by Crystal Dawn
“She should have one in you.” Ram declared.
Knossos turned red. He had to be aware he was being an asshole. Sophie figured he was doing it on purpose because he was so unhappy with her. Fate had screwed her royally. She had a grumpy mate who wanted nothing to do with her. She would probably be mated to Boris before the month was out. Unless Boris found a way to mate his love. If he did, who knew who they would stick her with?
Her plan had worked, but it had backfired on her. Maybe it was her punishment for not following the rules she’d been given. Every time she tried to break free, she was kicked in the gut and pushed down to her knees. It seemed like there was no point in her trying to ever change her life. It was sad that what should be a happy event had turned into the worst day of her life.
“Let’s go have our private discussion now.” Ram invited. He and Knossos left her and Annie alone.
Once they were gone, Annie came to her and hugged her. “Don’t give up. He’s been asleep for centuries. There’s no way he’s himself yet.”
“Once he is, he may be even worse.” Sophie said.
“Do you really believe that?” Annie wondered.
“I don’t know what to believe anymore.” Sophie admitted.
“Will you tell your father?” Annie questioned.
“What’s the point if he won’t claim me?” Sophie asked.
“I believe he will.” Annie declared.
“You can be optimistic, your plan worked out.”
“You think everything just fell into place? Are you crazy? At least your mate came right to you. Mine ended up on the beach and I feared I had no mate at all.” Annie admitted.
“Okay, but your mate wanted you right away. He never fought the pull. Ram didn’t tell fate to go get fucked.” Sophie ranted.
“True, but Ram wasn’t woke from several lifetimes of sleep. I believe once he settles into modern times, you two will be fine.”
“I’d like to believe it, but I’m just not that naïve anymore.”
“Having hope isn’t naive. I don’t want you to change, Sophie. I love you just like you are.”
It was easy to tell Annie meant it, but it wasn’t enough to undo the pain Knossos had given her. Hope was a fragile thing and it was hard to keep it alive in the face of so much negativity. Ram walked into the room trailed by Knossos. He walked up to Annie engulfing her in his arms. Sophie watched with envy. She’d hoped for a relationship like that but she’d been short changed again.
“Do you desire your cousin’s mate?” Knossos voice rumbled in her ear.
“No, I desire the caring relationship they have.” Sophie answered. That seemed to kill the conversation. Fine. Let him think on that.
Sophie had a lot to think about too. If war was truly coming, she and many witches of her generation would be nearly defenseless. Why had their parents left them in a position to be nothing but victims? Annie was an exception, but even she didn’t have the power either of her parents had at her age.
The only way any of them could aid in the fight was to attract powerful mates like the one Annie had and the one she might have if Knossos gave in. That wasn’t even what Annie’s father had in mind for any of them. He’d simply intended to strengthen alliances already in place with matches that were not true mates. Nothing seemed to make any sense anymore.
It was time for her to stand up and find a way to learn the things Annie had. How had Annie learned? “I need to talk to you privately, Annie.” Sophie asked. “The guys can continue their manly shit.” Sophie usually never cussed, but she was tired of being a good girl. Fuck that.
“Okay.” Annie said and smiled at her. They went into the room the guys had been in. “What did you want to talk about?”
“I want to learn magic. Tell me where to go.” Sophie demanded.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, damn it. I’m tired of being useless.”
“You’re not useless, just undertrained.”
“Tell me.”
“The swamp witch will help.”
“Not her.” Sophie said with a moan. She was a tad frightened of that woman.
“She’s like someone’s grandmother. They started the rumors about her to keep the young witches away. Think about it. What have you ever seen her do that is bad?”
“She verbally ripped into your dad.”
“Jealous that you weren’t able to do it?” Annie asked.
“A little bit.” Sophie admitted.
“That’s where you have to go or you’ll never get the basics.”
“Okay. Do I need to give her something to prove I’m serious?”
