My Fated Mate

16. ABELIA GOLDENROD

POV (ABELIA)

The wind was starting to pick up around me, was a storm coming?  That would certainly make things interesting.  If it began to rain I would either have to go home or bunker down in one of the classrooms.  Would I even be able to get in?  I looked down at my hand and noticed the Ashfork Academy glyph could still be seen.  Thank goodness, as long as that mark was there, I would still be able to enter the school buildings.  For only Ashfork students and professors were allowed inside the school, and if you were not marked there was no way in or out of Ashfork.  It was for our safety.  Most schools for the supernatural had systems in place to keep out unwanted visitors, but Ashfork was the most intense. 

Since the schools creation in 1695, following the end of the Salem Witch Trials, Ashfork was seen as a revolutionary concept.  A school that would train all the children of the supernatural factions had never existed before.  For how could it, when each group was responsible for the deaths of so many. 

The witches of America demanded werewolf hunts, due to the war of The BloodMoon, of 1492, which took the lives of many coven members when they were trying to escape persecution from Europe.  It was said, the wolves became deranged aboard Columbus' ships and by the end of it half the crew was dead.  When the boats landed they were covered in blood and only Columbus had survived because he was protected by a powerful vampire of the Spanish court.  The very wolves responsible were quickly seen as cursed and hunted by the witches for generations.  However, when the witches needed help the most, they were the first pack to step forward and save them from the churches evil hand. 

As for the vampires, they were honestly no better.  They lived an existence of complete denial of the mass murders their kind were responsible for, or they just chose to say it was necessary, since they did not like it when their food would get uppity.  The hell they raught all over Europe was so damaging that the mortals had to create an illness called "The Black Death," to hide the fact that every night the vampires were taking 100s or more in their sleep.  Whole villages were executed, all for either the vampires amusement or because they had tried to fight back.  Most epidemics had a supernatural element and were caused due to fights between the factions.  Sadly, the mortals were just innocent bystanders in the cross hairs, and these are only a few of the record cases.  

There were also the werewolf's from Denmark, the vikings, who killed coven members up and down the British coast.  The Crusades, caused by the vampires influence on the church to exterminate witches and werewolves, along side religious nonbelievers.  The witches 100 Years War, were they each sided with a different royal house, just so they could manipulate the humans into doing their bidding.  They ravaged the western parts of Europe killing werewolf pups, vampire offspring, and gifted human children in their beds, by poisoning the minds and lands with spells and incantations that can still be felt to this day.  For thousands of years these four had been in a bloody fight for dominance.  How could anyone believe they would ever put down there fangs, claws, grimoires, and weapons and pick up a pen to sign a peace treaty. 

However, they did just that, and were commanded to send their beloved children to a playground where they would meet and mingle with the other kinds.  It had been part of the peace treaty that knowledge would be shared between faction lines.  It was the vampires idea for a school.  Since they had lived so long in their world of darkness, they wanted their children to better understand what it meant to live among the living.  And so, Ashfork was created.  The name stood for the fact that from the ashes of war you only had two choices.  Peace or Annihilation.  The treaty was signed on a devils cross road, or a four way fork in the road, which was why the school was called Ashfork. The witches, the vampires, the werewolves, and the humans all stood on one of the four roads and signed the treaty, which allowed the very existence of Ashfork to no longer be a dream but a reality. 

However, not all agreed with peace and sought to right the wrongs their ancestors faced.  Fearing for the safety of their children the heads of the treaty created a power glyph, or symbol, that would be magically tattooed on all students and teachers.  This mark would only allow those who belonged to enter the school's grounds.  In the 300 year history of Ashfork Academy, no one had ever been able to break it.  Meaning if my glyph was gone, I would be out of luck.  There were even stories that if you were expelled from the school your glyph would vanish and you would instantly be teleported off the grounds and even forget how to get back.  The mark did not only give you access, it gave you the ability to know where the school grounds were and if you ever chose to, or were compelled to,  tell or show an outsider the way, you would instantly loose your mark. It was one of the most advanced security systems in the world and was only possible because it used all the supernaturals combined energies to create it. 

