Chapter 44: All roads lead to Rome.
Yesterday I said goodbye to Croix, and she assured me we'd see each other on Monday. Little did she know… she'll see me much sooner than that! She was trying to hide her anxiety when she said she's going home for the weekend. Bet she wasn't expecting to have some… company in her trip.
Is it a bad idea? Probably. Will Croix hate me for it? Maybe. Should I be doing my homework? Absolutely! But you know what? I don't care! Croix needs me, even if she's too stubborn to admit it. She was too scared, too distressed and too upset about the whole ordeal. She might think she can do this alone, but… not that I'm saying that she's weak, just that… she'll need all the support she can get. I can feel it.
Which brings me here: to the leyline, on a Saturday at the break of dawn. And I'm just in time to see Croix, together with the tall figure of a woman, fly away into the portal. I already asked permission from Holbrooke, saying I was going to visit my aunt, but I don't think she actually bought it. Still, I have the documents and the professor guarding the leyline can't say anything when I get on my broom and ride into the magic-made tunnel of light.
Now… Croix lives in Italy, right? Right. But… How many portals can there be in Italy? A lot, I'm assuming. Maybe I should have asked where she lives, but… that would have been suspicious. But anyways… my best shot is to just use the biggest leyline in that country; Rome. Or, more specifically, the roman coliseum. I shouldn't be that far behind them anyways, and if I see they're not there when I arrive, I can turn around and search in the second-biggest portal, and so on. I don't know how terrible of a plan that is, and I honestly don't want to know, but it's all I have.
It takes longer than I expected to get to Italy; longer than getting to France, anyways. But at the end I do arrive to the end of the leyline and exit it to find… Oh! The sun is already up in the cloudless sky, shining bright over every rooftop of this busy city. But… Its light doesn't actually bring any heat, and instead my cheeks and nose are instantly assaulted by the cold wind that sweeps the sky. Not that I'm surprised; it's also quite cold in Luna Nova too thanks to the rapidly-approaching winter, but I had assumed Italy would be… warmer.
But anyways, enough about the climate. I need to find Croix!
I start looking around the busy streets, full of cars, motorcycles and other human methods of transportation, and the sidewalks filled to the brim with pedestrians. The many buildings around, all with that particular roman style, are so different from what I've seen in France or England; the walls painted of yellows, oranges and whites, the flat rooftops, the small, but abundant windows, and the many, many, churches that can be seen throughout the place, all contrasting the ancient roman architecture of the coliseum behind me. It's truly a beautiful city! I'll have to ask Croix for a tour sometime!
…
But I need to find her first! Come on, Chariot, concentrate!
Croix, Croix… where is...? Oh! There! I turned my gaze to the right just in time to see two women on brooms descending into a street not too far away from where I am. I'm not completely sure it's Croix and her mother, but I gotta try! And so, I speed towards them in my broom as fast as I can and, in just a few seconds I'm close enough to see that… yes! It's Croix! I knew it! It's-
Whoa! What-
Suddenly, before I can get closer to my girlfriend, my broom starts falling right from under me, no matter how hard I will it to go up! I… it's… The magic! There's no magic here! Of course. If I wasn't panicking as the floor comes closer and closer by the second, I would've probably face palmed myself!
"Aaaaaaaahhhh!" I scream in terror. "Help! Croix!" But just when I'm a couple of meters away from hitting the ground, I hear the spell.
"Paleis Capama!" And, just a second later, I find myself floating, suspended on midair by a ball of green light. Oh? Croix! She heard me! She… she saved me! She's standing just a few meters away from me, wand in hand, and a strained expression on her face. Like it's taking a lot of energy and concentration to cast this spell. Which… is weird. This one's easy! Even I can do it!
"Croix!" I exclaim happily as the sphere of light starts to descend slowly towards the ground, but she doesn't answer; instead, it looks like it's taking every bit of energy out of her to just keep the spell going. And then… her hand trembles slightly, sparks come out of her wand and suddenly I'm falling again.
"Chariot!" She yells, running towards me. I just close my eyes and brace for the impact, but… instead of landing on the hard, rough ground as I expected, I land on something… softer. Carefully, I open an eye, looking down to my savior and, as I suspected, I find a pair of bright green eyes looking right back at me.
"H-hey." I say with a nervous smile, but I only get a pained groan in response.
"Croix! Stai bene?" I hear a voice to my right and look up just in time to see a tall woman running towards us. She's thin, dressed in a dark blue suit that's elegant but not ostentatious in any way; she also has tan skin, light blue eyes and curly black hair done in a tight bun. Honestly? She looks amazing for her age (I deduce she's older than my aunt, maybe early fifties?), and although she doesn't look like Croix at all, it's easy to deduce she's her mother; they both have the same arrogant air about them.