“Just tell her you’re my cousin and you are tired of being put off.”
“That’s all?”
“She’ll understand. The witch has argued about letting the younger witches stagnate. Dad argued that if they’re fighters, they could die in battle.” Annie explained.
”That’s true, but couldn’t we die if we can’t defend ourselves?”
“That’s what she said, but no one would listen.”
“How do you know all that?”
“I’ve been sneaking around and watching the meetings every chance I got.”
“You’d be in trouble if they caught you.”
“Don’t you think I knew that?”
“I want to see a meeting.”
“There’s one in two nights. They have them twice a month.”
“Where should I meet you?” Sophie asked.
“Meet me here an hour earlier. Do you need help with the swamp witch?”
“No, I know how to find her.”
“We all do. She was the stuff of nightmares according to my dad and other parents.”
“She was, but now she’ll help me live my dreams. I’m leaving. Just tell the guys I have work to do.”
“Okay, but be careful.” Annie called after her.
She wasted no time getting to her car and driving away. If she waited too long fear might consume her. This might be a little old lady, but she was a strong and fearsome witch said to eat little girls and boys like the witches of old fairy tales. Thirty minutes later, she stood at the foot of the witch’s walkway shivering.
As she placed her first step toward the door, a crazy cackling laugh rang from the house. “Come closer, my Sweetie.” Echoed to her. It made her want to turn and run away.
She would be brave and stand her course. Sophie wanted to learn her magic, she would let nothing stand in her way. One foot in front of the other, she wouldn’t let insane laughs or threatening sounds turn her away. In her mind, she even hummed a ditty. Now the door loomed ahead of her.
Taking a deep breath, Sophie stepped up to the door and knocked. The cackling laugh sounded louder and longer, but she just knocked again. Footsteps came to the door, slow and laborious. Finally the door opened slowly and a meek woman stood in front of her. She peeked up through thick glasses her eyes blinking.
“May I help you?”
“Are you the swamp witch?”
The woman laughed, the sounds sweet and tinkling. “I’ve heard that nickname a time of two, but I’m Althea Witherspoon.”
The name sounded familiar, but Sophie didn’t remember why exactly. “I’m Annie’s cousin and she thought you might help me.”
“Well come in and I’ll get us some tea and cookies to eat while we talk. Just have a seat anywhere.”
Sophie stepped in to a beautiful and modern cabin. The outside was deceptive, the inside looked like a rich manor. She took a seat on an overstuffed easy chair and waited patiently. It wasn’t long before Althea came bustling back in pushing a tea cart in front of her. The tea looked green but she could scent lemons.
“My own mix of green and lemon tea. It’s healthy and soothing. Now while I pour, tell me what’s on your mind.”
Sophie watched Althea pour their tea for a moment as she marshalled her thoughts. “I need to learn magic.”
“Of course you do, dear. How much do you know?” Alt
hea asked.
“Only the basics for the lowest level of the business.”
“My, they’ve been holding your generation back even more than the previous ones. I argued against that and was kicked off the council.”
“That’s why your name was familiar.” Sophie whispered.
“Yes, these days I just go as Al. Easier and doesn’t remind anyone of Althea. I thought you already knew?”
“No, Annie said nothing. She said I needed to work out my own relationship with you. There’s a war coming and I’m helpless. I tried summoning my mate, but even though he’s powerful, he has no desire for me or war.”
“Many of the most powerful races went into hiding. Dragons, unicorns, phoenix, pegasus, and more all hid because they were being used by the other races then discarded and kicked off the council. Even now I doubt they want them back. It’s their way to take them only when they are about to be destroyed by their enemies. Teaching you might give you some protection, but what about the others?” Al asked.
“I truly can’t say. Most of them follow orders and wouldn’t dare come to see you.”
“Perhaps you can see if they want to learn what you know at some point?”
“If I thought they did, I would teach them anything I could or send them to you. I just can’t see it and I would refuse to risk you.”
