POV Narrator:
Sunday, 11 November 2018, Hanbridge family mansion, Leeds, England
The days were going normally by Luna Nova, what was approaching was the winter, the first term of the year was about to finish, Christmas too, besides a huge revelation that Diana may find out about her origins, about who she came from, confirming once and for all who her mother is. In this time the girls are invited by Andrew to go to his family's mansion, since there will be a meeting of renowned writers and that could be an opportunity for Annabel to mark her presence, besides the girls to take a look at the luxurious place. Who ended up marking their presence and confirming were, Diana, Akko, Annabel, Marianne, Hellene, Barbara and Lotte.
POV Akko:
We arrived at the mansion, it's been a while since we've been here, also I don't set foot in a mansion, well at least I hope nothing goes wrong for today, Diana warned us that we don't need to dress in a sophisticated way, so we went with the clothes we think are cool, I hope it doesn't cause any controversy, even more because we saw a lot of well dressed people, so much that Barbara and Annabel are dressed with a little more class.
We get out of the limo, I love these huge cars, it's the biggest comfort, we look at the mansion, huge thing, soon we are stopped at the entrance by the security guards and Diana stands in front of us.
"Then ye can let us in," Cavendish said.
"Oh Miss Cavendish, I didn't know you were different, a different fashion, something conceptual, dressing like poor people, even brought these other models to shock" Said the security guard and on the spot the same goes up a middle finger.
But we manage to get through it, I was already strange, it seems that Diana lied to us, as soon as we enter the inside, everyone was dressed in a very classy way, I was even embarrassed by all this, by the nine witches, people were soon looking around us.
"Diana, you didn't tell us it was a high society event, we're going to be embarrassed like this"
"I want them tae understand that I am Diana Cavendish and nae Lady Diana Cavendish" she said confidently, but she could have at least warned them.
"I wouldn't want to wear a dress like that, only for my wedding" Hellene complements, and the two even start greeting each other.
We were soon surrounded by everyone, we didn't even walk right, I was even getting embarrassed, Diana's expression keeping calm is what shocks, she doesn't give a damn, neither her sister, on the good side both of them are very close, we're soon hearing the comments of people judging us, kind of circling us, I knew it could come to this.
Now we can't even enjoy it, soon Andrew and his father appear, showing up, which makes it even more embarrassing, especially with his disgusted expression looking at us.
"What's this Cavendish? I offered you the presence of the mansion, but just because you lost your castle doesn't mean you have to dress like a..." At that moment he only stopped talking when he saw that Hellene was also in the middle.
"Dad I invited them, we had no dress code for this event, she just had a more radical approach" Andrew said defending us as always.
"McLaren..." His dad must have bitten something when he saw Diana's sister so much he just turned and walked away.
"What a weird guy, I don't know why he stares at me like that, he just stares at me like a stranger, it seems that I bit his tongue" said Hellene.
"Well feel free, this is a meeting we did with some renowned writers here in the UK, I just don't recommend talking to that one... The one who keeps making witch books, she has some very retrograde opinions" said Andrew pointing to a woman with red hair and I have the impression I've seen her before.
"I hate those books of hers about witches, it's horrible, nae tae mention that she talks a lot of shit on twitter, imagine if she made a Scottish witch, I'm sure she'd name it Baggy Pipe McKilt, I dinnae doubt it" Diana said and I think I know what they're talking about.
"Well I'm a writer here, come on Barb, let's go and talk to some writers, they're sure to love talking about Night Fall" Said the excited Annabel.
The girls then start to spread out, even Hellene gives a separate, going with Marianne, leaving only me and Diana, in front of Andrew, well I think we can enjoy a lot of the day, there won't be anyone to annoy us besides the comments of the others.
"Come with me, I have to show you something I've been doing," Andrew said.
"What? Ye found another swear word around us witches?" Said Diana all looser with him.
"No you idiot, it's more interesting than that, come on, stop being so Cavenboring" He also speaks the same nickname I gave her how wonderful.
"Hahahahah, looks like I'm not the only one who calls you Cavenboring" I say to Diana who answers me with a middle finger.
Then we go walking for the stairs of the mansion, in the corridors full of doors and rooms, at last a little more calm, without so many people talking, until being quite in peace, but on the other hand we see some rich men kissing or talking between themselves in the corridors, what I was just trying to divert the looks, but they were staring at us, what we take one more staircase, to a double door, which Andrew takes a key of the pocket putting in the lock and pushing the door, revealing the enormous room.
