2nd August
I have just returned home; I did not intend to miss Lughnasadh, but needs must take precedence.
I am better off waiting until we are closer to Samhain, when the veil is thinner.
Bistlecast is extraordinary. Her knowledge is vast and well-documented. She taught me all I wished to know for a small price.
However, her teachings seem rushed, like she is hiding something. But I suppose she wanted to stay secret. She wanted me gone that I can understand!
I have missed my darling wife and family. This past week, up in the cold areas of Scotland, made me miss the warmth of home.
She has confirmed several things, however. Indeed, if Lexi meets her fated, she will be doomed from the start. The dance of rebirth and death was never-ending, and the necklace played a part. I have been given instructions on destroying it once I have found it.
Wish me luck.
-Nick
___________________
"Leo?" I asked, hearing my voice echo around the wood.
"Here, Lexi," I heard his voice to the left of me.
We seem to spend more time in the astral than dreaming. I was glad he was with me.
"There is something that's been bothering me…" I trail off as Leo entwined our fingers.
"Hm?"
"It is not easy to get to the astral. Normally, you have to put in a lot of effort and meditation… So how do we find ourselves here so easily?"
Leo thought for a moment, "I didn't think of that… at first, we thought it was the necklace doing this."
He looked around as if searching for something.
"They stopped after we buried it."
"Well, remember when your lock was released?"
"Oh, yes. The fate line connection…"
"but…" Leo stretched, "After that… my mother appeared. You were in a coma…"
"You still think your mother has a big part in this."
"I think she is the whole reason for this…"
Caw! Caw!
Leo's eyes followed something behind me. I turned to see the same three crows from before.
Caw! Caw…
Their screeches changed in pitch and tune. It sounded more like a canary.
"I still hate that tune," I muttered and tugging Leo's hand, we walked into the tree line past the crows.
The nausea was more substantial this time when the space shifted.
I went to Leo for support. He rubbed my back and looked around.
"I think this is a different night… but we are dancing, look," he encouraged.
_____
Our two old selves no longer wore black ties; it was more casual as they danced and swayed from side to side. The chocker was still sitting around her neck, and it seemed they were talking, her laughing.
Her friend was nowhere to be found.
"It somehow feels weird… We are used to seeing the same scene… this looks like it takes place over days."
"If not months," Leo said, walking over to a table.
Conveniently, a newspaper was lying on the table and an abandoned drink.
"1922, November 1st." Leo read from the paper.
"Wow. I was right about 1920's," I said, proud of myself, "Shame we don't know when they first met."
"Hm, or their names."
______
The doors pushed open rather forcefully. A man in white and face like thunder strutted into the room. His eyes narrowed onto the dancefloor.
"WILLIAM!" he belted.
Glancing over to the pair, I noticed they stopped dancing; he hid her behind his back.
"Mr Grey!" he said smiling.
"Don't you dare Mr me. You have been playing tricks."
Mr Grey, accompanied by two other men, descended the small stairs to the couple.
"I assure you, I have no idea what you are talking about," William, Leo's old self, spoke kindly with his hands up. He moved forward away from her, and she quickly sat at the corner of the table.
"You have rinsed me dry at poker. You've been cheating." Mr Grey snapped his fingers.
The two men grabbed William by the arms and searched his sleeves and body.
"Nothing on him, boss," One of them said.
"Nothing on him. Of course not!! He would have gotten rid of the evidence before he pranced around down here."
Mr Grey's face went red.
"Mr Grey… We all have good and bad days… I just happened to have quite a bit of luck this night." William grinned.
After a few moments, Mr Grey pointed a finger into his face, "I am watching you."
"Let's go boys." Mr Grey turned and left as quickly as he came.
William waited for the doors to close and the band to start back up before he turned around to her.
"Are you okay, Rose?"
She nodded, and the room slowed down to a near stop.
_____
"Now we know why he called you Rose," Leo murmured, nudging my arm lightly.
I swallowed before answering, "As curious as I am, I do not wish to get more involved with the Fae."
"True, but the Fae might be able to."
"No. We are not asking the Fae," I cut him off and crossed my arms over my chest.
"Lexi."
He tried to soothe my annoyance by touching my arms.
"No, Leo."
I kept my ground; I could not stop the anger in my voice.
"Without them, we wouldn't have seen this lifetime," he defended.
"We don't know that." I insisted, "It's better if we stay away from the Fae."
"I understand that you're scared-" "No, I don't think you do!" I shouted louder over him.
"Lexi, Cal-" "Don't you dare tell me to calm down."
His shoulders fell, and I walked away, huffing.
I took a deep breath and said, "We don't know who to trust. You and I both know the Fae are tricksters. I know they have helped us find these," I gestured to the couple, huddled in the corner, whispering and canoodling.
