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  “May be best if they do not all come. Our house capacity will be close to maximum if they do.” Dreven observed casually, officially making himself part of the conversation. “We may need to expand soon if we keep taking in all these orphans.”

  Dirk stared hard at Dreven. Dreven just shrugged and looked away from the Master Wolf, and to Morgain who he knew would back up his reasoning.

  “Unfortunately, Dreven is right. But we can fit all the wolves from the village here, for now. I will confer with the other witches about what we can do for a new haven. But that will wait for a while. Dirk, I think you should establish contact with the village and see their situation. If they are safe for now, then let them decide if they want to split up or wait. I have a couple other rescues that need some immediate attention.” Morgain stated.

  “Yes, yes. You have witches needing saved. I'm sure that is a priority.” Dirk spat at her.

  “Please do not forget that the witches that live here maintain the spell that keeps us all safe.” Morgain turned her attention away from Dirk and toward Dreven. “Thank you for joining us. I need you to help Alarin track two witches. I do not believe they are in immediate danger, but the Hunters are only a few days away from finding their hideout. It will be a double mission like the last one, but I trust that this time, with your help, we can bring in both instead of just one.” Morgain looked casually toward Dirk as she finished her statement.

  Hmm. There was a story here that Dreven was very interested to know. He kept quiet, however.

  “Yes, it was tragic. But Rodelle is going to bolster the witches’ ranks tremendously. She is quite powerful. I told you of her display of magic as I came upon her.” Alarin spoke up.

  Rodelle. That was her name. It resonated through him to the very center of his being. But why? He closed his eyes and followed her name through his mind, letting it lead him back to the center of his memories.

  It was so long ago. Yet, suddenly, it felt like yesterday. Standing stoically beside a stone coffin as the tomb doors were shut, barred, and then sealed. It took only seconds for his eyes to adjust somewhat to the complete blackness, his ability to see in the dark helped him to read the name on the coffin he stood next to.

  Luminita

  Perplexed as to why he would think of that when pondering on the young witch, he opened his eyes back up to see Alarin staring at him.

  “Yes, I think Dreven and I can find them just fine. And tonight. Then we can put a small team together to extract them once we deem it safe to do so. We will get them both back here safely.” Alarin was looking back at Morgain but his statement was pointed at Dirk.

  Dreven nodded. He could track any magic user or Were being better than most. At least Alarin was not forcing him to do more than that. Yet. He knew the Master Vampire wanted him to be involved in rescues in the near future.

  Dirk snorted like the beast he was. “It was not my fault the nature witch could charm animals. She caught me off guard.” The leader of the werewolves broke his glare away from Alarin and started for the door. “I will contact the wolf village tonight, and we will speak again tomorrow.” He slammed the office door behind him.

  “It was just that very reason why I wanted that particular witch in our house. She would have been a great helper with the young wolves.” Morgain sighed, then turned to grab her shawl from the chair behind her. “I am going to visit our wolf sanctuary in the woods. I believe we could have some of the more stable wolves stay there for a while if we get full.” She nodded towards Alarin then towards Dreven and shawl in hand, exited the office.

  “The new witch girl has some sort of effect on you.” Alarin stated just as Dreven had turned towards the door to leave.

  He turned back. “She somehow makes me remember certain things. From long ago. I have not yet figured out why.”

  “If she brings out darker things in you, Dreven, we may need to make sure the two of you stay away from each other.”

  “No, I do not feel consumed by darkness or driven towards evil behavior. She is simply connected to my past somehow. But not the dark parts.” Dreven was not sure how that could be true. All his past was dark.

  Alarin looked skeptical. “Just be careful then. If you need to, I am here to talk.”

  Dreven nodded and fled the room before Alarin could talk to him any further. He understood the Vampire Master’s concerns but knew that they were unnecessary. Rodelle didn't affect him in any negative way, not like Alarin was suggesting.

  Rodelle. Her name was delicious in his mind. He decided the sunlight could be damned. He was going to go find her.

