Under the Blood Moon

Witchy Stuff

Anne

I let go of the hug that had soothed my anger and took my daughter's hand, nodding at Cathy’s face in the window to show that we are OK. “Come on, let’s talk” I say before taking her hand and walking out towards the woods that my temper so recently lashed.

“I need to introduce you to the coven shortly, they’ll know that we are here, and we will get a summons if I don’t go first. You can’t ignore a summons once it’s made.” She looks at me with confusion, “they bind a summoning spell that brings you to the meeting place to the invite.”

“Sneaky” she laughs.

“So, how about I tell you a little about what to expect when we get there.” I ask. Waiting for her acceptance, I take in a few breaths to further centre myself. “The coven here isn’t particularly large, they tend to stick to the rule of 13, only expanding in the few months between a new initiate starting and an older witch retiring.”

“An initiate is a witch who has reached the date her powers start to blossom, generally between 18 and 21, her grandmother will retire when she enters the coven fully.” I check that Scarlet is following along. “You are of age now so they will want to test you to see if you are blossoming yet.”

“What are the tests?” Scarlet asks.

“They will connect with you in a circle and see what your energy is. Nothing too stressful or to be worried about.”

“Will my wolf cause any problems?” She looks concerned.

I chuckle softly, “Despite George’s parents' beliefs honey, you aren’t a one off, there are plenty of hybrids in the greater world. The wolf will assist your blossoming, she will flavour your magic and work with you to control it.” The anger starts to swell a little at the thought that these years of isolation could have so simply been avoided. Had George said a single word about his parent’s prejudice and concern, I could have introduced him to the other hybrids that live amongst us. Hell, there were even a couple living here at the time!

Growing calmer again, I continue “If you are blossoming then you will be assigned a tutor, it would usually be me, but I left the coven, and my place will have been taken.” Hmm, I wonder will they want me back? Do I want to go back? My coven never mistreated me or my family, but their rules aren’t part of my life anymore. Do I really want to accept them again? “They will take you through the changes that will happen as your magic wakes and makes its form known. They will also be the guide you need to go through the initiate tests, should you choose to become a part of the 13.”

“Do I have to?” my daughter asks her voice quivering slightly. “I mean this is a lot. I thought I was a normal 18 year old last week, so…”

I want to scoop her up in my arms and cradle her until the little frown lines slip from her face the way I had when she was my tiny baby girl. “No, no you don’t but you do need help to control what will come.” I smile softly at her. “You saw what happens when a witch loses control just now, and I’m a fully trained and controlled witch.” A little pride washes through me as I say those words, remembering just how much I had loved my training and practice all those years ago.

“Mum, I’m really tired, do you mind if I just don’t right now.” I look at her sad, confused eyes and realise that my girl is so incredibly strong, she has taken all of this in without a wobble. “Of course baby girl, go rest. Try to actually rest though, I know the mate bond is strong, but you have all the time in the world to enjoy it.” Her face blushes bright crimson as she nods.

I watch as my girl turns and heads back to the house, catching the sight of Stefan stalking the porch waiting for her return. My shoulders shake with internal laughter as I remember those early days with George, he would get a literal tick if I was gone for too long. Turning back to the woods, I sigh deeply.

“Come on out, Jocelyn, I know you’re there.”

“Anne” the small brunette woman nods as she steps out of the shadows. “Are you back for good?”

I sigh again, this is becoming my default breathing pattern right now. “Not sure just yet, but it’s looking likely.” I peak over my shoulder again, seeing the young couple reunite on the porch. “Her mate is here, and I don’t think it’s right to leave her without the guidance she’s going to need.”

“mm” Jocelyn nods “she crackles doesn’t she.” Referring to Scarlet's deep crimson aura.

“She doesn’t feel it yet, but yes, she’s going to be powerful when she blossoms.” I reply stiffly.

“She isn’t blossoming yet?” Jocelyn asks, her eyes wide.

“Not yet, but soon.” I reach out to the tiny witch, catching her hand in mine, enjoying the immediate flow of energy that pulses between us. “Come on tell me what’s been going on while I’ve been gone.”