"What if this piece of information isn't 'free'? We now owe them. Yes. I am scared."
I could see him contemplating my words.
"Fuck," he muttered, putting a hand into his hair, "You're right, they could ask anything."
"Either we do this by ourselves… Or…" I gave him a pointed look.
"We are not talking to Morgan." he stated, "She's just as bad as the Fae."
I nodded in agreement; Morgan tried to hurt Cynthia and Rowan.
"Lex," Leo whispered.
I glanced up from the floor. Leo held his arms open slightly. Stepping forward, I slipped my arms around his middle and my head over his heart.
He dropped a kiss on my head and squeezed me tight. I sighed.
'Now we wait.'
__________
I sat beside Leo on the carpeted floor, leaning against the sofa and watching Rowan, laying on his back, gargling and cooing at Noel, dancing a toy around his head.
Rowan was a perfect mix of Cynthia and Noel; although only a month old, it was easily seen.
We had just returned from an early Mabon gathering with the coven. This was Rowan's first time seeing the whole coven. He practically soaked up the attention of nearly everyone. Adorable.
I could not help but envision Leo instead of Noel, with a baby looking just like him.
'You might die before then,' the thought intruded my mind.
The power of your thoughts can change your perspective rapidly… I was flooded with sadness, even longing. I blinked and sighed quietly. I would not cry.
Leo placed a hand on my leg, feeling the unexpected shift. I took his hand in mine, taking comfort in his touch. We would figure out how to break the cycle. We had to.
_________
Later that night, I was tucked into Leo's bed. I twiddled my thumbs, waiting for him to leave the bathroom. My thoughts wandered by their own accord back to the vision of Leo holding a child.
If I was to go before then, what kind of woman would Leo go for?
'Probably back to Maddie.'
I sighed, frustrated at the intruding thought, and the bed dipped.
"What's got you in a twist?"
"Nothing."
He looked directly at my face, "Liar." And shifted to lay facing me.
"Just about the future."
He stayed quiet, watching me softly.
I remembered when Leo took Rowan from his Ma and held his sibling. I rolled onto my back.
"I bet you'd be a good dad."
I did not want to move, feeling the panic rising with overwhelming thoughts and falling like pennies in a well.
"Your minds running again… Bring it back to me." He tapped my forehead.
I took a deep breath, "I know… Stay present. One day at a time," I recited the therapist's words.
Easier said than done. I rolled onto Leo's chest and focused on him instead. I fell to sleep with the rise and fall of his chest.
___________
"To the happy couple!" Glasses rose and clinked together.
Rose and William held onto each other with a drink in hand, surrounded by people and smiling bright and happy.
Leo managed to find another newspaper after wandering the room.
"23rd January 1923," he stated, looking at me.
We both turned back to the celebration. A ring was clearly on Rose's finger. Streamers and congratulations were given all around.
"An engagement party," I stated.
"Anna and Edward were engaged too," he pointed out.
"Looks like his luck continued. Look at the size of the diamond," I uttered; without skipping a beat, I added, "Please don't get me a diamond."
Leo laughed, "Noted."
_____
Mr Grey came through the doors once more with more grace this time. Going straight to William, he gave congratulations, but the smile wasn't sincere. He quickly left but nodded to the bartender before he did.
"I have a bad feeling," Leo uttered; I agreed with him.
Although the party's vibe was still high, the wind turned, and apprehension was in the air.
Caw! Caw!
The henchmen, dressed similarly from the last astral trip, burst through every entrance and exit, guns raised. People scrambled, trying to get away. Drinks were thrown, and the band hid behind their instruments.
They fired without hesitation.
I turned away from the blood bath. Unable to look, I felt Leo's head drop to mine. This was how Rose died, one of the happiest nights a couple could experience.
"ROSE, NO!"
Tears spilt from my eyes, and Leo's head shook.
"Fuck," he muttered.
It was heartbreaking to hear. Never mind, see. I hoped not to live through her eyes like I did with Anna. I don't think I could bear 'dying' a third time.
All was quiet. Even the crow was silent.
I could not help but look.
Blood splattered all over the room. Rose has two clear shots. One in her heart, the other in her neck. Blood poured from her neck wound. It was clear she was dead, eyes rolled back, mouth open in a scream.
William sat sobbing over her, hands covered in blood. Their loved ones were also crying, and half of them lay dead.
An older man touched Williams's shoulder, "William, we must go. Before they come back."
"I am not leaving her."
"William! You got yourself into this mess with the Mafia. You have suffered the consequences. Let's go. We can get her and the rest later."
He was dragged away from the blood bath with longing and hurt in his eyes.
Caw caw!
The crow's cry bounced in my ears, causing me to stir back to the living. The sounds of crows changed and twisted as the fog of sleepiness. Blinking my eyes awake, the Crow's cry turned into Rowan's baby cry.