"Wow! What a thing, you live in the biggest luxury empire" I say impressed.
"Meh, that mansion wasn't even theirs, the Hanbridges bought it from Margaret Ford, it used tae belong tae the rich oilman Keith Ford who was her father, she killed her father, took everything as her inheritance, sold all the shares of the company, and when she was arrested she sold the mansion tae Jack Hanbridge, it's with them until today" Diana explains.
"You also don't need to think you're Diana, just because your little house caught fire and has been in your family since the beginning, you know what a struggle it was to get that place, but that's not what I want to show" These two really look like cat and mouse, if they weren't two homosexuals, they would be a perfect little couple.
"Wow but it's not for nothing Diana, he has a much more luxurious room than yours and much more sophisticated too, look at the size of this TV? Look at this, the bed, everything, I feel like this is the castle of a king" I say impressed and Cavendish just showing an expression of disgust.
We sat in two armchairs, since Diana had already sat, I stayed in one near her, while Andrew was getting something from his wardrobe, it was a book and also a wand, where he left it on the table, which Diana was already staring with an arched eyebrow, then he appeared with a cage that had a pet rat, how disgusting, I had no idea he had these things.
"Ah ye want tae be a wizard and ye want me tae teach you" said Cavendish and he went on denying with his head.
"I don't want your lessons, I'd rather have none than put up with you shouting at me, or scolding me all the time" he said very cordially.
"Won't you two sit your asses down for a minute?" I say to both of you already getting fed up.
"Oh, sorry, but I will explain, here in the mansion there is one of those that they call the sorcerer stone, as you said, once belonged to a witch, she left this sorcerer stone here because it was already starting the time of decline of magic, until a certain point there was no need for the sorcerer stone and it was possible to use magic everywhere, but with her decline things got worse, anyway, I want to show how I learned until quite a few things on my own" Andrew explains.
"Unfortunately there are nae schools of magic that attend witches, much of the prejudice and sexism of society, always associating the use of magic tae women, even though back then both sexes used magic together, nowadays it has become a practice only fae women practically" said Diana and I didn't know that.
Andrew was starting to use his magic, leafing through the book, until that already shows something, he reminds me when I started, how cute, now Diana was showing an expression of debauchery, then he got to a page where there was the spell of metamorphosis, he aimed well at his pet rat, turning it into a bird, until it was not bad, except for the fact that it got ears and tail of a rat and that was when we were laughing.
"It seems the spell has turned against the sorcerer" Diana said laughing and pointing at his face.
"Seriously, this is the tenth time this has happened to me" he said with a straight face.
"What a cute little mouse, squeak squeak" I help tease.
"I'm still learning okay, Akko was also as bad as I am now, soon I will be able to make better spells, practice leads to perfection" He said confidently of himself and I agree.
"That's it Andrew, you're going to make it as a cool wizard, I trust you" I tell him excitedly.
"Oh Andrew, you know yer father won't like this at all, right? I know ye're already eighteen and everything, but when he finds out ye're training magic in secret... He's got a thing about magic that's nae new" Cavendish said.
"I know that, but I've been practicing in hiding, in Appleton there's a secret organization of witches, they're sort of training for it, I just haven't joined yet because I want to improve my..." At the time I only see Diana interrupting him.
"Just dinnae it! Andrew! They are wizards of the Roman Christian order, they are nae at all trustworthy, ye may nae think they should be like this today, but I have studied enough tae know, they had a strange alliance with the Cavendish at the time of witch hunting, they then went on tae face the witches during many confrontations in it, stopping their persecution with a peace agreement with the witches, they are witch hunters, they have nae stopped being" Diana said making me remember the day I went there with Amanda.
"Are those the guys who cosplayed the Ku Klux Klan? I always knew there was something wrong with them" I tell her who denies with her head.
"Those there are only imbeciles paying of members of the order, never that the wizards of the order dress this way, they are between us for all corner, they sneak in the masculine schools wanting more members, we have that tae be attentive tae their activity, because money they have a lot, the vatican keeps financing them, the objective of the order was of a supremacy of the wizards, nae of equality, it was of dominating the world and subjugate the humanity in their power, finally Andrew stay away from the order, but if you can pass information of them, it will be of great help.
"Diana, I know what they are about, I also read it in the history books, that's why I'm going to pretend to be a member of them to gain their trust and get information, I want to know if this is also true, maybe it's an exaggerated story of the witches" I had no idea about these things until I'm a bit shocked... Wow.
