WITCHES OF WOLF CREEK: TRUTH

2: Neeve

I don’t regret our chaotic foray into the world of wolves or what Elinor, Sixine and I did to get out of our troubles, but still, the adventure was trying. And the return to reality is even more so. The trial is approaching, Elinor has joined the Bretton pack permanently, Sixine is becoming more distant every day, and me… well.

I think back to Tyler, Emmitt, and all the times I had with those two boys. And their gut reaction when they found out I was a witch. This memory still enrages me. Yet they tried to get closer to me to make up for it and – do I have to admit it? – I confess that I would not spit on a hug from them. I miss them. I miss their laughter. Their attention too. Since our encounter with the vampires, I haven’t seen them. It must be said that I no longer go out much of the Foris house. The surrounding woods have always calmed me down and I prefer to leave the loft to Six and Jaxon since it seems obvious that these two still have a lot of things to settle. Since his banishment from the Bretton pack alpha’s brother has not been doing well. I’m afraid his condition will only heighten Six’s dark mood. My girlfriend’s been like this since Eli was marked. How the hell did we get here?!

I puff on my joint from the shelter of the patio porch. It’s raining, and the smell of the forest, of warm, wet earth, pleasantly fills my nostrils. I taste all these sensations in this solitude that I have liked to maintain since my return to real life. My parents are away attending the coven called by Luthor Mona, Elinor’s father. Rumour has it that she has become a wolf. Neither Sixine nor I have confirmed this information, but the uproar of this announcement causes repercussions in the shadow world and convinces me that I should stay away until it calms down. If it ever calms down...

"A little company?"

I look at my brother who has just joined me, and a wide smile spreads across my lips.

I answered with a wink.

Mark sits on the swing and takes my joint and draws on it. His copper hair falls to his shoulders in long, loose curls. His eyes sport the same hazel tone as mine. We both look alike, whether it’s physically or because of all the bullshit we can say or do.

"So Eli’s a wolf now?" he said in a nasal voice, exhaling the smoke.

"A wolf witch, yeah."

Admitting it to Mark is not the same. He’ll never say anything.

"Damn, I missed my chance."

I burst out laughing.

"You’ve been chasing him for years," I reminded him. "It was dead before it started, Mark."

"She takes me for her big brother."

"The worst excuse for a womanizer!"

He laughs in turn. Then the silence stretches between us. The sounds of animals echo through the woods. Some raise their voices, and their cries rise above the songs that relentlessly hammer the foliage.

"How are you?" he asks, suddenly more serious.

I know he’s worried. Even if I do my best to suggest that I came out of this story unscathed, Mark is not fooled. He knows me. There’s the trial and, above all, there’s always this threat hanging over the girls and me. Levenach’s words burned into my mind. His strange attitude and his concern came back to me without my being able to prevent it.

Since his disturbing warning, no one has seen the Amnistral again. It worries me. Because even if my relationship with him is complicated, I cannot deny that his fate is close to my heart. You can’t get rid of a relationship that has lasted for years so easily. However, I would have liked that to be the case.

"I’m fine," I said limply, taking the joint back.

"You don’t seem to be well though."

"OK, I miss the girls. Since Eli left, it’s not been the same."

"There’s Sixine."

He doesn’t know about Jaxon… And I can’t tell him everything…

"Six is… busy with the trial."

"Just the trial?"

Mark’s question concerns me. He knows I can’t hide anything from him.

"Neve…"

"Mark…"

"What did you do with the wolves?"

I pursued my lips. My brother smiles at me.

"You know I’m not going to judge you, huh?"

"Of course, you will."

"I envy you, to tell you the truth."

"Pardon?"

He laughs and resumes.

"You had a fantastic adventure while I was at the garage fixing cars."

"At least you have a job! And believe me, the adventure was far from fantastic. I remind you that I almost died several times."

"Yeah, but I don’t know... It gets the heart beating a little, you see."

"Ah, that, yes, my pulse raced!"

"Tell!"

I giggle. My brother’s presence makes me feel good. We have always been close. We always told each other everything. He’s the only person in this world who knows what happened between Levenach and me, years ago. Even Eli and Six don’t know. I didn’t want them judging Levenach or judging me. Deep down I know they wouldn’t have, but I preferred to forget. And I could have done it if Levenach’s gaze hadn’t reminded me of that cursed attack every day. He and I stayed at my older brother’s while our wounds healed. No one but him ever knew anything.

"I slept with two wolves."

I say it like this. It has always been my way of protecting myself. s*x and casualness are my essentials to hide my cracks. My brother widens his eyes and lets out a nervous laugh.

"Holy s**t! I was sure of it! Damn, two wolves, Neeve! You’re crazy."

"Well, if you saw the two wolves in question, you would understand me."

"I would like to."

"What would you like? Make out with two wolves?" I said, startled.

"To see the wolves," my brother replied laconically. "I never back down from a new experience. Neither do you. Could we go pay them a little visit?"

"Mark… Eli, Six and I are in serious trouble because of the wolves and our decisions… And you, you want to throw yourself in the mouth of the…"

"Wolf?"

"Storm."

"Oh, come on, Neeve. It’s exciting!"

"That’s what scares me, Mark. You get excited way too quickly, and I’m not sure we’ll be welcomed into the Bretton lair."

"Hmm…"

And we stayed there. At least, until we smoke our third blunt and Mark says.

"Let’s go?"

I’m so stoned that I don’t even know what he’s talking about anymore.

"Where?"

"Among the wolves."

"But you suck, Mark!"

Then, determined – or stoned – I get up. I swayed a bit before nodding to Mark.

"You know what, bro? We are Foris!"

"Well, yes?"

"The Foris’ go where they want."

Mark sits up suddenly.

"Damn right!"

"And I’m going to introduce you to the two super-hung guys I’ve slept with."

"I didn’t need to know that, Neeve."

I squint, nod and grab my cell phone.

"What are you doing?" he asks.

"I’m texting Six. She hasn’t seen Elinor since…"

The immediate response I receive stops me in my tracks:

"Not even in a dream, damn it!"

"Well, Six isn’t coming with us to the wolves."

It takes us an hour to cross the forest to the lair and during the whole trip.

Once we arrive in front of the lair, I don’t remember why we’re there. I suddenly think it’s a bad idea, especially since none of the wolves in the pack know Mark. I grabbed my brother’s hand.

"We need to contact Eli. Otherwise, we’ll be locked up in a dungeon with silver bars."

"Great!"

"You’re stupid, Mark."

"At your service," he said, taking out his cell phone.

"There’s no signal in the den."

"Oh."

He puts his phone away and finally understands that we are going to have to use magic. So we close our eyes and concentrate on Elinor.

"Answer and come, Elinor,

Answer and do not ignore."

"It was a beautiful incantation," Mark says, lifting his eyelids.

"I agree."

"It also rhymes."

"We are too good!"

We start in a new burst of laughter when my best friend passes the entrance to the den, a huge smile playing on her lips. I threw myself into her arms.

I missed her so much!