"A-ah!" Croix let's out a squeak and pushes me away, trying to get up, her face as red as a tomato. "Y-yes… I'm fine." She answers in English, alternating her gaze between her mother and me, while I get up on my own.
"Who is she?" Her mother raises an eyebrow as she scans me up and down, an action that makes me feel self-conscious and my cheeks start burning.
"Uh… Hi! I'm-" But before I can answer, Croix pretty much shoves my broom and bag into my arms.
"No one! She's no one. She's already leaving!" She exclaims panicked.
"No, I'm not!" I shoot back.
"Chariot-"
"No! I followed you all the way here! I'm not going back now!" I glare at Croix for a few seconds and she glares right back, but just when she's about to yell at me again, her mother speaks.
"I see. So you're Chariot du Nord." She then comes even closer and then… then she bows before me. "It's a pleasure to meet one of the descendants of the Nine Olde Witches."
I feel all blood rush to my cheeks as an awkward feeling settles on my stomach. Oh gosh. I wasn't prepared for this. I didn't think she'd know! Or even care, for that matter!
"P-please, don't bow." I say with a nervous laugh. "I'm just… m-me. I mean… I'm not even good with magic! Not like Croix!" Croix's mother thankfully straightens herself back up and then smiles at me.
"So modest." She says with an approving expression on her face. "But there's no need to dissimulate. I can see you have a very ancient wand with you. A relic from your family, perhaps?"
"Oh?" Wait… That's right! I brought the shiny rod with me. "Uhm… something like that…" I say awkwardly, not willing to discuss the subject right now, much less in the middle of a busy street.
"Chariot." Croix finally intervenes, addressing me with a stern voice. "What are you doing here? I told you I didn't want you to come."
"Yeah, but… what kind of girlfriend would I be if I'm not here when you need me the most?!" I retort.
"Girlfriend?" Croix's mother asks, looking at Croix with an expectant gaze, and if waiting for an explanation. Oh no. She said she didn't want to have this conversation yet! I screwed up in the heat of the moment.
"Actually, we're not… she's… we…" Croix stutters, blushing more and more brightly by the second.
"Croix?" Her mother prompts. "Is she your girlfriend or not?"
"I-I…" She sighs, defeated, when she realizes there's no taking it back now; our secret is out of the bag. "Y-yeah… she is." She finally admits, deviating her gaze.
"And you came here uninvited." Croix's mom addresses me once more, but she doesn't bother phrasing it like a question. I can only give her a sheepish smile.
"I knew how hard this whole thing would be for Croix and… I couldn't just let her deal with it on her own." I explain nervously.
"I see." A genuine smile appears on her face and she nods in satisfaction. "We'll welcome you with open arms then. Please, come with us; it'll be an honor to have you in our house."
The trip to Croix's house couldn't last more than an hour, but it felt like a whole day. We took two buses in order to get there, and in all the time we spent on the transport, I could sense Croix's mother (Mellea, as Croix gently reminded me) was dying to ask me lots of questions, something that Croix prevented by positioning herself and me at the busiest, loudest part of the bus. I bet then that dinner would be difficult, and would probably feel more like an interrogation than anything else.
But at least it seems like her mom actually liked me. Maybe. At least she didn't openly disapprove of me, but… I still couldn't help feeling nervous.
"It's here." Croix said, tugging on my sleeve when I was about to keep walking past the building we were in front of. I then stopped and looked up at it, surprised at how different it looked compared to the others; sharp edges, pointy rooftop and… grey color? It was probably black in the past, but it appears to have faded over time. Regardless, it stood out like a sore thumb among the other bright- colored buildings. More so! On top of its roof, enclosed by what looked like a metal cage was the unmistakable shine of a Philosopher's stone; not quite as large as Luna Nova's, but probably enough to provide the whole block with magical coverage.
"It's a building for witches." Mellea spoke, answering my silent question. "One of the only three there are in this city; we're quite lucky to be able to live here."
"So… they only rent to witches?" I ask, to see if I understood correctly.
"Yes." Croix answers this time. "Older families have a preference, but it's enough to have an official certificate from a magical school to be able to live in one of these buildings."
"I see…" I trail off, still entranced by the look of the six floors that made the building. An entire building full of witches! I would have given my life to live in a place like this! Maybe when I'm older, after I graduate, I could. Although I probably should ask Croix's opinion first… where would she even want to live? England? Italy? France?
…
Did I just-
No! I can't be thinking about these things yet! It's way too soon!
"Where do you live, Miss du Nord?" Croix's mom asks as she unlocks the door and gestures for us to get in.
