Hello and welcome!
As you can see, my muse is back xD Hence, it didn't take me ages to update like last time xD
Anyways, my thanks goes to Sophie1998 for the favorite and EmeraldMuse88, IJustShowedUp , AnimeHunter411, Jcscheidt, Khaaotic and lily1994 for the alerts :D I hope that you guys enjoy the chapter!
Also, my dear reviewers, you make me write fast :D MsPatricia and RandomWeirdGirl you have my thanks!
So, I hope that you enjoy the new chapter :)
Chapter 6: Settling in
"Thank you for taking me." Simone repeated for the third time as Dan stared out at the road and drove. He laughed a bit, taking his eyes off the way to glance at her.
"It's not a problem, like I said before." He told her, focusing on the road once more. "I'm just glad that we managed to catch the little guy." He chuckled as Minuit gave a meow, as if he understood that their conversation was about him.
Simone had remembered the words of Dr. Torrez, the vet from Denver, how she needed to get the kitten checked out when they landed. So, she'd forced herself to ask Dan to take them to the closest vet. The older boy had been more than happy to oblige, chattering about Dr. Deaton and how he was a great vet.
Of course, there had come the other part of the problem. Minuit was off exploring the house somewhere, so Dan and Simone has spent two hours hunting the mischievous cat. Even now, the small ball of fur looked rather smug with his clumsy, yet successful escapes. In the end, they had found the kitten sleeping on the sofa in the living room, curled up next to Aunt Eve, unbothered by their frustration.
Dan made a turn and left the main road, going into the small town that was Beacon Hills. "That's the Beacon Hills Memorial hospital." He pointed out as they passed the modern building. "Next to it is a care center for patients with permanent conditions. I know that they are always looking for more caretakers, if you're interested." He told Simone as she turned in her seat to get a better look at the passing buildings.
Frankly, she wasn't too keen on the idea of working in a hospital. There were simply one too many deaths around you, not to mention people with incurable diseases. This led her to want to use her magic to help them, which she was forbidden from doing. It had been one of the greatest rules that Mrs. Jones had forced upon her. Never, ever, expose your gift. Especially in the presence of doctors.
When she had been younger, she hadn't understood the rule. Heck, she had tried to break it numerous times. But, after her mother had caught her attempting to heal her friend's broken leg, Mrs. Jones had beaten some sense into her. Since then, Simone had learned to avoid hospitals.
"Well, you won't have a lot of places to steer clear of." Dan smiled as he read her thoughts, once more. "We have only a couple of hospitals, the closest is the Beacon Memorial, the one we just passed." Simone frowned, not replying. His ability was annoying, to say the least. She had spent the afternoon with Dan, who was quite a nice person, of course, when he wasn't reading your every thought. She understood that it wasn't his fault. If it were her, it would've probably been even worse. But still. She didn't need anyone replying to her inner feelings. Even worse, a handsome older guy.
"Anyways." Dan awkwardly commented, tapping the wheel with his fingers. "You'll be going to Beacon High. I went there as well, so most of the teachers are still the same. Which subjects will you be taking?" He really was trying to change the subject and steer her thoughts away from the earlier, rather humiliating, track.
"I want to take Advanced Lit and French." Simone said, turning away from the window to look at Dan. He kept his eyes on the road, but he nodded. "Economics, too."
Dan laughed. "I'm not sure who teaches Lit anymore. It used to be Mrs. Bellows, a really boring old lady who would fall asleep in class and quote Shakespeare all the time." His nose scrunched up in distaste. "She smelled like old people. It was mildly disgusting." Simone chuckled, putting her hand on her mouth to stifle it. "Don't laugh! She put me in the front row… I hope it's someone a little better now." The KIA took a right turn, causing Minuit to dig his tiny claws into Simone's thigh. "As for French, it's still Mr. Beauchamp. He's a good teacher, you're going to have fun. He makes students act out different plays in French a lot. It's a cool class."
"I took only one year of French back home, do you think that will be enough?" Simone asked, getting a tad worried. Language wasn't her best subject. She tended not to remember the grammar and just rely on her 'feeling'. She preferred math. Math was easy. It was logical.
"Sure, just don't take French four or anything." Dan advised. "Start with French two or something and if it's too easy, ask to switch." The warlock shrugged. "The guidance counselor for sophomores is pretty cool. She came in my senior year, I remember that all the boys were lining up to get some counseling." Dan laughed, clearly remembering his time at school. "She's gonna give you good advice, so don't hesitate to ask her about anything that you need."
