The Road Ahead

Witches and Familiars

The Road Ahead

"Witches and Familiars"

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We were in a Taylor Mill, Kentucky, I found out. When I walked out of the restaurant a sign said it, I knew the place vaguely. It almost seems as if I've been here before.

The night was young, and it was getting pretty cold, so I decided to wonder around. Giles stayed at a safe distance from me, but he always remained close enough to where if he yelled, I'd hear him. I don't know where my feet where taking me, but I just followed.

It was almost like I was programmed to go somewhere, suddenly I was determined; I don't know why either. I was in a small little area, packed with small, nice little houses. One stood out to me, it was about two stories, brick build, nice yard. A weird purple mark was on the front door.

As soon as I glanced at the mark, it changed.

Safe.

Giles ran up behind me and jerked me out of my trance, "We need to go, now!" He whispered violently in my ear. I cocked my head at the house. He continued jerking me backwards until I roughly pushed him away; he stumbled to the ground and landed on his hands. Looking at me with worry in his eyes. "Please." He croaked.

He was scared of the house, something was spooking him. But I felt completely safe. Just like the door said. I looked away from the man on the ground and walked up through the grass and rang the bell twice. As I waited I looked back expecting to see Giles waiting for me, but he was nowhere to be seen.

"What do you want!" A girl said harshly, I turned back around and took her in. She was taller than me, long brown hair that was wrapped lazily up in a bun, yoga pants and a tank top. No shoes. She had mesmerizing hazel eyes.

"I, uh, I don't know honestly." I began saying, I fumbled for my words, my face becoming hot and red. The girl kept the angry look on her face.

"It's Echo!" A friendly voice shouted from somewhere inside the house, I stopped and waited. Another girl bounced into view, she had auburn hair that fell in waves past her shoulders, freckles covering her face, and bright blue eyes. Like Giles.

Something about her made me feel at ease, maybe it was because I knew her terrifying friend wouldn't kill me now. "How do you know my name?" I asked, tilting my head at the unlikely pair. The girl with the auburn hair smiled big at me and grabbed my shoulder, pulling me into a big hug.

"Who are you?" I asked once, pulling away.

She frowned, "You don't remember, do you?" She sounded truly upset. Then something clicked into place, the red hair, the freckles, the blue eyes.

"Amber?" I said, she nodded proudly. I rammed into her and hugged her tightly, "Oh god, I totally didn't recognize you at first! I'm so sorry."

She pulled away and smiled gently at me for a second. "Who the hell is this?" Said the other girl. Amber flushed and looked down at her feet, "Sorry, this is Echo. She's my best friend..." Apparently this didn't matter to the brunette who only glared at me.

"She's Aaron's daughter." That clicked in her mind and she looked at me blankly, a surprised look suddenly washed over her.

"You're alive?" The girl said, I was shocked. Why would people think I'm dead, "You disappeared for so long."

"My mother sent me away for a long time, I busted out a few days ago." I replied.

"But I thought your mo-"

Amber cut in sharply, "Please, come inside." I nodded at her generosity and followed the pair of girls inside. The home was lovely, a calming atmosphere overwhelmed me. Amber left into what I assumed was the kitchen and I heard glass touch glass.

"My name's Alex, by the way, I'm sorry I was so rude. We weren't expecting anyone for the next couple of days." She said, Alex, I like that name. Amber came back in with a drink and handed one to Alex and I. When I sipped it I purred.

"Hot chocolate, my favorite." I smiled, taking another sip.

"With cinnamon." She added, I laughed at her remembering all the times she attempted to make it for me when we were younger. She always forgot the cinnamon, thus, I never drank it. We all sat down, the two on a love seat and me on the couch.

Alex rested back and wrapped her free arm around Amber's shoulders, pulling her closer. "Are you two...?" I began, Alex smirked and Amber flushed red.

"Well, yes, and no."

Oh god, drama.

"You see Echo, I'm a Witch. This," She said looking at Alex, "Is my familiar."

"Wait, when did you become a witch?" I asked, thinking back when we were younger.

"Well, turns out that I come from a family where the witch gene passes over generations. I guess we forgot about it, then I started getting powers. And bam, a witch I was." She said laughing, Alex looked at her and grinned.

"What's a familiar?"

"A familiar is a... servant, of the witch. Helpers, spirits. Made for only one witch. One witch, one familiar." Alex said, explaining. I leaned closer and listened to her talk, "We, I, can take on an animal form and a human one." Interesting.

"And technically, we're not suppose to be in an relationship." They were an attractive couple, I bet everyone saw that.

"Anyway, do you need a place to stay? You can stay here for a while." Amber offered, I thought.

"I had a guy with me, but he panicked when I started walking up towards the house. He left when Alex opened the door."

Amber raised her eyebrow, "A guy?"

"Giles, he's... Well, he's like me-" I started.

"An Incubus! Iv'e never seen another male before, other than your dad."

"Wait, what?" I chirped in, suddenly alert. Listening.

"Your dad, Aaron. He was an Incubus." She said, surprised that I didn't already know. My world stopped turning at that point and I began thinking, he raised me human, hoping that the gene wouldn't get passed down to me.

Or maybe, maybe he knew what I was and just didn't tell me.