Sisters By Chance - The Dawn (Book Two)

Plan and Make Friends

Raven's POV

'Settle down, children!' Mr. Bossman sighs exponentially - as if we're a group of kindergarteners he's trying to control. I guess we're acting like it. Princess Sofia is seated between her bodyguards: The Big Bear and the Wolfie-boy. They are arguing, no, disagreeing, about something, and she's mindlessly patting her flat tummy as if she has heard it all before. Three men I don't know are discussing something loudly at the end of the table while I am in Doggie's lap. I have discovered that he is ticklish. And he's adamant about not letting everyone else know. So I have made it my life mission to tickle him as often as possible, all to his great dismay.

But by the sound of Mr. Bossman's words, everybody pulls themself together. Well, maybe not me. He can't command me, so I quickly stick my fingers in the only soft spot on his body, except for his heart, and listen contently to him roaring with laughter. I can almost hear myself purr like a cat. Mr. Bossman sighs again. I'm swiftly restrained with my hands behind my back, lifted, and placed on another chair - far from my ticklish friend.

The Alpha quickly introduces us all. Mostly me. Since I'm the odd one to the bunch, the new kid on the block and everyone else seems to know each other. I'll never remember them all. It's a hard time to keep it ready. Mr. Bossman is the Alpha, check. Goldilocks or Princess Sofia is Sofia, of course. Then there is Big Bear, who I know is Lucas. And Wolfie-boy. s**t, what's his name again? The others will never stick, one of them is Big Boobs' mate, and the others are warriors. Or at least I think so. They must be important people to be here, but I wish it would be Kayden or Tobias. My mind slips away, daydreaming about Big Boob's boobs. Her skin looked so soft, like silk. Then the feeling of Adonis's silky locks sore in my brain, and a string of longing hit me. I can almost feel it slide between my fingers at this very moment.

I need to find him and accept his apology. If only to see him again. I'll make that happen later, after this meeting, perhaps?

'So. We're here to discuss the Atra Aurora!' Alpha tells us with a stern look. 'Raven here; was born and raised by them, the order. She has bits of knowledge and insights we might need, as well as the ability to help us get in and hopefully out. She's the second witch to help us with this, but the first we've had the honor of meeting in person. And we're happy to have her!' He tells us as he nods my way, almost giving a smile.

So this is a no-smile kind of meeting. Good to know!

I send him my biggest, brightest, happiest smile before looking around the table, telling everyone; I'm glad to be here!

'There is nothing quite like bringing your family down to avoid world damnation!'

Sofia cringed at the family joke, and I slapped myself mentally, but Doggie hid a smile, so I'll survive. Alpha rolls his eyes.

'So, Raven. I have been in contact with our council. They supposedly had a map leading us to the elementals. However, they can't find it. It's gone, and they are to investigating that part.' He growls the last part as a warning. I guess we're not allowed to f**k up s**t. Image that! I learn new things every day.

'That's why we need you, Raven! We need to find them, to, as you put it: Bring them down!'

'I'm flattered by the trust!' I wink at him. 'Finding them is the easy part at the moment. Getting in will be tricky. Getting out of there will be the hardest part. Princess here has been kind enough to show me her conversations with our little fortune teller. And I know everything she knows and what you'll know. She is right. The shield is down at Halloween, and there will be a lot of traffic in and out! How many of you have read Harry Potter?'

They all looked confused by my question. All except Sofia, who snickers.

I already knew she had read them, 'I'm surrounded by idiots, aren't I?' I joke, knowing she'll get the reference. A low growl from an unknown man makes me and Sofia snap our heads in his direction, and she growls back, silencing him. I turn to look at her, baffled. She flashes me her wolf's eyes, then a smile and a nod.

