Chapter 58: The witch within

Lucas was right; we all had to train hard if we wanted to win this war.

It was best for my protection to move into Alexander's mansion. That way, Lucas could protect me and train me at the same time. The Police Chief gave me sick leave after Papa Peter explained to him what was going on.

My mom couldn't accept Lucas' return that easily. She was mad with him, and that was understandable. Lucas should have explained his reasons to her from the beginning...

From what I could tell, David was feeling threatened. He was walking on thin ice. His wife's ex and father of her only daughter was back, and some weird supernatural things were going on. It wasn't easy to make peace with everything so quickly and easily. David was afraid that my mom would forgive Lucas, and eventually, they'd be together again.

But knowing my mom, this was never going to happen. She hated Lucas wholeheartedly for so many years. She had made amends with him for everyone's shake, and that was the most she could do for now. And that was all I could ask for; we had to collaborate and at least tolerate each other to make this work.

Christopher took his training very seriously. He didn't only start going to the gym on a daily basis and learning martial arts, but he wanted to have shooting lessons, too. David had my mom train him, and he tried his best to improve his fighting skills. Both David and Chris were humans, so it'd be an uneven fight for them. Fighting vampires and a mythical hybrid was definitely not an everyday task, not for them, and not even for me.

Papa Peter had to inform all the Keepers and seek help for other potential allies in utter secrecy. It wasn't an easy task, considering Robert King had eyes everywhere, but it wasn't impossible either. Many Keepers answered our call and were willing to fight alongside us when the time's come. Papa managed to persuade some witches to help us, but werewolves stayed neutral. That was very disappointing because if we lose the battle, then the war would be turned against them…

Nana Eva wanted to help the best way she could. However, she couldn't stand watching a fight, not even on the TV. We all agreed that it'd be for the best for her to stay behind. In any other case, we'd have to worry more because, truth be told, she wasn't in the physical condition to defend herself, nor she had any idea how to do so.

As for my training, it was split into two different parts. Alex was training me for combat battle, and Lucas taught me how to use my magic powers. Alexander's task proved easy since I already knew pretty well how to fight. I had to admit it was very amusing to kick his ass whenever I had the chance to. The poor vampire was even reluctant to hit me, but when he realized my strength, he could barely contain himself.

Training with Lucas made us realize that I was a fire witch. However, I was able to manipulate water, too. The warlock had full control of all four elements. This would have been impossible under any usual circumstances. But Lucas had the power of his ancestors, and that made him capable of manipulating all four elements.

The same thing would apply to me after Lucas' death. Thus, he had to teach me how to control all four elements and not only my primer one.

Alexander was nowhere near us when we trained. I'm not surprised, considering his background story with fire. A fire was what killed him, or to be precise, what forced him to turn into a vampire. So, I was extra careful not to trigger his nightmares.

I learned to use other spells, like the protection or locator ones. Lucas gave me his grimoire to study. It was written in Latin, and that meant I had to learn another foreign language. Lucas also showed me how I could draw energy from Mother Nature and use it for my spells. Meditation also helped me a lot to control my powers and feel more connected with my inner self.

We had fun while I practiced on different spells since I wasn't always that accurate. Thankfully, nothing serious happened, but I might have broken one too many decorations, burned a sofa, and destroyed a few paintings…

My nightmare with Marcus was coming here and there. It was always the same dream. As much as I tried, I couldn't find a way to free myself or gain any clue about the hybrid's location. Lucas was very interested in every dream I saw, and he made me paint even the smallest detail I could recall. But nothing was helpful, and we had no idea how to solve this mystery…

My relationship with Alexander was somehow undefined. I wasn't sure whether we were together, or we just had casual sex. Because we fucked each other every single night until the sun would rise in the morning sky. We never talked about our feelings, we didn't go on any other dates, we didn't talk about the future. The latter was understandable since the only plan we had in mind was to survive that upcoming war and kill the hybrid.

