POV Narrator:
Monday, 31 December 2018, Dublin, Ireland
The Christmas week at the McLaren family residence was passing by, being a moment where Diana could start to get closer to her mother, to get to know better the person she hadn't seen for almost 17 years, but who this time was by her side, with all the affection and love that a mother could give her daughter, those were very unforgettable days for Cavendish who was enjoying every hour of that last week of the year having a lot of fun, just like the other girls who were loving to know who was the other mother of the Scottish girl, it was really a big surprise.
The year 2018 was coming to an end, a year that had many eventualities, which ended up changing a lot of things, and still ending with the biggest event in Diana's life until then, meeting someone who always wanted to know who she was and this time she had such an honour. The night of New Year's Eve was falling, the house was already arranged and ready to receive the guests, the same ones that came practically at Christmas, April, Rosemary, their daughters, Rose's husband, Laura's family, another day that would be very calm.
POV Diana:
I can't believe it's already the 31st, sae much I've experienced, I feel as if every day here in this house I've lived years of my life, I've never felt sae comfortable tae let go with someone as I'm feeling with mama Laura, it's another level of comfort, by the nine witches, I'm living the best days of my life.
I walk over tae my mum, she was playing with her friends, I sit down next tae her, starting tae receive affection.
"Oh Diana, 'ave you come to join us? Do you want to play too?" Mama Laura asks and I nod my head in agreement.
"'ow about we have a match between de daughters?" Mrs Jordan said.
"Genius April, I'm sure my Diana 'ere will beat Megan and Phoebe arses" Mum said and I even look at the two lassies, their daughters are beautiful too, wow.
"Ah I want tae see it too" Agent Morris said.
They soon put us tae play, it was a game of Call Of Duty Black Ops 2, I miss playing that, we went tae Hijacked, I love the map of the boat, it is the most interesting, I want tae see if the girls are good, even being much older than me, it will be in gun game mode, it seems that mum loves tae play also in this kind of mode.
"Go on Diana, destroy dem arses, show dem dat you are de best lass" said my mother motivating me.
"You're really goin to be cheering, aren't you Laura?" April said.
"Ahhhhhh, I love it, I never thought we would finally have a moment like this, our three lassies playing together, seeing each other, tae think I thought they would be best friends, but things have meant they each follow their own destiny" Officer Morris said.
I manage tae get out in front, I have a good experience playing this, even more against Akko, I know this map like the back of my hand, sae it will be quiet, Meg is playing well, she seems very concentrated, I see mum getting up later and going tae take a picture of us playing, it will be really marked, I'm loving it, it's all sae good, spending time here, I want tae stay forever in this house.
"Ye play well Diana, nae bad" Phoebe said.
"Too addicted I'd say, you must play all the time, I'm sure" Megan said.
"I play well once in a while on my PS3, however I like tae play with my friends when they are in my room' I say as I hit a beautiful shot on Phoebe's head.
"I never got to study dere, my mother was very suspicious, instead I studied 'ere, at de Victoria McLaren Witchcracft Academy" said the blonde.
"I studied in Luna Nova when I was younger, it really was a different time, in my time it was very strict, I passed with some good grades, since Edinburgh dinnae have such a good academy fae witchcrafts, and my
mum wanted tae know what it was like there, I even cheated a little bit of the system" said the redhead and I end up getting shot, this time I lost one heh.
"Ah yes, my mother who gifted you de generator, I remember you telling about 'ow you managed to bring a television and brought de Gamecube to Luna Nova, but dat you were also caught" Meg said.
"Do ye get caught? How? Ye hide it sae well" I tell them.
"Finnelan was paying a surprise visit tae my room, my classmate Erika was kind of one of the troublemakers of the class, which made things difficult, they took my Game Cube and my television, then destroyed everything, they dinnae even confiscate it, I found out days later that it was destroyed, in fact I was almost expelled fae that" Morris explains and I'm shocked, I have to hide things well.
"It is tense, you never know when de bubble might burst, we 'ad several methods to 'ide, some of dem involved sensors, to detect de teacher arriving, we magically turned everything into a keyring and 'id it, April dat developed everything" said mama Laura.
"Damn dat worked very well, we were never caught, but it also took away some good hours of work, but it was better dan losing de files or de computer, den she dedn't appear, continuing to believe dat we were only reading magazines, but it was everything de biggest tactic, we returned to play or to work in de game, it was always in de moments dat Laura was composing, we even 'ad to use headphones and inhibit de sound, but de bass or de guitar still made some sound even with a headphone to muffle de sound" Said Mrs Jordan,
"We made our game practically in Luna Nova, it took us almost 3 years to release, but in de end it was worth it, it was something far beyond what everyone expected, even dough it wasn't as successful, 3 years was enough to optimise and avoid glitches, by far de most optimised NES game" said Mum.
