Magic Hour
Piper and Leo were trying to get married, that much I knew and around dinner time more information came to light. Either Piper and Leo stop dating or the witches get a new whitelighter. It was just one more reason to despise the Elders. Speaking of despising the Elders I was called into Gideon's office with Professor Ruby the following Monday after I turned in my paper.
I had given my professor my essay the day after she assigned it. She seemed surprised and I told her that I do very well on essays and wanted to get the paper finished. She must have read it over the weekend because Monday morning I was sitting in Gideon's office.
"This essay is full of false information, it disrespects the Elders and all they stand for," she nearly yelled at the headmaster. Gideon read the essay.
"Hanna, the first paragraph is completely true. Her facts about the origins of the Elders are correct. The second paragraph she writes about Camelot. In her perspective it seemed they were trying to take over. In her history books, which she cites, they state that the Elders attempt to take over. The Elders did continue to persist even after the Fae and King Arthur declined an alliance or any help. In her final paragraph she states, and I quote, "After the Fire Fae village burned, the remaining elemental fae formed an alliance with the Elders. They weren't bothered by Odin or any supposed demon army, ever again. Camelot fell though and all Fae went there separate ways. The Elders still remain in contact with some Fae. The Elders though never did get control of Camelot. Demons took over as the Elders remained watchful over the mortal realm."
"This is all true Hanna," Gideon said sharply, "Yes, she has a different perspective because she doesn't like Elders but she has the freedom to write and think what she wants. You cannot fail her because your views clash. You teach a history course, there were always be different sides told about war." After all that she gave me an 85% out of 100%. That evening my mother had asked how school had gone and all I said was fine. That was last Monday, it's now Friday. I have yet to go to school yet and am not looking forward to it. Suddenly Kit yowls and Emerald starts to bark. There's an owl out front. I look at it curiously as my mom and aunts come closer. It suddenly turns into a man... without any clothes on. My eyes widened for I had never seen a male without anything on. I had seen one without a shirt but that was it. My mother covered my eyes and whirled me around taking me into the kitchen. She ordered me to stay and then left. I never met the man but I heard his name and problems. If I skipped school I'd get into a lot of trouble but I could help him.
"I'm leaving," I called out, "I'll see you this afternoon. Love you, bye!" I left out the front door as the sisters had gone to the attic.
After walking around for a while I found Christopher. I found him in his bosses building, he had a knife with him.
"Christopher, don't," I said. He whirled around surprised to see me.
"If you kill him I'm guessing the curse put upon you and your love will remain permanent. He'll want something in return to break the spell."
"Like what?"
"Your girlfriend," a man said. I stumbled turning around but Christopher caught me.
"But she'll do too," he said looking me up and down like I was some kind of prize.
"She's mine," I heard a sharp voice growl. It was Aero. He wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close. The boss's eyes flashed with fury but then he stepped back, how odd. Aero, Christopher and I left the building.
"I won't let Brooke sacrifice herself," he said. He then left as if in search of Brooke.
"Should we follow?" I asked.
"No, your family will find them, come on let's get out of here," we ended up going into a small drugstore to get some food. I spotted my mother and aunt Piper looking at cards. Aero and I quickly hid in the toy aisle. I heard Cole and nearly groaned.
"Who's the lucky girl?" Cole asked.
"Estelle," my mom blurted, "We were thinking of giving it to her as a blessing. Her and her boyfriend are so close. They fit each other. But of course I don't acknowledge or condone teen marriages." Was this true? Would she not acknowledge my marriage to William? She was talking of William of course but it was Aero here holding me, silent.
"I know where we can go where they won't find us," Aero said after everyone was gone. He took me to a field, similar to the one in Camelot. It was fairly cool outside and he gave me soft kisses. His kisses went no further than my neck. I curled into him as the sun signaled it was around noon. We stayed like that for a couple of hours, not hungry, not talking or kissing. Just sitting, listening to the world around us. It was easy to pretend we were in Camelot. Our relationship had been secret then and it was now. What would my mother think? Would she be okay would the relationship or would she question it like I should have? Why was he alive? How did he live so long? I wouldn't ask these questions now, later perhaps I would. I bid farewell to Aero that afternoon flying to my bedroom window when school ended. I wondered when I'd see him again.
I was taken away from my thoughts when I heard footsteps go down the stairs.
"We've located him," Piper said.
"Located who?" I asked pretending I hadn't met Christopher.
"Christopher, our innocent," Phoebe said.