We pass an hour or two chatting as we stroll through the woods. I’m happy to discover that my grandmother still sits on the 13. We had sent letters throughout the years, but she had not shared any information about the coven in writing. My parents had died when I was young, so the older woman was my only real family connection in the wider group. My space hadn’t been filled, which confused me. Not having that 13th member would have seriously weakened the group in that time.

“Your Grandma refused,” Jocelyn had explained, “She always insisted that you were coming back and that your energy was sufficient to maintain the 13 in your absence.” She had gone on to comment that grandma would be happy that her retirement was approaching now that Scarlet was coming of age.

When we said goodbye, it was under the promise that I would visit the 13 the following day with Scarlet. I walked slowly back to the house, wondering how to explain that we would be gone a whole day to Stefan, and how I was going to keep them apart for that long.

Jocelyn flew out of the woods at that moment, “Anne, I forgot to give you this.” She slips a small box into my hands. “It’ll help the two of them be apart tomorrow.” I laugh, “you read my mind Joss.” She grins widely before running back through the woods.

Opening the little box, I lift the two small orbs, tiny glass beads attached to long silver chains. I chuckle at the simplicity of the solution; I really have been gone for too long.

Scarlet

Life seems to be getting more complicated as this week goes on. First the wolf bomb, now the witch stuff. What’s next?

Finding out that Stefan and I connected 15 years ago, and to the extent that only my stuffed wolf could calm him for the months following, made my heart swell with joy. We were truly meant to be even when we were 3 and 6 years old!

What do I do with the knowledge that my mum can not only summon a thunderstorm with her temper, but she can withstand a full-on lightning strike though? As to that the fact that sometime soon I am going to come into power like that, I just don’t know what I’m supposed to think.

When I reached the porch, Stefan had been waiting for me, scooping me up into a bone-crushing hug as my first foot hit the bottom step. His presence was instantly soothing and the pacing itch in the back of my mind stopped the moment his skin touched mine. I guess it’s to do with the wolf bond thing. I really need to find out more about this side of my life at some point. Maybe Cathy would be a good person to talk to about this.

I need to talk to Stefan too. I’m assuming he can’t come with me to the 13, but this itch to be with him all the time is going to cause some serious issues, and not just on that one visit. I mean, do I not get to have a life apart from him?

I look up into the eyes, the beautiful eyes, of the man who has so quickly become my world. “I’m so tired Stefan, I think I need a nap.” He wriggles his eyebrows at me “No, a proper nap Stefan.” I say sternly.

“Not a problem Red,” he laughs, “I’ve only just found you; we have all the time in the world.” He takes my hand and leads me to bed, curling in behind me he strokes my hair as I fall asleep surrounded by his heat.

We wake together as the sun starts to dip in the sky. He brushes his lips over my forehead, “Feeling better gorgeous?” he whispers. I nod and dip my lips to his languishing in the slow sleepy kiss. Then my stomach growled, long and low and loud. “Hungry?” he laughed. “Hungry” I agreed blushing a furious red.

“Come on then, let’s eat.” He jumps up, pulling me with him.

We reach the kitchen after quickly freshening up to find mum and Carmine working together to make an Italian feast, pizza, pasta, fresh breads and olives, tiny bowls of olive oil and balsamic vinegar dotting the large dining table, the pair are stood over the stove tasting a sauce and chattering loudly as though they were in the midst of a busy service.

I reach across the table to grab a slice of what looks like mum’s amazing focaccia before announcing our presence. The two chefs turn to greet us with huge smiles, “Bambino” Carmen cries before moving across the room and scooping me into his arms “you are home again” I can only shrug and hug the large man back. “Come, sit food is ready.” He states, setting me back on my feet before calling Cathy and the kids in.

The meal is loud and cheerful, with lots of chatter and joking between the siblings, Andy I am happy to say has slipped right into this large family and is giving as many jibes as he gets from the brothers. As we settle later for coffee mum presents Stefan and I with glass pendants. “For you.” She smiles as she hands them over.

Confused I raise my eyebrow to ask the question. “You both wear them all the time, and then when you need to be apart, swap them over.” I raise my other eyebrow to ask why again. “They absorb a little of your energy throughout the day, nothing that you would miss, but it means that when you need to be apart you won’t feel the separation quite as much as you are always with the other in essence.”