'Okay! We have a lot to cover today.' I say, clapping my hands together. 'Everyone buckle in!' I smile. 'J.K was a crazy woman disclosing all that information. Yet brilliant! Because it's a lot that is true, but not enough for other supernaturals to learn too much about us. Nothing they don't know already. And the humans thought it was all made up. And she made some serious money out of it! Brilliant! But even though the story is fiction, our way of life is pretty spot on.' I feel myself rambling, and Sofia giggles. She and I already discussed this at her place last weekend. She knows.

'Okay, the shield is down for the same reason as at the world cup in the book. The witches will be arriving outside the town and walking the last bit. If they'd appear inside the town, they'd cause all kinds of trouble with witches crashing on top of houses and each other.' Goldilocks and Doggie chuckle - being the perfect audience.

We spend the morning with me telling them all I know about my former life. Alpha had someone send in refreshments halfway, but we had to take a lunch break. My brain is sluggish. My but is hurting despite the lavish chairs in the conference room. The large wooden table is dark and glossy. It's as if polished with something out of this world, something magical. It has a stunning shine, an envious shine I need in my life. I'm tired. Doggie's familiar hands pull me out of my thoughts as he grabs me by my shoulders, pushing me up to a standing position to shove me out of the room. People around me mumble and talk. I have talked for hours, and my voice is sore. I don't feel like talking anymore. Yet I know I'll have to in an hour or so. I have been alone for years. And now I'm constantly surrounded by others. Doggie and Tobias are fine, but all of this. It's a lot to process when it's all the time.

'Could I be excused?'

Doggie is talking with Wolfie-boy, not listening. My voice is small and quiet. So unlike myself. I cough to make myself heard and pull myself out of his grasp.

'Excuse me!'

'Everything alright, darling?'

'Yeah, I just need a minute.' I smile meekly before spinning around and striding towards the front door. It's heavy as I open it and even heftier to close. Everything about this place is perfect, the houses, the furniture, the food, and the f*****g people. How am I supposed to live here while being absolutely imperfect in every f*****g way?

The tightness around my heart, the vise, is back. My feet stumble to the side before I slide down the white wall, landing on the porch. It's a gray day yet again. But cold. Chilly even, as if ice is in the wind. It won't be long until the snow covers this place in a white blanket. I gasp as the vise grips me tighter, and the icy air fill my lungs. My hands ball into fists as I pull my knees to my chest, curling into a ball. I don't know when the tears started pouring down my face. They flowed over my cheeks and dripped from my jaw into my lap - so I hid. My knees become wet as I breathe through my nose, forcing down air slowly.

The thought of people made me panic before. But my current loneliness- is even worse. I'm alone, all alone.

Fuck!

My whole body shakes from head to toe: from crying, freezing, and breathing. I can't remember why I went out there. I can't think. My brain is stuck on panicking, and I can't break out of it.

I'm stuck.

I need to think.

I need to breathe.

Happy thoughts.

I need happy thoughts.

Silky blond hair between my fingers comes to mind: the softness, the shimmer, the length. Warmth enfolds me - like a soft blanket, covering me from the cold. My sole focus is that hair between my fingers.

It's as if I can touch it, stroke it with my fingertips. And the vise eases its grip. I rub my face against my knees, drying my tears. The sight as I look up surprises me. It's simply a lush medium blond furry wall. My fingers live a life of their own, caressing it softly. I wiggle my toes as they are tucked safely under the massive body. I snivel and giggle, making snot bubble from my nose, and a head turns my way. A large tongue licks my face, snot, tears, and all. I shove him away, drying my face with my arm.

'Yuk!'

The wolf yap at me and rub his nose past my hands to lick me again. He then rests his forehead against mine. I have no idea who this is. I have seen some wolves since I came here. But not this one. He's a big, medium blond, fluffy thing. Soft and warm. Attentive and with midnight blue eyes.

'Thor?' I hummed.

He licks my chin softly.

'Can Tim hear me?'

The wolf pulls back and makes a face as if frowning before nodding.

'I forgive you!' I whisper against his snout, rubbing it with my nose. He purrs contently. Then we stay silent. I pet him mindlessly as I look out into the grayness, delighted by my companion.

