Desires

•CHAPTER LIII•

Lexi scoffed and folded her arms tight. "As much as that is a great idea hun, it's not going to work."
We all looked at her with disbelief. Charlie looked a little hurt actually.
"But it has to-" Cole said and Lexi sighed rubbing her temples.
"No, no. You guys don't understand. This is dark magic, it's dark shit okay? You tell them Noelle." Lexi said.

I never knew Charlie's mothers name. We all called her Mrs Vissa.
"It's a great idea sweetheart." Charlie's mum said and rubbed her back. "But Lexi is right. You can't do anything with dark magic. It's stubborn and has taken a grasp on Anna of that we can't get rid of."
"But there has to be a way." Cole said in unison with Levi.
"Surely there's a loophole. I heard there always is one with magic." Gabby said looking at the Vissa's hopefully.

Charlie's mother sighed and shook her head. "There's one way." She uttered and fiddled with the ring between her fingers.
"Well?" Jason said.
Mrs Vissa shook her head. "It's not going to happen."
"What's not going to happen?" Jason asked.
"We won't know if we don't try." Levi said.

Mrs Vissa seemed stubborn to release her idea. "So she's after the beacon yes?" Mrs Vissa said.
Lexi nodded and scoffed. "Probably found a grey hair the other day." She said sarcastically as the power that her mother was gathering had kept her young all those years.
"It's an absolutely tragic idea." Mrs Vissa said.
"Mum, just tell us what it is!" Charlie cried impatiently.

"It's the beacon. We have to get to it before she does." Romeo said. He always gets to it before anyone else has the chance. I can't help but feel proud of him too.

Jason burst out laughing and when he realised that Mrs Vissa was being serious he stopped.
"Noelle, you have to be joking." Gabby said.
"That's asking for the impossible." Jason joined in and Charlottes mum ignored him.
There was a pause before she spoke again, like she was spinning the words in her head.
"It's not entirely impossible." She said and looked at her coloured stoned rings. She looked back up at me and met me with those eyes. I had been to scared to give her any glance until now. I couldn't look away. "The beacon is much more in reach than you think." She finally spoke.
"It must be, if Anna is after it." Lexi said, calling her own mother by her first name. I could see how disconnected they were and I could imagine the pain Anna had left behind for Lexi and her sisters.
Gabby clapped her hands together. "Oh gosh! Look at the time. You all should be heading back. Azra, your mother would not be happy with me if you weren't back for supper." She said and clasped her hands around my cheeks. I smile at the wake gesture. "Yeah, we should get going." I say going along with it though I'm certain my mother may not even be there.

Everyone shifts around and we say goodbye to the Maccon's and walk out way out with Charlie and her mother.
Before Romeo and I walk down the street, Mrs Vissa takes hold of my wrist.
She looks at me intently like she's forgotten her words and then let's go of me. There's a cold feeling where she placed her hand leaving me feeling slightly uncomfortable.
"Be careful, Azra." She says and looks up at Romeo who towers over her even in heels. "Both of you." She turns on her feet and Charlie waves us goodbye before we walk up toward my house.

"What was that all about?" I ask once we reach the gates, Romeo shrugs silently.
He has a brooding frown that makes me believe he's thinking about something.

I'm too distracted to ask him what he's thinking because I see my mothers car in the driveway. And the other car. Jacks I presume.

"Hey, listen," Romeo says and tilts my chin up to look at his. "I'll be back a little later than usual okay? So don't stay up. I'll be there when you wake up."
I frown stubbornly, unhappy at the news.
"Why? Where are you going?"
He sighs and rubs his thumb across my cheek.
"It's nothing you have to worry about." He says and kisses my forehead. "Goodnight." He whispers before I feel a cool breeze where he left his kiss.

I don't want to open my eyes because I'll be met with his disappearance but I do anyways, facing my front door.

I tentatively walk in and shut the door behind me, hearing chatter coming from the dining room. I try and creep upstairs, holding my breath at the loud sound of the creaks giving my cover away.

"Azra?" My mothers voice rings through the hallway.
I clench my teeth, not wanting to speak to her after her disappearance over the couple of days.

I reluctantly shuffle my way to the kitchen and step into the dining room seeing my mother sitting next to Jack in an all too cozy manner.

"Hello darling, how was your day?" She says in a pulled voice. Her false sweetness soaks through me leaving me feeling chilled and uncomfortable.
"It was good. The weather was clear." I say finding myself internally laughing at the thought of her reaction if I ever told her about what really happened today.
"See! Morgen has its perks!" Jack says and leans his elbows on the table. They're both wearing casual wear since it's the weekend making them look much younger and homely. It makes me feel sick.

I nod to Jack politely and give out a false chuckle.
"Anyways, I'm going to get to my essay that's waiting for me." I lie and turn on my heels feeling their watchful eyes at my back whilst I walk out and upstairs.

I shut my bedroom door with a relieved sigh feeling the cold wood on my back.

I sit at my desk and try to occupy myself by scrolling through social media on my laptop. I see the people from my old school bathing in sunshine in the meadows of Oakton. I'm disturbed by a light knock on my door.

I take off my headphones and spin around on my chair.
"Come in." I say and Jacks head poked around the door.
I'm taken by surprise and shut my laptop.
"Uh hey." I mumble wondering why he's upstairs and not downstairs with my mother. But I hear her muffled voice, she's on the phone.
"Hey there kiddo." He says in a friendly tone that I appreciate. "How's the essay going?"
I shrug and secretly cross my fingers hoping that he wouldn't ask me to read it because there was no essay for him to read.
"Uhm it's a slow process." I say and he chuckles.
"Yeah, I remember having to write essays. Pain in the ass really." He says.
"But isn't that kind of your job? Writing articles and such." I say. Even though he's the boss I'm sure he has to do some work.
He chuckles more and shakes his head. "You have more life than I thought."

I have a moment where I try and think what he meant by that whilst trying not to get offended too.

He turns around like he's watching out for something and then talks in a hushed voice.
"Listen Azra, on a more serious note. How have you been? These past few days?" He asks.
I frown a little. Is he addressing the fact that my mother had neglected me?
"Uhm fine." I say and shrug.
He nods and there's a pause where he's trying to develop his words.
"Just hang in there okay?" He says desperately and I frown. The air in the room grows heavy and I feel a heave in my chest.

He suddenly leaves my room and shuts the door leaving me puzzled.

Did he know about the relationship between my and my mother?

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authors note:

sooooooooo what do you think?

have a lovely day/night!

-kiim