Indebted

89

Atticus and Esti spent several quiet days at the coven house. Caroline and the witches were excellent hosts and gave Atticus and Esti all the time and space they needed to regroup after the eventful meeting at the Sovran Court.

On the third day, Fowl, Lillybelle, Mace, Holly, Zinnia, Birch, Corny, Nigella and Norman all came to visit the coven house for a meal. Caroline had brought a feast from a restaurant that served buckets of fried chicken. Everyone sat around the enormous wooden kitchen table in the comfortable coven house. Court was returning to normal. Celestia had stepped up and routed out the remainder of Myrrh's sycophants. Lord Roddington and Magnus were working with the scribes to start opening court and integrating with the larger supernatural world. Magnus had officially pardoned Lord Roddington considering his efforts at the last minute to stop Myrrh's plan from coming to fruition.

Fowl and Lillybelle were going to get a home outside of court in the village and split their time between court and the human world. Holly and Zinnia were moving to the village as well, outside of the castle while their mother went to a recovery center. Corny was going to step up and be a bigger part of the Fowler estate and farm businesses, working alongside with Lillybelle's family.

Mace was thrilled to be working with Marisol, and had been given the opportunity to train with magic teachers to learn more of what she could do with her powers. Nigella and Norman told Esti that Dot sends her regards, but she had needed to return home to Terrance and their own village. No one and seen or heard from the ancient goddess Nightmother since the night of the meeting.

There were no more slaves at the Sovran Court, or at The Council. Nigella and Norman had moved into a single apartment midway between the kitchens and boilers and had never been happier in their lives. They could live freely, in love and knew that Esti was finally safe. Felt that court was going to truly become a better place for everyone who lived in the kingdom.

Esti's banishment from court remained in place. A fact both her and Atticus were more than okay with. Neither ever wanted to return after what had happened. Everyone was happy, sharing a meal, conversation flowed easily around the table. Until Nigella turned and looked at Esti, "So what will you do now? Where will you go?" Everything fell quiet.

Esti had no idea. Her gaze drifted towards Atticus, "Whatever Esti wants, wherever Esti wants." He answered confidently. Eliciting a few chuckles from around the table. Caroline and Lillybelle both had ample suggestions of places to visit for vacations. Esti was quiet. As the conversation bubbled back to life around her.

Esti truly did not know what to do with herself now. She had never before experienced such open possibilities in front of her. The entirety of her life had been mapped out for her. First as a High Lady where she had been expected to marry well, and produce many offspring and heirs for her lord.

Then while she had been banished, she had been constantly too exhausted and too hungry to worry any farther ahead then the current day or crop cycle. Once she had been enslaved she had given up any hope for her future. She had not hated the small life, living unseen and off the grid on the island. The unbearable loneliness of that time, and crippling uncertainty of not knowing if Atticus had rejected and left her intentionally had made it impossible for her to consider what she would do long term.

Now she had rescued her friends and loved ones. The Sovran Court would be a better place with no more slaves and open relations with the wider world. Atticus was by her side, and thanks to a redistribution of the wealth Myrrh had stolen from her brother's estate they had more than enough financial resources to live and do anything they could dream.

Atticus could feel Esti's mind and it churned through the endless possibilities in front of them. Keeping up conversation around her. When the feast from cardboard buckets and boxes was over. Atticus helped Esti rise to her feet, and bid their guests good night as a succubus from court was called to ferry everyone back to where they needed to be.

Promises were made to write, to call and to stay in touch. Esti was still unusually quiet. Even though the hour was still quite early in the evening, Atticus told Caroline they were going to head to bed, thanking the Coven leader for her generosity in continuing to host them.

Atticus closed the door to the green room behind them. Laying a small protection spell around the room to keep their words private. "What's wrong Esti?" Wondering what had her feeling so confused and lost.

Esti looked up at Atticus, amber eyes looking wide and lost, "I have no idea what I want?" She admitted, telling him how she never had to think about her future before, and the prospect of being able to do anything seemed too big of a task for her to wrap her mind around.

Atticus went to Esti, wrapped her up in his arms. Kissing the top of her head smiling. "That my queen is a very easy problem to solve, I think we should start by planning a vacation," Atticus took out his phone, immensely glad to be back in real civilization with active wifi readily available. Bringing up different pages of possible tropical island retreats, reclusive mountain lodge resorts, Villas they could rent across Europe.

Esti and Atticus snuggled together under the blankets of the large bed. Watching as the first flurries of winter began to dance on the chilled breezes outside. Esti looked at small pictures of aquamarine colored water, white sandy beaches, exotic palm trees and luxurious resorts and spas.

As the flurries picked up in intensity outside, Esti thought that going somewhere warm and tropical sounded like a very nice plan. Though remembering from her time as a slave the dragon at court who had needed never ending high fires in her room after vacationing near an active volcano too long, she narrowed down her choices to islands with no volcanos. Just in case.

As the hour finally grew late, they had decided to start their vacation at an exclusive resort in Bora Bora. Then Atticus had embarrassed Esti by deciding he needed to order them expedited new wardrobes. Esti was scandalized when she saw the total on his shopping spree. But Atticus only kissed her head and told her they had nothing to worry about.

Finally, near midnight, all arrangements and plans made. Atticus and Esti made love in the large bed, falling into blissful sleep as a tangle of limbs under the twisted sheets. Morning came, all the packages arrived before breakfast was over. Esti made sure to let Norman, Nigella and everyone else know of their plans. Confirming that they all had the phone number for his cell phone.

Esti packed her new clothes into her brand new luggage. Caroline promising to store everything they were not taking with them safely until they had their own, longer term plans sorted. Thanking Caroline for all the hospitality and kindness that had been offered, Esti held her head high, as her and Atticus made their way from the coven house to the car Atticus had hired to transport them to the airport. Where they would take a private plane directly to their destination. Starting their new lives, ready to face the world together.

The End. 

For now at least. I'm not thrilled with this ending, I'm going to reserve the right to come back and redo the ending here, but I'm stuck and an ending is better than no ending right?