Night Shadows

by Billiejo Priestley

  “Mmm, now Azriel is pretty cute, Cayson. He has such a cute baby face. How inappropriate were his words?” Cayson stares at her shocked. “Go on, tell me,” she purrs, laughing slightly at his expression.

  “Something along the lines of you being one woman he’d happily cause a war to get in bed. Have you finished teasing me now?”

  Aileen shrugs. “Maybe, we’ll see.”

  “You’re lucky I have a sense of humour and know when you’re joking.”

  Aileen nods and he kisses her, a short while passing as they stand talking.

  “Thank you, Cayson.” He looks at her confused and she points to Azalea in explanation. “For Azalea. I had my mum growing up, but she didn’t have that. She had Camille, yes, but it isn’t the same. While she talks a lot, something about you made her less shy and more confident, so thank you for accepting to help.”

  He nods, kissing her again. “She is amazing; no child deserves the crap she had with Camille.” Aileen nods, her head resting against his chest as the music stops and the room falls quiet.

  “Aileen, you are an amazing woman. I tried staying away from you and I just kept falling down. With you in my life, somehow there’s peace. You got me out of the hell I was in, a hell no-one else could see. You lifted me up, and while I ran to try and protect myself, parts of me still wanted to run to you.” Aileen glances up at him confused as he winks.

  “What are yo-?”

  “Shh,” his finger covers her mouth like it had earlier. “We have faced so many battles already, and still have so many more to face, some of which could literally kill us. I know it’s worth it though as your love lifts me up like nothing else ever has before. Which is why I know this is the right thing to do, even if it sends people’s minds crazy, and causes a war. Will you marry me?”

  There’s a loud squeal from Azalea that makes Aileen jump Cayson looking at the young girl shocked.

  “Sorry, I’m just so excited!”

  Cayson laughs, turning to look at Aileen.

  “You’d think I asked her, not you. You didn’t answer.” He looks at her, Aileen nodding.

  “Like I’d say no.”

  Nodding he hugs her, Aileen’s mouth next to his ear. “And as for Azalea, that’s because for some strange reason, Cayson, she sees you as more of a dad than any of the witches.” She remembers the conversation well; Azalea spends a lot of time with Aileen and Cayson and has become attached.

  “Well, my soon-to-be-wife, I should let go of you as she looks like she’s about to burst into flames having to wait to come over here.”

  Aileen laughs as she moves back, Azalea running over and hugging them. “Congratulations! Baby next, or wedding? Which is first? You have to let me help you with planning! And the dress! And-” Aileen laughs as Cayson shakes his head.

  “How about you choose, Azalea?” He kisses Aileen and walks away to join Gwenael and the others as Azalea continues to squeal.

  “Calm down! Things don’t have to be a whirlwind, Azalea. Did you know about this?”

  Azalea laughs slightly. “Would I have squealed so loudly if I knew?”

  Aileen rolls her eyes; she’s right. What’s more, she’s almost certain Azalea would never have been able to keep something like that secret; she’d have been far too excited. The next hour passes by quickly, Aileen’s mum and sister showing up as well and being very understanding about everyone calling her Aileen. She goes over to talk to Zander, watching as everyone enjoys themselves and mingles.

  “You know, he really does love you,” Gwenael says from behind her. She turns to look at him. He hasn’t really spoken to her much.

  “I know; there’s a reason we were drawn to each other.” She knows it’s part of the plan, the same plan which she still doesn’t entirely understand yet.

  “Just be gentle with him. He may look tough but he isn’t.” Gwenael walks off, Zander laughing and rolling his eyes.

  “Can I have a dance now, or would you rather find Azriel?” Laughing she turns and looks at Cayson, her shoulders shrugging as Zander walks off.

  “I don’t know, Cayson it’s a hard choice. After all, his moves are better.” Laughing, Cayson pulls her to him as they begin dancing, her head settled against his chest.

  “Tonight was perfect, nothing could beat this.” She smiles up at him, his head shaking slightly.

