Seeking Vengeance🔖

~9~ Escape

Alcina stared outside the window of the bus she sat in on her way home. And home this time as in the coven of the three witches she called family. It was around eleven am on Sunday. She had made her way out the Moretti fortress early this morning.

The moment they got back to the fort that night, Alcina had tried desperately, demanding that she was allowed to leave. She had broken down in tears, wailing about not being cut out for this and almost getting killed. Leonardo had persuaded her to stay, that it was too risky. She had led him on to think she had changed her mind up until this morning. She used the whole of Saturday plotting and making friends. She met some of Leonardo's cousins.
Antonio, Leonardo's uncle was the one she used in her scheme the most. Aside from Leonardo and Julian, he was also in command. After a little sweet talking, like dads always liked, he had let her out when she asked to take a walk around the estate without thinking twice. Getting through the gate was no problem, Valentino, the dummy there had let her out once she said Leonardo had given permission.

The bus ride took about twenty minutes. She made an on-the-spot decision to visit her counsellor,Catherine. Catherine never works on Sundays, so Alcina would visit her at home. She needed someone to tell all that happened this past week and she saw that person in Catherine. She decided to walk since it was a short distance.

Catherine lived in a cute neighbourhood in a cute house. Her neighbours were the best,the type that invited you over for thanksgiving, Christmas parties and even remembered your birthday maybe even having spare keys to your own house. Which is sooo not creepy. The keys.

Alcina rang the doorbell. Footfalls approached the door.
"Who is it?" Catherine chirped from inside.
"The naughty little girl who stole petty jewellery" Alcina replied stifling a giggle. It was their little inside joke.

"Oh dear. Whatever shall I do? I hope she isn't here to steal mine?" Catherine played along. Alcina rolled her eyes.

"Just open the door Mrs Catherine" Alcina said in a bored tone.
"Don't give me that attitude" Catherine said opening the door. "Besides you started it. If I don't play along,you young folks would call me boring and old fashioned"

"You'd never be boring to me Mrs Catherine. Old fashioned, maybe. But boring, never. Heck, you're cooler than some teachers at school. They are the definition of boring and old fashioned"

"On that note. I've told you to stop calling me Mrs Catherine". Catherine said as they got comfortable on the couch. "Call me something hip like Catty or C or Cat or Ms C..."

Alcina burst out laughing. She cleaned imaginary tears from her eyes. This was what she loved most about Catherine, her sense of humour, although Catherine was oblivious to it.

"Where are my manners. Would you like something to eat or drink?"
"Orange juice" Alcina replied almost immediately.

Catherine sauntered over to the kitchen, which was adjacent to the living room.
"Hip huh?!" Alcina giggled. The older woman's choice of words still fresh in her memory.
"I'd love to call you something hip, as you put it. But I don't want to come off as disrespectful to you elderly folks".

"Now you're calling me old" Catherine huffed as she set their glasses on the coffee table. Alcina giggled.

Catherine had two sons. They both settled down in Italy after college and only visited during holidays. They'd fly over if they heard their mom was in danger. Catherine didn't look her age at all. At 56, she could do what 40 year olds can't do. She had even taken part in a 10k run just a month ago.
She had given birth at a young age, her husband died from cancer the year her sons graduated from college. The fact that Alcina and Catherine had lost a close family member to the same disease drew them closer.