The Coven's Heir

Chapter 14

As I soaked into our renewed friendship, I heard some light footsteps enter the lounge behind me. I turned around when I heard her say, "Hey Eli, father's asking for you." She took a look at the both of us. "what's been happening in here?" Isla asked. We both immediately stepped away from each other. What was going on with us? Since when was hugging each other this scandalous thing. He cleared his throat. "Isla leave." He growled. "I will, but not until you leave to find dad first." She said in a bratty tone I would imagine little siblings using to annoy each other. I have had the pleasure of knowing Isla for most her life and she was a professional at getting under Eli's skin. I thought it was hilarious.

"Fine." Eli stated to Isla. He looked at me and a small smile that still held so much grief. My heart squeezed as I leaned against the fire place. "Will you save me a dance later?" he asked as he fixed his smile. I laughed "Of course as long as you don't mind your feet getting stomped on again." I laughed. "Don't worry I made sure to wear my steel toe boots tonight just on the safe side." He mused. I thought about asking him about his father and the reason this ball was truly happening but this wasn't the time or place.

He gave me one last look before he left. It was weird I had never felt this way towards Eli before. It was like the entire dynamic to our relationship had changed from best friends to being best friends with a now possible budding romance? It was strange and I didn't know how I felt about it, but it was getting harder to ignore. Once Eli had left It was just Isla and I in the lounge. She looked at me and said something that I would have on repeat in my head for at least the rest of the night. "You know our mother always wanted you and my brother to get together. I never really saw it though, until tonight." She said before she gave me a pained smile. I could start to see the water building under her eyes threatening to fall over, as she walked off making her way back towards the glowing ballroom. I stood there a little stunned not being able to move since she revealed those words.

Once I was able to feel the feeling in my feet return, and the flies were out of my open mouth, I rushed out the lounge doors to look for one of the fancy butlers who were walking around carrying trays of Champaign. Luckily, I didn't have to go very far as a nicely dressed butter who looked a little too old to be carrying seven Champaign glasses on one tray passed by me. I didn't bother stopping him I just walked past him grabbing a glass as I made my way over to the balcony on the other side of the ballroom. I needed air. I almost felt like grabbing two glasses but I stopped myself telling myself that it probably wasn't very lady like, and I could grab another one, or two later.

I felt the slightly cool breeze of what was known as spring in Lullin hit my body, as I walked through the glass balcony doors. Breath reconnected with my lungs as I made my way towards the railing that looked over the Hale's estate. I leaned against the railing in need of support.

Once my mind had caught up with my breath, I took a look at my surroundings. The balcony was completely empty. Everyone captured by the music and dancing inside. I wonder what Mr. Kane had to talk to Eli about I thought. For a moment I thought about going to see if I can find them and listen in on their conversation, but I shook it off it was none of my business. I will ask my questions later.

I looked back out towards the Hale's Garden. It was just as beautiful and as mysterious as they were. A maze outlined with lush green leaves occupied the center of what was their backyard, and in the very center of that maze I could make out a small courtyard with what looked like a fountain spouting in the middle.

I gazed at the mystery of the maze. A part of me wanted to go explore it, but there was also that annoying angel on my shoulders saying it was probably not the wisest idea to stray too far from the pack of people that gathered in the room behind me. I touched my upper right thigh and felt the comfort of my father's blade against my skin. I'd like to see any killer try and come against me I threatened, but I prayed hoping I didn't just jinx myself. That little curious devil side of me that likes to whisper in my ears far too often these days put my glass down and pulled me down the stairs of balcony towards the entrance to the maze.

Breaking through the barrier I curved around the first corner in the maze. The walls were made of giant hedges that seemed to be almost twice the size of me, so I definitely couldn't cheat my way to getting into the court yard. I continued to put one foot in front of the other as I tried to memorize each corner I passed, but after about the twentieth corner I had to admit to myself I was lost.

The sun had almost disappeared from the sky and I was no closer to getting to the courtyard then I was getting out. I stopped. There's got to be something I can do with my magic that would help me out of here. Maybe I can create a map? I thought hopelessly. Ashton hadn't really taught me so much other that getting into an animal's mind, which is kind of twisted for a first lesson. I thought anyway, but what did I truly know about magic? Not very much honestly. I knew our history like the back of my hand but when it came to actual magic, I didn't know anything. I only knew there was black magic or blood magic and what we called spiritual magic or light magic. I knew black magic used a lot of sacrifices and their power came from blood, where spiritual magic we could share and bond each other's magic and our powers came from the earth and everything mother nature provided for us. That was all I really knew though. I didn't know any spells specifically. It was never really important, as most of our powers were dormant.

Suddenly a whistle hit my ears, which drew me from my thoughts. It came over from my right. I started towards it before the barer stopped. I felt like I had just been going in circles. Maybe they knew a way out, or maybe it was the killer... the dark thought engrained itself in my mind as I slowed down. The whistling was getting louder. As I turned another corner it was loud enough, I thought they were beside me. I turned one last corner and to find myself in the courtyard.

I came to a halt. The courtyard was fairly empty. The ground was carved in stone squares, that echoed across the ground. Then there was that fountain I saw from the balcony taking up the center of the space. It was majestic looking. It had two layers that carried a spout on the top sprinkling water all the way back to the bottom. There were a couple stone benches around the space, but other than that it was empty, until I heard that whistle enter my ears again. I spun around in circle. That whistle I thought to be salvation now all of sudden felt threatening. I grabbed my dagger from underneath my ballgown, and grasped it tightly in my right hand. "Who is that?" I asked trying to stop the shaking that started to enter my voice. If something bad were to happen there'd be no one that could help me. Even if someone did end up hearing my screams there was no way they could get to me in time.

"Who do you think it is?" The masculine voice asked. I knew that voice far better than I wished. "Ashton." I didn't even have to question. "Ah yes, good girl." He appeared in front of me out of thin year. I jumped back with a squeak. He gave a slight chuckle.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"It's my house. Am I not allowed to take a stroll through my own backyard?" He spoke. "Were you following me?" I asked. "No if I was following you, I'd be behind you." He mused. Ah what a smartass. I knew he could teleport. He probably saw me from the balcony and came down here to make fun of me for running away during our lesson yesterday.

"I don't want to talk to you Ashton. I have nothing to say to you." I stated turning around to somehow head back to the manor. He dropped his façade slightly. "I came to ask for your forgiveness Fallon. I am sorry. The lesson got out of control yesterday, and when I figured out you were stuck in the wolf's mind I snapped you out of it, but it was obviously too late." He spoke. I froze in place and slowly turned back around. "Say it again." I said quietly. He took a step closer. "Forgive me Fallon?" he asked. When I didn't respond right away, he added, "I wanted to teach you how to control the mind. I thought if you felt like you could control the things around you, you'd be able to feel in control of yourself."

Surprisingly that kind of made sense. I obviously didn't get to the point where I could do that, but the lesson behind it made sense.

I guess it wasn't entirely his fault... Fine, but I wasn't ready to say it quite yet.