“Thank you for that. It always surprised me that teaching Annie wasn’t the end of me.” She snapped her fingers and a book and a notebook appeared in front of Sophie. “Take it. Read the book and take the tests on the pages of the notebook. It will tell me where I need to begin with you. Don’t come back until it’s done, but when it’s done, don’t wait too long.”
The tea was drank and the wonderful chocolate chip cookies eaten. They said goodbye and Sophie hung onto her books tight as if fearing they would be yanked from her. Peering into the shadows of the oncoming night, she looked for signs of spies. Seeing no one, she rushed to the end of the walkway where she used a quick spell that took her to her bedroom.
The books swiftly went under her bed before she rushed down to eat. Her parents weren’t there, just the cook that had essentially raised her. “I smell cookies on someone’s breath.” Elly said with a giggle. “You won’t be hungry now.”
“It was just a little snack, Elly. Please feed me?”
“I will little girl. I fear you won’t be here long and I’ve a wish to go with you.”
“You go where I go.” Sophie said repeating the words she’d said to her many times as she grew up. Elly was all she’d had many days and she’d feared losing her.
She knew she was soft hearted and it wasn’t the best quality in a witch of her family. Sophie loved too easily and hurt hard when she was not loved back. Her parents loved her, they were just not the motherly and fatherly kind, but they’d given her Elly. That made up for a lot of her parent’s other mistakes.
Elly set a marvelous meal before her that she thanked her for. Elly was a wonderful cook and a motherly female. Thank the gods and goddesses for Elly. Sophie knew Elly wasn’t a human or a witch, but what she was escaped her. Her favorite cook would never tell and Sophie never figured it out. Eventually, it didn’t seem to matter anymore.
Once she was done with her meal, she cleaned up and got ready for bed. Once she was ready, she pulled the book and the notebook out to look at them. It started easily enough, yet as soon as she completed something, the magic level jumped by one. As soon as she reached level six which was approximately sixth grade level for a young witch, it got harder. She managed two more levels without using the book. At ninth grade level, she failed her first try.
The notebook gave her a different test at that level, but she failed it again. One more, and she’d completely failed the three major magical levels for junior practicing witches. Air, earth, and fire were the three types of magic taught at this level. Sophie was embarrassed. Oh she knew she’d been taught some adult magic especially for love spells because it applied to work, but she’d thought she had been at level twelve in everything first. The books explained exactly where she was at, ninth grade level. That’s where her learning would begin.
Sophie prepared for bed fighting off the tears. Not because she was stupid, because she wasn’t. It was because she felt betrayed not just by her parents, but by her whole magical community. They’d left her whole generation unable to protect themselves. There was nothing to say and the only thing to do was to learn and teach others. She knew to learn first in case someone she decided to teach told on her. Sad, but after what she’d just learned about the education level she’d reached, she would trust few people.
It was a surprise when she woke up felling rested because she’d been sure she’d never get to sleep. Hopping up, she dressed and went downstairs to eat. Sophie was scheduled to work today and as usual she could get her work done in half a day because it was easy. She’d be in the local store calling in customers. There were two wart away spells, three love potions, and one particularly nasty fungus. No, they weren’t trying to get rid of it. They were giving it to their ex because he was a slut. It would go away in about a week. The week would be an irritating one for the ex.
Maybe she was enjoying it too much because she thought of Knossos with an itchy rash. The dragon was beyond irritating so she wouldn’t mind if he was irritated too. Sophie was in place as the first customer came in.
“Mrs. Albuth, how are you today?”
“Do you need to ask?” The old lady asked. “If I was alright, I wouldn’t be back. I have another wart and this time it’s on my ass. Are you sure you aren’t causing me to get new ones when the old ones fall off?”