The KIA made a couple more turns before coming to a stop at a parking lot. Simone scooped Minuit into her arms and unlocked the door. "You're not going?" She asked Dan once he didn't make a move to follow her.
The older boy shook his head and shrugged. It sent his messy hair into a wild frenzy of dark locks. "You'll be just fine in your own." He smiled in encouragement. "Simone-" He called out before she could shut her door. Once the teenage witch focused on him Dan gave her a grin and spoke in a serious tone. "Don't mention magic."
Simone gave an affirmative nod and closed the door softly. Why in the world would she mention magic? To a vet of all people? She knew what that sort of honest talk would get her in this date and time. Instead of a stake and a fire, she would get a straitjacket and a one way trip to the loony bin.
Simone noted the open sign on the vet's door before she pushed in open. The inside was clean, white and sleek. She could smell the dog and cat food from the back, along with a distinct hospital smell of cleaning supplies. Minuit gave a small sneeze into Simone's elbow before meowing softly. She looked down to see him snuggle further into her embrace. Obviously, he didn't like the vet's office too much.
"Hello." A soft male voice greeted, somehow comforting. Simone glanced up to see the dark skinned man in a white coat. He offered her a wide smile, showing his white teeth. "How can I help you?" Dr. A. Deaton was written on his pocket.
"My kitten just travelled by plane, and the vet back home told me to get him checked out when we land. I was hoping that you could take a look at him?" Simone walked over, detaching the small feline from her sleeve, where it was clinging with its tiny claws, and handed it over to the vet. "He was a bit ill before we left."
"Oh, he's a beautiful one. He's going to grow into a quite lovely cat, don't you think?" Dr. Deaton smiled, stroking under the kitten's head and causing him to purr with joy. "What's the handsome boy's name?"
"Minuit." Simone smiled as the doctor played with the interactive cat. "Midnight in-"
"French." The vet placed Minuit on his office desk, instead of taking him into the back. The kitten began sniffing around. "That's a good name. Has he eaten yet?" Dr. Deaton wondered.
"Yes. I gave him a piece of ham when we arrived from the airport and then he ate his cat food a couple of hours later." Simone listed off, twisting her fingers nervously in front of her. They were cold once more.
"I see. Which brand of food do you feed him?" Dr. Deaton asked, taking the kitten up in his arms and checking it over carefully.
"I try to buy Orijen whenever I can." The teen replied. "But it really depends. Right now I'm giving him Orijen. He really loves it."
"I bet." The vet nodded. "Orijen is one of the five best brands for cat food. It's a great choice." Dr. Deaton handed the feline back, smiling. He searched through his desk and then passed a treat to the cat. "Here you are, you handsome boy." Minuit sniffed the piece of meat before licking it slowly, as if he was afraid to take it. Then, he snatched it from the vet's fingers, eating it quickly. Both Simone and the vet laughed when Minuit went back to the black man's fingers, looking for more. "You like that, don't you?"
"Thank you so much." Simone said politely to the vet, pulling Minuit further into her arms so that he wouldn't jump at Dr. Deaton for more treats. "How much do I owe you?" The teen dug into the back pocket of her skinny jeans, fishing out her wallet.
Dr. Deaton waved her hand away. "Nothing." He told her. "Just come back here when he needs his shots." The vet smiled when he saw the blush on the teenager's face.
"Thank you." Simone said once more, and then waved goodbye to the friendly man, leaving the office. She didn't notice the way Dr. Deaton walked to the door and watched her as she ran back to the maroon KIA. Nor did Simone see the way Dan looked at the vet, locking eyes with him in a silent warning. The teenage girl hopped into her seat, looped the seatbelt safely around herself and then smiled at her warlock driver, ready for the second part of the car tour of Beacon Hills.
Dan had taken the long way back to the Lighthouse Inn, showing Simone the high school that she would be attending that fall. It was a regular school, similar to her old one in Colorado, and it didn't instill much joy into the young witch. Rather, it reminded her of all the insecurities that came with everyday attendance. This made Simone, just like any other teenager, enjoy her short vacation even more.