  Chapter 4

  Rodelle had found the back gardens easily, once she deduced which direction was towards the back of the house. She had been kind of hoping that upon leaving the dining hall she would run into tall, dark-aura'd and handsome again. Feeling just a little disappointed she made her way through the back of the house and outside to the gardens.

  Well, when she thought of a garden, she thought of rows of bean poles and patches of pumpkins and squash. This was definitely not that type of garden.

  The porch coming out of the house was dark since it was covered over in thick ivy that had fully grown over the lattice work that made the tunnel towards the yard. Once out of the tunnel of ivy and into the light, she stepped onto soft grass that made a crescent shape around a circular platform made of stone.

  The platform had water running out of its edges and down the sides. The water flowed both to the left and to the right and then out around the yard. She supposed it was to irrigate the very large hedge walls that ran the border of the property. But the yard was so big that those hedges seemed small from where she stood.

  All around the grass were various gardens of flowers. Annuals and perennials grew together to create a stunning array of colors and scents, with various herbs planted here and there among them. The flower beds were dotted with bird and small animal feeders, and hummingbirds were presently at almost every one. Fat little bumble bees were busily buzzing around the flowers and she even saw a lizard run across the porch in front of her.

  As beautiful as it all was she couldn't help but feel sadness. Laren would have loved this place. Her friend had a talent for cultivating nature, and this would have been a wonderful sanctuary for her. If only she had stopped … no she couldn't go down that road now. She would break down later, alone. But not here.

  There were several people across the lawn, sitting cross legged on colorful blankets, silent in their inner reflections.

  Rodelle hadn't brought a blanket, but after living in the woods for sometimes weeks on end she didn't at all mind sitting on the lush grass.

  She followed suit and assumed a cross legged pose, hands in her lap. Meditation didn't always come easy for her. She had to find the right place in order to let her mind relax at all. Unfortunately, this didn't feel like the right place.

  But she did not want to disturb the others by moving away so soon. So, she sat for a while and tried to reflect on what she had discovered since coming to the house. She hadn't been here for a full day yet, so there wasn't much to ponder. Except for the spell over the house. Now that was a constant tickle in the back of her mind. The spell felt familiar, and she could feel it surrounding the house.

  Her mind then wandered back to the events of the night before. She struggled to turn them away from Laren. She didn't want to picture her how she had last seen her. But she felt guilty for trying not to think of her best friend lying in that pit. She felt anger again at the Hunters for tracking them down like animals.

  But her anger quickly faded as she thought of the young man. The one whose fiancée had been told today that she would not get to marry the love of her life. She would instead have to bury him and try to move on.

  Just as Rodelle began to despair over all the negative energy her thoughts were causing her, she felt his presence. His aura was dark, yes. But it was also comforting. It over-shadowed all her desparative thoughts, swept away all of the
pain and misery. She felt nothing for a few blissful moments. Nothing but him.

  She startled at the noise of the other witches as they suddenly started chatting. She thought she must have come at the end of their meditations. But when she looked up she saw the sun had moved noticeably in the sky. Almost an hour had passed since she had sat down. How was that?

  She quickly looked around to see if she could spot Dreven. But even as she did she realized his presence had moved away. She couldn't tell where he had gone. But he was not close anymore.

  She was distracted in her attempt to find Dreven when she heard voices come up behind her.

  “Well you are a new face here! I heard Haysel mention a newcomer, but we didn't know it was another witch.” A short girl with plump cheeks and a heartwarming smile came around in front of her. Behind her followed two other girls. “Hi there! My name is Alayna.”

  Alayna plopped down in front of Rodelle in a poof of skirts and blonde hair and extended her hand in greeting.

  “And these two are Mary Ellen and Shar.” Alayna said as she shook Rodelle's hand, pointing at the girls with her.

  “Hello to you. My name is Rodelle.” She replied.

