Chapter Four: Pageant
She hung up the phone and then picked it up. Dialing the number she knew well from the back of her mind. Sighing as it rang. Over and over again. She frowned and hung the phone back up. Sighing as she wanted to hit the wall. Closing her eyes as she let go of the phone.
"Sounds like someone doesn't want to talk?" A voice spoke as Alessia turned. There was a witch shorter than her. Very short and curly hair.
"Who are you?" Alessia asked. She hadn't met this new recruit yet.
"Call me Libba." The witch spoke. Holding her hand out.
"Alessia." Alessia replied while shaking her hand.
"You're on Bellweather unit aren't you?" Libba asked as Alessia nodded.
"That's a shame. Could use you on my team. I heard your voice is strong." Libba spoke.
"It's alright. It's getting better with training." Alessia spoke.
"So modest. Don't let Bedwetter hold you back." The shorter witch spoke and walked past her with a smile. Alessia raised a brow while watching her leave. It was odd for some random person to make conversation with her. Shrugging it off as she made her way down to the mess hall. Seeing Tally and Abigail already eating. Raelle had missed inspection and it lowered their unit again. This was frustrating Abigail a lot. Alessia grabbed a bowl of fruit and sat down next to Tally. Just looking at her food.
"Did you call her?" Tally asked softly. Alessia nodded her head lightly.
"Yeah. Usually when we fight, we always make up. Now, it's like she really meant it." Alessia spoke softly. Feeling her shoulder squeezed.
"My mom is still trying to get me to leave." Tally spoke. Alessia looked at her fiery friend with a friend.
"I don't understand why your mothers are against the Army." Abigail spoke.
"Not everyone is the same, Abigail." Tally spoke. Alessia pushed her bowl away and sighed. Rubbing her face before sitting back in her seat. There was a pair of hurried footsteps as she looked up and over Tally's shoulder. Raelle has shown up.
"I missed inspection." She spoke.
"We know. We were there." Abigail spoke as she was eating her food.
"Anacostia gave me guard duty." Raelle spoke.
"I have labs tonight." Alessia spoke before picking up her bowl and walked away. Setting it aside as another recruit took the bowl from her. She raised a brow at her before turning to find Tally hugging another short witch.
"Alessia, this is Glory. Glory, this is Alessia." Tally introduced them. They shook hands.
"Please tell me that you did not. Why would you subject yourself to this willingly?" Glory asked while looking around. Alessia was watching the television while hearing all her friends talking. Somehow she was able to pick up both conversations.
"My seeds sounds are a mess." Glory spoke.
"Alessia could help. She's really good now." Tally spoke. She felt a poke as Alessia jumped.
"Huh? Oh! Yes! Remind me after training. I can help you." She spoke.
"Thank you! It really means a lot." Glory spoke as she hugged Alessia. She stood there rigid on the spot.
"We ran out so we are raiding yours." An older witch spoke.
"Uh.." Tally spoke.
"Coffee." The older woman spoke.
"Oh!" All three of them said in unison before moving to the side.
"Ladies! Top five highest ranking units will attend the pageant in Salem Town, after which they will enjoy a few hours of unsupervised time off base!" Anacostia shouted. Alessia was stomping her feet along with the others. Feeling her arm linked with Tally and Glory.
"Come! Training!" Alessia spoke as she took the lead as the others followed.
Seeing Tally skip with Glory as she smiled slightly at this. Holding the door opened as they entered the gym. Alessia looked around and saw the familiar faces of the teachers.
"Libba Swythe." Abigail spoke. Alessia turned and saw the girl from earlier. "Daughter of misfortune." Hearing a clap from Libba as Alessia saw Tally and Raelle stand on both of her sides. Putting her hands behind her back while watching the two.
"I thought I smelled sulfur and defeat."
"Abigail Bedwetter. I mean, what happened to her?" Libba asked. Alessia tilted her head to the side while watching them exchange words.
"Hmm." Alessia spoke.
"What?" Tally and Raelle asked in unison.
"Oh nothing. Come on." She spoke while stepping back.
