Hiding from the Coven (Daughters of the Warlock Book 2)

by Amelia Shaw

  “Well?” I asked. “How do I look?”

  Tavlor didn’t answer. Instead, he spoke a few words and a mirror magicked up before me, giving me a full view of my new body.

  “Woah.” I stared at the reflection before me. “No way.”

  I moved my hand up to my face, watching the person in the mirror do the exact same thing.

  “Amazing.”

  It was hard to believe I was looking at myself. I didn’t expect to feel so... pretty. I had red, curly hair that bounced up to my shoulders, freckly skin, a cute button nose, and bright blue eyes.

  I was also skinnier, with bigger boobs.

  Nice.

  I ran my hand up and down my sides, wanting to actually feel it. To feel me.

  I didn’t look anything like myself.

  I walked over to Tavlor and Courtney joined us. I still felt like myself. Still walked the same, moved the same. I had all the same thoughts in my head, and I was still hungry the way I was in my body. It was strange.

  “Do I pass? What do you think, Tavlor?” I asked, addressing him on purpose. His opinion was the most important here. If I couldn’t fool him, then there was no point in being this person.

  He coughed, clearing his throat. “I couldn’t have done a better job myself.”

  Courtney clapped and giggled and I grinned at her.

  “Thank you. Both of you.” I opened up my arms and both sisters flew to me.

  We clung to each other in a three-way hug. I inhaled their scents, luxuriating in the love that we had for each other.

  After long moments, they pulled away.

  Bella had a tear or two staining her cheeks and Courtney looked like she’d been fighting them.

  “Well, I have a new look from Courtney, and a new tattoo from Bella,” I said with a grin and a hand to my belly. “Feels like I’m taking you both with me.”

  Tavlor stepped up beside me. “Are you ready to go, beautiful?”

  I was surprised by the term of endearment. Not because I didn’t think he was capable of seeing me as beautiful, but it wasn’t like him to use such niceties.

  I nodded, my gaze devouring my wonderful sisters’ faces. “Yes. I am.” I smiled at them. “I left the details for Aunt Alison in my room. In a book next to my bed. Just in case.”

  “And I gave Bella my family’s details,” Tavlor said.

  “Oh, I have one more thing to show you,” Bella said, pulling another book out of her bottomless pockets. “Don’t look at it now, but I think it will help you once you reach the Council.”

  I took the small, brown leather journal from her.

  She frowned and bit her lip.

  “Are you sure, Bella?” I asked. I didn’t know the significance of the diary, but if Bella was giving it to us, then it had to mean something.

  She nodded. “Yes, I just... you’ll see when you read it,” she said. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to share it, or part with it, but it’s the right thing to do.”

  I glanced at the book. “Not sure where I’ll put it...”

  Bella grinned, reached into her pocket, and pulled out a hessian backpack that could be slung over my shoulder. “I made this for you. It has the same enchantment on it that my pockets do. You’ll be able to hide practically anything in it.”

  She handed me the bag and I transferred both of the books into the depths of the tiny bag, then slung it over my shoulder. “Thanks Bella. What am I going to do without you?” I glanced at Courtney. “Without both of you?”

  I inhaled sharply, the pain of departing getting to me more than I thought it would.

  I forced a smile to my face and made my tone happier than I was feeling.

  “Well, I love you both, and I hope to be seeing you both very soon,” I said, my voice shaky, my eyes watery. Leaving them suddenly felt too soon, like I needed more time before saying goodbye.

  “Love you, Ava,” Bella said with a wave.

  “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Courtney said with a grin.

  I laughed. “That would be impossible.”

  That was the note to leave on. So, I turned and took Tavlor’s hand, walking back towards the portal from my mother’s realm back to Ireland.

  I tried not to look back.

  But I couldn’t help it.

  As we reached the entrance to the portal, I glanced back at my sisters, who were still standing where I’d left them. Watching me go.

  I raised my free hand and waved to them.

