Forgotten Magick

Chapter 3: Faith Pt, 2.

Celeste’s Realization.

Celeste and her two animal companions made their way down to the old library, she was going over the day in her mind. She couldn’t help but question why she had done what she did, leaving behind the blanket and the vial of oil. Now that she had a moment to think about it Celeste couldn’t help but feel she had made a grave mistake, the move was risky and could start a whole political mess with the werewolves if anyone unsavory found it. Celeste started to mentally beat herself up, she got caught up in being the hand of the divine’s will that she hadn’t thought her actions all the way through. “What a mess..” She grumbled to herself as she took a seat at an empty desk.

Celeste had spent hours in the Coven's library trying to figure out what it all meant, going until the wee hours of the morning, but the only thing she could find was a book about the different links between partners. Celeste considered it a none starter, a dead-end in her research, and her head started to hurt. Celeste pinched the bridge of her nose, her face scrunching in frustration. Freesia perked her head up and looked at her master, her head tilted to the side before she trotted over and nudged Celeste. Celeste looked at her little familiar with defeated eyes as she rubbed the top of the cat's head, which earned her a cheerful chirp before the feline walked over and tapped a book with her paw and mewed again.

Celeste chuckled as she reached over to the book "and you have an insightful idea about all this do you? Well you are supposed to be my spirit guide right?!" though as Celeste looked at the book she rolled her eyes and put it back down. Celeste shook her head with a heavy sigh "no Freesia!" she exclaimed as her cat pushed the book closer to her, Celeste gave Freesia a stern look but that only garnered her an annoyed eye-roll. Freesia gave an angry mew as she pawed the book open to the index and tapped the page angrily next to a page number, Celeste raised an eyebrow at her cat before sighing and giving in.

She looked at the page number and flipped to the page requested, when Celeste looked at the title of the chapter she couldn't help but let out a laugh "you think! You seriously think that I mated with a WEREWOLF!" Freesia sat with an unimpressed expression. Freesia let Celeste laugh for a while longer before stepping forward and swatting her in the face a couple of times, Celeste recoiled as she crossed her arms "Freesia! Wh-what?! You seriously think that I'm the mate of a wolf?! Freesia I can't even pair with a guardian or mage and you think a WOLF is on my level?! Besides even if that was possible there are a couple of things wrong with that, we haven't had communication with them in centuries! They left us after the great spell you realize that right? After Regal died beside Elina they blamed us for the loss of their greatest leader, and when the binding spell was broken they still continued to abandon us! At the point in time we needed to unite their stubborn pride set us to the side, for goddess sake we even lowered the barrier to let them in only to have the hunters rush us! If we hadn't started training mages and witches to be guardians we would have been decimated!"

Freesia gave a big huff at Celeste's ranting, Celeste shook her head again as she continued “maybe it wasn’t the mate thing the Divine were pushing me to leave the blanket behind.. Maybe it's simply their will that it is time that we reunite.. Is this their way of telling me to reach out and make peace? If so why didn’t it come in a way of premonition like Mrs. Greendale and my so called consort.. If that was even a premonition! I mean she could have just been dreaming right?..” Celeste sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose again, there was that issue. That was the tricky part of being a witch, trying to distinguish between the mystical and simple human nature.

Celeste looked over at Freesia who was looking at her with knowing eyes, Celeste crossed her arms over her chest and thought it through “ok! So let’s say that I am meant to have a wolf as a consort! I don’t see how that would happen, Freesia I can’t pair with any one.. The only way I can see that happening is if the whole Supreme Luna and Alpha Guardian thing is coming back, but that would mean I’d have to be the mate of an Alpha and that just feels.. Impossible..” Celeste sighed heavily as she let the thoughts of every possibility run through her mind. The whole situation was maddening, but Celeste continued on with her research. Reading the chapter that Freesia had pointed out to her, Celeste always did her best thinking when she was reading.

