Casters

Chapter 10

It was four days before Charlotte's birthday. Everyone was sitting in the living room, waiting for the doctor to come out. Her grandmother Christen was growing sick. "Old age," she would whisper to Annalise last week. Matilda sobbed as she realized she barely got to know her grandmother.

"Sheena, why don't you and Bridget bring Charlotte and Matilda to town?" Annalise said, breaking the silence, "I would like to request a few things for Charlotte's birthday." The ladies nodded and went to their rooms to change their clothes. Charlotte still has not found her necklace, to which she grew anxious. Of all the things that I lost, I had to lose the precious gift. She facepalmed. 

"Charlotte, are you ready?" Matilda shouted from below. "In a minute!" she responded, fixing her hair in the mirror.

She went downstairs and grabbed the baskets as her Aunt Annalise gave Bridget the list to buy. "I trust you will look after the young ones, Bridget," She said, patting Bridget on her head.

"We'll see you later!" The ladies said, bidding their goodbyes, and left for town.

"Have they left, Annalise?" Grace asked from the second floor, checking for their presence. Annalise nodded and Grace went down with the doctor. "She's bedridden and weak. There is nothing we could do. The hospital is a long travel, and"

"No, it's fine," Grace said, cutting him off while wiping her tear. "We couldn't afford any. Thank you for checking up on her. I am utterly grateful," she whispered as she shook the doctor's hand. "Annalise, please lead Doctor Stephan to the door."

The doctor took off his hat and bowed down before leaving. Grace sat down and cried. Raven entered the room and hugged her. "There is nothing we could do, the time has finally come," he whispered.

"Here," Annalise said, carrying a glass of water, "drink."

She comforted Grace, knowing she herself was devastated about the news. "She wouldn't get to see Charlotte on her 18th birthday," Annalise sighed.

"There is nothing we could do, Grace," Raven whispered again. Annalise looked at Raven for confirmation, "Will Ma really die once the spirit of the Oracle claims Charlotte on her birthday?"

Raven nodded, "indeed. It is how it goes. Once a family member is told to be claimed by the Oracle, the one who previously carried the powers will be taken away from this world."

Grace sobbed even more. That was why she decided to settle down in France two weeks before Charlotte's birthday. She couldn't bear the thought of losing her mother, yet, but she knew what going to happen.

"Could you both clean up the house today?" Grace asked. The couple nodded and Grace stood up to proceed to Christen's room. "Where is Blake? Could you tell him to at least visit Ma for the last few times?"

"Oh, I'll tell him. He has been working in town," Raven replied, grabbing his hat and coat. "I'll be back after work." He turned to face Annalise and said, "I'll help you when I get back, honey. Take care."

He kissed Annalise on her forehead and left.

Grace headed to Christen's room and locked the doors. She held on to her hand and cried. "I'm sorry I failed, Ma. I know I promised Lily to let Charlotte grow up in a life of magic. I had to do what I did to save her until this moment,"

She continued to sob and said, "I only wanted the children to live the best and memorable ordinary life."

She suddenly felt Ma's hand patting her head. "Dear daughter, you know this is how it always goes," she said, struggling to talk loud, "Oracle Minerva will claim Charlotte, with the goddess of the element that will claim her, too. I will finally rest in peace and watch over you from above."

She wiped Grace's tears with her fingers as she cupped her face in her hand, "You never failed us, especially Lily. You did the best you could."

Suddenly, Christen's eyes glowed and she sat upright.

"The time has finally come,

for the truth to be divulged.

As the sun and moon collide,

there is a light that shows the way.

No more lies, no need to hide.

She will face what was meant for her."

Grace stood up and caught her after the switch. "Did the oracle really mean that?" she asked, tucking Ma under her covers again.

"Oh my god. Annalise!"

She dashed outside the door and looked for Annalise. She reached the kitchen and asked, "where were the girls going?!"

---

"We're heading to Steven's place," Sheena said, "We could meet them both there."

"What?! I am not ready!" Charlotte exclaimed. Bridget giggled, "you don't need to pretend to be someone else."

Charlotte frowned, "I don't look as presentable as I was last time."

"Jokes aside, Charlotte, you look very beautiful. You could do this," Bridget said, caressing her hair.

"Are we there yet?" she asked nervously, "do we need to buy flowers for his mother?"

Sheena laughed. "You'll be fine, Charlotte. Don't overthink." Then, they stopped at the front of a huge house of beige. The garden was filled with beautiful flowers, arranged in perfect colors.

"Oh, my," Charlotte gasped in awe, "this is the most beautiful house I have ever seen." She looked down on herself and frowned, "and I look poor."

"Bridget, you should really teach Charlotte how to be a lady," Matilda giggled. Charlotte crossed her arms as the girls laughed.

"I'll contact Fred," Sheena said, reaching for her phone. Charlotte cleared her throat and hid under her hat.

From afar, they could hear Fred shout "the girls are here, Steven!"

"Your boyfriend seems fun," Matilda commented. Charlotte ignored this remark and took deep breaths.

"Hey!" Steven waved. Charlotte could feel her cheeks turn hot red. Matilda tugged Bridget's skirt as she notices her sister's reaction.

"You must be Bridget!," he said, shaking her hands. "Hello, Matilda! I heard so much about you from your sister." He smiled and pat her head.

"Really?" Matilda said with gleaming eyes, "then maybe it's our time to talk about Charlotte."

"Matilda!" Charlotte exclaimed with her eyes wide. Steven turned to her and smiled. "You know, ladies. Please, come inside. Fred is waiting for you in the living room.

"There are also cookies on the table," Fred exclaimed from the door, motioning them to come in. The ladies went inside but Charlotte stood there petrified, looking at him.

