Casters

Chapter 5

"Rise and shine, ladies!" Aunt Annalise exclaimed. She raised the curtains and opened the window. "It's a beautiful morning," she said.

She looked back at the ladies and saw that they were still asleep. "Oh, come on. It's 7 in the morning."

"Five more minutes, please." Charlotte groaned.

"Of course not, young lady. Your brother Blake would be bringing you to the town today." Her Aunt said, crossing her arms. Matilda was instantly woken up by this. "Oh! I forgot it's today! Rise and shine, sister!" She rose and grabbed Charlotte's sheets off her.

"We're going to bond as siblings today!" Matilda was so excited she headed down to the bathroom to get ready for the day.

Charlotte sat down and laughed. "Your sister has a very amazing personality." Aunt Annalise commented, "I have a favor to ask of you." "What is it?" she replied.

Annalise sat down beside her. "Please do not forget to wear your bracelet today, the one given by your uncle," she said, "I have a belief that the bracelets gifted to you by a loved one are special and special enough that something could happen if you lose it."

Charlotte smiled. "Of course, I would never forget to wear that. Where are Uncle Raven and Aunt Grace?"

"They went for an early morning walk. You know, old people." She whispered. Charlotte giggled at this remark. "You know, your Aunt Grace is a powerful woman. She would protect Raven and your mother when they were younger. She has always followed Ma's footsteps." Annalise let out a small smile, "and that is why your Aunt decided to look after you both after the incident."

"Why is she not married?" Charlotte asked.

"You'll find out, soon."

"I'm finished! It's your turn now. Charlotte." Matilda exclaimed, trying to drag Charlotte out of the room. "Matilda! I am still having a conversation with your Aunt."

Annalise laughed and said, "no, it's okay. She's right. Go prepare yourself."

Charlotte smiled. She rose up, took some clothes, and went to the bathroom.

---

"Matilda, have you seen my- you are wearing a dress to town?" Charlotte smiled.

Matilda squinted her eyes at her, "don't you dare say a word." Charlotte laughed at the sight. "You look pretty. You look like you are going out on a picnic."

Charlotte opened her closet and took out a scarf of white and red and was made out of silk. "Wear this like a veil. It would suit your outfit."

Matilda took the scarf and tried it on, "this looks familiar," she commented.

Charlotte nodded, "it was wrapped around you when the incident happened. Ma made it."

"Are you ready, girls?" Blake entered the room, "I hope I'm not interfering with your private conversation?" Matilda shook her head and invited him to sit down, "Charlotte is still preparing."

"Where are we going?" Charlotte asked. Blake thought about it for a while and said, "We shall meet up with a friend later, they are both girls, but first let us have breakfast,

"I suggest we eat at Cafe de la Poste in town," he continued.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" Matilda asked. Charlotte looked at her in curiosity, "why have you been pushing Blake and me to look for a partner?" Matilda's face turned red. She replied, "Oh, nothing."

She's probably going through that stage already. Charlotte thought. She shook her head and smiled, "shall we? Oh, I'd better not forget my camera. I'm taking photos for Van. She's traveling to Florida today."

"Funny, I couldn't find it," she turned to them and said, "you go ahead downstairs. I won't take long."

Matilda looked at Blake, and they went downstairs. Charlotte made sure everyone was downstairs before entering the bathroom and took the necklace. Luckily no one saw you, she thought. She wore the necklace, took her bracelet, and went downstairs.

"I found my camera," she announced, "Good morning Uncle Raven. Aunt Grace! You look dashing in those night robes." Aunt Grace smiled, "I forgot to change before taking my walk. The breeze was cold."

"Let's go." Blake smiled.

"You could borrow your Uncle's and Aunt's bikes for a while," he motioned to his sisters. "You'll love traveling by bike here."

"Oh Blake, please take good care of your sisters," Aunt Grace said. Blake looked back and said, "Of course, why wouldn't I?" and they left.

