Casters of Oblivion

Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight Saga; just my witches belong to me.

Chapter 7: Wake Me Up

Eleanor's POV

Winter break was fantastic. It was a wonderful experience with my family in Salem, Massachusetts, celebrating the Christian and pagan sides of the season. My brother Philip has grown yet again, nearing the coming-of-age ceremony showing telekinesis's basic capabilities and his gift of electrokinesis. Also, my little sister Winifred has grown to eight years old and is learning how to happily announce she got two girls who were bullies' trip constantly at school. As much as I want to praise her, I have to reprimand her for using magic on ordinary people.

My mother Constance outdid herself this Christmas while spoiling her children. I'm surprised my father, Gideon, hasn't locked his wallet in a vault. Though his Christmas gift to me was a debit card to fund the motorbikes, if not reminding me, the Honda Scrambler would come back to Boston after graduation. I chuckled from that conversation. At least the black Harley Sprint will remain in Washington for Jacob, and I could ride on.

I also received the Caster mark on my left wrist. It was a tradition that all Casters receive the mark of the Casters at the age of eighteen. Of course, Zelena did not approve of the tattoo at the time of my birthday, but she allowed it as a Christmas gift in Salem. The tattoo is a crescent moon with three teardrops underneath the large curve. The symbol was Wiccan, and it represents blessing. The Elder of Salem chose this symbol. This was the Moon Goddess Blessing, while the three teardrops represent the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone.

The Elder stained my skin with the ancient ways of tattooing by putting ink to skin as she dabbed the mixture of ash and herbs and stabbed it into my flesh with a needle. It was not a comfortable experience, but still an honor. I was surprised by the Blessing symbol of the moon goddess. Most Witches would get the pentacle or pentagram. And yet the Elder decided I shall receive the blessing.

When the older woman was done, she took my hand and said, "I see a long journey ahead, my dear. May this symbol protect you by the Goddess of the Moon and the Goddess of Three."

I felt truly honored to receive a rare mark.

But now that I am back in Forks on a Friday, I plan to go to the movies with Jessica after school in Port Angeles. At first, it was supposed to be a girls' night out with Jessica, Lauren, Angela, and I. Sadly, Lauren ditched us for a date with Tyler, and Angela's parents grounded her after coming home late with Eric. But Jessica insisted we continue the girls' night and see a movie.

So after school and dropping Ginger off, I'll pick Jessica up, and we go off from there.

Of course, the weekend will be busy seeing Jacob and working on the bikes. Thinking about Jacob made me laugh. When I returned from Salem and visited the Blacks, I gave Jacob his present. The expression on his face was priceless, as he was holding an authentic cylinder he was hunting for for his Volkswagen Rabbit. Beforehand, he was using a cylinder that he had managed until now. And when it was his Seventeenth birthday, I made him a cake and decorated it. Jacob, Quil, and Embry devour it before Billy, Charlie, and I could have a second slice. However, I did get a chance to smash a slice into his face, which he laughed, taking whatever remaining icing and smeared on my face. We cleaned up, and those Jacob invited joined a small bonfire.

Anyway, I was excited for Saturday, I grabbed my backpack and headed downstairs for breakfast. However, Zelena stood there with a solemn expression. One that means bad news.

"We need to talk," Zelena announced.

"About what?" I asked.

"About Ginger," she answered.

I took a deep breath, knowing this day would come.

.o0o.

Ginger's POV

Alice, you've disappeared, like everything else. Now, who else can I talk to? I'm lost. Even with my Coven sisters…it doesn't feel right. When you left, and he left, you took everything with you. But the absence of him is everywhere I look. It's like a huge hole has been punched through my chest. But in a way, I am glad. The pain is my only reminder that he was real, that you all were.

I no longer care if my magic consumed me to oblivion. There is no purpose in living. I still breathe. I still eat. I still stay alive for the promise I made to him. For Betsy's sake.

Yet it's like I'm screaming, and no one can hear me. I almost feel ashamed that someone could be that important, that without him, I feel like nothing. No one will ever understand how much it hurts. I feel hopeless, like nothing can save me.

Please, Alice, please respond.

Ginger

Automatically I clicked on the send button. I stared at the monitor waiting for the message to be sent. But as usual, a pop-up says mail delivery failure due to a deactivated email account. I sighed, turned off my computer, and went downstairs to make some toast.

