The Gentle Witch And Her Fierce Alpha

Close Call

Serena raced downstairs holding the dress and boots to Xantha's obvious surprise. She snatched the dress from Serena's hands and looking it over with critical eyes as she searched for flaws or stains. Serena waited anxiously, placing the boots on the floor and wringing her hands. 

"It will do" Xantha snapped with a huff as Serena let out a shaky exhale, unaware she had been holding her breath. 

"Wait" Xantha said suddenly, her eyebrows raised in suspicion "how did you get it dry so quickly and get all the creases out?"

"Oh" Serena stammered nervously "I hung the dress up directly in the sun outside and the creases pretty much came out when I hand washed it" she lied, fingers crossed as her sister stared at her for the longest time. 

Please, please,please believe it she begged in her mind, struggling to maintain a carefree expression on her face. Xantha lingered but must have believed her "well at least you got it done on time I guess. I'm going to get changed and then go." 

Serena smiled and nodded. She wasn't surprised when her sister began to pull her clothes off in front of her instead of changing in her room..Dark witches were never ashamed of their bodies and often went completely sky clad for rituals. To them it wasn't a big deal and Serena just went back into the kitchen and left her sister alone. "Serena" Xantha called out "I need help with the laces on the back."

Serena sighed and came back looking at her sister for a moment. She was so beautiful with long straight ebony hair and the darkest brown eyes. Her skin lightly tanned and flawless, long legs and a small waist. The purple dress she wore was strapless with corset style laces on the back to pull it tight against her bosom, the hem ending just above her knees. It suited her sisters colouring well and her knee high boots combined just added to her witchy look.

"Turn around" Serena murmured and with expert hands began to pull the laces somewhat tight. 

"Tighter" her sister said and Serena did as asked, wincing at how tight it went.

"Will this do?" Serena asked wincing as Xantha looked over her shoulder at her.

"Tighter"

Serena grunted and pulled as tight as she could, the dress so tight she feared it might rip. Xantha murmured her approval as Serena tide the laces in a loose bow, making it easy to untie later. 

"Will you even be able to get out of that later for the ritual?" Serena was concerned but Xantha chuckled.

"Stella and mum will help" she said "plus I'm not getting undressed this time. I'm not even taking part."

Serena was confused "you always take part how come you aren't today?"

Xantha avoided her gaze "I'm not feeling well and using my magic will just make me sicker."

"Oh" Serena said "do you want me to make you some herbal tea or get you something to snack on?"

"No thankyou Serena" Xantha said quietly as Serena's jaw almost dropped in astonishment. Her sister never said thankyou so she must be feeling really ill.

"I gotta go" Xantha blurted, rushing out the door with another word. 

Serena watched her go, wishing that she had a relationship with her sisters and mother, but she was never going to turn out like them and they would never change or see her point of view. 

With a heavy heart she trudges into the kitchen, tying up her long blonde wavy hair into a ponytail. Soon she was cutting up chunks of vegetables and herbs to make a stew, letting it simmer nicely on the stovetop. Next was the bread, a quick and easy process that she was used to doing. It was placed in the oven to slowly rise as she checked and stirred the stew. With infinite care she ladled some into a bowl for herself before throwing chunks of meat into the pot. Serena loved animals to much to eat them to her family's disgust, and had gotten creative with making sure her meals stayed meat free. The bread smelled delicious, wafting through the cottage, it's skin nice and golden as she pulled it out in satisfaction. 

Cutting off the end piece she smeared butter onto it, the butter melting on the warm bread as she dipped it into her stew and began to eat. She moaned as the bust of flavour hit her mouth, gobbling every morsel as she checked on the stew in between. The blueberry pie was simple and Serena knew the recipe by heart, she had made it so many times. Expertly she turned the stovetop off as she placed her beautiful pie in the oven. The bread was sliced into thick pieces and covered, the lid left on the stew so that it just needed to be reheated. 

She kept a close eye on the pie as she washed the dishes and swept the kitchen floor, mopped and cleaned the countertops. It took awhile for the pie to cook, the blueberries needing to melt and the pastry needing to be a perfect golden brown without burning. Serena took the time to rush up and tidy her mother and Stella's rooms, hopefully making her day easier tomorrow. 

Finally the pie was done and she pulled it out, inhaling it's sweet aroma as she placed it on her wooden cutting board. She pulled down the sugar cannister and waited as the pie cooled, before slowly sprinkling the sugar over the pastry and watching it glisten in the dimming light. Serena fervently hoped that Xanthia would really appreciate it, even as she knew her sister would never actually acknowledge it. 

With a tired smile she made sure everything was covered and left a note on the bench explaining what was for dinner and dessert. Heading upstairs she took advantage of being alone, taking a long hot shower and washing her hair to get rid of the flour that had somehow gotten in it. It was with reluctance that she stepped out and dressed in her filmy nightgown and headed into the small room under the stairs where her mattress lay. Shivering she lay down on the thin pillow and pulled the threadbare blanket over herself, shutting the door and hoping to keep some of the cold out. She was so exhausted that it took minutes before she fell asleep, dreaming of a future her with a family of her own.