"You're a dumb noodling nay-nayhorse from a dumb noodling nobody family." Abigail spoke. Hearing some chuckles from the other witches. Alessia looked up and shook her head. She didn't like the sound of this.
"You are malice, Abigail. Heard about your little meeting with Alder." Libba spoke. Alessia crossed her arms.
"Maggots will reject your fetid corpse!" Abigail shot back. She saw Libba walk up to her.
"Don't let her take your joy. That's what she eats!" Libba whispered before walking away.
"Gather!" Anacostia shouted. Alessia turned on her heels to see Anacostia in time, tossing a metal bar to Tally who missed it. "Pick it up. Run at me and stab me in the eye." Anacostia ordered.
"What?" Tally asked weakly.
"Now!" She shouted as Tally ran at her and stopped. Alessia could sense the conflict inside of Tally. She wasn't a fighter.
"Again!" Tally tripped this time. Alessia pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Is anyone up for this?!" Anacostia shouted. Abigail and Libba both made a move for the bar and Abigail won. Stepping back before shouting. She ran at Anacostia. The bar turned to dust as she was thrown off her feet. Alessia gasped and smiled at this.
"Windshear, ladies! The first official piece of military canon you get in basic training!" She shouted. Alessia was the first to start stomping her feet. She felt excited at this! She was speaking about how it worked.
"We will begin with Seed 41, the seed of haste and accumulation. Upper register, just north of audible range!" Anacostia spoke as she began. Alessia followed. Feeling her hands rise a little at her sides. Feeling the power of the seed as it went from high to low.
"We will continue tomorrow. Get some rest." Anacostia shouted. Watching everyone leave.
"Hey, Alessia." Libba's voice came. She stopped and looked behind her.
"Hi!" She spoke. She was introduced to her unit and shook their hands.
"So. Glory told me that you are helping her with her seeds. Can you help us as well?" She asked.
"Yeah, meet me in vocal training in thirty minutes." Alessia spoke softly. Seeing Izadora and Anacostia watching her.
They were back in the building walking down the stairs.
"So Libba. You guys seem tight." Raelle spoke. Alessia was eating an apple while listening in.
"Family thing." Abigail spoke as Tally grabbed Abigail's shoulder and spoke slowly.
"What did she do?" She asked. Alessia was the last one to finish climbing the stairs.
"She danced with my Cavalier before I got a chance to." Abigail spoke.
"Oh. That's messed up." Alessia spoke as Abigail nodded at her.
"What language are you speaking?" Raelle asked.
"What's a Cavalier?" Tally asked. They went back and forth about it as Alessia tossed the core into a potted flower.
"Why did you do that?" Tally asked.
"It gives the plant nutrients." Alessia replied.
"Oh, can I come with you?" Tally asked as Alessia nodded.
"Where are you two going?" Abigail asked.
"Extra vocal training." Alessia replied.
"Have fun." With that, she left. Raelle left for guard duty. Tally linked arms with Alessia as they made their way to the other building. Seeing Glory, Libba and her unit waiting.
"Thought you weren't going to show." Libba spoke.
"And miss a chance of having to help my fellow comrades get stronger? Not a chance." Alessia spoke. This seemed to have made them smile. "Inside." She spoke. Watching them enter the room.
"Shall we start with the seed of revealing?" She asked as some nodded. She picked up the tuning fork. Hitting it with her finger as the sound resonated across the room.
"We'll start one by one." Alessia spoke. Tally started. She smiled and nodded her head. Libba was next. Then she heard a slight off tune. She looked at the girl.
"Your seed is wavering." She spoke.
"I do not know why." She spoke. Alessia picked up the revealing tool and moved closer. Holding it up to her neck.
"Your throat looks sore. You should give it rest." Alessia spoke.
"No. I can do this." She spoke. She placed a hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Your throat is the most powerful weapon you have. Rest it." She spoke.
"Tea and honey." Tally spoke. Alessia smiled and nodded.
"Best medicine." She added. "Go on. I can still help you though. Now. I want each of you to try and push your seed a bit more. Make it a bit more. Aggressive." She spoke as the girl left. She didn't know how to link yet. None of them except Raelle and she wasn't here.
