Chapter 7
2322 Words
~Willow~
I didn’t get much sleep, but I am so excited that I am full of energy and up before sunrise. Checking that everything is ready for our guests for breakfast before they leave. I can’t send them off on this trip before having sustenance.
A few of the members slowly start moving out of their rooms and I show them the way out to the beautiful gardens for their morning meditation sessions. These members will be staying with us as part of our new protection team and I have to work around their schedules from here on out.
I check the dining room and go back to my room to get dressed. Taking out a black dress, cut in an A-line, the neckline rounded and short sleeves just down my shoulders. A thin silver belt to round off my look. I smooth out my skirt to make sure the hemline hangs evenly just below my knees.
I take care of doing my make-up to ensure I look perfect. Then take out the small black box from my drawer, carefully opening the lid to reveal my new pin. Taking a deep breath, I take it out and attach it to my dress, looking at myself in the mirror.
Willow “Well, this was something I never even dreamed could happen to me. Now step out there and be a council member.”
Standing in front of my door, I take a deep breath and open the door to find Radagast standing right in front of me.
Radagast “Ready for breakfast.”
His breath, even though he clearly tried to hide it, still smells of alcohol. Holding out his arm for me, his eyes drift to the pin on my shoulder and his posture changes, his arm dropping back down to his side.
Radagast “What is that?!”
He points to my pin.
Willow “You know what it is. You have one. I thought you knew about this!”
He shoves me back into my room, kicking the door closed behind us. His grip crushing down on my arms.
Radagast “No! I did not! So that was what you and the Councillor were all cozying up about!?!”
Willow “NO! I had no idea about this! I found the box in my room last night! Here! Here is the note!!! I thought you, nominated me!”
I try and grab the note from my dressing table, but he shoves me backward and lets me fall on the bed, then grabs the note, reading it.
Radagast “Well, it seems you have made quite the impression. All on your own. How long have you been planning this?!”
He grabs hold of my left arm again, pulling me up from the bed.
Willow “I told you! I had nothing to do with this!!”
Radagast “I don’t believe you! You are planning on leaving me! That’s it! You were planning on leaving me, that is why you did this. Well, I won’t allow it! Now put that pin back in the box and when we get to the dining room you will very politely decline the offer!! Do you understand me?!”
I’ve grown used to his shouting and bullying of late, but I will not give in this time! If he can’t be happy for me, then that is his problem!
Willow “Yes, I hear you!”
Taking the pin off my dress, I put it back in the box and rip my arm from his grip. Leaving the room, leaving him behind, I walk as fast as I can to the dining room so I am there to meet our guests as they arrive.
Breakfast is delightful or so it seems. Hopefully, none of the guests noted the tension between the two of us.
Councilor “Willow, my dear. Did you receive our gift last night?”
Oh hell, the box is on the table where everyone can see it. I just haven’t decided yet if I am going to go through with my plan or not.
Willow “I did, thank you Councillor. It is a great honor to have been considered without someone even nominating me.”
I feel Radagast grip my leg.
Councillor “Ah, but you were nominated. By my personal secretary in fact. She felt that your professionalism with which you always handle matters would make you the perfect addition to the council. Your reasoning is logical and you stay calm under the most strenuous of circumstances. Take the attack from your family as an example.”
I fight to keep a smile on my face.
Willow “Thank you, Councillor.”
Not able to stop me from blushing.
Councilor “You should be wearing your pin. I’m sure the note said so. Didn’t it?”
He turns to his secretary who nods and immediately jumps up to remedy the situation.
Radagast “Councillor, this is unheard of. There should be an initiation ceremony before she is worthy of such an honor!”
He takes his hand off my leg, waving his hands around.
Councillor “Radagast? Am I to understand that you are denying her this… gift?”
I see the anger starting to rise inside Radagast, his neck starting to turn red.
Radagast “No, of course not Councillor.”
The secretary walks up to me and I stand up. She makes me hold the box while she puts the pin back in place and everyone claps their hands congratulating me. Everyone accepts Radagast.
When breakfast is finished, we see them off and walk back into the castle. I can feel his gaze burning through my skin while we talk to the members staying behind. We need to start preparations for his protection and he has to stay behind in the castle, which seems to agitate him even more.
Pulling me to one side before we leave to take up positions in the forest, he pulls me to one side.
Radagast “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to go off on you like that. Of course, you deserve the council’s praises for all your hard work. Please, forgive me?”
Willow “We can talk about this later. I need to sort out your protection duty. Now let go of me.”
I say through gritted teeth, pulling away from his touch, anger flaring through my eyes. He ruined what was supposed to have been a special… no a once in a lifetime special day for me. It’s going to take more than “I’m sorry” to fix it!
~Melissa~
Frank “What were you doing there on the floor woman?!”
Melissa “I told you, I tripped.”
We are waiting for the doctor to come and look at my twisted ankle, which I hope will happen soon because my charm to hide the mud and my cloak will only last a little while longer what with all this pain shooting through my foot! I am having a hard time concentrating!!
Frank “Okay well, can I get you anything while we wait? Maybe some tea?”
HA! Yes!
Melissa “Yes, please, tea would be great, thank you.”