  Mary Ellen gracefully sat down beside Alayna, but Shar remained standing. Mary Ellen was tall and dark haired, with heavy freckles across the bridge of her nose. Shar was short and petite, mousy hair and a shy demeanor.

  “It is very nice to meet you, Rodelle. I would sit but I am on duty in the laundry room tonight. I need to get some of it started washing before dinner.” Shar reached down to grasp Rodelle's hand, and when their hands touched a large blue spark zapped! and leapt from their hands.

  “OH!” Rodelle and Shar exclaimed at the same time.

  Alayna laughed. “You should see your faces! I've seen that happen before. You two probably have similar power traits. Rodelle do you use crystals? Shar is pretty good with them.”

  Shar, whose posture said she needed to be going, hesitated on her departure to hear what Rodelle might have to say.

  “Ah well, I've never had any formal training, but the stones and crystals seem to help my spells. I was working a bit on creating spell stones before I was brought here.” Rodelle wasn't sure how much to say, but it was so nice to speak with others about her magic without hiding.

  “Spell stones! I've never heard of that. Is it like a charm?” Alayna asked excitedly. “I love making charms.”

  “No, it's an actual spell in a stone. Concentrated I guess, like a potion...? Maybe like that.” Rodelle didn't know exactly how to explain it. Most of her magic had come to her in ideas and notions, nothing had really been taught to her. She never had enough time to learn from anyone before running again.

  “How do they work? Do you have any?” Alayna began to ask.

  “Alayna dear,” cut in Mary Ellen, “don't be so pushy. If she hasn't had formal training, then these things may be hard for her to explain. Don't mind her, Rodelle. She's just so excitable. I do try to keep her in check.” She winked at Rodelle.

  Alayna made a face at Mary Ellen.

  “Well I was working on one stone, an arrowhead my friend had given to me. But I, uh, I lost it last night before I was brought in here.” She didn't think she was ready to tell these girls how she lost it exactly.

  “Oh, you were a rescue! Well I am so glad you made it here safely. Ladies, I do need to be going. But let's take our new friend here out to Leticia's this weekend. We can help her pick up some new crystals and show her part of the city. See you all at dinner.” Shar hurried away into the house.

  “What is Leticia's?” Rodelle asked the two girls sitting with her.

  “It's a magic Shoppe. Leticia is a real-deal witch, but she doesn't live here. She is kind of like a connection to the outside world for us. We trade with her, since we don't make any money. I like to take her charms and philters every now and then. She keeps a tab and when we need things we go pick them up. It's one of the only places we really go in the city. We try to keep rumors down about the House.” Mary Ellen explained.

  “Oh, that sounds like a great arrangement. Um, what city are we in? I wasn't told much about where we are. Just about the House.”

  “Only the greatest city in the world! Girl we are in New Orleans, magic capital of the country. This city is crawling with magic, voodoo, witchdoctors... you name it!” Said Alayna.

  “She talks about the magic here, but her favorite part of Orleans is Mardi Gras.” Mary Ellen rolled her eyes again.

  “Well of course! Rodelle it's the only time of year we all get to leave the house and mingle with the rest of the city. We all blend in because everyone is dressed up and partying. It's so much fun!”

  “Hmm, mingle she says. I'd say you were more than mingling with that young man in his car.”

  “What! We were having pleasant conversation. What will you make Rodelle think of me! He was a very nice guy, a complete gentleman.” Alayna pouted.

  Rodelle was laughing at the play between the two girls. It was nice to be with people who understood her and faced the same challenges. Being in public was very difficult, but these folks had found ways to blend in. At least here in this city. She had always lived on the borders of very small towns, where she would be in contact with as few people as possible.

  “I'm sorry I couldn't hear his gentleman-like manners with his tongue down your throat.”

  Alayna smacked Mary Ellen on the shoulder and stood up. “Well then. I'm going to go shower and change for dinner. It was lovely meeting you Rodelle. I will see you girls in the dining hall.” She hurried off, brushing grass from her skirt as she went.

