His Second Chance Mate

Chapter Two

Stepping through the threshold, my senses become alive for the first time in my adulthood. The fragrance of roses hum through the air as the sun spills out through the large open bay windows of what used to be my room, and for a split second, a smile almost form.

I set my luggage to the side as the seal closes between my home and this one, and I walk into the sun’s beams feeling the warmth. It never gets old- the magic- of walking from a polluted city into the Enchanted realm. Especially when it was 3am just a few seconds ago.

I take in another deep inhale- the sweet smell causing small vibrations warm my body. I turn around and really gaze into my room; only a few things have changed- a bigger bed, newer rug placed on top of the freshly polished hard wood flooring. But the same intricate wood carvings along the main wall are just as I remembered them.

I trail my fingers across the faces of animals and flowers, remembering back when I was 8, I begged my mom for walls that reminded me of the fairytales from the human realm. Even though I only stayed here a few weeks out of the year, she obliged. I still remember seeing the wood elf she hired, chipping away and making the art come to life as I danced around happily.

Things were sure less complicated back then.

The wardrobe looks bigger, so I walk over and open it, flinching at what’s inside. I forgot that this realm was still stuck somewhere between the medieval times and the 1800’s, especially when it comes to fashion. Nothing but long dainty dress of silks and satin. Thank god I brought some jeans and shorts. This was definitely not going to work out.

Then, another thought strikes through me- no outlets! My eyes enlarge as I quickly scan the room.

How did I forget that electricity doesn’t work here like it does in the human realm?! How was I going play my games or read the rest of my trashy romance book on my k****e!? It might be fine for this realm not to live without technology, but I’ve been raised in it!

“I’m completely screwed,” I grumble out. Or completely spoiled, my inner me says… “Well, if I grew up here I wouldn’t have that problem, now would I?”

Trying not to pout too much, or get angry at circumstances I had no control over, I start to unload all of my belongings. After I finished putting my toiletries in the bathroom, I wonder why no one hasn’t come to check up on me. I haven’t exactly been quiet. Isn’t there anyone in this corridor? Not even Tink? I know it’s been a few hours, but damn, I told her I was coming.

I take an exhausted breath and open up my bedroom door, and met with nothing but silence.

I creep out and take slow tentative steps, trying to remember which way is what. It’s been over ten years since I’ve been back, so who knows what could have changed?

The Carroway mansion has been in our family for generations. It may only be two floors, but the length and passageways are in abundance. I used to love playing hide and seek with the staff and Tink. There were endless possibilities of hiding places. The hall I was on is for family only. As far as I can recall, my sister moved out a long time ago, leaving just my mom. But whenever our cousins, aunts, and uncles come to visit, we all share this wing.

I walk through the winding halls, staring at the portraits of past Carroways. Everyone looks distinguished and ethereal, and I find myself wondering if I’ll ever have the honor to join them. But that’s a funny joke, seeing how I’m ‘human’… it will never happen. I pause at the most current one, of my mother and sister. I’ve never seen it before, so it must newer. I stare at the familiar faces, the piercing blue eyes and their sincere smiles, and a pang of hurt goes through my body. I should have been part of the painting…

But, instead, I’m just a bystander.

I don’t want to bask in feelings this whole trip, especially this early on, so I shake it off and continue down the hall. I reach the stairs and, still, everything is too quiet. My footsteps echo off the walls as I descend the grand staircase. No staff rushing about, no distant sounds- if it were the middle of the night, it would be down right creepy. However, each step I take brings back a memory, happy memories, and I find the peace to my liking.

Once I reach the bottom, I see all the décor of the open foyer is still the same- timeless and clean. Light pours from the back windows and doors, and I lure myself over. As soon as I’m able to focus my vision from the brightness, my breath gets caught at the sight of the gardens. Last time I was home, the backyard, if you can even call it that, was acres and acres of green fields that I used to run around with were pups, Tink, and other Enchanted creatures. The stunning view of a vibrant blue pond takes up the center, with plenty of land around, and the combination of trees and flowers are strategically placed all around to make it even more enchanting. You can tell they’ve already started prepping a stage for the festivities that will sit in the center of the water, but nothing could deter from beauty of the land.

I sigh and realize that I’m smiling again. I guess I missed this world more than I thought.

