Ch. 123: The Cottage

CHAPTER 123:
Kyle~
A few days go by with a similar routine. Ally and I get dropped off at the bus stop where we meet Rachel. We go to school together and silently plan the day through texts. We meditate before school, and during break. Lunch we focus on expansion. The days bleed together for the most part. Take our first day and today and there’s not much visible difference, but we are staying positive. Hoping that every millimeter of growth will help. We know every bit could mean the difference between our success… and our deaths.
It’s a relief not to have to see these two suck faces with their big bad wolves during the weekdays. Not that Nick and Jake stay away. No, after school they’ve been getting picked up by Nick and Jake, and they take a scenic way home. I can only take the very clear separation between them and me for so long. Between the couples and the lonely guy. Between me and Rachel. Yeah, I can only fifth-wheel so much, so I made it a point that I would take the bus home.
Home. Weird to think that I have this new place as my home now. But it is. It’s a safe space where I was brought back from - the brink. It feels odd to get back before Ally but it is nice to have a quiet space to myself for a bit. Thankfully it’s not too long before Ally’s mom comes back from work. It’s usually right before I start to think too much, feel too much.

Today marks about two weeks of this routine. Ally gets home at last and the three of us have dinner before we go in for another round of meditation and practice. Ally hasn’t wanted to alarm Nick but she’s working on some extra things. More combat magic, stuff that may or may not have been banned from use. She’s also been trying to create her own portals. She wasn’t having much luck with either though.
“Ugh,” she says after almost half an hour. “That’s it, I’m going to bed.”
I look at my smart watch, “It’s barely 8:30!”
“Yeah well, I just can’t get any farther today, and I’m tired,” she throws up her hands in surrender.
“Sleep tight!” I yell to her as she walks down the hall.
Might as well pass out myself. I know I’ll need it for tomorrow. We’re planning to get to the packhouse early and Ally will be working on some basic hand-to-hand with Nick. We’re joining the werewolves on some of their daily training. It sounded exhausting already.

Ally~
Something just wasn’t clicking. And once I rested my head on my pillow, I knew why. I was supposed to sleep early.
I blinked to find myself in a cottage. The place smelled of some savory broth and when I sat up I took it all in. Large black pot on a fire, worn wood flooring, knick knacks galore all over shelves and tables. Rugs of rich quality and eclectic furniture. I spotted a Victorian loveseat next to an old-timey wicker rocking chair, next to a bare wooden bench that looked like it had been made by a highschooler in their first year of woodshop.
My eyes scanned more to take in a skylight letting in little sunlight, the sky ahead darkening. Dawn, or dusk, I’m not sure. The windows below are mostly covered with colorful scarves, confirming the low light outside. I start to stand when the door creaks open. A hooded figure enters, stomping their feet on the doormat. They turn to face me and all I see are eyes. I tense up. They lower their hood and the scarf around their nose and mouth, to reveal a striking woman. She has jet black hair, piercing eyes, and long lashes. Dark red lips, serious gaze.
“There you are,” she says with relief.
A smile stretched across her mouth but it looked awkward. Like she doesn’t usually smile. It looks odd but I smile in response automatically.
“Uh, I’m sorry…” I start.
“Women in the mortal realm! Ugh! Always apologizing for existing!” she says, throwing off her coat and tossing it onto the Victorian couch.
“I - uh,” I stutter, no real idea of what I’m trying to say. After a few seconds something fires through my synapses. “Is this a dream?”
“Yes. Mostly,” the woman answers, wiping her hands quickly and coming closer to stoke the fire.
I look around again to take it all in.
“I’ve never been this aware in a dream before, at least not when I am by myself,” I think aloud.
“Yes, the Dream Walker. He’s a good lad. I’m proud of you, you know, you and your mother. You didn’t hesitate to help him,” she notes while returning the poker back to its holder.
“Thanks?” I reply, confused.
“Well, I’ll stop beating around the bush,” she shifts abruptly. “I am the Goddess of Witchcraft, Hecate. And I’m here to prepare you for the final battle in this war with those lunatics who bastardize true witchcraft.”
“The Collective?” I fill in for her.
“Yes,” she rolls her eyes. “Especially Callum. Ugh. Can’t stand the guy.”
“And how are you going to prepare me?” I ask.
“Wow,” she says, evaluating me like she’s seeing me for the first time. “I would have expected more disbelief and questions about how real or not real I am. But you just dive in. I’m impressed.”
I don’t say a word.
“Alright, well since you’re also into direct answers, here: I am going to share a few incantations with you which should undo what Callum’s incantations will try to do to you when you both finally square off. And yes - before you ask - you will square off with him. Then I’m going to talk to you a bit about my Amber.”
“Amber?” I push.
“One thing at a time, eager one,” her vicious smile returns. “First we talk about how you’ll kill Callum.”

Rachel~
I think we’ve all found this weird rhythm. Train, school, train. It’s odd to think this is all for something awful that could happen at any second. When I’m reminded of it I have a hard time sleeping, knowing I could be needed on the other side of the mountains at any second. I have to think they won’t wait long, but there’s no way to know for sure.
While Ally has tried to have additional visions, channeling Maxine doesn’t seem to do much anymore. I don’t know why. Kyle says he has asked his contacts, but so far nothing. Jake has been connecting with other local packs and searching for any witches willing to help Ally bulk up on her skills or mine - although no one really exists who is like me - but it seems that everyone this person or that person knew has disappeared. Mighty convenient if you ask me.
I push further when I can at home. If I take a break in the bathroom or have my room to myself, I’ll keep diving deeper and reaching further. It’s hard by myself with so much limited time and space, but I figure doing a little extra is better than nothing at all. I know I need to get a hold of other people with magic and energy. And so I take a tiny piece from everyone I pass.
Everyone regenerates their energy at a certain rate, and I am careful to only take a tiny bit. Way less than the amount they would regenerate. I justify it to myself that way. Even if it makes me feel wrong. Which it does. I can’t take any from my mom or Meg. Can’t bring myself to do it. So I just practice feeling out their energy levels without pulling or pushing more. Every scientist needs a control group you do nothing to, right?
I do take from my friends, and from Jake. But they know what I’m doing and why.
Well most of the reason why.
There is still the secret that Archangel Aurora told me - that no one knows about. And I can’t tell them. They would never let me out on the battlefield if they knew how risky that move of mine was going to be. I can’t say I’m not scared. I’m terrified. For Jake, for my friends, for my family - should I fail. I do my best to completely put that out of my mind.
Focus. One thing at a time. And right now, I need to get stronger, I need more power. I have to be able to strike at the right moment, or it could all be for nothing.