"You look decent," he smiled. "Oh, please," Charlotte sighed, "I was not told that we would be passing by your house."

Steven chuckled. "Don't worry, our place is still open."

They started to walk towards the home when he said "perfect timing, my parents are home. Even my brother's girlfriend."

"What's your brother's name?" Charlotte asked.

"Jake," he replied, "his girlfriend's name is Chelsea. Chelsea's best friend is also here. Her name is Trisha."

"So, your parents openly welcome anyone?" she asked, confused. Steven nodded. "They are very friendly, people would say." Charlotte sighed in relief and smiled. "I'm glad to hear that."

"After you," Steven said, opening the door for Charlotte. She smiled and went inside.

His mother was on the couch with Jake's girlfriend and Trisha. Matilda felt uncomfortable and was holding onto Bridget.

"I thought your brother was here, too," Charlotte whispered. He shook his head and said, "He left a while ago. My mom loves having Chelsea over to keep her accompanied."

Charlotte felt the tension as the girls looked at her.

"You must be Charlotte?" Steven's mom asked, smiling. "Come, sit here. I need to go to the kitchen and cook our meal."

Charlotte sat on and looked over to Matilda. She was avoiding eye contact.

We need to leave, Matilda's voice echoed through her thoughts. Leave... Leave...

She looked at Matilda and she could see that she wasn't saying anything. Sheena was having a conversation with Fred and Bridget.

We shouldn't have brought Matilda over, Charlotte thought. I hate how I could hear Matilda's voice in my head. I must be crazy.

"Hi, I'm Chelsea, Jack's girlfriend," the woman said, reaching out for a handshake. Charlotte smiled as she shook her hand. "Charlotte."

"Are you new around here?" Trisha asked with her eyes squinting. "Fancy seeing Steven hang out with someone new."

"Trisha," Fred hissed. Trisha rolled her eyes and took a cookie.

Bold of her to show how toxic her personality gets, Charlotte thought.

"She wasn't being mean, Fred," Chelsea smirked as she rolled her eyes. "She was genuinely surprised since Steven hates to introduce himself to people."

"You didn't take Trisha's comment as an insult, right?" she asked, biting her cookie.

Charlotte nodded and drank her glass of water.

"So, where did you grow up?" Chelsea asked.

"Oh, we grew up in Gatlin. Our family originally lived here, though," Charlotte responded.

"Oh. So, you're poor?" Trisha asked. Chelsea choked on her cookie and laughed.

"Shut up, Trisha," Fred smirked, "the only reason you're rich is that you feed off your father's money." Trisha and Chelsea started babbling in frustration and the boys chuckled it off.

Steven sat beside Charlotte and took out a necklace from the box.

"My necklace!" Charlotte exclaimed, "where did you find this?"

"It hung from my crystal when we left," he said, putting it around her neck. "Fortunately, I found it before it fell."

Trisha despised the sight of Steven and Charlotte. Bridget and Sheena looked at each other and had an idea.

Fingers of the wind, pull her hair, Bridget whispered.

"Ow!" Trisha screeched, "Did you pull my hair?!" Chelsea gasped, "excuse you? I wouldn't care about you and your hair."

Matilda bit her lip to hide a laugh while Sheena and Bridget giggled.

As the necklace was wrung around Charlotte's neck, the sun pendant glowed so brightly, it looked like the whole house was lit.

Bridget choked at the sight and looked at the ladies. The three felt internal panic.

Matilda, Bridget said, trying to connect with her.

I can hear you, she responded.

"Is that?" Chelsea gasped.

Oh no, Sheena thought.

"Is-Isn't your n-name Charlotte?" Trisha asked. "Are you the Alarie, Charlotte Alarie?"

Charlotte was confused about everything that was happening. She turned to Steven, confused.

"Oh my god. You're a freaking witch!" Trisha exclaimed, covering her mouth.

"What?" Charlotte responded, dumbfounded, "I'm not a witch? They don't exist!" She eyed Steven, who gave her an apologetic look. "That is such a grave accusation, Trisha," Fred scoffed. "Are you starting to go crazy because of your faith?" He turned to Charlotte and waved it off. "Don't mind these ladies, they have always been this crazy when it comes to the 'word of God'," he said. "Everything is evil for them."

"Witches exist, Fred," Trisha hissed. "They are evil creatures."

"Good Lord, save us all," Chelsea interrupted. "No wonder why Steven was attracted to you, you manipulated him!"

"You sold your soul to the devil, you witch," Trisha hissed. "How dare you use your evil ways to manipulate Steven!"

Suddenly, there was a sound of glass breaking on the floor. They all looked at Steven's mother.

"The rumors were true?" she whispered, "the Alarie daughter is finally in town?"

"What?" Charlotte said, feeling her head hurt again, "what rumors? The Alarie Daughter?"

"God bless us all from the danger, Ma'am!" Chelsea said. She ran towards Steven's mother and held her hand, "We really should protect ourselves, Ma'am." Trisha stood up and pointed at Charlotte saying, "you are a manipulative loathing evil wit-"

Everything stopped. Charlotte looked around, there was nothing. No wind, no movement, it all stopped. Trisha looked like she was going to continue her speech. She turned to the ladies and saw Matilda's eyes gleaming with Bridget and Sheena taking cover.

"We need to go," Bridget said, looking at Sheena. "Matilda, could you erase their memories of today's events?"

"Don't forget Fred's and Steven's," Sheena whispered sadly.

Charlotte looked at them in anger, "what the heck is this!"

Bridget gave her an apologetic look and said, "And your sister's, too"

Charlotte's eyes widened, "No, NO!"

Then, the whole world turned white.