"You girls are going to be fine?"
"That's the millionth time you're asking that Cass, we are fine. I know it's only been a week since the incident, Bonnie is going to mopey for a little while longer, but that's expected. And while we weren't the biggest fans of Mister Tanner, we'd hate to see his family suffer while they find their footing. So, I have decided we're going to have a fundraiser. Behold, the Sexy Suds!"
"Breathe while you talk Care," Bonnie chipped in rolling her eyes.
The blonde stuck her tongue out in response.
"Anyway, so I have a plan to fan off the air of melancholy in town. Tanner's family benefits from it. And it's going to keep Bonnie so busy that she won't get a moment to slide into mope."
"Looks like you've got it covered then," Cassie asked in confirmation.
"Yesss, please leave already. You are going to New York. NEW YORK! Why are you wasting your time checking on a bunch of teens when you could be planning your trip?"
"In case you forgot, I was living there before moving to this town. And it's a work trip. Everything is planned, booked and settled."
"Then go make out with your hot fiance, we're done talking to you."
"Fine, just call me if you need anything," she told them as she got into her car.
"No doing, party hard, bye."
"Take care, Cassie! Have a safe trip!" Bonnie waved.
"Damon, I'm going to New York, work call," Cassie called into the empty room knowing Damon could hear her from anywhere in the house. He sped to her moments later, "Aww, are you leaving me to do all the work here?"
"We have no work here until the full moon, I'll be back in two days."
"You better not run on me, witch."
"I keep my promises, Salvatore. Don't get into too much trouble while I'm away."
"C'mon, have you seen this face. I am trouble, baby," with an exaggerated lick on his lips.
She walked away in fake disgust.
"Miss Black, I didn't think I'd see you for another four months."
"Needed another small favor."
"The favors you ask are anything but small."
"That's why your pay isn't either. Now, are you in or out?"
"What's the job?"
"Turn a blind eye to a certain location in rural Virginia."
"That shouldn't be a problem."
"It's Mystic Falls."
"Then I spoke too soon. That is beyond my pay grade. There's a whole different unit with the Creatures section that monitors such zones."
"I'm not asking to cover for creatures. Just a witch, a wiccan witch. They'd fly under your radar but she's a powerful one and her magic is just maturing. So incidents of accidental magic."
"Look, I appreciate the gold, but I can make no promises for the witch. You'll receive a charm much like your own that'll suppress the unique magical signature, but you know it only works until a threshold."
"That'll do."
"It's going to cost twice your usual retainer, I'm risking a lot more."
"I appreciate it, Morten. You get the pay once I get the charm. Look into Mystic Falls for me and send it over with your usual updates."
"I was not expecting you so I don't have a report for you, but I will have it ready with your delivery. You can pick it up from the usual delivery point in two days. Anything particular on Mystic Falls?"
"Town history, magical elements in and around, Bennet family, Salvatore brothers, amongst background on the current activity of the town council. From what I understand, it is one of those towns aware of the beyond. I would like to know who's in the know."
"You got it."
With business out of the way, and nothing to do but wait, Cassie figured she might as well check on the her bunch from her time in New York. Obliviate her previous flatmate if necessary.
As she weaved through the sea of people on the streets, insane traffic on one side and the delicious odours of cafes and patisseries on another, a wave of nostalgia hit her. She missed this, she missed being one in the crowd. She'd lived across Europe before, but New York was the first place that made her feel normal, let her shoulders lighten.
She could forget the weight she was carrying, the burden she bore first as an orphan, then as a Black. No one looked at her in anticipation, not of her success, not of her failure. No one knew she was different.
A hand caught her wrist startling her. She had them pinned against the wall by their neck in a blink, a disarming spell ready at her fingertips. The man let go of her wrist and raised his hands in surrender, though his eyes should no fear.
"I mean no harm, M'lady, I merely wish to extend an invitation."
She tightened her grip on his neck, and allowed her magic to build up, heating her hand enough to sting him as she took him in. A lanky kid in his early twenties casually dressed, nothing that would at first glance. The charms and herbs on his beaded bracelet said another story.
"Which coven?"
"Order of the Bronze," he croaked.
"And this invitation you speak of?"
"The covens of New York wish to invite you to the Turn of the Tides gathering being hosted on your name."
