Chapter Three
1400 Words
Freya woke up to a rambunctious three year old with silver hair and emerald green eyes not unlike her own.
"Auntie Freya, auntie Freya! wake up. You pomised to take me to the ocean today!" the toddler yelled, jumping on the bed shaking her awake.
"Raven Elpis Erabus, I told you to wait for Aunt Freya to wake up. Not wake her up, and it's promised," a very largely pregnant Esmy came into her friend and sister in law's room speaking sternly to her daughter. She turned to Freya,"I'm sorry, Freya. I couldn't catch her this morning."
Freya peeked an eye out from under the blanket she hid beneath when her niece showed up so suddenly. She smiled at Esmerelda, she put a finger to her lips and winked. She may not be a morning person, but she loved her niece and couldn't wait to meet the new little one coming soon. Freya gave an exaggerated yawn, stretched as far as she could, then scooped Raven up tickling her at the same time. "I don't know Raven. You woke up Auntie," she said pretending to think about their promised adventure to the ocean. She knew full well she would keep her promise to her, they loved playing. To be honest she felt she needed to go today anyway.
"Oh, no! Aunt Freya! We have to go today!" Raven exclaimed. Instead of the usual excitedness that came from her there was an air of urgency to her. As her little body seemed to change.
Freya looked at Esmy, one eyebrow up, questioning her with a look. Esmy shrugged her shoulders at her friend, she was still learning about the witches. Even after three years with Bodhi, she didn't understand all of it.
"Why do we need to go today?" she asked her daughter.
Bodhi came up behind his wife just then, wrapping his arms around her from behind. He loved that he could do that now. She has taken great strides at healing her past. She still has her bad days, but they seem to be getting farther and farther apart. He whispered in her ear, " Didn't catch her again huh, baby?" as rubbed her belly being rewarded with rolling under her shirt of the baby kicking his hand.
Esmy shook her head no as she placed a hand over his while the baby kicked at his daddy. She was positive that this baby was a boy. "I don't know what's up with Raven, look at her. Her whole body changed."
Bodhi looked into his sister's room at his daughter sitting on Freya's lap. Her body language was most definitely different. "I'm going to get Circe." he said and walked quickly from his spot behind his wife. Once he was out of her sight and down the stairs he ran towards his Aunt's room.
Circe was walking out of her calmly, "Stop, Bodhi, she's okay." Circe told her nephew, "She's going to be a seer. This is the beginning of a vision, don't expect much, though she's really young."
They went back up to Freya's room in time to hear Raven's cherubic voice, "We have to go to the ocean today Aunt Freya, there's going to be a broked person there. They need help getting fixeded."
Raven's body language went back to that of a three year old, telling everyone in the room that was all the information they would get out of her.
Circe came into the room and coaxed Raven out of the room. She knew that she could help Raven get rid of what the three year old would call the yuckies.
"Come with Great Aunt Circe, my little bird," the old woman said as she grasped Raven's hand. Raven was going to be special as she got older.
"Aunt Ceecee I feel yuckie, am I going to miss the ocean and ice cream today?" Raven asked, she was more worried about missing the ice cream even at eight o'clock in the morning.
Circe smiled at the nickname Raven gave her "r"s are hard for her to say. "No, little bird, you won't miss the ice cream. Are you going to come see me at my shop today too?" she asked as she guided Raven out side taking off her shoes and instructing Raven to do it as well.
Raven nodded enthusiastically she loved her great aunt's shop. It smelled so good. She loved playing with Circe, she always let her go bare foot and let her play with plants to learn to make potions.
Freya, Emsy and Bodhi exchanged a look that said they were in for an interesting time with this three year old.
"I wonder who she meant," Freya said .
Esmy and Bodhi were just as perplexed over their daughter's statement as Freya.
"Oh, well," Freya said jumping from her bed,"You guys go get Raven from Aunt Circe and get her ready, I need a shower and coffee, before I can save some one from their dragons. Esmy, is your mom at the Cafe this morning?"
" I believe she is, why?" Knowing full well why. A smile on her lips at the thought of seeing her mother.
Freya turned to her friend on the way to her bathroom, "Because woman, I need your mother's cinnamon rolls this morning." With that she turned and went into her bathroom.
She looked at herself in the mirror, "How am I going to save someone from their dragons, when my own won't stay sleeping?" she questioned herself.
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The large man walked into the cafe, the smell of coffee, bacon, syrup and cinnamon rolls calling his name, his breakfast was five hours ago. He took a seat at the counter, his chocolate brown hair braided down his back the bright red streaks seeming to be dyed, but they were in fact natural. He looked frightening in and of himself at six foot nine he towered over most people. His amber colored eyes hidden behind sun glasses. He gave off a dangerous aura, but that didn't stop Mary.
"Hey, sugar. How about a cinnamon roll? They're freshly baked." she greeted the stranger. She knew he needed something. Part of being a kitchen witch was knowing what people need.
"Sounds good," was all the man said, gruffly. He most certainly did not want to be here right now. But, he promised his mother.
The bell on the door tinkled, letting Mary know that someone else had walked in. The grin on her face widened at the sight. "Merideth, get out here."
Merideth walked out of the kitchen, her apron covered in flour and cinnamon. She broke out into a huge smile at the sight of her daughter and her family. She hugged each of them, giving Esmy's belly a gentle rub. "Not too much longer, sweetie," she said as she pecked her daughter on the cheek. She looked down at Raven," And you princess, do you want to come back into the Kitchen with Gamma?"
Raven nodded enthusiastically jumping up and down. "Gamma, we're going to the ocean. Wanna come?" "I have to work today, but maybe another day? Okay?" she assured her grand daughter as she took her hand and began walking past the counter to the back of cafe.
Raven stopped suddenly at the man sitting at the counter, "You're a brokeded dragon." she said as she looked at him. Her eyes suddenly very sad for him.
The man almost choked on his coffee, he turned and looked at the innocent little girl staring up at him with sad eyes. How could she know?
"I'm so sorry," Merideth said as she picked her grand daughter up. "Raven. shh we don't call people names."
The man gave Raven a small sad smile, reached out and took her hand, "Maybe a little bit, little one. Your cinnamon rolls are amazing," he said as he laid money on the counter. He left the cafe quickly, but not before he caught sight of the beautiful woman beside the pregnant one. Her stark black hair and emerald eyes the same he could have sworn were in his dreams.
- Writer
