by Alexis Batty
Ash just smiles and points to his nose. It must be nice to have a nose that can smell like that. They leave the closet, so I can put the dress and leggings on.
I can hear them quietly talking in the bedroom. Hopefully, the dress won’t be too difficult to get on. It would be truly embarrassing to have to be rescued from my own dress.
My reflection stares back at me from the full-length mirror; even without the dress laces tightened I look different.
“Ok Binawalka I look amazing, but I still need something to do with my hair,” I whisper. “Whoever is going to tighten the dress up can come in now.” I continue staring at my reflection as the closet door opens. I hold my breath and wait to find out who is going to help me with the laces.
Ash’s warmth radiates through the dress as he pulls the laces tight. I look at him in the mirror and giggle. His eyes are squeezed shut.
“Buttercup, laughing is counterproductive at the moment,” murmurs Ash.
“Ash you can open your eyes,” I said.
“No I can’t; I promised your mom I wouldn’t open my eyes until I had the laces tight,” complains Ash.
I gasp as he pulls the laces a little too tight. I watch as Ash’s eyes fly open and his hands rush to loosen the part that’s too tight.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.”
“It’s ok,” I gasp as he finishes tightening. I watch as he ties the laces tight so they won’t come undone.
I vaguely feel the tingling sensation that I’ve come to associate with magic use. I don’t pay as much attention to it anymore. A wind gently blows past my face; I close my eyes wondering what Binawalka is up to.
“Wow,” Ash whispers.
I quickly open my eyes. Loose beach waves fall down my back, and the top half of my hair is pulled back in a twist. A silver moon barrette holds the whole thing together.
Ash puts a necklace around my neck and hands me a pair of dangly earrings. The necklace distracts me from the earrings. “Where did you get this?”
“It…It was sitting next to the earring over here. I assumed the house wanted you to wear them. Why what’s up with the necklace?”
“It was in the letter from Piper. I threw it in my bag and forgot about it. At the time, I wasn’t really in a forgiving or understanding mood. A few days ago, I remembered it and went looking for it, but I couldn’t find it.”
The necklace is simple and elegant. There’s a quarter-sized onyx stone with silver wrapped around forming the familiar pattern of the full moon. There is an owl etched into the silver backing. It hung from a silver chain. The earrings are the same design, just smaller.
“The clip thingy has the same moon in it as well. Looks like you have a matching set. You look beautiful Gwen,” compliments Ash.
“She looks just like Piper,” said Xerxes from the door. “I need to speak with her.”
Ash leans down and kisses me on the cheek and whispers, “I’ll be in my room getting ready. I can be here in half a second if you need me just whisper.” His fingers trail down my cheek as he leaves.
I smile and watch him leave. Glancing at Xerxes for a moment, I see the vein in his neck pulsing. I’ve decided that if he says anything about Ash that’s derogatory in any way I’m going to tell him what I think about his abuse of Ash and his species. Yes, he has a very compelling backstory, but good grief it’s pretty obvious I have feelings for Ash.
“I don’t understand how you can possibly stand that mutt,” fumes Xerxes.
This is ending now. I give Xerxes a look that has him squirming. “I don’t care what your opinion is of lupines or shifters or any other Spook. I don’t care what your reason is for it; and yes, I do know at least some of that story. If you want to actually have a relationship with me you are going to have to put a leash on it. Especially, if anything does happen between me and Ash. Heaven forbid, I have any children, and you won’t be able to see them.
“I am willing to make this work, but only if you abide by my rules. In my house and around me and my family, your racist or speciesist attitude will cease and desist or you will no longer be welcome. Do I make myself clear?” I state with my sternest librarian voice.
Xerxes quietly stares at me in defiance, so I raise my eyebrow. I’m the queen of staring contests, and if he wants to play, I will play and win. His eyes shift away and his brows knit together.
“I need an answer, yes or no. I don’t expect you to be perfect out the gate, but I do expect you to try. And on the occasions where you fail miserably, you will apologize for it. Can you do that?”