  “Almost perfect. You walking out of here as my wife would make it perfection.” Winking at her, he smiles as they continue to dance, the song changing as Azalea walks over hugging them both.

  “I just wanted to say thank you,” she says, looking down at her hands. They glance at her confused. “For everything. I never had a mum or dad. And while you two are definitely not old enough to be my parents, you’ve been more like them than anyone else I know.” She smiles at them. “I also know I can get kind of clingy and not give you both space, and almost act like I’m your child. So thank you, because anyone else would have just told me to go away.”

  Aileen hugs her tightly. “I may not be your mum, Azalea, but I see you as my child, weirdly enough. Go have some fun without us two.” Azalea nods and giggles, hurrying away past Camille who’s been listening to the whole conversation, her anger building seeing how close Azalea is to Aileen and Cayson as she cuddles them. She was like a mum to Azalea; it had been her who took her in all those years ago. Her head falls slightly.

  Aileen watches as she walks away, Cayson smiling. “You know, even with Jess, I never felt like that,” he points towards Azalea, laughing. “She’s like my little sister now, and in some ways a daughter which is crazy. Even the werewolves I got close to while they were young during training, I never felt like they were part of my family.”

  Aileen nods, smiling.

  “When the baby comes, Cayson, and we move in together, you realise she’ll be coming with us right?”

  Laughing, he nods. “When? You’re making it sound like it is happening next month, or something. Anyway, like I would have it any other way; if she can move in with us then so be it. Our little family.” Aileen nods, a soft smile spreading across her face as they continue dancing, the rest of the night going amazingly.

  Going home everyone is quiet, unsure of how things will go tomorrow. It will be hard; they plan to talk to the witches before Cayson appears, but the witches are smart and some will be able to sense that he’s been there so frequently. Aileen finds herself drifting asleep in Cayson’s arms, smiling and happy. He agreed; she hadn’t expected him to agree, not so soon anyway. She also never expected him to propose. She guesses, lately, he’s just been very unexpected.

  Waking up the next morning she smiles, glancing to Cayson as she kisses him gently.

  “Morning,” he smiles at her as he slowly sits up. “No time for lying here and cuddling. I need to leave before your visitors arrive.”

  Aileen nods and laughs, both of them getting ready and walking downstairs together, Aileen glancing around confused.

  “What happened?”

  Zander shakes his head, Cayson’s eyes flicking directly to Azalea’s tear-streaked cheeks and the swollen redness around her eyes.

  “Let’s leave it until tonight, okay? Meet us at the local bar, Cayson? Right now isn’t the best time, I just got a call and they’re five minutes away.”

  Cayson looks towards Azalea, concerned.

  “It’s fine, honey. I’ll talk to her and find out the issue. See you tonight.” Aileen kisses Cayson and pushes him gently out of the door he leaves, Aileen looking around confused.

  “It can wait, it isn’t anything bad.”

  Aileen nods, she can trust Zander. They talk amongst themselves while they wait. The other witches know about Aileen and about Serliciaus’ plans – well, sort of plans – so hopefully when it comes to telling them that the local werewolves and witches are working with others that are a bit further afield, it won’t cause uproar. The door opens and Aileen glances towards it as people walk in, going to Camille first they hug her and then Zander, befor
e finally glancing to Aileen.

  “You must be Aileen.” A woman stands ahead of her, and she nods and smiles gently. “Can I see for myself?” Aileen laughs.

  “I’m not a show, and doing this for everyone will drain me. You have Camille’s word for what she saw, and Zander’s, too. If you really want to see, connect to Camille and see through her.” The woman simply nods and smiles turning to Camille her eyes widening in shock.

  “No, my thoughts are private,” Camille says hurriedly, looking around her and wrapping her arms around herself as if in protection. She has no way of hiding them, if they start looking there’s a chance everything will be seen.

  “What’s the issue? If I see anything private I simply will not mention it, if you focus on Aileen then that information and only that will show.” The woman smiles, still waiting for Camille to agree. Camille is still shaking her head.

