadn’t told anyone about them, hell most of them barely knew she was there half the time. And the ones who did… well…

“It’s Tuesday,” she muttered to herself as she walked over to the coffee pot and turned it on, “Mitch will have coffee black because of my late night research in the coven library like every Monday night into Tuesday morning, Atticus will take overly sweetened tea because he likes tea with his sugar, and Kathleen will probably want pancakes.”

She sighed and took a long sip of her tea and then turned on one of the pans on low to cook the sausage before she drew her robe closer to her and sat out on the front porch of the cottage that had been her home for many years. So far from human civilization, but so modern all the same. She closed her eyes and took another long sip of her tea, but the glow of flames came again and she shot her eyes opened.

“By god, I hope Mitch talks about something worthwhile this morning.” She grumbled as she headed back inside, hanging her robe over one of the dining chairs where she had a stack of books sitting. She had them out from a few nights prior, but translating the texts was delicate and time consuming work. Her ears perked at the sound of footsteps on the front porch. The porch needed redoing, but it was a want not a necessity. She sighed, pouring Mitch’s coffee and setting it in his normal spot, and setting the sugar – tea mix for Atticus at the table as well as she flipped the sausage and began mixing the stuff together for pancakes.

Today they would be in the garden for Kathleen’s lessons, but she could feel it in the air that it was going to rain. The rain was good, but for the lessons it would be better to have a dry day. It also didn’t help that she was having these bad visions too, her mind was everywhere today, and as she began cooking the pancakes she subconsciously began humming to herself. It wasn’t a song anyone really knew, but it was what she did when she was thinking, a bit of a habit she never really even caught onto herself.

She opened a cabinet once the first set of pancakes were on and pulled out plates, her mind still restless and she continued humming to herself, not greeting the boys when they came in even.

--

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

Now Atticus was really beginning to wonder why the coven didn’t have he and his partner, Mitchell, living with the two they guarded… but it was something he quickly remembered. Ophelia had explained once upon a time that it would be dangerous to live with them, but she never explained further. Atticus had also been told early on that witches were a secretive sort, and after training with Mitch and Ophelia for as long as he had, being assigned to Kathleen was a breath of fresh air.

He rolled on his bed and pulled on his jeans, shirt, and jacket before pulling on his boots and yawning. Seriously, if he and mitch could stay in the cottage with them instead of in the tower of the coven grounds to them, they could sleep in like the girls did on occasion.

He walked up to Mitch’s door and knocked, seeing their blood bound brethren heading to bed as they were waking. “Come on, man. We better head over there.” He called through the door as he yawned again and stretched some more as he thought about the day. They would be outdoors which he loved and being an energy vampire and blessed with daylight walking abilities, he would love it even more.

Once Mitch joined him, he looked his partner over again. “You look like you got no rest, man. She keep you in the library for an age again?” he asked as they began the trek towards the cottage that sat on the edge of the coven grounds. The elders had been pressing the girls for more answers in less time, but with Kathleen also learning from Ophelia it made things more difficult.

Atticus shoved his hands in his pockets and once they approached the porch, he could smell sausage and coffee, and he looked over to Mitch. That was definitely Lia. Something no one could explain, but for being as cold as she was, she had her kind streaks that was certain.

“Kat’s still asleep, probably not for much longer, but she is. And we’re in the garden today, so we should have a relatively calm day, since we aren’t dealing with everyone who stays awake in the castle.” He said, and once on the porch he could smell pancakes getting cooked. He smiled a bit once he opened the door and noted his tea sitting there and a cup of coffee too, but Atticus took his cup and headed up the stairs to check on Kat as he always did.

Normally his morning consisted of talking to Mitch until the girls woke up, but he had a habit of checking on Kat regularly because she was his responsibility and he wasn’t going to mess this up. Not with his friend sticking his neck out for him. Atticus listened for a moment at Kat’s door before he opened it to check on her and when he deemed it was okay, he quietly shut the door again and walked back down to join Lia and Mitch. “Morning.” He finally greeted Lia who just kidding do of half waved while she hummed. She hadn’t done that in a long time, and he now hoped that Kat would wale up soon. Somehow she managed to diffuse any small bit of tension in the room on mornings like this.

However, Atticus decided to take his tea outside and watch as the sun finally began to rise. His mind wandered back to the day when he was assigned to protect Kathleen.

The Council was meeting in the main room, only three members not of the council were there that day. Mitchell, Atticus, and Ophelia. Mitchell was seated beside Ophelia and Atticus was standing before the council, still wondering what was going on.

Finally, Elder Checkov spoke. "Atticus Slater, as I am sure you know the coven has taken in a new witch as of last week. She has been in the coven's guest chambers while Ophelia sets up the cottage to accomadate our new addition... And as per our laws, our new addition requires a bodyguard."

"Yes sir," he said, his eyes traveling over to Ophelia and Mitch before he looked forward. "But why am I here sir?"

The elder half chuckled, "Because, you have been recommended for the job." He answered, "And the council wanted to have a formal meeting to evaluate your performance. We will be starting with Ophelia's accounts, and you will be allowed to listen to them."

Atticus nodded and watched as Ophelia came forward and said her piece, a short but rather well versed piece, and then Mitchell went up as well. They had to have been his recommendations.

"Anything to add?" Checkov asked.

"I can guarantee her safety if it is entrusted to me." He spoke, simply.

"Good, you will meet her in the morning." Checkov said.

[Love Dove]

When she first had come to the coven she was an emotionally closed off heartless wreak, that only seemed to feel anger. The only reason she had went with the vampires in the first place was to get away from her own family. After her mother’s death and finding out that she was balanced she knew that she had to leave, she planned to just stay a week until she had a chance to run away. Maybe that was the reason that they made her stay in the castle.

Though her plans had changed once she met the other witch Ophelia. Who was probably the only person who was ever actually honest to her. Though her bodyguard was annoying and tended to piss her off a little. "So Ophelia, is that guy that forwards you around the only bodyguard around here? No, offence but he is kind of annoying as hell." She asked the first time that he went outside of her room to talk to the elder vampire Checkov.

Kathleen stretched in her extra comfy large bed under the covers and still warm. The sun shining through her south facing windows woke her enough for the smell of pancakes to finish the job. Her pale blue eyes stared up at the ceiling as she thought about her first few weeks here. Kathleen smiled to herself at the memory, as she looked out of her bedroom window which faced their beautiful garden. She never would have guessed when she first came here, that she would be here four years later. Or that the old magic and balance of her soul would turn her into the emotional roller coaster she was now. However, for the most part she was rather happy anymore or at least happier than she had been when around her family. She ran a brush through her straight dark blonde locks of hair, though she didn't even bother changing out of her pink and white plaid pajama pants or the red long sleeved half way buttoned up shirt.

The sound of Mitch chattering along traveled up the stairs, and it made her smile a little bit bigger. Finding him more like an annoy older brother now, but every time he opened his mouth, it made her a little bit happier that Atticus was her guard. Leaning against the kitchen door frame, she listened to him talking to himself a little amused. "You know Mitch the more you sit there talking to yourself, the more people question your sanity, just a warning." Kathleen said making her way into the kitchen, grabbing glass out of the cupboard and the orange juice out of the fridge. Mitchell laughed softly behind her. "Good morning. You seem like you're in a good mood this morning, Kathleen."

Kathleen nodded pouring the juice into her glass. "Morning Mitchell and I am in a good mood. I’m excited to be practicing outside in the garden today instead of in the castle.” She said smiling brightly before going over to the counter where Lia was making plates taking two of them from the counter with a smile. “Morning, Lia.” She greeted cheerfully before turning and putting one of the plates in front of Mitchell and the other one where Atticus usually sat. Seeing the empty chair made her frown slightly as she looked up at Mitchell, she had grown rather used to him being at the table talking to Mitchell when she got up, it was weird for him not to be there for her. “Where’s Atty?”

Mitchell looked at her, giving a weird look before he pointed out to the back porch. ”I think he’s out watching the sunrise.” He answered watching her look as she headed towards the porch.

Kat gave a smile as she opened the door and saw Atticus sitting on the porch, she walked over behind him with a laugh as her hand went up to play with his hair. "Good morning Atty! Why are you hiding out here?" She asked before sitting in the other chair on the porch with her orange juice.

--

Mitchell let out a groan as the alarm went off in his room his hand roughly going up and hitting the button almost knocking the clock off the table. He just laid there in bed spread out facing the ceiling with his dark brown eyes still closed for a few moments waiting for the second alarm that he only set on Mondays, something that he started when he first started watching Lia and she started keeping him up on Mondays. He hadn't gotten to the dresser to turn the second alarm off yet before Atticus was knocking on his door.

"Yeah, I'll be out in a moment." He yelled as he hit the power button on the second clock and started getting ready. Grabbing pants and a random shirt and slipping them on before moving the stack of books from library off of his jacket. Though they were for personal reading and not for helping Lia, he just never had the chance to go to the library without being stuck there helping Lia. Mitchell slipped his shoes on quickly, his one arm still out of his jacket as he opened the door and walked out into the hallway. "Hey man." Mitchell said slipping his other arm in the jacket and locking the door to his room.

He nodded a little letting out a yawn of his own. "Yeah, I think I almost fell asleep on her last night, I barely remember getting to my room." Mitch said as they started heading out of the tower towards the cottage. "It wouldn't be so bad if reading about witchcraft wasn't so boring and quiet. I can only make noise so much before I annoy myself." He said with a bit of a laugh. As they got outside he was happy that he remembered his jacket. Especially seeing how they would be working outside today. Mitchell was starting to miss the beginning of fall, when the leafs were starting to fall but it was still warm and less likely to rain.

"Smells like Lia’s up already." Mitchell said the smell of sausage and coffee as they approached the cottage, made him smile a little. It wasn't every day that Lia was up and making breakfast for everyone, but she was a great cook, and he enjoyed it when she did. He looked at Atticus when he spoke and nodded a little bit. “I know that will be a nice change, even if it’s cold.” He answered before following Atticus inside though he took a sit in front of his coffee at the table, watching Att going up to check on Kat.

That was the reason that he had gave his recommendation for Att to be Kat’s guard, before even the first of training him Mitch knew that Atticus would be a good bodyguard. Atticus took the job of keeping the women safe just as seriously as Mitchell did, if there was any real training that he had needed it was the way to handle things with witches. Just like Mitchell had thought Atticus was doing a great job with watching Kathleen unsupervised.

The humming coming from Lia brought Mitchell’s thoughts back to the witch standing at the corner cooking and making plates. It was a little strange maybe, but Mitchell kind of liked the way she hummed to herself when she was deep in thought, even if it did seem to make everyone else a little bit nervous and tense. If anything it was much more relaxing to him than how annoying quiet she was. He watched her sipping his coffee for a moment. “Good morning, Ophelia.” He said frowning a little has she simply just gave a wave, the same that she gave Atticus when he greeting her as well before going outside.

Mitchell let out an annoyed sigh that he always did when she annoyed him. “Good morning Mitchell, how are you today?” He said mocking Lia’s tone a little looking down at his coffee as he spoke. “I’m good really enjoying the coffee and the fact you aren’t ignoring me completely again.” He answered in his plain voice again with a bit of a smirk watching her out of the corner of his eye, before hearing Kathleen finally come down into the kitchen. After Kat went outside to get Atticus, Mitchell looked over at Lia with a weird look on his face. "You know the more you work with Kathleen the weirder she gets. It that something that's normal? Or should I be worried about you?"

[SirensCall]

The first time that Ophelia got to meet Kathleen was a bit earlier than Atticus, for two reasons. One, the coven elders wanted to know if she could teach the younger witch balance, and two, to be sure that she would take to Atticus, as Ophelia had put in her recommendation before she had even met the young woman. It was their first time really without Mitch around, as he spoke to Checkov, and Ophelia had flashed her a rare smile.

“Mitchell?” she half scoffed, “Though I must agree that he has annoying tendencies, he is an excellent guard, but no he’s not the only one. You will have Atticus Slater. He is much less annoying.” She answered. “But, if we are going to be having lessons on getting you to achieve better balance in your soul, Mitchell will be around. But you can always tell him to shut up. He may not like it, but he will know it’s what’s best and just start muttering to himself… by then we will have moved the lessons away from him though. Still in eye sight, but not in ear shot.”

Ophelia was focused on breakfast, plating and cooking when everyone started coming in and waking up. She had half waved to Atticus and Mitchell as she hummed, putting breakfast together on the plates she had brought out, and after she had two plated she heard Mitchell’s comment. “You would know if I were ignoring you, Mitch. I wouldn’t have acknowledged you at all.” She quipped, but upon hearing Kathleen, she smiled a bit.

“Good morning, Kat. It’s going to be a bit chiller today, so dress appropriately for our garden lessons.” She said, a bit of a motherly tone coming. She hadn’t meant for it to come out that way, but in the four years they had had together, she had seen so much of her younger sister, Bianca, in Kathleen. There were major differences though. For one thing, Bianca had been the only natural soul to grace the Lockhart clan, and two, Kathleen was still alive… she shook the thought from her mind, the humming stopping.

She heard Mitchell’s comment and she shook her head. “She isn’t getting weirder, Mitch. She is having to learn a very different form of magic than she is used to. On top of that, old magic is something very difficult to learn later on in life. I was taught young, and when you live your life believing one thing and finding out another… it’s hard. She is doing quite well, actually.” She said, and she finished up the other plates and took her seat at the table, sipping on her tea.

She played with her eggs a bit before looking over at Mitchell. “Need more coffee?” she asked, taking her tea cup as she stood and made herself another cuppa, filling Mitch’s cup as well before she set her tea down and brought out the butter and syrup she had forgotten. Soon, Atticus and Kathleen were joining them, and she watched as Atticus made himself a cup of hot tea with more sugar than anyone should have in one sitting.

“Thanks, Lia. Smells great, as usual. What had you up so early anyway? I mean, I won’t complain because we’re getting breakfast out of it, but still, it’s weird that even didn’t hear you and Kat sharing the mirror this morning.” Atticus said, and Lia sighed.

“It’s none of your business why I’m up so early, so just enjoy your breakfast.” She said, taking her plate with silverware on it and heading up to her bedroom. She sighed, setting her plate on her dresser as she pulled out her clothes for the day. She selected an outfit that had a long sleeved grey shirt and a pair of skinny jeans that she tucked into her black boots. She took a few bites of her food and pulled on her black leather jacket as she put a few books into her messenger bag and she sighed. She ate a few more bites before brush get out her hair and applying her make up in the mirror attached to her dresser.

She finished up the little bit of food she had left, swallowing her tea as she made her bed up and then sat on it, laying back and staring at the ceiling, barely realizing she was falling back asleep.

The flames that had once engulfed the Lockhart home were gone… a nearby wolf had happened across the scene, but quickly left when Ophelia began shouting a spell at it that hurt it’s ears. She walked about the bodies, her father was ahead was ahead of them all, the burns making him barely recognizable. Her mother wasn’t far from him, holding her sister’s body. She had died before the flames… the stupid warlock killed her because he couldn’t have her.

Lia knelt down beside her sister, stroking her hair away from her face. Lia had only survived because she had gone hunting for herbs for her sick brothers who were also outside. She looked to them, and she spoke a spell, watching the bodies burn to ash.

She headed inside the heavily fire damaged cottage, and she packed up a few things. She exited and she headed off into the night, only to be met by other witches. The darkness within her soul was emitting, and with little thought, she killed each and everyone of them, not caring how much magic she used… not caring that it could have very well killed her. Her vision blurred as her consciousness faded.

She woke again, breathing heavily again, and she hoped she hadn’t screamed again. She had done it before when she fell back asleep after a bad night, and the fact she hadn’t had a good night in a while was beginning to concern her. She’d have to start burning her lavender and sage again as she fell asleep again.

She sat there for a few moments, trying to collect herself again. She couldn’t let on like anything was wrong. Not with the delicate lessons that she and Kat were having today.

--

Atticus was glad to be out in the brisk air. He quite enjoyed this time of year, but then again, he had come from further north than most or them, so the cold had never affected him much. He took another sip of his tea when he heard Kat enter the kitchen. Good, she was awake and that meant that the day would get started a little bit quicker. His eyes stayed on the horizon, and soon he felt a hand in his hair, and he smiled.

“Good morning going to you too, Kat.” He chuckled, and he turned to her when she sat. “And I’m not hiding, if I were hiding you wouldn’t have found me. I just enjoy the weather, and I am glad we will be outside today. It’s going to be a beautiful day up until it starts raining.”

He offered his hand to her after a couple more moments or watching the horizon, and he stood up. “Better get inside. Smells like breakfast is done.” He said, and once inside he made himself another cup of tea and sat down. Sausage, eggs, and pancakes. A good breakfast for sure. However, something was off when the normal banter with Lia went south. Even when it had just been him, Mitch, and Lia, she would just say that she felt like getting up early, and he felt a little bad when she left.

He would apologize when she came back, and he looked to Kat, hoping that he could diffuse the tension this time. “So, are you excited for the garden lessons today?” he asked her. He had a feeling she was, but Checkov had been adamant about her lessons being held within the castle.

In fact it wasn’t until the last meeting when Lia said she couldn’t continue to be bound by not he castle for her teachings that he finally allowed the outside lessons. However, Checkov had been different as of late as it was. The lycanthrope problem had gotten worse, though they hadn’t scaled an attack on the coven, it couldn’t be far off from that.

Then there was the more frequent meetings with the surrounding smaller covens. He knew that this coven had offered aid to the surrounding ones, but he also knew that the coven leaders only met with the elders once every few months, and now that the meetings were coming once every few weeks, it was putting everyone on edge.

But that wasn’t Atticus’s department, and his main priority was sitting to his left. He would keep her safe at all costs if something were to happen, and considering it had been nearly a decade since the last attack on the cove , he had a feeling one would be coming soon.

A noise struck his ears. A muffled sort of scream, but Atticus didn’t move, knowing where it had come from. All of them did, and it was becoming more and more clear that something was about to happen. He looked to Kat, remembering how quickly her moods changed and how easily it was for her balance to get throw off, but Atticus also knew that Mitch would be on it. He always was.

The silence that fell though, it was eerie, and for once Atticus couldn’t take it as he took up his plate and headed to the sink. “Anyone else need anything?” he asked, his eyes looking out the window and to the path that lead up to the castle. Thee horse drawn carriages were coming, and he rose a brow. They were from the coven to their east, and they had just been here the week prior, at least he was almost certain of it.

“Kat, which coven did you see coming last week?” he asked.

This whole thing breathed trouble, and he didn’t like it. Not one little bit, but hopefully the lessons would take their minds off of everything going on, like it normally did.

[Love Dove]

"Thank god." Kathleen said with a small laugh when Ophelia said that she would have someone other than the Mitchell guy that followed her around. Though she should have known that he would still have to be around if Ophelia was helping her soul become better balanced. "Well as long as I don't have to talk to him. I guess that's fine." Kathleen answered with a bit of a frown, she knew she really didn't have any choice in the matter. Which was in itself annoying. "When do we start with these lessons you're talking about?"

Kathleen gave a happy smile at Lia as she took that mothering tone again towards her. Although had first it had bothered her, anymore she truly didn't mind it when she spoke to her like that. If it had been anyone else than she would have made them pay, but in a odd way when Lia did it, it cheered her up a little. "Okay, I'll change here in a little bit." She said with a small amused laugh. Before sitting the first two plates down and going to find Atticus. Kat smirked at Atticus when he said she wouldn't be able to find him.

"I think you are doubting how good of a finder I am Atty." Though the talk of rain made her frown a little has looked out at the horizon, she had hoped that she was the only one that felt it was going to rain, that way she could be wrong. "Yeah, it sucks that its going to rain. Hopefully it's after practice." She said before sitting back right way in chair, drinking her juice and watching the sun raise. After a few moments Atticus offered his hand to her, and Kat smiled a bit taking it. "It is, I forgot that's why I was coming to get you." She said as he helped her out of the chair, and she followed him inside. Kat poured herself another glass of juice before taking her seat. She spread a little butter between her pancakes, before smothering both her pancakes and sausage in syrup, making sure nothing touched her eggs. Kathleen could tell something was off with Lia as soon as Atty started talking. She started to say something to Atticus before Lia got mad and took her food. She frowned watching Ophelia leave, before giving Atticus a bit of a look. Though his way of changing the subject helped, and she smiled again nodding.

"I am actually. It's going to be fun being out in the fresh air for once." She said smiling excitedly at him. "Plus, I really don't like being in you guy's castle right now." Kathleen admitted, she really had never liked being forced to do her lessons in the castle, it had more of dark energy lately with all the others covens coming. It was really starting to make her balance harder to reach. It made her more uncomfortable than when she first met Atticus.

She had been waiting for over a week to move into the cottage while Ophelia got a room ready for her, having meetings with her and Mitchell everyday. Yet she still hadn't met this Atticus guy that was going to be her bodyguard, both Ophelia and Checkov had told her that the elders were waiting for the day she would move into the cottage, as she was already protected in the castle. Something she found stupid, how the hell was she going to know if she liked him and could stand him or not.

Now she was packing her bags back up so she could get out of this castle. The door of the room she was staying in stood open as she placed her bags by the door. She had heard someone speaking but didn't think very much of it, after all those blood addicted vampires seemed to always stop and talk in front of her door. So annoying. When she turned to see some man missing with her bags she wasn't able to stop herself before she walked over and slapped his hand away. "What do you think you're doing those are mine." She said looking up at the blonde that looked a little more muscular than Mitchell.

She looked towards the ceiling frowning as she heard Lia screaming. Her good mood disappearing completely as she looked at Mitchell. "Are you going to go check on her, or just sit there?" Kathleen snapped getting a dirty look before he got up and went upstairs. She let out a sigh rubbing her head, if Lia was having trouble with nightmares again then they might not be able to practice out in the garden. It wasn't fair! She had been looking forward to that lesson since Lia told her about it! So it wasn't fair! "A cup of coffee, three cream, two sugar." She answered still sounding annoyed as she pushed her still half full glass of juice away. Though instead of waiting she got up and grabbed a cup starting to make her coffee. He wouldn't get it right anyway when she was annoyed, and it always made her feel worse when she got mad at Atty.

She peeked out of the window from beside him and frowned looking at the carriages. "I'm pretty sure it was the one to the East. They only used last names towards each other and kind of sounded all stuck up, like Mitch when he gets angry and actually talks." She answered still looking out the window sipping her coffee, though she looked up as the people started getting out of the carriage. "Why? I mean why would they be coming back already?" She asked, after all the coven had a meeting with them just last week, and they hadn't been nicest group of people in the first place. She shook her head not wanting to think about it anymore, stress only made things worse with her.

"I'm gonna go get dressed just incase there is a chance to still be out in the garden today." She said trying to sound hopefully instead of a bit depressed, her hand going up and playing with his hair one more time before going upstairs. She had already laid out an outfit last night before bed in her excitement for the morning and she quickly changed into it. A green sweater that was slightly oversized and extremely comfortable, a pair of boot cut skinny jeans, and a pair of sneakers. Kathleen sat down on her bed for a feew moments taking deep breaths trying to force herself into a better mood the way Lia had taught her. It wasn't as good as the yelling, throwing things, and slapping people she used to do was, but it still helped a little.

Kathleen put her makeup on in the mirror on her desk before heading back downstairs, Lia and Mitch already back when she walked into the kitchen. "So, are we still going in the garden?" She asked her tone still a little off.

--

Mitchell nodded looking down at the plate she sat in front of him as she talked about how Kat was doing well in her lessons. While Lia knew more about magic, Mitch knew weird, and in his mind Kat was it. "Well I'm glad she is doing well, she is still strange if not weird. But its better then the way she was before." He argued quietly not trying to be an asshole, it was his job to protect Lia, so if something was off or changed it was going to be something he noticed. At least with the things that happened around them.

"Breakfas looks great Lia." He said looking at his plate and started eating before looking at her across the table playing with her eggs. He frowned a little noticing for the first time that something was wrong, as he opened his mouth to say something about it she asked about coffee. Mitchell smiled and nodded. "Please." He answered smiling slightly letting her take his cup, taking it back when she got back to the table, he didn't really have time to talk to Lia and try to find out what was wrong with her before Atticus and Kathleen came back inside

It didn't take long for Lia to snap at Atticus and Mitch frowned a little again, his eyes watching her as she left the table and headed upstairs angry. He clearly was right that something was wrong with her, but she gave no sign as to what was wrong, though as long as he knew her, he felt like he should have known from her being up this early in the morning. He sat there listening to the two of them talking quietly eating his food. When Lia screamed his eyes quickly went to the ceiling, as he tried to listen for something to hit the floor, or any windows opening. He gave a dirty look at Kat as she snapped at him this time.

