Chapter 11 - Danger

Freya’s P.O.V

“What on Earth were you thinking young lady?”

My voice was cold and stern staring at Sera. She sat on the hotel bed glaring at the ground, ignoring me. I could see Emma was glancing between us, her expression worried.

“Are you being stupid? You don’t even know who he is!”

I glared at my eldest with my hands on my hips pausing to let her say something. Anything. Furiously she did not move an inch. Emma raised her eyebrow before uttering softly,

“He? What happened?”

“Nothing happened… I just ….”

Sera’s voice was soft, embarrassed with a touch of anger.

“You just what? You just stopped thinking? You have no idea who that boy was or what he wanted with you! How can I trust that you will be okay if you’re just going to throw yourself on any ‘hot’ boy that comes your way?”

Sera clenched her hands at my words as Emma also looked at the ground. I could not believe Sera would do this, again. The last time I caught her with a boy was last year and that did not end well at all. I tried to recall his name for a moment, Stan?

“This wasn’t like last time”

Sera was trying to keep a calm tone but I could hear her regret and embarrassment. I sighed before running my hands through my hair. I shouldn’t be so hard on her, yes she is almost an adult but she had to understand this world I was introducing her to was not safe. There were lots of people like Stan who would take advantage of her, especially if they knew her heritages from both myself and her father. I had to make sure she understood that some secrets need to be kept. That no one is 100% trustworthy. But how? How can I make her understand?

“I’m sorry… I really am mum”

I looked at Sera, tears had begun to brim in her eyes. I sat next to her and took a calming breath.

“I know, I just worry Sera”

I let my worries rush over me as I looked at my oldest baby. She was so close to 18, the mark of an adult. But. She really had no clue what this world would be, at that moment I regretted everything. Leaving her father, stopping them from having a relationship, keeping her and Emma isolated. It was all for their safety, but what had I done to them in the long run? I looked over at Emma, still looking at the ground. Our sweet, innocent Emma. She was 16 and yet acted like she was much younger. That was my fault, I babied her. I babied both of them. Frustrated, a groan came out of me. Causing them both to look at me with fear they were in trouble. It was cute and normally would have made me laugh but I needed to make things right. I glanced at the clock against the wall seeing it was 9 pm, tonight was going to be a long night. No more hiding the truth of this world they were about to be introduced to. I needed to make them understand the dangers ahead.

“Girls, we need to talk. There is a lot of rules and unknowns we are going to face, we will need to be prepared”

My voice echoed not only my fear but the seriousness of it all. Both of my girls nodded and waited. I closed my eyes trying to find the best place to start before remembering the books I had packed with us. I hastily grabbed some history books out ready to read them to my daughters. Starting with the first one, the night of blood.

Much of the history of both witches and fay have been lost since the Night of Blood. Our people have heard many stories of the bloodthirsty tale from members of both vampire covens and werewolf packs. We have written a concise version here of all the information gathered in hopes an event like this would never happen again.

The Night of Blood was named as such due to the immense amount of lives that were lost. Humans and vampires fought against the fay, witches, and werewolves. After the battle was over there was nothing but blood covering much of the land. It is up to debate exactly what started the initial battle. The vampire covens we spoke to said it was due to the fay and witches creating the werewolves to help control human lands and push them out. Witches state the vampires wanted to control all human settlements as a source of food and power. The Fay say a marriage between themselves and the witches caused them to side with the witches but were sided with the vampires originally. This seems to correlate with the vampire clan's story as they do advise the reason the fay are hunted now is due to such an agreement taking place. This in turn answers the question of why the fay now hides from all others. Of course, the wolves do not have any answers, their texts regarding this night have been lost to time.

From the information that has been found by the wolves council members, it can be deduced a pact of some kind was broken, no one knows what it was but some consider a marriage pact between a prince of the oldest vampire coven and an Alpha’s daughter.

Regardless of the reasoning, we do know that the reason we all live in relative peace today is thanks to the Pact of Blood signed on that terrible night. Lands were separated between each class, councils were made to keep subjects in check and further agreements would be made if one needed to cross another’s land.  This peace although rocky has withstood the test of time. Some of the Wiccan circle disagrees, predicting another war happening in our lifetime. We will discuss more of these predictions further in this book.

“So fairies are real?”

Emma exclaimed excitedly as Sera rolled her eyes uninterested. That worried me, my old coven’s elder had been the woman to make the prediction for the next war. Each witch had her own unique power she or he was born with, mine had been telepathy. Not all of her predictions had been recorded, but the important ones had and when Sera was born…. She had a prediction of her future… A future dripping in blood and cruelty. The reason I had hidden her from the world and by extension Emma was due to my elder's predictions. She had never been wrong.

