"Hi, Venessa, I need your assistance" Lauren spoke softly into the phone as she gracefully descended the grand staircase, her steps echoing through the expanse of the living room. The room itself seemed to hold its breath, awaiting the conversation that was about to unfold.
Venessa, her voice filled with curiosity, responded, "I'm all ears Lauren. How may I be of assistance to you on this fine day?"
Lauren hesitated for a moment, carefully choosing her words before revealing her true purpose. "I require your aid in performing a locator spell," Lauren finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I must find the Director, for it seems that the agency's efforts have reached an impasse. The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated."
"Simply tell me where we're meeting and I shall be there without delay," she assured, purposefully refraining from prying further into the urgency behind Lauren's request. It was a small comfort to Lauren, knowing that Venessa respected her need for privacy.
Lauren breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for Venessa's understanding. "We shall convene at the Benneth estate. Rest assured, my aunt is fully aware of your imminent arrival."
"Very well, I shall make my way to the estate promptly," With that, she gracefully ended the call, leaving Lauren to contemplate the impending meeting.
As Lauren slipped her phone into her back pocket, her gaze fell upon Alanna, who had just entered the room. The young woman's presence was unexpected, as the sun had barely reached its zenith, and Lauren couldn't help but wonder what had brought her back to the estate at such an early hour.
"Alanna you are ba --" As Lauren began to vocalize her thoughts, the sentiment was abruptly halted as Alanna swooped in, enveloping her in a tender embrace before the words could fully form.
"I've been briefed by Mom, and I deeply regret not being here for you sooner," Alanna spoke softly in Lauren's ear, her tone heavy with regret and understanding. Touched by this spontaneous display of support, Lauren returned the embrace with a warm smile, appreciating Alanna's immediate presence during a time of need.
"I'm managing fine," Lauren reassured with a light chuckle as she gently pulled back from the hug. However, Alanna's sharp intake of breath upon noticing Lauren's bloodshot eyes betrayed the emotions hidden beneath the surface. "It seems it affected you profoundly to the point of tears. I'm sorry for not being here earlier to offer you comfort, dear sister," Alanna expressed, drawing Lauren back into a comforting embrace, seeking to provide solace in their shared moment.
Amidst this embrace, Ariana walked into the room, adding another layer of familial support to the scene. Observing Ariana's swift arrival above Alanna's shoulder, Lauren inferred that their aunt had likely summoned her back.
Following her separation from Alanna's embrace, Lauren turned her attention to Ariana. "I thought you had a photoshoot scheduled for this afternoon," she inquired as concern for her cousin's commitments flitted through her mind.
Ariana's response was swift and resolute, "It can wait," she declared before enveloping Lauren in a warm embrace of her own. "I deeply regret that you had to endure the challenges posed by this Benneth faction singlehandedly," Ariana expressed, her words dripping with understanding and sympathy for Lauren's recent struggles.
Grateful for the immense love and support shown by her cousins, Lauren felt deeply touched by the unwavering care they demonstrated. "I wasn't alone in dealing with them; your mum stood by my side, issuing a firm rebuke that echoed through the walls of the estate in form of tremors," Lauren shared.
In a rare moment of synchrony, both sisters turned towards Lauren in astonishment, their eyes fixed on her as she recounted the events that had transpired. "What did you just say?" they inquired in unison, curiosity and intrigue dancing in their gazes.
"I mentioned how her words reverberated throughout the very walls of our home, instilling a sense of dread in the faces of the council members as they grappled with the repercussions," Lauren elaborated, her words carrying a weight of significance that lingered in the room.
"Indeed, it has been quite some time since I witnessed Mother in such a state of fury. It seems she found it imperative to assert her authority as the head of the unified Benneth witches' faction, despite the disdain it may provoke," Alanna remarked, reflecting on their mother's formidable display of power.
As the conversation unfolded, Lauren gleaned a deeper understanding that not all members of the Benneth witches' faction shared the same familial bonds or amicable relationships.
"I had intended to reach out to you both, but Thankfully, you stand by my side now. I require your assistance with a locator spell to unveil the whereabouts of the Director," Lauren revealed, seeking their guidance in a moment of need.
"Understood. We are well-versed in the intricacies of the spell, as every witch is, though it has remained dormant in our practice thus far. The task may be arduous, but we shall navigate its complexities and get the location" Alanna responded with a blend of confidence and readiness, assuring Lauren of their commitment to the daunting task ahead.
In a moment steeped with anticipation, Lauren disclosed her recent actions to her attentive cousin sisters. "I also reached out to Venessa; she is on the way," she informed her sisters, prompting a mixture of surprise and intrigue to flicker across their features at the unexpected news of Venessa's imminent arrival at the estate.
"Venessa is making her way here?" Ariana voiced the question that lingered in the air, her expression a canvas of curiosity and wonder. Alanna swiftly added to the inquiry, "And what of Mother? Has she been informed of this unexpected visit?"
"Of course, Mother is aware. How could I overlook informing her before extending an invitation to a vampire into her house, even if said vampire happens to be a witch as well? Rest assured, she not only approved but seems to hold a fondness for Venessa," Lauren relayed with a warm smile.
As the three continued with their conversation , Venessa appeared behind them, breaking the auditory silence with her presence.
Venessa's voice cut through the stillness behind the trio, her words carrying a hint of playful humor. "I swear, I could hear your voices all the way from the gates of the estate," she declared, prompting an immediate reaction from the group as they spun around in unison, startled by her sudden appearance.