Morana knows she's different from other people in more ways than one. Firstly, she's sixty-seven years old but stopped ageing in her twenties. Weird things have also happened around her right after she's wished for it. But most importantly, no matte...
I paced back and forth in the apartment. Morana had been gone for close to three hours when I finally got a message from her saying she was on her way home. I had immediately messaged back telling her I would come and pick her up, but she had declined it by saying she was already almost at the bus.
But I couldn't wait for her quietly anymore. I was far too anxious for that. So I walked the length of the living room over and over.
Finally, after what felt like another forever, I heard the key go into the lock and I immediately rushed to the hallway to meet her.
"Are you okay? Did they hurt you somehow?" I asked as soon as she stepped over the threshold.
She gave me a bright and warm smile that made me breathe a sigh of relief.
"We just chatted. Nothing else," she answered and took off her jacket.
"You're not just saying that, are you? You're really not hurt in any way?"
She moved forward and put her arms around my waist and leaned her head against my shoulder. "You worry too much."
"Can you really blame me? Like you wouldn't do the same," I answered and placed my hands on her back, finally feeling myself calm down.
"I would, yeah. But I really am fine, so no need to worry anymore."
"What did she want to talk to you about?"
She let go of me and frowned slightly. Then she led the way to the living room to sit down before answering. That had my anxiety rising again. Her actions all just seemed far too serious for my liking.
"Well, to start with, she asked me a bunch of stuff to get to know me better," she told me. "Then, after a long chat, she went on to invite me to join the coven."
My heart sank a bit. "And... What did you answer?"
"I didn't decline her right then and there. It just didn't feel like I could do it in a good way that wouldn't risk biting me in the ass."
My heart sank further. I knew from all that Morana had said that I shouldn't worry about her joining the coven, but getting over insecurities wasn't that easy a feat. The coven did, after all, have a lot to offer her, a lot that not many would turn down. It wasn't really strange for me to worry she would take them up on their offer. In fact, it would be weirder if she turned them down just for my sake.
"Okay," I answered and did my best to hide my emotions.
"I must say though, I understand why people would be charmed by her. She really knows how to put her best foot forward when necessary. And she knows how to pick the right words," Morana continued, and looked deep in thought.
"What do you mean?" My insides grew cold.
"I mean that she really talked and acted as if she was genuinely interested in getting to know me. And well, she definitely expressed herself well in an attempt to trash you." Morana gave me what probably was an apologetic look, but I felt myself becoming too cold and nauseated to notice much. My guard and insecurity also went up, and I felt myself getting ready to attack to try to lessen the effect her words had on me.
"Trash me?" I asked, and there was a certain level of detachment in my voice.
"Yeah, saying stuff like that the coven cares for you but that you are being ungrateful and that I will come to see that too."
I scoffed. "Well, seems like you all had a lovely chat. She probably loves you, so you'll be able to have more chats like that in the future."
"Can you stop that?" she exclaimed and rolled her eyes at me.
"What? Am I lying?" I snapped back.
"You're clearly not trusting me and how I feel about you again. I'm just telling you what she said to be open and honest with you. And I understand it might not be fun to hear, but stop taking out your hurt over how your mom treats you on me, because you not trusting that I'll stay by your side is hurting me."
I felt shame starting to come, and I hung my head. "Sorry," I mumbled, and then felt her lean in and place a kiss on my cheek.
"It's alright. I know I've done the same. But I don't want to risk fighting with you over something that isn't even actually an issue."
I looked back up and pulled her to me. Pulled her to sit on my lap while I hugged her tightly.
"You really don't have any desire to join the coven? Not even the tiniest?" I asked.
"None at all," she reassured me and then sighed. "But I need to figure out how to formulate that to them in a good way by next week."
"Why by next week?" I wondered while realizing what was happening then and what would be required of me.
"She invited me to the Yule celebration and made it clear she wants an answer latest that day."
"Don't go!" I immediately exclaimed.
She frowned. "Why not?"
"I..." I had no idea how to even begin to tell her. It all was too shameful, and I didn't want her to know how powerless I actually was against the coven. All I wanted was to protect her, keep her safe from everything. But how could I claim to be able to do that when I couldn't even stand up for myself?
"Alejo, what happens during the celebrations?" she pressed on.
I shook my head and closed my eyes.
"If you don't tell me, things will probably go very wrong. Because as long as you have to go, I will go. End of story. So it's better if you prepare me."
She was right. But... I couldn't bring myself to say it all. Couldn't expose that shameful part of my life. How that was really all the worth I held, a servant and walking blood bag.
"It's the ceremonies just," I finally said. "They can be a bit... nasty. The blood on my wrists after Samhain. It was from cuts during the ceremony."
I opened my eyes and saw how her face had gone slightly pale.
"They take people's blood during the ceremony? Why?"
"Just some ceremonial things that require blood. That's all."
She went quiet and seemed thoughtful for a moment. Then she gave me a soft smile. "I'd probably not be a part of that, so you won't have to worry about me being hurt or so. Your mom said that certain parts of the celebration are for coven-members only. The ceremonies should be that, right?"
"Right," I agreed and breathed a sigh of relief because of two things. Firstly, she probably was right and she wouldn't under any circumstances be in that basement during the ceremony.
The second part was that she had clearly drawn the wrong conclusions from the vague answer I had given her. She had assumed everyone was cut. That everyone had to give blood. That I didn't want her there because she'd have to give some of her blood. My vagueness had stopped her from understanding it was only my blood that was taken and as long as she never set her foot in that basement, she'd never have to know the truth.
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