Eve was waiting for them in the kitchenette when they arrived, and she called out to the two right away. Dan entered the room first, without any reservations, plopping onto the comfortable pale sofa like he owned it. Simone came after, loitering at the corner of the counter awkwardly, not really sure what to do with herself. Minuit had bounded off as soon as he was allowed, eager to explore the large villa. It had tons of nooks and crannies that the kitten found rather amusing.
"What's up?" Dan asked, looking at Eve from his position. She walked over to the sofa as well, placing three cups of fresh juice on the table.
"Simone." The blonde witch gestured and the teen sat next to Dan, fidgeting with her long hair. "Alright." Eve smiled. "I know that you're tired, but we will try and be quick, ok?" After a small nod from the teenage witch, she continued. "As you know, Beacon Hills is quite a popular place for the supernaturals, so, we have a few rules that keep us safe. I need you to follow them, alright?"
"Of course." Simone repeated the familiar sentence.
"Firstly, we are neutral." Eve's voice became grim and serious, unlike her usual, cheerful tone. "We do not get involved into other species business. We don't even get involved into witchy business if possible, alright?" After Simone gave a small nod, Eve continued. "I'd you must break this and use your gift, you should only do it in a life or death situation. Clear?"
"Y-yes." The teen stammered, a little shocked. Mrs. Jones has rules. They had been different. Numerous and different. Most of them were concerning magic and how Simone shouldn't use it before joining a coven. But, this was different. This rule actually made sense to the witch. She could keep it. And more importantly, it sounded like it was actually life or death.
"Next, there should be at least one spell used per day." Dan continued, smiling.
"And lots of chocolate should be eaten before dinner." Eve grinned as well, and they both began giggling uncontrollably at Simone's shocked expression. She honestly couldn't believe it. Magic. She was going to be using magic freely. You see, Simone thought that being a witch was utterly amazing. And, as a proper witch, she wanted to use her magic, just like she had seen her mother do numerous times. However, it had been forbidden in the Jones house.
Here, at the Lighthouse Inn, with her Godmother Eve and the strange, yet friendly, warlock Dan, Simone had gotten her wish. It was something that she had begged for every single Christmas. Simone felt a smile stretch on her mouth, so wide that it became painful on her cheeks. She could tell by the heat that she was blushing as well.
"Oh, so you can smile!" Dan remarked, giving her a loose side hug. "Isn't she adorable when she smiles?" Simone's face got even redder at the words and she cursed her paleness.
"Don't tease her, Daniel." Eve reprimanded in a stern tone. "You must be tired, Simone." The blonde said, smiling. "Why don't we grab some dinner early so that you can rest?" She didn't let the teenager answer, but hopped up, nodding to herself. "And then tomorrow, we can tell you more about the Inn and what we do here, and we could also go to the Beacon High and get you all settled in there?"
Simone awkwardly kept quiet, listening to Eve ramble about what she had planned for her Goddaughter. She was twirling a piece of her long hair, a nervous habit which she had developed back in elementary school. Daniel, though, seemed rather amused by the fact that the teenage witch was uncomfortable. Simone was getting used to his personality, and there were some parts that really got on her nerves.
"C'mon." Dan chuckled, obviously catching her train of thought. "Let's set the table."
A deep breath. And then another. The smell of fresh leaves and morning rain was strong in my lungs as I became aware of my surroundings. They were familiar in an eerie, illogical way. Hard branches and soft leaves brushed against my bare legs as I walked. No doubt, they would leave marks. I knew my skin. It was painfully pale, so every single scratch would leave an angry, purple bruise in the morning.
A twig cracked somewhere to my left and suddenly, my groggy body could pick up the sound of the nearby stream. The wind was soft and warm, passing through my hair and knotting it. I was numb. Like I had been drinking or as if I had consumed one too many painkillers. I was vaguely aware of the fact that my legs were taking me in a certain direction.
Beautiful, large eyes. The color of caramel. I stared, and she stared back. The doe which had been here before. I had been here before. I knew this place. My dizzy mind caught up with the current state and I felt like I was suddenly awake in a body which was asleep. My mind was clear.
The doe bundled off, but I didn't follow her. My legs were taking me somewhere else. I knew where. I was going to the Beacon. To the Lantern. To the Center. To the Core.
Cold dread seeped through my body, as if my magic itself was telling me to run. To gain control. To be stronger. To get away. Yet, I couldn't. The sleep-like state that dreamwalking was didn't allow for any control. I knew that.
