Hey everyone, I'm back again with another one. I know I said I would get his out sooner but I real life kicked in. Anyways I just wanna thank all those who added this to their favs, or follow list and to those who reviewed. Means the world to me!
Enough of me, read on and remember SM owns this, not me and again I'm my own Beta so if ya don't like my mistakes or content then stop reading!
Chapter 3- Explanations
"It all started back in 1434, in Ireland…" my aunt started her tale in the same voice she used to tell me stories in.
"Wait! Hold up, are you trying to tell me that you're over 500 years old?" I asked while I tried to do the math in my head.
She laughed and replied "Goodness no, I'm old lass, but not that old, but I'll get to that. Our family as you know were the O'Quinn's and we were known throughout the land as the greatest of healers, and our magic was revered by all. I won't go into extreme detail right now for I intend to tell you more of our family history over the next couple of weeks but know this Isa, our family are witches and you my dear are as well"
"I'm a…a… a what?" I stuttered.
"A witch my dear" she laughed.
"Okay I know Renee said she was, well you too, always knew that, but is Charlie?" I asked.
"Ha! He wishes, no lass your Da is not. Mortals are not supposed to know about us. Your mother, bless her, got terribly drunk one night just after dating Charlie and showed him exactly what she was. Poor dear was petrified but he loved yer mom so much he swore his allegiance to Danu who happens to be our goddess. Think of her as mother of all, Mother Nature if you will. He swore to uphold our secret as well and to protect your mom at all costs. As for the question about my age. Well last time I checked I was pushing 350, your mom is 300 years old" she said.
I'm sure my eyes were the size of saucers. She had to be shittin me. The only ones I knew who could live that long were them and those like them.
"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa! Wait a second. Okay, let me get something straight here. Are your telling me that you and my mother are over 300 years old?" she nodded and smiled.
"And you, Renee and myself are witches?" again she nodded
"But Charlie isn't" I knew I was repeating myself, but honestly, it was a lot to take in.
I had only come to terms with the fact that vampires were real and now I'm being told I'm a mythical creature. Again my aunt nodded with a smile on her face.
"Well I'll be damned" I said causing my aunt to throw her head back and laugh; it was a full on belly laugh and just like that, the sky opened up and the sun came out for the first time in weeks it seemed; okay so first super witch power; control over the elements. Pandora put the top down and I let the sun warm my skin and as I looked towards the front of where we were driving I saw the biggest rainbow ever, it was beautiful and I suddenly wanted to kick myself for breaking my camera out of anger.
I hadn't noticed we had picked up speed till the top went up and my aunt told me to hold on. I know I appeared confused but she just patted my leg and smiled and the next thing I knew was that we were flying through the air and that same bright light that my mother seemed to materialize from was engulfing the car. I was terrified and I closed my eyes, gripping the dashboard till my fingers went numb. All at once everything stopped and my aunt said
"It's alright now lass, we're here, Isa Hun, ye can open yer eyes now" she was chuckling at me and slowly I opened my eyes and gasped at the sight before me.
All around us were rolling hills as green as the grass, the sun shone so brightly here, wherever here was; and just up ahead on a dirt road lay a huge house, well more like a mansion or even a modern day castle. It was beautiful and I was compelled to get out of the car and run towards it. My aunt must have noticed my anticipation for she chuckled and said
"Tis a beauty of a place isn't it?" and I nodded dazed as I looked around.
"Relax Isa; we'll be there soon, just a few more minutes. I just have to make a call"
A call, for what?
I expected my aunt to haul out a cell phone, but instead she cleared her throat and bellowed
"Adrian O'Quinn, by Danu, if ye don't git yer arse down here so help me I'll shove me boot up there. I told ye we'd be back ere at this time now hurry on boy before I reddens yer arse"
Who the hell was Adrian?
I didn't have to wonder long for just a few seconds later a boy about my age with red hair, and hazel colored eyes came running down from the castle as fast as he could although I didn't notice a door opening or where he ran from, he just seemed to appear out of thin air.
"Sorry ma, I mean priestess, forgive me I was distracted" he said between breaths and bent to one knee.
"It's alright son, and you don't have to be so formal around this one, I knows everyone else is but I'll be damned if I let's ye do it'
"Sorry" he said again and then turned to me flashing me a smile and a wink.