But then again, I couldn't name what we had or the feelings I had for him. I cared about him, I enjoyed our lovemaking, and I wished for him to be happy. But I wasn't sure whether I was in love, whether I was the one who could make him happy for the rest of our lives. A numbness filled my heart after everything that happened with Ethan. Yet, the sexual tension I had with Alexander was present whenever we were in the same room. Despite everything, I couldn't imagine my life without Alexander; I couldn't lose him…

It was a sunny day, almost two months after I met Lucas and learned about my fate. I was training with the warlock at the vast field behind Alex's mansion. I had to learn to cast spells fast while dodging Lucas' attacks.

A smirk plastered on my lips when I sensed Alex's presence somewhere behind me. I was sure he wanted payback since he lost at our recent fight. I blocked Lucas' attack as I formed a small, black cloud just above Alexander's head. I heard the vampire stop moving, probably to look at the weird cloud. And that's when I made it rain.

"What the fuck?" the vampire cursed quietly.

I turned around to look at his soaked wet form and the surprised expression on his face. He pouted when he figured I was the one responsible for this trick.

"Well done, Ophelia!" Lucas said proudly, trying to hold back his laugh.

I chuckled lightly, flicking my ponytail. "Mr. Rex, you must try a bit harder to surprise me," I teased him.

"Oh, you're so going to pay me back for this," Alex hissed, taking off his jacket.

"Would you like me to help you dry yourself?" I asked with a wink.

"No, thank you. Just make it stop pouring!" the vampire groaned, looking at the cloud with a frown.

The cloud was following his every step. It was only raining where Alex stood.

"Yes, sir," I replied, pausing the rain with a small movement of my hand.

Lucas started another attack, but I blocked him using that invisible wall I so much-loved creating. The magic clattered on the wall forming a purple glow.

"Can we have a break? I'm hungry…" I whined as I sat down on the green grass.

"You did well today, Ophelia. You can take the rest of the day off. Besides, you need to regain your powers," Lucas told me, strolling closer to me.

"Thank you, Lucas," I replied, giving him a small smile.

"How about we cook Chinese and have a Netflix marathon? I found a new series you'd love!" Alexander proposed.

"Don't you have to go to the company?" I countered back, cocking an eyebrow at him.

"I just came back, Ophelia. It's past noon; you've been training all day…" Alexander sighed.

"Oh well, then get changed, and I'll start chopping the vegetables," I replied as I stood up.

"Don't use more than three knives at the same time!" Lucas yelled at me.

I grinned, nodding my head. My telepathic powers were even higher now. I could use simultaneously different brushes to paint while I was reading a book. I moved items all around the house, scaring the staff. Alexander was pissed when I kept rearranging his shirts while he was peacefully sleeping at night…

I stopped walking and turned to look at the other two supernaturals when I sensed someone's presence. Alexander cocked an eyebrow upon hearing the footsteps, too. It was a human and not one of the employees of the mansion.

"What's wrong?" Lucas asked with a frown. He didn't have enhanced hearing like us, but he should know when someone wanted to trespass at our ground. It was his protection spell that kept us safe and unbothered.

"Someone's here!" I stated, preparing myself for an attack.

"Yes, I know, my darling daughter. You have a visitor…" Lucas replied calmly with a grin.

"A visitor?" I asked curiously.

"Thank you for approving my entrance, Mr. Mikkelsen," I heard a familiar voice coming from somewhere behind me.

I turned around and looked into a pair of green eyes; my breath caught at the back of my throat. My eyes scanned Ethan's familiar face; a small stable covered his defined jawline, accentuating the five o'clock shadow on his face. His dirty blonde hair was messy, probably because of the many times he had run his hand through. The white T-shirt he was wearing stretched above his well-built muscles.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I'd like to talk to you," Ethan shrugged.

"You came right on time. We were about to start cooking Chinese and watch a movie," Alexander said, smirking. The vampire was obviously enjoying this…

"In private!" Ethan added, not glancing even once towards Alexander.

"I suppose we can go inside then," I replied.

"I had something else in mind. I heard you're free for the rest of the day, so how about you come with me," Ethan suggested, his emerald green eyes never leaving my dark blue ones.

I turned to look at Lucas in annoyance. It was now obvious the two of them had arranged all this. The warlock just shrugged, and I sighed, defeated.

