A Witch's World

3) Coming Into Contact

Layla:

I took small breaths as I concentrated on the task at hand. Surprisingly, packing helped to soothe my nerves, the methodical process kept my mind occupied and away from thoughts of what I was about to face. Taking another breath, I folded another pair of jeans in to my suitcase, which was now half full with other items that I would be taking with me. But then...would these clothes stick out like a sore thumb at the Palace? Not that I had much of a choice.

I looked up at the vast walk in closet in Matt's bedroom, well I should really call it our bedroom now that I had pretty much moved int o the Lake house. Many of my clothes still hung on the rail, more so then at my Aunt and Uncle's house in England, but that's because over the last year I have been going from there to here, each time taking more clothes with me. I touched briefly on the sapphire and diamond necklace that hung around my throat. Through all of this, I had never taken it off, not since the day I put it on two years ago when I first went on the run, I guess it just made me think that Mum was closer to me, and let's be honest, I needed all the strength I could get at that time.

Matt had already packed, of course, and was downstairs fixing us some lunch, the smell of bacon wafted teasingly into the room and I perked my head up slightly.

No, I scolded myself, I have to finish packing. I frowned, how can men pack in ten minutes? That was beyond me, not that I took hours on end trying to sort out which shoes went with which skirt, oh no, jeans will do me fine. But...what if jeans weren't...acceptable to wear at the Palace? I shook my head, nope not gunna think about it again.

I finished packing the last of my things and zipped up the suitcase with a satisfing click, glad I was finished, and just in time to as I heard a faint buzzing inside my head. And no I'm not hearing voices, well not imaginary ones anyway.

(Layla, food is ready and it smells mighty good, if I say so myself)

I smiled at Matt's mental voice as he proceeded to send me a mental picture of the bacon in front of him. I groaned out loud, it had the perfect amount of crisp that he knew I loved. Unlocking the mental block in my head, I let my own thoughts drift down to Matt's mind.

(Be down in a sec lover boy)

I focused on my blank space and pushed it to the front of my mind where it locked in place, concealing my thoughts once again. The process took little effort. I felt Matt's presence leave my mind and knew he to had blocked his mind. We often unlocked our thoughts when we were here, seeing as this mansion is so huge, and because we were the only two people here for miles around, I could hear him even if he was all the way in the woods around the estate. But other then that, my thoughts stayed as only mine.

I jumped up off the floor and walked out the room to the airlift, my bare feet sinking into the rich carpet. Pressing the down arrow, I hopped into the column and fell to the floor below, letting the airlift slow my speed as I reached the first floor. I stepped onto solid ground and walked briskly to the room where the yummy smell was pulling me in.

Walking on the wooden floorboards in the kitchen I looked out the huge wall made of glass that faced the front and saw the magnificent lake, crystal clear as per usual, I sure would miss this view. I turned and saw Matt putting bacon and eggs into sandwich's. He looked up at me and gave me a wink before placing the frying pan in the sink. He lifted a hand and without looking, the salt and pepper flew into his open palm. A little salt on my eggs for me and pepper on his bacon for him, I swear we really were like a married couple.

I picked up my plate as he did his and we sat around the granite island in the kitchen.

"You know, you could have let me help." I said as I dug into lunch. The eggs melted on my tongue and complimented the salty bacon. Matt really was getting good at cooking, something I never would have thought possible.