"I am, I was listening for someone moving around, Kathleen." Mitchell answered slowly still giving her the dirty look, before heading upstairs. The bedroom door was slightly left opened, and he stood there outside of the door for a moment listening. Hearing her heavy breathes but nothing else that said anything was wrong. His hand reached up a knocked lightly on her door to give her time to be aware he was there, before opening the door. His eyes searching the room quickly for trouble without saying a word, his first reaction to check the room for intruders.

Then his eyes looked Lia over quickly to make sure she was alright as well, before walking over and sitting in the chair by the dresser. "Bad dreams again? Do you need me to let Kat know you need to cancel lessons?" He asked her softly a worried look on his face as he asked. The last thing he wanted was for Lia to get hurt giving lessons when it wasn't safe to do so.

[SirensCall]

Ophelia sat on her bed, staring at the wall in front of her, trying to calm herself down further. This was something she had been used to when she first came to the coven, but for a few decades the bad dreams had slowed down. It was when the other covens started coming around more that they had started back up again. She heard the light knock on her door before seeing Mitchell come in and she sighed. “Fuck.” She muttered under her breath, and when he asked about the bad dreams she nodded.

“They have been frequenting more and more lately. I’ll be alright though. There isn’t any need to cancel lessons in the garden. She’s been far too excited about it, and I won’t take that from her.” She said, standing up, and looking around the room, and she walked over to Mitch, hearing Kat going into her bedroom. She brought her hand up to his shoulder and patted it before she exited her room.

“I do need you to carry a few things for lessons today though,” she said as they got back down into the kitchen and she motioned to the two crates beside the door. “We are going to be working on a very pure form of old magic today, and those plants will be easier to teach her on than the ones actually in the garden, and then we’ll be moving to the ones in the garden.”

She walked over and fixed herself another cup of tea, and when she saw the path heading up to the main part of the coven grounds, she noted the East Coven. That concerned her immensely. She sighed, and she took a sip of her tea. She heard Kathleen, her tone off, and she nodded. “We will head that way in a few moments.” She informed Kathleen. “I just need to make sure that I have everything for our lessons, and plus there are a lot more coven members visiting us this week from the east coven, and we can’t be bothered with them.”

She finished up her tea and she walked over to the crates with the plants in them and she walked over and placed a few books in a crate and she lifted it up. “We will head out the back door today.” She said, heading towards the door in the main living room and opening it, her crate still in hand. She held it opened for the others as they exited and purposely remained behind them as they headed towards the garden.

She sighed, closing her eyes briefly, but when she did she could still see the orange glow behind them and opened her eyes quickly. These dreams were leading up to the worst one, and she knew it. It had been ages since she had hat dream, since before Kat came and she nearly burnt down the cottage. She would need to speak to Checkov later and see if they would allow Mitchell and Atticus to stay for a few days. Just until the dream passed. Her dreams were the only thing that threw her magic off kilter and she could really do some damage. Mitch had barely made it to the door the last time, and Ophelia couldn’t risk this dream hurting anyone.

Her head turned slightly to Mitch. “Would you mind accompanying me later? I need to speak to Checkov and I would prefer Kathleen not know. I don’t need her to worry about it.” She asked him, “And to be honest, I don’t like being in the same room as Checkov alone anymore. With the covens coming through more he’s been off. He’s got a lot on his mind it seems.”

She looked to the contents of her crate before she looked ahead to see Atticus and Kathleen pretty far ahead. “Stop in front of the lavender!! We’re going to start there!!” she called out to them. She saw Atticus give her a bit of a wave and she set down her crate, briefly, getting a better grip on it before returning to her previous stride. Her mind was a haze and she could only hope the nightmare she feared would come quickly.

Ophelia was almost too private, she felt. As much as she would love to tell others, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She couldn’t go on about her pain, tell them the struggles she faced, nor could she just leave herself open like the coven wanted her to. The most emotion she had shown was nearly twenty years ago when they said they’d wanted to change her guard detail.

“I must apologize for asking you here so early. I didn’t want Mitchell around for this conversation.” Checkov began and Ophelia looked him over before looking to the elders. They had just managed to catch her as she was going to bed after a late night in the library. All of them sitting in the council hall very ominously it seemed.

“It is quite alright. You do have me concerned though.” She said, and Checkov nodded.

“Do forgive us, but we have been talking lately, and we won’t make the decision without you. Mitchell and you have been around each other for quite some time.” Checkov said and Ophelia nodded.

“Twenty five years almost. Time is only relative though. Why bring this up?” she inquired. Another elder spoke.

“Perhaps it is time for a change in the guard detail.” She spoke, and Ophelia looked at her through narrowed eyes.

“Why? Do you feel Mitchell isn’t doing his job well enough?” Ophelia crossed her arms over her chest. “Why change something that works well?”

Checkov sighed, “It isn’t that. We fear he may be doing too well. Perhaps all of the time you have spent together has made you both grow soft.”

She scoffed, “Like we are emotionally involved? You are far worse than humans.”

“Can you blame us for the assumption?” the woman asked. “So are you alright with the change in guard?”

“I’m going to make myself perfectly clear. If you take Mitchell off of my guard detail, I will leave. I have just gotten used to him, and if you are wise, you won’t make me get used to another.” Ophelia stood her ground and Checkov rose a brow. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have more research to do, and I am quite tired.”

Ophelia shook her head a bit, snapping from her thoughts as she stopped before the lavender and began setting up for the lesson. “Kat, mind picking me some rosemary and sage?” she asked, setting up a few incense burners.

--

It was odd. The way the room suddenly fell tense once Ophelia left, and all Atticus could do was try to diffuse it. He caught the look he had received from Kathleen, but there was nothing he could do now. It was always best to leave Ophelia to cool off when she got like that. But then the scream came and the tension that had once fallen over the room had changed. It became eerily silent and soon Kathleen was speaking to Mitch. He knew that she was expecting the lessons to be cancelled, but if any of them had learned nothing, it was that Ophelia would bend over backwards for Kathleen for some reason. Atticus didn’t quite know why, but it was there to notice.

Mitch left them, but before Kathleen headed up he gave her a smile. “Chin up, Kitty. You know even if Lia couldn’t teach you anything she wouldn’t take this from you.” He assured her. He watched as she headed up the stairs and he took the dishes and began washing them. Less for the girls to do. He put them in the drying rack and soon he heard footsteps coming down. Ophelia and then Mitch not long after.

“Lia, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to-” Atticus began but Lia waved him off.

“Don’t apologize. It’s not your fault.” She dismissed it. Kathleen came down not long after, and hearing Ophelia speak just confirmed his theory. He tossed a look to Kat before they began heading out, and he fell into step beside her, remembering when they first met.

”She’s in that room right there.” Ophelia told him and he gave her a look.

“Why aren’t you coming?” he asked, and Ophelia gave a knowing look.

“Mitch has to help me with one more touch to the cottage. We will meet you down there. Be careful.” She chuckled and took off. Atticus gave a shrug and headed towards the room he had been directed was Kathleen’s. He noted her bags near the door and he went to begin picking them up when his hands got swatted away. She was definitely different. That was certain.

“Well, I was going to help you. You have quite a few bags, and the cottage is a bit of a walk. I’m Atticus Slater.” He said with a charming smile. “Ophelia said she will meet us down there. Had one finishing touch to add to the cottage before we got down there.”

He offered his hand for her to shake and once he shook her hand he began picking up her bags. “So take your time, I am almost certain that her and Mitch are arguing over it.”

He had chuckled at the thought and when a few vampires peered in he gave a stern look. “Bugger off, this isn’t a museum… Nor a blood bank.” He said, recognizing them ad a few newbies that they had taken in a few weeks prior to Kat’s arrival. They gave a snooty look and headed off before he rolled his eyes. “At least you don’t have to worry about them anymore. You just get to deal with the ice queen.” He joked, picking up one other bag before seeing she was nearly ready.

“Let’s get you out of this room and then we will take a tour around the coven grounds when you get settled in.”

Atticus smiled a bit. “I told you so.” He whispered to her, looking back to see Mitch and Lia talking. “She would do damn near anything for you.” He said, remembering the thermos he had grabbed with her coffee in it as he placed in her hands. “It’s awfully chilly, figured you’d want it to go.”

He looked behind him, waving off what Lia said and when they got to the lavender, he noted the benches. He remembered this place for an entirely different reason. He and Mitch had met here one day, waiting on Lia after she had a meeting with the elders.

“Mitch, how do you put up with her? She’s scary.” He asked, rubbing his neck where a faint red rash still showed. “She is definitely not…” he stopped, looking over Mitch’s features. He couldn’t continue with it, not being able to read his friend was unnerving him a bit. “Is something wrong?”

It was the first time in the last two weeks they had been able to talk without Lia around in the daylight, and he knew that Mitch had offered to train him for this, but he was beginning to wonder if he’d ever be good enough to actually do it on his own, and it had only been two weeks. He looked down the path and saw the blonde walking towards them with a basket over her arm. It was odd, but he looked to see Mitch watching her, closely. He was watching her almost too closely, but with as important as she was to the coven, he could see why.

“You really think I can do this?” he asked.

Atticus shook his head, hearing Lia ask for rosemary and sage, and he began looking through the herbs to help Kathleen find them as a brisk wind came through. A few sprinkles came down, but quickly left. “What if it rains?” he asked, looking to Lia and Mitch.

“I can whip up an herbal remedy. We can’t start this lesson and not finish. Well spend some more time here in the next few days once the rain stops.” Lia answered and she opened up her books and placed them strategically around and Atticus watched as she took the rosemary and sage and placed it around them. “Mitch, Att, get in the circle too.”

Atticus watched as Lia sat Indian style on the ground, a fern before her and she motioned for Kathleen to sit before her. “We will be learning a very pure form of old magic today. The ability to draw magic from a natural source in a constant manner. With dark magic you take what you need all at once, old magic requires constant pulses of energy. We’re going to start with you taking energy from me and helping the plant to grow. You will start after I demonstrate understood?”

Atticus looked to Mitch. This sounded dangerous, but perhaps that was why she wanted them so close.

[Love Dove]

Kathleen had to fight the urge to smile when Atticus called her Kitty, he had an act for cheering her up and making her smile, even when she was annoyed and didn't want to. She still sighed rolling her eyes at him. "You don't know that Atty, she might just decide not to even give me a lesson today." She said with an annoyed huff before going up to her room without even bothering to worry that her annoyance would bother Atticus. After all he had always been able to ignore when she got moody with him, even in the beginning.

Kathleen let her eyes look over the blonde man in front of her as he started talking about helping her getting her stuff to the cottage her arms crossed against her chest. She wasn't going to go off with some vampire that she didn't know. Though her stance changed when he introduced himself as Atticus, his smile made her give a small smile as well. Though she quickly hid it away, shaking his hand. "Kathleen Emerson, its about time. I've only been waiting a week to meet you." She complained a little though it wasn't meant towards him but annoyance at having to wait.

She nodded as he said to take her time and turned her back to him, a tight smile playing on her lips as he said something about Mitchell and Ophelia arguing about what they were doing to the cottage, and laughed. Kathleen couldn't help but be a little surprised at how comfortable he already seemed. She grabbed one of her bags before turning her head and looking at the couple of vampires that like to stand outside of her door and talk loudly.

"Thank you for that." Kathleen said as she grabbed her last bag, and moved a bit closer to him ready to go. She hadn't never needed a bodyguard before, she was more used to watching over and protecting herself. "Are you talking about Ophelia? I actually quite like her." She said looking up at Atticus before nodding at his offer to give her a tour. Even though he was still slightly more talkative then she was used to, she already liked him more than Mitchell.

Once she was back in the kitchen and Lia confirmed that they were still going to be out in the garden she smiled excited again. "Great! Is there anything I need to get?" She asked her tone still slightly off but happy now also. Kat saw the look that Atticus gave her as she started to follow Lia to the door and headed towards the garden, and rolled her eyes again at him. Looking at him as he caught up with her and whispered an I told you so. "So maybe for once you were right Atty, don't get cocky." She said with a slight laugh.

"That's not true." Kat said when he said that Lia would do anything for her. "Maybe she just wanted to be outside today too. I mean its such a lovely day for it." She added before looking up at sky and seeing the dark clouds that threatened to down pour rain onto them and ruin their lesson for today even though she had gotten her way, before looking at Atty. "Don't even start." She said with a small smile on her face.

Even though Atty almost said that Lia would do anything for her, Kathleen always chose not to really believe that. But to believe that even though Lia sometimes did the things Kat wanted, it was only because she wanted to do it herself. Even if that didn't seem the case sometimes. Although Kat would never really be the one that would say it, she would do anything for Lia as well. She looked up to her, in a way that she hadn't looked up anyone since she was a child, when she and her mother had been on good terms still.

"Kitkat, why can't you just try to do this for me?" Her mother asked crouching down to where she and Kathleen were eye to eye. Kathleen had been trying since they joined a dark clan to talk her mother into leaving.

"Because I liked it better when it was just the two of us." She answered softly her tone sad. She was stubborn and didn't want to share her mother with the others, or the warlock her mother was dating at the time that pulled them into the clan.

"You know that I would do anything for you sweetheart, but it will be safer for us here. We'll be far away from the humans, and the kids around here are like you." Her mother said trying to argue that this change was a good thing.

Kathleen only frowned looking away from her mother towards the other children playing, and casting simple harmless curses on each other. "They won't play with me, they said I was weird. And they don't find my jokes funny."

"Their just jealous, because they can tell you're going to be stronger than them. You're special." Her mother said, her fingers reaching over and touching the pendent which had a chain that at the time was oversized and hung from Kathleen's neck. It matched the one her mother wore, and it always made her smile when her mother did so. "Promise me you'll try?" She asked and Kathleen frowned a little nodding her head.

Her fingers reach up to her neck, where she used to wear the pendant as she remembered her last actual good memory of her mother. Half of her life had been spent in that clan and just as she had feared when they joined it ruin the bond between her and her mother. Just like Kathleen she mother went darker and darker, to the point she was a heartless bitch, and Kathleen didn't care about anything but herself. Though she still had the pentdent it had been broken for years after a fight between them, and she hadn't the heart to fix it yet. The other pendent laid buried with her mother.

Shaking the thought from her mind as Atticus placed the thermos in her other hand and she smiled softly at him before taking a sip. "Thanks Atty." She said before Lia hollered for them to stop at the lavender, and she nodded seeing him wave Lia off as they came to a stop before being asked to pick some rosemary and sage. She started picking the herbs ignoring the little bit of rain that fell down on them, knowing that Lia wouldn't let a little rain ruin their lesson if her nightmares didn't. She handed the herbs to Lia before sitting Indian style across from Lia, looking over at the guys sitting in the circle as well, before looking back at Lia.

As simple and harmless as the lesson sounded, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous about the idea of a new way to draw energy. She was used to taking as much as she needed, when she needed it. Kathleen nodded her head a bit nervously watching as Lia started to demonstrate.

--

Mitchell frowned when Lia said she wasn't going to cancel the lesson because Kathleen was excited for it. He shook his head as she stood up and looked around her room. "I think you should be more worried about your magic being missed up rather than what Kat wants Lia." Mitch argued, before patted his shoulder, and headed downstairs. He didn't really care about what Kat wanted as much as keeping Lia safe.

The last time she was having bad enough dreams to snap at people, he barely had gotten her out of the cottage. He really didn't want something to happen because of these lessons. Still he followed her down the stairs, still not quite sure he agreed with the lesson still being on. "At least tell me that this lesson is going to be a simple one." He said following behind her, his voice hushed.

He nodded a little looking over at the crates by the door when she asked him to carry them, talking about the lesson. Very pure sounded simple too him, and so he was happy again, or as happy as he could be not winning the argument. Mitch could almost hear how badly Atticus felt about upsetting Lia, and when she simply waved it off making another cup of tea, Mitch gave Atty a quick pat on the back smiling as he sat at the table waiting. Soon Kat joined and Mitch grabbed the crate full of plants before heading to the door himself. Though as he passed Lia holding the door opoen for them, he stopped and waited for her, falling into step with her easily.

Mitchell raised an eyebrow when Lia said she didn't want Kat to know that she was meeting with Checkov but nodded. "Of course I will, honestly I'd rather you not be alone with right now either. Though it is something that concerns her safety directly I'll have to tell Atticus even if it is kept from Kat." He answered her, he wasn't going to keep something that could hurt Kathleen or Atticus to himself, just as he hoped Atticus would do the same. Atticus was good at his job and it was quite possible that he could even be as good as Mitchell one day, it was a reason why he offered to train him, one of many.

Two weeks, Atticus had only been in training for two weeks, and Ophelia already seemed to hate him, it was almost like she was trying to scare him off. Mitchell wasn't sure what Ophelia had against him, but she was giving the newie guard a harder time than she even did Mitchell when he first started working with her. He was starting to worry that Atticus was about to give up on his training.

It was the first time that the two of them got a chance to talk during the daytime without Lia around, when Atticus came and sat with him on the bench by the lavender. He couldn't help but smile a bit when he said she was scary. "Well witches usually are a bit scary." He said looking up the path to see her coming back, and he couldn't help but watch her closely as she walked back towards them, shaking his head when asked if something was wrong. It was rather annoying that he felt the way he did about her, not only because he knew he couldn't really come right out and tell her. But also because it was a risk to her safety. It was the reason that he had offered to train Atticus himself, other that he knew the newbie had what it took to be a bodyguard. He looked back over to Atticus when he asked if he could this.

"I do, Lia is just hard to get a long with, she was hard on me the first few years we were together. You'll get used to her and things will get easier, its only been two weeks. This is a hard job, there will be a lot of scarier things than Lia. Sometimes you even have to protect them from themselves." He said before sighing and looking at Ophelia starting her way into the garden. "I wouldn't have offered to train you if I didn't think you'd be good at this." He said smiling a bit and looking back a him.

He shook his head having stopped beside Lia without even realizing it as she sat her crate down, he looked down at her as she picked the crate and started walking again. She wasn't her normal self today, even more then the last few days, and he was starting to worry that he might have to make another mad dash to the cottage to save her again.

Mitchell helped Lia a little by handing her the things from the crates as she needed them for her circle while Atty and Kat picked rosemary and sage. When Lia said to come in the circle he gave a quick uncomfortable look to Lia and Kat before stepping in side the circle.

[SirensCall]

Ophelia had caught the little things that Mitchell was doing. He hadn’t made it hidden that he was unhappy with the fact that she had decided to go ahead and press on with lessons, but she hoped that after the meeting with Checkov he wouldn’t be super on edge. “Mitch, if things go my way, you and Atticus need to have a few days worth of clothes and necessities ready. That’s all I will say.” She said to him, and she noted how he had stopped with her and helped her set up for the lesson. She also caught the uncomfortable look he cast her. She simply wanted them in the circle because it would benefit them too. All of the raw energy being transferred in the circle would do them well since they were energy vampires.

She looked to Kat and took her hands in hers. “It will help you if you feel what I’m talking about.” She said, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath as she drew the raw energy from the burning rosemary and sage and she could feel the fern growing, slowly, but noticeable enough to see. She held it for a few moments before she stopped. “The burning of rosemary and sage emits more natural energy than other herbs, and because you will be using it once you are more comfortable I chose them so it’s easier for you to grasp. As we progress with these lessons, you will be able to transfer energy between any two living things.” She explained as she looked over Kat. “Now, you will be honing in on my energy at first, but as you get more comfortable, or I think you can do it with the sage and rosemary.”

Ophelia closed her eyes and focused on opening up her energy to Kat before she felt the pull, but something else happened, and Ophelia couldn’t stop it from happening. Her mind was opened to Kat and the first memory came through.

It was a beautiful summer day out at the Lockhart Archives, as they had been known as for a log time, and Ophelia was sitting in their large garden with a beautiful blonde girl beside her. “Ophelia, I can’t believe I’m finally 20! But I’m nowhere near as good as you were at my age.” She laughed and Ophelia smiled to her.

“You trying to make me sound old, Bianca? I’m only five years older than you. Plus you’re a natural soul, and I’m a balanced soul. Two completely different soul gauges.” She said, and Bianca looked over to her and rolled her eyes.

“Lia, you’re amazing. You can hone in on any form of magic. Old, Dark, Natural, even if it gives you issues.” She chuckled a bit. Ophelia rolled her eyes. “Lia? Can you show me that spell again? The one I’ll never hope to do?”

Ophelia sighed. “The reanimation one that I use only on plants?” she asked and Bianca nodded. “B, you know dad doesn’t want me doing too much necrotic magic. He says it could corrupt me.”

“He also says that you are the most balanced soul he’s ever come across, Lia. Please? It is my birthday.” She begged, and Ophelia smiled.

“Alright.” She laughed, lightly. Bianca handed her a dead daffodil, and Ophelia concentrated on the flower and the air around them, watching as the color returned first to the flower and soon it began regaining it’s former strength. Once Ophelia finished the spell, she handed it back to Bianca. Her sister smiled to her, and they got up and headed back towards the house. “So, any word on the boys’ recovery?”

“Mom said they should be better here soon.” Bianca smiled. “Then we can start planning my wedding to Ian Palmer!”

Ophelia nodded. “You better not forget about me, little sister.” She smiled, “Betcha I can beat you to the house!”

Soon the two broke into run, laughing and playing like nothing would happen.

Ophelia broke away from Kat, standing up. She had felt the magic begin to pulse constantly towards the very end of the vision they shared, and she looked to Kat. “Practice with the burning rosemary and sage for a few minutes. If you start having trouble tell me… I… I need a moment.”

She exited the circle and began down a path in the garden, breaking into a run when she was out of Kat’s sight. Kathleen had just saw what Lia was like when she was younger. When she wasn’t so cold or cut off. Before the fire… before she lost her family… before everything happened. She stopped, falling to her knees before a patch of wilting daffodils, and she felt the tears running down her face.

She looked around a moment, wiping her face with her hands, and she held them up, a sad smile on her face as the daffodils began coming back to life before her eyes. She felt the energy leaving her, and she just stared at the daffodils, reaching out and touching one, gingerly. The sad smile hadn’t left her face as she looked them over. She had completely zoned out, thinking about her sister.

She never got to see her sister get married, she never got to help her with her seven children she wanted, and she never got to say goodbye. Her sister was the embodiment of purity for her family, and once Ophelia lost her, she began on the downward spiral. The final straw had been years, decades, later, but it had began then.

She closed her eyes, the orange glow had faded, but her sister’s face took its place and she whispered. “I’m so sorry, Bianca.”

--

Atticus watched Kat when she spoke, and at one point she reached up as if something was around her neck, but he knew nothing was. He hadn’t caught her doing that before, but she had seemed awfully adamant about not admitting that she knew the painfully obvious fact. Ophelia would do anything for her. He didn’t know why, but he wasn’t going to continue to push it. His eyes traveled back to Mitch and Ophelia who were setting up the circle as they picked the fresh rosemary and sage for the lesson.

Atticus looked over Mitch again as Ophelia came closer. “Thanks, man.” He said. “So, a few years of this? Will she always be a total ice queen too?” he asked, and soon the blonde witch came with some herbs in her basket on one side, but she pulled two thermos out of the other side and handed them each one, and then she handed Atticus a small container with a green paste in it. He gave her a look.

“Herbal tea, and ointment for the rash.” She said before she went back about the garden, picking herbs and placing them in the garden. His eyebrow rose and he looked to Mitch. She was being nice but there was still that cold edge. He shook his head and rubbed the ointment on his neck and the rash near immediately stopped itching. He then took a sip of the tea in the thermos and looked towards the path she went down.

“Will we be out here often?” he asked. “it’s nice to be outside.”

Once Atticus sat in the circle and Ophelia and Kathleen began the lesson, he felt the energy in their circle and he breathed it in, watching the fern begin to grow at a steady pace and then the energy left the air once Kat finished up, and soon she was explaining the lesson to Kat. For her part, and what she would be able to achieve as these lessons continued. Then the energy returned.

This energy was different than what Atticus had expected even. At first there was a lot of it, but it slowly began to even out and Atticus hadn’t even been paying attention to the fern, but the feel of the energy. He had known Lia was a balanced soul, so her energy wouldn’t feel dark fully, but he didn’t expect it to feel so light. It was very odd.

The flow was stopped, rather abruptly as Lia backed away, standing. She headed away before he fully processed what happened, and he walked up and looked at Kat. “Hey, are you okay?” he asked, looking at her.

Unlike Mitch, Atticus didn’t understand many aspects of magic. He wasn’t well versed in the magical aspects of things period, having been around vampires or just plain alone in his life so he wanted to make sure that she was okay. The feeling of the energy had lingered for a moment, but was gone, and once he looked back towards Mitchell, he saw he was gone too. He had a feeling with as quickly as Ophelia left that Mitch would be right behind her. He stayed with Kat though, taking a seat before her.

“This is a very nice kind of magic. It’s not often I can feel it too. I’m guessing Lia knew we all needed a bit of a recharge after the last few months of nothing but indoors.” He said, “I’m glad this lesson didn’t get cancelled. Towards the end of that last one I felt the flow of energy kind of even out, I think anyway. It just felt nice all around.”

