Casters

Chapter 2

The witch trials ended after their death. Another king was crowned after the king who ruled during that year. There were still casters disguised as ordinary people; some have forgotten their own power and lost it.

But the caster battles never ended.

Gideon always came back. Family after family, power after power, even families of those who do not remember who they once were. Many have tried to end the existence of the powerful Gideon.

However, one caster, Aiden, was able to contain his spirit in an Amethyst crystal, sealed away in Mines de Bruoux, where the strongest oracle in history, Genevieve, the daughter of Charlotte and Henry, was buried.

With this came peace, but not for long.

---

Three centuries had passed, in a loving home in Gatlin, South Carolina-

"Charlotte!" Aunt Grace shouted. "You'll be late for your last day of school!"

Charlotte ran downstairs, upset.

"What's wrong dear?" Aunt Grace asked.

"What's wrong? Everything! Why didn't you tell me that we were going to move to France after my junior year?" Charlotte stomped.

"Your parents wanted you to learn and understand your ways," she explained. "You'll get to meet your big brother, Blake." Matilda ran into the room, with a huge grin on her face. "Are we going to live in France? For good?" she asked. Grace nodded. Matilda celebrated this while Charlotte threw a thousand daggers with her eyes.

"I couldn't just leave my friend, Aunt Grace." Charlotte protested. "I love it here." Aunt Grace reached out to her and said "I know, and I completely understand that. No one wants to leave their friends behind. However, young lady, you are approaching your senior years. Your parents would want you to reunite with your brother Blake and Uncle Raven." Charlotte sighed upon hearing this. "I understand, Aunt Grace."

"Hello!" Matilda whispered to the squirrel that entered their home. Charlotte smiled at the sight. Matilda has always been so pure-hearted. I pray no one would harm my little sister when I'm not around. "Here, now! Off to school." Her aunt said as she handed Charlotte her lunch.

"Goodbye, Aunt Grace!" Charlotte waved.

Matilda has already ended her years of middle school, which was why she stayed behind. "May I come out to play?" she asked Aunt Grace. "Why, of course, Matilda. Be back in an hour."

---

"Honestly, Van. I do not understand why we had to move to France!" Charlotte shared.

She was waiting for Van to finish getting her lunch in line at the cafeteria. "Honestly, I think it would be a great opportunity for you." Van disagreed.

"Now, you would not want me away, right?" Charlotte joked. "Of course, Cee! Why would I want you away?" Van laughed. "I would love to see you reach your dreams... and maybe some free tickets to visit France." Charlotte smiled. "I'm sorry, I thought the opportunity you meant was for my education and not your free travel!"

"Oh, come on. Of course, it is about your education- and it includes my free travel as well." Van joked.

"I guess this would also be the last time I could see James." Charlotte sighed.

James was Charlotte's 3-year crush. He has an amazing personality and is interested in almost anything. "Step up your game. You are going to France. Imagine how many French men you are going to find attractive," Van supported, "and I heard they were pretty romantic, too."

Charlotte and Van looked at each other and giggled.

When lunchtime was over, Charlotte and Van decided to spend their free time in the library. Upon entering, they both decided to sit by the history section.

"Cee, look!" Van whispered. There was a huge book left open on the table. They went and checked the cover. The cover of this book feels old, and the pages are thin enough to rip easily. Charlotte thought. "What do you think this book is about, Van? It has no title." Charlotte asked. "I don't know, Cee. But this feels like a history book! I should scan this." Van said, showing her excitement.

As Van went to scan the book, Charlotte suddenly felt her headache.

"Cee, look! This is a history book. It talks about events that go way back from the 17th and 18th centuries." Van kept on talking, "...it talks about the witch trials all over the world- Cee? Cee!"

Charlotte suddenly fainted.

---

The moon shall claim what it once owned,

And the key will unlock the chaos of the world.

The person looked at Charlotte

You... you are the key... Do not meet the gate. Never meet the gate.

---

Charlotte woke up at the school clinic. "What happened?"

"You suddenly fainted Cee. We missed our last class for the year." Van whispered. Miss Jane approached Charlotte and asked her a few questions.

"Did you skip your lunch today, Miss Alarie?" she asked. Charlotte shook her head, "no, I have not."

"What did you feel?"

"I suddenly felt dizzy in the library. We were at the history section." The nurse nodded hearing this. "Maybe you just need some rest. The history section is located at the far end of the library. You must've lacked oxygen in that tight space," she reassured. "Students rarely enter that area, as well."

"Thank you, Miss Jane. I'm truly sorry for being such a burden." Charlotte apologized. "What are you talking about, Cee? You weren't a burden. Right, Miss Jane?" The school nurse smiled. "Okay, the school year is ending soon. Here, have some chocolate." She handed Charlotte a chocolate bar. "You'll feel better,

"Now get your things ready so that you could leave after the bell rings. I have contacted your Aunt Grace for you. She should be able to fetch you in 15 minutes."

"I guess we couldn't hang out for the last time since your aunt will fetch you," Van whispered.

"You could come over for dinner? I could call your mother and tell her I would be moving to France, so I could ask you to come over?" Charlotte thought. Van grinned at this thought. "Sure!"

The book. You should've read the book. Charlotte was taken aback. "Wait, why am I having thoughts about the book?" It was for you... the sun... the sun symbol...

"Cee? Mother said I could come!" Van interrupted her thoughts. "Really? Finally! I thought I needed to convince her." She giggled.