Eleanor was already there with Zelena as the two talked about spells or something. The expression on Eleanor's face wasn't pleasing. Ignoring them, I plopped a slice of bread in the toaster and waited. Zelena came over to talk to me, yet I didn't hear her. Then suddenly, my cheek hurt, and I was pushed into the wall, being held prisoner there.

"That's it! You're going back to New Orleans." Zelena announced.

Suddenly, I snapped out of it. "What?"

"You're going to New Orleans, train under Cordelia, and live with your mother," Zelena said, removing the force from me.

"I'm not leaving Forks." I protested, still in shock.

Zelena sighed, "Ginger, I don't know how much I can take your depression seriously."

"Depression?" I asked.

"Yes, you are depressed because of Edward Cullen." She clarified.

I winced, followed by a sharp gasp at hearing his name. It hurt to hear his name. Okay, maybe I am depressed, but I'm not leaving Forks. There are a lot of good memories here…memories with him.

"He's not coming back," Eleanor said. "You know that when ordinary people get suspicious… it's time to leave."

"I know," I breathed.

"It's just not normal, this behavior," Zelena said concernedly. "Quite frankly, it's scaring the hell out of your mother and us. Ginger, we don't want you to leave. But you're in an unhealthy environment. So go to New Orleans and make some new friends."

"I like my old friends," I mumbled.

"Ging, you haven't talked to any of them for more than three months," Eleanor announced.

Three months. Has it truly been three months since he left me? Three months in this zombie-like state while going through the motions. It hardly felt like three months. The knowledge from school and training still lingers in my brain. Yet everything else seemed to be a blur. I recall Eleanor trying to get me active, offering girls' nights and dates…but everything else seemed so vague. Damn, did I miss the season finale of Supernatural?

"Give me a chance?" I begged.

"Ginger," Zelena sighed.

"Please, let me prove that I have moved on." I offered.

Zelena stood there thinking about it. She took the elastic off her wrist and tied it up in her blond curls into a messy bun. After what felt like a century, she sighed and nodded. I exhaled, not realizing I was holding my breath, and gave a forced smile.

"Eleanor, you have a movie night with Jessica, right?" Zelena asked.

"Yes," Eleanor said, though she scowled.

"Let Ginger join you and evaluate the situation," Zelena instructed.

Eleanor's eyes widened, opening her mouth to protest, but Zelena gave her the Concilium stare. Her lips were sealed, which resulted in Eleanor huffing through the nose before leaving. Wait…what was that all about? Does Eleanor hate me or doesn't want me to go?

Sighing, I ate my quick breakfast and grabbed my bag before getting in the passenger seat. Eleanor got in the driver's seat and turned on the radio station. I cringed. Music reminds me of him. Let alone that is the stereo Emmett gave me for my birthday. Emmett, Mr. Teddy Bear. Thinking of how fun it was to see him and his antics of teasing. Almost like a big brother in a way. The thought of Emmett didn't hurt as much as it does with Ed…Even thinking of his name hurts.

Not wanting to listen to any music, I leaned forward to turn the stereo off. However, Eleanor disapproved as she turned the sound station on. I tried again, but my hand stopped midway, not by Eleanor's telekinesis but by her hand in general.

"If you want to prove to Zelena that you have moved on. Then you listen." Eleanor ground out.

I stared at Eleanor to realize how much she had changed over the three months. For some reason, I was wearing memory glasses, for she no longer wore gothic chic/caster clothing. Her hair is no longer long and dark, and her skin is pale. Instead, she seemed more…normal with a dark twist. Her clothing is more up-to-date with some fashion genres, her skin is much fairer, and her makeup is more natural. But what surprised me more about Eleanor's transformation was her hair. Her dark chocolate hair was cut short, just past her shoulders, and layered. Along with her glasses, they were thin-framed, showing more of her face.

Wow, she looked normal, I thought.

Except her hazel eyes bothered me so. They were fueled with anger, hurt, and frustration. Did I being absent hurt her? I recall her trying to help me through my wallowing…oh crap. Now, I remember her always coming to my room asking me about hangouts, whether with friends or just us, and I ignored her. What kind of friend am I?

