Chapter 1
Cassiopeia’s pov
As I get closer and closer to my 18th birthday and the time I could find my beloved, I am getting more and more nervous. The day that is usually the most awaited day in a supernatural girls life, for me it is something that fills me with anxiety.
Maybe it’s just that I have seen how sh.itty some mates are, like my sister’s who has tried to fu.ck anything that moves, including me, but I turned him down, unfortunately our cousin didn’t and it has put a void in our family. I guess I am just a bit jaded, and don’t trust that everything will be sunshine and rainbows.
Instead of my usual visions that I get the ones lately are just darkness, and all I feel is endless emotional pain. I know it has something to do with my future beloved, as it feels like my heart is literally being torn out, what I don’t know is if he hurts me or if he is the one who is hurt. Unfortunately, I can’t get clear visions about things that will directly hurt me.
Feeling at a loss with not many other options, I decided to finally talk to my grandmother as she is the only seer alive other than me. I need answers and I need them before my birthday so I know what to do about this confusing situation.
I use our mindlink to find out where she is and teleport to her immediately. She is already there with tea and cakes ready for me with a smile on her face. She definitely knew I was coming, which worries me as much as it comforts me.
“About time dear, I was wondering when you would finally turn up to speak to me, now tell me about what you have been seeing, or should I say feeling?” She says, pouring me a cup of herbal tea. One sip is enough to make me feel calmer.
“Granny C, I know that what I am seeing is to do with me, but you are right it is only darkness, and then a feeling of such hurt and dispair, it is like my heart is being torn out. I think it has something to do with my beloved, but I don’t know in what way” I tell her upset.
“Dear Cassie, I too have been seeing things, but you know with visions everything is told when the time is right and I needed you to come to me first. Now I don’t trust your beloved. He is not worthy of you, is the feeling that I get. You need to test him to see if he can be a king. If he can, he would love the weakest witch as she was made for him. We need to cancel your birthday or make an excuse for why you are not there. He can’t know you are the future Queen” Granny C tells me.
I was afraid of this, that he was intentionally hurting me in the vision. If his life was at risk and that was the pain, at least then he would be worthy of saving. I want to believe that the one destined for me wouldn’t betray me, but all evidence points to the fact that he will.
“Should I not just reject him?” I ask her, I mean, this will stop any of the hurt that’s coming and give us both a chance to move on in life.
“No the moon goddess chose him for a reason, whether it is a lesson for you or him I don’t know. He also needs a chance to prove his worth, which he can’t do if you reject him right out. As future Queen, it won’t look good to reject a beloved on sight. The people may think you are trying to cherry pick your king” she tells me.
“I guess you are right, I will not judge him one way or another until I see the real him good or bad” I agree seeing her point even if I don’t like it much.
“The goddess likes to put us through our paces, I am surprised that she didn’t test me like my descents. Gramps wanted me the second he saw me and couldn’t care who I was. I just wish all of my girls had gotten the same” she says sadly.
You would think the gods and goddesses didn’t like us as gran is right. Things haven’t been easy since my gran had to give up my mum for her safety. Then mum got the arrogant spoiled Prince version of my father, and he had to fight to get her back. They are sickeningly happy now and have been for as long as I remember.
Lilith has to figure out what to do about Ezekiel, who definitely doesn’t deserve her and I am stuck with goddess knows what for my beloved, I hope my brother and my future children don’t have to jump through hoops before they are happy.
“So what do I do then? Everyone knows who I am. How will my mate not know me?” I ask.
“There is a spell of potion for everything as your mother likes to say. All we need to do is tweak your looks a bit” she says with a smile.
“He will feel my power though and know something is wrong” I say, pointing out the flaw.
“What did I say?” She questions with a smile.
“There is a potion or spell for everything” I repeat, slightly amused.
“Exactly, I can easily hide your strength while leaving it with you. You will still be just as powerful. It’s just that other than your family, no one will sense it” she says confidently, I knew Granny C could help me.
“Right I guess we need a family meeting then” I state, knowing I can’t just cancel my brothers party without discussing it first.
So with that, we call all of the family to meet us in mums office that is magically sealed so no one can eavesdrop on anything that is said in there. Everyone looks worried as hell, we don’t usually have a family meeting like this. In the past, it has always been unpleasant, and I suppose this time is too.
I tell them all about the darkness I have been seeing and how I have felt because of it. Then Gran starts to tell them about her visions and how they connect with mine. Both the men and women in my family look like they want to kill my beloved on sight before he can hurt me, but Gran explains how they can’t do that much to their upset. Lilith really wants to burn them with her hellfire, goddess, I love my little sister.
Gran explains our plan and how we should go about it. There has to be a discussion on whether to have the party or not. As we are discussing it, all my twin brother Marcus comes up with a good point.
“If we don’t have the party, how will you meet him? I mean don’t get me wrong I will happily not have a party, and I would be happy if you don’t get to meet him, but you can’t test him until you meet his so is there any point in dragging it out longer than necessary? He asks.
“No you are right, I agree this doesn’t need to go on longer than necessary” I say, agreeing with him.
“There will be lots of unhappy suitors hoping to be your beloved” granny Morgana says.
“She will be away for secret training as we had a vision that she had to go. No one can argue with my visions as they are from the goddess themselves” Granny C says.
“That would work, as long as no one glares, threatens or hurts the man when they see him, that would definitely blow her cover” mum says looking at each of them, ever the practical one. Don’t get me wrong, she will kill anyone to protect her loved ones, but she thinks things through first and tries not to react instantly.
With several reluctant agreements from everyone there, we start to make a plan. I am having a bit of fun with this. I always wondered what I would look like with black hair and green eyes, maybe a bit of colour in my skin as it is always pale. Luckily, gran let’s me pick my look.
We spend a bit of time making plans and making sure everyone will stay calm. We also go over the speech and who is going to make it. We need to know exactly what we will be doing so it is all natural at the time, and it looks like this is the reality.
I guess I can get rid of my new dress, hopefully when this is over I can wear it for another occasion. I also need to shop for more normal clothes. I am definitely raiding mums closet for her Boho clothes, I think they will look great with my new style, and they are inexpensive, so it will look like I can afford them with my lowly status.
I also have to work in the castle for my cover, just as well we always had chores growing up and were always given work as punishment to keep us humble, so we never felt we were above anyone. I know how to do most of the work, so I won’t look suspicious as a staff member.
They are even going to get me a room in the staff area so that I can have all my things for leaving if he is not in the royal coven, along with some personal items. It will make the ruse more believable and help sell my new identity.
We also come up with a cover story, nice and sad, so people feel uncomfortable asking too many questions. I am an orphan who has had to come here and work to support my ailing grandmother as she can no longer work. Mum’s adopted mother granny Courtney is ready to act out the position. She will be given a potion to smell like a witch if anyone wants to meet her.
Everything is now in place and ready to go. In two days, I take on my new identity and start my new job in the castle. I will be in the kitchen mostly and also serve at my birthday party. I even have my new work outfit a simple pair of black trousers with a white shirt and sensible flats, I think the comfortable footwear is my favourite thing about the outfit, it sure beats wearing heels the entire night.