“Can I help you Mis-- Lincoln?! Is that really you?” I turn around stunned and see Ms. Gunther right before me, embracing me in a hug. “Oh, my child! It’s been so long!” She lets go while tears glisten in her eyes and I smile at her fondly, pulling her in for another hug.

“I’ve missed you too, Ms. Gunther,” I say softly. Emotions start budding up, having the woman who raised me, embrace me in a motherly hug that I haven’t felt in so many years.

“Call me Isla, dear one. You’re an adult now. Let me look at you.” She smiles with enthusiasm and pulls me at arms length, scanning my body which pulls a laugh out of me. She used to do this all the time when prepping me before coming back to this realm. “Such a beauty. A little on the thin side, but we can fix this.” I laugh again as she links her arm through mine to escort me through the house. “Tink said that you would come back, I wasn’t expecting it so soon!” She beams with joy, and I don’t want to burst her bubble in saying I definitely didn’t want to come back.

“Is anyone home? It’s awfully quiet.”

“Your mother is out running an errand with the temporary chefs, and the rest of the staff have today off. It’s going to be an extremely busy next few days to get the house ready, so they need to rest up while they can.” We turn down the left hall, and I smile bigger as she steers us towards the kitchen. “How are you dear.. really?”

My smile goes tight with her question. She knows it was hard for me to connect with people, but I don’t want to bum her out. “It’s going good. I have a great job and work with nice people. I love my apartment, and it gets cleaned at least every other week, due to Tink’s improv visits,” I laugh.

She smiles warmly at me as she sets me down at the breakfast bar, going to fridge to possibly make me something to eat. The woman did love to feed me. “Tink always comes back in a happy mood after her visits.” She sets a bowl of fruit in front of me and I give her my thanks.

While she’s walking around, cutting up vegetables, cleaning, or washing dishes, we catch up in idle chat. It was nice to have someone interested in my life, no matter how mundane it actually was.

When I finished my fruit, I wash the bowl and put it back in its place. “You mind if I go exploring some more Ms. Gun- Isla?”

She scoffs at me. “Lady Lincoln, you know this is your house…” I scrunch up my nose at the title ‘Lady’. Definitely haven’t heard that since childhood. “Go dearie. I’ll find you when your mother arrives back.”

I give her a quick hug. “I’ll probably end up in the library, since there’s no TV… Thank you.” She shakes her head at me, but shoo's me out of the kitchen.

It doesn’t take long for my feet to remember the way to the library. Opening the doors, the smell of old books hits me, and I take it all in. Remember the scene from beauty and the beast when he gifts her a library? This room may not be as tall, but the grandeur of it is still the same. Every single wall is lined with books, filled with knowledge from each of the enchanted families over the centuries. I didn’t spend a lot of time here as a kid, but now, I think I could honestly live here and never get bored.

There are two giant tables on either end of the room, with adequate seating, as if it were a posh college library in a movie where people study here for hours. Two leather couches face each other in the center of the room, with comfortable looking pillows on each end. There are no windows, for natural light could damage some of the texts in this room, but the soft glow of candles are all throughout, giving the room an elegant and romantic feel.

I quickly approach the bookcases with eagerness. It feels just like Christmas!

I’m sure there is a rhyme or reason to the order they are placed, but I’m dumbfounded on what it could be. If I pick up a book on herbs, right next to it is something about the stars and galaxies. So many topics ranging from the elements, to basic witchcraft… and even plumbing? I skim for at least twenty minutes, either finding stuff I’ve already read, or things that don’t tickle my fancy.

On the opposite side of the room, where the tallest shelves are, I draw the ladder over. Maybe the family books are up towards the top? I climb the steady ladder, and pray the wheels don’t give out. I’m at least sixteen feet up when I decide to stop and observe. I browse over the spines and trace my hand over them. Something tingles in my fingertips as I do so, and I smile to myself.

I pull on of the books and I can actually feel the magic it starts to give off. I open it up and see it’s an actual grimoire! Quickly flipping through it, it seems it was a male in our family from over 400 years ago. This seems like a great start! I hold on to that, and on my way down, grab a few more books that pull an interest for me.

