Nearly Witches

Chapter Fifteen

The white stone was smooth under her hand. Classical statues of the twelve Olympus Gods stood in the garden. The council stood in a semi-circle, which meant she couldn’t see Hestia, Hades or Persephone. Walking around the garden, she spotted puppies play fighting and cats sleeping in the sun.

“Hello Alysanne,” Mnemosyne said as she walked around Artemis’ status.

“Mors always calls me Artemis,” Alysanne remarked. “Mnemosyne.”

“You are Artemis reborn.”

“You gave me back her memories.”

“Your memories.”

“She is me and I am her, but at the same time. We’re not the same.”

“Good girl.” Mnemosyne smiled at her, before her smile faded as she looked at Artemis’ statue before looking at her with a grim expression. “The memories have been too much for your body, you’re the first one I’ve done this for. The Titans Army is starting to move, along with others.”  

“The cold,” Alysanne stated.

“We rarely get sick, but with your abilities, it should be impossible for you to get sick.”

Alysanne just looked at her, Mnemosyne blinked and soon the garden was overgrown, and the animals were gone. The building behind her had fallen to pieces, pieces of stone rested next to her leg and it looked like it hadn’t been maintained for thousands of years.

Like the old temples from the ancient world that were now merely tourists’ spots, to peek into a world long past. To traditions that were now seen as barbaric and unhuman, it wasn’t a pressing problem.

“We could only maintain the living spaces,” Mnemosyne told her pointing at another building to the side. “It was the building that required the less work.”

The buildings weren’t the pressing problem and it wasn’t the part she was interested in. Buildings could be replaced; they could be fixed, and an illness caused by memories was the more important part.

“Never heard of memories causing people to be sick,” Alysanne told her. “Unless there’s a mental health reason behind it.”

“It’s the strain they’re putting on your mind and body,” Mnemosyne told her. “The stress has been putting your immune system has been allowing bugs to slip past.”

“That’s why I’ve been getting sick, even if that hasn’t been the case until I ran into your lot.”

“He would have killed you, then we’d have to look for you again.”

“The raise of Christianity was when we faded.”

“When the Holy Roman Empire rose.”  

“That’s going to be the last memory?”

“Who knows, memories are like a river flow. I never know which one it going to show up.”

“Your going against your brother.”

“No matter who I fight against, I’ll be fighting my family,” Mnemosyne told her. “But I won’t stand with someone who’d eat his own children.”

Alysanne just blinked before taking her hand into her own.

“Your bodies at its breaking point and you need a break from them. There are thousands of years’ worth of memories left.”

“For how long?”

“Three months; we’ll keep them away from you. Psyche will talk to you about the memories you’ve already gotten,” Mnemosyne told her, putting her arm over her shoulders. “Along with what happened with Iapetus and his horrid actions.”

“She’s Eros’ wife?” Alysanne asked.

“The same one, she’ll understand and might be the only you can talk to.”

“I could, but I would look like a crazy person and would most likely be locked away,” she pointed out shaking her head. “Most people don’t believe in Greek Gods or any of the old Gods when you think about it.”

“It was the same when I was born.”

“Where?”

“Greece, with my five brothers and sisters.”

“All the first-generation Titans are back.”

“They are, people’s disbelieve works wonders for us,” Mnemosyne admitted. “And it’ll help once Kronos starts his little war with us. We can only hope that humanity doesn’t get dragged into it and that it doesn’t last long.”

“They most likely will, there aren’t allot of areas without some community on it or some kind building on it.”

“The less people die because of this. The better.”

“And more likely that Hades can help us with it.”

“Along with the other underworld gods. Set is also a threat and Loki is being Loki.”

“Loki’s being Loki?” Alysanne asked her.

“Pulling pranks here and there,” Mnemosyne told her.

“But he could be a threat?”

“Could be, but anyone could be a threat.”

Alysanne just looked at her, before letting her hand go and she walked around the pieces of marble and tracing her fingers on them. It was a shame that it was in pieces, but first they had to deal with the Titans and their war.

Atlas being one of them, she would guess.

“Anyone else?” Alysanne asked Mnemosyne, she needed to get as much information as she could before she joined the fight; even if in the end, wouldn’t have a choice. “Anything else we have to worry about.”

“We don’t know,” Mnemosyne told her. “We’ll keep an ear out, but that’s all we can do at the moment.”

“Thank you,” Alysanne told her.

--

“You must be touched starved,” Rosalie told her as she tapped Alysanne on the shoulder and grinned at her. “Sakura said you might be able to come to school tomorrow, as long as your temperature keeps going down.”

Alysanne just blinked at her.

“You were hugging me in your sleep,” Rosalie told her.

“I’m sorry,” Alysanne told her.

“It’s fine, we don’t control what we do in our sleep.”

“Anyway, that’s good news. Should be able to complete any remaining homework during lunch and after school.”

“You should try out for the cheer team,” Rosalie told her patting her shoulder, Alysanne raised an eyebrow at her. “I think you’ll be surprise yourself with how perfect you are for it and how well you’ll fit in.”

“I doubt it,” Alysanne told her.

