The Witch Who Wandered

The full moon was glowing in all her glory, she made the lake look like it was sparkling as the wind brushed across the surface. Lucia sat at the side of the lake, watching the ripples dance across the water. She was curled up, holding her knees to her chest. Her long curled, red hair fell down either side of her oval face. Her large hazel eyes mesmerised at the sight in front of her. Lucia was a witch, witches love nature and are taught to appreciate its beauty from a young age. Suddenly Lucia could hear twigs crunching behind her as they snapped, she felt another presence. She shot to her feet and her her hand to her sides, both palms open. For a young, petite woman she was a force to be reckoned with. She slowly turned around, scanning the trees around her.. then she was met by golden, glowing eyes. An overwhelming feeling consumed her body. She knew she had met eyes with a wolf and though she should be at least a little anxious about it being meters away from her, she wasn’t. She was calm, in fact she felt a soothing feeling in her chest, it relaxed her tense body. “Hello?” She called out. There was no response, instead the wolf turned and ran off, it’s big paws drumming against the damp soil as it disappeared into the dark forest. “That was weird. It didn’t want to hurt me though, I could feel it. I really better get back home, I’m not meant to be out here on a full moon.” Lucia thought, as she made her way back to her car. *** Lucia unlocked the front door slowly and tried to sneak through. “AND WHERE EXACTLY HAVE YOU BEEN?” A loud voice boomed at her. “Well?” Now she was anxious, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before turning around to face her mother. Audra James was a short woman, with black hair that fell to her shoulders and deep brown eyes. Her skin was olive, her face aged with light wrinkles, she looked well for a woman in her early 50s. But she was fierce.. and right now, furious. “Hey mom!” Lucia smiled, looking awkward and uncomfortable. “I just went for a drive, needed some head space. But I’m home now, I’m gonna head to bed, ni..” “STAY RIGHT THERE!” Audra demanded, raising a hand, which lifted Lucia above the ground. Telekinesis was one of the most coveted powers a witch could hope for and the James family were blessed with that, among many other gifts. “You’ve been to the lake tonight haven’t you?” Immobilised, hovering a meter above the ground, Lucia didn’t bother to try and escape, she was caught red handed. “Yep. Look I’m sorry, I know you don’t like it, but I feel at peace there and it’s not like I can’t defend myself!” She argued, raising her voice slightly. “Yes Lucia, I’m fully aware of what you are capable of but you can’t just put yourself in harms way!” Audra yelled, releasing her daughter and holding her hand to her temple. “You are a powerful witch, but honestly Lucia, you’re careless sometimes. It’s a full moon! Yes wolves are our allies but when they’re in that state under the power of the moon they can be dangerous! If you get caught off guard you won’t have time to use your powers to save you, YOU’LL BE DEAD!!” She yells, tears escaping her watery eyes. Lucia felt a pang of guilt in her chest. She knew why her mother was so protective, her father had been killed by a rouge wolf on a full moon. He came from a family of witches but his magic was passive, our strongest powers came from our mothers side, a long line of powerful witches that seemed to meet untimely deaths.. until my mother that is. She was still alive, but she’d kept us away from any troubles our coven faced, though powerful, she refused to risk her life and leave her family. The other witches deemed her selfish, our coven is a family. But she couldn’t risk leaving my sisters and I without a mother like she had grown up without. Her fears were understandable but Lucia struggled to live her life like that, she wanted freedom and adventure. Death didn’t scare her, the coven taught how the afterlife was just another transition for our soul and eventually we are reunited with our families. “I’m sorry mom, I won’t do it again.” Lucia apologised, looking down at the floor. She turned around and walked off towards the wooden stair case. *** Lucia fell back on to her bed, she looked up the the ceiling and then closed her eyes. She envisioned the wolfs beautiful gold eyes as they locked with hers. “What happened to me? I felt something happen to me..” she thought. She wanted to know who the wolf was, she had a nagging feeling she needed to find them. *** Lucia was tossing and turning, she’d woken up at 4:30am and couldn’t get back to sleep. She’d been dreaming about the events of the evening before, she wanted to know who those golden eyes belonged to. “Ugghhh!” She moaned, she’d had enough, she knew she wasn’t going back to sleep so she may as well get up. She sat up in her bed and threw her legs over the side, stretching her arms above her head and yawning. She walked over to her wardrobe and pulled out a black sweater and some black jeans. Lucia got changed and put on her black boots. She stood in front of the mirror, looking herself up and down, then she tied her long auburn hair into a high ponytail and grabbed her jacket off the back of her door and headed down stairs. Down stairs was cold and dark. She went into the lounge where there was a large brick fireplace filled with kindling and logs, Lucia waved her hand in front of it and all of