She shivered beneath his gentle caress, her breaths coming in quick and soft gasps. His lips trailed her exposed collarbone, barely grazing his fangs across her flesh. Underneath her closed eyelids she can feel the intensity of his gaze. If she were to open her eyes, would this dream end abruptly? What if this wasn't a dream though? What if her body was accepting this man she barely knew?
Her hands moved along his naked body, feeling every crease, every ridge. She felt his breath on her throat, and the sharpness of his fangs pressing against her skin, but not puncturing. She shuddered, arcing her neck on instinct. He let out a deep chuckle that vibrated in his chest.
"My little Pixie." He spoke sweetly into her ear before laying a kiss on her earlobe. She dared herself to open her eyes then. Yet when she did, she wasn't expecting what would be in front of her. The usual smoldering gaze of gold was warped and spiraling out of control with red. She knew that look. She had seen it once before. The eyes of a monster. She reached out with her hand, but he pulled away, fear flickering in his eyes now. She should run away, but she felt frozen in place. Not out of fear, but uncertainty. She wanted to cower, yet help him all the same.
His face slowly began to fade into the darkness that had been surrounding them, leaving her utterly alone in the empty space. She knew this feeling that settled in her chest. Loneliness. Not being wanted. She curled up in the darkness, letting it swarm her until it numbed her. She squeezed her eyes shut. If no one wanted her, she had no reason to be around anymore.
----------
Halloween was just a few days away, and even though most Witches loved it because it enhanced their spiritual abilities, Willow despised it. It didn't help that she was looked down on already as the half breed in her coven, but the humans at her school didn't help it either. Amanda especially. Though, something was different this week about her. She wasn't traumatizing Willow at her expense. Instead she gave little to no remarks in her direction. For once, Willow thought she could breathe freely. Or so she thought.
"Witch." Amanda's condescending tone halted Willow at her locker. She hunched up her shoulders as reflex as the woman approached her.
"Do you need another paper done, Amanda?" She asked just to get to the point of the conversation. Amanda slammed Willow's locker shut, making the girl jump in response.
"Not today. Instead, I have something else in mind." Amanda said as she stepped into Willow's space. Willow lowered her gaze to the tiled floor, waiting for the blow. It never came. Instead Amanda had what looked like an envelope in her hand and was extending it out to Willow.
"What's this?" Willow asked her. Amanda pressed the envelope to Willow's chest a bit too aggressively.
"An invite to my Halloween party this weekend." Amanda said coldly before clearing her throat, "It has been... brought to my attention," she spoke through gritted teeth, "that I've been a cruel person to you. I wish to change that." She smiled at Willow. She stared at her abuser with her mouth slightly agape. When she couldn't get her words out fast enough, Amanda went on again.
"Look, it's not just that. I've realized that you've done a lot for me for quite some time." Amanda looked away with her cheeks slightly pink from getting flustered. Willow took that quick moment to glance around them. Was it a prank? Students continued to walk by them like they were having a casual conversation. No second glances.
"Amanda, I don..." Willow felt something was off, but she couldn't put her finger on it. To suddenly have a change of heart like this? Was there another influence?
"I get it," Amanda sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair, "I wouldn't trust me either for everything I've done to you. The fact that you still even speak a single word to me after all that has been happening, I won't lie that I'm amazed." Amanda finally turned her gaze toward her, and for once that Willow has known this woman, she had such a soft gaze. Was this too good to be true?
Willow looked down at the invitation as she slowly took it from Amanda. It looked pretty generic on the outside as she carefully tore it open and showed a beautiful, yet cliché, orange and black themed card inside. Silver spider webs laced around the edges, and in bold crimson red text was the address, the number to call Amanda and outfit requirements. Willow ran her fingers over the card like it was some delicate portrait by Leonardo DaVinci. Amanda stood across from her expecting with her arms folded across her dark brown vest. Willow thought she could see a door opening and the air changing when she breached the threshold.
"Okay. I'll go." Willow finally answered her. Amanda's shoulders relaxed and she let out a smile that looked so genuine even Willow had never seen before on her face.
"Good. You have the time and place. Oh, and don't worry. I'll be inviting Roy to so that way you won't feel too lonely." Amanda said before wiggling her fingers hastily in fair well and walked off. Willow watched her back until it turned a corner and she leaned against her locker. Her heart felt like it was ready to burst from her chest.