"Please, just call me Chariot." I smile. "I mean, we're practically family, right?" I yelp when I feel Croix's elbow digging on my ribs and turn to find her cold glare.
Oh right. I probably shouldn't be saying these things when we've only been dating for a few weeks.
"Very well, Chariot." Croix's mom agrees, starting to lead us up the stairs. "Where are you from, then?"
"France!" I reply. "I live with my aunt in a large vineyard that my family has had for generations!"
"A… vineyard?" Croix ask with a surprise tone of voice. Oh right! I don't think I ever talked about this with her.
"Yep! We're just one of the many families there that cultivate grapes for the wine that is exported from Champagne."
"And you make wine too?" Croix's mom's asks, stopping in front of a door on the third floor.
"No, we just sell our grapes." I answer. "Although we do keep a few to make the wine that we- I mean… that my aunt, consumes." I chuckle nervously at my little slip-up since I really don't know how Mellea feels about underage drinking. Sure, it's not like I've ever gotten drunk, and it was all in the name of learning about wines and such because… that's just how we French people are, but… still. I know my aunt is more flexible about this stuff than most people.
"How old are you, Chariot?" Mellea asks as she finally finds the key and lets us into the apartment.
"I'm seventeen, but I will be turning eighteen in just a few months." Yeah… she probably asked this because of my slip-up. I bet she thought I was already eighteen, or nineteen like Croix, but no. And I don't want to lie.
"So you're one year younger than Croix, huh?" She smiles. "How did you meet?"
"Mom." Croix intervenes, speaking through gritted teeth. "I think you've asked enough questions for now, and it would be best if Chariot and I prepare for dinner."
"It's quite early, don't you think?" She asks and, although I wouldn't mind ending the interrogation, I have to concede that she's right. "Why don't you two change out of your uniforms and then we continue this talk over lunch? I'm eager to find out more about you, Chariot."
"Uh… sure!" I smile, before promptly being dragged away by Croix.
Croix slams the door behind me before pinning me against it, her hands resting on the door at both sides of my head as she glares down at me.
"What. Are. You. Doing. Here?" She snarls through gritted teeth, her usually warm eyes appearing as cold as the winter wind blowing outside, and her expression more angry than I ever could have anticipated. I shrink down, questioning for the first time since I left Luna Nova if this was actually a good idea.
"I-I… I just…" I stutter, but she punches the door next to my face, making me flinch in surprise and fear.
"I TOLD YOU TO STAY!" She yells. "But you never listen, do you? No one ever listens to me! Not my mom, and certainly not you!" Just then do I realize the real reason why she might be upset; she explicitly told me she didn't want me to come, just like she told her mom that she didn't want to meet her real mother. I disregarded her wishes and just did what I wanted! But I… I didn't… That wasn't my intention!
"C-Croix… I'm sorry! I just wanted to-"
"Save it." She spats. "The damage is done. I can't send you away now, can I?!"
"I'm sorry…" I trail off as I look to the side in shame, unable to look at her furious eyes any more without feeling like I might cry. I just wanted to do the right thing! Or… so I thought. Maybe I was wrong though. Maybe… Maybe I'm actually being selfish. Maybe I should have listened to Croix.
My girlfriend sighs. Then, suddenly, I feel her thumb brushing against my cheek, wiping away a tear I didn't know had fallen.
"No… I… I shouldn't have yelled…" She says in an apologetic tone, and I finally chance to look at her again, only to find her with a downright miserable expression on her face. Gosh, I can't even imagine what kind of thoughts might be spiraling inside her head like an uncontrollable hurricane; what kind of emotions might be laying waste inside her heart for her eyes to show such a sad picture in them. I remain paralyzed, fearing I might make things worse for her… even more than I already have.
"Chariot… I'm just so scared." Her voice sounds weak and broken, and she's visibly shaking now. "And stressed, and anxious and…" She swallows before looking to the side frantically, almost as if she's literally searching for a way to escape this situation. "I just wish… I wish I could run away. As fast as my legs could carry me. As far as my body could stand. I-I… I'd rather be anywhere but here right now."
"Croix…" I start, only to pause immediately. I don't even know what to say! Even though I came here as emotional support, this all seems to be really too much for me to be able to help Croix. "I-I just-"
I'm suddenly cut off when Croix presses her lips against mine, silencing me instantly. The kiss is so sudden, so rough and so quick that I can't really do anything except stare at her with wide eyes. I… I wasn't expecting that. At all.
"C-Croix? W-what-" I try to ask what the hell was that, but I'm silenced once more by her mouth uniting with mine in a desperate dance, so rough, so clumsy, and awkward and… devoid of the usual warmth and tenderness we usually share when we kiss. It's… almost scary. It doesn't feel good at all and I'm paralyzed, just letting her do… whatever she's doing.
