Potions and Coffee | 𝓐𝓵𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻 & 𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓵𝓲𝓮

Chapter 40 - Family Matters

Charlie felt suffocated and trapped.

Not the best way to come to after attempting to save the man you love, but beggars can't be choosers especially in Hell. Confusion seeped through her as she realized that she was standing up. She peeked open her eyes slightly and saw that she was standing in a kitchen. It wasn't the hotel kitchen either so that made her even more perplexed. A part of her still felt very uncomfortable being in an unknown place but something else started to bloom in her chest. The tiniest flicker of comfort swelled in her, even if it was just fleeting. She looked around the area slowly and saw that she was in a very small kitchen. The circular kitchen table had a basket filled with fruit in the middle, surrounded by beige placemats. The wallpaper was decorated with a pattern of small flowers, pink and budding. It eased the uneasiness in her stomach bit by bit until she felt completely welcome. 

"Do my eyes deceive me or am I finally meeting the infamous Charlie Morningstar?"

The sweet voice startled Charlie, making her swiftly turn toward the hallway where it came from. There, she saw an older woman in the entryway. She had milk chocolate hair that was pinned in a high bun. Small rivers of silver ran through from her roots but she still managed to pull it off. Her emerald eyes looked over Charlie a few times until her smile grew. Charlie felt like she knew that smile from somewhere, but her brain was still a bit foggy. 

"Um, hello! I'm so sorry but do I know you?" Charlie asked shyly. She loathed not being able to recognize people. She didn't want them to feel like they weren't important by her not remembering them. The woman chuckled, placing a dainty hand to her chest. She adorned a faded pink sundress with brown heels to match. She almost reminded Charlie of a chocolate covered strawberry and she had to suppress the giggle that formed in her throat. 

"I would assume not. Forgive me for being elusive, we've never actually met before." She held out a hand for Charlie to shake and she couldn't help but notice a tiny tan line on her finger where a wedding band used to be. "My name is Cecile."

Charlie reached forward and grabbed her hand to shake as something clicked within her. 

"You're Alastor's mother." There was no need to phrase it as a question. Cecile's smile stayed put on her face as she returned to her hand by her side. It looked so much like Alastor's grin, but much more sweet and less manic. 

"You are as perceptive as I imagined you to be." She said with a nod of her head. 

"How. How am I seeing you right now? Where am I?" Charlie looked around the room once more now with this new realization. They were standing in Alastor's childhood kitchen. They were in New Orleans and it looked like time had frozen from way back when. Cecile looked around the room as well, less curiosity and more adornment in her eyes. 

"I've been able to reach Alastor through his dreams, as difficult as it has been. Traveling between realms is quite challenging." Cecile said casually. Charlie whipped her head to face her again, her eyes wide as the dinner plates that were in the oak wood cabinets. 

"You're in Heaven." 

"You are correct. Imagine my...devastation when I learn of my son's demise and he..." Cecile stopped, her jugular twitching as she fights down a sob. "Regardless. If the only way I get to see my son is through dreams, then so be it." 

"He wouldn't have a clue that he was actually seeing the real you though! Isn't that awful?"

"Not as awful as never seeing him again. I did everything I could to comfort him while he was alive and in death. That boy is rather difficult, as I'm sure you've experienced." Cecile cocked her head and gave a sympathetic grin. Charlie chuckled lightly.