POV Hellene:
I'm so happy to see Diana and mum together like dis, watching dem from afar, talking, being relaxed, discovering Meg and Phoebe's stories, she's going to like dem both a lot, I feel fulfilled dat after everything I've been through in Luna Nova, dings worked out well in the end.
"You don't stop looking at your sister huh" Mari said next to me.
"I feel as if I 'ad accomplished a mission, I only imagine after dis in Luna Nova, 'ow things are goin to be, will dis time Diana's 'atred will pass when everyone knows she is my sister?" I ask Leclerc, who shrugs.
"Anyway you don't have to hide it, come here Hellen, I want to show you something" she said holding my 'and.
We walked drough de corridors of de 'ouse, goin up de stairs, she enters de attic, then she opens de balcony on de roof, where we go to de side, looking at dose stars, today is a cold New Year's Eve, but without snow, just de cold, I dedn't understand anything, but I dought it was cool anyway.
"Why did you take me to the roof of my house?" I ask 'er.
"The sky is beautiful, but I want to give you dis" Mari said giving me what looked like a gift.
I open de package, kind of already unaware of it, but I feel all embarrassed for being a present, just now, on de last day of the year, Christmas 'as already passed a week ago, but okay, I open de present, I see dat it's a drawing in de frame, a drawing of me with my arm showing, dat's cool, I'm with de anime trait of de 80's/90's was very good indeed, it was very good, I look at 'er all blushed with embarrassment.
"Mari I loved it! Dat was wonderful, did you do dat?" I ask 'er.
"I made it thinking of you, it took a while because I made it right here, your mother was helping me to hide it so I wouldn't show you, I wanted to give it to you as a Christmas present" said de cute Mari embarrassed and I immediately gave 'er a 'ead pat.
"I love it, you draw very well, I'll definitely put dis picture in my room and every day I'll look at it and remember 'ow you are de best artist in de world.
I turn even more, I look 'er right in de eyes, it seems dat she is wanting something, I don't know what it is, I feel a 'and on my head, which pulls me after, touching 'ers and withdat we start kissing, in a strange way, I've
seen a few times kisses like dat when I was a kid, de mums kissing, Megan and Phoebe also doing dat from time to time, I was just taking myself, feeling a strange sensation, den staring at 'er all breathless.
"I, uh... I'm... I'm so sorry... Hellen" She said getting desperate and trying to run out of dere when I 'eld 'er 'and.
"Oh all right, stay 'ere, I like it" I tell 'er 'alf blushing.
"You've been so nice to me these days, I wish I could express myself better" she said all sweet.
"And you did, you're a very good kisser, although I don't even know what is a good kisser or a bad kisser, it was my first kiss, I dedn't even imagine dat dis would happen on de last day of de year, at night, 'eh, it was quite a surprise" I say with a smile on my face.
"I like you a lot Hellene" she said and I replied with a smile.
"Me too, I dink we'd better go back inside, it's a bit too cold out 'ere" I tell 'er who nods in agreement.
We go inside, where I walk in de corridors, until I get to my room, I get de drawing dat Mari did, I put it on my room's wall, de wrapping I throw in a bin, it was wonderful de art next to de other posters and pictures, gee, I was too mad about dis style, seriously, Mari is an artist with a full hand.
"I love your room, it's so beautiful," she said, taking delight in dings, even dough she saw de room all de time.
"You've already come 'ere several times, but 'ey let's go with the lassies, dey'll be suspicious of us" I tell 'er and she nods 'er head.
We leave de room, I get a little frustrated, 'ow silly I was to dink dat we should leave, I dink I should stay dere longer, but now it's gone, Mari's kiss was so good, so delicious, I felt one of de best sensations of de world with 'er little mouth, ahhhhh, I better control myself 'ere, or I'll be dinking nonsense.
We arrived dere and I saw sis still talking with de lassies, Akko kinda alone, which I decide to even go to 'er, just to talk a little, she seems to be admiring Diana too.
"And so Akko, so alone, and you're the most outgoing of us" I say, coming up to 'er side.
"I just keep thinking about Diana, she's so happy, it fills my heart, it's rare to see 'er like dis, she's always been so closed off" she said.
"Diana is finally finding the place she has always been a part of, a family that was waiting for her... She deserves all of this" Mari said.
