Third Person's POV
Aiofe added the last drop of clear oil to the boiling portion and took a step back. Lilith did the same and reached for one of the many spell books that filled the table behind them. When a foamy like substance began to spill from the pot, Lilith read the spell and Aiofe stirred the mixture. After a few minutes, she turned off the cooker and covered the stainless pot letting the mixture sit for a while.
"So that's it?" Lilith said and Aiofe nodded as she collapsed on a chair. Lilith tossed her a little smile and collected the wooden stirring rod. "Why don't you rest a bit? I'd finish up"
"Thanks" Aiofe said with a weak smile as she removed the gloves and apron. She walked out of the room and went to have a well-deserved rest.
"""
"Did you find anything?" Jace asked his colleague, Officer Judy.
"Not really, but I'm beginning to see a few important stuff. In about two hours, we can meet with them and discuss."
"What have you seen so far?" Jace asked to which Judy shrugged.
"She has just been writing about seeing a vision and something is bothering her. She hasn't written what yet." Jace nodded and opened another file.
"Alright, I'd call Lucerne later."
In case you're wondering, the box that was found in Anna's room is actually where she keeps her diary. Unfortunately, since they couldn't find any useful clue or evidence they had to read the diary but to show a little respect, a female officer was assigned to read and note any important stuff.
JUDE'S POV
We were currently sitting in one of the meeting rooms in the official HSC building. There was a long metal table in the center of the room and a few chairs round it. When I say "we" I mean mum, Officers Judy, Bryan, Jackson, Bruce and I.
We've been here for about five minutes and Judy was currently reaching for a file in her bag alongside Anna's diary.
"So... when I read through I discovered a few important stuff and I concluded it wasn't murder by an animal nor human. However, I want us to look into this and if possible discuss." Judy started. She withdrew a paper from the file and continued speaking. "On June 23rd, she disclosed the vision she had been having for the past month. On June 30th, she wrote about Veronica hurting Juno and also harmed herself that day because she felt it was her fault."
The room was silent and tension sat in the room like it was human itself. I bit the inside of my cheek and I suddenly started feeling nauseous. I was a bit curious about the vision but mostly hurt when I heard she's been harming too.
"Can we maybe read the book too??" Mum hesitantly inquired.
"Precisely those two dates" I added and Judy nodded sliding the diary towards us. With shaking hands, I flipped through the pages until I got to the entry that said 'June 23rd' My eyes were met by Anna's beautiful cursive and I began reading, mum doing the same in silence by my side.
June 23rd, 2023
I had the vision again and today it was as clear as ever which also proves it would happen soon. Normally, I just see Jo on a sick bed or Ryker in tears and stuff but today, I saw how she... how she got to that state. She didn't fall or get poisoned or something silly and simple but she... she was actually electrocuted. She was in our martial arts uniform and I have no idea what this has to do with anything because we don't use powers doing MA.
I'm so confused and I have no idea what to do. A part of me wants to tell them so we can be cautious and stuff but a greater part of me doesn't want to.
What if they do the same my human family did?
What if they call me an attention seeker?
Or a crazy girl with mental issues?...
Mum let out a sigh and I exhaled as my eyes remained fixed on the last line.
Why would she think that? She is such a sweet girl and I told her to always feel free to talk to me if there's anything.
"Let's check the other day, June 30" Mum whispered by my side and I nodded flipping through the pages. I finally found the entry and there were a few drops of water on the pages so I assume she was in tears whilst writing this. There was also a blade and what I assume was her blood on the tip of the page. I bit the inside of my cheeks then started reading.
June 30th, 2023.
I feel so guilty, so dumb, so silly, so stupid, so...
Arrrrrggggghhhhhhhh!!!!
This is all my fault. I should have told them earlier. I shouldn't have been so selfish and thought everything was about me or I'm the main character or something.
If I just told them last week, Jo would still be alive and conscious. It's all my fault.
[10:30pm]
I know I promised Jude I won't harm but it was just too much. The mental agony, the guilt... it was just too much harming felt like the way out. I just had to cut my skin, perhaps the guilt would ooze alongside the blood.
But now I feel even worse, the smell of blood nauseates me, I feel bad for breaking my promise to Jude and Jo is unconscious because of me.
FUCK MY LIFE!!!
I didn't even realize I was crying until I felt something trail down my cheeks. I don't even know what to say or feel right now but it all sums up to the self –hate the sweetest person I knew struggled with and no one could help her.
Numbness.... pure numbness. That's all I felt. It was as if for once all the Olympic running thoughts took a break and blood stopped coursing my veins... it was as though time itself took a break because I just sat on the chair unable to process.
After a while, I slowly began to feel and relax. Mum was currently drawing circles on my skin with her thumb as she conversed with the other officers.
"So you feel she committed suicide?" Mum asked.
"It's quite evident, don't you think??" Bruce replied after a while and was met by complete silence.
I sincerely have no idea how the conversation ended since I zoned out but mum tapped my shoulders after a while telling me the meeting was over. I nodded and tossed her a small smile as I walked out of the room towards the gymnasium.
