Casters

Chapter 8

"Your birthday is in six days!" Matilda exclaimed. "What are we going to do?"

"You and your sister will stay here. Aunt Grace, Blake, and I will go to town," Annalise then turned to Charlotte, "would you like a simple picnic?" she asked. Charlotte nodded. "I would like a picnic! Are we the only ones celebrating my birthday?"

"My family will come, too," Annalise answered.

"Our other relatives will come, as well. They wouldn't want to miss your very important day!" Grace said, entering the room. "Annalise, have you contacted Aunt Susie to meet up with us in town to help with the planning?"

"Who is Aunt Susie?" Matilda asked.

"Aunt Susie is your Grandma Christen's youngest sister. She is in her 70th year, too, but she's very active. That is why we are going to invite her over for the celebration," Grace replied, "there is food in the fridge, and there are some cookies by the tray over there. We need to leave early."

"Thank you. Is Sheena coming over?" Charlotte asked. "We would like some company while you guys are not around."

"Of course. Bridget will come, too," Blake said, entering the room and taking a sandwich. "Are we going?" Annalise nodded and they left.

"When do you think Sheena and Bridget will arrive?" Matilda pouted, "I'm extremely bored. Thought we might play a game with them."

"They'll arrive soon. Come on, let's clean the house before they get here," Charlotte smiled.

---

The Alarie members were walking down the streets of Roussillon and stopped at the front of a building. The building looked antiquated with broken windows and cracked bricks from the outside. Above the door read the sign "Magicae Domum".

"Are you sure this is the right place, Grace?" Annalise asked. Grace nodded. She opened her bag and took out a key. It was rusty and had a clear quartz crystal on its head. "I think Blake should wait outside," Grace said. Blake nodded.

As they opened the door, the building was filled with exquisite designs of furniture unlike what was shown on the exterior. There were paintings on the wall of the caster's historical figures- the ones who sacrificed their lives to protect the caster world from Gideon. "It's been the greatest war in history, Annalise. I know we, most especially Charlotte, could never escape from our fate," Grace sighed.

"Isn't that the man who was able to contain Gideon inside the crystal in Mines de Bruoux?" Annalise asked. They stopped walking and looked at the portrait of Aiden. "Yes. After that moment, some casters turned against their own and followed Gideon's footsteps, claiming Aiden was the evil caster. They were the ones who battled him and ended his life.

"It is such a despair that some casters would battle against their own. Aiden died at such a young age after his battle with Gideon. It was only a week after that moment when the shadowwalkers battled with him," Grace told Annalise.

"I agree. Some casters really have the audacity to think they are more superior to humans. We may have powers, but humans are still living creatures," Annalise replied. Grace shook her head. "We would never know how this happened, after all. We may not know if all of this really started from Gideon.

What Pa would always tell me was that the witch trials started because of Gideon causing such havoc in the human world. Others, however, were convinced that Gideon was angry with the humans causing such harm to fellow casters. But that's why we're here today: to ask Susie about all of this. We need proper information to guide Charlotte properly."

Suddenly, the light flashed upon Annalise and Grace. "Who's there, lurking on the hallways of my gallery?"

"It's us, Aunt Susie. Grace and Annalise," Grace introduced.

A woman was floating through the air, covered with a lavish robe, looking like an angel. "Grace! Annalise! How I've missed you so! Especially you, Grace. It has been a while." Susie hugged them as soon as she reached the ground.

"How is my dear Charlotte? Does she still not know about her powers?" Susie asked. Grace nodded. "We're here to actually buy and prepare for Charlotte's 18th birthday. We might also need your help over a spell. We need to protect Charlotte while disguising the event as a picnic celebration."

Susie looked at her in distraught, "we couldn't do that. The event is sacred. We couldn't veil the event, nor the crystal ball from her," she explained, "however, I supposed we could protect her and make her see things differently."

"How could we possibly do that, Aunt Susie?" Annalise asked. "She is very perceptive; she has even noticed a few peculiar changes within the home."

"Let us not cast this spell today. Come upstairs, will you? Let's make a cup of tea while discussing this," Susie invited, motioning for the carpet to deliver them to the kitchen on the second floor.

---

Knock knock.

"It's probably them!" Matilda said. It's been 4 hours since their aunts and brother left. Charlotte went and opened the door.

"Charlotte!"Sheena exclaimed, "I bought some cupcakes!" "Sheena!" Charlotte responded, "Aunt Annalise baked some cookies for us, as well!"

"Where's my favorite little girl?" Bridget asked. Charlotte smiled and motioned for Matilda to come. "Wait, I'm preparing the board game. Let Bridget come in!"

"Wow, Matilda really does enjoy Bridget's presence, eh?" Sheena smiled.

"By the way, Charlotte. I need some advice- you know, a girl-to-girl conversation." Sheena whispered. "Oh, sure! Let's go upstairs." Charlotte said. "I'll get some cookies and cupcakes first for us to snack on."

"Say, would you like a game of chess, Bridget?" Matilda grinned, challenging Bridget. She smirked and nodded, "Sure thing, M. Let's start!"

---

They entered the room, and Charlotte opened the window. "What seems to be the problem, Sheena?"

"It's not exactly a problem, just a minor situation. There's this guy-"

"Oh my, do you have a boyfriend?" Charlotte grinned.

"What? No! I mean, not yet. I like this guy, but I don't have the courage to date him. He likes me, too. However, I am extremely uneasy with this whole relationship thing," Sheena explained.