---

"The town is beautiful!" Matilda said in awe, "say, what time would we meet your friends, Blake?" He looked at his watch and said, "Before lunch, perhaps. They said we would meet them at Parcours de L'art."

They looked around and Matilda bought some flowers, "they were pretty. I could not avoid getting my hands on them." Blake shook his head and they headed for Cafe de la Poste.

Blake ordered for them while Matilda and Charlotte were admiring the architectural structure of the buildings. "Even the structure is different from Gatlin," Charlotte said.

"Of course, this is Europe," Matilda said, "Architecture is one of the famous attractions of Europe. I honestly do not understand why our parents would want to live in Gatlin."

"Merci beaucoup," he said to the waitress. Blake laughed at Matilda and replied, "M, Pa lives in Gatlin. Ma wanted to settle down with him there, so Pa could still see his family." Charlotte was surprised by this. "I never knew that,

"If that is the case, how did they meet?" She wondered.

"I never knew, as well. I never asked them." Blake shrugged, "Anyway, I ordered hot chocolate for you two. Here is your breakfast."

"What did you get, Blake?"Matilda asked, "Do you eat breakfast?"

Blake nodded, "of course. I ate two of the sandwiches Aunt Annalise made. That is why I only got myself a cup of coffee."

"Shall we eat? Matilda and I have a lot to talk about." Charlotte grinned.

---

"Thank you for the breakfast, Blake! Are we heading towards the Par- what is it again?" Matilda asked.

"Parcours de L'art. I heard Cee loves Lavenders. Aunt Annalise's niece does, too." Blake grinned. "We are going to see a field of lavenders?" She asked, excitedly. He nodded and smiled, "and we are going to see the whole town view, too."

"Well, what are we waiting for? Allons-y!" Matilda exclaimed. They got on their bikes and rode away.

---

"Did that aura look familiar to you?

"Ah- she has finally come home. Perfect timing for the plan to come to place."

"Should we call the young master?"

"Not yet. How about we head down to Parcours de L'art? It would be amazing to grant them a warm-" she whispered as she felt her hands ready to inflame "- warm welcome."

The man agreed and they disappeared into the shadows.

---

"The place is captivating! How could we have not settled in France sooner, Cee!" Matilda exclaimed, running through the field. "I don't know, Matilda! I feel the same way!" Charlotte shouted back as she took photos of different views.

"Seems like you two are having fun without me." Blake laughed. "I bet I could run faster than you, Blake." Matilda grinned. "Oh really, M? Let's race." he invited.

Charlotte prepared her camera to record them both. "The winner gets an ice cream!" She announced, "and Aunt Grace's tomato soup!"

Blake was shocked, "What? No way! I haven't tasted Aunt Grace's cooking in years! I'm going to win this, M."

"Haha! Not if I finish first." Matilda joked.

"Start!" Charlotte exclaimed.

After the race, Matilda pointed at Blake and laughed, "I told you, brother." Blake laughed, "oh really? I won't let you get away next time." He laughed. Both of them were breathing heavily after running so fast. "We could share the soup, though." Matilda smiled.

"Here, I got you both some water," Charlotte said.

"That was some race your brother and sister did, Charlotte." a voice said.

"Bridget! You're finally here." Blake said.

Matilda stopped smiling and hid behind Charlotte. She tugged her sister's shirt the whole time.

"Where is your friend?" Blake asked, putting his arms around her shoulders. Bridget smiled and said, "Oh, he's not here, yet."

Blake was taken aback and looked at Matilda. He slowly let go of Bridget and smiled. "By the way, have a seat." he invited.

"I bought Charlotte and her sister some flowers," she smiled, "I welcome you both to France. When did you arrive?"

"Oh, we-" Charlotte was cut off by Blake's reply, "What? What do you mean when did they arrive? They live here." Matilda tried to smile while they were having a conversation.

"Really? Oh, well. I never knew they lived here with you. I thought they moved away when your parents were killed." She pouted.

"Wait, what? Killed?" Charlotte reacted.