"I feel so 'appy to know dat I 'elped in dis, to know dat my sister and I got along well and dat de whole plan worked out, it wasn't something dat came out of nowhere, it was as natural as possible, she found out everyding and now she can feel at home in a place dat will welcome 'er with open arms" I say looking at 'er even laughing and talking to Meg and Phoebe.
"It looks like you girls are isolated 'ere, go dere too, mingle with Phoebe and Meg" Said my lettle sister appearing in the middle.
"Oh hi Holly, we were just talking anyway" Akko said.
"Diana will love to see you dere too" she said cheering us up.
And we actually go to dem, we sit on de couch and watch dem play and it's kind of a cute moment to see, my sis all happy, all laughing, I could never imagine from someone as closed as 'er. Which I soon see she won de match and we even started celebrating with 'er and de girls too.
"Wow Diana, you play too much, really" Meg said.
"Do you want to play too?" Phoebe asks and I nod.
"Let's do one against all, just to see who is de best" I say to de girls.
"Oh sure, you know I kick everyone's ass here" said Akko already full of 'erself.
"Ye only make sure of that with yer fancy class that ye make, and then ye even started tae put it together sae ye could broke the game again" said my sis while Akko was making 'er class.
"If it's in the game, you should use it," Akko shrugged and continued to assemble 'er classes.
"Ye must be Diana and Hellene's classmates, what is it like tae spend time with them?" Phoebe asks.
"I love spending time with Diana, at the beginning it was really hard, she was the biggest Cavenboring, really unbearable, she looked like an aristocratic dandy, but luckily she was changing and improving a lot, she was opening up a lot" Akko said.
"Cavenboring is my arse, dinnae give me that impression Akko, ye were impossible, ye were always getting into trouble, ye have only matured now and ye are nae even that mature yet, I will show ye the dandy when I break yer face" said my angry lettle sister, she is only calm with everyone, but with Akko she is already that way, I even laugh.
"Ahhhhhh, de famous Akko, dat girl you 'aven't stopped talking about, you two 'ave chemistry" Meg said teasingly.
"We say it all the time, but look how these two react" Mari said while de two of them looked like stones, so embarrassed.
Everyone's already packed their classes, so we can start de mode against everyone, I just want to see 'ow it's goin to unfold now, de match was starting, we went on de station map, I stopped inside de train, I'll stay 'ere finding a nice spot, I was going to look at Mari's screen but a spell is played and everything gets dark.
"Don't even dink about looking at the other's screen" Mum said.
"Laura is too smart, she knows dings" April said.
"Now you've ruined the breaking game technique " I say, even pouting.
"You're too shameless Hellene, I knew you'd come up with dose" Mum said and everyone laughed.
"So you were looking at my screen all the time?" Mari said to me.
POV Narrator:
The time of that night was passing with some good pictures, matches with the girls, even having Laura, Rosemary and April playing with them, who played very well, mainly McLaren who managed to win the matches and to dominate the mechanics of the game, the girls were being impressed with the way the matches were among the older girls, being much more technical and complicated, demanding a lot of tactics among them.
Soon it was getting closer and closer to midnight, which was the most expected moment, saying goodbye to that year 2018, to start another new page in the lives of these witches. That end of year day that was far from the expected, having a whole moment in family and comfort. And it didn't take long for midnight to arrive.
With all already gathering outside in the middle of that very cold night, ready to start the celebration of the new year.
POV Diana:
Wow, I'm loving the days here at mum's house, she brought a wooden thing and then she was taking several fireworks, colored, even with shapes, I've never seen something like that before, she was lining up one by one, about tae release in a very interesting way, I'm looking forward tae see how it's going tae be.
Grandma appears with the champagne in hand, there's nae much time left, the clock strikes 11:58pm, I look at the sky and it's already possible tae notice a few fireworks.
"And then we're almost dere" said mum, snapping her fingers and making a stopwatch light up, showing the countdown.
"Who will release de champagne?" Grandma asks.
"De first person who never let go, someone we always waited to do dis for, come 'ere Diana" Mum said holding my hand and I was just on my mobile phone checking the time, getting ready tae film.
"Me? I dinnae even know how tae do that" I say, half scratching the back of my neck.
"Just shake de bottle and pull de tip, use magic if it's well attached, de cap 'as to fly off, you don't 'ave to worry about filming, April 'as already taken care of leaving de cameras in place, Meg too, she'll be filming us closely, den we'll send you de whole video" said mum and I went straight away grabbing the bottle.
Ferrari... Wow, but this is a very expensive champagne, how come they bought one of these, I was looking at the chronometer and there were 30 seconds left, I'm really anxious, mommy was finishing tae set the fireworks, the cameras were positioned very pretty, I think they prepared everything tae receive me, I can't miss the opportunity, I feel sae honored.
