Clare hurried through the academy building, feeling thClare hurried through the academy building, feeling the need to leave. She wasn’t sure why but she just knew she needed to get away from the academy.
Her chest was tight with pain and her heart ached for some reason. Clare found it hard to breathe, her blood boiling under her skin. She didn’t know what was going on with her but the pain began to lessen the further away she got from the academy.
Once she was about a block away from the academy, Clare stopped running. She didn’t want to look like there was a demon after her, the strange pain suddenly disappearing.
Maybe I was just having a panic attack. Clare thought to herself as she wandered through the streets of the downtown area. Although it’s worse than normal...
Clare shook her head. Now wasn’t the time to analyze what had happened. All she knew was that those four werewolves were bad news. She needed to stay as far away from them as possible. Especially the male.
He was dangerous.
Heading out the downtown area of the city, Clare passed a few small businesses. She quickly popped into a few, seeing if they were hiring but to her dismay none were.
Still, it was her first day looking for work. She might have better luck tomorrow.
Deciding it was time to head home, Clare made her way to her apartment. It was a small place above a witches’ shop.
The owner of the shop, an elderly witch, had moved downstairs into the back rooms and was renting the upstairs apartment for a cheap price.
Grant it wasn’t perfect, the horrible smells of potions constantly filling her apartment. Still, it was better than paying double for a smaller apartment.
As Clare headed to the back alley where she could access her apartment via the stairway there, she noticed a male figure leaning against the brick wall, smoking.
Clare acted as if she didn’t see him, her body tense as she walked to her stairway. She wasn’t sure what he was doing there but if he tried something, he was going to get a mouthful of her bookbag.
Suddenly the man turned to look at her and exclaimed, “Hey are you, Clare Flora?”
Her body stilled at the words, the hair on the back of her neck rising. Clare stared at the man, trying to figure out how he knew her name.
As if sensing her discomfort, the man spoke again, “I didn’t mean to scare you. Actually, I’m Mrs. Niro’s grandson. Roberto Niro.”
He dropped his cigarette onto the ground, stomping it out before holding out a hand. Clare took it, feeling a little more at ease. Mrs. Niro was her landlady which was probably how he knew her name.
“Nice to meet you…” Clare said, shaking his hand. “By the way, how did you know who I was?”
“Well, there’s actually a ward around this back alley so only those with permission can enter this place.” Roberto explained, dropping Clare’s hand. “I casted it a few years ago after someone attacked the shop…”
Clare looked down at her hand where Mrs. Niro had painted a runic mark on her hand. “So, then the runic mark….”
“Was so you could enter this place without the ward harming you.” Roberto answered sheepishly.
“I see…” Clare murmured. “What about if I invite someone over? Will the ward attack them?”
It wasn’t like she had anyone she could invite, but it was best if she had that information. Clare didn’t know what the future held for her.
“No.” Roberto shook his head. “The runic mark you have is an owner’s mark. Anyone with your permission can enter this place. Think of it like how vampire’s need permission to enter others homes. The person you invite is the vampire with permission.”
“That’s quite a powerful spell.” Clare thought aloud.
She was amazed that Roberto could cast such a spell, it seemed like a high level spell. Still, one couldn’t judge a witch by their looks. Some looked young but could easily be a powerful witch.
“I guess so…” Roberto nodded. “Anyway, I shouldn’t keep-”
“Oh my goddess!” A female voice rang out. “Rob, are you scaring the new tenant?! I swear I’m going to have your head.”
Clare turned to the voice, finding herself staring at a female copy of Roberto. She had the same brown, cat-like eyes, blond hair and button nose. She was shorter than him but not by much.
“I’m so sorry about him.” The female exclaimed, turning to Clare. “He has no social awareness and forgets his big figure can scare people.”
“I’m not that big.” Roberto growled at the female.
“It’s fine. He was just explaining the ward to me.” Clare chuckled, noticing the black runic marks on the female’s pale arms. “You’re a Tier 5 witch?”
In witch terms, Tier 5 was equal to one being an alpha werewolf. They were incredibly powerful with Tier 6 witches being the only ones above them, those witches being ancient witches with centuries worth of witchcraft under their belt.
The female looked at her arms. “Oh yeah… I guess it’s not every day one gets to meet a Tier 5 witch. I’m surprised you recognized the runic marks.”
“Ahem.” Roberto coughed, raising an eyebrow at the female.
“Roberto’s also a Tier 5 witch.” The female chuckled, holding out a hand. “By the way, I'm Roberta Niro. Roberto’s older sister. But you can call me Becca.”
“By twenty minutes.” Roberto rolled his eyes.
“Twins?” Clare smiled.
“The names give it away?” Roberta laughed. “Must be weird meeting twin witches.”
“A little. I heard twins are rare among witches.” Clare stated.
“They are.” Roberto nodded. “Even one child is rare since the child requires a lot of magic.”
Clare nodded in understanding. She had learnt a little childbirth among different species and witches were among those that had the hardest time having kids because of the magic needed for the baby to develop.
“By the way Clare, can I ask if you’re a hybrid?” Roberta asked suddenly. “Sorry, that was rude of me, you don’t have to answer…”
“No, it’s fine.” Clare smiled awkwardly. “I think I am but honestly I’m not sure… I never met my mother and my father never spoke of her. There weren’t any pictures of her and no one in my old pack knew her…”
Her mother had been the biggest mystery for her whole life. She suspected her mother was human but seeing as her father was the only one to truly know, she would probably never know.
Clare had come to terms with that but a part of her hated she would never know her mother.
“I see…” Roberta mused as she stared at Clare.
“What is it, Becca?” Roberto asked, looking at his sister.
“Maybe I’m just crazy but for a moment I could sense magic from you. It’s not witch magic…” Roberta murmured. “I must be tired from all the spell casting that I’m seeing things. Sorry Clare.”
“No worries.” Clare said. “Anyway, I have to go. See you guys around.”
“Sure.” Roberta smiled. “Pop by the shop sometime so we can properly welcome you.”
Clare nodded before heading off to her apartment, her mind wondering about Roberta's comment. What were the chances she was something else?