“Yes,” whispers Xerxes.
“Also, if I do ever have Ash’s children and your views come out around them, especially, if they’re directed towards them, Ash won’t be able to move fast enough to rip you to shreds. I do believe it is time to go.”
“Yes, let’s collect the m-Ash,” stutters Xerxes.
“I know it’s hard, but hopefully you’ll find that it’s worth it. The only thing that anger and hatred gets us is misery and bitterness, also ulcers and high blood pressure. It’s like trying to drink poison to kill the person you’re mad at. It doesn’t work that way.”
Xerxes actually looks like he’s contemplating what I said. I hope it helps. Some things a person just has to figure out on their own. We walk out of my room, and Ash is waiting for us by his door.
Ash is in a tux. He looks delicious and the slow smile that creeps across his face shows that he knows exactly what I’m thinking. A pair of cufflinks appears in my hand; they have the same moons as my jewelry.
I put them on for him. He grabs my hand and kisses the inside of my wrist. My stomach tenses. Never again will I think a man kissing a woman’s hand as a simple and old-fashioned gesture.
We start towards the stairs and I can see my parents at the bottom of them. My dad has his arm wrapped around my mom. They both look like they are trying to hide their concern but are failing miserably.
I guess I never thought how this plan of ours would affect them. They can’t come with us, hell Ash and his select few lupine pack mates aren’t supposed to come with us. We didn’t bother to ask anyone's permission. It would have been too dangerous. The less anyone else knew the better.
“You should be forewarned, but my Godmother will be there. She has been told that I am there on a special assignment as a bodyguard and isn’t supposed to say or do anything, but she’s going to be curious and will make sure she meets you,” warns Ash as we walk down the stairs.
“Oona is not a suspect. She may be a bit eccentric, but she doesn’t have a malicious bone in her body,” said Xerxes.
Ash laughs, “Oh, yes she does. It’s just very hard to get her that mad. One of the kids I grew up with is still terrified of her. I don’t know what she did, but I can tell you he kind of deserved it.”
“Why? What did he do?” I ask always curious.
“He tried to pick on me and my little sister, and then whined to his parents when she gave him a bloody nose,” shrugs Ash. “She literally beat me to the punch.”
Smiling, we reach the bottom of the stairs. All that is left is to say goodbye to my parents, possibly for the last time. Fear grips me tight making it hard to breathe. My free hand clutches my chest. “No matter what happens, you two stay safe please,” I plead.
“Don’t worry about us, Gwen. Just come back to us, please,” said Fred.
“I will Daddy. I’ve got dozens of bodyguards on alert ready to jump in and sacrifice themselves for me. It will be fine. Hopefully, after tonight we’ll be done with the hiding.” I hope telling them it’s going to be ok will comfort myself at the same time. It doesn’t
“It is time. We will keep her safe,” said Xerxes.
15
I close my eyes as Xerxes transports us to the council hall. This is the first time I have left the comfort of home in several weeks. There are many other places I would have rather gone first.
No one told me what to expect of the council meeting place. It’s hu
ge. In the center of the floor, there’s a raised dais with an octagon shaped table. There’re eight chairs around the table.
There’s a banquet table built into the far wall filled with food. Eight stone arches run along the sides of the room. These lead to somewhere, but I didn’t know where.
Tapestries with the symbols of each family hang from each arch. Chandeliers drape down from the ceiling, except instead of lightbulbs there are little orbs of light. It was actually very beautiful.
With the exception of my strategically disguised bodyguards, we are the only ones here. The lupines are disguised as waiters. Ash chuckles next to me and I can see most of the other lupines quietly chuckling as well. A young woman approaches us with a tray of appetizers.
“Well Ash, aren’t you going to introduce us?”
“Of course little sister, this is Gwen and that is Xerxes,” smiles Ash.
“My name is Willow. I would shake your hand, but I’m pretending to be handing you food. They’re actually pretty good.”