20 seconds, it's nae long, I'm even shaking a little bit, wow, I'll do fae the first time this thing of taking the lid off the champagne, I can't believe that I'm here, nae even in the Cavendish mansion we used tae do this, besides it was just a night like any other, my aunt used tae say that it was a stupid mundane tradition, now it's time tae shake the bottle, the countdown will start.
"Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! Two! One!" We all said it and when it's time fae one I pull the plug.
It comes out flying and sae do the fireworks, right in the middle of it all, it must have been sae cool, I swear I'm going tae cry here, it was the first time that I celebrate the new year like this, with sae much euphoria, the lid came flying far away, the fireworks were right behind me, I turn my back and see the fireworks going off, making colours, they were the Irish flag colours until then, the sky was getting all beautiful.
"Happy New Year!" They all say.
Tears are falling from my eye, I'm starting tae also put in the glasses, where each one was coming, and seeing the effects of the fireworks, I was seeing the drawings they made, delighted, the 2019 very detailed, the effects of lights, the colours of the flag of Scotland too, until letters were appearing.
"Welcome Back Diana" Genuine tears came out of me, I dinnae expect all this, I cried a lot, when I finish putting the champagne, my mum comes giving me the biggest hug, I dinnae expect it tae be everything, but it was, even better than I expected.
"Dis 'ere I made waiting for you to come back" Mum said and I went straight away toaeget a glass.
We all took it and toasted each other, it was very magical, the fireworks kept going off, I could see my mum snapping her fingers and lighting them from afar, I took a sip of the sparkling drink, gee it really makes it worth the price, this champagne is really good, even I myself never drink anything alcoholic, it was a good taste fae the new year, I loved every second of it here, the skies were getting beautiful, seriously what a wonderful moment.
"Happy new year Diana" Akko said hugging me and then she started kissing me, but it was different, it was in front of everyone, sae much that I get silly.
"Happy new year Akko..." I say half blushing.
My phone starts vibrating, I go tae see what it was, a video call from Hannah and Barbara also in a group, which I make sure to answer, seeing their faces, I wave tae both of them, I see England is with O'Neill and Parker is at home with her family.
"Happy new year Diana!" They both say.
"Happy New Year tae ye too" I tell them.
"It'll be a while before the ball drops here, but I'm already sending a happy new year in advance, I'm in New York with Mandy, she took me to Times Square, I'm so excited to see what it's like here" Hannah said.
"Here at home it was crazy, my mother popped the champagne and broke one of the window panes, she went crazy here, but now we are laughing a lot" Barbara said.
"I was the one who had the honours of bursting in here, it was too magical, look who I'm with" I say pointing the camera next tae my mother.
"You finally found it and you didn't even tell us!" They both said.
"I wanted tae surprise ye, yes this is my mother" I say beside her.
"You being Laura McLaren's daughter is the most ironic thing in the world, my mum talked about her a lot, how she caused trouble and all that, it doesn't make sense, but at the same time it does, I don't know, weird, but at the same time I'm glad you found your mum" Hannah said.
"Oh ye have nae idea, and yer mother wasn't a saint either, ye know she caused some things around there" I tell her and she just keeps laughing.
"I know a lot hahaha, anyway bye-bye, I'll be here waiting for this ball to drop, it'll still be a few hours before that, but we're taking a walk and we have plenty of food for the event" Hannah said waving and Barbara waved too.
I hang up the call, then I look at my mum, she's holding me around the waist and lifting me up, where we go starting tae kind of spin around with everyone looking at us and I then get all wrapped up in the hug of the short girl who gets her head stuck tae my chest, and squeezing my ribs with her strong arms, a New Year's bear hug.
"Happy new year my dear Diana, we will start many new things dis year, it will be your new beginning, now dat you know your mother" said mum.
"I will love every second next tae ye mum, you are the person I most wanted to meet in this world, I won't regret a single second with ye" I tell her all happy.
"Happy new year sis" said my sister Hellene in a hug.
"Happy new year lettle sister fluffy" Holly said also getting into the hug, which I was going tae feel all comfortable, emotional,
I even ended up having a vision, which was a ghost embracing us, which looked like my mother, I think that was kind of a hallucination, but I'm feeling comfortable here, I'm feeling complete, now all the drama with where I came from and where I came into the world has been resolved, I'm Laura McLaren's daughter, I'm very proud tae have a mother like her.
