The Witch of Willow Lake

Sixteen

"Hey, honey." Alicia smiled as I walked through the door, "Good night with the girls?"

"Yeah, we just sat eating ice cream and watching some lame chick flick." I sighed heavily as I aimlessly threw myself back onto the black leather couch.

Alicia narrowed her eyes at me as her head tilted an inch to the side, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." I lied, feigning a smile as I sat down.

Alicia stood there, folding her arms against her chest as her thin eyebrow raised, "Yeah, and I'm Jack the Ripper. Hallie, I've known you for over eighty years, you can't fool me. What's wrong? You know if you don't tell me, Emmett will pry it out of you."

I groaned in defeat, I couldn't hide anything from the two anymore. "I don't know. We're not leaving for another month, and I'm already feeling homesick. I don't want to leave."

Alicia relaxed her arms and gave me a small, sad smile, "We don't want to. However, I already have to mess around with make-up to make me look more like a woman in her forties. You have to mess around with it too. Emmett's getting questions from all the guys at work, wondering how a man in his mid-forties looks as good as he does. We can't risk staying much longer."

"I know. It just sucks, that's all. All this constant moving is taking its toll. And Masato..."

"You love him, don't you?" I could only nod to Alicia's question. "Maybe this time we should retire to the mountains or something. Find us a beautiful landscape to build a cabin on and stay there a little while."

"You know out of all the problems back then I thought I'd have to deal with as a Vampire, Hybrid, Witch thing...this wasn't even on the list."

"I know, love. You don't regret your choice, though, do you?"

I shook my head, "No. I mean certain things suck about this life, but I don't regret it. Just have to take the good with the bad. There's always light to be found in the darkest places, just like Zach used to say."

"And we'll always have each other too. We're going to take you hunting when the idiot gets back. You must hunt and eat before the benefit tomorrow."

We always had to hunt and eat right before there would be a large gathering of human bodies. If we went without feeding the urge to kill, or we attended even just even a little thirsty, there was no promise it would end well for anyone.

"Okay, I'm going to head upstairs for a little while we wait for the fool." I sighed, standing up and heading towards the lounge door.

"Okay, and hey, Hallie?" Alicia stepped closer to me and pulled me into her arms. "I love you."

"I love you too, Mom."

"You know, you don't have to call me that when we're alone." She chortled.

"No, I know, but I guess I'm used to it. Plus, you are my Mom in ways, just like Emmett is a Dad to me."

"Aw, darling, and you, our daughter. Go relax a little; he should be home within an hour."

I nodded, pressing my lips to Alicia's cheek before running warp speed up to my bedroom.

I found my speaker dock, placing my phone carefully on the port, and turned on the music before I threw myself onto the plush bed, waiting for Emmett to get home.

------

Alicia gasped, both of her hands held over her heart, "oh my! Hallie, you look beautiful!"

I stood there shuffling, feeling my cheeks warm a little as I stood there in the dress Elise and Daisy helped me pick. The dress was a full length, deep purple, decorated with black appliques that ran around the bodice and down one side of the flared skirt. The neckline was a sweetheart cut that accentuated my small, but firm chest finished with a thick, black velvet choker.