“I wouldn’t do that. I’m sorry to hear you are having issues.” Sophie said. She was fairly sure either Mrs. Albuth had a wart problem or someone didn’t like her and was sending them her way. Their company wouldn’t sell or cast a spell like that. It didn’t mean no one else would. “I’ve cast the spell for you, Dear. It should fall off in a few days.”
“Thank you.” The old lady said. She paid at the cash register on the way out. Few people risked the witches’ ire by skipping out on the payment.
The next customer came right in. “Sally? You again?” Sophie asked.
“He just wasn’t the one. I need another anti-love potion and a love potion for this new guy. It’s the right one this time. I know it is.” Sally said.
“Fine, here you go. Take these. The blue is to undo the love potion the red is the love potion. Okay?”
“Got it. Thanks so much. I’m going to finally get my life straightened out.” Sally said as she sashayed out to the cash register.
The cash register was manned by those people in the witch families that were either too young to be properly trained yet, or that rare witch that had no magical ability at all. Sometimes Sophie wondered if they really had no ability or if her uncle just hadn’t wanted to train them. She was losing faith in the witches’ council and the way their society was run.
Chapter 2
Dragon Me Around
Knossos had to admit Ram had shown him things that convinced him that hiding his head in the sand wouldn’t be smart. What kind of life would they ever have if all their mates died and the world was under undying tyranny? While he could contact those dragons like his mother who had remained awake, those sleeping might be hard to find.
At the time, everyone had been in a panic as human knights searched for dragons giving them no choice but to kill or be killed. Dragons didn’t like to kill especially for no real purpose. Thousands of years ago, they’d fought at the human’s side, but the reasons had been clear. These days people were just crazy. Even the other supes seemed a bit weird. What kind of witch refuses to teach their own children to protect themselves? That’s damn crazy.
His mate was crazy too. She’d summoned him and then she took off leaving him to manage on his own with strangers. Maybe she’s been hit by too many spells and couldn’t think clearly anymore. Her cousin and even Ram had looked at
him shocked when he asked. Didn’t he have the right to know if his supposed mate was defective? It looked like things had changed a lot in several hundred years.
He sat at the breakfast table after he had filled his own plate at what was called a buffet. It wasn’t that different from tables at a feast except the food and the table were separate and the food was kept heated until it was taken away. Knossos would admit the food was good and flavorful. Back in the old days, food was often spoiled and a dragon had to burn it so it was safe to eat. Humans couldn’t stand burned food so they ate it like it was and got sick.
Ram had finished eating and was now looking at him. “Yes?”
“I was just wondering if you’ll be nicer to your mate today.”
“Why? Is she bringing me something?”
Ram sputtered. “Why? Is she expected to?”
“No, but you said to be nice.”
“If you aren’t nice to her, she may forget about you.”
“Once we have sex, she’ll never forget about me.” Knossos said with a wink.
Ram was taking a drink and choked. “Are you kidding me?”
“No, dragons are famous and fabulous lovers. Maidens fought over us to have their virginity removed. They sang songs of our bed legends. It was amazing.” He sat back remembering the females lined up to woo him. That was before everything changed.
“I don’t think things will be like that now.”
Knossos sighed heavily. “I’m afraid you may be right. There’s no proper appreciation for my kind anymore.”
Ram whispered, “Poor Sophie.”
“What was that?” Knossos asked. He’d heard him, but he dared him to repeat it.
“Nothing. Just thinking out loud.”
“Hey, Babe.” Annie greeted. “Oh, hi to you too, Knossos.”
“Annie, don’t you think I’ll be an amazing mate?” Knossos asked.
“I’m sure I can’t say.”
“I understand. You wish you’d gotten me instead.”
Annie coughed. “I’m pleased with my mate.” She looked at Ram helplessly.
Knossos was sure he was mistaken about her reaction to him. Females had always flocked to him. Dragons were legendary. His mate taking off yesterday the way she had was unheard of and he didn’t know what to think of her behavior. It was his hope modern women weren’t like that. He didn’t even know if he would see her today.