'What's happening?' Doggie suddenly asks. I see his head poke out from inside, looking at me.

'Nothing,' I hummed. 'We're just chatting!'

'Alright, but you have to eat. The meeting is starting in a couple of minutes.'

'I'm coming. Could you grab me something? I'll eat inside.'

Doggie nods my way. He said hi to Tim or Thor and turned to meet my request.

The midnight blue looks at me as if having a question. So I might as well tell him.

'I'm having a super important meeting with the Bossman himself, and some other people: Doggie, Princess Sofia, Big Bear, Wolfie-boy, Big Boob's man, and all the others "what's their names" we're taking over the world!'

His body shakes as if laughing at my words, so I keep it up.

'I'm the magic expert, of course. Super important! I'm a pro, did you know?' He yaps and snaps his jaws, giving me an amused look.

Harry comes back out again, begging me to come back inside.

'Duty calls!' I sigh while winking at Thor. 'Don't be a stranger, handsome! We should do this again sometime!'

He nods and licks my chin again before standing to his feet. I rise and dry my face, take a couple of deep breaths, wave goodbye at Thor, then follow Harry inside. My face is puffy and probably red.

'What did he do?'

'He comforted me!' I tell my friend, looking into his eyes.

He frowns. 'Why? Where you sad?'

'Overwhelmed.'

'I see,' he hands me my plate and stops outside the door, blocking it. 'You're okay?'

'Yeah, I'm great!'

'Good! Then come inside, Miss. Super-important-magic-pro!' He winks and holds the door open for me. So here we go again.

*

*

*

I have explained the basic layout of my former home. It's a classic medieval town, with a square in the middle and small crocked alleys curling towards the outskirts. All houses are dark and small. We don't need large housing; we simply magically enhance them to fit our needs. The mountains surrounding the Auroras are like a protective wall, except the importance is hidden under them: The dungeons.

The only way in and out is through a mountain pass, following a river that flows into the wally. It runs around town like a ring and down a spring where it runs away under the water mountain. The elementals, as Alpha so nicely called them, have an element each. The water, fire, air, and earth.

Everyone has thrown suggestions on how to hide an entire army within reach, how to "storm the castle" and rescue the future Luna, whom I now know is the first goal. However, Alpha keeps reminding them that the second goal is to stop the Auroras permanently. He's not interested in letting them take over the world. Only taking the Luna is not going to stop them. They will easily find a new human to sacrifice. They have waited with humans until the end because they are the easiest to get. Wolves and Bears have been used as guards and protection forever. Most of them are born and raised under the witches, learning from their young years that they have one responsibility: protect and serve their masters. They have Stockholmssyndrom deluxe, reaching back generations, making them fierce.

'They will be a huge obstacle to overcome. And it's nearly impossible without killing them!' I tell all around the table while looking at them gravely. 'You'll have to kill them to get past them!'

'We'll do what we have to do!' Bossman murmurs as he's tiredly placing his elbows on the table and hiding his face. It has been a long day, indeed.

'How about letting a smaller group infiltrate at first? We have Stella, Tobias's sister Tina and the future Luna inside, right? Let's get to them without raising alarms at first.' Doggie suggests. 'Raven could take the Luna back to safety. Then we could worry about the rest!'

'You'll need me there!' I argue, not liking the thought of leaving them to their own devices at a place they know little to nothing about - they have never been there.

'We need our Luna safe to focus on the rest!' Harry growls at me.

I stick my tongue out at him. He's being childish, taking that tone.

'You could drop Mia off at our place!' Sofia tells me, 'leave her with Lucas and me. Then you could go back, right?'

John looks pleased by the thought and nods as he leans back in his chair, contemplating everything.

'I could,' I agree. I should be able to transfer myself back to the exact spot. I still don't like to have to leave. Much can happen when I'm away.

We all fall silent and wait for Bossman to say something. He's the one holding the final say. Even I know that. And as long as I'm here, I need to respect that. And I will!