When she pulls away she looks even more agitated than before… and not exactly in a good way. Her cheeks lack the usual flush that adorns them whenever we show affection to each other, her breath comes out in little anguished gasps, and her eyes look… lost. Her overall expression screams stress.
"Croix?" I ask in a small voice, unsure of what to do in in this situation.
"I-I… I'm sorry…" She stutters as she takes one step back, and soon enough she starts shaking like an earthquake, closing her eyes like she wants to fuse her eyelids together, and clenching her fists until her knuckles look even whiter than the walls of her room. She's about to cry!
I instantly embrace her in a tight hug, hoping to at least give her some comfort, and thankfully I feel her arms wrapping around me before I can even start worrying I made a bad move.
"Hey… it's alright." I say as I pull her in just a little more tightly.
"No, it's not." She answers with a strangled voice. "Nothing is alright. Everything is a mess… I'm a mess, and I… I don't even know what I'm feeling, or what I'm doing, or- or how the fuck I'm supposed to ever get out of this room!"
"Croix…" I pause, because… what can I say, really? Besides repeating her name over and over again like it's a magical word that will somehow convey everything I can't put into words. "Croix, listen." I wet my lips, preparing to just let my mouth talk, hoping it will somehow find a way to do it without my brain's input. "I know that everything might seem scary and stressful and nerve-wracking, and that right now you don't see any possible way you can survive this situation, but… you will, alright? I know you will! You're the strongest, smartest, most capable person I've ever known. And I'm not about to watch you collapse because of this, okay? I'll be here for you the entire time. We will get through this, together."
"T-thank you…" She sobs, burying her face on my shoulder. "I… " I hear a small pained chuckle on my ear before she speaks again, still half-crying, but also with a hint of humor in her voice. "Maybe… maybe it wasn't such a bad idea for you to come…"
I chuckle too as I pull her in even tighter, to the point I feel the buttons of her uniform digging into my chest almost painfully. But that closeness is still comforting nonetheless and a small smile ends up appearing in my face.
"You dummy." I say. "It's too early to say that, but… might I ask why you so desperately didn't want me to come? Were you afraid that your mom wouldn't approve of me?"
I wait for her answer for a few pregnant seconds, but when I'm only met with silence, I press again, assuming an affirmative answer.
"I mean, because… I don't want to sound pretentious or anything, but your mom does actually seem to like me."
"Yeah… more than she likes me." She mutters under her breath.
"What?" I separate from her just enough to look at her wet eyes, confused and searching on her face for a sign that she's joking, but she just looks to the side and pulls away completely.
"We should probably change into actual non-witchy clothes." She says with a barely suppressed shudder, then eyes me up and down and raises an eyebrow. "Did you bring any clothes?"
"Uhh…" I blush, realizing I literally left Luna Nova with only my broom, my wand and my uniform. I didn't even bring my PJ's!
"What am I going to do with you?" She sighs and shakes her head, but the ghost of a smile appears on her face.
"Do you have something that I can use?" I ask shyly.
"I think I do have a dress that I'm never planning to use again." She replies, her eyes softening slightly for the first time today. "Hopefully it fits."
"Thanks." I answer, while Croix turns around, goes to her closet next to the window and starts rummaging inside it, no doubt looking for said dress. As she does, I take a moment to look at her room and… I realize it's actually really tidy. One would say even uncannily so. Almost impersonal, like an office with a bed. There's no pictures, no toys from when she was young, no clothes laying around, not even a food stain on the carpet! But the weirdest thing is… there's no technology in here, and knowing Croix… that's probably because she hid it all.
"Here." She says, almost shoving a cream-colored dress on my face. "You can change in the bathroom, just down the hallway."
"Thanks." I repeat, taking it. Croix turns around and is about to go back to her closet when I stop her, taking her hand in mine.
"What-" This time It's me who presses my lips against hers, effectively silencing her. But unlike her kisses, I let mine linger. I don't really move, just let us savor the feeling of our mouths being so close to each other, so that when we separate, the impregnation on this small, sweet touch remains with us, even if for just a few seconds.
"Everything will be fine. You'll see." I reassure her.
"I-I…" She seems lost for a moment, looking at me with wide eyes before answering tiredly. "I hope that you're right."
A/N: Hey! Merry Christmas y'all! Hope you enjoyed the early update, and that the angst in this chapter didn't kill your Christmas cheer lol. Thank you for reading and, as always, please leave a review/fav/follow! See you in two weeks (hopefully).
Thanks to my beta reader moonwatcher13.
