Chapter 23: Chapter. 23 Blonde 1 and Blonde 2

All of Diana’s wholesome ideas of having a sisterly breakfast and educating Anna on the correct way to have her waffles quickly flew out of the window. The moment they walked into the vibrant waffle house, they were met by a waitress that reminded Diana of her old life. She quickly assumed this peppy server was part of the coven with the way she fell over herself to escort Anna to ‘her table’. Her smile was 100 mega watts bright and she behaved like a fan in the presence of their idol.

Whereas Diana was practically ignored and followed after them like Anna’s shadow. The waitress even looked surprised when Diana sat in the booth opposite Anna.

“Excuse me, this is a private table. Let me set you up over-”

“That’s alright Jackie. She’s with me.” Anna suavely intervened and offered the menu to her. “I will have waffles with syrup and whipped cream.”

“…oh…you usually order blueberries?”

“I’m trying something new today.” Anna’s smile was encouraging and her hazel eyes darted down to the menu she still offered Diana. “What about you Diana?”

“I’ll have the same. And a coffee if that’s alright?”

“Two cappuccinos?” Anna countered and Diana shrugged. Jackie the waitress looked at Diana warily and seemed reluctant to leave the coven mother with her. “Is there something wrong with my order Jackie?” Anna’s voice turned soft and cold, and her face far too harsh. She almost looked like a completely different person. Scary and unforgiving. Was this Anna the coven mother sat before her? Was the younger teen wearing power and intensity as a mask of authority?

“N-no of course not. I’ll get your order right away.” Jackie nervously tucked her long brown hair behind her ears and hurried to complete her mission. At least, that’s how she moved. For a moment Diana just watched Anna as she held a very expensive looking smart phone in her hand and she was engrossed with reading emails and replying to various messages. A 16 year old on her phone should have been a normal sight. Smiles, giggles and emojis. But Anna was clearly conducting business and her lips pressed into a firm line periodically. Diana highly doubted Anna was familiar with usual teen behaviours. She smiled, thinking she’d educate her on that too by using her favourite cartoon gifs and stickers, only to frown. At was at this moment when Anna looked up and saw the disappointment on her sister’s face. The blonde put her cell down and worried that she wasn’t being very good company. The mood had simply fallen far from the jovial one they left the house with.

“Is everything alright? If you don’t want a cappuccino I can get you a different kind of coffee?”

“I’m only used to the usual instant stuff, but I’m sure I’ll like a cappuccino fine. Caffeine is caffeine right?” Diana chuckled and the frown didn’t drop from Anna’s face. So she shrugged and gave her what she asked for. “I was just thinking about swapping numbers and so we could text but my phone is back in my old apartment. Long gone I’m assuming. Good thing it was a pre payment brick huh?” She chuckled and thanked Jackie when she arrived with the coffees. The waitress glanced at her warily and beamed a smile at Anna.

“Your waffles will be done shortly. Is there anything else I can get you?”

“No that will be all.” Anna politely dismissed the waitress. Knox was sat in the booth beside her and tutted at the girl, before turning to speak into his keeper’s ear.

“She seems to be trying today.” He hummed in thought. “She doesn’t glare at you when you’re not looking anymore. I sense a desire for connection from her today.” Anna bit her lips to contain the giddiness that threatened to escape. Again, she didn’t wish danger on Diana, but her brush with it had certainly made her come around. “Do you still desire to make her your sister? Truly?” Anna nodded and watched as Diana blew on her coffee. “Then I will endeavour to supply you with what you need to appear intuitive of her needs.” He smirked and chuckled as his impassive white eyes stared across the table at Diana. “You need her obedience, and therefore I will ensure you receive it. If it would please you to have her affection, I will support you in achieving this as well.” Anna smiled brighter and lowered her left hand down to the leather seat. At least, that is how it looked to everyone else. In truth she held onto one of Knox’ claw tipped hands and gave it a squeeze in thanks.

One thing she noticed very quickly is that Diana was uncomfortable with the invisible spirit guardian being part of the conversation, since she couldn’t see or hear him. So Anna and Knox agreed that she would use none verbal and discreate forms of communication when Diana was around.