  “How about a drink first? Azalea can show you to the rooms you’ll be staying in. We’ll make the drinks in the meantime.” Zander smiles stepping forward; maybe he can speak some sense into Camille when the other witches are out of the way.

  “I’ll help you, Zander,” volunteers Aileen, who smiles as the others walk off with Azalea, glancing to Camille when they’re gone. She can see the hate hiding behind her eyes again. What has she done now to cause Camille to hate her so much?

  “Why not, Camille? Look, Aileen, can’t you just do a spell so that all they see is the information they need? Will that help?” Zander looks at Camille. He knows having someone in your head isn’t nice, certainly not if private things slip through, but it will be much easier if she cooperates.

  “Sure, easily done.”

  Camille shakes her head, standing up.

  “Make the tea please Aileen, I’ll talk to her,” Zander asks. Aileen nods and goes to the kitchen where she turns the kettle on, purposefully dragging out the task to give Zander and Camille more time to talk. She looks down idly at the ring on her finger, a smile coming to her face. Everything seems perfect, almost too perfect, like at any minute a war is going to start. Opening the door she carries the drinks through, placing them on the table before she returns to the kitchen for the second tray. She stands in the doorway, watching as Zander finished talking to Camille.

  “Come on then.” Aileen steps forward, Camille jumping back immediately.

  “You stay the hell away from me!” She screams at Aileen who laughs awkwardly in confusion. “Keep your damn magic to yourself. I said no, it means no.”

  Aileen shrugs her shoulders. “I was trying to help, Camille, nothing else.” Aileen turns and seeing the other witches crowding behind her.

  “Why won’t you let her? What are you hiding, Camille?” A woman steps forward out of the group and moves Aileen out of the way with her hand. It’s Katarina; Aileen recognises her from the pictures Zander had shown her in preparation for the meeting.

  “You’re turning everyone against me!” accuses Camille, and Aileen glances around confused. Who has she turned against her? “Azalea, telling you how much you’re like a mother to her and no one else is!”

  Aileen nods, her face softening. “Camille, you brought her up, of course she sees you as a mother.” Is this what the issue is? Katarina looks around confused; Azalea shakes her head in response to Camille’s words.

  “She wasn’t like a mother!” she screams, turning to look at Camille. “You were my teacher at most. When did we ever sit and laugh and watch films? When did you ever take me to the park? In nearly thirteen years you’ve done nothing like that; in just a few months Aileen has done more than you ever have! I’m glad you’re not my mother; you would have been an awful one.”

  Aileen shakes her head. “Azalea, you don’t mean that.”

  Camille looks at the young girl, hurt, Aileen moving to Azalea to try to get her to see sense.

  “Stay away from her!”

  Aileen looks at Camille confused. “Camille, what’s happened? Remember what happened last time you did this?”

  Zander looks at her confused.

  “She is my daughter!”

  “She isn’t, Camille, not in the way you think. She was left here.” Zander looks at her trying to make her see sense.

  “You have secrets, I can feel the spell you have protecting yourself,” says Katarina, descending the staircase gracefully. Aileen glances to her confused as she approaches Camille.

  “I don’t.” She steps back further, Zander growing more confused by the second.

  “You do, I can feel it. They won’t as it is against them. You’re stopping them seeing something; what?” Katarina advances.

  “Me? Secrets? How about the fact that she’s engaged to a werewolf and when they move out they’re taking Azalea and with them like a happy family! You’re not taking my daughter.” Camille stares at her, the gasps loud around Aileen who nods to Camille.

  “It isn’t a secret that we’re engaged. They were going to be told and we were going to explain everything, Camille. All this because Azalea said I was like a mum? Because Cayson and I agreed she could live with us if she wanted? Are you really that jealous?”

  “No, you have it all wrong.”

  Katarina grasps Camille’s arm for a brief second before Camille pushes her back.

  “You carried her! She is your daughter; you didn’t want the burden alone after her father left so you lied!” Katarina looks at her disgusted, Azalea staring open-mouthed.