Not wanting to make things worse, I pulled my hand back and nodded. Eleanor gave me a once over before starting the engine and driving to school. As the music played, I stared around to see any changes. Other than the stereo and Eleanor, there was another change. It was a charm. It didn't appear caster-related but more Native American.

Next, I stared at my reflection in the window. That is when I realized how different I was from three months ago. My skin was much paler, my body thinner, and the bags under my eyes from lack of sleep. But that wasn't what bothered me. No, my hair. There were three inches of my regular hair. A ginger shade I did not like. It's a reminder about my sperm donor!

Sighing, I let my mind wander on how to live this life.

A life without him.

.o0o.

At Fork's High School, I noticed people were acting strange around me. It was as if they were surprised when I answered the teacher's question so willingly. But when lunchtime came, I hardly dared to leave the table. So I sat there eating lunch while watching Eleanor join the others. She whispered something to Jessica that surprised her, and she stared in my general direction—probably letting Jessica know that I would be joining them on their girls' night.

By the end of the day, Jessica followed us to our Cabin to drop off the Wagoneer before all three of us headed to Port Angeles. There we explored the city to see the new trends in clothing. How Eleanor interacted so girly surprised me as she and Jessica went over accessories in the boutique. Jessica lifted a metal necklace; it was a chain with metal feather charms.

"Ella, you should get this. It goes with your pendant." Jessica said.

"I don't know," Eleanor said.

"Seriously, it goes well with your new style." She complimented.

"That is because you picked out most of my clothing." Eleanor countered playfully.

How they interacted reminded me of Alice and me during the summer, when Alice took us to Seattle to go shopping in the high-end boutiques and expensive stores. My pixie friend worked desperately to break me out of my punk-chic fashion, but they she. But being generous, I would time and again wear a blouse she bought with my skinny jeans.

In the end, Eleanor buys the necklace, while Jessica gets a new headband. Knowing I had to interact with the group to prove myself, I also bought a necklace. Nothing fancy or cliché, merely a sparrow. Okay, like Captain Jack Sparrow's tattoo. Don't judge me if I'm a Pirates of the Caribbean fan.

We went to the movie theater and saw a zombie movie called "The Dead Come Back." It was okay, though not the best zombie film I saw. Initially, the girls wanted to see a romantic comedy, but I got a say. I genuinely don't want to see a romance film. Jessica considered my wallowing and then voted with me. Again, not the best film. Even though people were gasping from fright, the sight of blood bothered me. So, for most of the film, I focused on the scar on my wrist where James bit me. The two silver crescent moons that shimmer on my pale skin. Just touching it felt cold.

After the movie, we left the theater as Jessica did her usual rants.

"I don't know why you want to sit through all those zombies eating people and no hot guys kissing anybody." She said directly to me. "It's gross. Like…And why are there many zombie movies anyway? 'Cause if it's supposed to, like, draw a parallel about leprosy, my cousin had leprosy. It's not funny, you know?"

"Sorry to hear that," Eleanor apologized.

"And, like, is it supposed to be a metaphor for consumerism? Because don't be so pleased with your own, like, self-referential cleverness, you know. Like, some girls like to shop. Not all girls, apparently." Jessica continued looking at me, surprised to say that. "Although, I was surprised you even joined us at all. You know?"

"Yeah, it's alright." I managed to say.

"Like, your depression thing, I get it. I'm totally, totally worried. But after a while it's like, you're still bumming…."

I zoned out to ignore her rants. I don't need to hear another person to remind me of my depression or wallowing. Suddenly, there were a couple of male voices calling out to us. They were by One Eye Pete's Bar. By the looks of it, it was a biker gang with all the motorcycles and bikes. They continued to call us over, offering beer and rides. It brought flashbacks of those drunkard frat boys from last spring and how they ganged up on me under the influence of their stupidity. I turned my head to continue walking but gasped, stumbling back.

There in front of me was an apparition of him. His form is like mist, a ghost per se. His golden eyes are gazing deep into my soul as he murmurs. "Keep walking."

It's official. I thought. I have gone mad.

"This is dangerous." He murmured. Until Jessica walks through him and destroys his form.

Jessica stared at me strangely. "Dude, come on."

"Come here for a sec!" a man yelled.

I turned my direction toward the bikers. "I think I know those guys."

