So here we go. Chapter 12 . I know it's been a long time since the last one but I hope you guys like this one.
Sigh. The house was quiet as Charles drank from his coffee mug. It was just him. Diana had snuck out sometime that morning. He had knocked on her bedroom door only to find it empty when he opened it. He wasn't surprised. Was he really expecting her to come down for breakfast that morning? Not after last night. Defeated, he walked downstairs and made him a little something to eat, turned on the coffee maker and attempted to distract himself but failed miserably.
He sat in his chair until a knock on the door forced him to get up. Standing outside was none other than Dawn. "Can I come in?" she asked. He looked at her and after another moment he moved to allow her in. "Is Diana home?" she asked as he closed the door. "Uh, no. She was gone when I got up this morning."
"How is she? Probably shaken up." Dawn walked into the kitchen and took a seat. Charles chuckled. "I'm pretty sure that's an understatement." He said, sitting down again. Dawn lightly smiled. "Thankfully, Faye seemed okay, despite everything. And it looks like our cover is still intact." She said. Among other things, Dawn had worried if her daughter had become aware of her part in how the circle had been put together. She was relieved to know that Faye was still in the dark about it.
Charles didn't meet her gaze. "Well, I guess that can't be said for everyone." He brought his mug up to his lips as Dawn gave Charles a questioning look. "What do you mean?"
Charles ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "I told her." He said, catching Dawn off guard. "Told her what?" She asked quickly. "I told her that I knew. That I always knew that she and the others were using magic."
Dawn's eyes had gone wide at this point. "Why would you tell her? Did she say something?" Dawn was in a bit of a panic mode. They had done so much to try and keep their involvement hidden, she had thought that everything would turn out as planned and in a blink of an eye she finds out that it may be crumbling. "I told her because she almost saw me die last night and I'm done. I'm done lying to her." He said sternly. "It wasn't supposed to get to this point, Dawn. The circle was to be formed and we get our magic back. That was it. Blackwell came back, the kids' lives are in danger. I never wanted this."
"You wanted your magic back just as much as I did. Don't try playing guilty or innocent now Charles." Dawn stood up to face Charles. "We decided that we had to have the kids form the circle if we wanted to get our magic back. We agreed that the only way Cassie would ever come here was if Amelia was out of the picture and I don't remember hearing any objections from you." Charles kept his glance away from Dawn. She was right. He didn't object to getting rid of Amelia. In fact he had been the one to volunteer for it. Why? He blamed her for everything. For allowing the man that had led to the death of so many to sliver his way into the circle. For the death of Elizabeth. That's why killing Amelia came a lot easier than one might imagine.
Charles faced her with a hard look. "Things have spiraled far out of what we had planned. It's out of control now Dawn. And if you want to keep on lying to Faye that's fine, but I'm done." He didn't stutter, he didn't shy away. He spoke firmly, letting Dawn know where he stood. The tension in the room was interrupted by the doorbell ringing again. Charles sighed as he went to answer it. He wasn't exactly in the mood for any more visitors. He was hoping that Dawn would take a hint and leave. He was surprised to see who was standing at his doorstep. "Patrick? To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Patrick wasn't here to waste time with pleasantries. He didn't wait to be invited in and walked past Charles into the living room. "Did you know?" he asked, turning back to face Charles. Charles followed behind Patrick but wore a confused look on his face. "Did I know what?"
Patrick fought to remain calm and collected. "Did you know the kids were using magic?" Charles remained a bit stunned. How did Patrick find out? It had been a secret between Charles and Dawn and they had been sure that teens were keeping it a secret, or at least believing that they were keeping it a secret. Patrick must have taken Charles's silence as his answer and was beginning to feel his anger build up. "Charles I swear if you knew…"
Charles put up his hands to calm his friend, or at least former friend, down. "Patrick…" but Patrick wasn't about to have any of Charles bullshit. "Don't lie to me Charles. Melissa told me the truth. About everything they've been up to and how it all started with Diana finding her book. You can't tell me Diana just happened to find it and that Cassie Blake happens to show up soon after they start using." His voice was beginning to rise which had captured Dawn's attention, prompting her to investigate.
Patrick didn't really need a verbal answer. In his mind Charles's silence and refusal to look at him was enough. Then again, he came here without any room to doubt that Charles was guilty; but Patrick also knew that Charles couldn't have done all this alone. That was when Dawn walked in. "What's going on? Patrick?" Her voice rang through the air capturing the attention of both men.
Patrick turned his attention to Dawn. "Were you in on this too?" He asked sternly. Dawn faked an uncertain look. "What are you talking about?" Dawn's demeanor was unfazed. No one can say that she wasn't good.
