Moving Out

Two months had passed since it was decided I would do missions with the first and second squad. I had been to five in total, but always in a bigger group.

I had been focusing on improving my skills, along with decorating and furnishing my new apartment. I figured it was best not to drink until I had moved out of my parents’ home.

I didn’t want to jeopardize my newfound trust. I didn’t want my father to change his mind while he still could.

I had also passed my driver’s test, and my father had bought me a new red car. It provided me with a whole new kind of independence and freedom.

I was finally moving into my apartment, and I felt gleeful as I parked in the new garage and stepped into the elevator. I lived on the fifth floor.

I was welcomed by a black marble hallway, with a big gold-framed mirror. I took my shoes off and placed them on the shoe rack.

The living room had black floral wallpaper, a bright wooden floor, a huge television, and three black velvet Chesterfield sofas. The kitchen had white marble flooring and a black modern interior.

My mother had made sure I got my own espresso machine, even if I didn’t know how it worked. She was sure I’d figure it out eventually.

The bathroom was completely in black marble with spotlight lighting. Besides the glass shower, I had a big bathtub and a sauna.

It wasn’t as big as my bathroom at my parents’ home, but I liked it. On the balcony, I had a hot tub, an electric grill, and a long table with chairs.

I had an amazing view over the city and the water. I had chosen a dark interior for my bedroom and a big, expensive bed frame.

My clothes had been moved that morning into the walk-in closet. All my jewelry and watches were sorted and placed into dark wood and glass displays.

The spare room I had made bright and into a guest bedroom. I had a feeling it would be useful.

A lot of minor interior details remained. But I could enjoy fixing it over the next few months.

Shopping for furniture and decor was fun. I lay down on my bed, breathing in the scent of clean cotton.

My very own place. I could hardly believe it.

I looked at my phone and opened up Erik’s number for the millionth time. I had yet to muster the courage to text him.

Perhaps I could finally take that step, now that I was finally free. My phone vibrated in my hand.

It was Ellie. I was not surprised.

She had been pestering me to go out and drink with them all summer. She remembered I was moving into my apartment today.

Ellie

What’s your new address?

I texted her the address along with a “why?”

She didn’t reply. I ordered sushi and put on a movie on my big screen.

***

A few hours later, I had all but forgotten about the text when my phone rang. It was the gate.

I didn’t expect visitors, so I answered.

“Hey, kitten, will you let us in?” Ellie said.

She had pretty much invited herself. A few minutes later, they were in my hallway, taking their shoes off.

The small company consisted of Ellie, Aurora, and Rebecka. Rebecka was also in the X-squad.

It had just taken her a few weeks to warm up to me. Aurora, I hadn’t seen since Wonderland, so her presence surprised me.

“What about Alex?” I asked.

“He has his daughter this week,” Ellie answered and went into the kitchen to place the alcohol she had brought in the fridge.

Alex had a daughter? That was news to me.

“So, kitten, you don’t have any food at all? Not even coffee?” Ellie asked, surprised.

“No, I didn’t think about food until just now. How does Alex have a daughter?” I asked.

“Oh kitten, you know how babies are made?” she laughed.

I gave her a serious look.

“If you’re wondering about the mother, ask him yourself. They aren’t together anymore. In fact, they haven’t been for a very long time,” Ellie said with a sly smile.

Aurora and Rebecka were both exploring the rest of the apartment. I mumbled, “Guess I’ll have to do that.”

“So putting Alex behind us. You told me you had a grill, so we were thinking, BBQ, hot tub, and wine?” Ellie suggested.

That did sound nice. I had never been to a normal barbecue.

Ellie opened the cupboards. “And of course, you didn’t even think about plates, cutlery, and glasses, you spoiled girl,” she laughed.

I blushed. I had completely forgotten to think about feeding myself.

“All right, I’m going to send Rebecka and Aurora to get grill tools and wine glasses. I’ll go buy the food,” Ellie said, chuckling before calling Aurora and Rebecka to explain the situation.

“I could just conjure up dinner,” Aurora suggested.

“No, let’s do it my way. I was looking forward to cooking,” Ellie insisted.

I ordered kitchenware online while I waited for the girls to come back. It would take a few days for the items to arrive, but that was okay.

I would just eat out in the meantime. We had a very pleasant evening. Ellie was an amazing cook.

The other girls gossiped a lot about people I didn’t know. The drunker we got, the darker the gossip became.

I listened with great interest, of course. I wanted to meet these people someday.

I slept great the first night in my new bed, in my own home. Ellie and Aurora had stayed over.