He gave her a small smile, and looked down to the fern that had definitely shown signs of growth and the color was a bit more lush. He touched it, and he looked her over. “It amazes me still, how magic can do such beautiful things like this, and cause so much destruction all the same. To be honest, before you, Ophelia was the only witch I had ever come across, I never knew how different it all was.”

He turned his head a bit, backing away. “I guess I should leave you to practice. I’d let you use my energy, but I don’t know if that is against the rules.”

He moved over towards the crate with the books, and he pulled one out and he opened it up. There was a language within he couldn’t understand, but he saw notes in many different handwritings on the pages, and he read the notes. They were all cryptic, referring to other books and he assumed spells. Then there was a word he remembered seeing in his time before he joined the coven. NECROTICASOL.

He rose an eyebrow. There was a sunken library not far from the coven grounds, at the edge of the wolf country that had that word on the inner doorway. Before he had found Checkov’s coven he had found refuge in their foyer during the full moon. It was a very odd place, but one he would bring up to Mitch at least.

He knew that Checkov would never allow the girls to leave the grounds, so if he told Mitch he could possibly have him find out why that was so important. He sighed a bit, and he placed the book back before picking up another and when he opened it, he found it refreshing to see it was just a book. Even if it was Dante’s Inferno.

He began reading, looking up at Kat occasionally.

[Love Dove]

Kathleen watched the fern slowly started to grow, Lia holding her hands so she could feel the natural energy from the herbs. Though as the as the spell from Lia went on even she couldn't help but close her eyes. Unlike taking and draining energy for her spell which gave a hyper feeling that made you want more. This form of energy pulling was relaxing and calming, she gave a soft sigh as Lia let go of her hands and she looked down at the fern, before looking back at her, the calming feeling disappearing ass Lia stopped pulling energy. Still it left her feeling relaxed and instead of asking questions, she actually listened quietly as Lia spoke about the herbs.

Kathleen watched Lia close her eyes before doing the same thing, she worked on drawing her energy in the same way she always had and pushing it towards the fern, making it quickly grow. However, Kat realized she was taking to much at a time and frowned trying to even it out, before Lia's memory flashed into her vision. It didn't take her long to realize that this was one of Lia's memories, and that she shouldn't be here and she wasn't comfortable there, but she didn't really have a choose in the matter.

It was slightly strange, she had been with Lia, Atty, and Mitch for four years now, and yet though Lia opened up to her more than the guys, it seemed she still didn't know Lia that well. It was like she was watching from third person view, as she watched the vision of Lia and the beautiful blonde, Bianca, who she figured out was her sister quickly from their conversion. Which was slightly odd because she had been unaware Lia even had a sister. She had always been under the impression that the way Lia smiled and talked when it was just them talking was what she was like happy. But now she was seeing a whole new side of Ophelia. The happy, care free, younger Lia that seemed so Innocent. It was sad that she didn't seem to be that way anymore. It raised more questions that she would likely never get answers for like what had happened to her sister? What had happened to her?

Towards the end of the clearly bittersweet vision she could feel the energy start to even out and pulse constantly, but she could also feel Lia's sadness before she pulled away. It almost made her just want to grab Lia and hug despite the guys being there. Kat opened her eyes looking up at Lia with a sad and slightly confused look on her face, before looking at the fern and nodding her head. She felt awful for the memory that she had intruded on, the past was really something that Kathleen tried not to ask about, unless it was offered. Mostly because she had her own that she preferred not to talk about, and all of them respected that

She looked up when Atty started talking to her after Lia left, putting on a small but fake smile. "Yeah, I'm fine." She answered him, Kat wasn't going to tell anyone what had happened or what she had seen. It wasn't her place or memory for that matter and she wouldn't do anything willingly that could hurt Lia. Kat watched as Atty took Lia's place and smiled when he started talking about magic, it wasn't something that the two of them talked about like Mitch and Lia did. Mostly because Atty didn't know or understand a lot about magic, and Kat was oddly afraid that if he knew a lot about the type of magic she was used to, he might look at her the way she often caught Mitch looking at her. "It is nice, but honestly its so much harder for me to learn this whole blancing things out thing." She answered looking down at the fern slowly coming down to life between them. "I'm glad it didn't either, and I'm glad you were able to feel it."

She looked back up at Atticus as he talked about the plant and how Ophelia was the first and only witch that he had met other than her. Which was surprising to her, as he was so much older than her, and she had easily met hundreds in her lifetime already. For a moment she was quiet as she tried to think of how to respond before quoting something she had been told about magic years ago. "Magic is like life. Just like good things come from tragedy, beautiful things come from chaos. I would offer to show you more magic, but I'm pretty sure you wouldn't care for the type I know well." She said with a small smile. "Though its surprising that we're your first witches." Kat added titling her head a little looking at him.

She was glad that he didn't insist on her using his energy , which wasn't something that she would have done in the first place anyway because the last thing that she wanted to do was hurt him. Which was what might have happened if she accidentally took all of his energy, and drained him. After Atty left the circle, she watched him take a book and start reading before she closed her eyes and started to concentrate. She felt the energy around her started to pulse around her and she pushed the energy towards the fern. Not even realizing or even listening when Lia came back or if she came back into the circle, the pulse calm and consistent. After a few moments of concentration she opened her eyes and looked down at the fern which had grown and turned the lively shade of green. She smiled and looked up at Lia slightly proud of herself.

--

Mitchell glanced out of the corner of his eye as Lia said they should be really to stay away the castle for a little while but didn't respond. Honestly he wasn't ure if that made him feel less worried then he already was or not, the last time he had been allowed to stay the night with Lia was a few months before Atticus was with them. And after it was said and done, Lia had complained to Checkov about him overstaying his welcome and had gotten him in trouble.

Mitchell had been staying in the cottage for almost over a week now, and although the sleeping arrangements hadn't been the best. Or in otherwards hardly any sleep for him. Ophelia had gotten really sick and she had talked Checkov into making Mitch stay with her in one of the meetings the two of them had without him. Still he didn't mind to aweful much, as he and Lia were finally getting along and it was easier than having to get up so early.

With a sigh he looked over to where Lia sat beside him on the couch, her head on his shoulder asleep already. He had heard the start of her snoring half way through his talking about some book he had been reading on his off time. The whole week having been like this almost, he was starting to feel like she had just wanted him there to be her personal pillow. However, she actually didn't like as cold as she acted when she slept, he smiled at that thought before even realizing it and stopping himself. The last thing he wanted was to start having the feelings he refused to admit he had for the witch he was protecting.

Slowly he moved out from under where she was leaning on him, so that she would be laying on the couch before picking her up and taking her to her room. With a soft sigh he left and went back downstairs, know that if he sat back down in the chair in her room he would fall asleep there and she would get upset with him again. Sitting down on the couch he grabbed his book and started to read a few pages before passing out on the couch himself with the book still in his hands.

Once Mitchell was in the circle and the lesson started he could feel the energy then filled the circle, he breathed it in and closed his eyes for a few moments enjoying it. It was definitely what he needed after Lia having kept him up late last night and he started to actually feel a little bit less crabby. He opened his eyes as Lia stopped and started to explain the lesson the energy leaving the air, and he looked at the plant between the two girls, before Kat started trying on Lia.

Then suddenly when the new energy started to surround them, it was lighter then even expected. He know that Lia used natural magic and that she had a lighter side that he had seen once or twice, and that she was actually nice at times in her own way, but even he thought that her energy would be darker. When Lia stopped the energy abruptly and stood up Mitch was still watching her instead of the fern, and when she left the circle, he waited only a second before leaving himself and following after her.

Though he tried to keep a bit of distance between them so that Lia could have her space at first, only making sure that she was in his eyesight. After a few moments of her sitting in the daffodils he had watched her bring back to life, he finally made his way over to her stopping just outside the patch of flowers "You alright Lia?" He asked, and when he saw that her eyes were red and puffy, he knew that she had been crying. Mitch gave a sad frown looking over her face before spreading his arms and giving a small smile. "Do you keep a hug? I give really weird and akwkard ones I've been told. That's the best kind I'm guessing." He said, he really never was much of a hugger even before he was turned, so though he was trying to make her feel better it was true.

As they started walking again Mitch looked around the part of the garden they were in, most of the plants were started to wilter and he looked at Lia before smiling and catching up were he was walking side by side with her. "You know, this part of the garden is starting to look a little neglected since we aren't over here a lot. Maybe once he gets rid of the other clans, you should see if Checkov will come replant some of the flowers." He said slowly and thoughtfully. "We could get him a pretty pink sunhat to wear, and one of those little shovels, what did you call them? Hoes?" He finished with a small laugh even imaging it in his head, though when they in eyesight of the others he smirked. "Or maybe Kat can get Atty to do, make him wear one of her dresses, that would be amusing."

[SirensCall]

Ophelia had remained staring at the flowers for a while, and soon Mitchell’s voice brought her back to reality. She stood up and dusted herself off a bit before nodding. “I’m fine.” She lied, but it was the normal exchange whenever she had lapses like this. They both knew she wasn’t okay, but it would be enough for now. However the next sight caught her off guard, and she saw Mitchell open his arms to her and he offered her a hug. Normally, Ophelia would have just scoffed and called him weird, but this time was different.

She wasn’t sure if it was because she was still vulnerable or just because the need for human touch was becoming unbearable with the nightmares coming, but she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his middle, resting her head against his chest briefly. She was amazed at how quickly things just went away, and she closed her eyes. “Thank you.” She whispered.

The last time they were this close she had to force it’s end. She had been ill, and just weeks prior they had threatened to change her guard, but she fondly remembered the last bit of good before she had done what she had.

She awoke late in the morning, finding herself in her bed. Her fever had broke finally, and she had slept better than she had almost the entire week. She looked to the chair to address Mitchell, but he wasn’t there, so she quietly got out of bed and grabbed a blanket from her closet. She carefully walked down the stairs, still feeling weak, and she spotted Mitchell asleep on the couch. Her lips turned up into a soft smile, seeing his book over his face, and she moved towards him.

She unfolded the blanket and covered him with it, carefully moving the book from his face, marking the page for him and setting it on the nearby table. She was taken a bit off guard by his face, how she’d never seen how… she snapped from her thoughts and grabbed a nearby pillow and sat at the very edge of the couch near his hip, and gave him a gentle shake. “Mitch? Lift your head so I can give you a pillow while I wash my bedding. Then you can sleep in my bed for a while.” She whispered and when she managed to place the pillow under his head, she moved away gently. She forced herself to look away from him and move into the kitchen and make herself some tea.

She moved away from Mitchell finally, and she began walking through the garden. She remembered the way her pillows smelled after he had slept in her bed, how she had preserved that pillow for when her nights got extremely bad. How it was hidden in her closet right now. Her own vice, but she didn’t understand why his scent calmed her so much.

Then Mitchell commented on the garden, but before she could do anything or say anything the image of Checkov had filled her mind and she stifled a laugh. “You’re bad, Mitch. We both know that Checkov would look way better in purple.” She kidded back, her wall being down, even slightly, allowing a rare glimpse into her soft side. She stopped a moment before getting too close. “Plus, I wouldn’t rely on Kat letting Atticus wear any of her dresses, and these plants aren’t all gone.”

She closed her eyes, feeling the gusts of wind and pulling the magic from it and moving her hand in a bit of an odd manner and she saw the life begin to come back to the garden, but she stopped when she got half of it done, knowing she shouldn’t over exert herself. “it will take me a few days, but I can bring it back. There’s just too much, and it’s been so long since I’ve actually used this spell it will take a while for me to readjust.”

She looked over the garden one last time before they got back over to Kat and Atticus and she stopped when she saw Atticus reading while Kat was working on her spell, and she cast another glance at Mitch. Was that what they were like, but she looked away when she felt it and excitement filled her. She tried so hard not to show it, and keep a cool face, but a small smile came over her face when Kat looked at her.

“You caught on quick. Good job, but there’s still a lot you have to learn. Keep practicing, really get the feeling of it embedded into you, you’ll need mastery for the next lessons.” She explained, walking over to a crate before grabbing a spell book up and her journal. She sat on the bench and began writing a few things in her journal as she read the book, but her mind was so hazy she gave up after a few minutes. A few rain drops began falling, and she looked to Mitch.

“Kat, try not to stay out too long, can’t afford you getting sick, and pick some of the wilting plants and place them in that crate, I have something to do, and will be back in a while.” She said, placing her this back in her crate and picking it up before she looked to Mitch. She began heading back to the cottage first, and once they got to the door, she placed the crate just inside the door and grabbed an umbrella that wasn’t too far off and opened it up once outdoors and she handed it to Mitch, walking at his side towards the castle.

She could see the carriages from the East Coven in the stables nearby, and she shook her head a bit. Checkov had been trying to introduce her and Kathleen as his coven witches to the leader of the East coven for a while now, but she had been dancing around it, making excuses, purposely keeping lessons short when the coven was here. Now she had to make herself known.

They got up to the castle, and once inside she closed the umbrella and set it near the door. She wasn’t properly dressed for the formal meetings she had with Checkov, but this would do for now. She began towards the main hall where she saw Checkov speaking with the leader of the East coven before his eyes caught sight of her. “Ophelia! Just who I was looking for.” He said, motioning her over. Ophelia cast a glance to Mitch before she stepped forward and headed towards Checkov who seemed almost surprised to see her.

“Forgive my intrusion, sir, but I do have a matter I need to discuss with you.” She stated her purpose, and Checkov gave a nod.

“First, I have been waiting to introduce you to our neighbors to the East.” Checkov said, placing a hand on her shoulder, but once the shock crawled to his fingers he moved it away. A warning of sorts, but still he continued. “This is Ophelia Lockhart, one of my coven witches. But this meeting must be cut short, and you will be able to meet her and Kathleen better at the ball in a few weeks.”

The coven leader simply nodded and Checkov began walking with Ophelia down the main hall, his eyes casting a glance to her. “What would you like to discuss? It isn’t every day that you come to see me outside our weekly progress reports.”

Ophelia sighed a bit, “The dreams are coming back… I may need Atticus and Mitchell to stay with us until they pass.” She spoke, quite to the point and he nodded.

“Done.” He said, and Ophelia gave a surprised look. “On one condition, and one condition only. You two cannot be absent at the annual ball again this year. The East and South coven leaders have been wanting to meet the witches I brag about so much.”

Ophelia gave him a look stopping in her tracks and he looked back at her. He had definitely won this round. “You’ll have to send your seamstresses to meet with us soon then, neither of us own anything ball worthy. Also, give us the day off to prepare, as Mitchell and Atticus shouldn’t see us until that night since they will be our escorts, no?”

Checkov smirked and nodded. “I will inform the elders. One week, any longer and you and I will have to meet with the elders.” He told her and she nodded before she moved back towards the exit, looking to Mitch. She felt like she had just made a deal with the devil himself, and she began walking rather quickly to get out of the castle. She saw the rain had picked up substantially, and her mind immediately drew her back to that day forty five years.

It was storm of the century grade rain and thunder for sure, but she couldn’t stop. If she stopped for very long they’d catch up to her again. Nothing had been easy for the last 55 years, not since she had finally gotten out of the Eastern vampire coven’s boundaries. It had been hell for sure, and what had the vampires done for her? Nothing. What had they done for the community? Nothing. They had just stood idly by as the hunters came and her world came crashing down. She had been so shut off, and so off the grid that she had forgotten that she eventually needed to find someone so she could rest and tend to her wounds.

The last hunting group had been about a day behind her when the storm blew in, but she had continued on in the forests. She wasn’t sure where she was, just if she stopped she would be in a lot of trouble. A voice brought her mind off of things. A second hunting group had to be after her too. “There she is!” the voice shouted, and despite being drenched and tired, she broke into a run to try to escape. She hadn’t eaten in days nor had she slept well, but her body forced itself to keep going.

The rain had picked up some more, but if she could just get to the nearby cemetery she’d be okay. There would be enough energy there to keep her magic flowing without over exerting herself. She managed to make it to the gates before she was surrounded by four men with guns and flashlights pointed at her. “Give up, you know we will always get our prisoner. We don’t even want to kill you anymore.” The leader of this group said. “Our boss wants to study you, Lockhart. Being the last witch of your lineage that died out oh, 86 years ago.”

Her eyes looked them over, no warmth or remorse in them. “I’d rather die.” She spat, holding up her hand and watching as the gates to the cemetery opened. She ran in, hoping that she had found a good mausoleum to hide out in for a while as she prepared her spell.

“18 counts of murder, practicing witchcraft, aiding and abetting those also guilty of practicing witchcraft, and 17 counts of arson. Quite a list for our little Necromancer.” The hunter cackled, “Or should I call you the Death Witch. Everyone else has before.”

She closed her eyes and forced herself out of the mausoleum, seeing that there were now eight hunters. She must not have been as far ahead of the other group as she thought. “I told your leader long ago that he had made a mistake when he made me an enemy for humanity…” she began and soon she began muttering an incantation and a few corpses came forth and began fighting the hunters, but she was so weak she fell to the ground, trying to maintain the spell. Then she saw more figures come and the hunters were dead or fleeing not long after. A man with cool grey eyes approached her, and she scrambled up, breathing heavily.

“My dear, what is your name?” his smooth voice came, fangs protruding. She hadn’t ever seen this vampire before, but then again she hadn’t been in the east coven’s territory for a long time.

“Ophelia Lockhart.” She answered and he nodded.

“Ophelia, my dear, my name is Checkov, I am the leader of the vampire coven whose territory you are now in. I must insist you come with me. We have much to discuss.” He said, offering his hand to her, and she looked at him before backing up.

“I don’t trust you, or your kind. Where were you when New Salem burned?!” she wasn’t doing so well remaining calm.

“Unlike my colleague, I respect witches and protect them. All witches have power unique to their kind, and my only wish is to help you.” He said, stepping towards her. “You’ve been running for half a century, if not more, wouldn’t it be nice to not have to constantly look over your shoulder for these hunters?”

Ophelia fixated him with a hard stare. “What do you expect in return?” she inquired, but by the look on Checkov’s face, she could tell he felt he had won. Because he had her interest.

“All I ask is for help, and your steady judgment in certain matters. I plan to make you my coven witch.” He informed her, and finally Ophelia gave in. “Good, and I have the perfect guard for you. You will meet him tomorrow after we get you settled.”

“A guard is unnecessary.” She said.

“Nonsense. I always protect my own.”

Ophelia shook the memory from her mind and looked up to Mitchell. “When we get back, you and Atticus will have to prepare a week’s worth of clothes and necessities to stay with us. Kat and I will get the sleeping arrangements put together. I’m none to happy about the cost of this, but it is necessary that you and Atticus stay with us.” She said, opening the umbrella and beginning the trek back. “I can’t believe he doesn’t remember me.” She muttered.

--

Atticus was getting rather into the book, his eyes occasionally glancing up to see Kat focusing on her spell. He gave a soft smile, but what surprised him was what he heard. He could hear Lia and Mitchell talking, very faintly, and she had stifled a laugh. Soon the two had returned, and when he saw Kat look up at Ophelia, he could see her excitement too. She rarely smiled, Lia did, but she was then and the compliment that came after was another surprise. Despite her moods this morning, whatever happened when the two linked brought a rare bit of her soft side out it seemed.

He went back to his book when Ophelia began working on whatever the hell it was she was working on, but when she gave up and spoke he could feel the rain droplets coming. He had nodded. “No one will be getting sick on my watch.” He smirked, but he watched them walk away and he stood, picking some of the wilting plants from the garden as she had directed. Perhaps the lesson would continue at the cottage or perhaps she had just wanted them to create new herbal compounds. He really didn’t care, he just knew that they needed to be picked.

He placed what he had picked in the crate, and once the rain began picking up more, he looked to Kat. “We better head in.” he said to her, offering her his hand and taking off his jacket and putting it on her before he lifted the crate and headed back know towards the cottage. His mind wasn’t too there as he headed back though.

The library had been lonely the last week, but there was nothing out there for him except for death and more hunger. He hadn’t fed in a week now, but that wasn’t what was bothering him. It was the fact the moon had remained full enough for the wolves to transition.

He heard the door open, and he brought his weakening form out of his sitting state and he jumped on the person that had entered, forcing his mouth over their neck, pulling their energy from them before something moved him away. He looked up and saw another man there. “Calm down, boy, we aren’t here to hurt you.” He said, and Atticus looked up to him. He could tell he was lying, but the energy he had drained from the first had him feeling stronger and less feral.

“I would say the same, but I was taught to not lie to those I don’t know.” He quipped, and soon forced the man out of the door and into the sunlight. He had been in there so long he hadn’t known the difference in time of day, but still the man shot at him, and when the bullet pierced his arm, he simply watched the wound heal and he turned to the man and forced him into a nearby tree.

“What are you?” the hunter asked, but Atticus had snapped his neck and left him there.

“You worst nightmare.” He muttered as he began on his trek towards the coven he had heard of when the West Coven fell. The man, Checkov, who ran the coven had another vampire like him in his ranks and he figured it would be the best place to learn more about himself because he didn’t remember his past before the west coven, and he was curious.

Atticus shook the thought from his mind as he and Kat entered the cottage, and he set down the crate next to the one Opelika had set in the cottage. He sighed, taking off his shoes and walking into the kitchen, putting on some water for tea and some coffee as well.

“Kat, we should surprise them and make something for lunch.” He said, grabbing one of the bright pink aprons and putting it around his middle. “How do I look?” he asked. He wiggled his eyebrows for her a bit before rummaging through some cabinets and pulling out stuff to make… well, god knows what. He then walked over to the stereo that was never used and pushed it on, so weird old music coming out of it. Dance music it sounded like, but he quickly found something more upbeat and smiled.

He was far from a good cook, but he did know how to make kitchen sink soup, and soup right now sounded like a good idea. “So, Kat, are you going to come help me with this?” he asked, and he found himself cutting up some vegetables and throwing them in a pot with all sorts of stuff he had found in the cabinet.

Mitch and Ophelia would probably still be gone for a bit, depending on what was going on, so he had time to get this really going. The music had him dancing about the kitchen like an idiot, but he knew Kat wouldn’t mind too much, and soon he was making himself his overly seer tend tea, sitting at the counter with the pink apron still around his waist. “So, Kat, what else should we make?”

[Love Dove]

Kathleen's smile widened a little more as Ophelia smiled and paid her the compliment on how she was doing good. She nodded at Lia's instructions to keep practicing, and as the others went back to and started reading. Kat closed her eyes once more starting to pull the energy again, even able to ignore Mitch's muttering to himself. Her eyes only opening when Lia said her name, and she smiled. She didn't get sick very often, and when she did it was usually only a day or two unless it was something really bad. She smiled looking over at Atticus, before looking at Lia packing her crate. "I won't get sick." Kat said not wanting to go back inside yet despite the rain starting to fall. As Lia and Mitch left she relaxed, closing her eyes again trying to get a little more practice before the rain got really bad.

She looked up at Atty and frowned taking his hand. "Awe, but Atty, It isn't that bad yet. Couldn't we stay out here a little longer?" Kathleen whined softly at him as he helped her up, despite the fact the rain was starting to pick up. She sighed when he put his coat over her, and started walking with him towards the cottage. As they walked she glanced up at him a few times quietly, watched the deep in thought look on his face.

As they got into the cottage she took off Atticus's jacket off and hung it on the coat rack, before taking her shoes off as Atticus walked into kitchen. Kathleen rolled her eyes a little as she took his shoes and put them against the wall, her own little OCD kicking in. It was surprising to her that even after only being here for only the last four years, this place felt more like home then the clan of witches she had been in for ten years ever had.

Kathleen didn’t know exactly what to do with herself. Her whole life had been a lie. Everything she was and thought she had been for the last twenty one years was a complete lie. Her mother’s death had been sad, or at least that was what she was told by the others, who could still feel such a feeling. Perhaps that had been what she felt? Sadness instead of loneliness as she had thought? It was so hard for her to tell anymore, it was almost as if she was becoming as heartless as her mother. However, it was what happened afterwards that made her actually feel something for real. When she found out the truth about herself, and why her father had left her with her mother. That feeling was failure.

Kathleen gave a soft sigh as she looked around the tiny room of the large clan house that she had called her own for the last eleven years as she put the last of her things in her bags. She wasn’t a dark soul like the others here, and this place was almost making her sick, or at least it seemed like it now. As she made her way to the end of their lands, she was stopped by one of the others, but it wasn’t her step father or one of her half siblings. But one of the old women that ran the clan itself, she held a small box in both of her hands, one that Kat had left on her bed.

Kat frowned taking the box from her, and the old woman shot her a look. “You should not leave something so meaningful behind child, one day you may wish you hadn’t.” She said only to sigh as Kat rolled her eyes and put the box with the broken necklace in her bag. “Where are you planning to go Kathleen?”