It was the greatest slap in the face for the conservative members of the factions, who would rather we all only stay with our own kind.  Meaning, witches would attend Ridgeback Academy for the Dark Arts, vampires should go to Night Haven and werewolves must be enrolled at Branding Claw.  I had always been impressed that the Goldenrods had allowed us to attend Ashfork, with all its riffraff and undesirables. However, I could only let out a sigh of disappointed, for my time here was now over.

I had already done what Jasmine asked and filed all the paperwork out for our transfer to Ridgeback Academy, which was now effective immediately.  Per Jasmine's wishes of being far away from her werewolf boy.  The fact that I still had my glyph only meant one thing, the office had chosen to file the paper work tomorrow.  Meaning, I needed to be off the grounds before anyone showed up for work in the morning.  If not I would get kicked off the campus, and Satan only knows where I would end up if the rumors were true about students getting forcibly removed from the grounds and teleported else where.  

In the mean time, I was safe to enjoy my last evening among the trees and fields that made up the backyard of Ashfork.  I sighed, as I looked down at the Hidden Healers Almanac.  "I guess you will be my company this evening."  I said, as I began to inspect the book.  It had that new book smell.  The leather was soft and had a bit of gloss on it, and it strained each time I tried to turned a page.  A sign it had never been opened for very long.  I caressed each page lovingly with my finger tips.  In a few short months it would become dog eared, yellowed, and fall open to my favorite spells or remedies the moment it hit the ground. Yet, before I could fall into the world of herbs and potions, I could not help but overhear the loud and aggressive sounds of dogs, and they were close. 

The howls and growls that were echoing around me were, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up.  Quickly, I closed my book and put it in my bag.  Maybe it was the fact I was tired of always living a life that was planned out for me, or maybe I really did want a bit of excitement to spice up my already highly exhausting day?  Whatever the reason, I soon found myself crawling on my hands in knees towards the sound, not away from it.

After about five minutes it became clear whatever was out there was extremely mad and I was starting to regret my decision.  Yet, before I could turned back, a massive howl shook the ground and it sent me scurrying like a rodent behind a tree.  What in the world was that?  And what the hell had I been thinking?  Had my brain become broken due to emotional trauma or stress?  I wanted a little adventure?  This was by far the most absurd thing I had ever done in my 17 years of living, and it was very possible it might be my last.

My hands shook as I gripped the bark of the tree.  I could feel pieces start to break and crumble in my hands, this was not good.  It was going to start getting dark very soon, and here I was traipsing around the Ashfork Academy grounds, this was boarder line mental.  I was starting to feel like one of those stupid actresses in those lame B or C rated horror movies, where the kids go into the creepy forest and everyone yells at the screen.. "No, don't do that."  And then, BAM, a chainsaw comes out of left field and slices them up into little bits and all the while you go, told you so.  Why was I making my demise out to be such a cliché? 

" There......need for that." 

"...............I will.... cause........when you..... leave."

"You....do no such thing! ........hear me?' 

I froze, were those voices?  Human voices?  Between the mix of growls and howls I was able to make out the distinct sound of two men yelling at each other.  Why were they out here?   Oh Satan, who cares,  I thought, as I quickly realized that finding them might actually save me from whatever that howl had belonged to.  

As I got closer, I began to make out that the two men sounded like they were fighting about one staying and one going.  "Are they having a lovers spat?" I giggled to myself.  However, I soon did not find what they were saying to be funny.  It was becoming harder and harder to hear or make out their words, they sounded like they were underwater,  but the pain and frustration in the tones of their voices was starting to effect me.  I suddenly found myself clutching my chest and feeling like I might cry.  My heart was racing, as if I had just run a marathon, and it was becoming difficult to breath.  What was happening to me?  I needed to get to them, which was the only the motivation that pushed me to keep crawling.  Whatever was going on with me they were causing it.  