  They both waved back, and my stomach quivered with nerves and feelings of unease.

  Tavlor squeezed my hand. “You ready for this?”

  I nodded, focusing on his face.

  I had no idea if I was ready for what was to come, but I didn’t have a choice. This was the right path. I knew it in every fiber of my being.

  “Let’s do it.”

  With that, we plunged back into the portal, to begin the dangerous trek back to the magic realm so we could finally face off with the Council.

  Chapter 17.

  As much as I wanted to immerse myself back in the human realm, I didn’t have the time to linger.

  The grass was green, the sidewalks clean, and the people smiled and nodded hello to one another. Everyone was friendly. They didn’t know about the magic realm or the Fae realm. They didn’t know of the shifters who roamed the streets. They were able to live in ignorant bliss. As of right now, they weren’t threatened by the any realm, just their fellow man.

  I wasn’t sure if this was the life I wanted to have. If I would have preferred to not know about any of this.

  I was tempted to knock on Aunt Alison’s door when we passed it by, but I couldn’t. Mostly because I was afraid of what sort of shit storm I’d bring down on her if people learnt I’d been there. I already put my sisters at risk by seeing them. I didn’t want to add anyone else to that list.

  As much as Alison had taught me, she wasn’t strong enough, or prepared enough, for a Council level of attack. She was living in the human realm, after all, which meant suppressing her natural magic. Suppressing her magic meant suppressing her powers. She’d be a sitting duck.

  “This world is very...” Tavlor stopped, glancing around the quiet village streets and pretty houses.

  We walked down an alleyway, heading for the portal to the magical realm. I was suddenly tempted to grab his hand and pretend we were two humans going on a romantic stroll. But I didn’t.

  It was too easy to get lost in the façade of what normalcy could be.

  I smiled. “Very... what?” I asked, bumping shoulders with him. “Quiet? Pretty? Simple?”

  He shrugged. “I’m not sure. But I like it.”

  “I do too.” It was a great plan B for my sister Bella. Life in the human village would be better than life inside my mother’s bubble and she would get more social interaction.

  Not ideal of course, but it was better than the alternative.

  Courtney might enjoy a visit but there was no way she’d be able to tolerate how slow-paced this place was. It didn’t matter that they’d have Aunt Alison, if they didn’t have me. Courtney would leave after a few days, demanding an adventure from her life that she probably believed she was owed.

  I struggled to ignore the pulse of unease in my gut. If things turned bad with what Tavlor and I intended to do, I wouldn’t be able to be there for them anymore. I wouldn’t be able to keep them from making terrible decisions.

  I shook the thought from my head. I couldn’t let myself think like this. Not when I needed to focus and keep my head on straight.

  Despite what I’d been through, I still couldn’t imagine leaving them forever. I didn’t want to.

  We walked through the streets until we found the alleyway with the portal.

  I inhaled shakily and looked over at Tavlor.

  “You sure this is going to work?” I asked. I hoped my voice didn’t reveal my trepidation. I trusted him completely, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t scared.

  Tavlor grimaced ev
er so slightly. “I can’t guarantee anything, Ava.” He stopped walking, turning to face me so he could give me his full attention. “But this...” He waved a hand to indicate my changed face. “And this...” He indicated the book he still carried. “This is the best plan so far.” He looked down at his feet before bringing his gaze back up to me. “Truth be told, it’s the only plan we have right now.”

  I nodded once and clenched my hands into fists at my sides. “Then let’s do it.”

  Together, we ploughed through the portal, and into the magical realm.

  The familiar feelings of cold passed over my new face, and then we were stepping into the sunshine, onto the path that led to the shops where that traitor Mallory worked. I sucked in a breath. The last thing I wanted was to alert her to our presence. Right now, I was masked. But could somebody like Mallory see through me?

  The locket around my neck began to hum and burn with warmth I’d missed.

  Mother!

