[Forewarning: Swearing Imminent]
[Edited: ✔️]
~•~
Witches. Well known for their green skin, long, crooked nose, warts, pointy hat and flying broomstick. Well, that's not at all true. The image and reputation of witches has been ruined by history. Media isn't helping either. The Salem Witch Trials was not at all an act of kindness to the people. It was an act of hate. The hatred they – the people back in those times – harboured towards us was equal to what the Americans had towards the Germans back in World War 2. It was sad. It was depressing. But what's happened was in the past. They believed they'd wiped out all witches. Well, how sad are they to find out that they were wrong.
There aren't really any hard feelings, really. What they did was out of fear for what could have been done to innocents if the witch 'menace' wasn't dealt with. And those witches weren't really the best examples.
Enough of our history. Time for me.
My name is Lex, Lex Holloway, of House Holloway. I'm currently 17 and I am in my senior year of high school. Yes, you heard me right; Senior. I took advanced classes over summer break of my first year, that bumped me up a grade. At least I'll get to graduate early from this prejudicetic, 'normal', school and go on to witching academy in New Orleans. Yeah. That's a far way from San Francisco, but it's where all the world's aspiring young witches go to once they finish their regular studies in high school.
Right now I was in the canteen, sitting at my usual table with my two best friends, Martha Conway and Loraine Monroe, picking at my food with a fork. I didn't feel like eating, and I wasn't in the mood to socialise. Both of them knew not to bother me while I was in one of my moods, and I really appreciate their consideration. I love them so much. As you can guess, Martha and Loraine are from witch Houses as well. House Holloway have been close friends with House Conway and House Monroe for a long time. Have been ever since our great great grandparents met in their youth.
"Did you hear? Mrs Harvey is going to have a pop quiz again today." Martha said, taking a bite out of her sandwich that she's brought from home.
"Again?" Loraine groaned, huffing a breath of annoyance. "This is the third time this week. She can't expect us to pass all of her stupid pop quizzes."
"I know right? It's been so annoying. I had to stay up and read the chapters we've learned, three times last night." Martha emphasised her irritation. "Honestly, I'm tempted to just hex her." I smiled at her, my mood completely changing.
"A mind wipe?" I smirked at her suggestively. She knew I was joking, though.
"Exactly." She said, her smile widening.
"Nice of you to join our conversation, Miss Holloway." Loraine teased. "Finally out of that weird mood you have?" I grinned and nodded my head. "Good. Because I can't survive Martha's ranting, alone." She laughed.
"Hey!" Martha exclaimed, offended.
"It's okay, Martha." Loraine said, hugging her from her seat. "We're stuck together no matter what." She laughed.
The bell rang after a few more minutes of empty chatter. The three of us went to our respective classes. Honestly, my class couldn't have passed any faster. By the time I knew it, I was already in my final period, Biology, dreading the moment when Mrs Harvey would walk in and announce the pop quiz. Martha sat beside me and Loraine behind us with a boy whose name I didn't bother learning.
A minute before the bell rang, Mrs Harvey walks in, greeting the class. "Good morning, Mrs Harvey." Everyone greeted back in unison. She put a stack of papers down on her desk and turned to the class with a smile on her face.
"Good news," She said. "Pop quiz!" There a loud collective groan that erupted in the class from everyone inside. "Now, now. It won't be hard, I promise." She reasoned. That's what she said on Tuesday, and guess what happened. I got a C. How depressing.
After she'd distributed the question papers to each student, she went back to her desk and sat down, "You may begin."
I was already done with my paper, just waiting for the clock to strike 1.10 P.M.
"Times up." Mrs Harvey said, right as the bell rang.
She collected everyone's paper and I started picking my things and left the class to go to my locker. Martha and Loraine knew where to find me. I was usually at my locker after school let out before I go home.
I stopped at my locker and opened it, putting away the books that I didn't need, to lighten my load. Martha and Loraine came as they were talking about some boys in their other classes. Honestly, I don't have time for... that. It's not that I don't want to, I just can't. Not with a normal boy, at least. It's forbidden for a witch to fall in love with a human boy. The fear of a human successor was imbedded in my mind ever since I was little. My mother and father always told me: "You can't marry a normal boy. You have to marry a Caster."
As usual, the three of us walked home together. We headed to my house because it was the closest, and Martha and Loraine wanted to hang out for a while before they each went home, so, I let it become an everyday thing. Mom didn't seem to mind. She actually likes their presence at our house. They're practically family.
We reached my house and went inside. Immediately upon entry, I could smell mom's cooking in the kitchen. She was at it again. "Mom, were home!" I called out from the front door after closing the door behind us.
"I'm in the kitchen!" She called back in a sing-songy voice.
The three of us walked to the kitchen where my mother was and greeted her before going up to my room. "Are you both staying for dinner?" Mom asked Martha and Loraine as we were walking up the stairs. The both of them nodded and we continued on our way up. Mom went back to cooking that weird stuff from my great great grandmother's old recipe book. It's not that it's bad, it is, but it's the fact that she actually does it... wrong, even when she's following the recipe. She's the type of person who follows instruction literally. If the recipe calls for a carrot, in goes a carrot. She's not chopping anything up. But like hell am I telling her. She'd never let me live it down.
We went into my room and sat on the bed after dumping our bags by the desk in my room. "So, wanna practice?" Martha asked. Loraine and I nodded eagerly. Out of the three of us, Martha was more skilled in magic, but power-wise, it was me. Control-wise, it came down to Loraine. Martha could cast spells far beyond mine and Loraine's capabilities. Loraine could cast a spell and have it be completely stable for a long time. I could cast spells, and have its effect/effects be stronger than normal. So, when we practiced, all three of us chipped in to give each other a bit of what we know. Martha teaches us new spells, Loraine teaches us control, and I teach them how to balance their power in a spell.
That's how the rest of our afternoon went, and when evening came, we were tired. Not just physically, but mentally, too. Casting spells drains our energy fast. This is why witches don't usually cast spells unless it's necessary.
"Ladies, dinner's ready!" Mom called from downstairs.
"Come on, let's eat." I said, getting up off the bed, the both of them following suit as we made our way down to the dining room.
My calm and happy mood was soon shattered when I entered the dining room and saw something. Or, more specifically, someone.
"Fuck..."
🌙
So, I'm writing. Yay! I'm really excited for this, I already have the first few chapters drafted. I just need to proofread them a few times before I publish them. As for my update schedule, I'll be updating every 2 weeks. Yes, 2 weeks. I'm in my senior year and I have a huge, huge, huge test at the end of the year that will determine my future. So, yeah. Goodnight! It's 3 A.M right now!
~+ E.V.E.