Rebecka had gotten picked up by her boyfriend. He was a lycan.

If there was something I had learned about them from last night’s gossip, it was that they were possessive when they fell in love.

***

I was tired and hungover when I woke up the next morning. I reached for my phone to check what time it was.

I jolted upright when I saw that I had a text from Erik.

Erik

I don’t know. It’s a risk you’d have to take. You looked kinda hot covered in blood.

I gasped when I read what I’d sent, right before I fell asleep the previous night.

Bella

Hi! I think you’re gorgeous. I want to talk, Bella

Bella

I’m sorry about my friend, she thinks you’d sacrifice me in a ritual. which is ridiculous, I know.

Bella

But you wouldn’t, right?

I threw myself back down on the bed and buried my face in the pillow. I felt like I could die of embarrassment.

I had finally texted him and I had asked if he would sacrifice me…

Bella

I’m sorry I was drunk. It’s a risk I’m willing to take

I pressed Send before I could change my mind.

I needed distraction fast and got up to see if my guests were up. They both sat in the kitchen.

Ellie and Aurora echoed, “Good morning.”

“Good morning,” I groaned, turning toward the fridge and letting my head fall against the cool metal.

“What’s wrong, kitten?” Ellie asked while making a sandwich.

“I drunk texted someone yesterday.” I sighed loudly before I went to sit down and buried my face in my hands instead.

Aurora pushed a cup toward me, containing a green, sparkly liquid.

“Drink this! It’ll cure your hangover,” she said with a warm smile.

I did as she instructed and was surprised. It tasted like pure sunshine, and within a minute, my hangover was gone.

“That’s amazing,” I admitted.

“I’m quite proud of my brews,” she said and winked.

“Did you drunk text a handsome man with dark curly hair, perhaps?” she asked, looking smug.

“How did you know?” I gawked in shock.

She cackled like a proper witch.

“You told us about Erik yesterday, kitten. How much you wanted to run your hands through his shiny black curls,” Ellie pointed out, trying hard not to laugh while she got up to fix us coffee.

“I don’t remember that at all,” I admitted, feeling embarrassed.

“I also told you that I know him,” Aurora said once she’d stopped laughing.

“You do? Would he take great offense if I might have asked him if he planned to sacrifice me?” I asked, feeling worried.

Aurora looked at me, surprised.

“You did what?” she asked.

I buried my face back in my hands. “I’m screwed, aren’t I?” I sighed.

“You wish, I bet,” Aurora teased.

“What did he reply?”

“That I’d have to risk it, and that I looked hot covered in blood,” I mumbled.

Aurora laughed again.

“Don’t worry about it. He’s messing with you,” she said.

Ellie gave us lattés in paper cups. She had bought them the previous day, since I didn’t have any cups or glasses.

“Can you show me how that machine works later?” I asked.

Ellie laughed. “Of course, kitten,” she answered.

“I wonder if you’ll really be all right on your own. I think you might need someone to take care of you,” she teased me.

I snorted at her. Ellie and Alex had adopted Louisa’s nickname for me.

I was happy that they didn’t call me Princess; most people did when they weren’t calling me by my name. Though I wasn’t sure kitten was much better.

“Anyway, tomorrow is a special day. There will be a gathering to celebrate Lughnasadh. I want you both there. My husband will be present, and Erik. You could ask him yourself,” Aurora told us, winking at me.

“Afterward, we will, of course, go to Wonderland.” She added this as both Ellie and I gave her a puzzled look.

“It’s a pagan holiday to mark the beginning of the harvest, right? Believed to still be celebrated among spellcasters,” I asked, intrigued. I had read about it.

“Yes, exactly,” Aurora replied.

“You have never invited any of us to a spellcaster gathering before,” Ellie pointed out, sounding suspicious.

“Well, no, but I really want you to meet my husband,” Aurora said with a wink.

“Speaking of, I’m sure he misses me. See you tomorrow! I’ll text the address,” she added as she got up.

Before we had time to reply, she uttered something too quickly for me to catch and disappeared.

“We are about to be the first umbras in our generations to meet Damion Nord,” Ellie said, sounding starstruck.

I was still amazed at how she’d just vanished.

“Are you saying I just really had Aurora Nord as a guest in my home?” I said in combined amazement and horror.

I hadn’t quite believed her before.

If our history books are to be trusted, she was a very bad witch. And Damion, the lord of all spellcasters. Immortal from birth.

I was wondering if we’d really walk out alive from such a gathering.

What if Erik actually did intend to sacrifice me?