Chapter 22: Violet

I woke up to a pounding on the door. I slept diagonally on the bed with the covers on the floor. It took me a few seconds to realize where I was. I hopped up and walked to the door and opened it to the extent the chain would allow. The man who was at the counter stood a good yard away from the door.

“May I help you?”

“It’s time to check out.” He said and looked around to avoid eye contact.

I turned and looked at the clock on the nightstand. “Is check out normally at seven thirty in the morning?”

He shuffled his feet. “Yes.”

I looked as far as I could at the other rooms and there were still three other cars in the parking lot and none of which were checking out. It didn’t even look like they were awake yet.

“Are you sure?” I looked back at him and challenged his early morning wake up call.

He took a step back, looked at me with fear in his eyes as if I was about to attack.

“I’d like to pay for another night.”

“Ummm.” He took another step back.

“Hold tight, I’ll be right back.” I closed the door and went to grab a hundred from the duffle bag that I stored in the dresser. I unlocked the door completely and swung it open. The hotel attendant jumped at the sudden loud noise. “Here. And I promise I’ll look for other arrangements, since I’m clearly not welcome here.”

He stood there, mouth open, looked at me completely. I forgot that I was wearing my short shorts and an oversized sweater that looked as if I wasn’t wearing bottoms.

“Oh my god, I’m sorry. How embarrassing!” I laughed but made no move to cover. I handed him the money and waited for him to take it.

He seemed to relax a bit and stepped forward to take the money. “Thanks,” he said, turned and walked toward the office.

I closed the door, locked it and flopped down on the bed. I wonder why he had it out for me. There was no way that the check-out time was this early. He hasn’t harassed any of the other guests to check out. I wonder why this young werewolf was so terrified of me. I’ve never had anyone terrified of me. It was a weird feeling. I muddled over our interaction. Should I have been more embarrassed about not having more clothes?

I didn’t feel sleepy anymore. What do normal people do during the day when they don’t go to work or have other plans? I could get ready and go get some breakfast. I would need to start looking for a real place to stay. Maybe I could rent an apartment for a few months until I figured out what to do. I didn’t even know where to start.

I knew I needed to figure out some way to get the other coven members out. To rescue those left under the tyranny of Eli. He was delusional and I’m sure time would only make his delusions worse. And a delusional witch wasn’t a good witch to have. There were dark powers out there that he may dabble in, I didn’t want to think about that. And not to mention that his so-called bride ran away. I’m sure he was going bonkers trying to find me. Without me, his plan to take over all of the covens around the world wouldn’t work. I was his missing piece.

I can’t dwell on what I could not do. I needed to come up with a plan. I would practice daily to hone my powers and hopefully could come up with a plan that would overthrow Eli.

My stomach grumbled. “But first, breakfast!”

I pulled a comb through my hair, brushed my teeth, added some coverup on the bruise on my face that was now changing from a deep purple to a lighter purple with a hint of yellow. I threw on a pair of black leggings, an oversized sweater, and the boots. I looked at my reflection and I looked like a typical twenty-something going out for the day.

I grabbed a stack of money and put it into the purse that Amy made me purchase. I put on the sunglasses and drove to the diner. It remained unchanged. Madge was behind the counter and poured coffee into a cup.

“Hi, dear take a seat anywhere and I’ll be right with you.” She did a double take. “Oh Violet! You look so different!” Madge yelled from the counter.

“Better?” I said and twirled around in the entrance.

“A million times better. I barely even recognized you!” She said as she made her way to me. She extended her arms for a hug. I leaned in and hugged her.

“Ok good. I am not use to the fashion now a days.”

“You can’t be more than twenty-two years old. What do you mean by now a day?” She said as she laughed and pushed me to the same booth I sat at yesterday.

“It’s a very long story and maybe I will tell you one day.” I said, as I took a seat.

“Coffee and orange juice?” Madge asked as she watched me settle in.

“Please.”

“Here you go. Let me know if you have any questions on the menu.” She handed me the menu and I started to look it over.

She came and poured coffee in the mug on the table and set down a glass of orange juice. “You ready, dear?”

“I think I’m going to do the Western Omelet today.” I folded the menu and handed it to Madge.

“I’ll get that in for ya.” She took the menu and put the ticket in the window.

The gentleman at the counter put a few bills down and left. I was now the only patron in the diner. I was surprised that it was the morning, and this place wasn’t busier. I watched Madge clean up the dishes from the counter and wiped it down. She took the cash and put it in her apron.

Madge stopped wiping and looked at me. “Now that we are alone, I’ve been wanting to ask. What brings you to Dark Forest Falls? I only ask because it is a little strange that someone like you would be visiting this area.”

I took a sip of my coffee. “To be honest, I think it was just fate. Dark Forest Falls called to me, and I stayed.”

“Hmmm.” Madge nodded her head. “I do want to let you know though that you are amongst the Dark Forest Falls Pack.”

“Oh, um, I knew there were weres around but didn’t know there was a pack.” It was stupid of me to think that there wasn’t a pack here when I ran into three weres my first full day here. I started to get nervous. I heard that if you are of magic and you trespassed on pack lands, they could imprison you and keep you as a slave. Not much different than my life in the coven.

“Don’t worry dear! I just wanted to make sure you knew. Our Alpha isn’t like the Alphas of the past. He doesn’t really care about visitors unless they cause problems.”

I let out the breath I didn’t know I was holding.

“So let me ask you another question. What are you exactly? Wilber and I have a bet going and well I’d really like to win.” She said and laughed as the head of an older, balding man poked his head through the kitchen window.

“You are so not going to win this!” He shouted at Madge.

I laughed at them. “I’m just a witch.”

Both of their faces fell.

“What?” I looked at both of them.

“You can’t just be a witch,” Wilber exclaimed. “Your power is way too strong. We could feel you even before you walked through the door.”

“Sorry to disappoint. I’m just a familiar witch without my familiar.” I shrugged my shoulders and took a sip of my orange juice.

“A familiar witch?” Madge tilted her head. Wilber had a confused expression as well.

“A familiar witch is a witch with a familiar.”

Madge looked at Wilber and back at me still confused.

“A familiar is a designated companion to a witch that makes them stronger. Usually comes in a variety of animal forms. Cat, bats, bunnies, bears, eagles, really any animal. I just had my turning, and I haven’t gotten my familiar yet.”

“Turning?” It was Wilber’s turn to ask.

“Sorry, the turning is the point in a witch’s life when they gain their full spectrum of powers. Before the turning a witch can do small tasks but after the turning their powers grow to a larger scale.”

Wilber and Madge looked at me. Behind Wilber I could see smoke rising through the window.