Suddenly I tensed, as a horrifying thought invaded my mind.  Were they vampires?  I had heard that if you listened in on a vampire's conversation, when you are not welcomed, you could become very sick.  It had something to do with the fact that vampires are creatures of compulsion, that can control your thoughts and feelings, so if they do not know you are there they will forget to turn it off.  Due to this, Ashfork had made any used of compulsion illegal on the schools grounds, but if these were young vampires they might just be having issues controlling their powers.  For compulsion for a vampire was no different than breathing heavy or sweating after a workout.  It was like a pheromone, and only they knew how to not release it into the air.  I needed to make sure they knew I was here, or I would be in danger of falling under their spell.  However, if they were using their powers illegally, on purpose and I caught them, they could be suspended or worse expelled.  And who was to say both of them were vampires?  What if only one was, and he was using his powers to control the other to leave?   Oh dear Satan, what I have I stumbled upon?

This was too much.  It was time to go home.  Even if the Elder and Lady found out about Jasmine, there was no reason to loose my life over her minor discomfort or embarrassment.  Maybe a month ago I would have risked my life for her, but after stepping in front of her werewolf today and seeing that sapphire ring plastered on her finger, my patience for being an obedient servant was starting to wear down.  Victor was right, I was a bloody servant.  Even the fact that I was now being ordered to attend Ridgeback, where I would have the annoying privilege of seeing Jasmine and him together everyday, was unfair and cruel.  How could she be this selfish?  After all I'd done for her, why was she always demanding more?  I could feel angry tears welling up in my eyes.  It was not fair! 

I slammed my hand down on the ground in front of me in frustration, instantly causing a sharp pain to slice through my hand. I bit my lip and held back a whimper.  Slowly, I raised my hand and felt a cold chill go down my back.  The palm of my right hand had a massive bloody gash in it.  I looked around and groaned when I saw the broken bottles around me.  I had clearly stumbled upon a witches potion circle, a place where witches would test out new spells that were considered too dangerous for class.  This was really bad. This was not just a cut from ordinary glass, this was a wound from glass coated in something. 

Suddenly, my body hit the ground as my arms and legs refused to move.  I had become ridged like a corpse.  A corpse.  Oh, s**t.  I reached out with my left hand and pulled the broken piece of glass, that was now coated in my blood, over to me.  I raised it to my nose and thought I was going to gag.  Damnit!  It was either a decaying spell or a spiritless brew, both considered curses.  What the hell had these kids been doing out here?  I looked around to see if I could find any healing herbs, there had to be a.... you have got to be kidding me!  The ground was completely covered in black with devils ash.  These witches were not playing around, this entire circle was meant for one thing, death. 

I released the piece of glass and just lay there, there was no reason to fight it.  The voices were now gone, along with anything that remotely sounded like it could growl.  If they had been a vampires I would never know.  My heart was starting to slow at a steady rate.  If only I knew how do magic.  I could use a blood binding spell to transfer the curse to a tree or plant, with the use of my blood.  Or, I could use widows black silk and compel the curse to enter the thread and lock it inside a devils knot.  There were hundreds of ways I knew how to save myself, I just did not have the power to do so.  My eye sight was starting to blur and all I could make out was the full moon hanging over me.  I sighed as I reached into my bag and pulled out my cell phone.  My arms were tight and hard to move, but if this was going to be my last day on Earth, I had to send this message. 

"Jasmine.  There is no one in this world that understands me.  However, you did.  You saw what I refused to see, and so I will tell you now...I love him.  I have loved him since the first time I saw him.  I loved his brash arrogance, his witty cocky remarks, and most importantly the loving glances I dare not believe were for me.  I know he will be difficult and will not accept you at first,  but you are beautiful, strong, and everything that I am not, so he will come to love you.  I think that is what scares me the most, that one day he will forget about me, yet I know it is for the best.  So, my dear sister, all I ask is that you remember you are taking the one thing in this world I wish to have, so please cherish him because I will never be able to do so." 

As the phone slipped from my fingers I felt the tears stream down my face.  I did not have the strength to wipe them away, so I just let them fall.  Big massive tears that were full of my pain, regret, and most importantly my desire.  My desire to see him one last time and tell him yes.  To let him put the ring on my finger and finally kiss me.  Slowly, I raised my left hand and let the moon dance between my finger tips. 

"It would have never fit."  I softly cried, as I looked at my thin bony fingers.  