“What about mermaid’s mother? Demons?”

Sera snorted and I shook my head. So she could accept werewolves but not anything else?

“Yes. The Mer-people, are Fay. Demons I would say fit into the Fay too. Some of them can be quite mischievous”

Emma was wide-eyed in wonder, Sera had her eyebrows raised in shock.

“How do you know that mother?”

Emma asked me.

“Well… I was raised in a coven of witches my sweet”

I expected horrified gasps from Emma, hate, or anger even. I was not prepared for her laughter.

“Oh mum! I knew you were witch when you first brought me home!”

It was my turn to widen my eyes, I was lost for words. My biggest secret and she knew? I looked at Sera and she shrugged before saying,

“Yeah, you didn’t really hide it well mum. I mean we lived in the middle of a forest, surrounded by ‘herbal’ gardens.”

“Don’t forget the talismans mum would make us wear! Or the ‘special’ prayers to the Moon Goddess”

Emma piped in as they both laughed. Did I feel… relieved? Anger? No, I felt dumb. I thought I had guarded that secret so well and yet… I laughed with my girls at my own stupidity. Of course, they would have figured it out. They were right, I may have never said out loud I am a witch but everything I did pointed it out.

After our laughter had settled Sera asked,

“So… do you have anything more about werewolves mum?”

Her voice was unsure, I smiled at her before flipping the book to the chapter on werewolf lore.

“It’s not much, I’m sure your father will tell you more or at least have access to more books”

Sera smiled back to me, I relaxed seeing that the mention of her father had not angered her.

“Go on then! We are all ears!”

Emma was smiling brightly with excitement, it both worried and warmed me seeing her embrace all these changes.

Although we call them werewolves they are not as human stories make them out to be. Werewolves can be described as humanoid beings that share their minds and bodies with a beast spirit. Some believe that they originated from the Fay centuries ago as it is common knowledge some of the Fay also have beast forms such as panthers, birds of prey , or sharks (in the case of the Mer). In current times the wolves follow laws created by a council comprised of each pack's leader. This leadership is run by a male called Alpha and a Luna (his female partner). Some members have called for this title to incorporate females (previously known only as the Luna) as not all Alpha’s will have a male child for succession. Currently, if there is no male offspring the rule is that the Alpha’s land will be absorbed into their neighboring packs. The individual Alphas tend to run each pack differently in some aspects making it difficult to list an exclusive list of rules. Typically, if one wishes to be in a pack's territory you must notify the Alpha of the said pack and abide by their rules. Next in command is typical a Beta (male), the pack trainer (normally male but can sometimes be female), the elder (either previous Luna or Alpha if they are alive), and finally the Omega’s (a name given to all other members of the pack). Please see the next page for current Alpha’s and their Lunas.

“That wasn’t very helpful”

Sera muttered as I closed the book, I grimaced at her disappointed tone.

“I know, hopefully, we can find out more tomorrow.”

I looked at my girls, Sera seemed frustrated and deep in thought whilst Emma looked excited and nervous.

“So, Rodrick who is your father's Beta will be collecting us in the morning. I believe your father will explain more of the rules when we get there”

“But mum…”

Sera looked at me pausing, seeming to be carefully thinking about her wording.

“Will he expect us to just… be normal? What does he expect?”

I thought deeply, to be honest, I didn’t know. I had not spoken to him directly in years.

“I don’t know.”

Sera was not happy with my answer but did not continue talking, she sighed and jumped into her bed.

“Well goodnight”

Her tone was cold, but I knew she was scared. My girl tried to hide her fears from everyone, thinking she shouldn’t have them. But I knew her better than I think she knew herself. Emma followed suit yawning,

“Me too, I’m exhausted.”

It had been a long, emotional day. I smiled at Emma before planting a kiss on her forehead,

“Goodnight little one.”

I bent over Sera to give her a kiss as well, as the memory of that boy washed over me.

“Goodnight my baby, don’t think I’ve forgotten about your little escapade tonight. We WILL be discussing it in the morning.”

I noticed Sera sigh before supporting a frown, I giggled to myself wondering how she managed to keep her face wrinkle-free. I wouldn’t give her too many grievances tomorrow, after all, she never really had shown much interest in males. Well apart from Stan. I just didn’t want her to end up getting hurt, as she most likely had a destined mate too.