Chapter 4 Olivia

We didn't talk about what happened again. What the heck was it? Pearl wouldn't take her eyes off me in case I zoned out and collapsed.

I couldn't brush it off my shoulder. I sensed danger. Deep dark danger. If I sensed it maybe Tanya or Demi had too. At 12:03 when I couldn't sleep I called Demi. Tanya was dead asleep she would never pick up.

'What happened?' She answered.

I sat up and scratched the top of my bonnet. I really needed to wash my hair.

'Geez Demi-'

'You never look at the texts on the group chat. It's so easy to talk about you behind your back. Pearl told us everything. Do you need a doctor? I heard trauma can be really bad.'

'I'm not traumatized. I called to ask about you...'

'Me? About me?'

I swallowed. How to put my words so I didn't sound like an over stressed lune?

'Yeah, feel anything I don't know like strange?'

'I'm fine Olivia. It's you that's strange.'

I rolled my eyes and landed back on the pillow. She didn't get it.

'I guess you're right. Goodnight.'

'We need a spa day you need to relax.'

I hung up. I felt something out there. I saw death. When day broke I sought the one person I could go to about the supernatural. Our relationship had been more than awkward, though I couldn't ignore this and what she said about punishments for ignoring warnings did play in the back of my head.

My parents were still asleep so was Misty, though Gran was out in the garden doing yoga. Her grey hair had been captured and locked in a messy bun over her head.

She set her right foot forward and bent her left leg. She stretched her arms to the sky. Soft ocean music caught my attention. She had a black DVD player in front of her. Where'd she get that?

'Gran?'

'Oh! Olivia, you're never up this early or are you looking to join me for some hot yoga. Gotta keep these fine bodies in shape.'

'Maybe tomorrow... I came for something else... remember yesterday when you said witches can sense danger?'

She paused then bent over to turn off the player. Gran poked her gaze through the glass door then back at me.

'Like death, suffering and evil? Visions best come to me at night. When did you feel it?'

I sighed, 'Yesterday at the restaurant. I wasn't even trying to-'

'Honey, sometimes you don't have to be. I just means you were in an open state. If you ask me you're blocked most of the time which is why you don't feel things.'

That wouldn't be a total lie. Using my powers was a rarity.

'What now? What do I do? Is this going to keep happening?'

Gran chuckled, 'Don't worry everyone at the Coven is aware a threat is on the horizon. But! I can help you control your powers. They work for you remember.'

I rubbed my shoulders and glanced at the door. 'I don't think it's suck a good idea.'

Gran closed the gap between us and grabbed my shoulders. Her pale blue eyes popped and her lips curled up.

'Oh... we don't have to tell your Mom anything. None of them. You'll need to be a master of your craft for the deer maiden trails too. Some of the strongest witches will be present and you have to beat them all.'

The glass door slid open and squeezed my eyes shut. Shoot. My parents room wasn't that far from here.

'You never stop, do you Cheryl?' Mom crossed her arms over her grey robe.

'How many times must I say it? No child of mine is getting married at nineteen years old.'

'It's okay honey, we'll talk more about this later.' Gran patted me on the back.

The brown bonnet on my Mom's head could have filled up with hot air from the way she boiled.

'Damn it Cheryl! Olivia isn't marrying your witch leader!'

'Being the leaders consort is a great honour! I wouldn't expect a human to know anything of our traditions.' Gran chuckled.

I backed up, though Mom blocked the door.

'Stupid traditional. I'll be damned if my baby goes through with it.'

'Olivia will go through with the trails, but don't sound so worried I can arrange your damnation anytime.'

'We'll see about that.' Mom took one stride over to Gran. I threw my body between them.

'Stop! That's enough. I've had it!'

'Watch your tone Olivia.' Mom warned.

'That's all you do raise your voices all of you! I'm done with all of you. I'm not doing the stupid deer maiden trails.'

'There's no getting out of it sweetheart.' Gran's face fell. Even if there was a way which I was sure there was she wouldn't let me out of it.

'Watch me.'

***

The drive to Coven grounds was longer than I remembered. Last time I was there I was six and the place always looked like a thing out of a bad horror movie. Over half of the witch population lives there.

Demi didn't live here she lived in upscale Rothdale. Would have been good to know someone who knew their way around here, I didn't know the first place to look for Cole. The shadow courtyard would be a good place to start.

I regretted not wearing glasses and a hoodie. I was an outsider here. Mom never bought into the culture here and most people knew it. Gran was a coven elder and her family was supposed to be like royalty instead my parents scoffed at everything to do with witchcraft.

Shadow courtyard was nothing, but a decaying four block two storey facade. Nasty snake vines strangling the poles, broken tiles and busted rooms. It was supposed to a place of refuge once upon a time. The thing that frightened me the most when I was a kid was a ten foot angel of death fountain whose rivers ran dry years ago. It sat right in the middle of the courtyard.

I nearly jumped back in my car to look for the horror show I visited years ago. Witches laughed outside their offices, living plants lined the ground in elegant flower beds. The angel of death was redeemed to heavenly status. Actual clean water burst forth from it this time.

I didn't have to run in and out of offices because I spotted Cole's blond hair talking to a silver fox on the top floor.

'Got you.'

I stomped up the stairs- half expecting to fall right through- drawing awkward glanced my way. Cole parted with the silver fox and walked into an office. I yanked the door open.

'Did you forget something?' He turned and nearly stumbled back when I marched up to him.

'You? You're a hard one to find curly,' he smirked then walked to his desk.

Is that really what assumed him? My curly hair? He'd really enjoy it if we got married. I shuddered.

'Why would you be looking for me?' I narrowed my eyes at him.

'You haven't been interrogated about what happened at my brother's party.'

'Doing the police's job now, are you?'

He crossed his arms and leaned against the table.

'You're one of mine I told Derrick I'd handle it.'

My blood boiled and my top hit the ceiling.

'I am not yours and I will never be yours!'

'Hey, hey wait a minute what are you taking about?'

'The stupid deer maiden trails. I don't want any part of it and I don't want anything to do with you!'

He rushed behind me and shut the door. He pulled me to the window behind the desk. I yanked my arm and resisted the urge to smack his pale face.

'What is the matter with you? I'm not supposed to know who you are.'

'Great. That means I'm out, problem solved.'

'It doesn't work that way. There aren't outs.'

'Don't you feel a little low? You're letting a couple of old women find you a wife. Are you doing that badly on your own?'

'Watch it. This ritual's more for the community than it is for me. There's a lot I have to sacrifice for my people. You're a witch, but you have no idea about what it means to be one.'

I balled my hands into fists and snubbed my sniffles. Gran was right, no outs. I walked to the door with my head mid high.

'Curly wait we have to talk about what happened at the beach house.'

'Nothing magical happened,' I snapped. 'I walked into a dark room and stumbled on Leo's dead body. A boy who died hurt because I had to destroy what we had for some stupid trails.'