"Hey sunshine." Roy perked up behind her, confirming her heart rocking against her sternum. When she peered over her shoulder to him, he was leaning in so closely without showing any room to escape. His smiling eyes fell down to the card in her hands and his brows furrowed together with worry.
"Amanda gave it to me. I told her I would go." Willow told him, but it didn't change his expression in the least. He adjusted the strap to his backpack as he took the card from her hand and looked it over from front to back, lifting it to the light to see if maybe there was a secret message.
"You don't think this is suspicious at all? She's been attacking you for years and all of a sudden she has a change of heart?" He asked her as he gave the card back. Willow carefully stuffed it away in her bag and walked with Roy.
"I mean, I do, but it's our senior year. Maybe she just doesn't want to finish her last year on a bad note with anyone." Willow tried to sound hopeful, but it was no use. She couldn't deny that she was a bit terrified of the idea, but she agreed to go. There was no turning back now.
"I guess that leaves me no choice then. I'll go to, just to make sure she doesn't pull anything." Roy reassured her with his sweet smile. She found herself smiling back at him. The chilly air kissed her cheeks as they stepped out into the darkening sky, grey clouds rolling in with the threat of rain in the forecast. Willow instinctively looked around for Dante's car. Nothing. Since she bolted, she hasn't seen nor heard from the Vampire, but he had stopped by to deliver her phone while she slept.
"Hey Roy, can we go to the cat cafe?" Willow asked him as he walked beside her through the parking lot. He cocked his head, the boyish smile on his lips.
"Of course, something about Witches and felines?" He asked her, probably to seem like a joke, but Willow shook her head.
"No. Witches can have different types of familiars, I just like cats. I feel relaxed around them and it seems like my brain is a chaotic mess right now." Willow stepped up to his car where Roy opened the door for her. He leaned over the door as she got in.
"Whatever I can do to help, sunshine." He said before closing the door. Willow felt her heart flutter at the pet name, trying to sooth the fluster in her cheeks before he got in the driver's side. This is what she always imagined. A boy with a sweet charm, polite attitude and good sense of humor. Yet her visions continued to show a side of her she never opened. The thought of Dante's naked form crossed her mind and she rubbed her temples. Even when Roy drove and spoke to her about a math exam he had coming up, Willow's mind kept drifting to Dante. Where was he now? Had he left yet? Will she see him again?
"Hey. Hello? Earth to Willow." Roy waved his hand in front of her eyes. She blinked, looking around to find that they had quickly arrived.
"Sorry, I must've spaced out." She admitted to him as they existed the car. The small brick store front was glaring with pink and purple neon lights. When they entered the cafe, persistent meowing filled her ears. Several staff members were occupying themselves with some of the cats, while others cleaned consistently. Couchs sat against the large windows and a counter wrapped like a horse shoe in the back.
"Go take a seat and find your kitten." He told her as he headed for the counter. Willow took a corner spot by the window, gazing around at the beautiful felines that roamed the room. From short haired to long haired. Maine Coons, Siamese, even a few Sphynx scurried about. Willow didn't want to seek one out, instead she wanted one to come to her. One that would recognize what she was and not run away. Like Tiki.
Willow shut her eyes and she focused on the element she felt she was closest to. Earth. She imagined a dense forest, such like the one that surrounded Miss J's cabin. The scent of the mossy soil beneath her feet. Purring interrupted the illusion and Willow's eyes fluttered open. A beautiful black cat rubbed against her legs, it's golden eyes staring through barely opened lids. She picked up the animal and let it curl in her lap, its purring vibrating against her thighs.
"A black cat. Of course." Willow mumbled sadly as she looked around for another potential creature, but the others had given her distance. Roy walked over with two mugs of hot chocolate and a bag.
"I see you made a new friend. What's this one's name?" He asked as he set everything down on the side table and peeked at the collar Willow hadn't noticed before. "Huh. The name is Selene. That's pretty." He complimented. Willow paused mid stroke of the cat's fur.
Selene? Why does that sound familiar?
She gazed down at the cat while it laid perfectly still in her lap, racking her brain to recall why she knew that name. An image flickered across her mind. It was quick and blurred. She shut her eyes and started to pet the cat once more. The image came again, this time it slowed and not as blurry as before. It was the night she had met Hecate, along with two other Goddesses at her back.
"Selene. Goddess of the Moon and..."
Mother of Vampires.
Willow's heart rate started to accelerate at the thought that was not her own. When she opened her eyes, the cat gazed back at her with such fierceness, Willow worried it would suddenly attack her.
