Too Much To Hope For
When someone as fragile as Iliana Harman finds her soulmate – it's not exactly something she looks forward to. Especially with her being a bit of blonde fluff and he being a cold-hearted biker. And Iliana isn't the only one who looks on in distaste…
Samhain Celebration
The witches were leaving the hall. Thierry had just finished a long speech about inviting the new couple and having more Daybreakers. He spoke about what the world meant to everyone. He even brought a tear to some people's eyes.
Val sniffed. A chord had been struck within him that night – but it wasn't because of Thierry.
He looked up just as the pretty blonde made her exit. She was willowy and graceful – even though she was petite. She did a pirouette and talked excitedly to her friends, her violet eyes glinting.
That was the first thing Val had noticed about her – her eyes. That was when he was up close.
Yet even from this distance, she still made his heart throb. Even after all the things he'd done, Valerian Stillman still had a heart. He turned away in self-hatred and looked down at the table.
Jez was talking hurriedly to Raven and making her giggle. Val tuned out. It wasn't really interesting talk. All about being pampered because of what she was.
Heck, he should've known Jez was the Wild Power – she even looked like someone who could control fire. If you'd have asked Val two hours ago he would've said he only had eyes for Jez, despite her having a soulmate – and not just any soulmate, but his old gang leader: Morgead Blackthorn.
Now? He looked up again. Iliana opened the hall's doors and went through them – disappearing from sight. Val sighed.
"I'm a witch, dummy!"
He shook his head, trying to get rid of the clouds of sadness. So what if he was stupid? She didn't look particularly intelligent either!
And why did it hurt so much that she thought him dumb? Because I should've known she was a witch… A Harman isn't a Harman unless they're witches. Even I should know that… Val rubbed the top of his arm.
He didn't normally care what other people thought of him. Now he did. For some reason.
Someone poked him on the arm. It was Raven, she looked confused. "Val, are you all right?" she asked.
"Hmm? Oh. Oh, yeah, I'm… fine…" Val said, distracted. Jez and Morgead exchanged humorous glances. Val hated it when they did that. Their 'humouring Val' look. He scowled.
Raven frowned. "I know this is a bit of a jump. I mean we've been so used to squatting and being in slums that this is all–"
"You have no idea," Val replied tightly.
Just hurry along this day, please… I can't bear to be around all this chitchat.
"Unity," Iliana muttered, bowing her head and nodding at her fellow witches. She bit her bottom lip – trying to recall whether she'd said the right thing. Whether it was supposed to be 'Merry meet' or not.
It was strange. She'd never ever wanted to do this. But meeting Thea had brought out her witchy side.
Iliana's blonde hair covered up a particularly cheeky smile.
She'd always thought that she wasn't the Witch Child. But now she had to face the fact that she was.
Iliana raised her head.
It was her duty as the With Child to be a fully trained witch. Whatever that meant. But Iliana just hoped she'd be good enough and make her family proud.
The sea of witches parted. Thea was particularly happy today, she was already cleansing the circle and doing motions with her hands to bless the coven. It was around a year ago now that she met Eric. She had every right to be happy. This was – sort of – an anniversary for the two of them.
Samhain marked the day they left for Daybreak.
Iliana sat down, behind the lines of the pentacle that had been chalked onto the floor. They were sat outside, in the gardens of the Descouedres mansion. It was more like a courtyard.
A few feet away from the patio – which was where they were now – was a gigantic fountain. Towering in certain places of the garden were statues – angels, cherubs and lovers. The perimeter wall was a deep scarlet hidden by dozens of swaying palm trees and Mediterranean plants.
An annex was shadowed in the distance. Ivy dominated the wall in Iliana's line of sight. Windows jutted out amongst the spindly leaves at regular intervals, and the terracotta brick was the same colour as the wall.
It was the gym. On the ground floor were the running machines and weights and downstairs – in what had once been a cellar – was now a training room. It was full of punch bags, training dummies and even a crude wrestling ring.
The gym was in the west wing of the mansion – fitting snugly into the left corner of the perimeter wall. In the right corner was the newest part of the mansion, which had only been constructed a few months ago.
It was the salon. Iliana's doing, of course.
Below that – in the basement – was a pool and aromatherapy baths. Bliss. Well, the girls had to have somewhere to go to get away from their soulmates once in a while. And if they weren't going to be allowed out then they had to get their beauty treatments somewhere.