“It does use more muscle than most would think. How about this, I’ll teach you on retune and if you can perfect it enough to impress Captain Smith.”

“Then I’ll think about joining.”

“I think Emma’s going to love you.”

“What about Susan and Lucy?”

“Their grades dropped below the standard.”

“Below standard?”

“Rosy,” Lily said as she poked her head into the room. “You’re going to be late if you don’t leave soon.”

“You’re a pain sis,” Rosalie told her. “I might have convinced her to join!”

“Not yet,” Alysanne told her.

“I live to serve baby sister,” Lily shoot back a growing smile on her face. “I’m the one whose free today, so I’ll be keeping an eye on your new girlfriend. I’d tell Emma Smith that your trying to recruit her.”

“You’re a b***h you know that.”

“This b***h is going to look after your girlfriend.”

“Sakura still sleeping?” Alysanne asked them.

“She was asleep,” Sakura told her as she put her hands against the door and glared at her sister’s, before rolling her eyes. “But I happened to be cursed, related to morning people of all things and loud morning people.”

“Sorry Sakura,” Rosalie told her.

“You were just as bad as the rest of us,” Lily informed her. “But then you wanted to be a doctor and your sleep schedule went out the door.”

“Good morning,” Alysanne said.

“Good morning Alysanne,” Sakura told her before walking over and putting the back of her hand on her forehead. “I’ll be taking your temperature, see if it’s gone down from last night when you fall asleep on us.”

“Sorry.”

“That’s fine.” Rosalie just coughed into her hand as Sakura placed the thermometer into her ear, Lily giggling into her hand. “Rosy, just because you don’t like your temperature being taken, doesn’t mean the rest of us are as weak stomached.”

“Am not,” Rosalie told her. “I just don’t like things going near my ears.”

“You should be able to go to school tomorrow, if nothing happens in the meantime,” Sakura told her looking at Lily, who in turn rolled her own eyes. “But I want you to take it easy for two weeks, which means no joining the cheer team until my say so.”

“Yes, Doctor White,” Alysanne and Rosalie told her.

“Rosy, school,” Violet told her as she walked past. “Alysanne will still be here when you return, it’s almost the weekend as well.”

“I’ll see you after school then,” Rosalie told Alysanne pulling her into a hug before grabbing her school and sports bag, bolting out of the door before Alysanne could anything to her.

“That girl,” Violet told her before moving on, Sakura and Lily rolling their eyes at their sister’s antics.

“Now, if you don’t mind me,” Sakura told her as she packed away her tools. “I’m going back to sleep because I have a shift in a few hours and don’t want to stab someone in the eye.”

“We should get breakfast before she comes back to scold us like naughty children,” Lily told her.

“I’m allowed to leave this bed, right?” Alysanne asked her, other than going to the toilet and bathing, she hadn’t left this bed. She hadn’t left Rosalie’s room in the last two days and was quite bored of it.

She was never good with boredom, not prolonged boredom anyway.

“If I were you, I would already be going bat crazy,” Lily informed her. “For breakfast yes, we can also watch a movie in the living room, any you want to watch?”

“Book thief?” Alysanne asked her.

“Book thief is it is.”

Alysanne grinned as she started to follow Lily down into the kitchen, pausing as she took in the marble benches. It seemed lighter than her own kitchen, the benches a soft peach colour and the walls weren’t that harsh hospital white.

Was it completely clean? Nope, but Alysanne wasn’t expecting it to be and she couldn’t judge them for it, since her own home wasn’t completely clean or looked like it belonged in a magazine instead of to a real family. Which it did look like, it looked like a family that had just had breakfast and there was a few dishes sitting in the dish washer.

“Sit at the breakfast bar,” Lily told her pointing at the chairs. “I’ll make French toast and not a word out of you about it being French or not being French.”

“May I have some water?” Alysanne asked her. “I should drink something so Doctor White doesn’t scold us.”

“Of course, glasses are over there.”

“Thank you.”

“Sakura’s good at that, of course, she also thinks none of drink enough water.”

“I think I’ll stuck to drinking when I’m thirsty, no point in drinking too much water.”

“Someone also gets it,” Lily told her messing up her hair as she walked past her. Before going back to her cooking, Alysanne watching since she really didn’t know how to make French toast and she figured it would be a good thing to know.

“Alysanne dear, it’s good to see you out of bed,” Violet told her as she walked into the kitchen, wearing a neat penicil skirt and blouse. Her hair was pulled into a bun and she was wearing a light coat of make-up. It looked like she was ready for a business meeting, along with the male that walked in behind her.

He was wearing a business suit, a well made one. One that her father would never be able to afford, and she wondered if they owned their business and that’s why they wanted to live in a smaller town, even if it was still close enough to a major city.

“You must be Alysanne,” he said to her as he looked up from the cue cards in his hands. “I would have introduced myself sooner, but works been keeping me on my toes.”

“I’m Alysanne Byrnes,” she told him holding out her hand for him to take, only to shrink away slightly as he squeezed her hand a bit tightly. “It’s nice to meet you sir.”

“Kellen; remember be nice,” Violet told him as she gently whacked his arm. “She’s been sick for the last days. This is the first time she’s been out of bed.”