I sit engrossed in the books for hours. There wasn’t anything fascinating in, what I now know as, my great great great uncle’s grimoire. I found one that belongs to a cousin that’s still alive, but so far, my search is mute. Nothing on delayed powers. I even read a couple of spell books- mainly on the earth element, seeing that it is what most of my families powers reside.

A loud knock sounds on the door and I quickly tuck a grimoire under the pillow I was laying on. Isla’s head pops through and gives a wide smile. “Your mother is home sweetie. And dinner’s ready.”

I swallow, feeling how dry my throat is. I nod at her and she promptly closes the door. This is the moment I’ve been dreading and anticipating ever since Tink came to convince me. I quickly climb the ladder and put the books back from where I found them, and head out of my temporary sanctuary.

I didn’t know how I was going to react, but when my mother’s face comes into view in the foyer, a series of emotions channel through my mind and quite possibly my expressions as well. Her long straight platinum blonde hair swings gracefully down her back, pulling envy from me about my stubborn dark curls. Her striking blue eyes hold warmth at seeing me, making me homesick and forgiving. The smile she gives me seems genuine, filling my mind with hope. And she opens her arms of that of a graceful lady, making me pause my movements. She looks just like the picturesque of what a Carroway is supposed to be…. Everything I’m not.

“Hey baby,” she says softly. Her voice runs through me, and dammit, my eyes start glistening involuntarily. For a moment, she frowns at my reaction, then glides ever so gracefully across the floor, pulling me in to a tight embrace. I stiffly return the hug, and when we pull back, I know she can feel my lack of enthusiasm. “You look more beautiful than ever Lincoln,” she says, tucking a stray piece of hair behind my ear.

“Hey momma,” I whisper out with a now hoarse voice. Her mouth thins for the briefest of moments, as I see regret wash over her face. but she quickly removes it before pasting a smile on her face. A true lady- not showing her real emotions. I could never do that.

“Lets see what Isla has whipped up for us, hmm?” She threads our fingers together, as if it were a normal interaction, and I walk with her to the dining room.

When we enter, I smother a snort, seeing the long ass table, meant for at least fifty people, when there’s only a setting for two at the very end- one for the head of the table, and one to the side. We release hands and each have a seat. I stare straight ahead, and her staring at me, neither of us moving to even pick up a fork, though, the roast Isla prepared looks absolutely divine.

I side glance at my mother and she smiles appreciatively. The funny thing is, she looks to be around my age, as most Enchanted’s stop aging between thirty and forty. For being over 150 years old, she’s still beautiful, with not a wrinkle or blemish in sight. Most of my life I’ve wondered if I was cursed to age and die like a normal human, but since I’ve gotten my powers, I don’t know what all that entails just yet.

“I’m happy your home, Lincoln.”

A touch of anger surges through me, thinking to myself that I should have always lived here. “I bet.” I pick up my fork and dive into the food without further comments, stabbing a potato more forcefully than necessary and bringing it to my mouth.

Heavenly. Pure heavenly. Oh, how I missed Isla’s cooking.

A hand reaches out gracefully on top of mine before I can pull another bite, and I look up solemnly.

“I really am. You don’t know how hard it’s been to not have you here with me.” She truly looks sad, but I’ve been sad most of my life, so I have no sympathy to give. Long seconds pass by, and I know if I answer, it’ll be out of pure anger or I’ll end up crying, and I don’t want that to happen just yet. She shakes her head seeing my stubbornness, and eventually picks up her fork. “I’ve been honored to host the festival, as Tink has told you. I’m proud that I’ll get to introduce you to the families.” I pause as she eats. Proud? “I know there’s a lot for you to know beforehand- customs, traditions, how to interact with the heads of the Enchanteds, but I promise we’ll go through all that with the next two days.”

“Why?” I whisper out. I look at her, and she seems hesitant. “Why, after all these years, do you want me back? And now I have to learn how to act, to impress your people? How can you sit there and ask this of me?” I can’t help the shaking of my voice, and I hold back the tears with all of my power. I can’t decide if I want answers or not, but for her to act as if the last 10 years hasn’t happened is just too much.

She sighs out and looks down at her plate in shame. “I know I haven’t been a good mother. I know you resent me, ever since you started not accepting money when you were 18. But please, Lincoln. Please understand that what I’ve done, I did for you.” I scoff and push my plate away from me, no longer having an appetite. “I wanted your home to be safe for you. I know it wasn’t easy for you to be distant from all this, but the older you got, the harder it was to explain your safety with the heads of the families.”