“I heard about vampires offering protection for witches from my father. I plan on trying to find them and if not hide among the humans in the town over from here.” She answered before standing back up from putting the box in with her things seeing the disapproving look. “Even if I do find them though, it will just be until I can move on somewhere else.” She added before the woman gave a hug, and Kathleen patted the woman on the back awkwardly before pulling away and heading on her way.

Only a week later she found herself outside of the grounds of the coven, her plan to hide with the humans had failed, the hunters had found her much more quickly then she had thought. She had been able to use her spells to get away from them, but she had overheard them talking about a tip a vampire coven was looking for her. And she thought, well if they were looking for her, why not cut out the middle man. Her eyes glanced over the large castle walls and the outer edge of the garden and what looked like a cottage though it was hard to tell in the dark. Her hand reached up to knock on the doors as they opened and a tall vampire stared at her, making her feel as if she was a lamb walking to the slaughter.

“I would like to speak to your leader. Checkov I believe it is. I’m Kathleen Emerson, I heard he might be looking for me.” She said blankly to the vampire, and while he went to get his leader Kat waited inside the entrance hall.

She grabbed the thermos that still held a bit of coffee from the crate, as Atty said something about surprising Mitch and Lia. Kathleen couldn't help the giggle that left her lips as she walked into the kitchen and saw him in the bright pink apron. "I think I should be jealous that you look better in pink than me." She answered before closing the gap between them. "You just need one more thing." She added before her fingers went through his wet hair and spiking it, muttering a glamour spell as she did, turning it a bright pink that matched the apron he wore. "There now you really look good." She said smiling softly before he started rummaging in the cabinets and making soup.

She watched him for a few moments before starting to look through the cabinets a little bit, before pulling a loaf of bread out of the one and she sat it on the counter across from the fridge, and started towards the fridge when Atty asked for help. Kat smiled and walked over and started putting the fresh spices in the pot for him, and waited for him to finish adding things before turning the stove on and going to the fridge. She grabbed some butter and shredded cheese, bringing it to the counter as Atty danced around the kitchen and couldn’t help but laugh at how funny he was being, it was little things like this that made her cheer up even in her worst moods.

“Garlic and cheese bread, if we are having soup we need bread for a crunch.” She said cutting the loaf in half and spreading butter on the bread, before sprinkling garlic and cheese on it. “The good thing is it that you don’t have to worry about it while the soup is cooking.” Kat added taking the pan and putting it in the oven.

--

Mitchell smiled a little watching the garden being brought back, although he had never seen her use the spell she was using. He had always preferred the magics like old and natural magics over the dark types, and that was the type of magic it seemed she was using. "I like this spell of yours." He said before nodding at her words about it taking time. Though honestly his worries had been more about cheering her up, than the actual garden itself.

Soon they got back to the others and as Ophelia spoke to Kathleen, Mitch dug through the crate that Lia had asked him to bring out. Knowing that she usually packed at least one of his books as he left his book there last night, finding his copy of How to Kill a Mockingbird he sat on the bench beside Atticus and started reading. Though it was rather quiet with the three of them reading and Kat in her circle, and soon he started muttering the words of his book to himself. It was almost an nervous twitch anymore, something that he hardly even noticed himself, but there was a very real reason behind it that he wouldn't tell.

The muttering stopped and he peeked up from his book at Lia when she stopped reading, and the rain started to fall. He marked his book and closed it as Lia stood, as she spoke to Kat he put his book into the crate she was using so it would be carried out of the rain and followed her into the cottage. Mitch took the umbrella and held it to block the rain as he and Lia walked towards the castle, making sure that it covered Lia completely, as he never had been one to worry about getting wet.

The sight of the carriages of the East Coven was enough to make him frown though. Mitch knew that there was another coven visiting, but he hadn't really realized that it was from the coven to the east again. He glanced over at Lia as they walked. "Do you think that this meeting can be quick Lia?" He asked truly not wanting to have to deal with Isaack anymore than he had to, if at all. Much like Ophelia he had been trying rather hard to avoid dealing with the other covens, but especially the East Coven. Though as soon as they got into the main hall of the castle, they caught sight of Checkov and Isaack speaking, and his hope of avoiding seeing his former leader flew out of the window.

As Lia had asked Mitch came with her following quietly as Checkov introduced her as his witch, and he could feel the bit of energy coming from Lia before Checkov removed his hand. Mitchell fought the urge to shake his head, because even if he didn’t know Lia as well as he did, he would still know better.

“I’m surprised that Checkov even lets you inside of his castle, Anderson.” Isaack said as Mitchell started to walk around him to follow behind Lia. It pulled Mitchell’s attention back to him, and he stopped. “If the tables were turned and I had the choice to keep you around, or let him kill you. I would throw you back over the border before you betrayed me and stabbed me in the back as well.” Isaack finished his voice still angry about what had happened in the east.

Mitchell simply looked at Isaack for a moment before smirking at him. "Yes well, there is a very big difference between the two of you Isaack. Unlike you not half of everyone in Checkov's coven wants to kill him." He said his voice calm but quiet at the same time.

His words and tone only seemed to make Isaack even angrier and he narrowed his eyes at Mitchell. "Yes I am well aware of who it was that started the idea of getting rid of me in the minds of some of the others." He spat his tone only getting less and less civil as he spoke and being fill instead with hated. "But they aren't foolish enough, since you left."

"Are you truly sure, Isaack?" Mitchell asked titling his head slightly, his face going emotionless as he did so. "Remember the world ends not with a bang, but with a whisper." He added a small smile breaking through slowly before clearing his throat, looking over Isaack's shoulder and seeing Lia coming to a stop. "But I'm afraid I will have to excuse myself, please do tell Isabella that I said hello." He finished and headed up the hall towards Lia and Checkov without giving him a chance to say anything else.

Mitchell started to make his way down the hall towards where the two of them were standing, though he stopped a respectful distance from the two of them, still able to hear their words easily. He had missed most of the conversation they were having, catching the last bit about Atticus and himself escorting them, and Checkov agreeing to a week. When Ophelia turned back looking at him, Mitch raised an eyebrow a confused look on his face, wondering what she had volunteered him for this time.

He looked back down at her as she spoke and nodded at the need for him and Atticus to pack things for week. Something he had known Ophelia would get, Kathleen wasn't the only one who knew how to get her way. "And may I ask the cost of this is Lia? I missed that part along with what I've been volunteered for this time." He said her quietly, fully prepared to disagree to stay with her, he had a say too right. He took the umbrella from her as they got outside and held it over her. The wind picked up and blow some of the cold rain in his face and getting his hair wet, but he smiled at it glancing down at Lia. The first time they met running through his head.

The storm of the century was over them. Rain, thunder, and lightening so loud it could wake the dead. However, even with the rain pouring day on them, it couldn't stop Mitchell from going outside as soon as he awoke. Unlike the others storms like this were good for him, and seeing that he didn't need to worry about the sun it meant he wouldn't be cold. The feeling of the ground as the lighting hit the ground, trees, and whatever else. It was to him the same as a room full of trapped humans was to a blooded vampire.

He had return back to his room and changed before leaving again and being approached by Checkov. It was then that he was informed about the new addition to the coven. It made him raise an eyebrow, the alliance had been something that was important in the east where there were more hunters than wolves. Still Mitchell didn't say anything as he walked beside him, the deed had already been done. Though he looked at Checkov when informed of his new job.

"I'm sorry Checkov sir, but you do realize I haven't been a guard for sixty four years. And it has been even longer since I have had dealings with witches. Correct?" Mitchell said his tone still respectful but a little doubtful. Guarding a vampire was one thing, you simply had to make sure to keep track of the time the sun rose, that they had the blood they needed, that none of the other vampires bothered them.

But there was so much more that threatened witches, even themselves, as he had learned from one of his sisters. Still he ran his hand through his wet hair nervously, as Checkov answered, he guessed the choice made some sense as he don't threaten to lose control as drink from her.

As they got to the witch, Mitchell couldn't help but let his eyes look over her slowly. The blonde woman was bruised, broken, and had many scratches on her. The first thing that came to his mind was that she would be hard to protect, if not because of she state, than the fact she was rather beautiful. After Checkov introduced them and left them, Mitchell took a step forward and offered her a smile.

"It is nice to meet you, Lockheart." He said trying to be polite, even using her last name instead of her first as they did where he came from. "It is still raining outside, but once the sun comes through I can give you a tour of the if you like. Or the castle now." He spoke watching to get her reaction towards his words.

Ophelia's next words brought him from his thoughts and he looked down at her an odd look on his face. "Why? Were you in the East before?" He asked never even had he thought to ask about if she had been or not. "I used to be in the East Coven. It is a wonder that we didn't meet before you came here." He said wondering if it had been while he was there or after.

As they got to the cottage he held the door open for her, the smell of garlic and something else hitting his scents. It only made him realize how hungry he was, not even being able to finish his breakfast before he had to check on Lia. "If whatever they are cooking is done, can we eat before packing?" He asked Lia as he closed the umbrella as the porch sheltered them from the rain.

[SirensCall]

At first, Lia didn’t answer Mitchell, her mind still a bit heavy, but once she finally registered his question she sighed. “Checkov wants Kathleen and I to actually attend the ball this year. I simply went the logical route and assumed that you and Atticus would be our escorts… unless of course you both already had dates.” She answered him, quietly. “He has been trying to formally introduce us as his coven witches for a while now, but I keep making excuses. Finally caught up with me I guess.” She said. Checkov was a very interesting character as she had found out just before she had met Mitchell for the first time.

It was the first time she had been alone in a room since she had arrived the night prior, well, aside from the vampire who had taken to bandaging her broken ribs as Checkov went to fetch her new bodyguard. She had been silent, having been given dry clothes and allowed to shower, but she was in pain, and she saw herself in the mirror and touched her face before hopping on the table and sitting, her feet dangling down.

“Is there anything else?” the vampire asked, and Ophelia drew the sweater closer around her.

“Why is he in need of a new coven witch?” she whispered and the female sighed.

“He burned his last at the stake. A restless soul she was, and he had discovered that she had plans to rebel. Of course, he tortured her first. Fifth restless soul he’s found that’s tried to betray him, but you have nothing to worry about, you’re balanced.”

The female left, and Lia removed the sweater, inspecting herself. She was bruised, beaten, and exhausted from the last 55 years, and she could hear the storm outside. Her eyes were cold now, not what they were ages ago, but the amber hue remained. “And this is Ophelia Lockhart.” Checkov’s voice came, and she looked to him and the man beside him. She had been so absorbed in herself that she hadn’t hard them come into the room.

To be honest, she wouldn’t deny that he had a certain charm about him, but she didn’t feel relaxed at all. “Ophelia, this is Mitchell Anderson, your new body guard.” He introduced before leaving. Ophelia remained silent, trying to take everything in. However, he spoke, and she looked to Mitchell.

“Lia,” she corrected, her voice barely a whisper, “I prefer Lia.”

Honestly, he didn’t seem to bad, but she carefully got off the table and held her side. She looked to him. “Look, I’m not going to lie to you here, Mitchell, but I’m tired, and I really don’t need a guard.” She was sure he could argue with her on how she looked alone.

She headed to the door, taking slow movements, actually feeling the pain she was in, looking for the room she was supposed to be staying in. She could feel him following her. “Don’t hover, don’t pry, and stay the hell away from me. We shouldn’t have issues then. I don’t trust you, I don’t know you, and I don’t want to.” She managed to get to her room and closed the door in his face.

She didn’t bother to lock the door, but as she approached the bed she noticed that Checkov was sitting at the edge of it. He looked to her and motioned for her to sit. “Firstly, no matter how much you protest, Mitchell will be your bodyguard. He has experience in the field and you will need one. Second,” he paused looking her over, “I have an assignment for you.”

“An assignment?” she asked.

“Yes,” he began, “I have heard of the Lockhart witch line, I know you are a capable sort, which is why I sought you out personally. I need you to look into breaking the vampire curse to the sun.”

She gave an odd look. “That is extremely old and delicate magic. I can’t screw it up, so it could take me years, decades even to even translate the spell from its original language, much less attempt to dissect it.”

Checkov nodded. “That is what I ask, you have my full library and what knowledge we have available to you. Anything else I will send others out to find.”

She nodded, “Who here has any magical knowledge?”

He chuckled, “Mitchell.”

It took her a moment to register Mitch’s second question and when he explained he was from the east she couldn’t help the chuckle that left her. “You dealt with Issack? God, I can see why you left.” She said, bitterly before she gave a small nod.

“I was back east for a time. Ever heard of New Salem and Sanctuary? Both witch havens , so quaint and quiet. We didn’t bother anyone.” She looked down and then back to him. “About 100 years ago they were both burnt to the ground and Issack did nothing…”

She stopped herself, feeling herself getting upset as she spoke but she continued after a moment. “Back east, I wasn’t known for being a Lockhart or a balance soul, I was known for something much worse. You probably heard of me… they used to call me the Death Witch.” The name left a sour taste in her mouth and she felt the old feelings of regret come over her. “Things were different then, I watched people I had been with for 25 years burn at the stake before me and another witch fled. I killed 17 hunters, I burnt my home to the ground to protect her. She was so young… so much to live for… so I did what I could to draw the hunters to me.”

She stopped herself, seeing the glow of fire when she shut her eyes. “Issack said that it wasn’t beneficial to him to break the alliance with the hunters for some second rate magical freaks . He set us up when we were leaving our meeting with him, the hunters managed to take one of us.” She looked up to him. “Abel practically threw himself to them though. I’ve never hated someone so much as I hate Issack. And it’s why whenever Checkov asks me to attend the meetings I make up excuses. It took everything I had not to set Issack on fire in there.”

She quieted as they approached the cottage and when they got to the porch, Ophelia gave a nod. “Yeah, and when you get back I need your help setting up an anti – magic field in my room, just until this nightmare passes.” She said, but she grabbed his arm before they went in. “Just, please, don’t lead on like I said any of what I just said. It’s not time for them to know about me being a necromancer.” She couldn’t bring herself to say the other name, but she was a necromancer, and one of the few who wasn’t completely dark.

She let go of his arm and headed inside, removing her shoes and placing them beside Kates before she smelled it. “I see someone learned to cook.” She remarked off hand, and when she looked at Atticus she moved her arm and gently hit Mitch’s. Atticus was wearing an old pink apron she had found ages back when she was allowed to clean up the cottage for a home and his hair matched. Ophelia knew this was all Kat and didn’t want to spoil her amusement. “I’ll be upstairs, tell me when food is done.”

Ophelia headed up to her bedroom and closed the door, lighting her sage and lavender to calm the air about her as she changed into a pair of black sweat pants and a matching hoody and she sat on her bed, staring blankly at the wall. Kat had seen a memory she had tried to use to block the negative energy from her nightmares. Mitch just got to hear a bit of her past, and she felt odd, a sort of vulnerable she hadn’t felt in years. She hadn’t opened up like that to many, and those she had were now either dead or MIA.

She heard Atticus calling up to her not long after and she slowly headed down stairs. If seeing Issack didn’t bring on the nightmare sooner, like she had a feeling it would, she had a feeling that her state of mind right now would.

--

Atticus let Kat play with his hair when she started to, a smile coming over his face as she began making garlic and cheese bread. “Thanks doll,” he said, using his best gay voice, “I’m sure I look fabulous.” He said, but he heard the porch and stopped dancing almost too abruptly and nearly fell on the floor , catching himself on the counter before he could fall. He looked to the door when Mitch and Lia came in and smiled.

“Hey. We’re making kitchen sink soup.” He said, but when he heard Lia make her comment a rather fond memory came to mind. One of the few times he wasn’t around vampires or alone even. He had met a young girl named Alessandra about 75 years back who traveled with him up to the border of the wolf country. He and a group had managed to get stuck in wolf country for a while, but he met up with Alessandra who he was almost certain was human, but as he thought back on it she couldn’t have been…

Atticus was up early, the small shack he and Alessandra had been sleeping in while the rain came through filled with the smell of the one thing Atticus knew how to make. Kitchen sink soup. The sand blonde girl with bright amber eyes smiled as she stretched when she woke up. “I see someone learned to cook.” She joked, rubbing her eyes and pulling her dreadlocks up into a bun looking thing. “Whatcha making?” she asked.

“The only thing I know how.” He said, and Alessandra smiled, sadly.

“Too bad my mom isn’t around. She could make this chili that was absolutely to die for.” Alessandra said. Atticus looked back to her, and she sighed.

“What happened to your parents?” he asked, and she shrugged.

“My dad died a while back, he was trying to protect my mom from some kind of monster I guess, and my mom… I don’t know.” She said. “But enough about me. We need to get you heading north again. The end of wolf country is about a days hike off.”

“Where will you go?” he asked, putting the soup into two bowls.

“Not too sure, been thinking about going out west, seeing the mountains and all. From there I may head north. You never know, we might meet up again.” She smiled.

Atticus shook his head a bit and he stirred the soup and got out some bowls and began making everyone a bowl. “Foods done!” he shouted up the stairs, and he heard Lia coming before he caught himself in one of the mirrors that was placed around the house. He touched his hair and looked to Kat. “Color coordination is definitely your thing.” He said, sitting at the table and when he saw Lia sit down for some reason his mind went to Alessandra again.

“So,” Lia began. “After lunch, Kat, we kind of need to figure out sleeping arrangements for the next week.”

Atticus rose a brow. “Why?” he asked. It was quite possible he missed a whole conversation while he was sitting in his own mind. Due to his bout of amnesia where he couldn’t remember anything from when he was younger, he was often prone to fall out of reality when he remembered things.

“You and Mitchell will be staying here for a week.” Lia said, and he nodded.

“Alright.” He would have to ask Mitch later what was going on, but he was going to go along with it for now. With the thought though, he removed the apron and looked to Kat. “As much as I would love to keep the pink, mind changing it back before I have to go put things together. I’m not staying here for a week and having to wear these clothes all the time.” He said.

He looked about the table, glad everyone was eating, and he got his tea made again, bringing Kat her drink before he saw Lia get up and make her tea and Mitchell some coffee. Neither of them seemed really there. “So, a week?” Atticus asked, and he received a nod. “I get to sleep in for a week?”

He was liking the idea of that, but he knew it wasn’t likely. He was too used to getting up early to meet with the girls, and he ate some more of his soup as he tried to imagine why they would be able to stay. He was thrilled, he had often thought it would have been better for them to stay with them all the time simply because then they were always protected, but Checkov and the elders had been adamant about them not staying together.

Atticus and Mitchell were in the kitchen, like most early mornings, and it had been a year since Kathleen had joined them. Atticus rubbed his eyes and leaned back. “I don’t understand the elders reasoning on us not staying with them.” He complained, looking towards the stairs. “When I asked Lia about talking to them about it she said that there wasn’t a snow ball’s chance in hell of it happening. I may talk to them one of these days man, this is ridiculous.”

He got up and made himself some tea, bringing Mitchell some more coffee. “Especially after the wolves almost getting in last week. I mean, sure, there aren’t too many here, but still. And what if the hunters decide they’re going to infiltrate?”

Atticus didn’t realize that Checkov had entered and when he heard his chuckle.

“Atticus, it’s just not a good idea. You two get your breaks being away from them. Plus we have guards at the walls, and if you knew their history, or the bits I do, you would know these girls can hold their own until help arrives.” He said, sitting at the kitchen table.

“Sir, the sun will be rising soon.” Atticus reminded and Checkov nodded to the stairs where Lia was descending.

“I’m aware, I just need to have my weekly meeting with Ophelia early, the South coven and I are having our meetings tonight, so our normal time block is full. Don’t worry about tagging along Mitchell, she will return in one piece.” Checkov said, rising and opening the door for Ophelia.

Once they were gone Atticus sat back, “He still scares me when he does that.” He remarked, heading up the stairs and peering into Kathleen’s room, looking over her still sleeping form. She was a wild one, one of the new vampires had tried to attack her, but she had managed to handle herself until Atticus incapacitated them. It had been their first close call with a newbie, and he could never understand why they were drawn more to Kathleen. They had been since her arrival, but Atticus shook the thought from his head and headed downstairs.

“He sat back with Mitchell and sighed, “Am I just overreacting?” he asked, running his fingers through his hair.

A knock at the door drew Atticus back and he saw Checkov there with his right hand man. “Hello,” he greeted, his eyes looking over the four sitting at the table as he took a seat as well. Atticus took note of the other vampire standing rather close to the door. Even Atticus knew the only reason they were here at this hour was because there was no sunlight threatening them today. He could feel the oncoming storm, it would probably reach them tonight, but the sky was already growing darker and the rain picking up some more.

“Hello, sir.” Atticus greeted, but he noted how Checkov looked over the cottage. It was as if he were sizing it up for something, and Atticus spoke again. “Is everything alright sir?”

“Yes, yes, I have just come to extend a dinner invitation to your four. The elders, Issack, and I will be dining tonight in the main hall, and the elders have asked for me to come invite the four of you.” He said. Atticus looked to Kathleen and then to Ophelia.

“Unfortunately, sir, I must respectfully decline. The change in weather has me in a bind on lessons for Kathleen, so I need to rework my lesson schedule.” Ophelia said, and Checkov gave a nod.

“And what of the rest of you?” he asked. Atticus looked to Kathleen again. His decision relied heavily on hers. He wouldn’t go if she did, and he would go if she decided to. He didn’t understand why the invitation was being extended when he knew every time that almost all of them would decline.

Something about Checkov had everyone on edge, and soon his right hand man took to standing on the porch, and Atticus heard him speak again. “I must be going if any of you do decide to join us, we will be dining at seven, I have a meeting with the elders now.”

He barely waited for any argument or protest from anyone and left, and Atticus got up and looked at them, “That was odd.” He mumbled.

[Love Dove]

Kathleen hopped up sitting on the counter so she could watch Atty dance around a little more, before he stopped and almost fell over. She went to move forward to catch him, only for him to catch himself, and once Kat was sure he was alright she covered her mouth so she wouldn't laugh at him almost falling. Her head peeking around the corner to look at the door. She saw Lia and Mitch both take in what she did to Atty, and smiled widely before hopping down from the counter.

She took the bread out of the oven and sat it by the soup, before moving out of Atticus's way. Looking up at him to see the same look he got when he was out of it. It made Kat sigh softly and she grabbed her glass pouring herself some apple juice and letting Atty be in his own world. Though she wasn't sure if she felt bad for him or not, in a way there were a few things that she would like to forget .

She looked towards the door at Mitch and smiled at him. "Do you need a towel?" Kat asked seeing his hair slightly wet, only for him to shake his head. When Atticus went to yell for Lia, Kat went into the kitchen and cut the bread so that they could have two pieces each putting the plate on the table with the soup. She looked at Atty as he said something about color coordination and smiled sitting down beside him. "Glad you like it, thought you'd like to look all pretty for dinner." She joked a bit as Lia sat at the table.

Kat looked up at Lia across the table with a confused look. "Oh?" She said before Atty beat her to asking why, and she couldn't help the look she gave Lia at the news about the boys staying but she quickly hid it. "Oh that's great...a little warning would have been nice. But yay." She said looking down at her soup before giving Atty a smile. It wasn't that she didn't love having Atticus around, she really did, but the night time was kind of the only time she had to herself.

She looked up Atticus as he took off the apron and pouted a little. "But you look so pretty." She wined a bit before sighing, her hand going back up to hair again turning it back to its blonde color.

Which was probably a good thing because soon there was a knock on the door and Checkov joined them, she smiled a bit at him still managing a good mood. Which meant she would like have a bad mood shift tonight if she wasn't careful. Though it faded a little at the offer for dinner, before both Lia and Mitch turned him down, normally he wouldn't catch her in a good mood as she hated think though of being in the castle around the vampires other than for lessons after she was attacked.

It had only been a year since Kathleen had joined the coven and so far she was finding a slight distaste for Old magic. It was much to hard and for the first time she was feeling weak. She frowned handing the books she was holding to Atticus, she had told Lia she would put them back in the library after her lesson for her. But she just wanted to get out of this gloomy castle as soon as possible.

"Atticus can you take those in for me? I'll stand right by the door, I....I just need a moment to myself." Kathleen said her tone soft for the first time since she got here, leaning against the wall by the library.

When Atticus left her, Kat simply closed her eyes not paying much attention to the vampires around her. Pretty much all of the vampires knew that she was one of the coven witches, and although they had a habit of staring at her and gathering around her for some reason. They hadn't really bothered her to much, so when she felt as though she was being watched, she paid it no mind at first.

Taking a deep breath she opened her eyes to see one of the newer vampires staring at her, and she pursed her lips looking away, before giving him a dirty look as he didn't stop. "Go the hell away vampire, I don't feel like being eye candy right now." She hissed staring back at him, and she sighed starting to turn to go in the door. His movements were fast but she probably couldn't had stopped it if she wasn't so used to this behavior that she didn't think about being weird.

Kat felt strong hands grab ahold of her and throw her against the opposite wall where he had standing before. A groan left her lips as her mind tried to grasp the sudden pain, the vampires hand gripping her chin and turning head. The feel fangs touching her neck made her snap back to her senses and she spoke the first spell that came to mind knocking him back.