“She’s my babies second fake partners,” Kellen told Violet, kissing her forehead before slightly narrowing his eyes at Alysanne. She just looked at him, she was used to getting glared at and he’s was weaker than the human traffickers had been.

“Fake,” Violet told him.

“Of course, I’m going to give her a shovel talk. Even Dominic’s mother warned Rosalie when she first met her.”

“Alysanne doesn’t have parents Papa,” Lily told him. “Her father’s MIA, most likely on the plane that went missing three days ago.”

“She also lost her pets a few days ago,” Violet added, Alysanne feeling tears go down her cheeks as she thought about Nymeria and Ghost’s deaths. “Some horrid person went into her backyard and killed them.”

“And now I feel like a massive d**k,” Kellen told them as Alysanne wiped away her tears, accepting the tissue that Lily passed to her. “Where’s Dominic, so I can give him another shovel talk about hurting a fair maiden?”

“You’ve given Dominic enough shovel talks for a lifetime dear.”

“He knows what’ll happen if he hurts Rosy, he might think he has a pass on Alysanne dear.”

“I’m sure he’s smart enough to know better.”

“Never underestimate a male’s cluelessness.”

“And I’m sure our daughters have already given him one, or three.”

“That’s my girls.”

“Prim and Sakura have already threatened his balls if he hurts her,” Lily chimed in, putting a plate in front of Alysanne with two pieces of French toast. “Next lot will be mine and the one after that will be yours.”

“I’m so proud,” Kellen told her.

“I told him that I’d break his neck and he already knows all your threats. We might have reminded him of a few.”

“Talking about work, we need to get going. Prim’s waiting for us,” Violet told Kellen as she handed him a briefcase, picking up her own laptop case. “We want to set a good example for the kids.”

“Mama I’m an adult,” Lily told her.

“You’ll always be my baby,” Violet told her kissing her on the check, before walking around the bench and kissing Alysanne on the forehead, leaving her blinking as she put her hand on the same spot.

“Mama does that, she can stop if you don’t like it,” Lily told her as she leaned against the table, Violet and Kellen leaving quickly. Both shouting goodbyes behind them as they closed the door with a small bang.

“It’s fine,” Alysanne told her.

“You know you can stay here as long as you’d like. Mama was upset and angry when Rosy told her you were looking after yourself.”

“Father was busy, he was good at his job.”

“Then he should have made sure you bad someone looking after you.”

Alysanne looked at her with wide eyes, knife and fork put down as she put her hand on her lap, looking at her breakfast as she sighed and slumped her shoulders.

“You’re still young, Alysanne,” Lily told her, putting her hand under her chin to lift her face up and gently smiled at her. “Prim still lives with us and she’s twenty-seven, but she does help buy food and the bills, like the rest of us with jobs.”

“He did he’s best,” Alysanne told her.

“I know he did,” she said as she took her hand away from her chin. “It just upsets Mama that you’ve been basically looking after yourself for years and that you had barely anyone to turn to in your time of grief.”

“Barely anyone knew, the school didn’t know.”

“Which would be the reason they never reported it.”

“We’re still watching movies?”

“Course, I can even help you with homework between each one.”

“You sure?”

Lily smiled at her, before looking at her plate and then looking at her. Alysanne smiled before quickly digging into her breakfast, eating anything that Lily put in front of her and this was the White family were the second group of people to make her breakfast in the last year.

From now on in her sleep, she would talk with Psyche and figure out ways she could maintain her grief without hurting herself or giving up the rest of her mortal life trying to achieve revenge against the Titans. Along with accepting something she had thought impossible, she still didn’t know if it was real, but it was the only thing that made sense and fitted in with the things she was notching in her dreams.  

“I should get my homework from Rosy’s room,” Alysanne told Lily.

“I’ll set up the movies, along with show you an email that Mrs Black sent me last night,” Lily told her with a grin. “I had to tell you that I’d be dropping you off, along with Sakura’s comments about you taking two weeks off.”

“I haven’t taken a break in years.”

“That explains why she was fine with.”

“What else did she say?”

“She went a timetable for the us, we’ll be going to her classes three times a week. She wants you to start ballet and tap,” Lily told her grinning as she took her phone out. “She also wants me to start Irish and teach you basics of modern dances at home.”

“Would cheerleading be any good?” Alysanne asked her.

“I enjoyed it; helped me get into University. I’m lucky, Mama and Papa wanted me to study something I loved doing.”

“I’ll take Rosalie with her agreement.”

“In two weeks.”

“In two weeks, it should be fun.”

“If you’re lucky enough to do something you enjoy, then take it with two hands and never let it go.”

“I’ll remember that,” Alysanne told her.

Lily grinned as Alysanne quickly made her way back to Rosalie’s room, grabbing her homework before slowly making her way back to the kitchen. While, she should have asked where the living room was, she knew that Lily would have to get something from the kitchen.

Movie nights weren’t the same without popcorn.

All Alysanne could worry about now, were the things she could control. She couldn’t control a war that might happen in ten or ten thousand years, she would have to trust that Hades and Persephone knew what they were doing.

She would worry about it, when she could do something about it.