Both Jessica and Eleanor stared at the bikers. Both had a disapproving look.

"We got beer! We got bikes!" the same guy yelled.

"Well, they seem great. Can we go?" Jessica asked.

I took a deep breath, "I'm just gonna see something."

"Ginger!" Eleanor called out.

But I ignored her and continued down the road towards the bikers.

"Alright, alright, we got a taker." The same guy said, pleased. He was a balding man in his late twenties, maybe early thirties, with dark blond hair, blue eyes, a slight, fair mustache, and wearing black earrings on both of his ears.

Suddenly, he appeared again. "Turn around."

I gasped, stepping back.

As I was about to turn around, he disappeared. No. He is not going to vanish after breaking his promises. I am a witch. I can do whatever I want. I'm not going to let some stupid vampire control my life physically, emotionally, and mentally. So, taking a deep breath, I walked toward the biker, filled with this strange emotion of courage.

"You say you got bikes," I asked.

"Yep, want a ride little lady?" The man offered with a wink.

Again, he appeared behind the man with a disappointed look. "You promised me, nothing reckless."

I inhaled deeply, " You promised as if you never existed." I got behind the man on his bike, wrapping my arms around his waist. "You lied."

"You say something, babe?" the man asked. "You know what? Never mind."

The man kicked the kickstand up and started the engine making the automotive roar. The vibration of the motorcycle was exhilarating to the very core. As if it brought a new life to me. The man turned his motorcycle, going down the backroad where the store's shipments are. Once the road was cleared, the guy accelerated, going way fast. The wind blew in my face, my heart beating fast, and this new sensation filled me. It was almost like a rush.

However, the rush vanished when he appeared again in the center of the street. Shit, if this guy doesn't stop, he will run over Ed…him. I shouted for the biker to stop, but he wouldn't, saying I should relax, resulting in him doing a pop of wheel. Still, we were zooming closer, and I closed my eyes. I wanted to get off this motorcycle now.

Suddenly, a sharp, tight feeling curled in my stomach. As if somebody punched into my stomach and squeezed the very organs. Afterward, I had an intense headache while the world around me became obscure in a swirling motion with a blast of wind. Next thing I knew, I had fallen to the ground, a block away from One Eye Pete's.

Holy Shit. Did I…did I do that Harry Potter transportation thing?

A smile curled up my lips to discover a new ability. Zelena mentioned that the late teens to young adults are when abilities become precise. Unable to resist, I got up and ran back to Eleanor to tell her the shocking revelation. When I made the corner, I found Jessica hesitating in the middle of the street, her eyes wide, consumed with outrage, while Eleanor was beyond pissed as she held a cellphone to her ear. My back pocket rang, indicating she was calling me.

When I reached them, I couldn't stop smiling!

"Hey, what the hell's wrong with you?" Jessica demanded. "Just curious."

"Are you insane!" Eleanor snapped.

"I thought I saw…something," I answered, out of breath.

"You're Insane…or suicidal," Jessica suggested as we walked towards McDonald's for dinner. "That homeboy could've been a psycho. I was about to end up in an FBI interview room like some lame TV show."

My heart was still pumping with my veins singing. Especially from transporting from the motorcycle to here. As I thought aloud, "That was such a rush."

Eleanor and Jessica stared at me in shock. Eleanor sensed something had happened but was too pissed off to tell me. Yet Jessica had the liberty to speak. "Awesome. So you're an adrenaline junkie now? That's cool. You can go bungee jumping. You don't get on the back of some random loser's motorcycle. Crazy."

Crazy. I thought. Maybe I have gone crazy.

With the rush in my veins, the numbness hardly returned. I kept my mouth silent after Jessica dropped us off at the Cabin. Immediately I ran to tell Zelena the news leaving Eleanor with Jessica, as my coven sister apologized.

Zelena was sitting on the couch reading a grimoire. She looked up, surprised to sense such positive energy. "I take it you had fun."

"More or less," I said. "But something happened."

"What? What happened?" Zelena asked curiously.

"I've transmutated," I answered.

Zelena's expression changed. Either this is a good thing or a bad thing. Only tomorrow's lesson would tell.

What do you guys think?

Parts of Ginger's letter was from We Found Love by Rhianna.

Thanks for reading, and please leave a review.

Updated!