Destiny's Witch (BxB)

Chapter 20: Replacements

Perry

Two months pass with no resolution to my family's ongoing feud. Things have gotten worse in the interim. My parents argue more than I have ever seen them argue before, I rarely talk to either of them unless I have no other choice, and grandmother's presence only serves to spark more ire for Alan.

The past couple of months have not been all bad. My relationship with David has improved and Nate has eased off him enough to allow him to be part of our group without the two descending into arguments.

My destiny as the Zion is still a secret from my friends, to my dismay. After the implosion of my family, my urge to tell them is overridden by my fear of them abandoning ship.

Speaking of being the Zion, my powers have returned, though they are far less effective than they had been. Alan likens them to regular Hunter powers. The loss of my enhanced Hunter abilities has given way for more of my magical abilities. The abilities have begun to manifest sporadically, even when I do not want them to.

Alan is not thrilled, though he is rarely thrilled about much these days.

It is no surprise the first thing I hear when I come down the stairs is Alan and Penny arguing. The two are perpetually arguing about either their decision to bind Porter and I, their decision to hide it, or Alan's decision not to tell Penny about my becoming the Zion. This morning, it sounds like a mixture of all three.

My fingers wrap tightly around the strap of my new black leather messenger bag. I think better than to enter the kitchen when the two are having a 'discussion' as it always feels like more of a lie when they try to pretend they are not angry with each other. The two have begun to pretend I cannot hear anything beyond the room I am in.

A knock on the door saves me as I open the door to reveal Charlotte and Eva. The two are happy to see me, as I am them, but notice my parents' fighting immediately. Embarrassed, I suggest we get breakfast on the way.

Charlotte, Eva, and Nate have never witnessed my parents' fighting firsthand. They have only gotten glimpses thus far. Listening to them from the door is the closest anyone outside our family has gotten to the civil war within my home.

It feels wrong.

The girls do not question me as we ride to school. We stop to get donuts and coffee before heading to school. Eva offers to buy order, which suggests she is trying to lighten my mood.

If any of us has the lightest mood, it would be her. In the past couple of months, Eva and Finn have announced they are dating. The two are deeply in love. I find their relationship adorable.

Charlotte is inspired by their relationship. She has begun speed dating many guys in the hopes of finding a date for the upcoming Harvest Festival. She has not been as lucky as she would have wished.

Honestly, I am a bit inspired by her.

As Charlotte parks her car, I grab my coffee and my new messenger bag. Alan bought the bag to hide the dagger, which he makes me take everywhere. I have learned the dagger is undetectable by metal detectors and easily hidden in a long compartment along the right side of the bag.

Charlotte compliments my bag as we head towards the school from the parking lot. We pass Parker, David, and a few of the football players hanging out in the back of David's truck. The players catcall the girls, to the horror of both women. David and I lock eyes and I do not hear anything the girls are saying until we are far away from the guys.

"God, could you two be any more obvious?" Charlotte asks.

"Ah! I think it's cute. He's like a puppy around you. It's kind of like Beauty and the Beast." Eva says.