"Happy New Year tae all of you, my little sisters, Holly, Hellene, my grandmother Joanne, my grandfather Mark, mum's friends, their daughters, my friends, but especially tae ye mum Laura and ye too... Mama Bernadette" I say hugging them and crying with emotion.
I still stare at the sky and the fireworks continued, mum kept releasing more, some showing the year that has started, this one that I am sure will change everything for the better, I hardly wait tae see what 2019 awaits me, I am sure that from here my life will not be the same.
"It's a new part of your journey Diana, a journey that I want to be with you, we will together be facing another year of this life, I'm sure 2019 will come great, who knows even I can finally get the title of moonlight witch and even a victory in the broom relay, who knows this might be my year finally" Akko said beside me.
"I'll be rooting fae ye, maybe ye can get these things, I only know one thing, now that this year has started I want tae make up fae all the lost time I spent away from my mother, I want tae be with her as much as I can, she's the best mother in the world" I say, all proud and emotional.
"'Ow cute, but you know dat you 'ave important dings to do my lettle lassie, during spring break you can come back 'ere and we can do more dings together, now we have to look to de future too, when you are an adult, even maybe in rebuilding the Cavendish family, let's put Daryl behind bars, put Maril, we can even together dink of a way to rebuild de Cavendish house during de holidays if you want of course" Mom said.
"I will love tae talk tae ye about it mum, I really want tae be able tae spend the time making the most of it... I love ye" I tell her and she gets involved in a hug from behind and I get all emotional, looking at the sky until a tear falls.
I look tae the side and see Akko talking tae her parents who must be already in the morning, I remember she was talking tae them in the afternoon celebrating the new year, now they are wishing a happy new year tae Akko who arrived here, Mari is talking tae her family too, I'm happy that things are going well, this will undoubtedly be the best year of my life, I hope.
Far away, in Arcturus, the New Year celebrations were not so encouraging, especially for Brooke...
POV Brooke:
What day must this be already? It's been 52 days that I'm here, scratching on the wall and calculating, at least the traps are getting well installed, I see something appearing from my cell door, it was a cardboard pipe that shoots fires in my direction, making the most noise, I hate it, I'm sensitive to noises, ahhhhhhh, I keep squirming on the floor in fetal position, then Daryl enters and keeps laughing.
"Happy new year brat, it seems you didn't like the fireworks, too bad" she said and I kept crying, I don't like it, those noises scare me.
"Get out of here!" I shout to her who closes the door and comes to me.
"What's wrong? Are you scared? It could be that the next sounds won't be of fireworks, but of shots being fired here" She said coming with a revolver pointed at my face and I felt the cold iron touching my cheeks.
"You really suck, don't you? You came here just to disturb me" I tell her.
"Exactly, I want to wish you a happy new year, it seems that you've already been in this little place for a long time, even the wall is getting soon full of scratches, we should have a party when you reach a hundred, who knows, maybe celebrate with this here" She said, turning the revolver's barrel and then pulling the trigger, but it made a noise that there was no bullet.
"Stop!" I say traumatised already.
"Oh looks like we have a lucky girl, the roulette wheel went right in the drum, I had a bullet here, didn't you enjoy playing Russian roulette with me? It was your first game since the beginning of the year hahahaha! Ahhhhhh now let's wait, soon your friend Diana will come here and we'll be able to put you out of your misery, well at least I remembered you and brought this" she said showing the food and it was a chicken inside a plastic bag.
"Let's just wait..." I say crestfallen and grabbing the food with great desperation.
Then she walked away laughing, I was starving, I haven't eaten anything since yesterday, this damn thing really wants to treat me like a bug, I hope I can soon get rid of it, the hot chicken, it's so good, but you don't ask for waiting Daryl, you may not have noticed, but the wires are already connecting for my perfect escape device, you won't be able to keep me here forever.
I already have some mechanisms almost ready, this woman will have the last year of her life, I'm sure, she'll play russian roulette with me, but I'll play with you, with a full drum, without any mercy, after everything you've done to me I'll make you pay, damned witch... I hope I can survive at least, I have to be good with the lip, next step is to build the cover of the hideout where I will stay when she comes in here to think I'm lying in bed, but I come out from behind and she won't even notice. Brooke Hunter, freedom is just a matter of time for me.
POV Narrator:
2019 begins, a year that will come full of new events, starting a new phase for many of the girls, from a 2018 that was already full of events, this year may end up being just as similar, or even more full of events, as the girls are getting older, more mature, ready to start what will be a new phase for their lives, since it will also be the end of the second year and the beginning of what will be the third year in Luna Nova. Besides other events that are to come.
Happy new year, lesbian witches...