• eccentric estate • 5sos

3.

"Okay," Jasper sighed, "This is Adela's office. You should probably go in alone. You guys have a lot of time to make up for, and I have to find Castle anyway."

"Castle?" Ashton asked.

"My boyfriend." Jasper grinned. "And my friends. I'll introduce them all to you later. Right now, you should probably go meet your mother."

"Probably." Ashton laughed. "See you later."

"See you." Jasper nodded with a smile, spinning on his heels and walking back down the long hallway.

Ashton took a deep breath. He opened the door slowly. His mother was facing away from him, adjusting a painting on the wall. He couldn't see much from behind. She was tall, but shorter than him. She had quite the small frame. She had blonde hair. That's all he could really make out. But when she turned around, a surge of warm, comforting nostalgia ran through his body. He breathed in, and could feel his heart beating faster.

That was her. That was his mother. He could feel it now.

"Mum." His eyes filled with tears before he was even aware of it. "It's you."

"My son," she smiled, "it's you."

He quickly walked across the room to her and she opened her arms for him. He hugged her tightly, blinking back his tears and snuggling into her shoulder.

"I've waited so long for this moment." She sighed. "Oh, Ashton, I've waited so long."

"Hey, mum." Was all he could think to say.

She pulled away from him, and put both hands on his face.

"I've been watching you, Ashton. I've watched you from the day you were born, I watched you grow up. Martie and Todd did a wonderful job raising you, but now, it's my turn to take over. I've been waiting for you." She kissed his cheek, and motioned for him to sit down in the chair in front of her desk.

"I just don't understand." He said, as she took her seat at her desk. "Why did you send me away? Didn't you want me here?"

"Of course I did." She assured him. "It was for your own good, Ashton. I promise. And it nearly killed me."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I was protecting you." She said. "It won't make sense to you, I know it won't. But I knew I had to protect you at all costs."

"Protect me from what, exactly?"

She brushed him off, "Oh, Ashton, you just got here. I don't want to ruin our new time together with negativity."

He sighed. "Your right, mum. Sorry. But, why don't I need that protection anymore?"

"Well, because you're older now," she explained. "You can use your own power, and protect yourself. And I've kept your arrival on the down low anyway. I just know I can't keep you away from me forever."

"Well, I'm glad." He nodded.

"Me too." She smiled, putting her hand on his. "I'm so glad you're here. I really think you're going to love it. Shall I go over the basics with you?"

He nodded, "Please do."

"Well, as you know, it's an academy. Just like a boarding school you'd be used to, just with different classes and criteria. You'll get a roommate, in fact, I've already assigned you one."

"Is it Jasper?" Ashton asked. He was hoping it would be, considering he'd already met him and felt quite comfortable with him.

"No, Jasper and Castle have roomed together since they were first years. They've become quite close."

Ashton chuckled, "So I've heard."

"You'll be rooming with a second year named Luke. He's a shadow hunter."

"So are you like, the head of the school?"

"Oh no," she giggled, "I'm only a teacher. I teach the history of magic, you'll be in that class. The head of the school, actually, is your Nana."

"My nana?"

"Madam Lorelei. But Nana, to you. She's my mother." Adela smiled.

"Woah." Ashton whispered. "Do I uh, have a father?"

Adela squirmed a bit, "He's not really in the picture."

"Right." Ashton coughed with a nod. "That's alright. I'm just glad I have you."

"I'm glad I have you too, darling." Adela smiled. "I've prepared your dorm myself, well, your side of the dorm, of course. I've already stocked your closet with your uniforms, provided your textbooks and things, and I've stored some extra quilts in the chest by your bed if you get cold. I've also provided some books you may like, and school materials at your writing desk. If there's anything else you think you'll need, don't hesitate to let me know."

"I think you've just about covered it." He chuckled, "Thanks, mum."

Ashton liked to say that out loud. The word seemed to finally have a true meaning.

"Oh," Adela gasped, forgetting one more thing. "Your wand. And your broom."

She handed him his wand first. "It was hand crafted," She told him.
It was long, and thin, and made of dark rosewood. The base had some grooves carved out, and a jade gemstone was placed in the center of the handle. A thin line of golden shimmer coiled around it. His broom was a matching rosewood, and was the perfect height.

"These are awesome, mum." He beamed. "Thank you so much."

"Don't thank me." Adela smiled. "Your Nana had them made special. You'll meet her tonight, at orientation."

Ashton was a bit nervous, but after all, she was family.

Funny how strange that sounded now.