CHAPTER 26
Emmy We are all gathered in the weapons room in the basement of the manor. Vivian stands in front of us with three other people. There is a tall man, bald, huge bulking muscles and dark grey eyes. Vivian introduces him as Darren who turns out to be Carter’s uncle. I know Carter is itching to get some answers from his uncle, but that’s going to have to wait till after training. Next to Darren is a woman named Stella. Stella has dirty dishwater brown hair that is long and in a braid. On the other side of Vivian is a shorter woman with short blonde hair in a bob, and bright pale blue eyes, this is Ivy. Darren and Stella would be training the witches and warlocks while Ivy is training Carter and Avery. All three would help us become a better team.
“Choose whatever weapon, or weapons that you want to master. All of you have a strength and weakness. Find what calls to your soul, what makes you feel alive, what makes you feel like a warrior that can win whatever battle they enter.” Darren's voice is deep and strong.
We all start to walk around the room looking at the various weapons. There is every weapon known to man. Walls of swords, daggers, crossbows, bows and arrows, guns, numb chucks, brass knuckles, and so many other weapons. As we walk around the room trying to find the weapon or weapons we want to wield, I feel a bit overwhelmed by all the choices.
“You seven are those of a seven point star, which is one of the most powerful symbols in the magical world. You will be pushed to your limits. You will face challenges, pain, and heartache. Your training will be intense, and it will break you, but you will come out the other side stronger and better. I leave you in very capable hands.” Vivian leaves the room with a smile on her face, but it was an I know what you're about to face smile. It was not meant to be a happy smile. No, it was meant to be an intimidating smile, and it does just that.
I don't know how long it took everyone to choose a weapon, but we finally do. Carter has chosen two black tactical 1911 45 caliber pistols, Ryan has a double headed axe with a skull between the two heads of the axe, Alice picks a black collapsible bow staff, Brie has a bow and arrow, Avery has gone with a crossbow and a dagger, Bex has a longsword, and I choose a set of sais. We all have to learn hand on hand combat. We each have our weapons in hand and are ready to start training.
We follow our trainers, who are named the trinity, out to the woods behind the manor. There is a huge clearing with all kinds of obstacles set up. The first thing we learn to do is how to work our weapons, and the proper ways to carry ourselves with them. It seems silly but is needed since none of us knows what we are really doing.
The morning is spent getting to know our weapons. Darren says we need to bond with our weapons like we would our friends. That we must make our weapons a part of us as if they were extensions of ourselves.
We are divided into groups. Bex, Ryan, and I are with Darren. Alice and Brie with Stella. Carter and Avery were with Ivy. By the time lunch comes around we are all starving and ready to eat. The staff brings us salads, sandwiches, carrot sticks with hummus and water. We all devour our food without talking. After lunch we are back in our groups getting to know our weapons, and how to make them part of us.
After hours of training, we go back to the manor for dinner. There is roast beef, salad, roasted carrots with potatoes, iced tea and water. We are starving, and the food is gone by the time we are all done. The trinity is eating with us, as was Vivian. Darren gives Vivian updates on our progress during dinner. He talks about us with such pride and love in his voice. During dinner Carter talks to his uncle. He is learning so much about his uncle’s life now and I know it fascinates Carter. He’s always secretly looked up to his uncle, so this is great bonding time for them.
Once dinner is done the guys go to their room, and us girls go to ours. We take turns getting showers, and then curl up in our beds. We are drained, but we also want to get to know each other better. So, we play a round of truth or dare. I’m propped up on my elbow looking across at Alice. Luna is at my feet. Tomorrow we will bring our animal companions with us since they must learn to fight with us and with the team.
“Alright I’m the oldest, so I go first,” Brie states. “Alice truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Have you found your soulmate?”
“Nope, but I know she is out there. Yes, that’s right, I said she. I bat for the other team, so don’t worry Brie, Ryan is all yours.” Alice teases. The rest of them giggle but Brie turns bright red. “Emmy and Avery I have a truth question for you two,” Alice says, “Have you guys had sex with your soulmates yet?”