"Alright. All together." She spoke. Hitting the fork with her fingers as it resonated again. She even joined in. Hearing the bowl behind them bubble and rise. She smiled at this.
"That was amazing!" Libba spoke. "You'd make a good teacher." Libba spoke. Alessia blushed at this. She smiled and nodded her head. Watching Libba's unit take their leave.
"That was pretty good." Tally spoke as Alessia looked at her. "Maybe you should teach us instead?" She asked. Alessia rolled her eyes.
"Honestly, I never really thought about what I want to go for if we did go to War College." Alessia spoke. She remembered Izadora talking to her about an extra class at the College. She hadn't told anyone this. She looked up and saw them. Anacostia and Izadora watching her with a smile. She turned her attention back to Tally who was talking about the Pageant. She had never gone to one even though she lived in the state her whole life. Tally however really wanted to go. She didn't blame her friend. It sounded like a fun opportunity to go.
"So, I ran some numbers." Alessia spoke.
"Oh? Look at you." Tally spoke with a smile as she rolled her eyes.
"If we, from here on out. Go to our training on time, do well, like really well, we could bump up into the top five." Alessia spoke.
"We will have to get onto Raelle though." Tally frowned. Alessia nodded her head as they made their way back to the suite.
"Ha!" Tally shouted as she blocked Alessia's oncoming punch. They were working on their windshears. Alessia smiled. They grabbed each other's arms and nodded before taking their stances again.
"Weakness and fatigue have no place in a witch's army." Anacostia spoke as Alessia watched her kick Raelle awake.
"I was out kind of late, I don't know if you remember or not." Raelle spoke as she stood up slowly.
"Irrelevant. Bellweather, show Private Collar what endurance looks like. Atonals, Seed twenty-six please. The seed of discord." Anacostia spoke. Alessia gulped at this. 'I'll tell you when to stop." Their Drill Sergeant added.
"What is it?" Tally asked while looking between the two of them. Abigail began singing. Alessia moved a little closer to Abigail just in case. Seeing Abigail start strong but she was slowly falling to her knees as the seed was taking a massive effect on her.
"Stop." Anacostia spoke. Abigail fell onto her knees and pushed Tally's help away.
"Training resumes in two hours! Fuel your body! We are moving to windstrike." Anacostia shouted. Abigail was glaring at Raelle. Alessia frowned at this. It really wasn't her fault. Feeling a poke on her shoulder. She turned and saw Glory.
"I want to thank you again for the help. Any chance you can do more?" Glory asked. Alessia smiled softly and nodded her head. "Yes!" Glory spoke as she cheered quietly before taking her leave. She took her leave as well as Tally was going on and on about the pageant again.
"Think Anacostia will let us do something extra?" Tally asked as Alessia was finally eating. She was sipping apple slices into peanut butter and eating them. Tally had dipped her half eaten slice into her peanut butter to try it. "Mmm!" She spoke.
"Like what extra?" Abigail asked.
"I don't know. Maybe something extra, extra. Clean latrines." Tally spoke. Alessia snorted a little.
"You enjoy that." Abigail spoke.
"Why do you want to go so bad?" Raelle asked.
"I want to see the Pageant." Tally spoke. "Alessia has never been so." She added. Alessia nodded. In truth, she wanted to go to the pageant as well. She was curious about it. Hearing a cough. Alessia looked up and saw Abigail coughing blood.
"This should be your blood." She glared at Raelle.
"Let her help. We're a unit." Tally spoke.
"Shut up Tally." Abigail and Raelle said together.
"Hey!" Alessia slammed her hand on the table. The whole room went silent.
"I'm just gonna." Raelle spoke.
"Yeah." Abigail spoke.
"Come Tally." Alessia spoke as she stood up. Putting her hands behind her back as she took the lead away from the other two.
"Oh! I have to call my mom. Meet you there?" Tally asked as Alessia nodded.
"Good luck." Alessia spoke as she watched Tally nearly skip away. She smiled at her fiery friend before she turned to leave back to the gym.
"Bedwetter not join you?" Libba asked as Alessia looked up. Walking slowly and leaned against the wall. Crossing her arms.
