Book 3: Night's Child
Chapter 1: Alwyn
"So I said to Mum, 'Look, it's no big deal. Don't get your knickers in a twist'!" Alwyn Hayes was sat in one of the comfy armchairs in Starbucks, scooping up the cream on her Frappacino with a silver spoon. Her two best friends – Jasmine Matthews and Regina Curtis – where sat opposite her, grinning like mad.
"God, you're pretty brave being cheeky to Ariah of Belwicket even if she is your Mom," Regina said in her American accent. Alwyn eyed her friends enviously. Regina was gorgeous with long, shiny white-blonde hair, a fabulous figure and blue eyes that sparkled like sapphires. Jasmine was just as beautiful, but looked completely different. She was half-Italian, half-Jamaican so she's got fabulous black hair that flows down to her waist, gorgeous coffee-coloured skin and shiny dark brown eyes. Also, she had a naturally perfect figure.
And Alwyn? Well, she knew she wasn't ugly, but she also knew that she'd never look as good as Jasmine and Regina. With her long chestnut hair, porcelain pale skin and big green eyes, she was a mega-babe. The funny thing was, she hadn't realized it yet.
"So are you grounded?" Jasmine asked with interest. Alwyn shook her head.
"Amazingly not," She answered. "But she's still pretty mad that I got my hair streaked without permission." Alwyn fingered her violet streak. "I almost convinced her that it'll look good with my robe 'cause it's the same colour!" Regina and Jasmine cracked up laughing.
Suddenly, Alwyn picked up a strange presence. It seemed dark and dangerous, but she couldn't discover what it was.
"You okay?" 'Gina asked, breaking her friend's concentration.
"Yeah." Alwyn nodded. How could she explain it to Regina and Jasmine? Yes, they were blood witches, but Alwyn felt that they wouldn't understand what she had sensed. She had to tell her mother.
"I-I've gotta go home," Alwyn stammered. "Mum will be expecting me."
"Are you sure you're okay?" Jas asked, sounding concerned. Alwyn slipped on her black jacket.
"I'm fine," She answered. "I just don't wanna be late. I'll see you at tonight's circle!"
"Bye!" Regina called after Alwyn as the girl rushed out the door.
Ariah Hayes – Alwyn's mother – was sat at the kitchen table was Alwyn came rushing in.
"Mum!" She yelped. "You'll never guess what!" Then Alwyn realized that Ariah was making a potion.
"Erm…Mum?" Her daughter said, brushing back her curtain of dark brown hair. "What are you doing?" Ariah looked up.
"Oh, just making a protection potion," She answered lightly.
"Why?" Alwyn asked as she sat down at the kitchen table. Ariah grew uncomfortable. It was like she was trying to hide something from her daughter.
"The house has been covered in sigils." Ariah's lip trembled. "Sigils for bad health, ill-wishing, bad luck and…death." Alwyn's jaw dropped open. This was too much for her to handle. Someone wanted her dead!
Panic and fear raced through her. "Where's Da?" She said.
Ariah's face turned white and rushed into the hallway where Alwyn heard her make a call. Goddess, was her father alright?