“Yes. The moment I got my human form back, Bex and I were like animals. Sorry, Brie.” Avery looks apologetically at Brie “Ugh I did not need to know that,” Brie whines.
“Carter and I have done it as well. It was amazing.” My voice is dreamy sounding.
“Good to know.” Alice jokes. “Brie we need to find our soulmates.”
“Yeah, we do. I don’t know how we are going to do that with all this training and the end of the world crap going on,” Brie states in a frustrated tone.
“Seriously. We better find out what we are up against soon. I don’t like not knowing.” I add. The girls agree with me. “I don’t know how we are going to do this. It seems so crazy to leave the fate of the magic world in the hands of teenagers. I mean, Brie you and Bex are only nineteen. You guys are the oldest. I’m the youngest, and I’m the leader. I don’t know how that works.”
“That’s because your family bloodline is very powerful. Sure, Bex and I have a powerful bloodline too, but not like you, Emmy.”
“Brie we are cousins. We have the same grandfather.”
“Yes, but my grandmother was human, yours was not. Vivian’s bloodline is more powerful than Henry’s. Besides, who knows if William Chase is even your father,” Brie adds.
“Wait what? Why would you say that?” I ask, giving Brie a side look. So not what I want to hear, but deep down I can’t deny I’ve been questioning this since the day my mom introduced me to my dad. My mom was a rebel, maybe she lied about who my dad really is, but I don’t know why she would do that. What reason could she possibly have to lie about who my dad really is? In a way it makes no sense, but then at the same time it does. My mom had a lot of secret things that even Kenzie and Vivian don’t know about. It’s possible, but that just means there’s another secret waiting to reveal itself.
“I don’t know. You seem too powerful for your father to be human.”
“I agree with Brie on that one. Emmy I’ve known you for a long time. You are so powerful, and you always said you didn’t feel like you didn’t belong with your dad and sisters. Don’t tell me it’s because they have money. It’s more than that and you know it.” Alice looks at me, and I know I can’t fool her.
“Maybe, but it could be because I’m a witch, and they don’t have magic. It could be something as simple as that.” I state trying to convince myself more than I am the others.
“It’s never that simple. Take it from me, Emmy. I was a damn spirit for almost a year, it’s never that simple. I was stuck in limbo between life and death, nothing is easy. What should be the most obvious answer isn’t always easy to find. I don’t know you that well, but I can tell you do stand out among us and I’m not saying that because I’m human. I say that because it’s clear you are so much more. If I were you, I would learn about your family, I mean really learn about them. I thought I knew my family and look at what happened to me. My stepsister was a bad witch who cursed me.”
“Ugh. I don’t want to talk or think about this anymore. My head hurts. I just want some sleep.” I say, wanting to drop this whole subject because I don’t think I can handle it right now.
We say goodnight to each other, and I close my eyes. I try to push the thoughts about my family out of my head. I don't know if I could handle William not being my real father. If he wasn't, then that means my real father left me like my mom did, or maybe there's more to the story than meets the eye.
Maybe my mom's secrets hold the key to why I feel a darkness deep in my soul coming to the surface. It’s getting stronger every day. The more I practice magic, learn, and master skills I feel it creeping up threatening to burst out into the world. I don’t know how much longer I can control it. I don’t know who to talk to about this. Perhaps I can sneak into the library and get some answers, but with all this training it’s going to be hard plus we have three trainers and Vivian keeping an eye on us all. Sneaking around is going to be a bit trickier than normal.
The thing that bothers me the most about all this is that my whole family has been keeping things from me my whole life. I know Vivian, Kenzie and Jason blame their secrets on my mom, they claim she started it all, but even if she did it doesn't mean they had to follow her footsteps. So, what she put a protection spell on me, they are powerful they could have found a way to undo it. Part of me feels like they are using her as an excuse. Oh, and then there’s the “but it wasn’t the right time” bullshit that they also like to use. I swear if I hear that saying one more time I’m going to flip, and then there it is again right now that darkness that threatens to come out. Deep down I can feel the darkness stir and mix with the light. I don’t know if the two sides are combining or fighting to see which one will win.