"She'll be here soon." Alessia spoke as Libba leaned on the wall next to her.
"You did good. I wanted to thank you." Libba spoke. Alessia's eyes were watching Izadora who in turn was watching her as Anacostia was speaking. She nodded her head at Libba as she pushed herself off the wall.
"Plenty more where that came from." Alessia spoke as she smiled. Tally came inside the gym and went straight to her. Grabbing Alessia's arm and pulling her away.
"Whoa Tally. What's wrong?" She asked. Her eyes looking into her friend's eyes.
"My mom gave me this." She whispered and held her hand up. Alessia saw it. She was the only one who did.
"Oh Tally." Alessia spoke. Giving her friend a hug.
"She's still upset. Have you heard from your mom?" Tally asked. Alessia sighed and shook her head.
"I'm worried about her." She spoke. Crossing her arms and scanned the room again. Seeing Abigail and Raelle finally showing up.
"Let's go ladies!" Anacostia shouted. They all lined up in their units. Each taking a turn at the metal board.
"Skaa!" Alessia used her vocal. Holding herself back again. Seeing her unit was barely hitting the board.
"Talent!" Anacostia shouted as she was in Alessia's way. "Use it if you have it!" She shouted. Alessia gulped and turned sharply. Her hands behind her back while standing next to her unit.
"My throat is killing me." Abigail spoke as she was rubbing her throat.
"Maybe you should have let me finish fixing you. Now both our throats hurt." Raelle spoke. Alessia sighed. Feeling another fight was coming now.
"Bitch. Bitch, bitch, bitch." Abigail whispered.
"Easy guys." Tally spoke.
"How about we keep it about the work, Abigail?" Raelle asked.
"Precision is key, always. Remember you are calling on no less than the force of a hurricane!" Anacostia spoke. Alessia was watching their drill sergeant.
"When my cousin did basic, they didn't learn windstrike until after Beltane." Glory spoke. Alessia furrowed her brows while looking around.
"Skaa!" Alessia windstruck at the metal before they turned to go back to the line again. She felt an uneasy energy coming from someone. She looked up to see Izadora giving her an upset look. She quickly looked away to Tally.
"There's been a lot of chatter about how fast training is coming at you ladies. Given the state of the world, are you surprised?" Anacostia asked. "The Spree debuted a whole new kind of bomb in kiev. We don't have nine months to get you ready." She added.
"Why are you weepy?" Abigail asked Tally.
"My mom gave me this. It's a combat charm. It's a big deal for her. She hates anything military so I called to thank her. We started well and ended the same old." Alessia could hear her unit go back and forth.
"How about we cool about it on the mom talk. How about you both just stop talking?!" Raelle shouted. Alessia looked at her.
"Use what you got ladies." Anacostia yelled.
"Skaa!" All four of them went in unison. Seeing the large hole in the metal. Hearing gasps as Tally was beaming. Abigail and Raelle both smiled. Alessia crossed her arms while smiling.
"Best windstrike of the day! Sixteen hundred pounds per square foot. You're headed to the pageant." Anacostia spoke. Alessia gasped and turned to face her unit. Tally was jumping.
"Aside from Bellweather unit. The following are also attending! Amigaunt, Habergon, Moffett, and Barbetter. Congratulations! Bus leaves in two hours." Anacostia spoke.
"Abigail, Raelle, this is Glory." Tally introduced Glory.
"Hi." Glory smiled and waved.
"Onwards to glory, Glory." Abigail spoke. Alessia rolled her eyes and chuckled.
Alessia was looking into the tall mirror. It was the first time she was wearing her blues. The formal wear they were told to wear.
"Should I wear my hair up or down?" Alessia asked.
"Down." Abigail spoke. Alessia pulled her hair out and watched it fall. "Holy. It's so long." Abigail spoke. She was not wrong. She turned to the side and saw. It was now past her waist.
"Yeah, put it up. You are going to need to get it cut." Her friend spoke.
"Maybe. I love my long hair." Alessia spoke. In her family, cutting hair was frowned upon. She put her hair half way up and braided the sides before putting it onto a pony. Grabbing her wallet with her money and tucked it into a pocket.