There’s a popping sound and I jump.
“Bit jumpy aren’t you? Don’t worry we’ll keep you safe.” Willow walks back to the other lupine waiters.
“What was that popping sound?” I demand. Ash and Xerxes both look confused. “Seriously, you guys didn’t hear it? There was a weird popping sound. It was so loud. You’re telling me neither of you heard it?”
“They wouldn’t have dear. That sound is specifically reserved for the head of the council, which is you. I’m Oona the head of the Rafferty Family, and it’s a pleasure to meet you. We have all been apprehensively waiting for your revealing,” Oona sighs. “But now you are here and things can run like they are supposed to. Xerxes, I would get her hidden. People are going to start popping in soon, and you don’t want people sneaking up on her.”
“Of course Oona, we were just on our way,” politely answers Xerxes.
I clench my hands over my ears. “Too late,” I whisper.
People appear out of nowhere. They’re all in various colors related to their family. Most of the men are in tuxedos. It’s weird to see men in yellow tuxedos though.
There are eight families and each family has a color that is assigned to them to wear. It lines up with the element associated with their family. Oona wears brown and gold mainly brown leather with bright gold buckles. Metal is her family’s element.
Yellow is the Rane family with the Sun as their element. Xerxes is in a navy blue tuxedo. The earth is the Hara family and they wear various shades of green. Grey went with the Daniels family who is connected to the air. The red, obviously, goes with the fire element which is the Vega family. The Ramsey family wears silver and white to go with the ice element. My family’s color is black, apparently.
It’s beautiful to watch all the different people and colors moving around in the hall. It’s like a moving rainbow. There’s an informal mingling before the actual meeting.
Only the heads of the family and their spouses are allowed up on the dais during the meeting. Once the meeting starts, everyone else would mingle or possibly dance below. It’s a chance for the families to strengthen their alliances with each other or some such nonsense. Personally, it seems like a way for them to party without interference from anyone else.
Xerxes introduces me to people left and right. I seriously hope no one will be offended when I can’t remember any of their names. My face hurts from smiling, and I’m already exhausted.
Ash and Xerxes start running interference for me, so I can sneak away for a moment of peace. I know hiding isn’t going to work for long, but I just need a breather.
“Hello I’m Roze. I’m not important enough for you to worry about my name. I just want to lend you some help. Please, give me your hand,” asks Roze. She smiles brightly at me. It seems so sincere and friendly.
This woman is dressed in a strange dress. It’s beautiful but it isn’t the modern or Victorian type dresses everyone else is wearing. It looks like a kimono, but I’m not really up on traditional Asian attire.
A deep hunter green is the base color that’s covered in embroidered flowers. The flowers vary in size and color. It’s beautiful to look at. Roze has such a sweet look about her. She practically screams innocent youth.
“Ok,” I comply holding my hand out.
Rose takes my hand and turns my palm face up and wraps her palm around my exposed wrist. I can feel the skin jump and tremble and want to pull away, but I find I’m unable to move. She smiles and lifts her hand. There’s an image of a wolf similar in coloring to Ash.
Rose looks contemplatively at the tattoo. “I have the ability to call forth a person’s familiar. The tattoo is an image of your animal companion. When they find you, the tattoo relocates to your heart, signifying the eternal bond between a witch and her familiar. This is the first time I have seen a wolf. There has been lots of cats, dogs, birds, a few lizards, and once a rabbit. You must let me meet your familiar when they appear.”
I watch as Rose wanders away gawking at her. Ash is instantly by my side. I turn around staring at my wrist.
Ash stares at the tattoo.
“She apparently has the ability to call for a witch’s familiar. The tattoo is a picture of them and when they meet it moves to the witch’s chest. She has never seen a wolf one before,” I answer looking up at him. I’m a little shaken by the experience.
Ash rubs his thumb across the tattoo. I look down at my new tattoo, but it’s gone. I reach up to pull the top of my dress down to look at my chest to see if it’s there.