Right now the salon building was lit up by a garden floodlight, making it look beautiful and almost something out of a fairy-tale. It was built to look exactly like an old English cottage – including the honeydew and roses creeping along the walls and lapping at the roof.
Iliana smiled. The borders of the giant grass verge that nestled in the centre of the 'courtyard' reached out to touch the salon – a sea of green amongst the exotic plants and garden herbs.
The outdoors smelt of lavender and jasmine. The sickly sweet smell only succeeded in relaxing Iliana to the point of sleepiness.
The sloshing of water in the fountain was heard as it struck the sides of the basin, the angel that danced lightly whilst 'pouring' the fountain-water from a jug looked serene – even if it was only made of stone.
The gardens were perfect.
A good measure of plants from all over the world – slotted together neatly so it looked like Eden. Jungle plants, English countryside plants, grasses and ferns, an orchard, a herb garden and even a rose garden. Nestled in amongst the latter section were birdhouses – and forever the chirping of birds could be heard no matter what time of day it was.
There was the sound of birdsong even now, dipping the atmosphere into slight eeriness, yet peacefulness. Iliana shifted into a more comfortable position and sighed.
The pathways of the garden were depicted by medium-height hedges and topiaries that lined the way – the gravel stones that made up the trail shone like pearls in the moonlight.
Iliana wondered who the gardener was. Who could've made this so beautiful?
"Welcome, daughters of Hellewise. Today we celebrate Samhain…" It was Winnie who had the privilege to speak. Iliana snapped out of her thoughts and watched her friend intently, listening to every word. Her fellow witches did the same.
Even some humans were around the circle – humans who had been Pagans and Wiccans and now wanted to dabble in real magic: what they had almost been taught, what they had believed they knew.
Winnie was nervous, Iliana could tell, but she didn't disappoint anyone. And when the speech was over, wine was handed around in a goblet. Around the circle the goblet would go and everyone would make a wish.
Iliana felt a bit awkward, saying what she truly wanted out loud. Especially with a dozen people listening. But… they were her friends. Besides, if you share your wish out loud it doesn't come true, right?
Gillian wished for confidence and maturity. Everyone's heart went out to her; she looked so sad as she drank from the goblet. Even though everyone accepted her for what she was – Gillian was a frightened child inside.
Thea drank next. She wished to see her cousin, Blaise. Some people fidgeted uncomfortably because Blaise was still in with the Night World and belonged to Circle Midnight, but there was a smile on Thea's face that was full of longing and wistfulness. No one objected.
And next came a human's turn who wished to find her soulmate. Iliana turned her face away. Poor girl. She may never find him… But Iliana also felt this feeling of contrariness. Who the hell wants a soulmate? You'd be stuck with them for life. No fun, no partying. Sure, I'll settle down someday – but to be tied down forever? Ouch.
It was Iliana's turn to drink. The human girl on her right had wetness spilling out of her eyes. She looked so lost, so fragile. Thea and Gillian felt guilty for having soulmates. The other witches and humans looked awkward too.
Iliana gulped and took the goblet from the human girl. She held it in front of her, uncomfortable, and then took a deep breath. "I drink of my sisters, and wish that…" A movement in the garden distracted her.
Her head jerked up, and the others turned to look too. Accompanying the figure in the shadows was a soft crunching sound. Someone was walking along the gravel path that led from the corridor's back door to the patio.
Iliana moaned inaudibly. Lanterns and candles, surrounding the patio in a giant circle, illuminated the cobbled floor. The first thing the coven saw was a pair of tattered Converses as the figure stepped into the light.
Then came the shabby jeans, with dozens of chains spiralling from the waist to the back pocket – biker style. Then came two fists that were aligned perfectly with the person's thighs, the wrists clad in arm bands – one depicting the Anarchy symbol, the other brandishing the band name: Slipknot.
Following that was a pair of muscly arms, held in check by a black vest top and a set of sturdy shoulders. Then the person was standing, revealed, on the patio – in full view of the group of Samhain celebrators.
His brown hair was spiked in a Mohawk – as it had been earlier – his warm brown eyes resembled, at that instant, a deer trapped in headlights. He stopped moving. His body froze. His strong features locked in confusion, his lips parted as he began to calculate what he'd stumbled into.
Iliana narrowed her eyes. She'd long forgotten what she was going to wish for. Instead she was looking at the newcomer with tilted, unbelieving eyes.
Val finally shot her a quirky smile. "Mind if I join you?" he asked.