  I grabbed for the locket, wrapping my fingers around the gold charm and pressing it so tightly in my palm there would be an imprint in my skin.

  Ava! Where have you been? I’ve missed you so!

  Tears tingled in my nose and the backs of my eyes. I sniffled. I didn’t want to catch Tavlor’s attention and have him see me crying for no apparent reason, but I couldn’t contain my emotions. It felt so good to hear her voice again.

  “I went back to the human world, and back to your realm to see my sisters,” I said quickly, dropping my voice so I wouldn’t be overheard by the passersby. “I couldn’t hear you at all while I was there.”

  Oh... I didn’t realize that would happen.

  “Do you have wards up around the realm, or something?” I asked.

  Tavlor must have known whom I was speaking with because he remained silent, a steady presence beside me.

  I do. No-one can enter or perform magic that doesn’t have my blood line.

  Well, they could... but they had to be holding my hand to enter.

  “Hmm... that’s clever, but still not sure why the locket stops working,” I said, thinking out loud. Surely my mother would know. She had knowledge far superior to mine.

  Maybe because your father gave me the locket as a present... I don’t know. But at least you are safe.

  “For now,” I said with a shrug. It was hard to remember that she couldn’t see me. “We’re back in the magical realm and we have a plan to go to my father and...”

  Ava, no! Go back to your sisters. You’ll be safe there.

  “Safe?” I snorted. This time, Tavlor did look at me, arching a brow in my direction. “For how long?”

  Forever. That’s how I designed it.

  I scowled and hissed angrily at the locket. “That is not the life I want, Mother!”

  I paused as we passed a couple of young witches, eyeing Tavlor with feral grins and whispering behind hands. They stepped around us, giggling.

  Once I was sure we were alone, I continued. “Hiding in the shadows for the rest of my days. And what if we get sick like you did? You used up every bit of your magic maintaining the illusion of our home and now, you’re gone. You aren’t here to keep us safe because you used up all your magic. Do you really think we intend to do the same? Have you thought of that?”

  Silence.

  “Yeah. Figured.” I clenched my teeth.

  I let go of my locket and ignored any continued humming to get my attention. I needed time to think. As much as I loved having my mother back and having the ability to talk to her, I still didn’t appreciate her telling me what to do. When was she going to realize that she wasn’t here any longer? That I could make my own choices?

  When was she going to trust me?

  “Are you alright?” Tavlor asked, stepping closer.

  I grunted at him, struggling to get my anger under control. “I just... expected her to support me more.” I huffed out a laugh, releasing the bitter tension. I shook my head and my hair fell over my shoulder. I began to play with the ends. “But why should I? She didn’t support my dreams when she was alive, why would now be any different?”

  Tavlor smiled. He reached for me, seemed to think better of it, and let his hand drop to his side.

  “She’s a mother,” he said, “and from what I’ve gathered, a good one. Perhaps overprotective, but she raised three independent, powerful witches. Alone. Surely you can’t deny how impressive that is?”

  I crossed my arms over my chest. Just because he wasn’t the sort to let his emotions get in the way, didn’t mean he needed to take her side over this.

  “You didn’t have to live with her,” I muttered. “My mother wanted me to be the most responsible and then she wouldn’t trust me with that responsibility. You wouldn’t understand.”

  He sighed. “No. I was raised by my aunt, who for all intents and purposes did her best to shield me against the hatred I got from the rest of our community.”

  My cheeks pinched and l dropped my arms back to my sides. I was being selfish. “Sorry, Tavlor,” I said. “You’re right.”

  I had no idea what it was like to grow up with anything but unconditional love, even if it had been stifling.

  “You are allowed to feel your frustration, of course,” he said slowly, tilting his head. It must have been a new sensation for him, to think about someone else’s perspective when he had only ever been directed by his superiors and thinking wasn’t a requirement. “I don’t want you to feel guilty for feeling the way you are. But, perhaps, it might behoove you to try to understand it from her perspective. She might be feeling the same way about you.”