I grin from ear to ear, convinced I’m overdoing it. If he asks, I’ll just blame it on the pain. The second he turns his back, I let go of the spell, loosen my cloak and float it to the hidden cupboard next to the stairs.
Circe “Morning. Mom!! What did you do?!”
That split second makes me drop the cloak on the floor halfway to the stairs.
Melissa “Cr*p!! Sorry. Morning my girl.”
She walks to me, looking concerned, then Frank comes over with my tea, explaining how he found me.
Circe “Mom? You are full of mud. Where was it that you said you fell? Dad? Do you think Glinda snuck out again?”
UGH!!!!
Melissa “Okay fine!! I snuck out! I tripped over a tree root on my way back in through the trap door. Why on earth do you always have to ask so many questions Circe!”
I slap my hands down my sides, aggravated at how nosey my daughter can be.
Melissa “Seeing as you are so clever. You can take my cloak and wash it. Hand wash. The beading is delicate.”
I sit there with my arms crossed over my chest and Frank puts the tea down on the coffee table. Circe is completely stunned and sits there looking at me like a rabbit in headlights.
Frank “Circe… move, before your mother turns you into a rat!”
She looks at him, then at me, getting up, she moves silently, picking up my cloak and disappearing.
Melissa “Don’t you dare look at me that way Frank!”
Frank “What way? I didn’t do anything.”
Melissa “That way you do at the girls when they didn’t follow your instructions. I did it for a good reason. Where is the damn doctor? I’m in pain and I want to take a long hot bath. I’m cold and sticky with mud.”
He stands up from sitting on the coffee table.
Frank “Well, if you hadn’t gone traipsing around the forest on your own in the night, you wouldn’t be full of mud and injured right now.”
I grab the teacup full of tea and it just misses his head.
Frank “I got ya… I will wait for the doctor outside…”
~Frank~
I’m guessing that’s what she meant with “that way”? Why do these women in my family have to be so damn hard-headed?! Oh, brother! I forgot to make myself some coffee, and now there is no going back into the house until after the doctor has given her some medication.
I’m not even going to suggest she magically fix it… she might just turn me into a toad!! The doctor arrives and I nearly kissed him. Opening the front door for him to go in, I close it right behind him once he is inside… waiting outside until I know for sure it is safe to go back in.
It’s times like these that I wish there was a way for Melissa to be a wolf. I can’t stand seeing her in so much pain and unable to heal on her own. The sad thing is that a wolf can be born both a witch and a wolf… a witch however can’t be bitten, then she will lose her powers…
Circe “Is it safe to go in yet?”
Frank “Uh-uh, the doctor is still in there. Have you finished with your mother’s cloak?”
She has the delicate velvet cloth folded up in her arms.
Circe “Yup, clean and dry.”
Frank “I’m not going to ask.”
I hear sirens and stand up the same time as Circe turns around.
Circe “Surely mom can’t be hurt that badly?!”
I’m not taking any further chances and rush inside the house.
Frank “What is happening?!”
Melissa “Husband… relax, I apparently possibly broke my ankle and didn’t twist it like I was hoping I did. The doctor just wants me to go for x-rays.”
Frank “Oh… but I could have taken you… Never mind. We will meet you at the hospital.”
Frank link “Tabatha, we are taking your mom to the hospital. She has broken her leg. We will be back later.”
Tabatha link “WHAT?! Wait for me!!”
She comes running down the stairs, just as the paramedics put Melissa on the stretcher.
Tabatha “What happened? Mom! How did you break your leg?”
Melissa “FRANK!!!! Tabatha, I didn’t break my leg, my girl. I thought I twisted my ankle, and the doctor thinks I might… MIGHT have broken it… I’m just going for x-rays. Will all of you please calm down!”
Tabatha “Oh, is that all? DAD?!”
She smacks me on my arm.
Frank “Ankle, leg… it’s all part of the same body part.”
I shrug…
~Willow~
I hear sirens in the direction of the packhouse! I might not be a wolf, but some of my senses are stronger than the average person. That is what makes me such a strong witch.
Why would an ambulance be going to the packhouse? I am showing the councilors the forest areas and we are deciding who will be standing guard when and where. They clearly didn’t hear the sirens and I have to try and keep my cool, not alerting them to what I heard.
It could be as simple as a pack member who got injured… but then… MOM! I feel adrenaline rush through me and feel nausea rush up my throat, puking without being able to stop it.
Wendy “Willow? Are you okay?”
Wendy is a young trainee who is trying way too hard to get attention. She is talented, but she is also not ashamed of climbing the ladder in any way possible.
Willow “I’m fine. It’s the wolf smell in the forest. It’s sometimes overwhelming.”
I make up an excuse, cleaning my mouth with my handkerchief.
Wendy “Oh? Funny, I don’t smell anything, maybe you ate something that isn’t agreeing with you. Or do you think you could be… No surely you wouldn’t be pregnant without a mate?”
Olivia “Wendy!! You forget your place!! That is no way to talk to a council member!”
Olivia and I became immediate friends when I started dealing with the council. She has a soft heart that she hides very well.
Wendy “My apologies, Olivia… Willow.”
She gives both of us a little bow and quickly leaves.
- Writer