"Stay here," my mother said, "Just in case there's more... nudity. I like you sweet and unknowing right now." She gave me a kiss on the temple and then they all left. I called Zoey, asking her what I had missed that day, telling her I had been sick. She said in class we were working on defensive stuff. So, shields in other terms. By the time I was done talking with her my mom, aunts, and a woman with Christopher, in owl form, came home.
She talked about the curse and what would break it. A night within a day. I thought of the eclipse. That was a night within a day wasn't it? It's what George talked about often. He loved the stars and hoped someday to go up in space. There was an eclipse tonight. I didn't have a chance to say anything though as a man burst into the Manor. I was suddenly pinned to the wall. My mother deflected arrows as Phoebe hid behind the banister. Piper had been knocked out. As the demon eventually died my mom pulled the arrows from the wall, helping me down. She inspected for wounds that weren't there. Brooke was crying and I realized they needed to call for Leo for Christopher and Piper. No one called him yet he still showed up.
Then Cole shows up. I glare at him as he greets Leo while the sisters, excluding Phoebe exist the room. I noticed something weird and decide to look up on in later, maybe ask my Watcher friends. Surely he's evil, I just know it. I leave not wanting to be near Cole anymore and hear Piper ranting about maybe it was a bad idea. That it was selfish and unfair to others out there.
"You deserve happiness Aunt Piper," I said.
"Estelle, you're betrothed to a guy you don't really even know."
"I know William, I will get to know him more later as well. I might even begin to love him. Besides my happiness isn't in a relationship, not a romantic kind. I'm happy here yet I'm not because my sister's dead. When I save my people the only unfairness I'm doing is to the demons and The Elders who in my opinion have no difference between the way they control. They don't deserve fairness, not for all they have done. You aren't being selfish. If anyone's being selfish it's me! I have a good like here, and I love all of you but I'm willing to risk it all to go back to a time and place where I could die the next day. I'm leaving you, that's selfish."
"No, Estelle, you're incredibly brave."
"What you want to do is brave too! It's never been done before. Besides, you love him. Why wait, this may be your last chance. Just like it may be my last chance to save my people. My mother calls my inside as I pass Phoebe. She's holding a small chalkboard states: You Have My Blessing. I smile as I go see my mother. Brooke runs past me, I assume she's going to see the Boss. I try to say this to my mom but she speaks first.
"Estelle why don't you go upstairs and work on homework. We can handle this."
"But Brooke-" she cuts me off.
"Estelle, we don't need your help, it's okay."
"She's gone to the Boss," Christopher said standing up.
"The curse is broken!" I say just as the other sisters and Leo enter the room.
"It's the eclipse," Phoebe said.
"We have to get to Brooke," Piper said. There was orbing as I flew reaching her faster.
"Stop Brooke!" I said and she stopped before pressing her lips to his. She pulls away and the Boss looks at me.
"Don't you dare touch her!" my mother yells pulling me back as she bursts into the room.
"The curse is broken," I say, "The eclipse has been your undoing and I squint my eyes setting him ablaze. He screams and then vanishes.
"You weren't supposed to be here."
"You can't protect me forever," I said. She had been trying to protect me from everything since our visit to Camelot. We all orb to the Manor and Grams is there. She had mentioned to me when I first met her that she was a high priestess. I hug her first.
"Hi, Grams," I said giving her a hug.
"Hello, Estelle," she said squeezing me, her great- granddaughter tight, "Let's get this wedding shall we." It was started but it was never finished as the eclipse ended. Leo was orbed forcibly up to the Elders as Piper sat down to cry. Grams took me to the attic to lwt the sisters have some time alone.
"There's someone I want you to meet." I look up and recognize her from pictures. She's my mom's mother.
"Hello darling," she said sitting next to me on the loveseat and pulling my into her arms. Grams had left but it was then I realized I had never had this much family, this much love in my life. I wanted this in Camelot. I would make it so.
"You're gorgeous," she said twirling my short brown hair.
"I can see why my daughter fell in love with you," she said, "You should stay close to her. Just for the next couple of weeks. She wants you to feel you need her. Give her that, okay?"
"Okay," I said and my grandmother hugged me one last time as she heard the sisters go up the stairs. I curled up next to my mother in her bed that night.
"What's wrong?" she asked grabbing my hand.
"I was in the water again," I state softly.
"You're safe with me. You're always safe with me."
A/N: That's it for Magic Hour. I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Please leave a review of what you think of Aero or the entire chapter! The first part of the next episode, Once Upon a Time will be up soon! Charmed Always- K
