It didn't take long for the three witches to learn both the calming spell and the contradiction spell. As Brianna had instructed, the three women surrounded the school building, creating a triangle. Brian and the others stood a great distance away in case anything happened. I, on the other hand, stood at the far end of the school building between Amy and Brianna where neither could see me.
I couldn't help myself. I wanted to make sure 'she' was safe. Therefore, I was hiding until, or if anything went out of control. The two spells these women were about to cast were powerful. Even the best of witches were able to handle such extreme draining of energy.
Therefore, today I would be the girls' secret backup plan. After all, I had dealt with this spell before.
All the members of the Young Council were equipped with wireless earpieces to correspond with each other. It helped with the distance between us. Though most of them could not help physically, their support was well needed.
The atmosphere was somewhat different than earlier. It was as if it knew something was going to happen.
Then it started.
Chanting boomed through the earpiece in my ears. The morning wind stilled. The words from the witches' lips made the barrier spell visible to the naked eye. The magical frosted opaque barrier glowed and flickered like pepper lights.
The familiar scene took me back to when I was younger.
Flashback
"Why do you always have to go?" I whined, collapsing in the chair behind my Mom's office desk.
She paused from her potion mixing and cocked an eyebrow. "Are we back to this again?"
The shelves of colored potions glowed in front of her.
I shifted in the seat, stretching out my legs. "I mean, you and Dad just got back from helping that Lion shifter yesterday."
She went back to finish mixing her potions. They were bottled and rested in a black travel bag on the floor. When her hands were empty she placed them on her hips. "I know we haven't been around in a while, but these people need us."
I tossed in the chair with a groan. "What about me? Why am I being neglected?"
Mom zipped close the packed bag and rested it near the door. She swiveled around to face me. A soft sigh drifted around the room. "You know we'll always love you, Kyleon. You will always be my baby and we would never neglect you on purpose." A sad smile curved her lips. "What we're doing is actually for you. Your father and I want you to have a better life where you can be free to do as you please."
I closed my eyes and slouched in the chair. "You've been saying that for two centuries now."
I loved my parents and I know they meant well. But, I never wanted to be cooped up in a castle forever. This realm was all I knew and saw every day. I wanted to see the outside world. I wanted a chance at having friends who weren't fairies that addressed me as Sir or Master.
A soft palm caressed my cheek. I leaned into the motherly touch. "Oh, babe. I know, believe me, I do." Mom's voice went softer than usual; the tone which sung lullabies to me not long ago. "And, I'm working so hard for it to be a reality."
Yeah, she was. For the past two and a half centuries, most days I was stuck on my own. Both my parents were often off to rescue one species or another. I was tired of being alone. Boredom was suffocating me. Though my fairy 'friends' tried to help, it was useless.
'If only you could…' Wolfie, my inner voice suggested.
My eyes snapped open. Without any thought, I blurted, "What if I tag along?"
Mom stiffened. Her features went passive. The soft hand slipped from my cheek. "No."
My head snapped in her direction. "What? I thought you said 'the people'," I air quoted, "needed us."
Mom shook her head. Rebellious tendrils swung with the act. "Yes, I said us." An index finger pointed to her chest. "Meaning me and your father, not you."
Small steps took her back to the shelves of multicolored bottles of potions. The empty bottles were plucked off the counter in front of the shelf and placed in the metallic sink to her left.
I swiveled my chair to face her. "Yeah, but I know every spell there is to know. Plus, I'm strong." A smirk graced my lips. "Heck, I'm probably more powerful than you and Dad combined."
She shot me a glare and I plastered a shy smile on my lips.
"I mean, you and Dad have been teaching me a lot," I went on. "Let me help. Let me show you your hard work has paid off."
Mom began washing the glasses. "We didn't train you so you could be an asset. We trained you so you can defend yourself against other species." Her pitch went lower. "Especially against witches."
I got up from the chair and half sat half leaned on her desk. "I can do more than just sit around this Castle."
Really, Liability or asset, I didn't care which one I was as long as I got a chance to go outside.
A soft sigh filled the room. Water gushing from the pipe wrapped itself with the sound. Fluffy cloud of suds swirled down the drain. "Come help me with this." The glasses were handed to me with a towel. "I know you want to help, but would you carry your three-year-old with you to war?"
I placed the dried glass in the cabinet to my right, near the packed shelves. "But, I'm not three. I'm three centuries old. There's a difference. Ninety-nine years difference."
Mom's head swayed from left to right. "Not in vampire years. You're still my baby." Her hands were dried using another small towel. The dried hand was used to ruffle my hair. "You're not coming and that's final."
I placed the last glass amongst its companions and closed the cabinet door. "But—"
"No buts. You're not coming." With that command, Mom yanked her office door open and motioned for me to get out.
My teeth sank in my bottom lip, trying to prevent myself from stomping like a child. Frowning, I plodded out with my head down. "Fine."
However, her order didn't stop me from breaking the rules. After all, she said I couldn't go with her, there was nothing said about me going on my own. Therefore, I formulated a plan and made sure neither my parents nor the fairies were any wiser.