Charles, though, wasn't about to have any of it. "She did." His voice directed to Patrick but his stare directed at Dawn. "She was aware of what was going on." Patrick didn't move a muscle as Charles admitted to not only himself knowing about the kids' extracurricular activities but outing Dawn in the process. Dawn was flabbergasted. Her eyes wide with confusion and frustration at Charles. First the man had admitted a partial truth to his daughter and now he was doing it again in front of Patrick. At this point Dawn was unsure of what Charles would do next.
"Well, this is an awkward reunion." An unidentified voice joked. The voice had then caught the attention of the trio when they turned to see both Justin and Erika standing in the archway. "I should have brought cake."
"Justin? Erika? " Patrick was the one to break the silence. He hadn't known that his former friends had been in town, but the coincidence could not go unnoticed. "Hello Patrick. It's been a long time." Erika said sweetly as she and Justin gave their old friend a soft smile.
Charles shifted uneasily. "You know it's against the law, breaking and entering." This caused Justin to smirk, "Well, perhaps you should learn to keep your doors locked." This was a jab at Charles. The doors had in fact been locked, Charles knew this but when you had magic nothing was ever really locked for a witch. Justin and Erika didn't have time for formalities.
One could feel the tension rising in the room, a group of former friends now staring uncertain at each other. Patrick stepped forward, breaking the silence again. "It was you that helped everyone last night wasn't it?" he asked plainly.
Justin nodded, "Along with a few others, yes." Patrick just scoffed before speaking again. "All this time, you were witches too and you never told any of us." He questioned. You thought that you knew a person only to turn around and realize that you probably don't know anything about them.
"You didn't exactly come out to us now did you?" Erika said as more of a fact than a question. "Plus we had our tasks. Telling you everything wasn't one of them." She said plainly with a hint of a solemn tone in her voice. The truth was that they came to Chance Harbor with a specific goal, but growing to care for the Chance Harbor witches hadn't been part of that goal. That had happened naturally. Lying to said people was not an easy task but they followed their orders without hesitation and despite hating it.
Erika's comment though only brought more confusion among the trio, Dawn being the one to voice the question that was running through their minds. "Tasks?" What tasks were they talking about?
"Yes." Justin stepped forward. "The witches that settled here in Chance Harbor haven't exactly been known for always being the most discreet. Erika and I were tasked with coming here and meeting all of you, hopefully to get an idea if you were going to be trouble or not."
"And who exactly 'tasked' you?" Dawn asked, trying to get answers while they can.
"Well," Erika chirped up. "You have your elders and we have ours." Erika and Justin weren't a part of the same circle, they were both leaders of their respective circles. The two circles that settled on the east coast. Since they were to be the leaders of their groups it was put upon them to observe the Chance Harbor witches. They had arrived with far different expectations but had been slightly surprised.
Charles cocked an eyebrow. "Did we pass?"
Justin smirked. "Well, you weren't exactly what we had expected." He lightly laughed. "But in a matter of speaking, yes. By the time we were to leave, we didn't think there would be any problem." As he reached the end of his phrase eyes became sadden.
Charles scoffed. "Obviously you didn't stick around long enough."
Erika nodded. "We know. We never thought, it never occurred to us that John would come here. By the time we became aware it was too late. He had already wormed his way into your group and…and there was nothing we could do." It had been a tragedy. By the time the east coast circles had found out that John Blackwell had been able to snake his way into the Chance Harbor circle he had already done his damage. Lives had been lost, Amelia had gone into hiding, and there was nothing left for them to save. Erika and Justin have regretted ever leaving, believing if they had stayed, even a little longer perhaps they could have prevented it, protected them.
Patrick's patience was running thin. "You could have done something. You could have warned us."
Justin shook his head. "We had our orders. You all know very well the consequence of going against our elders." He said sternly. They had cared deeply for their former friends, but didn't erase the fact that they had only been there on orders from their own elders. They had a mission and were to see it through. "As much as we may have wanted to we had no choice."
It was Patrick's turn to scoff, "You had a choice. You had every choice, to help people that you say you supposedly cared about."
Erika's eyes narrowed. "No, you are right. We did have the choice to break our vows. Just as all you had the choice to reject John but sadly neither happened."
"We've all had choices but haven't always made the right one, right Charles?" Justin said giving Charles a suggestive look, his words having a deeper meaning that he assumed that Charles would catch on. Charles could only give him a questioning look, there was no way that they could know. This only caused Justin to smile. "We know quite a bit." Justin's comment only made Charles more uncomfortable.
