Chapter Eight
1424 Words
Chusi was taking in all the smells of the kitchen and the flurry of activity, she had never really seen a kitchen so busy.
"Wow, mom, is it always this busy?" Chusi asked surprised, by the clatter and commotion.
Lillith smiled at her daughter, "No, actually it isn't dear. It's usually pretty quiet but with us heading out to the coven house for Aislinn's mourning celebration we wanted to get some things out of the way."
Chusi had been trying to keep her mind off of the celebration for her mentor, she didn't really want to think about the loss of one of the mother figures she had in her life.
Lillith could see the heartache in her daughter's face, "Sweetheart, I'm so sorry she's gone. If you want to talk about her anytime, please come find me," she said wrapping her daughter in a warm hug.
"Thank you, momma," was all she said before turning her attention to the dining room, "I'm starving, let's go get something to eat. Do you have oatmeal?" she asked as she wiped the stray tear from her cheek.
"Yes, you still like oatmeal, huh?" Lillith said slipping her arm around her daughter's and walking with her into the dining hall.
"Still?" Chusi asked.
"Mmhm, it was your favorite once the weather started to cool down, with apples and cranberries," Lillith said.
"And maple syrup," Chusi finished with a smile.
Alev came down to the dining hall just then, "Good morning mother," he said kissing her on the cheek. He simply scowled at Chusi even though she was smiling at him. Lillith noticed, but waited to say something until they were in the kitchen and away from Chusi.
"Young man, that young woman in there is your sister," she started sternly before he cut her off.
"Mother, I remember not finding her in time. I remember seeing her on the ground before I was kicked," his voice began to break, his eyes filled with tears, " I remember putting her in the ground. I remember how broken and sad you were, we all were."
"But, son, I know this is your sister," Lillith said quietly and sternly.
"No, mother, my sister was killed, and I couldn't save her. I don't know who this is, but it isn't Chusi. I feel nothing around her," he turned to walk out of the kitchen.
"You need to speak with Brigid and Rhiannon, then, son," she said sadly.
"I don't have time, mother. I am going to see about a few things on the island, then get over to the coven house," he explained, his voice softening at the mention of the coven house.
Lillith gave him a knowing glance, "Are you going to see a certain female while you're there?" she smiled at him.
Alev looked at his mother and raised an eyebrow, "Not this again, mother. I told you, I'm not taking a mate," he looked down sadly again before looking at her and walking towards the back door, "I don't deserve one."
**************
Bardik was on his way to the station when his phone rang.
"Hello?" he answered.
"I'm running late, but I'll be at the station shortly," Freya said into the phone and then hung up.
Bardik was confused as to why she would be calling him because she should be resting. He shrugged his shoulders and figured he would send her back home once she got there.
Freya was waiting for him, pacing back and forth across his office, "Well, one I thought you were running late," he started with a grin, "and two, what has got you all up in a knot?" He has never really seen her like this, she's usually calm and collected.
"Alev," was all she said.
"Ahh, 'your dragon' as your niece puts it," Bardik said with a smile.
Freya shot him a glare, "What is the deal with him?" she asked.
"What do you mean, deal?" Bardik grinned at her.
"Listen, I'm trying to understand this," she began, speaking to him like a friend and not her boss.
"I'm not following, " he said, clearly puzzled by her statement, "Trying to understand, what exactly?"
"Ugh, wwhhhyyy," she dragged out the word, " I can't stop thinking about him as more than a friend," she said exasperated.
"Because he's more than a friend?" Bardik said crossing his arms, clarifying the idea for her.
"He's a friend, that happens to be extremely handsome, that I want to be around, that I-" she paused her pacing to look at Bardik. "How is he so different than all of you guys here?" she asked desperately.
Bardik smiled, "I don't know what it's like for witches," he began, "But for mythics that have a mate, they are your other half, they are made for you by the goddess. She knows what you need to balance you out," he looked down for a minute. Freya could swear she saw the sadness in Bardik's eyes, but in an instant, it was gone. "I think Raven is right, Freya. Alev is your dragon."
Recalling Alev's words to him about not wanting a mate, he warned her, "But he's gonna need some reassurance over this," he patted her shoulder and she just went into him and hugged him.
"Thank you, for helping me with this. If I even thought about talking to my mother, she would be trying to plan a wedding!" she laughed, but deep down the thought of being married to Alev wasn't all that bad.
*******
Alev was standing in front of the headstone. The small dragon flying high into the clouds on it making him miss her even more, he had so much to tell her. "Chusi, all these years, I've begged and pleaded with whoever would listen to bring you back. I've missed you so much, I don't know what to do," he said, speaking softly. "I'm so sorry I couldn't save you. I don't know who this woman is that is claiming to be you. What if she isn't? Then momma and dad will have to mourn you all over again. That isn't fair," he cried. "They deserve to have you back, but only if it's really you. And why in the heavens did the council take you? Who is in here if that young woman is really you? Enough stressing over the woman, I'll find out about her soon enough. Now on to another thing, I think I've found my mate. You'd really like her, she's beautiful. And strong. She's a firefighter in Avec, we just got her back from the demons, she and Aislinn were taken, but now Aislinn is gone forever she gave herself to save me and that mystery woman. Her name is Freya and she's like the other half of my soul. I've seen her in my dreams before we ever met, I feel so connected to her. But I'm scared Chusi, what if I fail her too? What if she's taken from me too?"
Chusi was watching her brother from behind a massive oak tree, the leaves had begun to change on the tree and a few had fallen softly while she watched him. She smiled over the fact that he really did miss her, but why didn't they feel their twin bond anymore? At the mention of the council, she frowned. He had the same questions she did, why did they take her? And she never even gave pause to who could have been put in the ground, it made her shudder to think about it. Did the council kill someone to put in there? She smiled again at the mention of Freya, she knew who she was, and she could tell that they were mates. She didn't realize that Freya was a firefighter, that explained a lot.
"You didn't fail me, brother," she whispered into the wind and she walked away silently before Alev could see her.
Alev could have sworn he heard a voice whisper in the wind, he shook his head. His imagination was taking over. "Time to get to the coven house and possibly see Bardik" he said to himself, his heart filling at the thought of seeing Freya, he just hoped she was okay.
- Writer