After my first dream I had panicked badly. I had called my grandmother, the guru of all things magical, and demanded her help. She had instructed me how and where to find books on the subject in my mother's library. After that, I had become thoroughly informed about dreamwalking. Dreamwalking would give me knowledge and signs that I wouldn't have otherwise to prevent or change a great event in my future, but, it would take away my control.
I remember that. The first rule of magic. Everything has its price. If one is not careful, they are dead.
My feet stopped in front of a familiar stump. I stared at it with my numb, sleepy eyes, waiting. Waiting for the lantern to appear. Waiting for it to call to me. I knew what came next. And, for that long second, it felt like the tree stared right back. Its gaze, its insight into my person, it wasn't friendly at all. It was a glare of a giant, ancient being, something that I wouldn't be able to fathom even if I lived a thousand years. It crawled under my skin and took me apart from the inside, knowing everything that there was to know about a little, insignificant Crafter that I was.
I fell apart.
A soft meow and a lick of a kitten's rough tongue woke Simone up. She gasped, sitting up, her panicked breathing speeding up her heart and sending heat to every part of her body. There had been no light this time. There had been no shine. No Lantern. Did she not need a guide anymore? Well, she had arrived to Beacon Hills. Maybe it wasn't calling her to it per se? Maybe there was something else to the dreams? Something that it wanted.
She remembered Mrs. Jones's panicked look when she had first found out about her daughter's nighttime adventures. The usually tan and smiling woman had looked as pale as her child, ready to pass out. Maybe there had been something to her mother's paranoia? Perhaps she had written it off too soon as the normal babbling which her mother did on a daily basis.
Simone patted Minuit, who was squirming in her lap, trying to gain her attention. The little one had woken her up. With one glance at her phone, she noted the time. Midnight. She had only been asleep for a couple of hours. Minuit gave a quiet meow, making Simone look at him once more. She had stopped petting him and he was squirming once more, to get just the right friction across his fur.
"In a little bit, you small menace." The witch told the kitten, placing him on the empty space of the bed between her and the wall. She slid out of the light, cotton sheets which smelled comfortingly of jasmine and cinnamon. The window was open, a slow breeze lazily drifting in. It was warm and soft, like a caressing hand. Simone slid her feet to the cool floor, which didn't have a carpet, but was instead made of polished wood, and headed to the large window. It didn't have a seat in it, like the one at home, and she missed it. She loved sitting in that place.
Her breathing slowed down and she calmed as she remembered when her grandmother was still allowed to come to the Jones house. They would sit in the window, her grandmother holding her in her lap, as she told her stories of different ancient witches and warlocks and how they became infamous in the Wizarding history. She had spent her childhood wishing that she could be as brave as Jeanne D'Arc or as beautiful as Helen of Troy. Simone had wanted to be as powerful as Merlin and as clever as Leonardo Da Vinci.
Something flickered in the woods that she could see outside her window and the breeze turned cold. Simone pulled back, icy terror spreading through her body, and she closed and latched her window with trembling fingers. Her hands were shaking as she fiddled with the oversized shirt that she used as her PJs. Her heart was beating a mile an hour and she could feel it. It wasn't a dreamwalk this time. This time, she could clearly feel it.
The cold, ancient pressure, coming at her straight from the woods. Staring into her soul. Stripping her bare and ripping her apart at the seams. Panic overtook the young witch as she moved back, her eyes darting back and forth through the woods, searching for the flickering. She couldn't find it. She couldn't find it. She needed to see it again. Simone reached out for the window again, reaching for the latch, when a soft meow interrupted her.
She turned to see Midnight, sitting on the bed, staring at her. The kitten was still, completely, as if it were made of stone. Its baby blue eyes, which still hadn't changed to their adult color, were focused on her, making her, in exchange, focus on them. And the scent of lavender and cinnamon filled her nose once more, taking her back into the warmth of the room, instead of the cold terror of the ancient stare from her dreamwalk.
She was safe. A soft chime came from the hallway and Simone clicked the unlock key on her phone, looking at the time.
00:01
Only one minute had passed. Still trembling with the aftermath of adrenaline, the teenage witch stumbled to her Dr. Marten's and slipped into them, the familiar weight and clanking as she walked comforting.
"Let's get something to drink, Midnight." She cooed to her kitten, which was now licking its paws. Simone briefly wondered if she had imagined the calm and wise cat which had broken her earlier fright. Maybe she had. "C'mon." As soon as the teen opened the door, turning the light on her phone on, the kitten followed her soundlessly and the two crept into the hallway.