Meanwhile in the main hall of the mansion...
POV Annabel:
Wow, what an anti social people, nobody wants to talk, people just seem to ignore me, I even put on some nice clothes, what the hell, I see Lotte in the background talking to a blond guy and they are even getting along, Barbara is talking to other girls, I'm left alone here, I sit down snorting, getting a shrimp, and eating.
"This loneliness sucks, doesn't it?" said Hellene from beside me.
"No way, I thought it would be cool, but even the food isn't" said Mari from the other side.
"Looks like the trio has got together around here" I say laughing.
"Well, what do you expect at a writers' event? We get a bad press because we're dressing up as ourselves," said Marianne.
"I'm a writer and I don't get noticed or anything, I'm even jealous of Barbara, she seems to do better than me" I say with my cheeks half inflated.
"Jealous really isn't it?" Mari said teasingly.
"I tell them with my arms folded, getting even a little bit sulky.
Then we eat some of the shrimp, at least it was good and a big one, I've never seen one that size before, we keep looking at everyone, Lotte has a suitor who is being nice to her, Barbara is surrounded by friends, getting along super well with them, Diana and Akko disappeared, only the purple trio was left here.
Until a man arrives in front of us, he stares at us with crossed arms, looking especially at Hellene.
"What are you doing here McLaren?" He said all imposing, it was the same guy who approached us with his son.
"I don't know Paul, you tell me yourself, upset dat a McLaren is close to a Cavendish, don't worry, Diana is my sister, you know dat well, I am de daughter of de one that you keep 'urting until today dat had a happy life with Bernadette, something dat you would never be able to give 'er with your arranged marriage" Hellene said giving the biggest stab to the gentleman.
"Oh you know everything don't you, you like to be full of yourself, but your provocations don't reach me anymore, curious that really the two were able to make two children, but for me it makes no difference the question of your sister, she was an interest before when she had a mansion, today she is a dead person for the aristocracy" He said and even so Hellene only continued in hers.
"Okay Paul, are you really going to keep tormenting us?" Now I see a different side of Hellene.
"Well I won't disturb your presence, but the sooner you leave the better... Anyway... I'm going to leave, I don't want to be around that rabble" he said all pompous.
I just saw Hellene showing her middle finger to him as he was leaving, it was really a mood, but she kept her calm, even with an angry expression, I've never seen her like that.
In the middle of this Barbara comes to me, she kind of gives me her hand, I'm embarrassed, I think I'll go to her, I think it might be a way to calm my nerves, who knows, we arrived in the middle of some women and gentlemen, I think they are writers.
"Oh, she's a writer, you know?" said Barbara, pointing at me and making me a little embarrassed, since everyone looked at me.
"Oh a child? I didn't know kids had books how cute" I'm 15 fucking years old.
"How cute, she should make some colouring books, look how good it is that we teach children to read, they are starting to write" Said another.
"It really is too curious, what book are you writing funny?" I'm 15 fucking years old, I'm not a child, I'm just short.
"She writes the longest running fiction series in history, she is one of several Annabel Crème" Barbara says and everyone is amazed.
Some are disgusted, others are shocked, they are impressed that I can write well, but they just have to realise that I am short and not a child, I sincerely hate that, I want to be noticed as such, Hellene is short and nobody mistakes her for a child, also if they do that I think they must be afraid of those huge arms.
"Oh Night Fall, I'm not surprised it's written by that child" One of the writers said.
"Very amateurish, I don't know how it can last that long, no doubt it shows how writing comes from a child" Said another writer.
"A shame you are the Annabel Crème of this generation, a true amateur, but you might even mature, 10 is still too early to start writing" I never thought I would be so offended in my life.
"I'm 15 years old, I'm only short, yes I hear criticism all the time about my book, yes I write it down, but I want to write and express myself, I write as a way to express my feelings and not to express what others want me to feel, that's the basics of any writer"
"Oh little girl, you don't have to have a hissy fit, a mature writer stays full of herself, you have to have a good editor and think of a good text that causes the public to love your works, but you only write amateurish things" said the one who wrote the atrocities of witch stories.
"Who are you to say anything? Your only gay character, there is no mention of his sexuality in the book, you just said he was gay to appeal to audiences, while the first Annabel already had LGBT characters long ago, the werewolves for you are a metaphor for AIDS, not to mention that your book is full of racism, the black character with last name of Shacklebolt and you want to have moral to say something? On top of that you plagiarized a lot of stuff from Night Fall for your mediocre story, you're only rich today for this mediocre story, but you're an even worse person, honestly who are you to compare me" I tell her that even walks backwards.