She just scoffed at hearing it, the kid was probably a pre-initiate who took this as a dare or a joke. He'd know next to nothing.
"Where?"
As she weaved through the endless trees of Central Park, she questioned why she was going along with this. Because, your research has been a dead end since forever, her mind supplied unhelpfully.
She wasn't concerned about her safety, there's not a lot the covens could have done in the few hours she gave them to move the 'venue' to a location of her choosing. A clearing in the park where she used to meditate and practice for four years.
The place would be saturated enough with her magic that she could use enough spells without worrying about detection. Not to mention she could disarm an army if she really wished to cause damage.
"M'lady," the kid from earlier greeted her with a bow.
"Do you have a death wish or is your coven trying to get rid of you?"
"It is my highest honour to invite and escort you, m'lady."
"Death wish it is," she could see him crack a smile. Taking control of the imbued magic, she scanned the place. No spells, traps or negative intentions, although there were over two hundred people in the vicinity.
Bloody Merlin, what was she getting into.
She stepped into the clearing and the line of sight of the congregation. They were all dressed in the ritual garbs of their respective covens. She didn't recognise all of them on sight, but judging by the aura, she knew they meant serious business.
A woman in purple robes who looked like she was in her sixties stepped forward and bowed deeply. "Lady Black, it is our greatest honour to have you in our presence. I am Thalestria, the priestess of the Order of the Third Star."
She nodded in formal acknowledgement, as much as she'd like to snap and leave, neither her upbringing nor her position in the Wizarding World allowed that. "It's as much as a surprise being here, as it is my pleasure. To what do I owe this?"
She gestured Cassie to the centre of the smaller semi circle, standing slightly to her side, "The covens of New York would like to pledge you their loyalty."
Her eyes widened briefly, before she turned to the faces in front of her. Not an oath of loyalty, she noted, a pledge. The covens get a choice in whether or not they want to support her cause or fight on her behalf unless she explicitly directs them to get involved.
Putting her confusion on their intentions and gestures aside, she saw the opportunity for what it was. She removed her bag, her jacket and handed them to the reckless kid. She removed all the non magical items on her person, like her phone, wallet, earrings and the like to go into her bag and pulled out her own robes from her bottomless bag.
Thalestria called for a helper to provide a makeshift screen. Cassie made a quick work of her clothes and shoes, all the while wondering what she was getting herself into and how on earth these things happen to her.
Putting a pause on those thoughts, she stepped forward addressed the crowd before the priestess could stop her.
"I, Cassiopeia Adara Pendragon Black, vow to you the wix of New York, to have your best interests in body, spirit and mind, to stand by you in times of distress and need, so mote be it." She waited for the magic of the vow to settle before the congregation descended into shock and awe.
She raised her hand calling for silence, "I stand by you, not because you would for me. I stand by you, because we are all magic."
Another pause accommodating for whispers. Looking at the inner circle of coven heads, she continued, "While I am touched by your offer to pledge me your loyalty, I ask of you, look after your own before you look out for me. If it's not in your current capacity to pledge outwards, I insist you don't. I shall see it as a sign of your commitment to your covens. If you wish to proceed with your pledges, know this, none of you shall ever be asked to put me and my cause before you and yours."
"If you still wish to proceed," she signalled her consent to the priestess. Thalestria was the first to go.
"I, Thalestria Linda of the Order of the Third Star, pledge you Cassiopeia Adara Pendragon Black my oath of loyalty and support of the Order of the Third Star within means and reason. Blessed Be."
"I, Cassiopeia Adara Pendragon Black accept the oath of loyalty and support of the Order of the Third Star. So mote be it."
Cassie unsheathed her blade and made a clean cut in her hand right in time for a chalice to be brought forward. She let three drops of her blood drop before fisting her palm. The priestess did the same. Cassie took a sip of the mixed blood with herbs the before handing it to Thalestria who then stepped back with the chalice to be shared with her coven.
One by one, all the heads of the covens gave their oaths. Soon after, the people started mingling, while Cassie was ushered away by Thalestria. "We have matters of importance to discuss in private."
Of course, she sighed, you want something in return for the oath.
She sees most of the coven leaders and what looks to be their inner circle. "So, what prompted this?" she asked when no one seemed to start talking.
I'm back! Life went crazy and I was barely holding on to everything so took a pause. Be back with regular updates from now!
Reviews please!