After another hour of sitting in silence with her familiar, she put the book down and rubbed her forehead vigorously. Celeste exhaled heavily, as she mulled over the idea of being mated to a wolf and it didn’t seem like a too terrible option. Since no one of her kind seemed to be able to pair with her, perhaps the solution was to look outwards. It wasn’t unheard of in their history and based on their books it seemed like a rather pleasant time. Based on the book she had just read, however, there was the option to reject one mate. Based on her life it felt like it was almost inevitable.

The thought depressed her, the more she read about the mate bond the more it seemed to make sense. Her rejuvenation ritual did feel more potent that day than any other time before, perhaps that was because her mate was present. Her heart hurt when she left, it bothered her so much that she left a part of herself behind, and she felt a great pull towards the wolf territory even though she was sure she was alone.

Celeste looked up to Freesia, her expression defeated, as she said “Freesia, even if I am the fated mate of a wolf or even more so an Alpha, I don’t think this is it. Right here, this paragraph right here..” Celeste turned the book towards Freesia who looked down at part of the page Celeste pointed to. The feline seemed to almost read the words on the page as Celeste continued “wolves have the ability to reject their fated mates, all they need is their name, station, and title.. Even if this was my opportunity to find my consort, my other half, I doubt this would work.. We’ve been at odds for so long, the peace between our people is so fragile and this would do nothing but cause problems.. If he was a smart wolf he’d reject me as soon as he has the necessary information..”

Freesia closed the book and climbed onto Celeste, laying on the girl's chest and nuzzling her cheek against hers. She could feel the little feline purring against her, a loud consistent purr to calm her nerves. Celeste was convinced she was meant to be alone, it was a reality she had comfortably resigned herself to, and now that the idea of having a fated partner that was in her reach she could not help but feel defeated. There was no chance a wolf would accept a witch mate, not in the present day and age.

Celeste was lost in her thoughts as she made her way upstairs, this whole matter needed to be put to rest before she could delude herself that this was her opportunity for love. She would have to find a way to get away from everyone and to get her supposed mate to the river again. Stress was starting to rise as she thought about her schedule and how packed it was for the day, it was then she remembered that she had cleared up some work for herself earlier in the day. There was an opportunity in the afternoon after she was done her work with Supreme Zena about the transfer of power and duty.

The second part to figure out was how she would get the wolf to show if he was even there to begin with. This dilemma caused Celeste to chew nervously on her left index finger as she stared aimlessly into the fridge in the communal kitchen, Celeste had skipped out on dinner in favor of deciphering her mystery. Luno and Freesia must have also been hungry as they stayed by her side all night long, and as Celeste prepared their dinner she looked down at Luno and saw his wide collar. She raised an eyebrow as an idea came together in her mind, Celeste then bent over and took off his collar. She was glad that she was rather decent at embroidery.

The Coven House was active yet sternly quiet. The witches who lived in the night preferred the silence, even outside the witches stayed quiet as they consulted the stars and worked their divination magick. Even though Celeste enjoyed the radiant power of the sun, there was always a part of herself that wished she had declined the Supremes offer to become her Prime. Though she had never heard of anyone who declined the offer of Primeship. Celeste could see herself as one of the night witches, she could picture herself stargazing all night long to decipher the future.

Celeste grabbed a bowl of fruit and cream deciding to finish the trek to her bedroom, Luno and Freesia had just finished eating as well, Celeste called her animals to her side as she nodded to the girls who formally greeted her by title. It had taken some time for her to get used to people treating her this way but her mentor, Supreme Zena Everbleed, was adamant about it regardless of if she had accomplished anything yet to deserve it. It was Supreme Zena’s opinion that the formalities and social graces kept the sanctity of their authority and responsibility in order, being informal or casual in nature was for those who did not have to worry about the well-being of others.