"Who might you be lass?" he asked
"Adrian, I'd like for you to meet Isa, I mean Isabella Swan, Isa this is my son Adrian"
"Ye don't say, about damn time I got to meet me own cousin and about damn time ye got here, we've been waiting forever for Ne Ne to git her head out of her arse" he laughed and I giggled nervously not even knowing I had a cousin let alone what to say to him, I mean my whole world had been turned upside down.
"Adrian, watch your mouth, and what ye say about yer aunt boy, ye maybe 150 years old, but yer still me son and don't think I won't redden yer arse" Dora scolded.
150 years old, what the fuck! Was I like the youngest in our family? I watched as he blushed and muttered some apology. I liked him instantly, he seemed sweet and it was great to know that I wasn't the only one in the family who blushed.
"Isa, sweetheart don't mind Adrian, he's as saucy as his da, now son could you kindly take ya cousin's bags and open the door" she said and I was wondering what door she was talking about.
"Yes ma" he replied and grabbed my bag from the trunk and then he muttered something and an actual door appeared in front of us.
I stood there with my mouth open and heard my aunt and cousin chuckling at me as they pushed me towards it. What the hell were they laughing at me for; I mean a goddamn door just appeared out of nowhere. Oh yeah witches; second power: making stuff appear out of nowhere, and something tells me this won't be the last surprise for me.
"Ah don't worry lass, it's just magic, something you'll learn all about" Adrian explained.
"Umm… question. Where are we and why did we just walk through a door when a road led right to the castle?" I asked deeply confused and maybe just a little bit pissed off at all this frigging secrecy.
"Calm down little one, I promise to tell ya all ya need to know for now, the rest can wait. First off we're in Ireland, well amongst the mountains for protection purposes." My aunt explained.
Ireland, I just traveled across half the freaking world, holy crap!
"Wait a second, won't anyone passing overhead in a helicopter or plane see this place, I mean it's pretty hard to miss a big castle in the middle of nowhere" I asked and my cousin laughed again causing me to narrow my eyes at him.
"Isa you see it's called magic, we put a spell on this place to keep it invisible to mortals" he explained to me.
"You keep saying mortals; do you mean to tell me that you guys are immortal?" I asked.
"Sort of, we can be killed but it's very difficult and good luck trying to get to someone who can disappear in the blink of an eye or set fire to yer path or even better send you halfway around the world with a flick of yer wrist. So yeah in a way we are, we live for a very long time. I mean our great gran is still kickin and she's almost 400 years old" he said and again I looked at him with my mouth hanging open.
I looked around for the first time and saw that were in a grand chamber of sorts, great tapestries lined the walls with torches burning brightly and the floor was dark and seemed to be made of stone. I knew we were inside for the air was warmer but where we were I didn't know. My aunt seeing my confused looked explained that we were inside but it was just a ruse in case any enemies made it pass the barrier, that the whole room was a hoax and no one but those who were members of our family or "coven" would be able to get in.
I noticed Adrian standing near a wall and hauled a curtain aside as my aunt made her way over to him and then she closed her eyes and another damn door appeared out of freaking nowhere. Okay by this point you would think I'd be used to all this magic being thrown around but honestly it was just making my head hurt and I was feeling slightly dizzy.
"Alright there Isa?" Dora asked.
"Honestly Aunt Dora, I have never felt so overwhelmed in my life" I sighed but realized it was a complete lie. The only other time I can remember being this over whelmed is when I met him.
"Bah!, you'll get used to it lass, now let's you get you settled in your room and then some food into ya, yer way too skinny to be an O'Quinn" she laughed and I blushed and feeling just a little self-conscious for I knew I had lost some weight since they left, I couldn't' eat I mean everything has lost its flavor and right now I was only eating when I absolutely had to.
I followed them through a series of different corridors trying to memorize how to get back and hoping that I'd learn how to make a door appear so I didn't have to frigging walk all this way again.
We finally stopped in front of a large set of doors and my aunt ushered me into the room while my cousin winked and left. I looked around the room and gasped again for what felt like the millionth time, the room was huge; it had a humongous king size bed decked out in blues and whites, the walls were a deep midnight blue and a celestial theme was everywhere with a plush and very soft silver colored carpet beneath my feet.