The curse was taking effect and turning me into a corpse.  In only a few short minutes my heart would stop and my whole body would look like a mummy, and the moment the sun shone in the sky I would be nothing more than dust.  Jasmine would believe I had run away and would search everywhere for me.  The wedding would most likely be put on hold for a few months, and then when it became clear that even spells could not locate me that would be the end.  She would walk down the aisle in an elegant black wedding dress.  Victor would most likely be in all black with traces of gold and blue on his tux.  Jasmine's bouquet would be black roses and blue, to match the sapphire on her wedding ring. 

Maybe one day a group of witches, or the grounds keeper, would find my Magic Coronation necklace and people would know what became of Abelia Goldenrod, the cursed magic less witch.  Jasmine would cry and Victor... he would...wait...would he blame her?  Would he say it was all Jasmine's fault because I did not go with them today?  Oh, no, he can't do that!  He needs to love her.  

I silently sobbed, as I tried to undo the necklace around my neck.  The metal was hot in my hands, almost scalding like it was on fire.  It burned, but I would not allow for any trace of me to be found.  Slowly, I began to scratch at the earth until I had dug a hole that was deep enough to place the necklace in.  A soft sizzling sound was coming from my hand as I dropped the necklace into the hole.  Dear Satan this curse was evil.  I looked at my finger tips and noticed that were burned through all the way to bone.  Yet, I was not done.  I stretched out my hands and grabbed my cell phone and began to undo the back.  I had to destroy the gps and memory card in the phone or they would know I had been here. 

"Please, just a little more time.  He can't ever know."  I cried, as I used the last bit of my strength to crush the gps and drop it into the hole with my necklace.  Then with quivering weak movements, I slowly brushed dirt over it all.  It felt like I was burying myself with my own hands.  As the dirt fell over the necklace I remembered Elder Goldenrods words. 

"You are my beloved child and the future of this coven.  Let this be a reminder that you are special and have responsibilities."

Carefully, my hands patted the ground covering up any trace that I had ever been here, and I began to  wondered why he had said such a thing to me?  There was no way I would be the future of anything.  What could a magic less witch be capable of?  He had to of known that.  My vision was starting to grow dark and hazy.  I really was dying and there was nothing I could do stop it.  I let out one final sigh and said. 

"I wish I could have healed at least one person, that was deemed not worth saving. Then maybe someone would have save me."

POV (UNKNOWN)

I was free, finally free.  I could not believe after 14 years the spell had been broken.  It was hard not to loose hope and believe I would never see her again.  The thought I would never feel her heartbeat or listen to the soft padding of her feet run on the forest floor was enough to make me howl out to the Mood Goddess every night, and beg her to save my girl.  It did not matter what they did to me.  They could break my soul into a million pieces and leave me gasping for relief, as long as they showed her kindness, I would accept any treatment.  It was not like I could stop them, they were pure poison.  An evil that needed to be cleansed from this world and one day we would do just take. 

And as the years went by I could only watch from the sidelines, as she grew up right before my eyes and she was stunning.  Moonlight kissed, was what the healers had called her when she was born.  Even from early on it was clear she was special, gifted.  I knew the day she would finally be able to hear me, was going to be such a joyous celebration.  Why had things gone so horribly wrong?

I looked at my legs,  they were cut, bruised and a number of giant welts from their many injections covered my body like spots.  They were monsters and the moment my girl knew what they had done to us, we would find a way to pay them back.  Their blood would coat the ground and it still would not be enough to quench the furry that raged inside of me. Inside us.

I raised my head and sniffed the air, she was near, but something was wrong.  I could feel my heart begin to race.  No, it could not be?  I road the undulating currents of the wind, like a ship would the waves of the sea, as I raced to her side.  I would not allow this.  No, not after 14 years, I would not let it end like this! 

The moment I saw her, my entire body froze.  My beautiful girl was turning to skin and bones.  What had they done to her?  I growled out in anger and pawed at the ground.  I would kill them, all of them.  Quickly, I raced to her side and nuzzled her cheek, it tasted of salt.  She had been crying, and these were tears not of pain but sorrow.  I felt a lump in my throat, as I tried to lick them all away, but suddenly a chill went down my spine.  She was cold, ice cold, cold like...  

"Oh, please, no!"  I cried.  

"You can't!  I finally found you!"  This could not be real.  I let out a howl that shook my body.  I collapsed by her side and whimpered, as I rested my head on her chest while I wrapped my tail around her.  