The villa was dark, without a single light on, and quiet in a very eerie way. But, it wasn't creepy. It was calm. If you've ever been to a graveyard at night, you might relate the feeling. Now, it wasn't like that haunted graveyard that you're thinking of. Far from that. It was that calm, cool one, filled with your loving ancestors and kind strangers and neighbors. The feeling that you'd get as the sun set and the night came was peace, simply, genuine peace. You wouldn't be scared of a single zombie in that graveyard.
Simone padded across the wooden floors, quickly choosing to walk along the middle, as it was the only carpeted part. The fabric was narrow, simply a path. She recognized the origin of it, Turkish. The designs showed different symmetrical flowers and swirls in red, black, brown and orange. They were nothing short of breathtaking.
The young witch and her white kitten glided down the wooden stairs easily. Simone slowed down only on the first floor, where she had remembered there to be a couple of creaky steps. Minuit had bounded off, stopping a little ways down and waiting for his mistress. Soon, she, too, had followed.
The kitchen was empty when they reached it, completely in the dark. Simone clicked the small cooking light above the stove on, and the teen opened the fridge next, looking for the fresh orange juice. Eve wouldn't buy it at the market. Instead, she would get oranges and then make juice from those with a little bit of honey. Smiling, Simone sipped some. Her grandmother would approve. She always told Simone how you could tell that one was a true Crafter by their everyday life. And Eve was, in every single aspect that Simone had had the chance to see, a true traditional Crafter.
The teenager noticed that Minuit was brushing against her legs, seeking attention. She opened the fridge once more, lowering a piece of ham onto the floor. As she absent mindedly watched her pet eat with gusto, Simone smiled. The dinner which she had shared with Dan and Eve had been lively and comfortable.
The Jones family sometimes had dinner together, when Mr. Jones could make it on time. While he was working a case, he often tended to obsess over it. That made him a great lawyer, but a terrible husband. Of course, he came home with apologies. He tried to fix it all the time. But, both Simone and Mrs. Jones knew, there was nothing to fix. That was simply how he was. That was life.
Hence, the Jones family sometimes had dinner together, and it would be filled with tiny arguments. Whether it was about Mr. Jones discussing his case at the table, which could get pretty graphic, or Mrs. Jones making a 'helpful' comment about her daughter's weight and dressing style, the small quarrels were present.
Dan and Eve were different. They were a completely unexpected and widely dysfunctional, but quite endearing family. After observing them almost the whole day, Simone knew to expect an occasional teasing from Dan or a ramble from her Godmother. The blonde witch had spent the evening telling their new family member embarrassing stories about Dan's time at high school, when he had first arrived in Beacon Hills. Simone had thought that the handsome warlock couldn't get any more attractive, but seeing him try to hide his blush was positively adorable. Of course, he had picked up on her thoughts and defended himself out loud, causing Eve to continue her teasing. Simone could see where he had picked up the trait quite easily.
"I think I'm going to enjoy Beacon Hills, Midnight." She told her kitten, smiling to herself.
That's all folks!
Onto the reviews!
MsPatricia: I'm sorry, but I don't think that she's going to meet Stiles for a few more chapters xD Maybe less… I like to develop the characters a bit first, since they're all OCs :)
RandomWeirdGirl: So there I am, walking my dog (this adorable little thing which I call Satan in my spare time) and a mail notification comes on my phone! I was half-expecting it to be yet another marketing mail of some sort when I read 'review' and I do the 'excited dance'. I love review mail!
Anyways, I'm glad that you like Dan xD I gotta admit, he was made to be the 'cool older dude' kinda type, but, he's gonna have his bad sides, like the lot of them, don't be fooled. When I'm writing his 'cool parts' I swoon as well xD
Actually, me calling him a warlock is just a compromise… I really didn't want to use wizard, because that is a tad too Harry Potter, not to mention that it makes me think of Merlin, and not of the BBC one XD I haven't seen the Covenant yet, but I have seen the Craft, which was a tad ridiculous to me :P When I think of the word warlock I think of Kol Mikaelson from Vampire Diaries for some reason… embarrassing, but true xD
It will be a while before Simone meets Stiles, sorry :( But, I feel like I need to develop her relationship with Dan and Eve before I dive into the story :D
I hope that you enjoyed!
