Annie walked down the hall when she sat the door of the library closed shut as she whispered a spell under her breath and she saw Maddie sitting down on the green rug with her head buried in her knees.
Annie sighed as she held the door handle as it was locked and she waved her hand as the door unlocked itself and she walked into the library.
Annie knew that she would find Maddie here, she seemed to love the library lately, and also it was too cold for Maddie to go outside.
Annie walked to Maddie as she sat down on the rug beside Maddie and Maddie raised her head to look at her as she held her knees and put her head down.
"You ready to talk about this?" asked Annie.
"No" said Maddie in a tired tone.
"Fine then, I will just wait until you are ready to" said Annie as she was ready to stay here for as long as it would take.
There was silence for a long while as Annie waited patiently for Maddie to be ready to talk to her as Maddie knew that Annie wouldn't leave her alone.
"It's not fair" said Maddie as Annie just listened.
"It's not fair Annie, it's not fair that Aunt Stella is asking me this" said Maddie.
"It's not fair that everyone is seeing me as the villain" said Maddie.
"You are not a villain Maddie, no one said that" said Annie as she rubbed Maddie's back as Maddie looked at her.
"But I am being seen as the villain" said Maddie as she looked at Annie.
"Just because I don't want Clove to be entangled with that man again" said Maddie.
"Her life is so much better, so much better without him, she is happier, she smiles more, and she's a better person without him, Azazel is bad for her and for everyone, I don't want her to go Aunt Stella should do something else, I don't care, she can start a war, we will win anyway, just no, I am not going to let Clove go into his camp" said Maddie.
"Maddie, Aunt Stella can't do that, her hands are tied, after what happened in Kadama everyone is against her, they won't listen to her" said Annie.
"Look Maddie, if she does what you suggest, she might end up being removed from the position of Vice Chancellor" said Annie.
"Maddie, if Aunt Stella could, she would never want to put you, or Clove, or anyone else for that matter in danger" said Annie.
"But it's not fair Annie, why her of all people?" asked Maddie in anger.
"Because Aunt Stella trusts her, that's why, because she knows that Clove will be safe, she won't face any danger, Aunt Stella assured me that" said Annie.
"But no, can't I be selfish for once? Can't I have my way, can't I enjoy something good without it being destroyed or taken away" said Maddie as she felt like crying, but she didn't want to.
"I don't want my mother to go, I don't want my mom to go and get trapped with that man again" said Maddie.
"She's my mom and… and we finally have a relationship, I am happy to see her, she loves me and I love her, and I don't want that to change, she deserves better, she deserves to be happy, but Azazel ruined her life, and we are going to send her back to him, no way!" said Maddie violently.
"Maddie, we are not sending her back to him, you have to realize that Aunt Stella does what is best, ultimately, whatever she says is what is best to be done, believe that" said Annie.
"You know how much Aunt Stella cares about you, she won't do anything to hurt you or your mom" said Annie as she hugged Maddie and Maddie hugged her.
"Are you sure?" asked Maddie.
"I am very sure Maddie, don't worry" said Annie.
"You know that in the end, it's whatever you want that will be done, no one will force you to do anything you don't want to do" said Annie.
"Let's go and talk to Aunt Stella" said Maddie as she broke their hug.
"Right now?" asked Annie in surprise.
"Yes right now" said Maddie as she nodded her head.
"Isn't it too soon, I mean you didn't even have time to think about it" said Annie.
"I'm sure, I thought about it, come on" said Maddie as she stood up and she helped Annie up.
"Alright…?" asked Annie in uncertainty as she was not sure about this and she followed after Maddie.
…
"Aunt, firstly, I am sorry for walking out on everyone like that, it was rude of me" said Maddie.
"It's fine dear, I understand why you did that, I would do the same" said Stella as she smiled.
"Yes Aunt, but Annie told me about what happened, and I realized that I was selfish for not considering what you were going through with helping me and Annie and everyone" said Maddie.
"So I am sorry about that Aunt" said Maddie as she looked at Annie who nodded.
"It's fine Maddie, you don't need to apologize" said Stella with a smile.
"Aunt, I thought about it and my mom can go undercover in Azazel's camp… as long as she won't be in any danger" said Maddie.
"Oh thank you dear, not at all, your mother won't be in danger at all, I will make sure of it" said Stella with a smiled.
"I trust you Aunt, and I trust that you won't do anything to put her in danger" said Maddie.
"I won't Maddie, I won't" said Stella as she smiled.
"But I have a question Aunt, sure Azazel can't remember Clove, and she doesn't remember me or him, but that doesn't mean that they won't cross paths, what if he recognizes her, or worse, what if that Selene woman sees her alive and she tries to kill her again, I don't want my mom to be in danger" said Maddie.
"I understand your concern Maddie and your mother won't be put in danger at all" said Stella.
"I thought about that, and I concluded that she will have to change her appearance a bit" said Stella.
"She can do that?" asked Annie in surprise.
"Yes she can dear, although it is complicated magic, she will have to go to the cauldron headquarters to do that" said Stella.
"Alright fine, if that is the case then I am alright with that" said Maddie as she could rest more at ease when she heard that Clove would be able to change her appearance.
"Thank you dear, I know how hard this is for you" said Stella as she smiled.
"I know that you care for your mother a lot, and your concern is validated, but I promise you that nothing bad will happen to her" said Stella.
"I know Aunt, I know… but I can't help but feel worried" said Maddie as she sighed.
"I know Maddie, but everything will be alright" said Stela as she smiled and she sighed internally, she hoped that everything would be fine.
"Yes Maddie, everything will be alright" said Annie as she smiled and Maddie smiled at her.
"Now that this is settled, all that is left is to tell Clove, and if she agrees then we will go on with it, but if she declines then I have to find someone else in such a short notice" said Stella as she knew that the latter option would be harder.
"Yes…" said Maddie as she sighed.
"Where is Clove?" asked Stella.
"She's in our room" said Maddie.
"Should I call her?" asked Annie as Maddie nodded.
…
There was a knock on the door of Stella's office as she answered it.
"You asked to see me my Chancellor" said Clove as she walked into Stella's office as she saw Maddie and Annie already sitting down in Stella's office.
"Yes Clove, please sit down" said Stella as Clove nodded and she sat down.
"My Chancellor, what is going on?" asked Clove as she could sense that something very serious was going on here, and it was making her start to feel a bit uneasy.
"Clove, I need to ask you something very important, and I want you to reply me honestly alright?" asked Stella as Clove nodded and she looked at Maddie and Annie and then back at Stella.
"I am sure that you know about Azazel, Clove" said Stella.
"Everyone know about that wicked man and all the horrible things that he has done not only to our realm but other realms as well" said Clove as Stella nodded.
"Yes, and Azazel has set up a camp in one of the cities" said Stella as Clove gasped.
"My Chancellor, how can that be possible? He should not be allowed to do that, he is an outcast" said Clove.
"I know that Clove, but my hands are tied" said Stella.
"After what happened previously with Azazel, I am unable to attack him directly" said Stella.
"But that cannot be possible my chancellor, that man is a danger, he needs to be put in the holds and charged for all the crimes he has committed against witchfolk and Annie as well" replied Clove with disbelief, she could not believe that something like this was being allowed to happen so freely.