"Attic..." She started it yell only to feel the mans hand around her throat pushing her back against the wall. She wordlessly muttered another spell and curse that cut off the vampires air supply and kicked him back again harder than before and gave her time to run into the library coughing. "Atty help!" She screamed before being thrown against one of the bookshelves and he was on top of her.

After the attack and it was realized that she seemed to have some natural pull to the vampires, Lia started have meetings with the elders for the both of them. Then Kathleen still had meetings with Checkov, it was always with Atticus with them and close behind.

"I might join you for dinner, it will have to depend on how well I am feeling." She answered with a slight smile, which she was talking about her mood rather than her health as everyone knew.

--

Mitchell looked down at Lia a little surprised that she would agree to going to the ball. Especially seeing how much it upset her when the other covens came in, or whenever Checkov referred to her and Kathleen as his witches. Still when she said something about him having a date he had to refrain himself from laughing. He never went to the ball, usually if it didn't fall on the day they researched which he would bring crates of books over. Then he was reading himself, or really doing anything to avoid it. And Atticus, well he wouldn't be surprised if he was usually watching the cottage because of the increase in Vampires.

"Hmm, well. I had planed on taking Atticus as my date. But he would want dinner after and you said Kat wouldn't him borrow a dress so I guess he won't mind tagging along with you guys instead." He said sarcasm lanced thickly through his voice as he spoke. Before shaking his head. "It's a room full of blood bound vampires Lia, even if I had a date I would give it up." He spoke softly. Even when he disliked her in the beginning, keeping her safe and well had been his main goal.

Mitchell gave a nod as she spoke. "Of course Lia." He answered his voice becoming a little more casual compared to the formal overly controlled way he had spoke before. His own nerves being calmed a little, not by the witch but the sense of familiarity of having a post.

His eyes watched her carefully as she hopped down from the table, holding her side. As he looked at her in front if him, he raised on eyebrow at her. "Yes, I can see this Lia. Why you look like you could lift a bus. With one hand." He said sarcastically looking over her body again as he spoke.

He followed behind her as she slowly made her way back to her room. Being reminded suddenly as she walked slowly hurting towards her room, that most witches were stubborn like this one seemed to be. Mitchell was trying to be fairly quiet, as she clearly didn't want him there, as if he had a real say in this matter. Though he frowned at her next words, at least he was trying to be polite.

"I do not intend to pry on your life Lia. Just make sure you keep it." He said voice annoyed behind her as she opened her door before shutting it in his face. "Sure you don't need a guard, don't even realize you aren't alone before you shut the door." He muttered under his breath making a face at the door, taking a seat not having missed Checkov on her bed.

After a few moments though he sighed and got up heading down the hall, only to return with a ice pack for the witch. "Hey, get out of here!" Mitchell hissed loudly, he hadn't even been gone for five minutes and there was already a blooded vampire outside of the young witches door. He ignored the dirty look he received as the male walked past him, and he shook his head. "Step away for a second and the vultures swoop in." He muttered before looking at the door as Checkov walked out it giving a sharp nod.

As he walked away Mitch reached up and knocked on the witch's door. "I brought you an ice pack for your ribs if you want it." He said through the door.

Mitchell looked down to Ophelia when she started speaking again and he frowned a little. "I suppose it could be counted as the same as leaving. Yes." He said his voice taking a bit of dark undertone as he answered, but he quickly shook his head refusing to let the flashback of after his escape come again. Though he was quiet for a moment as she spoke. "Yes, I've heard of them both burning, though I hadn't been in the east for a month." He said nodding, though his eyes widened a little glancing over at her when she stated she was the Death Witch.

He had heard of course of the Death Witch, hell news of her "workings" had probably spread to the West and South even. Still if he had ever had to guess who the Death Witch was, he would never picture it being his Lia. He frowned looking down at her, a grave expression on his face, reaching out he let his hand run down her arm and took her hand for a moment squeezing it lightly before letting it go.

"I'm sorry Lia, had I been able and in the East. I would have helped you, and the others that were left that had been on my side would have as well." He said softly although it might have meant much now, but it was the truth and clearly none of his friends and followers had been in this meeting. He was quiet for the rest of the walk to the cottage. The fact he was unable to help wasn't his fault of course he knew this, even if he had been in the east, Isaack made sure he would be in no shape to offer help. Still he felt badly that she had to go through such a thing when he could have done something to help.

He nodded at her request to help her with the field and started to go in, only to feel his arm grabbed causing him to stop and look back at her. "Of course Lia, your secret is safe with me." He answered before following her in, Lia calling his attention to Atticus standing in the kitchen with a bright pink apron and hair. He smiled shaking his head a little when Kat peeked around the corner, but didn't say anything letting Kat have her fun. He took his shoes off putting them by the others, put the umbrella away, and was hanging his coat up when Kat asked about the towel and he just shook his head not saying anything.

He was still rather in lost his own thoughts and when Lia got to the table he didn't even bother saying anything as the three of them talked. Though at Atticus's notion of sleeping in Mitchell laughed a little to himself taking a drink of his coffee, and remembering that getting up early was one of Atty's consistent rants, his mind went back to the last one.

If anything this was his morning entertainment, Atticus ranting about getting up to early. The fact Kathleen had been attacked recently and that the wolves had almost gotten in a week ago was just making it worse. Mitch take a sip of his coffee just listening and watching Atticus with a bit of a smile. He started to open his mouth planning on only making his ranting worse. Though he looked towards the door as he heard the chuckle and Checkov speaking.

He gave a sharp nod to their guest as Atticus pointed out the sun, and at the mention of a early morning meeting and the sound of Lia coming downstairs Mitch stood ready to follow. When Checkov said to stay he frowned a little looking towards Lia as he sat back down. "Yes, sir." He answered his voice hesitant, the two of them had been having meetings without him more often again, and as before the whole thing made him uncomfortable.

When Atticus got back he sighed a little. "I think so man, I mean the wolves we only have to worry about at night, when the blood bound vampires are guarding the walls. And with the hunters, they would come during the day, when we will be here. Plus as mean as Kathleen is towards you at the end of the day, she is nice in the morning. They need time to themselves, just like us." He said shaking his head a little, deciding to not play with him.

"Sir." Mitch responded looking up as Checkov joined them at the table, though there was certain vibe about him, and it was apparent that not only Mitchell felt it. Checkov was up to something as usual, he just wasn't sure what yet. He quickly shook his head at the dinner invite after Lia spoke. "I too will decline this invite Checkov." Mitchell said his words having a bit of a harsh undertone not even looking up from his bowl. He gave no fake reason behind it because both the elders and Checkov should have known he would never be in a closed room with that man willingly.

After Checkov left Mitch stared at his bowl not eating it. He had last all of his appetite, and he stood himself. "Come on Slater, lets go get our stuff for this week." He said his tone still harsh walking past Atticus and slipping on his shoes and jacket, not even waiting for Atticus before heading out.

[SirensCall]

The last year had definitely been an interesting one, but Atticus couldn’t quite figure out what was going on. Lately, Kathleen seemed more on edge and disliking the lessons even more as time went on, so when she asked him to put the books up, Atticus gave a nod and headed into the library, putting the books on the proper carts. He gave a sigh, listening for a moment when he heard a slam and before Kathleen got his name out the second time he had already began moving. He had managed to get there before the vampire could pierce her skin and he threw him off of Kathleen with enough force to shake the bookshelf he hit and a few books came tumbling onto the vampire.

Atticus’s eyes turned an almost black color as the vampire got up and ran at him again, but Atticus grabbed hold of his hair and snapped his neck back and heard him scream out. He threw him down, and Atticus saw him still looking up at him and he picked him up by his collar.

“How many times do I have to tell you that you’re not to touch her? She is not a blood bank.” He hissed, and when the vampire kneed him in the stomach, Atticus reached over and forced his head to the sighed, placing his mouth over his neck and draining the vampire’s energy. He watched as the vampire had crumbled to the ground, two small burn marks on his neck as he lay there unconscious.

Atticus walked over to Kathleen and lifted her up, and moved as fast as he could to the infirmary. He placed her on the bed nearest him and he moved her hair from her face. “I’m sorry, I should have listened out better.” He apologized to her, his eyes returning to normal finally. “I promise, I will never let this happen again.”

It was odd, to be completely honest, that Checkov was even at the cottage, much less extending a dinner invitation to the four of them. He heard as Ophelia declined rather respectfully, and then Mitch’s almost harsh response had him wondering, especially when he saw Lia look over to him with an almost soft expression. It was still mostly unreadable, but there was an obvious air of softness to her features, like she could understand. Then he was almost surprised again at Kat’s vague answer. Atticus couldn’t help but offer her a look, not bothering to give an answer before Checkov left. He was at the sink rinsing out his bowl when Mitchell said for him to come along; his tone still a little harsh and he raised a brow watching his friend leave.

As he put on his shoes he heard Ophelia speak. “At, don’t take that to heart. It struck a nerve with him, so just… don’t take it personally.” She said. There was still a certain softness to her as she spoke. She was being almost motherly towards him, like she often did with Kat and he gave a curt nod before heading out the door, pulling on his jacket. Mitchell wasn’t too horribly far ahead and he sprinted to catch up, but he didn’t say anything at first.

He could feel the rain and it felt amazing to him, the natural energy giving him a bit of a boost and finally he looked over to Mitchell. “So, what’s up with the sudden weeklong sleepover?” he asked him, looking towards the castle as they got closer to the tower that they stayed in. He knew better than to poke a bear when it was hibernating and he was sure that if he asked what the whole thing about the dinner would be doing that just that. Plus, he was curious, especially since he could remember every time being told it was just an all-around bad idea for them to stay with the girls.

As they got to the tower, he headed in, holding the door for Mitch and then he went to his room, looking around and taking his bag. He could remember the last time he had packed for something, and as he threw some clothes into a small duffle, he walked over to his bedside night stand and grabbed his Walkman and CDs for his morning runs the ones he had been horribly neglecting the last few weeks. He sat on his bed for a minute as a page fell out of the drawer and he picked it up and smiled at it a bit, running his fingers over the old paper.

It was the only memory he had with any sort of clarity from before waking up in the west coven’s care, and this had triggered it. When it came back to him, it was about three years before Kathleen came along, and Checkov had Ophelia trying to figure out what was wrong with him because it left him out cold for about a week, but now the memory just made him smile despite it all.

”Do we have to do this again?” Atticus whined as he sat in front of Ophelia in the circle she had set up, and she gave him a look. “We’ve been going for a week, and I’m fine now.”

Mitch was in the kitchen reading as Ophelia gave a sigh and took his hands in hers. “Atticus, a small part of your memory returned to you with such force that it left you out cold for a week, even if Checkov hadn’t asked me to look into it to see if magic is somehow involved, I would have anyway. That’s extremely dangerous, and believe it or not, I do actually care for others.” Atticus will just roll his eyes.

“Yes, mother.” he said with sarcasm, but Ophelia gave him a look and he almost felt it cutting through him.

“Don’t call me that.” She snapped, and she motioned for him to give her his hands. “Now, I don’t like rooting around in your brain any more than you like me rooting around in it, I’m no good at this type of magic and it’s the reason it is taking so long, but if I can diagnose the problem at least, then we can figure out a plan of action from there.”

He sighed and gave her his hands, and she closed hers around his. “Alright, but this sucks. It’s so draining.” He said, “I have wanted to feed off you more than once, I won’t lie about it.”

“Well, we learned early that I can’t do this while you’re asleep, and once we’re done I can at least put you in an energizing circle that you’ll be able to draw energy from. So let’s just give this one more go, and if I can’t figure it out, we’re done.” She said, and he nodded. He could feel her pulling his energy and pushing it back to him in constant pulses before the memory started coming back. The one he had been having every time. The one that came to him.

The forest was bright as he walked side by side with another figure, but they were slightly blurred, he couldn’t make them out. The voice was strong though, and it sounded in his mind strongly. “C’mon Atticus, just a little more and we’ll be able to show mother that we don’t need magic to climb this cliff.” It said, but even it was distorted. Like the person was changing with every word they said. Their voice disappeared as they continued about, the forest was coming in with more clarity as the person’s clarity faded more. Still, as they walked he felt a certain calm.

“Race you to the top!” the figure said before taking off, and Atticus just smiled and ran off after him, but they veered off in different directions and he took in the scenery around him as he ran before he heard another voice. It was female, and when he turned his head the vision of a woman with long greying locks came with almost more clarity than everything else.

“Child, what are you doing?” she asked with a smile on her face, and it was then Atticus realized that he was actually much smaller than he realized as if he was younger. “You know that you shouldn’t be out and about right now. Did your brother put you up to this?” she asked a warm smile on her face.

“Yes mama.” He replied laughing a bit. He couldn’t have been more than 9 or 10 as he began to realize. And the woman ruffled his hair. “What are you doing mama?”

“I’m looking for Wolf’s bane to help your father heal. Do you want to help Atty?” she asked and he nodded as they walked about the forest when the blurred figure came in, the distorted voice coming out again.

“There you are! I thought you decided you wanted to play hide and seek for a minute.” It said, and his mother looked over to the figure.

“He’s helping me gather Wolf’s Bane for Carl, do you want to help us?” she asked and the figure nodded, walking alongside Atticus as they gathered the herb. Once they had gathered enough though, the figure tapped Atticus’ shoulder.

“Tag, you’re it!” it sang, and Atticus began chasing after them, but he fell, and he could feel the vision fading.

He felt Lia push herself away from him, and he looked up at her, seeing her breathing hard, and she laid back. “Did I hurt you?” he asked, and Lia shook her head.

“There’s definitely magic binding your memory.” She confirmed. “I had to pull myself away, it’s some dark magic, darker than any manipulation spells I’ve seen before. I’ll have to look into how I can help you further, but at least we know the root.” She said, and when she got up and headed up to her room, he saw the piece of paper sitting between them and when he picked it up he smiled a bit, the memory coming back again.

”Tag you’re it!” the voice sang, and Atticus began chasing after them, but he fell and when he got up he saw the blood on his knee, but he headed off to try and tag the blurred figure, but he kept missing them, and he eventually stopped in an open field that they had chased each other down to and he laid on his back, staring up at the sky, the figure noticing it and laying down with him and looking up with him.

“Brother, do you have to leave?” Atticus asked, and the figure sighed.

“I do, Atty, but here.” The figure handed him the piece of paper that was in his pocket. “This is how you will find me when you are big enough. I promise I’ll come back and visit every once and a while, but you need that to get in. It’s the password.”

“A secret password?” Atticus asked, excited.

“Yes, Atty, a secret password.” The figure said, an obvious smile coloring their tone.

Atticus smiled, opening the small paper and seeing the words printed neatly across it. Atty, I had to tell you that there was secret password so you wouldn’t try to follow after me when I left. I love you little brother, and I promise I will come back and see you soon.

Atticus put the page in his bag too, and he double checked and made sure that he had everything before zipping his bag shut and leaving his room, and he looked to see Mitch in the hallway too. “Sorry man, I didn’t mean to take so long just kind of got lost in my thoughts for a minute.” He apologized before slinging his bag over his shoulder and shoving his hands in his pockets, dreading the walk back a little more than he thought he would.

Now he had one other thing nagging at him. Would Kat decide she wanted to attend this dinner with Checkov and the elders and whoever the fuck Issack was? He was hoping she wouldn’t because it was nice being away from the castle for a while, but at the thought of what it would be like, he wanted to go in a weird way. He and Kat had never been alone with the elders and Checkov, at least not without Lia and Mitch too far behind. And after the attack they hadn’t seen the elders at all unless Lia and Mitch were right there.

He shook his head at the thought and looked outside before they headed back. This rain was going to make the walk back more hassle than it was worth.

--

Ophelia listened to Mitch’s sarcasm when he answered her about having a date. She rolled her eyes a bit, and let out a sigh. “I wouldn’t take it from you. You need to enjoy yourself every once in a while. I know I’ve made your life hell for the last 45 years… at least I know parts of it were.” She corrected herself before he could even comment on it. She wouldn’t deny the small little smirk that came over her face at the thought of Mitchell and Atticus dancing together, but it quickly faded. He really had been good to her, she couldn’t get over that fact, even with how horrible she had been to him.

Ophelia looked at Checkov with a certain bit of confusion over her face and he spoke again, “Mitchell is currently the only one in my coven I can trust to protect you, and he has knowledge he can offer you too.”

Ophelia will roll her eyes. “You’re really adamant aren’t you?” she asked.

“I am, but you can’t blame me, if we wouldn’t have found you when we did, you would be dead.” He pointed out and she will shake her head.

“That’s not exactly true, but I will give you that you helped me.” She agreed a bit, but Checkov got up.

“Just be easy on him. He’s here to help you, not hurt you.” Checkov said, but received a look as he headed out the door. She sat there, rubbing her side seeing she was bleeding again, and she rolled her eyes a bit, lifting her shift before hearing a knock. Mitchell’s voice and she got up, holding her side again, and she opened the door.

“Come in.” she said, quietly, walking over to a mirror nearby and grabbing the bandages that had been left there for her. She winced a bit as she pulled off the old ones and discarded them on the floor for the moment before she began attempting to wrap herself up again.

She had been quiet since she had let him in and after about five minutes of trying and failing to re-wrap her side, she turned to him. “As much as I hate to ask, will you help me?” her tone was empty, but it still edged on cold. She really didn’t need this kind of treatment. She wasn’t a child, she could handle herself, but she supposed it was better to make the best of the situation. As much as she didn’t like it.

She remained silent for the most part, trying to figure things out in her own mind, how she went wrong when she was out there, but there was no point in trying that now, as her eyes were drooping and her vision fading. She knew it was from the blood loss because she had managed to lose quite a bit, but she still tried to fight off everything going on around here.

Ophelia listened to Mitch, but when his hand ran down her arm and gave her hand a gentle squeeze, she couldn’t help the sudden softness that came over her. “It’s not your fault, but I appreciate the thought.” She barely whispered, and once they were back at the cottage and eating, she knew from Checkov’s presence that there would be some form of tension. There always was, but she hadn’t fully expected it to root where it did. It rooted with Mitchell.

The softness hadn’t left her and when she heard the harshness in Mitchell’s tone, she just looked at him, barely aware of the expression that had fallen over her face. She knew that had to have struck something, especially after learning he had been from the east. Checkov didn’t know her entire story about back east, as she had kept it to herself for the most part. He did know that she was the Death Witch, but not much else… However, it didn’t stop the sinking feeling that she had that he knew exactly what had happened with Mitchell.

Once Mitchell left the house and she spoke to Atticus, watching him leave too, she let out a long sigh, having lost her appetite as well. She was so all around not herself that it was affecting everything she did. She was tired and wanted to sleep but feared the act of it with that nightmare on edge. She wanted to read, but knew it would likely have her falling asleep. She washed her bowl and the other dishes in the sink before she looked at Kat and gave a soft, barely there smile. “So, I’m thinking that one of the boys can sleep on the couch and the other I think I still have that air mattress from when the last meeting with the South coven witches. I’m going to bring it out and get it going down here. That way we all have space. If there wasn’t so much stuff in that other room upstairs I would have them sleep there, but there’s just too much to sift through in there still.” She suggested before heading up to her room and finding the air mattress under her bed.

She looked to the clock a moment before sitting on her bed and just staring at it. She knew this was for the best and if Kat asked why, she would likely tell her it just for her own safety… She had a feeling somewhere that Kat knew that her bad dreams were her undoing. She’d been having more consistent nightmares in the last year and it had been affecting everything she did. One night she even asked Kat to sleep in her room just because the company was appreciated. It had been about 6 months ago when the whole thing happened, and though it helped for a while it had been getting progressively worse.

Ophelia looked at the clock, it was now nine at night and the boys had just left for the day. She had been down in the kitchen, sipping her tea and reading her book when she noticed Kat was in the living room and she just looked at her for a moment. The nights had been getting bad, and Lia hadn’t been getting more than two or three hours of sleep a night for the last month and it was draining her. She needed some kind of comfort, something that she had found over the years helped with her sleep, but everything she had tried had not been working.

She marked her page and got up with her tea and sitting in the chair near Kat. It had taken her a moment to finally speak. “Kat?” she asked, and when she had her attention she thought a moment before speaking again. “I know this may come as an odd sort of request, but would you mind sleeping in my room tonight with me? If you don’t want to I understand, I just haven’t been sleeping well and I’m not wondering if having someone else with me might help a little.”

She had finished up her tea and went over to the sink, washing her cup and setting a few things up for in the morning. “I’ll be upstairs.” She said, barely waiting for her answer. She felt a little embarrassed almost at her request, and when she laid on her bed and stared at the wall, she couldn’t think of what came over her to even ask.

Ophelia snapped back from her thoughts and set down the air mattress, lying back on her bed to where she was staring at the ceiling. She needed rest. She knew she did, but it was so hard for her when she knew what was coming… Especially after seeing Issack again. The thought of him crossing her mind made her hand ball into a fist, but she released it once she realized that she had lit the candles in her room, completely by accident.

With a sigh she sat back up and began rummaging through her things for clean sheets and blankets for the boys.

[Love Dove]

Mitchell was a little surprised to be invited in by Lia, seeing that she already seemed to dislike him even though they just met. Still after a hesitant moment he came into the room closing the door behind him, and sitting the ice pack on the bedside table. He watched her take her bandages off, and frowned a little at the sight and smell of more blood. Perhaps it was a good thing that he wasn't blood bond because he really did tend to hate the smell of blood.

Mitch nodded when she asked for help rewrapping her bandages. "I can try, I'm used to treating wounds." He answered walking towards her and taking the wraps ignore the coldness in her tone. "Or really people that can bleed. If I hurt you, tell me." He added before getting on his knees and starting to wrap up her side.

It was slightly odd to him, how quiet she was. Mitch couldn't tell if he was hurting her or not. He wasn't sure if she was the type to get lost in her only little world. Or if she had fallen asleep standing up some how, her energy levels felt a little low after all. However, the need he felt to be extremely gentle with the wounded witch and the fact she was so quiet, it was nerve wracking for him. So his minds first instinct was for him to start muttering to himself quietly to at least break the quietness for himself.

Finishing wrapping the bandages he stood and offered her a small smile. "There you go, good as new. Or well, your bandage is, you're looking a little pale." He speak before the blood on his hands caught his attention, and he looked down at. His nose curling a bit at it before wrapping on his pants and off his hand.

Mitch then bent down and picked the bandages off the floor throwing them away. "Maybe you should rest a little, it might make you feel better."

Mitchell didn't notice the way that Lia was looking at him before he left, mostly because he was trying to avoid eye contact with her. He was angry, maybe even insulted that Checkov would invite him to eat with Isaack, knowing what had happened in the East. His first instinct was to get away from the girls until he calmed down, he tired his best not to show his temper around the girls, the harshness still in his tone towards Atticus was just because he was still upset. Though Lia might have seen it slip through a few times.

Mitch didn't even realize that Atty was behind when he left, at least until he heard him sprinting to catch up. He glanced at Atticus as he caught up, his dark brown eyes darker than usual and almost black. However, much like Atticus, Mitchell was quiet for a while on their walk back to the castle tower. The sound of the rain and wind mixed with the natural energy seemed to calm him slightly, and when he looked back at Atty his eyes were back to normal. Mitch actually appreciated that Atty didn't bring up the dinner.

"Lia's bad dreams are getting worse again and she tends to have problems with her magic when they do. So we are going to stay to keep them safe. Lia doesn't want Kat to know, because she doesn't want to worry her and throw off her moods." Mitch said with a sigh, he wasn't going to hide from Atty when it could be a danger to Kat. His tone wasn't as harsh as when in the cabin, but there was still a clear trace of anger in it. "Not to mention with the South coven coming in soon, and East being here. It seems like a good idea." He added shaking his head a little.

When Mitchell got to his room, he closed his eyes leaning against his door, his knuckles white as he clinched his hands into fists. Why? Why did Checkov and the elders decide to try and force him around Isaack again?

It had only been about twenty years since Mitchell had joined Checkov's coven, and although he had been well aware that it would only be a matter of time until the East coven made their way North for a visit. Still it didn't make things any easier now that it was happening. It only made it worse that despite the fact he had asked Checkov not to force him to have to be around Isaack, to let him move into the tower. Checkov insisted to having a meeting with his counsel.

Mitchell stood in front of the 'counsel' for only the second time since his arrival. To say he felt nervous was an understatement, in the East he had only been forced before the counsel to find what his punishment. It hasn't been the fare trail he had hoped it would be. Still he had been informed take the counsel wasn't used for that propose here, it hadn't helped but he tried to hide it.

"Tell us Mitchell, why is it that you now wish to be moved to a different part of the castle?" One of the men asked he looked under the Mitch and sounded it as well.