By the time Celeste made it to her room, prepared for bed, and finally made it to her bed it was the very early hours of the morning. It was 5 am, her day would start in only a couple of hours. Celeste sighed, disgruntled and annoyed that she hadn’t gone to bed earlier. Celeste snapped her fingers and the hearth of the fireplace roared ablaze, she had also pulled out her father's large rocking chair from the corner of her room to place it at a safe distance from the comforting heat. She had also grabbed her embroidery kit, her grandmother’s colorfully patterned afghan, and Luno’s collar.

“Come here baby boy..” Celeste silently cooed as Luno came to her side, as she sat down and laid the afghan over her lap Luno laid himself at her feet and Freesia on her lap. A small smile crossed her lips as she kicked off the ground starting the soothing back and forth of the rocking chair, then as Celeste took hold of her needle and white thread she started her work. Embroidering a secret message that only her supposed mate would understand, urging him to meet her at the river once more.

Celeste lost herself in the embroidery, a beloved skill of hers she learned as a child. Before she knew it the sun had started to peak through her window and her alarm was going off on her nightstand, she gave out a yawn before rubbing her eyes to get rid of any sleep that dared to linger. Celeste looked down at the collar that was in her hand to admire her work, on the outside it was the normal navy blue with Luno’s name embroidered in big white obvious letters. However, on the inside of the collar, she had written only one word that was surrounded by blue waves. Celeste prayed to Mother Moon to grant her supposed mate some clarity so that he would understand what she was trying to say.

Deciding that it was time to get ready for the day Celeste bent over and clipped the collar around Luno’s neck, Freesia gave her a disgruntled mew as she got up from Celeste’s lap. Celeste could only smile at her beloved animals as she rose from her chair, she snapped her fingers to put the fire out before pushing the rocking chair back into the corner that it belonged in. Once all was in order Celeste had deemed it appropriate for the day to officially begin.

It took her overall an hour to wash up, brush her teeth, style her hair, and apply a light touch of makeup. No more than some casual concealer, cream blush, cream highlighter, and mascara. Next was to decide on the outfit for the day, seeing as she would be working Celeste would have to wear a Supreme Zena-approved attire. Supreme Zena had a very strict dress code for Celeste and even more so herself, Supreme Zena was famous for wearing elegant bodycon gowns with capes attached at the shoulders. Celeste herself was not one to take on such an ambitious dress code, and Zena was aware of this so Celeste was allowed pantsuits and jumpsuits. As Celeste pulled out a black jumpsuit with a lacy top and off-the-shoulder lace sleeves, straight black pants, and a red belt that tied in the front in a large bow to cinch up the waist, she could hear Supreme Zena’s wise words.

“We have a secondary job, one that is far more difficult and stressful than anything that goes on in this office. We, my dear, are the physical embodiment of the ideals that every witch strives towards. We are a race of beautiful, stoic, disciplined, and resourceful people. We as their leadership should carry ourselves as the apex of all of these qualities, therefore we must at the very least make the effort to dress the part. Even in our most scornful, vengeful, and maleficent moods.”

This was a lesson that Celeste took to heart, and every morning as she looked herself in the mirror dressed to the nines she was reminded of it. That she Celeste Amaryllis Cromwell was to be more than a leader, she was to be the ideal of her whole people. That was when an intrusive thought entered her mind, how could she be THE ideal if her consort was not? Or even more so, would she be able to be THE ideal for her and his people? What were their ideals?

“Why do their ideals matter? Celeste you are the next Supreme! Not a Luna!” Celeste muttered to herself as she tried to shake away the temptation to put on rose-colored glasses, she knew her fate. Celeste could not help but feel frustrated with Mother Moon, their precious goddess whom they trusted so much to, had seemingly forsaken her to humiliation and pain. Was this a test? Would she have to choose between her consort and her people? Celeste scoffed at the thought, it would be no test at all; as Supreme, her people came first. Always. Surely, she then thought, Mother Moon would already know this! Surely she had already proven herself capable and committed to her role!

