Present -
Hearing her alarm, she slapped her palm against the button. Removing the covers from her head.
"Alright girls, time to get up", Brie came in clapping her hands.
"Ugh, aunt Brie, really?", Carmella groaned.
"Yes. School starts today and so do your new jobs", Brie said.
"How can you be all smiles and full of energy this early?", Adelaide asked her mom.
She covered her head again. Brie snapped her fingers and the covers flew off.
"Hey", Adelaide said, sitting up and crossing her arms over her chest.
"Seriously, today is the day we get to go back to our old names. You should be excited about that", Brie said.
Adelaide's smile fell. It was also a reminder of what happened so long ago. May 1693. A week after Roman's death, the trials ended.
Roman's death though, never ended. She tried to avoid him and tried not to fall all over again. She failed. She's tried moving away to a different state, a different country, somehow he finds her. He doesn't remember any of it, but she does. Every single moment with him.
Bayley and Carmella have to suffer the same way. Changing their names, never their last.
Her mom and aunt are famous clothing designers, changing their faces with magic then changing them back after fifty years. Claiming the business is being passed down to granddaughters.
"Maybe we shouldn't go out at all right now. Lets wait till May passes", Bayley said.
"We've tried that remember? They still found us", Adelaide said.
"Besides, you three would go crazy staying inside for nine months", Brie said.
"I call the shower", Carmella called before running into the bathroom.
"She's going to use up all the hot water isn't she", Adelaide said.
"I call our moms bathroom", Bayley said.
Adelaide walked into their shared closet and grabbed some clothes. Her mom followed her.
"You going to be okay today?", Brie asked.
"You ask me that every year you know he comes back", Adelaide said.
"And it doesn't get any easier sweetheart", Brie said.
"If you already know, why do you ask", she said.
She walked passed her mom.
"Your aunt and I are trying to find something to break this curse. We've traveled all around the world and spoken to all the elder witches. There is a reversal spell, we just have to find it", Brie said.
"We won't find it, ever. You know why. He has it and he won't give it till I say yes to him", Adelaide said.
Brie placed her hands on Adelaide's cheeks.
"And you are not going to do that. Just give us more time Addie", Brie said.
Adelaide placed her hands on her mom's.
"I'm tired mom", she said softly.
She removed Brie's hands and walked passed her.
"Do you mind? If I wait for Carmella I'll be late", Addie said.
Brie nodded and snapped her fingers. A shower stall appeared in the closet.
"You really need to start using magic again", Brie said, wiping her tears.
"Magic is what got us into this mess", Addie said.
Brie nodded before walking out. Getting downstairs, Nikki was making breakfast.
"So?", Nikki asked.
Both moms knew how hard it was for their girls.
"Addie is going to school, Bayley and Carmella are getting ready for work.", Brie said.
Nikki nodded. The girls did this every time they moved. They had to decide on working or going to school. Taking some classes over again, just for fun. Learning a new language when needed. Meeting men, dating, kissing.
Carmella had slept with another man, thinking it would help her move on or forget Dean altogether. It didn't.
Addie was the first one down. Jeans and a t-shirt. Her hair was in a messy bun and she put on a bit of makeup. She served herself and sat down, Nikki kissed the top of her head.
"Have a good day at school", Nikki said.
"Thanks aunt Nikki", Addie said.
Hearing a scream from upstairs, all three women went towards the stairs quickly. Carmella came rushing down, her hair still wet and makeup bag in hand.
"I'm late, I'm so freaking late", she kept saying.
"Then use magic to apply your makeup genius", Addie said.
Carmella stopped and smirked. She dropped her makeup bag and nodded.
"I love being a witch", Carmella said.
She snapped her fingers and looked over her makeup.
"What do you guys think?", she asked.
"Aren't you late for work?", Addie asked.
Carmella gasped and grabbed her car keys.
"Bye, I love you all", she called on the way to the door.
Nikki and Brie laughed softly. Bayley came down next. Grabbing a cup of coffee.
"Was she late to her interview?", Bayley asked.
They nodded.
"Its karma for using up all the hot water", Addie said.
"Maybe if you used magic, you would shower in hot water too", Nikki said.
"On second thought, cold water is amazing", Addie said.
Nikki laughed. Addie grabbed her bag and keys.
"Alright, well, I'm off", Addie said.
"Me too", Bayley said.
They walked out to the cars together.
"You think we'll run into them at all today?", Bayley asked.
"We always do Bay", Addie said.
"I don't know, I just feel like it's going to be different this time.", Bayley said.