"Come! Bus leaves soon!" Tally spoke. She linked her arms with Alessia as they dashed out of the room. Leaving the building as well.
"Calm down Tally! We will get there!" Alessia laughed. Seeing Anacostia waiting.
"Wow. Your hair is really long!" She spoke.
"I know. I'll get it cut." Alessia spoke.
"Get on the bus." Anacostia spoke. Tally basically ran. Alessia bowed her head before climbing on as well. Immediately she saw Izadora sitting in the front seat.
"Alessia! Come!" Tally waved as did Glory. She did not lock eyes with the Necro as she moved forward to sit across the aisle from them. Folding her hands in her lap while listening to the two talk. The bus began to move from the Fort. It felt nice to go off base even just for a few hours.
"We're here!" Tally gasped as they arrived. Alessia smiled while looking around. They arrived in Salem and she could feel the excitement from the others. They climbed off the bus as Tally was arm linked with Glory. Anacostia got off followed by Izadora.
"You will conduct yourselves with dignity and honor tonight. Absolutely no work will be performed off base, none, under any circumstances. Understood?" Anacostia asked. They all stomped their feet twice. "Go." She smiled. Alessia turned and walked a little before Abigail grabbed her.
"What's up?" She asked.
"They have Necro stuff. Here." She was handed a map. Alessia gasped.
"I'm going to go check it out!" She smiled.
"Okay, weird alert." Abigail spoke. Alessia rolled her eyes before turning and dashed away. She wasn't around her unit as she pulled out the map. Following the pathway as she found the booths. Something caught her eyes. She stopped and moved back a little. Seeing a necklace that had a small bird skull on it.
"That's beautiful." Alessia spoke. Picking up the necklace. There was a small vial attached behind the skull.
"It's a blood tracking necklace. Whoever you want to find, whoever you want to find you, use the blood you put in the vial." The woman spoke. Alessia raised a brow.
"Shh. I am a witch." The woman spoke. She sang a seed that Alessia knew. They all knew. "It's also said to bring good luck if you give it to a lover." She winked at her. Alessia blushed. Chuckling a little before pulling out her wallet and buying the necklace.
"Thank you." Alessia spoke. Putting it on as she could feel the small energy from it. She smiled and turned away from the booth while hearing her fellow friends laughing and having fun. Her eyes caught the brown ones and she smiled weakly before quickly turning away to go back where she came.
"Hear ye! Hear ye! Gather around as we begin our trial!" A man's voice shouted. Alessia looked around and saw Tally nearly hug attacking her.
"Come on! It's starting." Tally shouted as Alessia was dragged towards a stand. Her eyes scanned the place as Abigail and Raelle came up from behind.
"Drag her up!" Voices shouted. Alessia was confused while looking around. Then she knew what was happening. They were reenacting the Salem Accord.
"Blighted the wounds of your sisters who have show you only kindness since the black days on your arrival on these shores." The man shouted. Alessia felt uneasy at this.
"Consorting with savages in the dark woods. Suckling toads at your breast, which we all have seen with our own eyes. What do you have to say, Sarah Alder?" The man asked. Alessia gasped at this.
"Now let her have her say!" A woman in the crowd shouted.
"What say you girl?" The man asked. The girl began to sing. It wasn't a seed but just a regular song. Alessia sighed and looked away.
"Be enacted by this general assembly that any child born of a witch shall be held a witch, according to the condition of the mother, and shall deliver herself bodily to Fort Salem for training in the Military arts." Two girls said in unison as they walked forward while holding a candle. Alessia moved away from the crowd. Waiting on Tally. She could feel eyes on her as Tally grabbed her arm. She let her friend lead her.
"That was weird." Tally spoke as Alessia looked up. Seeing people acting weird.
"Let's find the other two." Alessia spoke as they went towards a pizza place.
"Oh! Pizza!" Glory shouted. Alessia rolled her eyes with a smile.
"Anyone noticed anything weird going on?" Tally asked.