"Please, come back to me."  But she was not waking up, and her heart beat was getting fainter by the second. 

"This is not fair!  She is your child, you can't allow this!"  I screamed to moon.  Silence.  This would not do.  I would not let those devils win.  Slowly, I stood up and let the moonlight bath me.  It had been such a long time since I felt its touch, but the moment I let it in I could feel its healing effects. The marks on my body, that showed the years of torture I had endured, were being washed away and replaced with a thick full glowing white coat.  I shook my body, like any dog would after getting a bath, and breathed in the cool night air.  I was ready.

"It's alright.  I wont let them take you."  I said, as I let the pull of our bond flood over me.  

The world my girl lived in was shroud in a thick dark black fog, and a bitting chill entered my whole being the moment my feet landed on the floor of her subconscious.  I could feel it trying to choke the life out of me.  It was the mind of a broken creature that was only minutes, if not seconds, from its demise.  I felt my legs wobble and it was hard to stand, but I would not give up on her that easily.

"I am back."  

I gasped out, hardly believing it myself.  Yet, there was no time to revel in it.  Quickly, I pushed my legs to run, as the fog swirled around me, and then suddenly became alive.  Giant tentacle like spirals wrapped around my legs and tried to hold me back.  I snarled and growled, as I bit at them.  

"You will not keep me from you!"  

 I roared, as my teeth snapped at the fog, causing it to let out high pitch screams every time my fangs landed a hit.  She was fighting me.  I could feel her fear and self loathing every time one of those tendrils, of her dark thoughts, entered my mouth.   It could not be?  There was no way my girl, my light, could believe she was powerless and worthy of death!   The taste of depression is a vial thing, and it wetted my lips and coated my fur in a slime that made me want to gag.  

"You mean everything to me!"  

I cried out, as my paws scratched, bit and clawed at anything that dare stop me from reaching her.  Suddenly, a giant wave of her dark thoughts hit me with such force it knocked me to the ground.  I crawled on my belly, and did my best to dig my claws in so the wave would not wash me away from her.  She was close, I could feel the soft vibrations of her soul beating around me.  Why was she fighting so hard to let it end?  Did she not sense my presence?  How could that be possible? 

"Please, let me see you.  Let me feel you!  Even if this has to be the end, I must be by your side."   

I whimpered out.  I was loosing against her, and even if it was just to say good bye, I wanted to die in the comfort of her embrace.  I could feel the tears falling from my eyes, for it is hard for a creature such as myself to show such pure emotion.  For our tears are not made up of water by the very essence of our spirit.  As my glowing white tears began to pool around me, I noticed the mists were effected my them.  I raised head and saw the thick dark tendrils of her negative thoughts hiss and pull back.  

Like the thicket of twisted gnarled thorny vines in "Sleeping Beauty," I watched in wonder as the gates began to open to reveal the small pear of light that had been kept from my grasp.  I froze as my eyes finally found her.  Curled up in a little ball, with just the faintest amount of light shinning on her frame,  was the most breathtaking creature I ever laid eyes on.  Carefully, I stood up and began to approach her.  She was stunning with her white blonde hair flowing down her shoulders and her creamy pale skin really did make her look like she had been kissed my the moon's light. 

The moment she realized she was not alone, she raised her head and looked up at me.  I felt a happy whimper escape my throat.  She had grown into such an elegant being.  Her lips were a soft pink to match the light dusting on her cheeks and she had thick black eyelashes that were wet from her tears, yet what made me howl in pleasure were those golden brown eyes.  The same eyes I hid behind when she was just a baby.  There she was, my darling girl, the other part of. 

"What are you?"  She said, causing a wave of pride to swell in my chest.  Even her voice was soft and refined, she really was meant to be a queen. 

Slowly, I walked over to her with such joy in my heart, but she quickly backed away.  She was afraid of me.  I thought I was going to cry.  She had no idea know how much I loved her, and how all these years I had been howling out for her.  Yet, I would do everything in my power to make her see it, to feel it.  With careful measured steps I approached and gazed down at her with my golden glowing eyes.  Yes, she would learn and soon understand. 

"Hello my darling girl.  I am Aurora, your wolf."