"I want to be as far as my past leader as possible...I've been told you all know about what happened before." Mitchell said he tone wasn't ashamed in the least though. He had good reasons for his actions.

"We are aware. However, it has been twenty years. Do you not think that you should try to move forward from what happened?"

"No I do not." He answered frowning.

One the others frowned at the answer he gave. An older looking women whose movements and tone screamed snob. "Do you not even intend to try to let the past be forgotten?"

"No I do not, the last of my time in the East was a living hell." Mitchell said his eyes going a bit darker before he shook his head.

"I don't think that this action would be the most healthy. Neither for you or the coven." She said almost as if she was completely ignoring Mitchell's words. "It is clearly something that should be forgiven and worked through."

Before the younger male could speak again Mitchell's hands slammed down on the metal table. "Forgiven?!" He said loudly and harshly. "Tell me Elder. How long do you think you would be able to survive such treatment? How long would you survive without feeding? How much pain can you be put through, before its no longer healthy to be forgiven?" Mitchell found himself yelling at her, Checkov's hand went to his shoulder and the touch brought him back to where he was, he wasn't in the East, he was safer here.

Mitchell blinked looking down at the table, the shape of his hands pressed into the table itself. "Checkov, if you force me to deal if Isaack. I warn you now I will leave, that was our deal, I am free to leave as I wish." He said before walking out.

Mitchell let a breath out slowly as the memory passed, it hadn't been the flash back had expected to have, but still it seemed to ease his nerves. He felt calmer, if not almost empty of all feelings. Looking around his room he moved away from the door, grabbing his duffle. He packed enough clothes for the week, some of his books just encase he actually found time to read, and a bungle of sage and lavender that Lia had given him once when he had trouble sleeping himself. He grabbed the umbrella that sat beside his door as he left, locking the door behind him, and when he saw Atty wasn't done yet he stood and waited for him.

When Atticus met out with him in the hallway Mitchell smiled and shrugged seemingly back to his normal self. "It's fine man. If anything it gave the girls more time." He said tone laid back and calm. Though he frowned a little seeing the rain had picked up slightly. Mitch sighed and looked at Atty. "You want to take the bags and umbrella to keep dry? Or me?"

The walk back seemed to almost take more time than the walk there had. After a moment or two he looked over at Atticus. "Oh by the way, me and you are taking the girls to the Ball this year."

--

Kathleen let a groan out of her lips as Atticus lifted her out of the pile of books from the bookshelf that she had been thrown into. She truly had no idea what had happened to the other vampire who had attacked her. She had heard the fighting but her body was in a great deal of pain from being thrown three times, chocked and the weight of the mans body while he held her to ground trying to drain her. But now in Atticus's arms being carried to the infirmary, she felt.....safe. She never could see the reason for a guard until now.

She felt the softness of the infirmary bed as Atticus laid her on it. As she felt his fingertips move the hair from her face, her eyes opened slightly, although everything was still hazy. Hearing him promise to never let that happen again made her smile, and she moved her head a little against his touch before closing her eyes again.

It was a few hours before she awoke again and her eyes flashed opened, and it felt like she was panicking a little as she looking around the room. However, oddly enough, it wasn't because of what happened. It was because she didn't know where Atticus was. Though as soon as her eyes caught sight of Atty sitting by her bed reading, she relaxed a sigh coming from her lips. Slowly she looked down at herself, to see that someone had bandaged her up and treated whatever wounds she might have had while she was out.

Kat wasn't sure if someone had went to tell Lia that she was attacked or not, but seeing that it was dark now, and the clock across from her bed said it was just after six in the evening, she was sure she missed dinner. So Lia had most likely become worried about her now. "Atticus..." Kat said softly as she sat up a little more, looking at him. Though she didn't have a chance to say what she wanted before Checkov and one of the Elders came in, Checkov expressing his concern, and the Elder saying they would have came sooner if not for a meeting. When they asked what happened she quickly answered before Atticus could.

"I needed some air so I stepped out into the hall, while Atticus was putting the books away. I didn't think it would matter if it was just a moment. I think I told the vampire to stop staring at me, and when I turned to go back in, he attacked me." She told them.

After Checkov left she looked to Atticus and let out a sigh. "Atticus, this might seem like an odd request....but....can I maybe get a hug?" Kat asked softly, rather embarrassed by he request. It had been years since she actually had a want for such a thing and never had she asked for one from him or the others. As soon as she wrapped her arms around him and started to hug him back, it was like a major crack appeared in the heartless careless bitch of a wall.

Before she could stop herself, she was crying against his chest. "Thank you, Atty. thank you for saving me. Thank you for being so nice to me, even though I haven't given you a reason." She said her face still crying against his chest.

Kathleen hadn't missed the tone of voice that Mitchell had before he left, but she didn't quite understand the reason for it. She also saw the look that Atticus cast her when she said she might go. But Kat didn't see a reason for it either, it had been years since it had been just her and Atty in front of the elders. Was it really such a bad idea to have dinner with them for once?

While Lia was talking to Atty, Kat busied herself with finding a bowl big enough to put the left over soup in. If nothing else Mitch and Atty could have it to eat in the morning if Lia didn't make breakfast. She manage to find a bowl just big enough as Lia was finishing the dishes. Even still things between them seemed awkward almost as Lia spoke, and part of her felt it was her fault. She nodded as Lia talked about bring the air mattress down. "Sounds good, I'll move things around a little down here so there is more room for the air mattress. Because honestly I think the way it is now, I think it would be a little crowded." She answered looking around.

When Ophelia went upstairs Kat sighed softly and started to move things around for the mattress. As she did her mind went back to the last time things felt awkward between them, it had been about six months ago.

Kathleen was sitting in the living room looking out the window thinking, when Lia took the chair next to her, at first Kat didn't even really notice until Lia said her name. She looked to Lia, waiting a few moments before she spoke, the request was an odd one for sure, she had barely even been in Lia's room let alone stay the night.

However, the thought of denying was quickly forgotten when she said something about her bad dreams. Kat had noticed the fact that Lia had been a little more tired the last month than usual, and thought she had thought it might have been bad dreams, there was really nothing she could do about it.

Before Kathleen even got a chance to answer Lia left her, and Kat kind of watched her for a moment. When she headed upstairs, Kat sort of shook her head before getting up herself. She turned the living room lights off and went upstairs to her room before changing before going to Lia's room. She knocked lightly on the door, before peeking in and whispering Lia's name. When Kat saw that she was awake, she went over and crawled into the bed with Lia. "It's kind of like a sleep over." She said looking over at Lia with a smile, trying to make things last awkward.

Kat shook her head as she finished moving things around to make room. She hated when things were made awkward, it was uncomfortable, and often made people feel bad. Than the thought popped into her head, actually a memory and it made her smile. She looked at the ceiling above her, before going into the kitchen and making Lia a cup of tea.

Heading upstairs she stopped at Lia's door, knocking softly on it and waiting a second before peeking in. "Lia?" She said softly waiting for her to tell her she could come in before doing so. "I made you another cup of tea." Kat said before sitting the cup down. For a moment she just stood there awkwardly, before moving forward and wrapping her arms around Ophelia giving her a tight hug.

"I'm sorry about earlier Lia. I didn't mean to intrude in your memory, really. But I don't want you to be mad at me or awkward between us, cause I really like you, so.." Kat rattled on hugging Lia tightly before her fingers went up to Lia's neck and she muttered a spell softly, pushing her energy into Lia instead of the other way around.

A nine year old Kathleen stood in the small cottage living room, there was about twelve other girls with sleeping bags cluttered around the living room and she stood in the middle. A sparkly ball of glitter flowing in front of her face. The glitter would spread out sprinkling a little on the other girls, before forming another ball.

They gasped and giggled enjoying the show, and after a few more times of this, the ball exploded the room floor, girls, and all covered in glitter. They all clapped and laughed more. "That was so cool, Kat! How did you do that?" One of the girls asked and Kat smiled. "A magician never tells, Gwen." Kat giggled, sitting beside her friend and giving her a hug.

Her mother came into the room smiling handing a tray of drinks, though as soon as she saw the state of the room she frowned, a look of worry on her face. "KitKat? What happened to the front room?" She asked her tone scolding but behind that, there was the very clear trace of worry.

"I was just showing my friends a magic trick mom." Kathleen answered letting go of Gwen, she knew that she was in trouble. It was clear.

Her mother looked at the other girls, before a smile was forced on her lips and she sat the tray on the glitter covered table. "Oh, well I hope you girls liked it, Kathleen is very talented." She said and the girls all agreed, but Kat was watching her mother. "Kathleen, why don't you come help me get the snacks?"

Kat frowned. "I..I don't want to." And her mother shot her a look, Kat stood and followed her mother out of the room.

Her mother sighed pitching the bridge of her nose. "KitKat, I have told you more than once." She started her tone harsh and it made Kat flinch a bit looking down at the floor. Her mother moved her fingers away looking down at her daughter and her eyes softened a little. "You can't do that kind of things in front of your little friends."

"But mom, they like me more when I do things like that. They find me cool. They won't tell anyone."

Her mother shook her head, heeling down in front of her. "They could tell others though. KitKat, humans are like retarded animals. They are afraid of what they don't understand, and they easily turn on you."

Kat looked back towards the living room. "For animals, I doubt they would taste very good mom."

Her mother blinked a little bit before laughing. "No, I don't think they would either...but that isn't my point. You can't do that anymore. You don't want to run from the hunters again do you?"

Kat sighed a little. "No, mom." She answered pouting a little. And her mothers fingers went down to the pendent around her neck, it had been a birthday present she had gotten day before yesterday. "Don't pout sweetie. It hides your beauty. Now go play with your little human friends."

The gesture and words made her smile and she grabbed the bowls and Gwen might her in the hallway taking the bowl from her. "C'mon birthday girl. We're gonna tell ghost stories before bed." She said excited and the two of them went back into the room with others.

[SirensCall]

Ophelia couldn’t help the sigh that escaped her lips as she walked around her room, putting the things she had gathered into a crate, eventually hitting the small CD player in her room to play the soft music she had been stuck on for the last month. She hummed to it softly before it had fully sunk in that she still had to tell Kat about the ball. She needed to speak with Checkov again, she had figured out part of the curse that created the vampires enough to have figured out a way to dull blood lust. She knew that the blood bound vampires had a thing for Kat, and though Atticus was a damn good guard, extra precautions never hurt.

As she placed the sheets and blankets in the crate, she heard a light knock at her door, and then Kat’s voice. “Come in.” she said, finding the air mattress inflator and placing it in the crate as well before she gave a thankful nod to Kat. “Thank you.” She said.

Once Kat wrapped her arms around her, Ophelia tensed only briefly before slowly wrapping her arms around her and gave her a gentle squeeze. However, at Kat’s words she gave her an odd look, but before she could speak she felt the energy surge into her and she felt herself opening her eyes in what felt like a different world. When she realized what was going on, she felt almost like a ghost watching the memory, but a faint smile came on her face. This was a sweet memory, and it gave Lia some comfort that she needed.

Once her vision returned to normal she brought Kat closer to her for a moment and kissed her forehead before giving a soft smile. “You didn’t have to do that, but I do appreciate it.” She told her. “I’m not mad at you, I never was, I just felt weird because no one alive has gotten to see that part of me. It was odd for someone to see how I was before everything started happening was all.” She assured her before giving her arm a gentle rub before picking up the crate, looking towards the clock. “We better get this stuff set up, they shouldn’t be much longer.”

She waited at the door for Kat, walking with her downstairs and back into the living room . “There is one other thing I do need to tell you.” She said, “The boys will be taking us to the ball this year. Checkov is insisting we should go this year. We’ll likely see the seamstresses tomorrow, and I’m going to see if Checkov will allow me to place a spell on the main hall to dwindle blood lust for the evening.” She said, plugging in the air mattress inflator and hitting the radio, changing the music to the soft tone she had been playing upstairs.

Her mind had managed to wander from her though, to the last time she had been asked to something so glamorous… and it wasn’t even all that glamorous. Her wedding.

She let out a long sigh, looking herself over in the mirror before her. Her hair was done down in curls with a single white lily behind her ear. Her dress was a simple white, strapless sundress that fell just below her knees and she smiled at herself. Her friends smiled at her as they left her to her thoughts for a moment. “Bianca, I wish you could be here. You would love Abel. Even though he’s a dark soul, he’s a wonderful man. He’s helped me a lot the last five years.” She said, smiling as she heard the violin begin playing. She grabbed her bouquet of daffodils and lilies before she exited the house. She walked down the grass aisle alone, smiling to the man at the other end. His bright blue eyes looked at only her too. Sanctuary had definitely become her home now, and nothing would change that.

Once she got to the end of the aisle, she smiled at him and he smiled back at her. The ceremony began shortly after, the officiating witch smiling the entire time at the two of them. It wasn’t horribly long either, and once it was over, they all headed back towards the middle of town, just on the other side of the house, and began the celebration.

Abel held his hand out to her and smiled. “Well, gorgeous, may I have this dance?” he asked as the music began, and Ophelia gave a nod, taking his hand and allowing him to lead her out to dance to the soft violin music. She smiled at him and he have her a look. “What is it, Ophelia?”

“I love you.” She whispered, and he gave her an equally bright smile as he spun her out and when she spun back into him he caught her lips with his. Once he pulled away he continued to dance with her closely.

“I love you too.” He whispered.

Ophelia felt the smile take hold of her face, and it didn’t dwindle as the fond memory reminded her that she would get through these bad times. Perhaps even come out better than she was before, but her doubts caused the smile to fade slightly as she shook her head and began making up the boy’s beds, humming to the music. “You thinking pink or orange for blankets? They’re all I could find that didn’t have that old in the closet smell to them.” She asked Kat before she heard the porch creaking and she quickly finished up the beds before heading into the kitchen, seeing Atticus coming in.

“The ball?” he asked her, obviously concerned. “Couldn’t that end badly? You two will be the only fresh-”

Ophelia held up her hand to him and he quieted. “I knew you’d be concerned. I will be speaking to Checkov about a spell I have found. It dwindles blood lust, and I don’t think he will have an issue with me going into the main hall during set up to place it. So calm your nerves, I thought of it.”

Atticus gave a roll of his eyes. “Sorry to doubt you, mom .”

She gave him a sharp look. “Don’t call me that.”

Kat had been back in the cottage now for a few days since the attack had happened and Atticus had been extremely on edge. Ophelia had noticed it the most when Mitch and Atticus came in that morning as she was cooking them breakfast and she noticed he lingered a bit longer when he checked on her. When he came back down, he had went right out the door and onto the porch. Her eyes shifted to Mitch who was sipping his coffee, and she sighed. She headed out onto the porch and leaned against the rail next to Atticus.

“Atticus?” she asked, and he looked over to her with an inquisitive brow raised. “What’s wrong?”

He shook his head. “Nothing.” He lied and she fixated him with a stern look. “I just feel bad. I failed her I shouldn’t have left her along even for a minute… I should have known better, I should have-”

“Atticus.” She said, and he stopped. “It wasn’t your fault. You gave her space when she asked for it. You respected her wishes. It speaks volumes on the amount you care for her. You can’t beat yourself up over one mishap.” She looked to the door. “One day you should ask Mitchell about the day I moved into the cottage.”

He asked, “What do you mean?”

She sighed, “Let’s see, it was my fifth year here when Checkov gave me the cottage. The blood bound vampires tried pretty hard to feed off me the entire time I lived in the castle and to make our lives easier Checkov let me have the cottage. Well, I guess I had managed to piss off the guards who had been petitioning to use it as a break post, but Checkov had denied their requests.”

“Is that why when the guards come out Mitch insists we stay longer still?” he asked and she nodded.

“Still some bad blood between me and them, but it pisses them off more that Checkov sides with me. Anywho, I had gathered up the last little bit of my things and when Mitch and I headed down there, they decided to try and attack me as I readjusted my bags. I insisted he could on ahead a little, and he respected that. One managed to grab me from behind and drank a little from me.” She moved her hair to show the two puncture wound scars. “But there is a reason vampires around here don’t try to drink from me anymore.”

Atticus gave a look. “Why?”

“Because, the teas and herbal compounds I drink are a form of poison to a vampire. I learned that early on in my life.” She said, “Mitch felt horrible. He didn’t let me out of his sight for weeks, except for when he wasn’t on duty. But let me tell you one thing about that whole ordeal.” She paused. “Never piss him off.”

Atticus chuckled. “Why are you being so nice?”

Ophelia sighed, “Because I can be.”

“Alright, mom .” he said, and she gave him a look.

“I’ll let it slide this once. But come on, breakfast is almost ready.” She said.

Ophelia shook her head a bit before she looked over at Mitch. She poured some tea into a cup and took the bags from him and placed it in his hands. “Chamomile. I think this was the one you liked.” She said, giving him a soft look before she moved Atticus shoes straight and she whispered, “Should calm your nerves too.”

She set the bags by their sleeping arrangements and she sunk into the arm chair, listening to the music softly humming to it. She then looked to Kat and Atticus. “So, lovelies, so I know what I can make for dinner, are you two here or there?”

She hoped it wouldn’t set Mitch off, but she did need to know this. Atticus spoke, “I think I may go.”

She nodded, and she looked to Kat. Once she said she was going too she got up and took her hand. “Come on, I’ll help you get ready.” She looked to Mitch. “Lay out something for me to make later, okay?” she said, leading Kat upstairs.

--

Atticus sighed a bit with a nod before he looked at Mitch and shrugged. “You can carry it. I am quite enjoying this. Back west doesn’t get rain like this, plus the coven was in the mountains. Snow is pretty and all, but the ice isn’t at all nice. It’s good not having to worry about it.” He said, his thoughts going back to what he said about why they were staying with the girls.

He finally spoke, “You know, I get why Lia doesn’t want Kat to worry, but you know Kat is going to worry regardless . I swear sometimes they could be related somehow.” He said, and he let the wind and rain blow against his face and he breathed in the damp air happily. However when Mitch brought up the ball he shot him a look.

“Why? They’ve never gone before nor have they ever shown interest in it ever, probably because of all the eyes that would be eyeing them up like they were dinner.” He said, a hand running through his hair. “I don’t like that, and that just seems a little sketchy anyway, especially given its not just this coven to worry about, we have two other covens. And those south bastards always try going to the cottage when they’re heading out. Damn fuckers.”

He felt his anger boiling beneath his skin at the thought of it.

Last year had been an odd year. The ball had been held later in the year than normal, and a light blanket of snow covered the ground outside. Atticus brought his jacket closer around him as he sat on the roof of the cottage, perched between the girl’s bedrooms. He couldn’t sleep at all, and he had gone out not long after the ball officially began and watched the cottage.

He could hear Mitchell and Lia discussing something about her research just below him in her bedroom, and he could hear Kat doing her nightly ritual he assumed. He sighed and watched, his eyes trained all around him and soon he saw someone heading up to the door and he jumped down. “Where are you going?”

They were from the south, it was denoted by their odd choice in color for suits. One spoke, his thick southern drawl coming through, “Fresh is the best buddy boy, back off.”

Atticus chuckled darkly, his eyes darkening quite quickly, “No. Your party is in the castle. Not here. Now leave or I’ll make you leave.” He warned. The one laughed and went to move and before they could comprehend, Atticus had his arm shoved up behind his back and his face in the snow. “Again, your party is in the castle.”

When the others backed off, Atticus let the one up and they headed towards the castle, glaring at him. He didn’t care if they were from another coven or not. A threat was a threat and he wasn’t going to let Kat get attacked again on his watch. He shivered a bit before he climbed back up on the roof, now sitting more towards Kat’s room. He reached inside his jacket and pulled out his thermos of coffee. It was going to be a long night.

Atticus shook his head, composing himself a little better before he shook his head. He was definitely going to say something to Lia, but as they continued back to the cottage his mind went elsewhere. Since it was decided they were going and he knew nothing about this sort of thing he asked, “So we have to look nice, we have to watch over them, and what else?” he paused. “This is completely foreign to me.”

He was glad to finally get under the porch and he shook his hair out with his hands before heading in, lazily leaving his shoes off to the side. When he voiced his concern, he wasn’t surprised to hear that there was already precautions being taken, but when he called Lia mom, he half expected her to be super angry, but she wasn’t. She just gave him a look and he shrugged. He looked over to Kat walking in further and chuckling a bit at the bedding. Pink and white sheets and one bright pink blanket and one orange.

Then the question came, and when Kat said she was going too, Atticus was fully going, and seeing Lia taking Kat away to help get her ready, he looked in his bag and grabbed the nicest clothes he had. He knew for a meeting with the elders it had to be somewhere near formal looking. He didn’t own much that was formal either.

He threw his clothes over his shoulder before looking at Mitch. “Be down in a few. Kind of have to change.” He said, and he heading up the stairs and into the bathroom, his ears slightly adjusting to hear Kat and Lia. It was quite endearing really. He had noticed more and more lately how motherly Lia had been acting and how Kat didn’t seem to mind it.

He stood in the bathroom, taking a towel and drying his hair a bit before he stripped out of his wet clothes. He looked at the sink before rinsing his face off and dressing in his black button down and dark jeans. He brought himself downstairs, feeling the stubble on his chin but not caring. Not like his facial hair grew really fast anyway. Still, when he got back down stairs he pulled a tie from his bag and tried to remember how to tie it.

“Fuck me man.” He muttered, holding his tie in either hand and staring at it. It took him a moment but once he got it started, he managed to tie his baby blue tie. It wasn’t his favorite thing, but it made him look a bit more formal than he previous did.

He looked over to Mitch, “So, what’s the whole deal with the ball anyway? I never really cared too much to ask and I just don’t get it.” He asked.

[Love Dove]

Mtchell smiled a little looking at Atticus. "Oh I figure she will, you saw her face at the news. But Lia seems to hate making her worry or sad. It can get kind of annoying really." He said with a sigh, before looking over to Atty when he responded to the news about the ball, hearing the anger in his voice when he brought up the South Coven. "It was the cost of us staying with the girls this week." He answered, not really sure if Atticus even heard him, or if he had zoned out again. The true was this would be a nice change from what they normally did. Atty pretending he belived that Mitchell really would want to stay later then usual to study. Mitch pretending he didn't heard Atty moving around on the roof.

The walk was quiet for a few moments as Atticus was in his own little world, and Mitchell was enjoying the sound of the wind and rain. Despite the fact that the rain was starting to turn a little cold as it got later, it was still rather nice. It felt almost like home with the rain storms as it always seemed to rain in the east. Until it started getting cold and snowing at least. It never snowed in the east. The coven and where he had grown up was closer to the South borders.

He glanced back at Atticus giving him a look, Atty was almost as old as he was, surely he had been to one or two balls. At least one to attempt to woe other witches to find himself a wife. Sometimes Mitchell forgot that Atticus didn't remember most of his life, and when he said it was foreign to him, it clicked that if her did know it might have been forgotten. "Well seeing that dancing is one of the two important things about balls. The girls will likely want to dance. And of course we will likely have to be at least a little social. But the quickest way to get away from that is dancing." He answered as they got to the porch.

He stayed behind as Atty went ahead inside, sitting the bags on one of the dry chairs on the porch, and folding the umbrella up before going inside. At least that way he didn't have to worry about getting the floor wet inside, before heading in himself. He put the umbrella in its stand, and took his shoes off sliding them over facing the wall and straight to avoid Kat's complaints. Looking toward the dining and living room through the archway he saw Kat frowning a little bit her eyes looking the kitche towards, fully able to hear Atty and Lia talking."Hey." Mitch said making Kat look at him taking a few steps and leaning against the arch, and he looked towards the kitchen before back at her. "The ball will be fun, don't let the fact Atty is worried it get you down." He said quietly making Kat smile a little.

"So are you okay? You seemed really upset." Kat asked softly still really confused by his harshness before and Mitchell frowned a little nodding.

"Yeah, I'm okay now Kat. I would rather not talk about it." He answered before Atticus went past him nto the room. He gave a still tense smile to Lia as she made her way towards him. "Lia." He started fully planning on apologizing for loosing his temper earlier and just leaving, but instead she took the bags replacing them with a cup of tea. Though he really wasn't a tea drinker, he saw the soft look when she spoke to him this time and took the cup, hearing what she whispered as well.

"Thanks Lia." He said moving over to the couch with his cup of tea and sitting down. His clothes weren't nearly as wet as Atty's were, if anything they were just damp, and he fully planned on taking the couch and giving Atty the mattress. Mitch took a few sips of the hot tea as Lia sat down in the chair, he just needed to get the fact Isaack was even here at the castle. He looked down at the tea cup gripping it a little tightly as they talked about going to dinner with Checkov, Isaack, and the Elders. He wasn't happy about it, but he really was trying hard to not show it, still he couldn't help the snort of disapproval at Kat's answer, muttering softly under his breath, calling Isaack a worthless sadistic asshole as he continued to look down at his cup before he could help himself.