  “She is a terrible flirt. Don't let her near any guy you like. She'll put their loyalty to the test.”

  Rodelle was taken back. “You talk about her like she's a nuisance.”

  “Oh, she is. But I love her anyway. We arrived here around the same time so it's a bond forged in understanding and need of companionship. Both of our families gave us up when we were pre-teens. Neither of us had good childhoods, so we have each other. She's my sister no matter what.”

  Rodelle wasn't sure what to say, she had her own awkward childhood but didn't like to talk about it. As her and Mary Ellen sat in silence for a moment she felt that dark comforting feeling enter her mind again.

  “What is making you smile like that? Good memory brought on by Alayna's tale of lustiness?” Mary Ellen teased.

  She hadn't even realized she was smiling.

  “Oh look, there's that hunky Dreven hanging out by the back door. Don't look, but he is staring right at you. He never comes out here in the day time! Come on, let's go say hi.” Mary Ellen jumped up, grabbed Rodelle by the hand and hauled her to her feet.

  She had to hurry to catch up to the other woman before they got to Dreven. As they approached she saw that he was looking right at her. It should have been unnerving, but it was soothing. Like it was the first time someone really looked at her as herself; her whole self, witch and all. There was no stigma, no exception, just acceptance and … longing? in his eyes.

  Ok that particular bit made her kind of nervous. No guy in her life had ever wanted her or longed for her. Of course, she probably would have to have been around one for more than a few days for that to happen. So, it was a very alien feeling.

  Mary Ellen had stopped suddenly in front of Dreven, and she almost ran into her.

  “Why hello Dreven. It is very nice to see you outside in the daytime.” Mary Ellen was the picture of politeness. He seemed to make her nervous.

  “Rodelle.” Dreven spoke her name and she shuddered on the inside, her eyes going wide. He saw her reaction to his speaking her name and smiled that slow lopsided smile of his.

  “Dreven.” She spoke his name in answer, at first in polite response to his greeting her but she could see it had the same effect on him as his speaking her name had had on her.

  “Well I see you two have already met. Saves time on introductions.” Mary Ellen said. “Well, Rodelle I am go
ing to go get changed for dinner. See you in the dining hall?”

  “Yes, most definitely. I'll run up and get changed as well.” She waved farewell to Mary Ellen as the woman walked away towards the door. Before she closed the door, she winked at Rodelle.

  When Rodelle looked back up at Dreven he was still watching her, studying her face.

  “So, what brings you out here?” She asked him, breaking the silence.

  “You,” he stated simply as he held her gaze.

  What followed should have been awkward silence, but it wasn't. There were a few moments of quiet but there was nothing awkward about it. So many things passed between them in that span of time, yet Rodelle could not have said what exactly they were. It was like a meeting of the souls, of old friends who had not seen each other in years. An empathic embrace as both souls simply stated to the other ‘I remember. I am here.’

  Dreven smiled again, breaking the serious moment. Rodelle laughed as all tension left her, his presence comforting her as it had during her meditations.

  “You have an odd way of making me feel quite at peace around you. Are you doing that on purpose, somehow?”

  “No. As I said before I have no power over you. Maybe if you were just a fledgling witch, new to her powers. But you...you are a force. I think though, you may not know that. Yet.” He narrowed his eyes as he studied her.

  “Why, do you know something I don't?” Rodelle said playfully.

  “I may.” His smile didn't lead her to knowing whether he was being serious or not. “If you would like time to get changed before the evening meal, you may want to go now.”

  “Will you be there?”

  “I do not usually spend time in the dining hall, as I do not eat very often. But if you request my presence I will not turn it down.”

  She just loved the way he spoke. His words were eloquent and precise. Old fashioned and genteel; like a nobleman straight out of history.

  “I would like it if you would come. You can keep me grounded. I have to admit to being overwhelmed by everyone here so far. I'm used to being more alone.”