"Oh, you don't know? I heard their daughter killed the family. But wait, what's wrong with your sister? She seems nervous." Bridget wondered. Blake smiled. "She's nervous around new people."

"By the way, I would like to ask you something." he sighed.

"What is it?" Bridget smiled.

"How did you know Charlotte's name?" he asked. Bridget laughed, "Is that a silly question? Of course, I heard you from afar."

Charlotte wanted to react, but then she realized she was petrified. Wait, why couldn't I move?

"Really? It's funny how we never called her by name. It's funnier how you called your friend 'he' when Bridget only goes out with a friend who is a 'she'."

Bridget was confused. "What do you mean? Are you implying that I am someone I'm not?"

Suddenly, a burst of lightning appeared out of nowhere, hitting Charlotte's spot. Charlotte was surprised by the lightning but was more surprised by the shield that covered her body.

What the-

"She couldn't move," Blake whispered. He turned to Bridget in anger.

"Tory."

Bridget smiled, "Blimey, you had your sister protected!" She stood up and shifted into her true self.

"The shapeshifter." He said, gritting his teeth. "You are not as slick as people said you were."

There are three of them.

"What?" Charlotte asked as she heard this. She tried to look at Matilda with her peripheral vision and saw her eyes were glowing. Charlotte was petrified at the sight, but she was literally petrified by -

One of them is a blood caster, he is controlling Charlotte. One is above us, the one who struck Charlotte. We have a shapeshifter, but a fire elemental.

Charlotte wanted to react. She felt like she was dreaming. This could not be real. What is this?

"Hand over Charlotte. Our master would love to have her in advance." Tory laughed. "Waking up beside the chosen one? He would hold a grand feast."

"Highland, throw him under." Matilda cast, holding out her hand. Suddenly the highlands shook and grew, forming a hand, capturing the caster located above them. It threw him back to Tory. "Stephan!" she shouted.

"That hurt, you little t**t! How dare you throw me like a piece of garbage!" Stephan hissed.

Blake cast, "ray of light, strike!"

The clouds shifted away and a ray of light shone upon Stephan, blinding him.

"Gah!" He exclaimed. "Stephan!" Tory said. Stephan was screeching in agony. Tory's eyes lit up. "Fire salamander, heed me, protect!" she cast, swiftly moving her hand from left to right to form the barrier.

"Don't you ever talk to my sister that way," Blake hissed.

Charlotte's eyes widen. She was terrified of what she had witnessed.

Absentmindedly, a man appeared from the woods, running towards Tory and Stephan. He eyed Charlotte, whom he cast her to body to freeze. "Sleep," he cast on his daggers, throwing it her way. He was frustrated to find out that it did not penetrate her shield, even by an object.

"How could that be? It was an object, not a spell." Tory whispered. "Even our wielder couldn't penetrate it.

"Enough!" Charlotte screamed, breaking the petrifying spell cast upon her. Everyone, including the blood caster, was surprised. How... he thought.

Matilda looked at her sister and kneeled beside her. "Et obliviscere somnum," she whispered as she waved her hand in front of her eyes. Suddenly, Charlotte fell into a deep sleep.

"Blake!" A woman exclaimed. Her friend held her hand, and said, "Water, subterlabor!" She cast her spell to allow her water elemental help them reach Blake and his sisters swiftly.

"Bridget! Sheena!" Blake exclaimed while summoning light,

"Sheena, take her and Matilda away. Bridget and I will handle this." He said.

Sheena nodded and casts her spell to carry the sisters away from the place.

"Wings of breeze, blow them away!" Bridget cast. Suddenly, the breeze grew stronger, enough for Blake and Bridget to fly away. She kneeled on her one knee, and cast "Wings of breeze, Volant" she whispered. Blake held unto her as they both flew away.

---

The sun has fallen.

Tory was woken up by George, who was shaking her. They looked at each other, and instantly, she stood up and went to Stephan.

"Could you see now, brother?" She asked. Stephan opened his eyes and nodded. He was shaking after being blinded by the light.

"I'll make them pay," Tory said, with her eyes lit up.