He only looked up his eyes a darker brown when Lia asked him to lay something down for dinner, and he nodded his head. Watching Atty dig around his duffle for clothes quietly, Atty was old enough to do whatever he wanted, still he was worried about him being even near Isaack. Not to mention Kat, despite the fact he wasn't always fond of her. Mitch grab a quick nod, getting up and heading into the kitchen when Atty started up the stairs.

Mitchell took a deep breath as he sat the still half full cup of tea on the counter by the sink, his eyes closing as he hung his head a little. His ribs and side hurt as if it was getting kicked in, but he knew in his mind that it was just a ghost pain. Turning the cold water on he splashed his face with it, but it didn't help, instead it make him fall like his head was shoved under water again, but he fought the flashback. He felt as if he was about to have a panic attack like he used to when he first found safety with Checkov, his hand shook a little as he reached up grabbing a glass and quickly downing both the rest of the tea and three glasses of water, moving away from the sink after filling it a fourth time.

He needed to his mind off of his time in the east, and he opened the freezer to put something down for dinner. A smile, although still uneasy crossing his lips. He checked to make sure the girls still had cheese, tomatoes, and mushrooms before pulling some chicken breasts out, sitting them in the sink. The tomatoes and mushrooms on the counter, hoping maybe since it was just them, he could get her to make the first dinner she ever made him again. It was one of his favorite things she made but Kat was fond of it, so he barely ever got it.

It had been almost a week since they had gotten Lia moved into the cottag. Not after the guards had attacked her as soon as he turned his back. Mitch had been stupid and went ahead of her like she had asked, not thinking he had to worry about the guards of all people. He swore to himself to not let that happen ever again, he refused to leave her side even during the day time he kept on high alert. Every morning he would stop by the kitchen and the cooks would make him something to take with him to the cottage for dinner before he left the castle.

However, he had stayed a little longer to watch the cottage the night before a few hours even after he was off duty because he had seen some of guards watching him as he had left the cottage. Because of this he had slept a little bit later, and didn't have time to get a dinner to bring with him. Mitchell sat at the kitchen table half watching Lia cook herself some dinner and half fighting the urge to fall asleep, he let his eyes close for a moment before a plate of food was placed in front of him as well.

Mitch blinked a few times, sitting up straight, and looking up at Lia. Still trying to kind of wake up. "I'm fine, Lia. I'll get something to eat later, you don't have to make me food." He said softly not wanting to ruin one of her rare nice gestures he was only starting to see lately. When she insisted, he looked down at the plate for a moment. He had never eaten her cooking before, and he wasn't even sure what it was in the first place before he hadn't been paying attention.

He looked at Lia before slowly taking a small bite, before his eyes widened a little and he took a few more bites. "This is really good Lia, better then any of the cooks from the castle." He said giving her a quick smile before eating a bit more.

He grabbed his water and walked back into the living room when he heard Atty muttering something, and leaned against the wall. "I think this is the first time I've ever seen you look even close to formal man. Its fucking weird." Mitch laughed lightly trying to hide the slight shaking he was doing still. "I honestly didn't know much about it, I've only been to one, but from what I guess its for the members of all the coven to get to know one another, and I know Checkov is wanting to show the girls off as his witches to Isaack and the South Leader." He answered with a shrug.

Mitch heard the door of Kat's room open and he looked above him before looking at Atty. "Atticus, do me a favor at this dinner okay. Be careful, don't give Isaack a reason to think you could be useful to him, and need a extremely close eye on Kat." He whispered softly before looking up the staires to see Kat and Lia coming down. "You look very nice Kat." He said giving a very uneasy smile before turning and going back into the kitchen and going out the backdoor to sit on the porch.

--

Kat closed her eyes giving a soft smile as her vision returned from the memory and she felt Lia is her on the forehead. She was actually extremely relived to hear Lia say she wasn't angry with her. She gave a nod still smiling softly before following behind Lia and walking downstairs with her. Though at the mention of the ball she gave Lia a shocked look. The ball? As in the huge party, filled with vampires not only from their coven but the ones from the other covens too? The one Checkov had been trying really hard to talk Lia into going to at least the last four years she had been in the coven.

Kat stared at Lia for a few moments, before answering. "Alright that sounds like fun." She said slowly still watching her, Lia was acting strange even for her, first getting the guys to stay with them for a week and now they were going to the ball. Both without even giving Kat any say in the matter or warning. Something was wrong, she wasn't stupid, she just didn't know what.

She shook she head a little before smiling slightly looking down at the blankets. "It depends on you sleeps on the mattress, if it is Atty give him the pink blanket. It really is a great color for him." She answered with a light laugh, before hearing the creak of the porch. Atty wasn't being very quiet about his worries, she could hear them taking and Atty had that tone he had when Lia was annoying him. But then Mitch stated talking to her, and she couldn't help but smile at what he said. Even though they didn't always get along, the times that Atty was being over protective enough for his words to worry or upset her. Mitchell was there to try to make things slightly better.

When she saw Atty come in past Mitch, she gave a smile though it was a little forced. Once they were all in the living room and Mitch went and claimed the couch, Lia stood from where she was sitting on the floor.Putting the pink blanket on the air mattress, before looking at Atty. "You get the pink blanket Atty." She said almost cheerfully, before Lia asked if they were going to diner.

Kat nodded her head to Atty's answer she wanted to go and she was still in a rather happy mood. "I want to go, I told you I really want to get over my fear of the castle without you two by my side. This seems like a good chance." She said before looking over at Atty when he said he was going for sure. "Plus, I kind of want to know who this Isaack guy is." She added softly before hearing Mitchell snort at her, she looked over to him before Lia took her hand and lead her up the stairs.

As she got to her room and closed the door behind her, Kat looked at Lia frowning a little. "Is...is Mitch going to be really mad at me if I go?" She asked frowning a little, and when Lia answered she nodded a little before going to her closet to looking through her clothes barely hearing the bathroom door close. She gave a soft sigh looking back at Lia over her shoulder. "I really don't think I have anything overly formal, I might just have to find something close enough." Kat said.

She started pulling dresses out of her clothes to see what Lia thought of them, and if they could past as even slightly formal. Though soon she sighed looking at the pile of dresses. "Well, that is all of my dresses expect from this one. But I've never wore it cause I don't usually wear pain white." She said before pulling out a really pretty white dress that reached down to her shoes, and when Lia picked it, Kat looked down at it doubtfully. "Okay well...close your eyes for a moment so I can change." She laughed lightly before changing into it. Kat found a black necklace in her jewelry box and had Lia help her get the clasp, she chose to keep her hair down. Mostly in hopes that keeping her neck hidden would keep Atty from worrying a little bit.

Kat gave a smile down at Mitch when he said she looked nice. "Thanks Mitch." She did happily before he left, and she gave Lia a look. "You know I'll be fine, if want to check on him." She whispered before going down the stairs and looking at Atty.

"What do you think Attycakes? Pretty enough to have dinner with?" She asked twirling around a little bit before smiling at him, white heels still in her hand, she was trying so hard to keep her good mood. She sat on the bottom step to put her heels on, before holding her hand out for Atty to help her back up. She looked over herself and smirking. "I feel a little weird wearing so much of one color." She said before heading to the closest, pulling out a long black overcoat, and made sure that she told Lia they were leaving as she grabbed the umbrella.

Once they got outside Kat was happy to see that the rain had eased up slightly compared to when the boys were gone. Looking at Atticus she handed him the umbrella while they were still on the porch. "Can't you hold it Atty you're taller." She said waiting for him before stepping off the porch into the rain. As they got closer to the castle she looked up at him. "I'm glad you agreed to come with me instead of getting mad at me. You look really good too, I didn't know you cleaned up so nice."

[SirensCall]

It didn't take long for Lia and Kat to get into Kat's primarily green bedroom to start getting her ready for her dinner with the elders and Issack later on that evening. It took even less time for the question to come out, and Lia allowed a frown to show over her features before she answered Kat. "Mitch isn't mad at you, Kat. Something just struck a nerve is all, I'm sure you understand that. Don't take it to heart." she told her, looking through Kat's clothes for something suitable to wear in front of the elders. Despite this seeming a bit informal, the elders did have a certain unspoken dress code that needed to be followed in their presence and it was never a fun thing to get gussied up, even for something as simple as a dinner. For a moment, Lia thought they may have to look through her things to find something for Kat, as she had been there much longer and had more things along the line of formal.

Her attention was drawn away, however, when Kat found something and told Lia to close her eyes. She obliged, sitting on the large bed and closing her eyes. Once she was allowed to open them, she gave a smile after taking in Kat's appearance. She was a vision in white, despite her wearing it very seldom, and she said, "You look beautiful." She stood and helped her get the clasp of her necklace on before taking in the full view of her. She was reminded so much of the past, but she didn't allow the memory to form before offering Kat her hand. "Come on, let's go show you off."

She walked with Kat to the stairs, and she looked down after hearing Mitchell's reaction, but watching him walk off had her a bit worried. He was very unlike himself at the moment, and though she was far from the person to say anything about it, it deeply bothered her. However, at Kat's statement, she nodded. "Thank you. Just be careful tonight, and don't take anything Issack says with a grain of salt. And if Elder Dana has more than one glass of wine, you will be laughing before you leave." she said, heading down into the kitchen first to fix herself another cup of tea before she saw what Mitch had laid out. A smile tugged at her face. It shouldn't have amazed her as much as it did, all the things he remembered, but often times it did, and she headed out to where he was.

She didn't say anything at first, a small shiver running over her as she sat in the seat beside him. Normally, the cool wind wouldn't have bothered her, but she knew with the lack of sleep and the fact she was using her magic a lot to try and help Kat with her lessons wasn't helping her case. Still, she looked over to him about to speak before she heard Kat. "Alright! Bring an umbrella!" She called out to them before she looked at Mitchell again, giving him her full attention.

"I would ask if you are okay, but we both know the answer to that." she said, reaching out and giving his hand a gentle squeeze. "And I may be the last person you'd ever think to hear this from, but if you need to talk, I'm all ears." she said, releasing his hand, and she looked inside before she stood. "I'll be up in my room getting things together for the anti-magic field, so you know where to find me when you're ready to come in."

She headed inside, another shiver running down her as she began gathering the things up that they would need for the anti-magic field. She began placing them in a crate and gave a sigh as she placed the last bit in it before lifting it up and heading to the stairs. She closed her eyes, briefly, and the orange glow returned long enough for her to shoot her eyes right back open before heading up the stairs and into her bedroom. She turned on the music again, humming to it softly as she began sorting things out by where they would need to be placed before she sat on her bed and held her head in hands. She didn't like that here dreams affected her the way they did, but it was something she couldn't control. She never had been able to.

"Run!" She shouted as she shot up from her small cot in the abandoned hunting cabin. She and the hazel eyed man that was looking over at her had been there for three days now, and she brought her knees to her chest as the sand blond came over and sat on the bed with her.

"You alright there, Lia?" he asked her, his voice quiet, and she gave a nod.

"Just a bad dream is all, Roland, don't worry about it." she said, and when she looked around her, she saw the charring on the wall and the bedspread.

"Don't worry about it? If you wouldn't have jolted out of that we'd be toast right now." he said, offhanded, watching as she got out of bed and began getting dressed.

"Like you should be surprised. I'm known as the Death Witch for a reason, but isn't that why you decided to travel with me? Because you knew that I could not only hold my own, but save your ass if necessary." she spat, and he chuckled.

"That's what I like about you, Lia. You're never afraid to say what's on your mind." he said, standing and placing a hand on either shoulder. "So, where to now?"

"We keep heading North, how many times do I have to tell you that South is out of the question?" she said, pulling on her jacket and giving him a bit of a look before he held his hands up.

"We could head west a bit more. Into the mountains where the old coven grounds are." he suggested, but Lia shook her head.

"I'd rather not. We need a quick getaway if the hunters find us again." she said, picking up her bags and he shook his head.

"Why can't we go South anyway? You've been saying that for the last five years, and I could tell that prior to that you had avoided it." he asked as they left the cabin and headed out into the forest again.

"When I burned Sanctuary to the ground 20 years ago, another witch escaped with me. She headed South, and since I have the hunters on me, I won't risk her safety. Besides, she needs to live a full life and find peace." she muttered. "But we're burning daylight with this chitchat, so shut up and let's move out."

Lia shook her head, glad that it wasn't a different memory that came to her, and she stood back up and began placing things around the room in their proper places so the field would work correctly. After this, she would cook dinner for the two of them and hopefully by then the field would have been up long enough to give it a test run.

--

Atticus gave a sigh, almost frustrated at the tie he was wearing before he loosened it a bit and he gave a sarcastic laugh to Mitch. "Ha ha. It feels weird, and I don't like it. I feel like this tie is choking me." he admitted. He noted a small shake in Mitch, but he didn't call him on it as he heard the movement from the stairs. He heard Mitchell's compliment to Kat, and when he looked up and saw her, he gave a smile. She looked amazing, and when she came down the stairs and Lia left them, he spoke. "You look great, Kat. Definitely pretty enough to have dinner with." he offered his hand out to her to help her up, and he noticed that even with her heels she was still slightly shorter than he was. At least that was a plus.

Once they began heading outside he gave a chuckle, though keeping Mitchell's words in mind. He took the umbrella from Kat and he smiled as they walked. He was sure to keep a slightly slower pace than normal, knowing that she was in heels and the ground may not be as forgiving as normal, especially being as wet as it was. He gave her a smile. "Well thank you. And why would I get mad at you? It gives us a chance to get away from Lia and Mitch, and plus when was the last time we were in front of the elders? Might be nice."

What Mitch had said was still nagging at him though. How bad could Issack be? I mean he was just another vampire right? And he was a leader so wouldn't he at least be a little like Checkov? The questions that came over him halted as he opened the castle door for Kat, and once they were inside, Atticus led her towards the main hall. He couldn't remember the last time he had been in the main hall, except for when it was for meetings. The last one he had faced alone too.

"So, Atticus, we know it has been almost a month since the attack on Kathleen and after proper investigation, we noticed that you fed on the vampire who attacked her. Why is that?" Elder Dana asked, and Atticus sat there before them a bit nervously. He didn't like how they were going into a full inquiry about it, but he was answering honestly. It was something that he could see Checkov respected, but even he seemed annoyed with the meeting.

"Instinct I suppose. Before I got here, when things got rough that was how I disabled foes, and he wasn't backing down." he answered, and Elder Dana gave a nod.

"Perhaps you can enlighten us as to why Kathleen was alone for that moment." another elder spoke, and Checkov went to step in, but Atticus' eyes darkened.

"She needed a little bit of space and stepped out into the hall. She was still close enough for me to be there if she needed me if the need arose. And it did, unfortunately." he hissed. "If you want to openly question if I am good at this, then do it already. I don't like this beating around the bush bullshit."

The elders grew quiet, but Checkov spoke, "Atticus, I believe we are-"

"No, we still have questions." one of the elders said, and Atticus stood up.

"Then ask them! I'm done, really, truly I am. I can't stand this feeling like you are going to take me off this assignment over one incident! I know that Mitchell and Ophelia had to have had incidents as well, and I worked with the pair of them for 16 years before I became Kathleen's bodyguard. If you are going to take me from my post then fucking do it already. You've heard this story at least a thousand times!" he growled in an almost inhuaman fashion, and Checkov looked to the elders.

"We are not removing you from your post, there is standard operating procedure when things like this happen." Elder Dana said. "So calm down."

"You try sitting here then, being belittled. I'm not answering any more questions that you already know the answer to." Atticus said, and Checkov stepped up.

"You are dismissed Atticus, I believe we have heard enough." he said, and Atticus left in a bit of rage.

Often times Atticus forgot how dark his own nature was until he stepped into the main hall, and Checkov seemed a bit pleased to see them as well. "Kathleen! Atticus! So glad you could join us this evening." he said, and Atticus escorted Kathleen to the table, pulling out her seat for her before sitting in the one directly beside her. "I hope the walk over wasn't too horrible."

Atticus' eyes remained trained on the one person he didn't know in the room. He assumed that it was Issack, and he did not like how he held himself, much less how he felt very judged when he came in. He did answer Checkov though, "Not too bad, the rain let up a bit before we walked over." he answered, and Checkov nodded.

"Splendid." he said, taking his seat at the head of the table as the other Elders began drinking their wine-blood mix. Atticus could smell it, and it made his nose wrinkle a bit before he allowed himself to relax as wine was poured for he and Kathleen.

"Thank you." he said. Proper manners had been pounded into his brain for meetings like this with the elders, and he was glad for that much.

"Issack, I would like you to meet Kathleen Emerson and Atticus Slater. Kathleen is the younger of my two coven witches, but don't let her age fool you. She's quite a gem." Checkov introduced them, and Atticus could feel the same reaction he always had come over him when Checkov referred to the girls as his witches. He couldn't understand why he preferred that term, but he did know that it put almost everyone on edge. It was as if he owned them, the way he said it, and he had barely began to catch onto that, but he pulled himself from his own thoughts before nodding a bit to Issack.

"Nice to meet you, sir." he said, looking to Kathleen as Elder Dana spoke to her.

"So, Kathleen dear, how are your lessons with Ophelia coming? We have yet to have a negative progress report, but we also must hear how the student takes to the teacher." she smiled to her, almost warmly. That was odd, most of the elders were cold and very professional all of the time, especially Dana, but he supposed it was because this meeting was a bit more informal.

Hopefully this didn't end badly.

[Love Dove]

The air was much more chili outside then he truely care for, but other than that it was a nice change from how stuffy the air had seemed to become inside within the last twenty minutes. Not the mention the natural engery that filled the air, there was something about the engery from rain that always helped soothe his nerves and Mitchell hoped that it would work this time as it always did. It was funny maybe, but the rain was one of the reasons he had went back east, he sometimes wished he hadn't though. It was nothing like it was when he left it.

The sky was pouring day rain despite the fact the sun was shining brilight overhead, it was the middle of May and so the world was finally starting to really wake up and bloom. The flowers, herbs, and the many other things their settlement known as Hollyforst was in full bloom. Which meant that Mitchell was outside as much as he could, rain or shine, but especially in the rain. Something that annoyed his mother to no end, she was always so worried that he would get sick, and refused to admit her son was different.

"I never could understand your love for the rain Mitchell." A voice said as the rain was blocked from hitting him where he laid on his back facing the sky on a bench that set right off from the garden. "It must be a weird engery vampire thing."

Mitchell's eyes opened and looked up at his twin sister with a small grin. "Its not a weird vampire thing Malaika. Its refreshing and helps me not want to kill Isolde." He answered rolling his eyes at her before a smirk crossed his face. "You really should try it Mal, maybe it will keep you out of trouble for once." He added before sitting up.

His sister moved back a little from him frowning. "No, no. Don't even think about it Mitchell!" She said before he moved towards her quickly taking her umbrella from her so she would become wet as well. "Give me back my umbrella Mitch." She said moving towards him to taking it back, but he moved away quickly. "You have to listen to me I'm older then you! You're not being very gentlemanly."

Mitchell laughed. "Gentlemanly? You sound like mother." He said before scooping up a handful of mud and throwing it at his twin, the mud splattering her dress and she gasped. "And you're only two seconds older than me, that doesn't count." He added before using her umbrella to block the mud being thrown at him twice, before grabbing another handful of mud.

He heard his mother open the door only once the mud had left his hand, and she yelled his and his sisters names angrily. "What do you think you doing? Your father is going to be home from his trip any minute and you two look like mudd rats." His mother scolded her voice holding the thick southern draw despite how long she had been in the east. "Come clean yourselves up and get ready for dinner. I want to see my two bright shiny nine year olds and that table." She said crossing her arms and shaking her head as they passed her mattering "yes mother."

Once Mitchell was all cleaned up he made his way to the large dinning room table and sat on the other side of the table than his older sister Isolde, getting a look. Which he just ignored as he had since they had figured out he wasn't a warlock but something. Malaika joining beside him, the same look being given to her as well before their mother came in holding a large pot.

The littlest of the Anderson family at the time, Fionna. Following behind smiling ear to ear carrying the spoons and bowls, to the table and sat them on the table before she came to Mitchell and put her arms in the air. He stood putting her in her highchair, as his mother started scooping out the soup, before the sound of footsteps come on the porch, the door opening and his father coming in. Fionna starting to scream loudly to get their fathers attenion, his hand playing with Fionna's hair as he pasted to give his wife a kiss. Hand rubbing along her stomach.

She crossed her arms as she pulled away from him and gave a forced frown. "You were gone far to long this Sebastian. I was worried the hunters found you." She scolded and he simply laughed a bit, trying to brush off his wives worry.

"I was careful as always Arlessa, I was selling far from home, I had to make sure I wasn't followed." He answered before looking towards his children smiling. "But we can talk more about this later, I coming baring gifts."

"Dinner first, Sebastian. Fi and I made your favorite." Arlessa said placing a bowl in front of Mitchell.

When he saw someone sit in the chair next to him out the corner of his eye, it pulled his attention back to what was going on around him. He looked beside him at Lia, only stiffening slightly when she yelled back at Kat, before looking back out off the porch into the rain that had died down. Mitch looked down at his hand as Lia squeezed it, letting out a quiet sigh before squeezing her hand back as she said she was all ears.

It was a nice gesture and oddly just knowing she cared helped him a little. Still it wasn't something he could bring himself to talk to Lia about, he had put a lot work into changing from who he was when he was in the east. He didn't want Lia or the others to know him as a traitor. Not just that though, he didn't want to look weak to the person he was guarding, the person he really cared for even more than he knew he should. Mitch cleared his throat before nodding. "Alright I'll be up here in just a moment to help." He answered and as she started to walk away he spoke again softly. "And thank you Lia."

Once she went back inside Mitch sighed, his hand coming up and rubbing over his face. He knew he needed to get over this feeling and just suck it up, because if Lia felt the need to check on him. It had to be clear something was wrong dispite his trying to hide it. He let his eyes close taking a few moments, before shaking his head and going back inside to help Lia. He stopped and got a glass of water before heading up to the room, he was able to hear the music from the bottom of the stairs and it made him smile a bit as he headed up and knocked before coming in.

It wasn't a surprise really that she had already started sitting things up without him, he looked though the crate she had brought up without saying anything and took a few of the items and began placing them for the field. "So I have a request, on the off chance that the field doesn't work.Could you leave your door unlocked until the dreams pass? It will make things both easier and safer if I don't have to break in your door again." He said as he started placing things. It had been something he had been meaning to bring up, plus it kept the subject off him. "Not to mention that it will keep the elders from holding a meeting, just to bitch about me breaking a door." He added with a bit of a laugh trying to force himself from being quiet.

Once the field was up and Lia said something about making diner, he smiled a little bit. "Need help? I can cut things up for you, its been awhile since I helped you cook and I kind of want to keep my mind busy." He offered before following her down to the kitchen and started to cut up the mushrooms. After a few moments he sighed and looked at Lia.

"Ophelia, tell me. If someone pushed you to beyond the breaking point and you snapped. Tried to kill them. Do you think that makes you a traitor?" He asked her quietly, and waited for her response before turning away and grabbing the cutting board and putting the mushrooms in her skillet. "I tried to kill Isaack while I was in the East." He said pausing a bit to think of how explain. "I was angrily. He had pushed me to the limit with how he treated his daughter while she was under my watch, how he treated everyone. I got to involved. In his business, in his daughter, and in the clan I didn't plan on staying in. But I still tried to stay, for her. Then when I got word I needed to return West, he wouldn't let me leave." He said closing his eyes and shaking his head.

--

Kat gave a smile when Atty said she was definitely pretty enough to have diner with. Even though she didn't doubt that she was, still always made her so happy when he said she was pretty. It meant more to her for some reason than when Mitch or even Lia said so. She was happy also that the short heels that she picked made her still shorter than him. Once they had made it the castle she looked up at him when he asked why he would be mad. "I don't know...nevermind." She said looking away from him, but she had heard him talking and he seemed to have been kind of upset about the ball. Now they were having dinner with a bunch of the same vampires that would be there. "Everyone is just on edge today, other than me, its kind of weird. I'm usually the edgey one of the four of us." She said half laughing. "But this will be nice, you're right."

Kat honestly hadn't been in the main hall very much, other than the few meetings that she had actually attended. Even the short time she stayed in the castle, unless it was to go to the library or the kitchen she stayed by herself in her room and refused any offers for dinners. She felt her nerves shoot up a bit and slipped her hand into Atty's as he seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. The fact that they were having dinner with someone she had never met before, as well as the elders that had her nervous. But the knowing what everyone but Atticus and herself was. Having Atticus with her eased her nerves more than she would care to admit though and they headed closer to the main hall, she took her hand back.

Issack's eyes looked towards the door as Checkov started addressing the least two to join for dinner. The little blonde must be the other witch that Checkov continued to go on about every time he had the chance. From what he could see however, it didn't look near as special as he said she was. He was also quite uncomfortable about how it seemed to almost pull him in the longer he looked at it. It's bodyguard hold himself in a similar fashion has Anderson, making it clear quite quickly that he most have been trained by him. The thought itself almost made Issack dislike the bodyguard instantly.