"But this is outrageous, I have billions that I have earned from my history and a series of films famous all over the world" she said thinking to herself.
"So what? Those who watch your stories and films are children without any critical sense, you are only here because you are rich, modern day HP Lovecraft" at the time everyone even shuts up.
"Someone please get this girl out of here, she is badmouthing my book, this is a decent meeting" She said she had already started.
"Are you really going to stay in DARVO? Well, I don't give a shit about you, better get away from you and your snobby friends, I may not have anything you have, but I know my fans are genuine readers who admire my work, not to mention that I will never attack any minority or try to win on top of it" I say the same one that turns to me.
She was leaving all pompous, what a little bitch, she came to criticize my book series, but she doesn't look at her own belly button, she can only make money on stupid people, phew, I never thought I would criticize the author of the Witches' Book like that, hahahaha, it was funny, I was even laughing a little bit.
"What's up Annie?" Barbara asks and I just went on laughing still.
"Wonderfully well, I can't believe I said that in front of her, a person I thought was so unattainable" I tell her.
Meanwhile I'm watching Hellene and Mari dancing together, what a cute thing, they look like a couple, I think we have a chemistry there, I even made a square in my hand framing them, seeing them so kind and cute with each other, matching each other, a beautiful thing to see.
"They are really cute, your colleagues will make a little couple hahaha" She said and I went offering my hand to Barb.
"So will you grant this dance to me madam Parker?" I say being all nice and she went on to giggle a few times, but accepted quietly.
We were hugging each other, it was a way to relieve the nerves, I felt a calmness in the arms of this Welsh girl, she's a sweetheart, always so sweet with me, even if she forgets me sometimes, she's still kind and affectionate, we were taking a few steps, I was clumsy enough to step on her foot accidentally, luckily I'm wearing trainers and they don't hurt my feet too much, although Barbara was wearing high heels with part of her foot showing, poor thing, she'll get hurt a lot, but I could see that her face was different.
In Andrew's room...
POV Akko:
I'm impressed to see that Andrew has managed to do spells, he even knows some nice ones, watching him doing them has been fun even, although Diana seems to have a very closed face with him, even more than usual, is this order that dangerous? I have no idea, but it must be, just by the way Cavendish seems annoyed.
"That's it, those are the few I've learnt so far" he said.
"Wow it's too funny to see a boy riding a broomstick, I never thought I would see that before" I say with a smile on my face.
"Ah, I've been trying, flying the broom is complicated, I really want to specialize a lot in spells, until I get good enough to not need to use a wand, so maybe I can be recognized by the wizards of Appleton" said Andrew.
"I hope nae, Andrew, I even had respect fae you, but joining them is a shot in the foot fae yer reputation" Diana is really pushing this order thing anyway.
"Look Diana, I already said that this will be like a true test and another, I can leave whenever I want, anything I want I'll leave and go live my life" he said and she denied her head.
"Once a member of the order, always a member of the order, they have everything ye have, all yer information, if ye leave the order they will do everything tae bring ye back and forever ye will be a slave of the order, it is a position fae life Andrew, try tae inform yerself with someone there before doing stupid things, I speak this out of consideration fae ye, besides that homosexuality is strictly forbidden there, how do ye intend tae get in being gay?" Now Diana really put him in a complicated situation.
"I didn't say I wouldn't do that, I want to inform myself before making this decision, you seem to know too much for a witch, where do you get your information from?" He asks, already arching his eyebrow.
"Books, some even recent ones regarding the order, the family still had some, outside of some reports of members who escaped the order, some had tae totally change their identity and become witches, that's right! Trans witches who did it fae fear of the order finding them, forced themselves tae transition tae change identity and all" Diana said with the biggest shocking news.
"Yes I've heard of that, but it doesn't seem to work as they can still be found for having the same ID numbers, or are arrested for false identity" Andrew said.
"Well let's go back to the party people, I want to enjoy it there too" I tell them.
The two agree with the head, and we are leaving the room, it was really interesting to see Andrew doing spells, but now the fight will be about that order, we were walking in the corridors and I still remember that from here I will be judged by my simple dressing, I don't know why I was in the Diana's ideas, now we can be humiliated until too much.