Ash grabs my hands. “Whoa. Don’t do that here. Way too many people.”
I freeze realizing what I had almost done. “Thanks,” I whisper.
He rubs his thumb over the tattoo spot again. Does that mean he’s my familiar? But most of him isn’t animal, well animal animal. How can he be my familiar?
“Buttercup, it isn’t important at this particular moment. We’ll figure that out tomorrow, tonight we have other plans. Come on, Xerxes wants to see you.” Ash takes my hand and laces his fingers through mine. He’s right; this one can wait until tomorrow.
Xerxes is surrounded by a group of people, but he manages to excuse himself with just a nod of his head. “It is time to make our way up to the council table. He will not be allowed up there. It is only the head of the families and their spouses,” whispers Xerxes.
I shrug, “Well, just tell them he’s my spouse. There are multiple reasons him being there will be beneficial.”
Xerxes shakes his head and starts mumbling under his breath heading for the table. Ash coughs trying vainly to cover his smile. I’m not sure I want to know what exactly Xerxes is mumbling.
We are led up to the table. Xerxes pulls out a chair for me and points to the chair behind me for Ash. We are the first ones at the table. Oona is next to come to the table. She sits on the other side of me. I feel a little better knowing that the two people sitting next to me are allies, most likely allies at the very least.
A woman in a modern red dress comes up next. It’s a sleeveless high low dress with silver beading along the sweetheart neckline. She’s introduced to me as Juliana Vega. The sense of power emanated from her sharp eyes. Juliana has sharp features and dark hair with bright green eyes.
No one notices the young woman in a simple red peasant dress behind her. She’s trying to appear as small as possible. I can’t even tell what color of eyes this girl has, but is she a ginger. She glances my way and gives me a small smile.
Next, a young couple comes up the stairs. He’s in a pale yellow suit minus a jacket. She has a beautiful off shoulder corset gown that’s a slightly darker yellow than the man’s outfit. His name is Apollo, a tradition for the sun family. Every heir to the council seat was named Apollo.
Following close behind them is an older gentleman in a plaid green suit complete with a lime green bowtie and matching vest. This is Yuki Hara. The last three people came up together chatting. There’s a couple in white, Sergei and Klara. Klara�
�s blonde hair is practically white and falls in waves down her back.
The other person is Janella. She’s in a full dark gray skirt with a lighter gray blouse that’s covered in charcoal colored beads. Her blond hair is cut short.
Xerxes stands. “I would like to introduce Gwendelyn Andolyn, head of the Andolyn family.”
“Who’s the man behind her?” questions Yuki. It sounds like a routine question. There’s no malice in his voice.
“He is her husband, Ash. Do any question the validity of her identity?”
It’s silent. I’m not sure if that is a good thing or not.
Sergei leans forward. “Do we know who her father is? He should be made aware of her if he is a witch. It may be possible that he would be the best one to help teach her how to use her skills.”
I can’t help it. I laugh hard, so hard that my side hurts. I throw my head back since the corset prevents me from bending forward too much.
Xerxes gives me an exasperated look. “It has been taken care of. She has been in training for six weeks now. Her talents have greatly improved. She is a natural. Now since she is still recovering from her laughing fit I will ask for her. Is there any preliminary questions before we move onto business?”
“What is she doing up here? You know the rules Juliana only spouses up here with the heads of the families,” sternly reprimands Yuki.
Juliana stares Yuki down. She is a force to be reckoned with. You can practically see the fire burning behind her eyes. “And what about Gwendelyn’s so-called spouse? I honestly do not believe her or Xerxes when they say that they are married. There is no ring on her finger or any other sign.
“We all know the trouble her family has had, and it is incredibly brave of her to be here. But I highly doubt he is anything but a bodyguard, which is also forbidden. In fact, there are more rules about how much bodyguards are forbidden then there are about only spouses sitting up here,” counters Juliana.