Celeste slipped into a deep thought spiral of every mistake she had made throughout her short years, there were the obvious sins that every child commits, and as a teenager, she was far too busy with her training and classes to do any sinning. The only thing she could put her finger on was her constant, private, trips to the river. Celeste then shook her head, trying to free herself from the spiral she had created for herself.

Celeste felt a small war brewing within herself, she had told Elvira about her situation because it was her duty to know about her life as her Personal Adviser. Though the more Celeste thought about it the more she thought she should tell Supreme Zena about the situation, perhaps there were insights she could provide. On the other hand, Celeste couldn’t bring herself to do so, she would be taking over the role of Supreme in a week's time. She needed to be able to handle these things on her own, she had been training for this position since she was 10.

Celeste sighed heavily, deciding that she would simply take care of the situation on her own. Celeste decided that she would send Luno in the late morning, she didn’t know what type of life he lived but late morning seemed like a safe time to send for him. After she would send Luno she would find an excuse to go into the forest, perhaps something along the lines of needing to look for Freesia or Luno, and she would wait for him at the river. If Luno returned alone, she would leave. If Luno didn’t return, she would send a request via raven to have a search party look into finding him.

Celeste took a deep breath, steadying her nerves, and when she opened her eyes again she gave herself a steely determined stare in the mirror. Celeste was ready to face her reality, she had to have faith in the divine. They called her to this man for a reason, if she was meant to feel pain then it would only serve to make her stronger.

Celeste headed out of her room, it was quarter after eight in the morning. She would send Luno at 10 on her first break. Once she got downstairs for breakfast she was greeted by her coven, all giving her a respectful bow of the head. Celeste treated the day as it was business as usual, grabbing her coffee and a cream cheese danish or two. “Good morning Prime Celeste!” cheered some girls, “Prime” said some guardians holding a first to their chests above their hearts while standing straight and their eyes looking ahead.

Celeste made her way then to the great dining hall, while not everyone chose to have their breakfast with the coven most did so the hall needed to accommodate a large number of people. Before Zena and Malik came to the coven the hall had the classic long English wooden table and benches, but Zena wanted a more open and friendly atmosphere so she converted the room into a more traditional Arabian living room. Sofas lined the walls in rich red, purple, and gold fabrics, thick plush cushions were scattered around the room floor with circular low metal tables were set up. Mornings were meant to be comfortable, lively, and communal in Zena’s eye. To her benefit, she was right, after the change their small community grew closer.

Zena was already at the head of the room, sitting at the centermost sofa. Next to her was her beloved Malik. After the week was through, that would be her place. For the time being, she would continue to sit on the floor cushion on Zena’s left, Elvira to Celeste’s right. It was almost time for the morning address, and Celeste was sipping her freshly brewed coffee when Supreme Zena leaned forward as she said “Celeste, I’d like you to give the address this morning. Since you will be taking over in such a short time, I’d like to see how you plan to inspire our people.” Celeste finished her sip before smiling at her mentor and replied “it would be an honor Supreme Zena, thank you.”

After a few more minutes everyone had come in and settled down into whatever seat they chose, typically parents and elders took the sofas and the youths took the seats on the floor. Celeste then stood and cleared her throat, signaling for silence to fall. Once Celeste had been given the floor she smiled widely at her people, she calmed herself as she felt the familiar flutter of butterflies in her belly.