"Well, go on. Tell me. Who is this guy?"

"He goes to the same school as I do- IBS. I heard you wanted to apply there?" Sheena asked. Charlotte nodded. "Wait, this is a picture of us three."

Sheena held out her wallet with a polaroid picture of the guys and her. "That's Fred, the guy I like. This one is his best friend, Ste-"

"Steven?!" Charlotte gasped.

"You have already met him?! How?" Sheena asked excitedly.

"I met him a few days ago when I went to Provence with Blake! I accidentally bumped into him outside of a store. He dropped his necklace that was an... Amethyst crystal? His grandfather made it!" Charlotte said. Sheena jumped with joy. "You were that girl he told Fred about, then!"

"Oh my gosh- wait, let's talk about that later! We need to talk about you and Fred first. Now, spill!" Charlotte exclaimed, shaking about the topic they were talking about.

Sheena took a deep breath and started, "okay, so Fred asked me out on a date. He said he has liked me for more than a year already. He only asked me a week ago because he felt courageous at the time. I like him, too. Currently, he feels anxious because a week has passed, and I still haven't replied to his invitation!"

"What did you mean you haven't replied? You left him on read?" Charlotte gasped. "What? No!" Sheena laughed, "I mean, I told him that I would need a week to think about my response. However, today is the last day to think about this because tomorrow we would meet at Café de la Poste!"

Charlotte jumped out of excitement. "Well, we would need to give you a gorgeous beautification!"

"Are you implying that this would be a good choice?" Sheena smiled. Charlotte nodded out of excitement. "Of course! Isn't that the Fred you told me the first day we met? The gentleman and of course, someone who is sure and ready for his future?" Sheena nodded at this. "Then what makes you think this is a bad idea? Relationships will go through challenges. There is no doubt about that. However, you wouldn't learn if you wouldn't give it a chance."

Sheena took a deep breath and considered her reply. "I guess you're right, Cee." "I'm glad you think that way. I will always be here to support you, too!" Charlotte grinned, "anyway, what was that thing with Steven about?"

"He told us that he bumped into 'a very attractive' girl that day. He was ecstatic during that moment. He was also saddened by the small chance of being able to meet you again. Oh my, he would feel the excitement in finding out that I know who you are!" Sheena exclaimed.

"Wait!" Charlotte exclaimed, "please do not tell him yet." "Why not?" Sheena asked. "I- I kind of like him, too." she smiled, biting her lower lip.

Sheena shrieked, "Oh my gosh! We are a pair of friends who would soon date a pair of friends, too! But why not let him meet you, now?"

"Why don't we surprise him? Like- set us up?" Charlotte asked, "You can bring him tomorrow. We'll then leave you both at the Café de la Poste while we take a stroll in town."

"I'm very excited about the meeting tomorrow! However, let me tell you things about Steven so you won't feel like a total stranger.

"He loves tulips, for some reason. Maybe his mother loves tulips. He also loves sciences and astronomy. He enjoys literature, too. Maybe you could invite him to some sightseeing, as well."

"Okay, I think that is enough information for now," Sheena grinned. "Let yourself discover his personality and character, too." Charlotte's eyes widened. "Sheena, stop that."

The girls were finally excited for tomorrow's adventure. They decided to do some makeover while they were in the room.

---

"We're home!" Grace exclaimed. "Ah, ladies! What have you been doing during the time we were gone?"

"Briget and I played chess and read some books!" Matilda smiled. "Actually, we played multiple rounds of chess and the winner will draw over the loser's face," Bridget laughed.

"Seems like Matilda is going to be a wonderful artist growing up," Annalise laughed, eyeing Bridget's face.

"Hello!" Charlotte exclaimed

"My, my! Charlotte and Sheena! You decided to give yourselves a haircut?" Annalise gasped. Grace eyed the girls and smiled. "It looks fresh! I love it!"

"What did you buy for the picnic, Aunt Grace?" Charlotte asked.

"That, young lady, is a secret from you," Grace winked.

"Woah, am I missing something? Is there an event that you girls needed a haircut?" Blake asked, entering the room with a bag of groceries.

"Well, we were just- uhm, bored?" Charlotte said, looking at Sheena.

Sheena laughed and shook her head, "we just wanted a fresh look. Our hair looked fried and dead before we did the cut."

"Are you and Sheena going to have dinner here, Bridget?" Matilda asked. Bridget looked at Blake, asking for confirmation.

"Of course! In fact, Bridget and Sheena will stay with us for a week," Blake smiled.

"What?!" Matilda gasped. "Why didn't you tell me that?"

The aunts interrupted the conversation, "well, we do need some hands for Charlotte's birthday. So we decided to ask them to stay."

"Aunt Annalise, could Charlotte and I leave for town tomorrow?" Sheena asked. Annalise raised her eyebrow, "are you meeting up with your school friends, dear?" Sheena nodded.

"Well, okay. I know those friends of yours, anyway. Just be sure to keep safe, okay?"

"Blake and Bridget, may you carry these bags to our room for your Aunt Annalise and me to organize them? Also, don't forget to put the fresh ingredients in the kitchen, lad." Grace said. The couple left and Annalise went to cook dinner.

"Are you sure you wouldn't want a grand celebration, Charlotte?" Grace asked, sitting down at the table.

"Of course, Aunt Grace. Why would I wish for a grand celebration? It costs too much. A simple picnic would do as long as it's with all of you," she said.

Grace smiled at this and left to help Annalise.