  I sighed and rubbed my lips to keep from saying something I might regret. Instead, I did as he suggested.

  “I guess, I wish my mother was here helping me through all this,” I said finally, picking up my gaze. I wanted to touch the locket again, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready to talk to her about everything we were planning on doing just yet.

  Tavlor grinned. “I do too,” he said. “It sounds like she was an incredible woman. From what I’m told, you remind your sisters of her. She sounds like a formidable person. I would have been honored to meet her.” He cleared his throat. “And speaking of which, what was that second book Bell gave you to look at?”

  There was movement to my left.

  A wolf shifter was stalking us, watching us and moving stealthily.

  “Ah, I don’t think now’s the time to get it out,” I said. “We’re being watched.”

  I glanced to the side, nodding as subtly as I could. Tavlor stiffened, his eyes narrowing.

  “Well, since we’ve been detected already, then there’s no need for me to hide my magical print any longer,” he said.

  I didn’t understand how he could be so calm about this. We had just been discovered by a wolf shifter and he was looking at the bright side. Part of me wanted to laugh.

  “Hold my hands.”

  I had no idea what he meant but I gave him both my hands. Without warning, without even a word from his mouth, cold wind swirled around us, whipping through my hair and tugging at my clothes. Before I could try to get a sense of what was going on, the world disappeared behind a whirl of color.

  I squeezed his hands harder, not wanting to let go. I had no idea if I would fly away, or if it mattered whether we touched at all. But I didn’t want to take that risk.

  Then we stopped and my stomach twisted with travel sickness. Yuck.

  I swallowed hard. “Where are we?” I asked as I nearly keeled over. My stomach tumbled and turned, and for a moment, I thought for sure I was going to throw up. Luckily, I managed to get control of the feeling, breathing in and out, over and over again until my stomach settled and I could stand upright.

  Tavlor looked to his right and I glanced in the same direction. We were at the top of the stairs, right in front of the Council’s building.

  I sighed, my stomach twisting again.

  “Brilliant,” I muttered. “I hate those stairs. Especially after traveling.�
�

  Tavlor chuckled and as a pair, we turned towards the doors.

  “Moment of truth,” I said. I sucked in a deep breath. Nerves prickled my skin and I tilted my head to the side. “Do I still look like me?”

  Tavlor frowned, his eyes going over my features. My heart jumped into my throat. A frown? What did that mean, exactly?

  “You still look like the red head Courtney turned you into, but I’m afraid the doors to this building will strip you of that enchantment,” he said.

  I had a vision of being stripped naked and I put a hand on my chest. “But I’ll keep my clothes, right?”

  It was probably a stupid question to someone who understood magic and what magic meant. However, the last thing I needed was to have to worry about whether or not I’d keep my clothes on.

  He nodded, and a flash of desire lit up his eyes, but then it was gone again.

  My lips curled up as a pleasant chill shuddered down my spine. I couldn’t to indulge in him all over again.

  But we had a war to fight.

  I would be with him later.

  “Are you ready?” he asked. His eyes had gone from desirous to serious so quickly I thought I imagined it. Instead, I focused on his voice, on his question.

  What a big question. Was I ready for the storm of anger, hatred, and utter stupidity coming at me? No, not really.

  But I couldn’t avoid it any longer, and I refused to do just that.

  “Yes.” I clenched my teeth together. “Let’s go.”

  I walked forward and pushed on the doors to enter.

  A strange feeling coursed over my skin, like cold needles. Not sharp and painful, exactly, but almost.

  I shivered where I stood, waiting for Tavlor to join me. I had to assumed that was the spell he’d been talking about. I looked down at my hands, at my clothes, but there was nothing different about either of those things. I wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or to worry something was wrong with me if even the spell Courtney cast wasn’t falling away the way it should have.

  I reached for my hair and felt the cool straightness of my once again Ava-blonde hair.