155
Lucy
As I made my way to the Coven headquarters a few days later, my nerves were in overdrive. Meeting with Riley to go over my lineage records felt like stepping into uncharted territory. I didn’t know anything about my family, but if there was a chance that anyone who knew my parents was still alive, I had to be brave and try.
Riley greeted me with a warm smile as I entered the office. "Lucy, it's great to see you. Ready? You look so nervous.”
I nodded, trying to steady my breathing. "Yes, I'm ready. Let's do this."
Riley pulled out a scroll and began to spread it out. “This is the family tree we managed to put together based on your test and some digging. Everyone highlighted in blue is alive.”
I swallowed, my shoulders slumping as I noticed that the boxes that should have contained my parents’ names were outlined in black. Most of the tree was black, but there were at least ten boxes that were highlighted in blue.
One of them was an uncle named Lucian. I had a cousin that wasn’t named and a few others that were. The people who were alive had an age in the box. Most of them were around my age. My uncle was the oldest of them all.
“Why… aren’t the other names there?”
“They asked not to have their names revealed,” she said. “Though everyone has agreed to an organized meeting. Would you like to attend?”
I hesitated for a moment. Something nervous ad fearful welled up in me, but I heard my response moments later.
“Yes.”
Riley smiled, seeming pleased with my response. "Excellent. The infant’s current caretaker has agreed to bring the child as well. We’ll have the meeting here in a few days."
The thought of meeting others who were related to me filled me with a mix of excitement and trepidation. Each of the people glowing blue had survived the same thing I had. I felt the desire to know them growing stronger and stronger. I added the meeting date to my calendar and took a deep breath. Riley walked me back out to the car that was waiting to bring me to the Helping Hands' Community Mural Project.
As I rode, I read the information I had been given about it through Helping Hands. For the humans, it was supposed to be a beautification effort on an old section of a park. However, it was also a part of the infrastructure for the barrier that was still being developed.
The car pulled up at the park and I saw people gathering and checking in with the volunteers in front. I spotted Amy and David already engrossed in the painting process. The cheerful atmosphere around the site eased my nerves, and I felt a sense of relief to be among friends. At least, I didn’t have to worry about the meeting.
“Lucy, over here!” I turned and found Amy with a wide smile, waving me over. "Glad you could make it!"
I checked in at the front desk, picked up the painting kit they issued and headed towards them.
"Thanks for inviting me, Amy," I replied, returning the smile. "This looks amazing already."
David nodded in agreement, focused on his section of the mural. I hesitated for a moment, wondering if now would be a good time to bring up the dreams. But I couldn't muster the courage just yet.
Instead, I joined Amy and David. I got some paint in my painting cup and started to paint the symbols I had been assigned. As we worked side by side, I couldn't help but feel my worries vanishing. The paint shimmered with magic and intent as it dried. The paint that Amy was using didn’t.
After a while, Amy drifted a little further away, working on another section, but David and I stayed closer together.
"Where's Duke?" I asked, “It’s not like him not to come if Amy invited him.”
David chuckled. “He got himself into trouble with Blue.”
I frowned. “Is everything okay?”
“Of course. He’s been a little sleepless. He lost some more weight, so he’s being punished with a feast and an extensive magical evaluation.”
I chuckled, imagining it. “I’m glad someone’s making him look after himself.”
As the day progressed, the mural took shape, and the sense of accomplishment was palpable. I was surprised how well the symbols David and I had painted seemed to blend into the mural. If I hadn’t known what to look for, I wouldn’t have noticed it at all.
“Whoever designed it is really good,” I said.
“She’s the best,” David said. “A true genius of her craft… You’ve met her.”
“What?”
He tapped his cheek. “She moonlights as a face painter.”
My jaw dropped as I thought about the woman from Shell Cove.
“Is it… usual that people from… other places come to help?”
David paused. “It’s what the Council was originally meant to be.”
I frowned. “What happened?”
“Ah… that’s a bit complicated, but in short? A power feud.” He shook his head. “I’m not too clear on it myself. The Council isn’t that old, but it’s old enough. A lot of the history of the supernatural and how it came to be the way it is now it kind of lost and slowly being recovered.”
He laughed. “If you can believe it, witches are the only ones who truly believed in writing things down and sharing it. Elves… tend to keep to themselves whenever possible.”
“Do you think that the Council will… continue to be a good thing?”
He chuckled. “I think it could be a great thing if that power feud wasn’t still in the way, but… I think there’s hope for it yet.”
I nodded, not entirely sure what that meant. Then, David sighed.
“You’re on edge. Is something wrong?”
I shook my head. “I just… met with Riley about my lineage test.”
“You’re nervous about meeting your family.”
“Weren’t you? When your dad came to pick you up?”
“A little, but I was more excited than anything,” he chuckled. “Even knowing what I know now, I would have been excited.”
He looked at me. “Who wants to be an orphan?”
My lips twitched and I nodded. “Thanks, David.”
His words eased my worries, and we went back to work. As the day came to an end, and the last parts of the mural were complete, I looked into the distance where the sun was setting. The last rays of the setting sun cast a warm glow over the mural, I found myself lost in the moment with David.
“Oh.”
I turned and our eyes met. I could see a mix of emotions glinting in his eyes, but I couldn’t put a name to the way he looked at me. My heart started to race.
"Do I have something on my face?"
He nodded and reached out to wipe at my cheek. A jolt of excitement shot through me as his touch lingered, making me feel a bit breathless. My face tingled where he touched and the warm lingered as he chuckled softly, his hand falling back to his side.
"Just a little paint. You know, you look even more beautiful with a few artistic touches," he said, his gaze lingering on my face.
A flush crept up my cheeks. I felt something in me, stirring pulling me towards him. It was tentative and made a mess of my stomach. Yet, at the same time, I felt a wave of nervousness washing over me. David's connection to the werewolf world was too close to Tony and Matt. I knew he wasn’t like them, but not every part of me was convinced of that.
David must have sensed my hesitation because he spoke softly, his voice filled with understanding. "There's no need to rush anything, Lucy. I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
His words were reassuring, and I appreciated his sensitivity to my feelings. It was clear that he genuinely cared about me. I shook my head.
“It’ not that… I just… I don’t know. I’m a little on edge.”
“That’s okay,” he said. “You can tell me if I’m being… too forward, you know?”
"Thank you, David," I said, grateful for his patience and understanding. "I just need a little time to process everything, you know? It's all new and a bit overwhelming."
He nodded, a gentle smile playing on his lips. "I understand completely. Take all the time you need. I'll be here, whenever you're ready."
“Alright, rally around for a photo!” A woman called. “This is your moment, you know? I want smiles and poses!”
David caught my hand with a grin and pulled me gently toward where everyone was gathering. Amy climbed up on the edge of a raised bed. David lifted me up and grinned.
“Give it your best, hm? Think gargoyles.”
Amy gasped in horror as I burst into laughter, yet as we posed as silly as possible, like cartoon birds awkwardly taking off in flight, I felt lighter.
I wouldn’t be trapped in these feelings forever, and then, I’d really be free.
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