I eye her warily. “What are you talking about?”

She lets out a breath, briefly closing her eyes and opening them back up with compassion written in them. “There’s only a few of the heads that know about you… about you being human. And the older you got, we all knew it would be only a matter of time before being in this world would become dangerous to you. Anyone can easily hurt you, or worse. It was better to have you with your own kind, so you wouldn’t have to grow up with that kind of fear.”

My own kind. That stung a little bit.

I guess she felt me flinch, because she grabbed my hand again. “And now, my station is higher, more respected. I’m a powerful witch, and no one would dare cross me or mine. I want to introduce you as an official Carroway Lady.” I swallow air into the pit of my stomach. “And hopefully, if things go well, you would consider moving back home… permanently.” She squeezes my hand and goes back to eating as if she didn’t drop a massive bomb on me.

Moving back? To a world that I don’t know? And being introduced as part of the Carroway family? Let alone, I’ve been hiding my magic for three years? This could only end up as a clusterfuck, right?

Afterwards, our conversations were strictly business, all started by her, knowing I couldn’t process too much information without exploding my own emotions. She explained how many people were invited to stay, and that we were hosting the royal heads of the werewolves and fae. She talked about giving me a crash course into knowing how to interact with our guests tomorrow afternoon, since there was apparently a lot to learn.

“And Florine will arrive the night of the dinner for the heads. I know she’s looking forward to seeing you again.”

“How is Florine doing?”

“She’s doing well. She’s living with her father’s family by the grass mountains, learning how to handle metal in her magic. She’s become quite skilled.” She beams talking about my sister, and part of me wonders if she’s ever talked about me like that. Florine’s dad was a warlock who specialized in metal. His family provides the majority of services all over the realm when it comes to welding, bending, or sculpting all forms metal. Mom wasn’t in love with him, but when she got pregnant with Florine, her parents had them marry to prevent a scandal. A few years later, he died in some battle between werewolves and witches, or something like that. That was about seventy years ago.

Dinner was done and mom walked me to the foot of the staircase. She grabs both of my hands so that my sole attention was on her. “I know you only talked to me out of politeness tonight,” she starts, and I frown while looking down, but quickly snap back up when she giggles softly. “Thank you, Lincoln.” She pulls me in for a hug, and she squeezes as if she would never get another chance to do so. Her emotions called to me, and I returned her embrace- a real hug this time. “I know this doesn’t mean much to you, but I love you so much, daughter of mine.” She kisses my cheek and quickly turns towards the library, but not quick enough to where I didn’t see a tear down her face.

Sadness consumes me as I head up to my room. I know I should be grateful that she protected me, but she could have just told me that! And why hasn’t she been communicating with me all these years if that were the case? I wouldn’t think that my so called ‘safety’ would be a good enough reason to not contact me!

But she asked me to move back home…. Become Lady Lincoln Carroway? That’s ridiculous.

I open my door to my room, but instead of crashing like I totally intended to do, I see a little brownie lounging on my bed in her frilly PJ’s. “It’s about time!! I was about to paint my toenails without you!” Tink whines. I give a small smile, but after this long ass day, well two days, it’s really hard to muster up. She gets up, seeing my struggle, to give me the best hug she can give me, knowing I needed it. “I gotcha Lin. It’s okay.”

And I let it out. I cry softly into her shoulder. Years of pent of sadness, anger, and loneliness come out.

Being in the library felt so normal to me. The smells and the senses of magic call to me. I’ve never felt comfortable in a place, because the human realm wasn’t my true home. This place is my home. The Enchanted realm…. But I’m unwanted.

After I dried my eyes, I took a long bath, and Tink and I stayed up late into the night, talking about anything and everything. We painted each other’s nails and she watched me play with a few small spells. When sleep began to take over, we faced one another, both snuggled under the giant comforter on my bed.

“I’m glad you came home, Lin,” she yawns out. “You got me. Everything will be okay. I love you.”

“Go to sleep…. I love you too…” I smile out.

Everything will be okay? I know that’s a lie. I know there’s going to be a lot to handle, between my family and being introduced into this world. But secretly, I want this chance. I have magic now, and part of me knows I belong to this world. But will that be enough?