"Is everything ready for next week," I ask Cassandra. She walks around her small library, tidying up. The room is filled will rows and rows of grimoires. Some of them old and some new.
Cassandra turns to see Angie and I and she smiles.
"Almost. Everyone is on board and knows what they have to do. Thanks for your help," she thanks me.
"Well, what else would I be doing?" I sit down in one of the chairs and sit Angie down in my lap. She's already learning to sit. "You've helped me a lot. You literally delivered my baby. The least I can do is help with this problem."
"You could be back in New Orleans," Cassandra says, sitting in the chair next to me.
"I can't go back yet because I'll be arrested once I step foot in the borders of New Orleans. Plus, I haven't found much information in the time that I've been here."
"Then why stay here? Why not leave and find information somewhere else?" Angie babbles as if to agree with Cassandra.
"After everything I've seen here, I can't just get up and leave without helping. I'm sure you can understand that. You're doing the same. I also think this is where I need to be. I have a gut feeling."
Cassandra pauses. She's thinking hard about something.
"I can tell Ben if he doesn't tell you everything you need to know that we won't go on our date tonight," she says, rubbing her hands together in mischief.
"It doesn't matter if he tells me now. Even if he does tell me, I'm staying until the problem here is solved or at least until someone kidnaps me and takes me back to New Orleans," I tell her.
"Also, you guys have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to go on a date. One day without talking about issues should be good."
"You're right. I need a break," she breathes out a sigh. These past couple of weeks have been back breaking. Getting all the witches to agree was only the first step and it was probably the hardest. After that, there was the actual planning of how to attack and what would be most efficient.
We decided on a small group of the witches finding where the government are taking captured witches. After we find that out, another group will sneak in and steal all of their dark objects they keep, so we can't be tracked. Once that happens and they realize they can't track us anymore, it'll be time to strike.
We'll try peacefully first and ask them if they want to sit down and discuss terms, but if they refuse, we'll use force.
They won't win either way. They'll be forced to give these people their rights back.
I, on the other hand, am working behind the scenes. Ben refused to allow me to work alongside them in the fight. I would have enjoyed it for sure, but I'll have to do my best from here. I'm staying here with Angie and Emi. It's not fair that Lina gets to fight though.
When I look down at Angie at this moment, I do feel better about staying here with her. Making sure no one runs in here and tries to pierce the heart of my sweet, chocolate baby.
I remember how bad it affected Emi when she told me her mom left her in the care of her family to be a distraction and to fight back. She never saw her mother again after that day. I know how hard it is to not have a mother and I wouldn't want that for Angie.
"She's growing fast, isn't she," Cassandra says, looking at Angie and Angie gives her a big, goofy smile.
"Yeah. She was only born a month and a half ago and she's already sitting. I don't know much about babies, but I'm sure they're not supposed to show so much growth this fast," I tell Cassandra, frowning.
Angie is growing at a ridiculous speed and it's kind of worrying. She seems healthy and strong, but I'm not sure if this is natural.
"Supernatural beings, except for vampires, mature faster than humans. It slows down by the time we reach five years old, but Angie could be crawling by three months and walking by five months. Given that she's a witch and werewolf, she'll progress faster."
I feel a little bit better after hearing that. I just feel like I worry 24/7 now that this baby is born. I guess it's just my motherly instincts. I feel a warmth come close by my side and I look over to see my own mother smiling at me.
"I knew you'd be a good mother. You were worried for nothing," she tells me. I can feel myself tearing up. I try to shake my head to get rid of the image. I know it isn't real.
"Do you know where my pills are, Cass," I ask Cassandra.
"Yeah, they're in the room. We should go in there anyways. I have to get changed for my date. Just make sure you don't breastfeed for a little while until it's out of your system." I nod in understanding and we leave the library to go to her room.
These little episodes happen every once in a while. I am getting better. I can just feel something is missing and I won't be fully better until it's returned to me. I wish I knew what it was.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
"Have a nice date," I scream out to Ben and Cassandra as they run off. It's night time which is better because no one will be able to spot Ben that way. We have no idea if we're still being looked for, but Ben thinks it's safe.
Cassandra has a beautiful, flowy red gown on and Ben wears a charming tux.
"Don't forget to be a gentleman, asshole," Emi yells at Ben. Lina glares at her foul language. "Sorry," she apologizes.
"I'm always a gentleman," Ben yells back. He even proves it by opening the car door for Cass. Emi rolls her eyes at him. He runs to the drivers' seat and they roll off to their date.
"Movie night," I ask Emi and she nods her head in enthusiasm. Lina walks off to do her own thing.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A loud crashing sound wakes me up from my sleep. I look over and see a sleeping Emi next to me. Angie is sleep in her crib. We all fell asleep during the movie.
I pause, trying to find out what's making that noise. I hear another loud bang. I shake Emi awake.
"What," she asks all grumpy from being woken up.
"There's something upstairs," I whisper to her and hear another loud sound. Emi is fully awake now and shocked.
"What do we do," she asking, whispering. I look over at her and then Angie. I have to go find out what's upstairs in the bar. I won't let anything happen to them.
"I need you to take Angie and hide in the closet." This only seems to freak her out more.
"I'm going up there with you," she demands. I shake my head no and she starts to cry. "You can't leave me."
"I'll be back. I need to make sure you guys are safe." I get out the bed soundlessly and pick up Angie from her crib, hoping she stays asleep. Emi refuses to follow my directions and just glares at me with tears in her eyes. "Come on, Emi," I demand her.
She gets up from the bed and takes Angie. I walk with her to the closet and make sure she gets in. She crouches down in the little space and hides her body.
"You'll be alright. I'm coming back." I signal her to stay quiet.
"You're just like my stupid mom," I hear her whisper and it breaks my heart a little bit. I can't allow them to be in danger if there's something I can do about it.
I exit the bedroom and walk up the stairs slowly, not making a sound. I don't hear anymore banging. It's dark, but the colorful lights from the bar illuminates a figure passed out on the ground.
It's the shape of Lina's body. I've grown to remember it.
My hands fly up to my mouth to stop myself from gasping loudly. I can see blood spilling from her side.
No.
I must be seeing things.
This can't be real.
My legs are stuck to the ground I'm standing on and I can't move towards her. I can't move and I continue to sob silently.
Something pinches the side of my neck and I slap it to move it way. I turn around and see a very faded image of a man.
"It's alright sweetheart, we'll take care of you," he whispers to me and it chills my spine. I punch him in the face, but it's not very effective because I feel dizzy. I see the needle he holds in his hands.
He chuckles at my realization and it infuriates me. I try to swing at him again.
Next thing I know everything is black and I can feel my body being lifted off the ground and thrown over a shoulder.
I really should learn how to sneak and spy. I wouldn't keep ending up in these situations.