"Well what do ya think lass?" my aunt asked
"This isn't… I mean it can't be…this is not my room is it?" I stammered
She laughed loudly and kissed the top of my head and replied
"Well of course it is lass, who else's would it be?"
"Umm… okay uh thanks" I said still in shock.
"No thanks be needed sweetheart, now leave your stuff here and lets go see what Fred has on for supper" she laughed.
I thought about feigning that I was tired just so I didn't have to meet anyone or eat but my aunt seemed to know what I planned for she scowled at me slightly and then shook her head and pulled me out the door.
"Aunt Dora really I'm not hungry, can't I just stay here" I pleaded and fought the urge to throw a tantrum like a five year old. She smiled and just kept hauling me with her. I gave up struggling when the most appetizing smell crossed my nose. It was mouth-watering and suddenly I was ravenous, the first time in weeks and I took off like a shot towards it. I finally came to my senses when I found myself seated in a huge wooden back chair with a cushioned bottom and my mouth full of the most succulent chicken breast I have ever had. There was dressing, baby carrots, peas, corn and mashed potatoes all over the table. It all smelled so yummy and I wanted it all. My aunt winked at me and then kissed a man wearing an apron on the cheek. I hadn't even noticed him and my cheeks flamed in embarrassment knowing that he saw me digging into this food like a starving child.
"Isa, darling I'd like for you to meet our cook, this is Fred Murphy, Fred this is my niece Isabella, but please call her Bella" she introduced me to him.
"I might have known, she's the spit of her ma and grandma. I see ya got a healthy appetite although ya looks a wee bit skinny for one so young. No worries we'll fatten ya right up. Nice to meet ya lass and dunna be embarrassed, I take it as a compliment" he winked at me and left.
My aunt laughed and then joined me for dinner with Adrian and a number of others sitting down to join us. I had no clue who they were but apparently I was the talk of the table as the whispers came from all around. It felt like the first day of school all over again and my cheeks flushed hating the embarrassment. I saw my aunt scowl a little and then clapped her hands causing that thunder sound again, this time shaking the table and plates. I was shocked again it seemed, but wanting to learn how to do that more than anything. My aunt looked as regal as ever with her flowing hair as dark as night and grey eyes stood up and the whole room stopped just waiting for her to speak.
"That be enough, all of you. As some of ye have guessed we have a visitor. Everyone I'd like for ya to meet my niece Isabella, or Bella as she prefers. And before ya gets yer knickers in knots, this is Renee's girl, so I expect ye all to treat her with respect and to help her if she needs it. Now everyone shut yer gobs and eat, poor Fred spent all day making this feast and we be fools not to make him happy" she bellowed.
"Bah! Ma Fred no more made this than rainbows shootin out me arse" my cousin chuckled and the table erupted in laughter.
"Magic" Adrian whispered to me and I made a mental note to thank him later for effectively taking the spotlight off me.
Finally after a few hours of laughing and storytelling; most of them about the shenanigans my aunt and mother got into; I was led back to my room where I couldn't' wait to get a shower and then fall into bed. I walked into the room and saw that the covers had already been turned down and my clothes packed away. I turned to find my aunt still in the room and she just whispered to me
"Magic"
Okay so my bags unpacked themselves. Convenient.
"Go get ready for bed Isa and then I'll brush your hair and tell ya a story just like when you were a wee one" she cooed.
Okay so I know I was 18 years old now but I definitely wasn't going to turn down her offer, I missed it so much that I practically skipped to the bathroom. The bathroom was huge; it had a great big Jacuzzi tub and a corner shower and a huge counter and sink. The bathroom was a mix of blues and whites with the same celestial theme on the floor. I promised to look at it closer in the morning and rushed through my bedroom routine so I could get back to my aunt quicker.
Finally after what felt like forever even though it might have been 10 minutes, I was back in bed sitting Indian style while my aunt brushed my hair.
"Alright sweetheart, I know ye had a long day and more information than ye can possibly need but I needs to tell ya a wee bit more, it's important lass so if at any time ye decides that's enough stop me kay?" she asked and I nodded a little reluctant but something told me that this would be what I have been waiting for.
There ya go, what did ya think? Should I keep going? Let me know!
Thanks for reading
Greeneyes84