  “Azalea, let me explain, please,” Camille pleads, Azalea running to Aileen and wraps her arms around her.

  “See!” Camille screams and points towards Aileen. “Ever since she showed up it’s been trouble after trouble. And now look, she’s destroying us all.”

  “Camille, stop. You know how this ended last time, you remember what we agreed, once more and it happens.” Zander looks at her trying to warn her. If she pushes and shows herself as a threat, she will lose her magic.

  “Don’t worry, I’m leaving. Come on, Azalea.” Camille reaches forward but Azalea retreats, almost like they’re the same poles of a magnet.

  “You didn’t want the burden of me so you acted like I was an orphan and told me lies about who my parents were. And now you want to be my mum because you’re alone? No. You brought all of this on yourself, Camille, it’s no-one’s fault but yours!” Azalea cries looking at her, watching as she storms out the house. Aileen hugs Azalea, confused by everything.

  “Okay, we can only deal with one issue at a time. Right now I think Azalea needs to know what you saw, and then we can discuss everything else.” Aileen pulls her to the table and sits down. Katarina glances to Azalea apologetically.

  “From what I saw in that brief moment, she used a spell to hide her pregnancy. She didn’t want the responsibility so she pretended you were an orphan, so that those here would also take on the role of looking after you. She didn’t want a child in the first place; then her husband found out he wasn’t the father and left her.” Azalea sits crying silently, Aileen’s arms wrapped around her.

  Cayson finds himself tuning in to Aileen sporadically to check she is okay, the sound of Azalea crying making him hurt, his head shaking as he stands.

  “Mate, give them chance to tell the witches about you,” says Gwenael, but Cayson shakes his head again.

  “No. She was crying when I left, it’s been an hour since then and she’s worse than before. I need to check, there are too many there for me to see clearly. Anything could be wrong.” He can’t ignore it; leaving he walks quickly there and stops outside before he opens the door, everyone turning to look at him.

  His eyes flit to Azalea cuddled up against Aileen, her face hidden in Aileen’s chest.

  “What did you all do to her?” Azalea unpeels herself from Aileen at the sound of Cayson’s voice, running to him and enveloping him in a huge bear hug.

  “Nothing. This is only going to get more complicated if anything, so sit down, Cayson. Maybe you can calm Azalea down a little.” He walks further into the roo
m, not missing the looks of disgust on the witches’ faces as he does so.

  “Him!” Katarina glares at Cayson, pointing at him. “Azalea, come away from him, darling.” Her pointed finger turns to an offered hand reached out, Azalea shaking her head.

  “Look, you can hate him right now, but he stopped a war between the witches and werewolves after Camille’s last stunt, so please just listen.” Aileen looks at them, her eyes glancing to Cayson as he sits amongst the group.

  “Azalea was upset this morning, she realised you two getting married meant you would be leaving here, leaving her,” explains Zander.

  Cayson shakes his head. “We spoke about this, me and Aileen.”

  Zander nods and smiles. “Which she now knows, however Camille was refusing to help with something. Katarina grabbed her and saw a secret she had hidden which could be why she didn’t want anyone in her head.”

  Cayson glances around confused.

  “I’m her daughter, she lied.”

  “Bull, you’re nothing like her,” Cayson splutters, everyone looking at him. “Oh god, Azalea.” He hugs her closer, his head shaking.

  “Anyway, she stormed out again.”

  “Again?” Katarina looks at Zander confused.

  “A while ago, months ago actually. We found out she had used magic against Cayson to make him see things whenever he got closer to Aileen.” Katarina stares shocked. “As if that wasn’t bad enough, she then used magic to attack him. Right here.” She shakes her head.

  “And she just gave up? She behaved and you forgot it? ” She points to Cayson.

  “I did, and we all agreed that any werewolf who wrongs a witch should be punished by their pack, likewise for witches. No more an eye for an eye, revenge against each other.”

  Katarina nods. “Like it used to be.”

  Cayson nods and smiles at her statement.

  “What about Camille? What did you decide to do?”