When we came back it was simply quiet, some men on the balcony smoking cigars, including Andrew's father, already the girls are spread among themselves, how cute is Hellene dancing with Mari, until I feel Diana nudging me.
"Hey Akko, ye want tae dance too" she said holding out her hand.
"Oh yes Diana, of course" I tell her and she pulls me in giving me a spin.
I kind of like the catch of the dance, I didn't expect this, but I'm in a skirt, it might end up spinning too much and showing my panties, I'm even a little embarrassed when she stares at me with the pair of blue eyes, but if that's the case, I put my hand on her waist and get on top, now let's see if you have that much confidence Diana Cavendish.
"What is it Diana? Are you losing your balance?" I say, teasing her.
"Oh aye?" she said, showing she was as hot as me.
We start alternating our steps, one facing the other, I never thought it would come to this, we're even drawing attention, our faces getting closer, she takes my leg with gusto, I strike back placing her against the wall, she leans with her leg on me.
"Akko..." She said.
At the time I stop as I see everyone around looking at us, I think things got pretty intense, so much so that we rub the back of our heads, I look at Hellene and she even claps her hands as well as Marianne and the other girls, the writers also do the same, letting out some more interesting comments.
"You have seen this dance, take note that this is going to be too interesting to progress, a story with two people making out in a dance that is trivial" said one of the authors.
"Hey, I saw that idea first, don't come with that" Said another.
"Hey I want to write with two women, it's going to be a footprint that might give an extra LGBT inclusion, I didn't know they had guests here like that, it was a nice addition from Paul in bringing these poor girls here" I even felt kind of humbled.
"Honestly, I want to leave" I tell Diana.
"Me too, I think it's better that we go than tae embarrass ourselves further" she said and I just nodded my head in agreement.
We called the girls who came to us, we walked together, kind of going to the outside, they didn't even reluctant or anything, the more Barbara waved to her friends, but we were just leaving, until the gate where the Limousine driver came to us, we got in the car and breathed all relieved.
"Finally, I can't stand this place anymore" Cavendish said.
"It was a terrible idea to come here, the writers are monsters of people, on top of that they mistook me for a child, damn I'm only short, Hellene is 3 centimeters taller and nobody calls her a child" Annabel said and I'm even going to hold back the laughter.
"Ahhhh today was so good, Frank is a wonderful man, he was giving me cuddles and affection, I think I will cogitate on allowing him to come forward a bit more, who knows give him a chance I might have a guy like Arthur" Lotte said delighted.
"Who has a hard-on for his own mother?" Annabel teases.
"No! Frank does not have an Oedipus complex, he is not like Arthur of nightfall in manner, but in appearance, a slender man like him, ahhhh, a real dream, I hope we can get closer, he seems very nice" Lotte said.
"He's a jimbo that's fae sure, but he's a nice jimbo at least, I can assure ye that, he's nae as insufferable as Andrew, I just can't tolerate both of them, ouch" Diana said as always being her.
"I can't stand is Andrew's father, dat man 'asn't stopped staring at me, looks like 'e lost 'is ass with my face hahaha" Hellene said.
"Look, after today, I think we can play a little bit afterwards, what do you think? At least to calm our nerves" Annabel said.
"Ah but Brooke must be pissed, her character died, she was the first of us to die, poor thing to be left out like that" I tell her.
"Not the RPG, but playing Mario Party on the Gamecube in the Purple Team's bedroom, who would want to?" We all practically raised our hands.
"Let's put two televisions dere, den we can each play side by side with several of us, imagine 'ow cool it would be to play all of us in two Mario Parties, then we can alternate, since some of us will be next to each other" said Hellene.
"Fuck, I only have a Mario Party for the Gamecube, hold on, only if you're going to use your Wii" Mari said.
"We put the Gamecube on Mario Party and the Wii on Mario Kart, it's a nice way of waiting, since there are three on one side and four on the other, so there are four on the Gamecube and three on the Wii, what do you think?" I'll tell them to nod their heads.
"So it's settled, we'll play a bit until the night comes, we can call Brooke and complete the eighth as well" Hellene said and we'll agree, it'll be cool.
POV Narrator:
An unexpected invitation to this writers event, where none of them can recognise Annabel, even coming to think she was a child, such as treating her that way, being an uncomfortable moment. Besides the day coming with a revelation that Andrew is starting his journey as a witch, but there is an organization that has very controversial witches that witches have to keep an eye on because of what Diana seemed to have said about the Roman Christian Order.
See you, writer witches...