the wood went up in flames. Another powerful gift Lucia was blessed with, pyrokinesis, the ability to create and control fire with the mind. She sat down on the rug in front of the fireplace and crossed her legs. “Ostende mihi!” Lucia commanded, holding her hands above the fire with her eyes gently closed. Most witches have some psychic abilities, they naturally all have a heightened intuition and are immune to compulsion of any kind. Lucia wanted her mind to show her a sign that would lead to her mystery wolf friend, but nothing came to her except her memories of that night. “The nearest pack to us is the Crescent Moon pack, the forest is their territory. So the wolf must belong to their pack. F**k it, I’m going!” Lucia decided to herself as she stood to her feet. She glanced up at the big grandfather clock stood across the room, it was nearly 5:30am, her mother and sisters would be awake soon. She didn’t want to bump into her mother because she’d know she was up to something “Stupid witches intuition!” Lucia thought to her self as she turned round and left the room. ***  Lucia slowed down as she reached the the forest. She gulped, the wolves tend to get along with the witches as they both have rules and ethics they both live by, unlike vampires and demons who are selfish and cause chaos wherever they go. That doesn’t mean the pack will welcome an unknown witch with open arms, they’re protective of their packs. Lucia was kept out of her covens dealings with wolves, her mother kept her and her sisters shielded but taught them to control their magic herself. Lucia hadn’t actually met a wolf properly before. She had sensed people were wolves in passing or through school, but she avoided them, knowing her mother would take away any freedom she did have. She parked up and got out of her car and headed straight towards the forest. The sun had started to flood the forest with rays of light as Lucia made her way towards the lake. She wasn’t sure exactly where the packs cabins were, but maybe she’d find some wolves on her way to her favourite spot. As she approached the lake Lucia spotted a man, fully naked, getting out of the water. “Oh my life..!” Lucia’s jaw dropped and her eyes widened as she took in the sight before her. This handsome man, with incredible muscles, broad shoulders and dark brown hair was getting out of the lake. Water droplets trailing down his body, glistening in the fresh sunlight as it fell through the trees. Suddenly he looked up at her, straight into her eyes. Lucia stood there frozen, holding his gaze as she felt overcame by the same feeling she had the night before. “That’s him! He’s the wolf from last night, I can feel it!” She thought, as he picked up some shorts off the floor and pulled them up, keeping his eyes locked with hers. Lucia slowly stepped towards him. “Is it you?” She asked, “Did you see me here last night when you’d shifted?” He didn’t reply, he just examined her with his steely blue eyes. Lucia stopped in front of him, looking deep into his eyes. “Yes. You’re a witch?” He broke his silence, with an arched eyebrow. He towered over Lucia, but she wasn’t scared and he could tell. “Yeah, I am. I’m part of the Phoenix coven.” Lucia smiled, “I don’t know why, but I’m drawn to you, I can’t get last night out of my mind.” “I can feel it.” He looks at her suspiciously, “But something isn’t right!” “What do you mean?” Lucia asks, confused.“Wolves only connect like this with their mate, you’re a witch, not a wolf!” He snaps, “What spell have you put on me?” Lucia looks confused, she takes a step back, she has her hand ready to throw this guy to the floor. “What do you mean? Why would I spell you?” She asks. “I don’t know, one of your little witch tricks! If you were from the Phoenix coven, I would know you, so you’re lying!” He growls at her, she can feel the anger building. “I’m not lying! My name is Lucia James! You’ll know my mother, Audra James?” She replies, he can feel her becoming tense. “I do know Mrs James, you’re her daughter? I didn’t know she had any children!” He states, looking confused. He should be interrogating her, someone trespassing into their territory and a witch no less. But for some reason he trusts her, he feels calmed by her presence. “She has 3 daughters, I’m the eldest and I have two younger sisters.” Lucia explains, “She won’t let us get involved in the covens outside business, she’s overprotective.” He nods and smirks, “Okay.. so what’s a witch doing in the forest?” “What’s your name?” Lucia demands, “I’ve told you who I am!” “Jason” he replies, “so tell me why were here on a full moon of all nights?” “I like being by the water, it clears my mind.” Lucia explains, “I came back to find you.” Jason looks deep into her eyes, they’re hazel brown with flecks of gold and green in them. “This doesn’t make sense, she’s a witch! But I can feel the pull, we’re connected, somehow. It’s got to be magic, but I trust her.. ugghh!” He argues with himself in his head. “Jason?” Lucia’s voice says gently, he hadn’t noticed she’d stepped closer to her. “I swear I haven’t used magic on you, I wouldn’t do that.” They remain locked in each other’s intense gaze. They can both feel a wanting of each other, a desire to be close to each other, to protect one another. Jason cups Lucia’s cheek with his hand, she places her hand on top of his.  “WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!” A deep voice bellows out, breaking their trance.***