"Okay, I'll come with you. Just give me twenty minutes to have a shower and get changed," I said, facing Ethan once again.

His eyes lightened up and a small smile formed on his lips.

I walked past him when I realized I had to leave Ethan and Alexander alone. I rolled my eyes, imagining the two of them started fighting.

"Alexander, please do me a favor and behave yourself," I yelled over my shoulder.

I heard the vampire chuckle. "I promise, I won't bite…"

Men could be really insufferable at times…

I had a quick shower to scrub away all the sweat from the training. I didn't exactly know why Ethan was there, nor where he would take me, but I knew what he wanted. We broke up on bad terms, and he obviously wanted to change that. Besides, I was almost sure that Papa Peter had told him about the hybrid and the upcoming was. Knowing Ethan, I wouldn't be surprised if he wanted to partake in the battle.

I walked out of the bathroom and squealed when I noticed Alexander lying on my bed. He had changed clothes, and his hair was once again combed in perfection.

"Seriously, Alex, are you trying to give me a heart attack?" I asked angrily.

"You're too young for that…" the vampire muttered as he sat on my bed.

"What do you want?"

"Why is he here?"

"I don't know…"

"Is this a date?"

"Alex, what's your problem with him?"

"He hurt you…"

I sighed and walked towards my wardrobe to find some clothes. I let the towel that was wrapped around my body fall on the ground. I picked a pair of black lace lingerie and wore it. I could feel Alexander's hot gaze burning holes in my back.

It wasn't like he hadn't seen me naked before…

"He still loves you," the vampire said in a low voice.

"And do you have a problem with that?" I asked, going through the different clothes hanging inside my wardrobe. I pulled a black V-neck blouse and a pair of wide, dark jeans.

"You're not over him, either…"

I looked at him with wide eyes this time. For a moment, I thought he was joking, but Alex's look was stern.

"You really believe that after every night I've spent with you," I asked when my brain started functioning again.

"It's just sex, Ophelia. You don't have any feelings for me. I've seen the way you look at him…"

"Ethan and I are history, Alex. Please stop insinuating such things.

"Then why are you going with him?"

I sighed and picked my leather jacket and my short, black boots.

"He deserves a chance to explain himself, and I haven't given him one. I'd like to make amends with him before we leave for this war…"

"He'll come with us, too…"

"How do you know this?" I asked, lacing my ties.

"I heard him talking with Lucas about it…" Alexander shrugged.

"Great! Now we have another human to worry about!"

"At least he knows how to fight and fire a gun."

"Alex, it's not funny. It's unfair for humans to fight against vampires. You know how worried I am for them…"

"Okay, I'm sorry!" he muttered, raising his hands in surrender.

I strolled towards the bed and sat beside him. "To be honest, I'm confused…" I whispered.

"About what, angel?"

"About my feelings. I don't know what I want, and I feel numb, empty…" I replied, avoiding meeting the vampire's grey eyes.

"It shouldn't be that difficult, angel. Like I once told you, you just have to follow your heart," Alexander said, stroking my cheek lovingly.

I turned to look at him, a frown forming between my eyebrows. "You are not mad?"

"Mad about what, Ophelia? Both Ethan and I want what's best for you."

That was true; they both cared about me, and they deserved to be happy, too. I didn't know how to deal with any of these, and I certainly didn't want to hurt them.

"I can't deal with my emotions right now. We still have a lot of things to do…" I muttered, standing up.

"You can't hide from them forever, though…"

"I know…" I mumbled as I placed a soft peck on his lips.

"Oh, and don't think I forgot about your little cloud…" the vampire called as I turned the doorknob of my bedroom's door.

"What are you going to do about this? Spank me?" I teased him, glancing back at the vampire above my shoulder.

"Don't tempt…" Alex growled.

I chuckled as I exited the room and headed towards the living room.

Ethan was waiting for me, and I wanted nothing more than to get over with whatever he wanted…

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A.N. I'm sorry for not updating as often as I'd want to, but it was hectic for me lately. However, I feel like we're getting close to the end of this story. As always, let me know your thoughts in the comments!