"Besides Abigail being nice to me?" Raelle asked as they laughed. Alessia's eyes then caught someone.
"Hey." She spoke as Scylla smiled at her.
"I didn't think you were coming." Raelle spoke.
"Everyone, this is Scylla. Scylla. Everyone." Raelle spoke.
"So this is Necro." Abigail spoke. Tally gasped. Alessa nudged her.
"So this is the High Atlantic." Scylla spoke. "Can't wait to meet again." She spoke as the two left.
Alessia sat down and ate a piece of pizza.
"What kind of name is Scylla?" Glory asked as Alessia chuckled.
"Greek?" Abigail asked.
"She's really pretty." Glory added. Alessia raised a brow at Glory who was drinking from her cup.
"In a macabre sort of way." Abigail added. They all laughed lightly at this. Then there was shouting Alessia looked up and scanned the area. She stood up and was at the ready.
"Guys." Tally spoke as they all noticed.
"The Spree is here!" A guy shouted. Alessia felt something rise as she heard the panicking.
"Stay inside!" She shouted while trying to calm some of the people down.
"Stand back from me sir!" Tally shouted. Alessia looked over in time to see Tally wind striking a civilian.
"Tally!" Alessia shouted while running to her fiery friend and touched her shoulder.
"We should go." Abigail spoke as they all nodded. Quickly leaving the restaurant as they made their way back to the bus. Seeing Anacostia and Izadora waiting for them.
"Pretty necklace." Tally spoke as Alessia turned to see Tally touching her necklace.
"It's a Necro charm." Alessia spoke softly. Smiling at this.
"Again. You are weird Solace." Abigail spoke.
"Abigail." Tally spoke.
"On the bus ladies!" Anacostia shouted.
"Hey, have you seen Scylla?" Glory whispered in a question.
"Shush!" Alessia spoke as she pressed her finger to her lips.
"Oh." Glory spoke. Alessia hopped onto the bus and moved towards the center and took a seat. Tally across from her with Glory. Abigail sat in front of them. Feeling the bus move to take them back to base.
"So, party tonight after dinner?" Abigail asked.
"Yea sure!" Tally spoke.
"I have labs to clean and then I will join." Alessia spoke.
"Why do you keep cleaning the Necro labs? No one even likes Izadora. She's insane."
"Say another word about Izadora and I will scramble your brains." Alessia spoke loudly. She blushed and turned away when she was caught by the Necro teacher defending her. Not realizing what she just did. Tally was smirking at her as she rolled her eyes. It was not long when they arrived back at base as they filed off.
"What was that?" Tally asked as Alessia looked at her friend.
"What was, what?" She asked.
"I've never seen you snap back at Abigail." Tally spoke.
"I don't know." Alessia spoke. Tally was still smiling at her.
"What?" Alessia asked.
"Nothing!" Seeing her friend tighten her lips in a smile. Alessia rolled her eyes again before taking another direction.
"Where are you going?" Tally asked.
"Labs." Alessia spoke. Tally nodded.
"I'll come get you when we start!" Tally shouted. Alessia waved her hand above her head when she turned to leave.
"What happened on the bus?" Izadora asked. Alessia nearly jumped from the Necro's appearance. She was so silent when she came up.
"Nothing. Just Abigail being Abigail." Alessia spoke as she followed the teacher to the Necro building.
"I do appreciate you helping. It seems only you and Scylla are the only two." Izadora spoke. Alessia nodded as they made their way down the stairs. Alessia was silent as they made their way into the circular classroom.
"Your hair is really long." Izadora spoke.
"I'm getting it cut tomorrow." Alessia spoke as she was putting it up into a low messy bun. Taking off her blue jacket and grabbing the white one. She had completely forgotten about the other jacket. Making a mental note to remember it.
"Ah, Scylla. Did you enjoy dinner?" Alessia asked while crossing her arms.
"I did. How was the pageant?" She asked.
"It was well." Alessia replied as she was now spraying down the counters. "So, you and Raelle huh?"
"Who ever told you such gossip?" Scylla asked.
"Please. You are all she talks about. It's driving everyone nuts. Not that I am already there." Alessia spoke. Scylla laughed while wiping down after Alessia sprayed.