¤¤¤
I strapped the hand wrap round my hands and closed my eyes. I started punching the bag while my thoughts wandered to a part of my mind I'd tried to shut.
♠
The doors of the café I worked opened and I rolled my eyes when I realized who walked in.
"We already closed. I'm afraid you'd have to come back tomorrow" I told Cedric as I cleaned the well-polished wooden tables of the café. Cedric chuckled and took a step towards me.
His chuckle was like a bell that kept ringing in my ears and sent shivers down my spine. I bit my lip to tame the person in me but fuck it. He took a step towards me and slowly removed my lip from where I held it captive between my teeth. This little action made me shiver and well aware of the effect he had on me, he smirked and pulled me towards him. His hands wrapped round my waist and his eyes bore into mine. We were like that for about half a minute and slowly, as if considering the consequences, he leaned in for a kiss.
My lips sat in between his for a second as I remained numb. He bit my lip and as if it stirred me from that shock, I became active and my hands slowly crawled up his back and into his hair.
A small intimacy turned into a kiss and that kiss led me to the top of the counter. My lips in his and my legs round his frame. Cedric buried his head in the crook of my neck and sucked hard on it as if to mark me in a way I'd never forget. Sounds I never knew I could make found its way out and I was there restless and reckless for him.
His lips found its way back to my lips and this time he kissed me with more passion... more urgency. My hands found its way to the under of his shirt while his groped my breasts like his hands were crafted for it specially or he had mastered the art of holding me. I let out a moan and he pulled away.
He took a step back and observed me with a mocking smile as he shook his head.
"Geez, you're a mess. I should have known your friend was a better option"
He walked out of the café after he'd fixed his crumpled shirt and I couldn't help but feel he took a part of me along... like he robbed me of my sanity during our little exchange.
I walked towards the bathroom and looked at myself. Indeed, I am a mess. Smudged lipstick, crumpled shirt, rough hair strands that just wouldn't lay down. I let out a sigh and began rinsing my face. I gave myself a little reassuring smile and fixed my shirt but just as I was about to leave, I saw the hickey on my neck and that was enough to break me.
Frantically, I began searching the drawers for anything. A wipe, a tissue...literally anything that could help. I emptied my bag of its content. Perhaps, i could find a scarf but I found nothing. I just had to go home with this sitting on my skin, reminding me of the mistake I've made. My eyes fell on the little lighter I had and with shaking hands, I picked it.
Memories flashed through my head like movie scenes as I remembered when I'd harmed and the guilt I felt after but this was my last resort. I brought the lighter to my lip as I punished myself for using this lip to cause myself trouble. Tears fell from my eyes but I deserved this. I needed this lesson.
After a while, I packed my stuff, rinsed my face and made my way home.
♠
My hands began to hurt so I stopped punching the bag and decided to take a water break. In one go, I drank the whole bottle and let out a sigh as I closed it. I made my way out of the gym and towards my room so as to shower and get ready for the night.
"""
Third Person's POV
Ryker opened his eyes and watched Jo's body. Today was the big day. They were going to try another method to wake Jo up and as much as he felt sentimental about all of this, he didn't want to jinx it so yeah. It's currently 6:30am and in about one and a half hours, they should be trying to get her conscious.
A sigh escaped from him and he rubbed his forehead with his palm. His thoughts were all about and not long after, he fell asleep.
Two hours had passed and they were currently trying to start the process of reviving Jo.
Jo was moved to the spell room and placed on the metal platform. A square was drawn on the floor with white chalk and the four witches stood at the edge of each corner. Two other witches, Jadis and also Viatrix assisted.
Jadis had pale skin with thick red hair and well defined curls although it had a few grey and black streaks. Her grey eyes were so plain but so pretty all the same. She had an oval shaped face that perfectly matched with her small physique.
Viatrix on the other hand was a brunette with a plump body build. Her left eye was a dark blue, one that led you to the deepest part of the oceans and the other eye was green with a tint of yellow. It was leading you to the earth and the brightest satellite, the sun.
Harper stood in the middle of the square and technically the middle of the four witches: Aiofe, Lilith, Jadis and Viatrix. For extra measure, they placed a glacora round her neck and two on her wrists.
Each witch had a calabash bowl in her hands, the bowl having two candles each. They closed their eyes and began mumbling, gathering energy from the deepest part of their beings.
"Now" Aiofe and Lilith said in unison and as though it never happened, there was darkness and Harper was gone. The witches kept mumbling the spells and the flames of the candle increased. The lights began flickering and that's when Ryker involved himself. He closed his eyes and used his elemental power to put out the flames. He conjured the rightful amount of energy into the light bulbs and after a few minutes, everything was once again stable.
Aiofe let out a sigh and began collecting the calabash bowls from them as she placed them on the metal table.
"So what happens now?" Ryker asked as he stepped closer to where Jo's body lay.
"We wait" Viatrix replied
"And hope nothing goes wrong" Jadis added as she joined Aiofe and Lilith in cleaning up.