Charles recomposed yourself. "You left. We were unaware. You have no idea what we lost because of him."
"Believe me we're well aware. Do not think you're the only one John has hurt. I've known him a lot longer than you have." Justin said sternly.
"And how exactly do you know John?" Patrick stepped forward, curious.
John expression softened, he gave a small look to Erika then looked at Patrick. "Because, John is my cousin."
The expressions on the faces of Charles, Dawn and Patrick were of complete shock and uncertainty of what to say next. His cousin. A man they had known was related to a man that had damaged their lives. "You and John…" Dawn barely just voiced out.
Justin nodded his head. "Yes. There is Balcoin blood in me, but whether you choose to believe it not every one of us is an evil manipulating power hungry bastard."
Charles scoffed, "Perhaps not power hungry." This only earned him a small glared from Justin.
Dawn was trying to wrap her mind around everything. "Sixteen years ago you didn't tell us a thing. What makes now so different?"
"Because John isn't the only threat anymore." Erika said, her filled with purpose. "The witch hunters are getting stronger. Eben isn't the only one willing to use the very thing they despise against us. Together, our families are strong enough to stop them."
Patrick quickly started shaking his head. "No. I will not allow my daughter to have any part of your war. If you choose to put your children in danger that is on you."
"I'm afraid Melissa is already a part of it, of our war whether you like it or not. The witch hunters are well aware of this circle, they have been for a very long time. Now that we've helped you they will no doubt begin their search of us." Erika spoke kindly. She could understand Patrick's reluctance. Had she been in his shoes she would probably be feeling the exact same but she was not. She was raised and taught different and has bestowed those same ideals onto her own children, one of which who was now leading his own circle.
"You come here after all this time, expecting us to trust you, to follow you into battle." Patrick said unconvinced.
"Secrets are our entire lifestyle. Even amongst each other." Justin spoke with a heavy tone. "Whether you trust us or not you must believe this. A war is coming. They will not stop until we are all dead and as much as you want to protect your family Patrick, without your magic Melissa won't be safe. Regardless if you choose to stay or not." Justin hoped that his words would reach Patrick. Perhaps not today, but soon. Before it was too late. Without another word Patrick, walked out and shut the door behind him. He knew that Justin had some truth in his words but he couldn't stand hearing them right now.
Justin sighed and looked at Erika, "Well, this is going well isn't it?"
"You've had us watched, all this time?" Dawn questioned, causing both Justin and Erika to look at her as Dawn implied about the two other families that had revealed themselves to be witches as well.
Erika nodded. "Yes. After what with John and the boatyard we thought it only natural. You were quite boring after that. We were quite thankful. Of course that didn't last forever did it?" she asked looking between Dawn and Charles. "It is true what they say, desperation can bring out the worse in us."
Charles narrowed his eyes. "And what would you know about that?"
Erika shook her head. "Us? Nothing, but based on what the two of you alone have done I think there is some truth to the thought."
"She deserved it." Charles interrupted. "If weren't for Amelia none of this would have happened." He had always blamed Amelia for allowing John to snivel his way into their circle, and now her daughter had repeated the past.
"Is that what you tell yourself at night Charles?" Justin said, narrowing his eyes at Charles. Walking up to him. "Is that how you justified taking another mother away from her child? All for the sake of regaining your magic. And what of all the other deaths that have followed? Did they deserve it as well? I highly doubt that Elizabeth…"
"Don't you dare say her name! You don't have any right to." Charles interrupted angrily. "You don't know anything..."
"I know that Elizabeth wouldn't have wanted any of this! For you or Diana." Justin practically shouted. "You're not the only to know what it's like to lose someone you love. I mourned but when the time came I focused on the most important thing I had left and not on getting revenge." Both men stared at each other intensely. Neither moving from their spots.
"I think we've made our points here Justin." Erika said, breaking through the tension. "What they do from here on is their decision. We have other business to attend to." Justin nodded and began to follow her out of the house.
When the door was closed Dawn turned to Charles, "Charles…"
"Get out." Charles said plainly, looking at Dawn. Dawn looked at him, taken back. She was about to say something when he interrupted her. "I will not repeat myself." Dawn did not test the waters. She picked up her things and left the house. Once again Charles was in a silent, lonely house with nothing but his thoughts. How much could he had prevented if he had never listened to Dawn? If had let go of his anger and simply focused on building a life for Diana? Now all he was left with was his fear of losing her. Justin's words rang through his head. None of this was worth it.
There you have it. It was about time to get a chapter just on the parents. If anyone needs a reminder of what my original characters look like you can find the link on my profile. Until next time.