"Girls? Miss Grace is here." Jane announced.

They finally exchanged their thanks and bid goodbye. I'll see you someday again... maybe. Charlotte thought, looking at her most memorable school for the last time before entering the vehicle with Van.

---

"Van, what are your plans for your senior year?" Aunt Grace asked.

Matilda was cleaning the living room with Charlotte. "I'm sorry about the mess, Van," she said, "I didn't expect visitors, so the living room is a mess." Van smiled at her and reassured her that it was fine.

"Maybe I would move in with my aunt in Florida, Miss Grace," she replied to Aunt Grace, "I'm still deciding."

"You'll stay there until college?" Aunt Grace asked.

"I'm not quite sure yet," she answered.

Charlotte signaled for Van to follow her.

They went outside and climbed up the ladder to the roof.

"I love spending some of my alone time up here," Charlotte said, "I'm really going to miss being a teenager, and Gatlin, of course."

"So, last night, huh?" Van asked Charlotte. "Are you ready for your flight tomorrow?" Charlotte sighed as she shook her head. "I'm not quite sure how long this travel is going to take."

"Well, if we search it, the distance, in general, would be about... 6,000-6,500km?" Van researched and wondered, "then it would be approximately a 7-9 hours travel, depending on your location in France and location here."

Charlotte grinned. She was very fond of Van's personality and has always seen her as a sister for life. "Maybe, just maybe Cee, you could get us both French men when you get there." Van joked, interrupting her thoughts.

"What! Van! I could never! I have to wait until I turn 18." She giggled.

"Well, you are almost there! Your birthday is next week!" Van exclaimed. She was very supportive, considering Charlotte never had a boyfriend before. "And you, Van, are turning 17. I couldn't just randomly introduce you to a stranger and set you both up!" she laughed.

Charlotte stood up saying "Anyway, let's go eat our dinner with Aunt Grace and Matilda. We'll watch movies afterward."

---

After eating dinner, Charlotte and Van decided to watch some movies until it rained. Van decided to stay in for the night to avoid unexpected events that could possibly turn up at the time of night. They talked about the European culture and history, French men, and even magic, as they were watching a movie filled with magic and wizards. "We need to rest; you have a long day ahead of you tomorrow," Van said.

Charlotte agreed and fixed her stuff before ending the day. While organizing her stuff, she found a pendant in the drawer with the design of the sun, surrounded by beautiful stones of black tourmaline on the rays of the sun. Is this new? I've never seen this before. She dug deeper and found the chain of the pendant. It's a necklace? Perhaps, this used to be Aunt Grace's. She studied it further and decided to wear it for the meantime under her shirt.

She went back to the living room after checking up on Matilda and Aunt Grace, who was already asleep. She checked on Van and saw that she was asleep, too.

Charlotte decided to sit by the window and think through some things. Taking my senior year in France, huh? I haven't seen Blake in a while, either. Since the fire, he has always lived with Uncle Raven because he couldn't stand living here in Gatlin where most memories of our family were made. She sighed. I haven't even spoken to him since he left. It felt like he left me and Matilda alone at such a young age to live with our Aunt. She looked at the moon and smiled. There is hope... and I hope everything changes after tomorrow.

Charlotte went back to Van and slept after that.

---

"Good morning, sleepyheads. Rise and Shine." Aunt Grace called. "I prepared some bread and soup. You might want to try my special, Van. It's tomato soup."

Charlotte and Van rose and fixed their mattresses before heading to the dining area.

"Where's Matilda?" Charlotte asked.

"Oh, she's off to water her plants before leaving," she said, "you know that young girl does not want to leave her garden." "But who will stay here?" Asked Charlotte. "My friend, Kristen, will stay here with her family." Aunt Grace replied.

"Wow, this soup is amazing! I should really ask my mother for this." Van said. Aunt Grace was delighted to hear this. Charlotte enjoyed the soup, as well. Aunt Grace's meals never fail to amaze me.

"Wait for me!" Matilda smiled. Tomato soup by Aunt Grace was her all-time favorite. "The last time you cooked tomato soup was months ago, Aunt Grace. I'm glad you cooked this today!"

"Now, clean up the house, Charlotte. I will bring Van home." Aunt Grace said as she grabbed her keys. Charlotte hugged Van and bid her goodbye for the last time. At least, we now live in a world where social media exists. She thought.

After they left, Charlotte looked for Matilda in the garden. "Where is that young gi-" She stopped and hid behind the barrel. She saw Matilda conversing with a deer, some squirrels, and even a few birds were on her. What is this? She wondered. Has this been happening for a long time? Is she sick? Why does she speak to them as if they are human?

"You know, I could feel you watching, Charlotte." Matilda giggled.

"I wasn't spying on you," She said, crossing her arms. Matilda sighed and smiled. "Whatever." She fed the animals and went back inside the house with Charlotte.

"Have you packed your bags, Matilda?" Charlotte asked.

Matilda nodded and sat by the living room. Charlotte went to wash the dishes and rested until Aunt Grace arrived for their departure. She touched her chest and felt the pendant. I wonder what this pendant is doing inside my drawer. I've never even seen it before. She looked at Matilda. Maybe Matilda gave this and decided not to tell me about it as a gift.

As soon as Aunt Grace arrived, they loaded their bags in the car, bid the home goodbye, and went for the drive.

"I will see you soon, Gatlin."