165
Lucy
Friday came with its usual air of excitement and anticipation for the weekend. Everyone was talking about their plans while the meeting with the rest of my family was looming over my head. I was halfway through my Basics of Potions class at the coven when a soft knock on the classroom door interrupted the lecture.
Our professor paused and looked towards the door, confusion crossing his face.
"Come in," he called, motioning for whoever was outside to enter.
The door creaked open, and I turned my head to see a coven attendant standing in the doorway, a serious expression on her face. She scanned the room before her eyes landed on me, and she motioned for me to come outside.
"Lucy, you're needed in the meeting room at the Council Hall," she said, her voice low and urgent.
My heart skipped a beat, and a million questions raced through my mind. Why would they summon me to the Council Hall? What could they possibly want with me?
"Is everything okay?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
The attendant's expression softened, and she nodded reassuringly. "I'm not sure what they want, but you're not in trouble, I promise. I’ll have your class notes and homework brought to the front desk for you."
I gathered my things quickly, feeling a mix of curiosity and nervousness swirling inside me. I was also a bit disappointed. I wanted to see him brew a luck potion for the first time before having to write a paper on it. What could be so important that they would call me out of class? As I followed the attendant through the hallways of the coven, I tried to push away the thoughts of all the possible reasons for the summons.
As she escorted me through the corridors of the coven, I ran into Duke and his escort.
"Lucy, where are you headed?" he asked, concern etched on his face.
"I have no idea, Duke," I replied, shrugging. "I was told to head to Council Hall.”
“Me too,” Duke's eyes narrowed, his expression mirroring my unease. "You don’t know anything about what it could be?”
I shook my head and fell into step beside him. As we were escorted through the corridors of the Coven’s campus and to the portal that would take us to Council Hall, Duke and I exchanged nervous glances.
Duke let out a nervous chuckle. "You know, if we were any more important, we'd have our own entourage," he quipped, flashing me a playful grin.
I couldn't help but chuckle softly. “You already have one.”
He frowned and looked around. “Now that I think about it… where are they?”
He pulled out his phone and started to text. He shrugged.
“Knowing Blue, they’ll probably rush over with refreshments if it takes too long.”
I hummed. “I wouldn’t mind some chips.”
“On it,” he said. “Anything else? Since we’re being escorted like royalty… Juice? I’m sure they’ll bring it in the finest crystal bottle.”
I laughed. It made the nervousness seem more distant.
A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
“What?”
"You know," he whispered, "maybe we're long-lost siblings, and this is some kind of family reunion."
I laughed. “Oh, please, what are the odds of that?”
The two of us ending up at the same orphanage? If he was from the same pack I was from, if that was the White Moon Pack, that would be too bizarre.
Though, as I thought about it, I couldn’t help but smile.
“I wouldn’t mind having you as a sibling.”
He grinned. “Me either, Lucy-Cat.”
I huffed as he burst into laughter.
We finally arrived at the meeting room, and as the door swung open, I took in the room. The room was just big enough to hold about ten people. The walls were adorned with mystical tapestries depicting ancient symbols and sigils, adding an air of enchantment to the otherwise plain space.
The room was bathed in a warm, golden glow emanating from ornate candelabras placed strategically around the room. The flickering flames danced playfully, casting dancing shadows on the walls, and I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something magical about this place.
A large, round table was in the center of the room, crafted from a smooth, dark wood that seemed really old, like an antique. On the table was a bunch of papers, nearly stacked in three stacks and carefully arranged, awaiting our attention. The chairs surrounding the table were simple yet comfortable.
As I stepped further into the room, I noticed the subtle scent of herbs and incense lingering in the air. I felt a little sleepy and relaxed.
Then, my eyes met Jordan's. Duke went still beside me as we walked in. The escort didn’t say anything before they left.
“They can’t see or hear me,” Jordan said, looking nervous. His translucent form flickering slightly. It never did that any other time we saw him. “I’m… using a lot of power to be here, but I wanted to be here.”
“What’s wrong?”
“You need to know that a family unit can be considered a pack. There are decisions to make, but I'm not sure if it'll be enough." He worried his lip and flickered some more.
Duke and I exchanged puzzled glances, not fully grasping what Jordan meant, but before I could as he started to fade.
We took our seats as Jordan shifted.
“I need to concentrate on being here,” Jordan said stiffly. “That’s all I can give you. I just hope it’s enough.”
“Okay…” Duke said.
Duke and I exchanged glances.
Before I could press him for more information, the doors to the meeting room swung open, and an authoritative figure stepped in. She had to be a Council representative. She was a tall and imposing woman with a commanding presence. Just behind her was a witch carrying a small child. My heart skipped a beat when I saw the little bundle. I immediately thought of Luke.
Just after her, another woman who seemed older than us came in. Her eyes sparkled with familiarity as she looked at me. She beamed at me and rushed around the table, pulling me into an unexpected and warm hug.
"Lu-Lu!"
Duke cocked an eyebrow at me. “Lu-Lu?”
The hug took me by surprise, and my mind raced to place the woman. I finally managed to stammer, "I'm sorry. Do I know you?"
“It’s me! Jessie?” Her eyes softened, and she released me from the embrace. "You might not remember me, Lucy, but we’re cousins.”
She scrunched up her nose. “Well, cousins of a sort. I never quite figured out how we’re related. Just that we are.”
Duke let out a soft whistle. Her words struck me like a lightning bolt, and a flood of emotions came rushing through me like a tidal wave. I couldn't believe that after all these years, I had family and a connection to my past.
The tears welled up in my eyes as I realized that I was not alone anymore. For so long, I had felt like an outsider, an orphan with no ties to anyone. My adoptive parents had been so terrible that I’d been afraid that my real family hadn’t been much better. After being at Blue Moon, I was almost certain that I didn’t want to know my family at all, but I was stunned. Now, I had someone who shared my blood, my history. It was an overwhelming feeling, and I could hardly contain my emotions.
Jessie looked at me with so much love and excitement. I had never imagined anyone looking at me like that, not even if they were really related to me.
At that moment, time seemed to blur. My vision, too, as I embraced Jessie with tears in my eyes.
She hushed me, whispering soft nothings in my ear, telling me that it was okay. I hugged the woman tightly, feeling the warmth of her embrace, and whispered a choked "thank you" into her shoulder.
Jessie. My cousin, Jessie. I repeated the name in my mind, savoring the sound of it and what it meant.
Family.
Home.
"I can't believe it's you," she whispered, trying to hold back tears of joy. “I’m so happy you made it out. When the fire started, and everything went crazy…”
She sighed and shook her head, but I didn’t look up. I shuddered as it felt like a bunch of weight had left my shoulders. My mind raced with thoughts of all the things I wanted to ask her, to know about our family, our roots. Were they as kind and loving as I had always hoped? Were we really a part of the White Moon Pack? What had happened? Did she know who put this restraint on me and why? A million questions buzzed in my head, but for now, I was content to bask in the joy rushing through me.
“You were never this much for tears,” Jessie said, sniffling as I pulled back.
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