"Whoa hey, you okay?" Roy asked, his hand resting on her arm. She finally pulled her gaze away from the feline and looked into his. "Willow, you're pale. Do you want me to take you home?" He asked her. Willow shook her head quickly and steadied her breathing. The cat settled back into her lap as if nothing just occurred.
"Yeah, sorry. I just..." she wanted to spill her heart out to him, but again she found herself lying to her friend. "I haven't had any visions lately, so I guess I was hoping to force one." She smiled weakly at him. Roy pouted, reaching up and pushed a bit of her hair behind her ear.
"Just promise me you'll take it easy, okay? You worry me, Willow." He said as his thumb gently grazed her cheek. It was warm to the touch, but it didn't excite her like she hoped it would. She nodded and gave him a smile though before reaching across and took her mug. She'll have to find answers on her own.
First Hecate, now Selene. Why?
As she sipped her drink, her eyes drifted to Roy as he pulled off his jacket, the tattoo in sight on his arm. Without thinking, she reached over to it and traced it with her fingers. A jolt zapped her finger, making her pull back. An inkling feeling of dread swept over her and was quickly washed away.
"Damn, did I shock you?" He asked her as he grabbed the bag and pulled out a pastry. Willow felt the cat stir in her lap, the purring ceased as she raised her head and gazed at Roy's arm. Willow felt the stiffened throughout the cat's body, but she didn't know why.
"It's okay. It looks like it's healing well." She nodded to his arm. Roy glanced at it and shrugged.
"Yeah, a bit itchy, but that's to be expected." He told her as she looked at it. It had the shape of a crescent moon, the tips barely touching with a tiny sphere between them. Three dots lined on each side of the sphere. She had never seen such design before, and couldn't deny that it was beautiful. Yet why did it give her such an odd feeling?
"Does it mean anything?" She asked him. Roy inclined his head after he took a bite of the pastry, his eyes on his arm.
"You know, I can't really remember. I was drinking a bit with him, but I'll ask him next time I see him." He smiled at her. She smiled back and sat back. The position of Selene didn't shift once, her eyes continued to stare at his arm like she was waiting for something to happen.
"What do you plan on doing after high school, Roy?" She asked him curiously. Roy sat back in his seat, letting out a heavy sigh.
"I have a few scholarships lined up, and my parents have a university in mind, but..." he stared at the floor.
"But it's not what you have in mind." She finished for him. He nodded slowly.
"My family is no joke when it comes to top notch occupations. My parents expect me to follow through just like my sister did. Go to Princeton, become a heart surgeon. Get married and have kids before thirty." He shook his head slowly. Willow set her mug down, facing him on the couch.
"What is it that you want to do?" She asked him as she started combing her fingers through Selene's fur. The cat slowly relaxed, but didn't remove her gaze still.
"You'll think it's silly." He said as he rested his pastry down.
"You don't do anything silly." She said, realizing what she said and starts to blush. He looked at her before reaching into his backpack and pulled out a camera. She had never seen it before.
"I love photography. It gives me peace of mind, and seeing the world through the lens is a whole different feeling in itself." He started to smile as he talked about his passion. "I want to travel after high school. Through the country, overseas. Anywhere and everywhere. I want to see the small things that most others miss." He shifted closer to her as he turned on his camera and started going through the pictures. Most were of the forests and mountains that surrounded their small town, a few were of his friends. Then he stopped on an image that shocked her. It was Willow staring out a window in one of her classes.
"I think this one is my favorite." He whispered, drawing her attention up and freezing in place. Roy was merely inches from her face, his eyes on her lips. Her heart thumped in her chest as she watched him close in when Selene suddenly hissed angrily and loudly. Willow jumped back in surprise to the outburst. The moment distance was made between them, Selene calmed immediately.
"Sorry, I don't know what came over her." Willow said, looking over to him. Roy rubbed the back of his neck and she swore she saw a glimmer of annoyance in his eyes, but it was quickly gone.
"It's okay. She probably just didn't like sharing the attention." He chuckled. She nodded, but it still seemed odd to her.
"We should get going. We only have a couple days before the party. Would you like an escort?" He asked her as he got to his feet, brushing the crumbs off of his shirt. Willow nodded, picking Selene up and set her on the floor. Selene gazed up at her and Willow thought the cat had a look of concern in her eyes before it walked away.
"I'd like that, thank you." She said, her eyes looking outside as she stretched. It was completely dark out now with little to no light coming from the sky. She knew a storm was coming, but how big this storm was she had no clue.