“I’ll get you a new cell phone so we can swap numbers. In fact? Is there anything else I can get you, so you feel more at home here?” Anna retrieved her own phone and prepared to purchase whatever her sister needed. The Coupers had always had money, so it would be an easy task to shower her with gifts.

“…I guess having a phone would mean I could be more independent in the long rung…but I’m paying you back.” She insisted and sipped more of her coffee. “I guess what I want is a life similar to what I had before coming back here. My own place and my independence back. I want a job so I can have my own money.”

“I’m sure once the coven has cast protection spells on you, we could find a place for you to be useful.” Anna diplomatically answered her. From the tension of her smile, it was clear the blonde did not want Diana to resume her old form of occupation. That grated on Diana a bit. She folded her arms and had to hold back from telling her sister not to look down on an honest and hard working profession. There was nothing wrong with working for a living. From the fineries Anna was always seen wearing and how little thought went into buying possessions, the Coupers really must have money. That is not going to stop me providing for myself. I’m not a sponge, and I’ll earn what I own. “But you need to be safe to do so, before anything else.”

“Speaking of which?” Diana leaned with her elbows and forearms on the table to speak in serious and hushed whispers to Anna. Now that escape from danger wasn’t an option, what she needed was to know her enemy. The more she knew about these dark ones the better she could defend herself. The plan may have changed, but the core of it was still the same. Self-preservation. I really don’t like thinking about being stuck here in Salem for the rest of my life. If I get the opportunity to safely escape here, I’m taking it. But with magical assassins sending monsters after me, I doubt being in Mexico would save me. If anything I do need Anna’s protection. I’m not exactly able to fend off magical attackers myself. “What was that thing? That snuck into the-”

“Diana?” Anna chided her sternly and peered out of the corner of her hazel eyes to scan the waffle house. It wasn’t full, but there were enough customers that the air was filled with happy chatter and the clink of cutlery and ceramic cups and saucers. “This is not the place. We can’t be overheard…and no one, not even members of our company can know what happened last night.”

“The dissidents within the coven would use the shadow walker breaking into the home of the coven mother as ammunition against you. You must always appear untouchable by our enemies.” Knox agreed with her wholeheartedly. “It would be best to dissuade her from this line of questioning as well. She needs to feel safe to remain obedient. If she discovered she was the reason it was able to bypass the wards…” Anna hummed in agreement and reached over to take one of Diana’s hands.

Yes. She can’t know that she opened a spiritual bridge across the wards when she triggered her memories yesterday. That thing used the bridge to get into the house. We need her to want to remember what happened 5 years ago, not refuse for fear of the shadow walker returning. Anna was convinced that if it was their mother that sealed Diana’s memories away before sending her away, it was to protect her. Never the less? Something was wrong with the wards and it had everything to do with her sister. The moment Isabella died they started to crumble. The moment Diana came back to Salem, they stopped weakening. She has to remember what happened. There has to be a key in her memories as to what danger she was being sent away from, and it may be the same thing that is causing the wards to decay. Besides? Knox reassured her that once the protection spells were in place the same weakness wouldn’t allow for any more incursions. This shouldn’t happen again, so Anna didn’t want Diana to be put off trying to recover her memories again.

“I know? Let’s go from here to a cell store? That way even in public, if a topic is taboo, we can still talk. I want to answer your questions-” Knox huffed. “-but the family business isn’t something to discuss out in the open like this.”

“Okay.” Diana grumbled and sat back with her arms folded. “If everything to do with the ‘family business’ and the, erm, inheritance, is off limits, then what are we going to talk about?” Anna slowly put her cell down and tentatively made a suggestion.

“…we could get to know each other? Sister?” Diana wondered if she added their relation onto the end to make a point. Like, they’re family and therefore she should want to know each other. In truth, she was curious about Anna, but she would be lying if she didn’t still feel some resentment towards the kid. But is that my failing? Rather than hers? She could have been a bitch to me, being that she needed to bring me back in the first place. A magicless stranger. Instead she’s looking at me with puppy dog eyes.