Chapter 81 Welcoming
Alessia’s POV
The second I step into La Casa something in the air changes. Nothing dramatic or accompanied by thunder or lightening ,But it simmers quietly , Heavy, felt and unseen. The floor beneath my shoes is warm as if it's alive. The torches that line the foyer flicker low, their flames curling towards me instead of upright. Every nerve of my body hums, alert and uneasy. Like I have stepped into a new world I remember nothing of but they know my name.
Alex remains by my side his hand firmly on my back. He has stayed true to his word and stayed by my side. Not moving an inch. His presence as always an anchor, the only thing keeping me calm .The coven members start parting slowly creating a wide path that leads inside. No one says a word. No one reaches for me. But their eyes follow me with an intensity that beats all rationale making my skin pickle. There is no hostility at all just curiosity and respect
The Leader I met steps forward. Up close I study her face that is beautiful but lined with age. The kind of aging that comes from holding power for long but not greedily enough for it to consume you.
Her black eyes meet mine and she places her hand on mine warmly. The minute our skin touches I gasp as a wave of energy surges through me and something shifts in my chest .
It wasn't painful
I wasn't something to fear
My world shifts for a moment and everything fades as I see something else. A vision. Sharp and clear
My Mother, Younger , her red hair and green eyes filled with vitality Softer as she laughed besides this same leader. Their heads bent close together as if they were sharing a secret meant for no other prying eyes
My breath seizes momentarily
The vision immediately vanishes as quickly as it came leaving me feeling a bit dizzy and shaky. I hold on to my chest as pain of loss reverberates through my body. Oh mother! She smiles as she removes her hand from mine .She is not surprised or confused. She knew what I saw...She wanted me to see it, She wanted to share the vision with me.
“My name is Enya”she says gently “High priestess of La Casa” Her voice is soothing, and full of warmth. She turns around gesturing for me to follow her. I take a moment to gather myself as Alex stiffens by my side his grip on me tightening.
“Alessia what did you-.”I clutch him tightly staring at her in wonder the memory replaying in my head.I whisper softly “Alex, She is very powerful .She shared one of her memories with me, It was a vision of her and my mother when they were young ladies.”
Luca takes a steps closer to me mumbling “Are you sure it was real couldn't it have fabricated?”He shudders. “Witches can be crafty-” I hear Angelica’s hurt intake of breath. Ignoring her he rushes on. “How can we be certain -?”
I shake my head cutting him off. I know what I saw was real. “ It was as real as you and I Luca, Please dont be rude they welcomed us in with open arms”
Angelica’s snorts behind us choosing to keep her thoughts to her self which is better. After all she is the main reason Luca is finding hard to trust Enya and the coven members .
It must take an enormous amount of power to show someone a vision from the past. Not a glimpse of a few years ago but that vision was at least 30 years old. I look at her back again she doesn't appear fatigued at all.Respect and fear blooms in my chest this is one lady that I don't want to get on her bad aside.She continues to glide ahead unaware of my thoughts. She pauses saying loudly
“This is your home Alessia, You are safe here”
then pauses mid step “La casa will never harm its own”
So I am now its own?
We all pause for a moment, looking around once more at the sea of friendly faces around me. I swallow hard after we are done will it be easy for me to work out of here? My mother did she walk out of here willing? The scene I witnessed she seemed genuinely happy. A dull ache starts at the base of my neck..soo much to unravel so little time. La Rosa still needs to be found.
“All of this is so confusing” I admit my voice barely whispers but I know she heard me as she turns around for a moment. Her kind eyes meeting mine
“That is quite alright” she replies “Destiny works in mysterious ways”
“Come on let me give you all the tour”she turns around again gesturing towards a set of great doors in front of is .“You can settle in first and then when you are ready ask your questions, I know you have a lot of them.”
The massive doors open on their own as we stand on the threshold of the common room .It is nothing like what I expected
It is not grandeur
Or oppressive
Instead its wide spaces with lots of warmth and energy .Shag rugs cover most of the stone floors , dried herbs hang from the wooden beams the lantern light bathes it in a soft light
It feels lived in , enjoyed by its occupants
Alex lets out a deep breath the tension reducing a bit from his taut shoulders
Luca numbers something under his breath, his voice full of amazement
Angelicas hand touches mine for a moment lending me extra support which I appreciate
We enter inside the commons room fully and with each step I take La Casa feels less like an alien place but more like a memory I forgot that I had in the deep recesses of my mind.
Suddenly something shatters on the ground!
Crash-
I freeze turning around to see what fell and-