"I don't think I can take losing him again Bay, let's hope that feeling means we aren't meeting them this time", Addie said.
Bayley nodded.
"Coming by my work for lunch?", Bayley asked.
"Yes, you know my favorite", Addie said.
Bayley nodded. Addie got in her car and drove to the school. With every class she went to, she feared he would walk in, but he didn't. Getting to her last class, she watched the door for him.
"Please don't come in", she mumbled.
The class was somewhat full.
"Is this class canceled or something? The professor is like five minutes late", someone said.
The door opened again and her heart sped up.
"Sorry, I'm new here and I got lost.", he said.
Some of the students laughed. He chuckled.
"Yeah, I guess it's pretty funny. So, I should introduce myself, my name's Roman Reigns. I will be your new Anthropology of Religions professor.", he said, he looked around and stopped when he met her eyes.
He shouldn't have been staring at her this long. He shook his head and continued.
"Professor Flair has been, permanently detained", he said.
"Can we ask why?", Mike asked.
"Health related, I can't give more than that because it's his business", Roman said.
Everyone nodded. She packed her bag and stood, making her way out. He watched her.
"Excuse me, miss", he said.
She didn't stop, walking right out the door. He looked at the rest of the class.
"I guess she was late for something", Roman said.
The students laughed softly.
Addie splashed water in her face. He was her professor. How could that have happened?
The bathroom door opened again and Alexa walked in. Addie rolled her eyes and grabbed a paper towel. She dried her face.
"What do you want?", Addie asked.
"Just wanted to warn you. He's back", Alexa said.
"So?", Addie asked.
Alexa smirked.
"Have you ran into him yet?", she asked.
"If I did, I wouldn't tell you. You are the reason we are stuck like this. I would say for the rest of our lives, but since we are never going to die, it would be weird", Addie shrugged.
Alexa rolled her eyes.
"You think I wanted this?", Alexa asked.
"I don't care what you wanted Lexi.", Addie said, grabbing her bag.
"I love him", Alexa said, stopping Addie.
"No you don't. You only wanted him because I had him. That's the truth. I thought by now you would be ready to admit it, we are too old to be doing this Lex", Addie said.
She walked out, leaving Alexa alone. She made her way to the front office. The elderly lady at the front desk smiled at her.
"I need to change my Anthropology of Religions professor", Addie said.
The woman clicked a few things on her computer. She looked back at Addie.
"Sorry sweetheart, Mr. Reigns is the only one available. We have three professors and he's the only one with the space", she said.
Addie sighed and nodded.
"Thanks", Addie said.
She made her way back to his class. Slowly. Getting to his door, she opened it and walked in. He watched her.
"Welcome back Miss...", he stopped.
"Bella. Adelaide Bella", Addie said.
He nodded. He gestured to the seats and she took her spot back. He smiled and nodded.
"We were just discussing our first topic. Religion and Magic. More specifically, witches", he said.
Addie nodded.
"Who here believes witches exist?", he asked.
Only a few raised their hands, so did Addie. Roman met her eyes and nodded.
"Who here believes in religion?", he asked.
Almost everyone raised their hand, including Addie. Roman was confused.
"You believe in both?", he asked her.
She nodded.
"Don't you?", she asked.
"I believe God should be the only one in power", he said.
"So you don't believe in witches and magic?", she asked.
"I believe that there are people out there who think they are. Who use demons and the devil to bring pain to others", he said.
"So then you do believe in witches and magic, and judging by your statement, you think their all bad", she said.
She could tell he was getting agitated. She could read him well enough to know. When he believed in something, he believed it to the fullest.
"Not everyone is bad. You just have to find the good", she said.
"So you believe witches are good?", he asked.
"If they exist, I believe some, not all, are good", she said.
"Witchcraft is not good, no matter what", he said.
"I guess everyone else is just going to have to take your word for it", she said.
"I guess so miss Bella", he said.
He grabbed a pile of papers off his desk and handed them out.
"The list of books that could help you. Your first assignment, thanks to miss Bella, is to prove to me whether witchcraft and magic is real. I want you to write down the books you've read to find out the truth, the methods you used to prove them to be real or not. I want you to convince me, that magic and witchcraft is real", he said, meeting Addie's eyes before saying his last sentence.
Addie took the paper that held a list of books.
"When is this assignment due?", Tyler asked.
"Lets say, Halloween. Gives each of you more than enough time", Roman said.
Everyone nodded. Roman walked over to Addie, setting his hand down on her book. She looked up at him.
"Convince me", he said.
He walked away from her and she slumped down in her seat. What has she gotten herself into?