Crimson River

Chapter 3

After dinner Rikkard had to leave so he wouldn't worry his parents. We all quickly said our good-byes and my father watched him leave, making sure a witch didn't stop him to eat him or something equally horrific.

"Well he seems nice...," my mother casually says as I help her clean up the dining room. I roll my eyes at her and she feigns innocence.

"Nice yes but human at that," my father says as he walks in. "He is a danger to us all Cassandra. I don't want you romantically involved with him."

"Come now Charles, things need to change around here. Maybe Cassandra can do that with her Elite status. We can't stay away from the humans forever."

"Come on dad. He is nice and you yourself have said that you don't approve of the boys here. Give him a chance, I actually want to see what happens."

"I don't know Cassandra. This is risky and the results could be catastrophic," my dad says as he runs a hand through his hair.

"Or, everything could end up alright. We don't know the outcome but we can hope for the best," I say as I finish putting away the last of the dishes. I look over at my father expectantly, waiting for him to come up with a decision. He sighs and then nods, silently agreeing with me and my mother. I smile and run and hug him, making sure not to squeeze him to hard. He laughs and wraps his arms around me, making me smile. 

"Thank you dad. I promise everything will be fine."

He smiles and releases me, telling me to go upstairs and study while I can before it gets to dark to see without a light to read by. I do as he says and head up the old stairs, mentally preparing myself for the books I'm about to go through, seeking answers to my greatest question:

Why are we forbidden from being with those of non-magical descent?

I scour through the books as long as I can until I finally find an article that catches my eye.

It is said that those of non-magical or impure blood will damage the sacred lines that have been fought to keep pure. The blood of those of non-magical descent has been thought to be damaging to the blood of a Blood Witch. It has been thought that the mixing of the two can create disastrous effects on any offspring that results. The child could lose control of their power and kill many people or even destroy villages. None of this has been proven but the risk is still there hence why there can be no mingling between non-magical species and the Blood Witch society. We must keep our covens alive and pure.  

"Cassandra! It's getting dark and you have to be at the market again tomorrow! Get to bed!" I hear my mother call from downstairs so I quickly place a ribbon in the book marking the pages of my new found discovery. I place the weathered book on my bookshelf in the corner of the room and quickly ready myself for night, leaving on the pendant I received today. I call down to my parents a goodnight and then climb into bed, blowing out the white candle that rests beside me on my night stand. I quickly doze off into a peaceful sleep.

I awake the next morning to smell the beauty of chocolate chip pancakes. I quickly get up and style my hair back in a braid after dressing in lavender dress for the day, the necklace still hanging around my neck. 

I rush down the stairs and settle down for breakfast after saying a quick good morning. My father looks over at me from his newspaper. "Someone's a bit eager for breakfast aren't they?" he chuckles. 

"Of course I am! It's chocolate chip pancakes!" I say excitedly as my mother places a couple on my plate and I start eating, taking sips of the milk she gave me occasionally to please her. After I finish I quickly clean and put away my plate and glass then gather my basket by the door.