"How's your mom?" Scylla asked. Alessia went silent. Putting the cleaners up. Feeling a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see blue eyes looking at her.
"I wouldn't know. Not that she cares." Alessia spoke as she moved from her. She could feel Izadora watching her.
"I have to go." Scylla spoke. Alessia nodded.
"I'll help finish up. Goodnight." Alessia spoke. Scylla smiled and left. Something caught her eyes as she stopped. Looking in a locked fridge.
"That's called a sound plague. It's not contagious but will make you feel uncomfortable for a few hours." Izadora spoke as if she knew Alessia was going to ask.
"It spreads through sound. Interesting." Alessia spoke. It was genius but she didn't want to say that. She turned around and moved across the lab and took her coat off. Setting it in the laundry bin before feeling her phone go off. She looked at it and smiled.
"Everything alright?" Izadora asked.
"Yes. I have to go." Alessia spoke as she felt her necklace touched.
"I love your necklace." Izadora smiled while looking at it then to her eyes.
"Thank you. I'm sure you already know what it is." She spoke. Seeing the Necro nod her head. Alessia stepped back and smiled.
"I should go. Have a goodnight Izadora." Alessia smiled.
"You too Alessia. May the Goddess watch and protect you." Izadora spoke. Alessia blushed with a smile and turned quickly. Taking her leave.
There was much laughter going on as she entered the room with a bottle.
"Tequila!" She shouted while holding the bottle up. Hearing the cheers from her sisters as she handed the bottle to Abigail who poured them drinks.
"What a day!" Alessia laughed as she sat down next to Libba who was smiling at her. Music was playing somewhere and she was enjoying it.
"You should have seen Tally!" Glory shouted. Alessia laughed. "She was all: Step away from me sir! Now sir!" Glory shouted while raising her cup up. They were all laughing.
"It was incredible." Alessia spoke softly.
"Wait, she Windstruck him?" Libba asked.
"Across the freaking pizza restaurant!" Glory shouted.
"Did Anacostia find out?" Libba asked.
"Nope." Abigail and Alessia said together.
"Thanks to a special somebody who covered for me when she walked in." Abigail spoke.
"I heard someone threw wind at a civilian." Raelle spoke in a very much like Anacostia's voice as she pushed her hair forward. They were all laughing. Alessia held her stomach as it was hurting a little.
"I can't believe a dumb teenager released a balloon." Abigail added.
"So dumb!" Glory added.
"Awfully nice to meet your girlfriend Raelle." Abigail spoke. Pointing at Raelle. Tally gasped.
"Stop! Tally!" Raelle laughed a little and covered part of her face.
"Oh. My. Goddess. We're officially saying girlfriend! Oh! I really like her." Tally spoke. She was clearly drunk now. Alessia snorted as she took a drink. Her throat was burning from this.
"Me too Tal." Raelle laughed as did everyone else. Alessia smiled. She felt like she was finally coming out of her shell. Tally then stood up and raised the bottle.
"You guys, I just have to say this. I love you." Tally spoke. Alessia smiled as everyone else groaned. "No, I'm serious. These are terrible times. The people don't even trust us that we swore to protect. I am just saying a soldier couldn't ask for better sisters. I am deeply honored to serve with each of you." Tally spoke.
"Aww." Alessia spoke. Placing a hand on her chest.
"Premature." Glory spoke with a small laugh.
"I made the right choice." Tally spoke. Alessia then frowned at this. Did she make the right choice as well? Saying the words? She took a deep breath and nodded. She did. She was now accepting that fact. "You're my witches. You're my witches!" Tally shouted, raising the glass. Everyone shouted while raising their glasses as well.
"I made the right choice too." Alessia spoke as everyone went silent. She stood up and raised her glass. "I may be the last of my line but I am honored to be here to serve with you all. I never thought I would feel like I belong somewhere. You all made me feel that way." Alessia spoke.
"Yeah!" Tally shouted. Libba patted her back as she hugged Tally and Glory.
"Hey party poopers! Turn that music up!" Abigail shouted. They all cheered.