Kat smiled softly to Checkov as he greeted them, though she felt judged and almost ridiculed as soon she came in by this new person. "Of course, thank you for the invite." She said politely as she took her sit. Her manners coming both from the time she sent in her clan and as well as watching Lia in the few meetings with Checkov that she had been forced to go to. It wasn't until Atticus sat that she noticed that he had given her a seat closer to the elders and away from Checkov and this Isaack guy.

Atticus answered about the rain and walk over before Kathleen had a chance to answer, and she looked to Atticus for a moment. Before a glass of wine was poured in front of her and she gave the person pouring a smile and thanked them before they moved away. She hesitated for a moment before taking a sip of her wine as it tended to make her bit more open. She looked to Checkov as he introduced them, it was still was strange to her even still. How Checkov would sometimes talk about while she was in the room as if she wasn't, not too mention the fact he referred to her as his. As if she was a trophy or object. She was after all the one that came to him.

Isaack's eyes looked over the thing in front of him as Checkov went on about the girl being a gem. As well as making it clear the witches were his. Still Isaack could tell other than show the girl off, he was trying to humanize her. When she and Atticus said it was nice to meet him, he nodded towards Kathleen but otherwards completely ignored the witch, or well, more like acted as if he hadn't even heard her and answered Atticus's greeting.. "A pleasure." He spoke finitely his voice smooth despite the thick eastern accent.

Kathleen frowned a little at the fact her greeting was ignored other than a simple nod of acknowledgemen. She wasn't quite if Issack just a prick that had a issue that she was a woman with power, as there had been a few like in her coven. Or if it was the fact that she was a witch. However, she had the feeling it was one of the two, and she forced herself to bite her tongue, so to speak. Lia had warned her to take this guy with a gain of salt, but so far Kathleen disliked him.

She was almost glad when Elder Dana pulled her attention away from Issack, and she gave a soft smile looking at the Elder. Honestly Kat kind of liked Dana, though she had really talked to her one on one before, she had been one of the ones that came with Checkov to check on her. "The lessons are going very well actually. I rather like Ophelia's teaching style better than the others I've had before. She is very helpful, despite how difficult I find some of the old magics to learn." Kathleen said her tone warm and rather friendly before taking another sip of her wine. This would work, she would just talk to the Elders.

Issack wasn't bother in the least bit that the witch bit, in fact he preferred it. It wasn't really that he had am issue with the witch, but he was still rather bitter. His eyes lingered on the door for a moment more before he looked to Checkov. "I must admit that had I known...so few of your guests would be coming. I would have allowed Isabella to attend dinner as well." He said calmly, though what he meant was that if he had Mitchell wasn't going to attend he would have given in to the excite she had shown at being invited earlier along with her father.

After Checkov answered him, Issack seemed to actually relax ever so slightly and looked to Atticus. "So Slater, how long have you been with Checkov. I have heard, more then enough about the witches, and yet this is the first I have even heard your name." He spoke, for the most part he was trying to be polite. Though he was sure there was more than one reason why this engery vampire had yet to be brought up in their talks.

[SirensCall]

Ophelia couldn’t shake the feeling that had come over her suddenly, looking around a bit as she had set up the field, only really noticing Mitch was in there with her when she had turned and saw him working on a different side of the field. She closed her eyes a bit and nodded to his request, “Alright. It shouldn’t be too much for me to do considering all you have to do.” She said, and she placed the last bit of the field up. “I really hope it isn’t defective.” She mumbled before crossing to the door and opening it.

“I’m going down to start on dinner.” She said. When Mitch offered to help she nodded, “It’s always nice to have an extra set of hands in the kitchen.” When they got down into the kitchen she started seasoning the chicken and she placed it in the skillet she had began cooking with on low heat. Her attention was captured when he said her full name, and she turned her head visibly to look at him. A confused look crossed her face briefly before she gave a second of thought and shook her head. “In my personal opinion, no. No that wouldn’t be grounds to be called a traitor. Everyone has a breaking point, Mitch… rash actions are to be expected.”

She listened to his explanation, her hand tightening on the spatula in her hand and around the handle of the skillet. If she didn’t already have a reason to hate Issack, that would have made her. She let out a deep breath and loosened her grip as she looked at the cooking food. “It doesn’t surprise me that he’d do shit like that.” She muttered.

Her mind was heavy as it was, but the fact Mitch had been so off bothered her more than her own issues. She turned down the heat a little more on the skillet before she turned to Mitch and looked at him. She set down her spatula and walked over to him and held out her hand to him. “Mitch. As much as words might seem comforting, I would rather show you this. You’ll have to forgive me, I’m no good with this magic…” she apologized before taking his other hand in hers, looking up at him.

“I don’t like seeing you so troubled, so maybe seeing this will help a little.” She closed her eyes and took a breath. “You’ll feel a small pull and then a push. We’ll be exchanging energy for the duration of the spell, okay?”

She took another deep breath after he acknowledged her explanation and she drew some energy for a moment before pushing her energy towards him as the memory came in. It was fuzzy at first, the clarity coming in more as the pulse between them became constant and more consistent. It wasn’t the memory she had intended on sharing, but it was what came through.

The 17 year old Ophelia smiled from the dead oak tree she was sitting under a tree looking up from her father’s spell book as she watched a 12 year old Bianca and their two younger brothers, at the time 9 and 10, as they ran around playing tag in the garden. Their parents had been in a meeting with the council of witches about certain issues that had arose over the last few months.

“Ophelia! Ophelia!” Bianca smiled brightly as she flopped down in front of her sister, laughing. “Romeo and Brutus are excluding me again, so can I have another lesson? Mother doesn’t know if I will ever get full understanding of old magic… she and I together can’t get this tree to come back. Mother said it’s been dead since before even you were born.”

She smiled a bit. “Mother doesn’t want me teaching you anymore. I have a high aptitude for dark magic too, Bianca. Plus, I don’t want mother mad at me for teaching you old magic the way I taught it to myself.”

Bianca sighed. “Well, maybe then you could try to bring this tree back? Never hurt to try.”

Ophelia sighed and got up, seeing her sister’s face light up as she placed her hands on the tree. There was still some life in it, she could feel the weak pulse, and she began drawing energy from the air around them as well as a few strong gusts of wind only to hear more than one gasp of shock. She hadn’t realized her eyes had been closed until they opened and she saw the vibrancy in which the tree had been brought back and when she looked back to the house she saw her mother, father, and the witch council staring at her.

“Sarah, watch the children.” Her father said as he approached Ophelia and offered his hand out to her and she hesitated before he spoke again. “Come Ophelia, the council and I have much to discuss with you.”

Ophelia took his hand and they went inside, her father pulling out a seat and she sat down, looking at the cloaked figures around her. “Terrance, why is it, in our talks for her betrothal, did you never bring up the fact she is a necromancer?” the eldest asked and her father spoke.

“Because until today I didn’t know she was. Until just now. Sarah had a feeling it would take necrotic magic to bring that tree back, but I never expected it to come from my balanced soul daughter.” He said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

“I fear that the vision will come true…” the eldest said again. “Ophelia may never marry, just knowing you are possibly the Death Witch that our only clairvoyant has seen coming, no warlock will want you.”

Her father’s grip tightened on her shoulder as the house shook. “Leave my house!” his voice was dark and the council looked at him. “We no longer work for you. My daughter is perfectly capable of marriage, and she is twice the witch any of you will be. The Lockhart clan will no longer be aiding your council, Sybil.”

The cloaked figures headed out, the eldest speaking, “You will regret this, Terrance.” After that they were gone, and Ophelia looked up to her father, whose eyes were dark.

“Father, what did I do wrong?” she asked, and he watched as she stood, and he shook his head, wrapping his arms around her.

“You did nothing wrong, sweetheart. Don’t worry about the council, but you have to promise me one thing.” He said, looking at her. “So long as I’m alive to help you, you won’t use your necromancy in excess. It could easily corrupt you, and I don’t want that for you. Your soul is eerily well balanced, and I don’t want to see you lose that.”

She nodded. “Of course not, father. I promise. Just so long as you promise me to never stop fighting your affliction. You’ve finally come out of it.”

He smiled and kissed her forehead. “It’s a deal.” He moved towards the stove and looked back. “Help an old man with dinner?”

Ophelia smiled and nodded helping her father cook.

The vision faded out slowly, and reality set back in and Ophelia slowly pulled her hands away from Mitch’s and she didn’t allow her own confusion to show. The memory she meant to show him was the one she’d been having nightmares about… not when her father turned his back on the witch council because they had deeply offended him as she later found out. She went back to cooking in almost complete silence at first, but for once it bothered her and she started humming again. She hadn’t intended to show him her before everything started happening. She never intended to show that part of her to anyone because she knew she’d never be that way again.

She went to speak after a moment, but her words fell short. That memory hadn’t been one she would have likely shared with anyone because it was the first time the term Death Witch had been used in reference to her, and unfortunately the clairvoyant had been correct. When she spiraled out of control, that was what she had become. Finally words came, “Dinner is almost ready, mind getting out a couple of plates?”

--

Checkov’s eyes narrowed unnoticeably at the lack of respect that Issack was showing towards Kathleen, and he became extremely glad that Dana had taken the reigns and had began talking to the young witch and having a relatively normal conversation. He saw the smile that Dana gave too. “Excellent. I’m glad that you are enjoying your lessons. What are you two currently working on? We haven’t had her turning in an itinerary for the last few months so we don’t even know what she’s teaching you anymore.”

Atticus was mostly listening to the elders as they spoke to Kat. Issack definitely set him on edge, and his total lack of acknowledgement towards Kat bothered him more than it probably should have. If given proper time and the right circumstances he knew that any witch could probably rip him apart. However, his attention was drawn back when Issack addressed him. He shrugged briefly. “I honestly don’t know why my name has never been brought up, but I have been here about 25 years.” He answered, politely.

Checkov spoke next, “He hails from the West originally isn’t that right, Atticus?”

Atticus gave a nod. “Yes, I do. At least from what I can remember.” He said. He knew that Mitch said to not give Issack any reason to think he was worth something to him. Maybe having spellbound amnesia was a good way to ward him off. “I start remembering things from about 20 years before the fall of the coven, but it wasn’t all too bad there. Just don’t necessarily care for the wolves.” He said.

“Darlin, wolves aren’t the biggest enemy either.” A thick, feminine southern drawl came from the entrance. Atticus watched as Checkov immediately stood and greeted the beautiful brunette woman. Her green eyes sparkled brightly, and she was dressed in a floor length, form-fitting black dress. Her hair was done down in curls, and he watched as she kissed both of Checkov’s cheeks before she smiled to Atricus. “Hunters are far worse this far north.”

“Cassandra! What a pleasant surprise, we were just about to sit down for dinner. Would you care to join us?” Checkov asked, and she smiled.

“Why! Of course! I see I have taught you some southern hospitality.” Atticus stood and pulled out the empty seat to his left and the woman smiled. “My, my such a gentleman. Thanks, sugar.”

Once Cassandra was seated, both Atticus and Checkov sat down again too and Cassandra looked around the table before a frown over took. “We seem to be missing a few.” She stated, but she smiles to Atticus and Kathleen. “Oh! You must forgive my terrible manners! I’m Cassandra, I’m the leader of the South vampire coven. So lovely to see new faces.”

Checkov interjected before Atticus or Kathleen could introduce themselves. “Cassandra, this is Kathleen Emerson and Atticus Slater. Kathleen is my newest coven witch and Atticus is derived bodyguard.”

Cassandra gave Checkov a look. “Hush now, let them speak for themselves, Checky.” She smiled to the waiter who gave her a glass of blood – wine and then turned her attention back to Kathleen and Atticus. “Since you’ve both been so graciously introduce to me by Checkov, is it safe to assume that y’all know Mitchell and Ophelia? Love those two to bits. If nothing else I know Atticus must at least know Mitchell, being a proper Southern gentleman and pulling out a seat for a lady.”

Atticus nodded a bit. “We do. They declined the dinner invitation though.”

Cassandra set a hard look to Issack, “I can’t imagine why. Where is your lovely daughter, Issack? Got her locked ‘way again?” she hissed, but Atticus interjected before things could get ugly.

“So, Cassandra? Kathleen has been taking lessons from Ophelia.” He said, moving back in his seat a bit when Cassandra looked across towards Kathleen, and he noticed Checkov mouth a thank you to him. He gave a curt nod before listening to Cassandra speak to Kathleen.

“Oh my word! You have a wonderful teacher, sugar. So , Kathleen, tell me about yourself? Checkov and I have been touch and go lately, and I have been dyin’ to meet you.” She smiled, brilliantly towards Kat.

Atticus watched as Cassandra moved her seat between himself and Kathleen and he smiled a bit at the interaction before Checkov addressed him. “Good one, Atticus.”

“Thanks sir.” He said, and Checkov looked to Issack.

“This one here has the gift of verse. Got a silver tongue on him.” He chuckled.

Atticus shook his head. “I wouldn’t say that sir. I do appreciate the compliment though.”

Checkov chuckled. “Now you’re just being modest. When we found you, you had managed to fool a hunter into thinking you were human just with your words. A good skill.”

Atticus just took up his wine and took a sip. “Well, we do what we must to survive, and to be honest, the hunter wasn’t all that bright.”

Checkov dropped the topic, and Atticus looked to Issack. “So, what’s it like in the East? I haven’t been far enough East to reach your territory I suppose.”

Just keep a good level of conversation going, Att, it will make it easier. He kept telling himself that, but he had to admit he was quite relaxed seeing a vampire doting on Kathleen quite a bit, and then he heard something that made him smile.

“Oh, sugar!” Cassandra smiled to Kathleen. “Do tell me more. You are quite intriguin.”

At least someone was trying to keep Kathleen in a good mood aside from himself.

[Love Dove]

Mitchell was happy to hear that Lia didn't see his actions in the east as something to make him a traitor, and he started to explain his actions to her. It was weird almost but, he felt the need to explain even if she wouldn't see him as one. Just telling her why he hated Isaack made him feel a little better. He opened his eyes to continue to tell her more but noticed the tight grip she had on her skillet and it stopped him. Mitch looked to Lia as she spoke again, and he nodded a little frowning. He was upsetting her and it made him choose to keep the rest to himself. "That is the reason Isaack and I dislike each other." He said before sighing and he went back to his cutting board, flipping it before starting to cut the tomatoes.

Though he stopped at looked at her as she stepped towards him holding her hand out to him, Mitch wiped the juices off of his hands before taking hers a confused look on his face. In truth Mitch wasn't sure want to expect from whatever spell Lia was talking about, though a lot of magic had been thrown at him over the year, none had made him see things. He still allowed Lia to take his other hand though her apologizing beforehand was slightly alarming.

Seeing Lia close her eyes he quickly closed his eyes tightly as well, nodding a bit before he answered. "Okay, I'm ready." He answered tensely. At first his vision was fuzzy to the point it was a little dizzying, but when it cleared and he saw the younger version of Lia a smile quickly spread on his face. Lia was so cute when she was younger, and he had heard Lia say the name Bianca a few times in her sleep but he never asked who she was. Mitchell was actually enjoying the version despite the confusion as to what they had been talking about.

At least until the witch council came into view. He had heard many horrible things about the council over the years, and soon the happy seeming memory turned into a sad one. Then it was over, his vision coming back to reality. Mitchell could feel the fact his eyes were darker and for a second he didn't open them. Though they opened as she started to pull her hands away, a look of confusion and a trace of sadness on his face as he looked at her. For a moment Mitch didn't move even as Lia started to go back to cooking, he felt a little light headed but other that he felt no after effects.

Mitchell went back to dicing the tomatoes in silence, lost in his own thoughts. Only to look over at Lia when she started humming softly. How? How could they think that no warlock would want Lia? She was smart, beautiful, and could be very funny. Someone would be crazy not to want her. Clearly, every warlock that lived around her were just that. Crazy. Maybe if someone would have been there for her, she would have never had to worry about becoming the Death Witch. Quietly Mitch added the tomatoes to the food her was cooking, though he didn't say anything to her, the longer she stayed quiet the more anxious Mitch could feel himself becoming. While he was waiting for her to speak again, he put some water on and was starting to make Lia some of her Chamomile tea when she asked for plates. Mitch couldn't help but let out relieved sigh as she spoke and he nodded a little before getting some plate down for them, sitting them beside the stove.

Over the last forty five years he had gotten a little used to how quiet Lia could be, but it was times like this. When it was caused by them fighting or something they said or did. It was unbearable almost, though he was one to give the silent treatment he wasn't one to take very well to getting it. Just over a year since Lia moved to the cottage, Lia and he where still having trouble with the guards. Not just with the dirty looks when he left the house, or the way they ran there mouths about her. Calling her "Checkov's little witch bitch." But to the point that Mitchell was starting to worry about Lia's safety over night. One night Lia had kept him up to help her study and look for the spell she needed at the castle library, as he was walking her back he just so happened to notice the fact that the two guards that watched the wall near the cottage nowhere to be seen.

They had left not only the cottage but Lia if she had been inside unprotected! It had pissed him off, it was their job, to protect her along with the castle when he wasn't there! It wasn't a hard job! There were enough of them, it had to be the easiest job! And still these idiots weren't able to handle it. Even though he and Lia didn't get along the best at the time he tried to make Lia go back and stay the bight in the castle, which ended up turning into a major fight and Mitch going behind her back and talking to Checkov. When Lia found out she gave Mitchell the silent treatment for a whole week.

Mitch took the plates from Lia as she made them sitting them on the table that he had set while she was finishing dinner. Even putting her cup of tea he had made her, sitting where she always sat for dinner. He took his sit quietly before looking at her. "You know Lia, I don't know if this helps, or even matters. But if you had been living near me, or I was younger. I would have taken you." He gave her a soft smile. "My mother would have loved you. She also said that if anyone would have her only son, she would have to be from the South. Because they at least knew how to set a man straight." He added with a small laugh before looking down at his plate and starting to eat.

It felt weird almost as he was speaking of his mother because he made it a point never to talk about his family. Even with all the things that Checkov knew about him, his family was not one of them. He wouldn't risk the safety of Mal if anything even happened to him, after everything she had already been through. Mitchell was quiet for a moment, he felt the unbearable need to break Lia's silence. "So other than the fact you're being forced to go. Are you at least excited to go to the dance? You get to dress up, and I'm a good dancer." He said trying this subject instead. "It will be nice to see Cassandra again. She makes me wish I ran South a little bit." He added with a smile. Cassandra had to be his favorite of all the leaders.

--

Kathleen's smile didn't waver as Elder Dana continued talking to her and asking about her lessons. She still wanted to try and keep her slight bragging about Lia's teaching as professional as possible though that was rather hard as professional was something she was not. "Well today we started working on transferring natural energy, so that I won't have to take it from someone else." She expanded with a smile. "It was kind of exciting, I was able to keep the circle up by myself for a little while even." She added her voice getting a little excited as she did, before she forced herself to calm down a little and took another sip of her wine.

Isaack wasn't even paying attention to the little witch and the Elders conversion at the other end of the table. His attention instead was on the man across from him, and he took a slip of his blood - wine as he watched Atticus shrug. Looking from Checkov back to Atticus when told he was from the West. "Oh that is very interesting." Isaack said as Atticus answered before a look of confusion crossed his face at the rest of the answer.

In fact he found the fact Atticus didn't remember past twenty years, Isaack found very interesting. Before he could say anything in response though Cassandra showed up. He rolled his eyes when no one was looking at him.

Kathleen stopped talking to Dana when she heard another voice and looked towards the door. Seeing the pretty green eyed brunette, her dress was so pretty too, she guessed that she was either maybe someone important or maybe married to someone that was. Kathleen also noticed that while Checkov stood and greeted the woman gaining a kiss on each cheek, Isaack made no movement to greet her whatsoever, in fact he instead looked down at his glass, taking a couple big drinks of his wine mixture. The waiter having to refill his glass.

Kathleen's attention was drawn back to the woman though as Atticus pulled a chair out for and she commented on the fact Mitchell and Ophelia wasn't here. For a slight moment she felt a pitch of jealously and the fact her voice sounded so pretty too with the southern draw it held, however she shook it off quickly and gave a polite smile. Of course her eyes went to Checkov with a small frown tugging at the corners of her mouth trying to fight the smile that she kept on her face, as he once again interjected as well as calling her his witch again.

Perhaps it was that she wasn't around him quite as much since she started actually caring? Or because this was the first time she had met anything other the elders through him? But she hadn't really noticed just how muvch he claimed her in his name until this dinner. The face on Kathleen's face widened ever so slightly though as she looked down at her wine when Cassandra said something to him about it. She quickly took a sip of her wine to hide it. Oh she kind of like this woman! Kathleen nodded quickly before looking at Atticus as he answered.

Isaack was doing his best to be polite despite how unclear it might have seemed be his clear attempt to avoid Cassandra. It seemed to always be one of two things they fought about when the two of them were together talking outside of meetings. Either it was about Mitchell and Ophelia or about Isabella. Still he wasn't going to rude enough to ignore the woman when hse spoke to him and he let out a sigh looking up at her. His expression was bored and almost annoyed that this was being brought up once again. "Hmm who knows Cassandra, perhaps he has yet to want his knife back from within my back." He said smoothly.

Before the mention of his daughter came up as well, and Isaack frowned as he returned the dirty look from her. "Really Cassandra? Are we going to do this already? Don't you have someone else to bother with your fake sugar coating?" He hissed back before Atticus cut in.

Perhaps it wasn't the best thing, but part of Kathleen found this whole thing interesting, as she looking back and forth between Cassandra and Isaack. Checkov always seemed so in control and she had yet to see him angry other than when she got attacked. It was interesting to see these two angry, even if there was danger there. She looked to Atticus when he said her name, and she looked towards Cassandra and nodded, before smiling brightly at her reaction. "Oh yes, she is one of the best teachers I've had." She answered.

Kathleen couldn't help but give Atticus a worried look when the woman sat between them, but Atticus smiling about it, calmed her down a little bit. "Well....I'm not really sure what Checkov has told you about me." Kathleen said her eyes looking towards Checkov for a moment before adding. "I wasn't even aware he was talking about me in the first place." Perhaps she should have figured he was telling others about about her as Lia always said he was telling the other leaders about her. Still much like him calling her his, it made her a little bit uncomfortable.

Kathleen nodded when she said he had only told her that she was taking lessons from Lia, she smiled a little thinking. "Well I've only been here for four years and Ophelia has been teaching me the old magics since I got here because I need to glance myself out. Which is actually going well. Before that I was in the clan farther north in StarForge. Honstly this is the first time in the last three years I've been in the castle." She said before taking a slip of her wine. She really was trying to keep her, her about herself short, but smiled a little as Cassandra asked for more about her.

She was intriguing? That she felt a little unsure about, Cassandra must have just and she thought for a moment before answering. "Well until before I went looking for Checkov, I didn't even know I was balanced, I spent pretty much my whole life thinking I was dark. So I'm not sure I'd call myself intriguing, just really off balance." She finished with a small shrug. "I'm sure that you're much more interesting, I've never even left this area."

--

Isaack wasn't paying any mind to the conversion going on across the table between the little witch and Cassandra. For that matter he couldn't care less. He didn't find the witch interesting in the least bit. However, the engery vampire across from him on the other hand he was starting to find amusing. As he listened to Atticus and Checkov talk, or rather as Checkov takes him up and Atticus wouldn't let it be done. Clearly he said gotten advice from Mitchell not to interest him. But, in fact it was quite interesting watching him lower his worth more as more as he went.

Isaac smiled a little bit and took another drink of his wine before Atticus asked about the East. "Well I find it rather nice. Not nearly as cold as here, there are many storms like the one you are having here now almost year round. We don't have problems with the wolves. As there are so many hunters the strays are wiped out quickly." He said smiling slightly and finding himself rather proud of where he lived. The changes would be slightly hard to get used too. The waiter made his way around the table finally serving dinner.

"However, my coven does not have any witches like Checkov and Cassandra. The hunters are already a big enough problems without having to worry about protecting little children with abilities I can not control." He added as he looked down at his food, not even noticing the fact that Kathleen looked at him because of his words. "Not to mention must of them are dark and unstable."

Kathleen frowned at the last of his words, as she stared at him. "You are aware that out all dark witches and warlocks are unstable. Many of them are able to control their magic enough to keep a level head." She said her voice still being rather calm despite the fact she found what he was saying annoying.

Isaack didn't even brother looking up from his food as he shook his head. "Yes, well, I mean no offense but you're rather young. I doubt you would know as much about the subject."

Kathleen's frown deepened and she was actually offended. "As I grow up around dark witches I would have to disagree. But clearly wisedom does not always come with age yes?" She mouthed back her tone becomingv a little darker and she frowned at Checkov hoping he would at least do something about the extremely rude comment that Isaack had just said to her.