“Good morning and blessed be my good people. Father Sun has risen upon a new day and has greeted us with clear skies. It is my wish, and my hope, that you all take this new day and all its endless opportunities to its fullest potential! One of you may discover a new form of Magick, one of you may develop a new form of fighting and defense, one of you may even find your consort. What ever it may be I beseech you, have faith in our great divine and have faith in yourselves. We are a people who pride ourselves on our resourcefulness, our creativity, and our ambition. Take these values, carry them with in yourself and carry yourself with great pride! Only then will you rise to your full potential and bring us another day further into the future.. In a weeks time I will be your new Supreme, I want you all to know that I do not plan on leaving my home Coven any time soon. As much I am to be responsible for and belong to all the covens of the north-west territory, my blood and soul shall always be bound to all of you and to the Eternal Moon Coven. Now! I call for today to begin! I call for the glory and prosperity of Father Sun to grace us and shine a light on every path so that it may be clear and your minds sharp! Blessed be and enjoy your breakfast!”

Loud and roaring cheers resounded throughout the great hall, it was her first-morning address and Celeste was rather pleased that it was well-received. Celeste sat down on her cushion again and released a held breath, Supreme Zena looked down at her young prodigy and smiled kindly. “That was a beautiful address my dear, I do hope you take your own advice. For we must lead by example and not just by word.” Zena then gave Celeste a knowing smile and quick wink, Celeste discretely gave Elvira a side glance to which Elvira gave an equally discreet shake of the head signaling that she had not reported anything to Zena about what they had discussed.

Supreme Zena then started up a conversation with her own Personal Adviser who sat across the way from Elvira on the ground, just before Celeste could join the conversation her mother came and sat by her. Celeste welcomed her mother's embrace, it was warm and comforting. So much so she felt a threatening sting in her eyes as she leaned her head on her mother's shoulder, the inner turmoil and stress of the last couple of days had weighed so heavily on her heart. Yet here was her mother, with her loving aura she pulled the pain from her heart.

Celeste recognized this technique, her mother used it on the familiars she treated to help soothe the animals as she treated them. “A mother always knows…” she whispered to Celeste, Celeste looked back at her mother and gave her a sad smile. Raven knitted her eyebrows for a brief moment and looked up at Supreme Zena “Supreme, if you find it appropriate I’d like to have my daughters assistance this morning. Her animal-earth based magick has always been her weakest subject, and I’d like to see if there is anything more I can teach her before she becomes Supreme.”

Zena raised an eyebrow to Raven as she thought it over, she then looked over to Elvira who quickly looked onto her clipboard and reviewed a few things before stating “Prime Celeste had completed the matters of the morning yesterday, she has nothing to attend to until the early afternoon. Her schedule is opened from 8:30am to 12:30pm.” Zena nodded before smiling softly to Raven and stating “I do find it appropriate. I wish I had spent more time with my Mother before I became supreme, and the care of Familiars is a very important topic.” Zena then turned to Celeste and added “I shall see you at 12:30pm, I do hope your mother will provide you with the same insight and wisdom my mother gave me many years ago..”

Celeste smiled widely, she could confide in her mother. She could talk to the one woman she knew was the most compassionate, loving, and considerate she ever knew. “Thank you my Supreme, I shall see you in the afternoon.” Celeste stood with her mother beside her, the two women bowed their heads respectfully before taking her uneaten danishes and making their way to her mother's home and familiar clinic.

When they had arrived Celeste went to make a hard left to the clinic but her mother placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, Celeste halted in her steps and stated “I don’t need any help, but you my dear girl are holding a heavy burden. Come, sit by the hearth with your mama and unburden yourself my dear girl..” Celeste turned and threw herself into her mother's love. She tried her best not to let her emotions overwhelm her but Celeste could not help it, she was in her sanctuary. The one place where she did not have to hold up any ideal.

After a few moments of silent hugging, Celeste made her way to the fireplace in the living room of her mother's rustic cabin home. She had sat and wrapped herself in her late father's old blanket, she was glad her mother had enchanted the fabric to make sure it never forgot his scent. Raven had returned with two cups of tea and a tray of breakfast pastries, she placed a gentle hand on Celeste’s knee and said “now, tell me what’s got you so overwhelmed. Your aura hasn’t been so turbulent since your father’s passing, and I know it isn’t about the Supremeship. I’m worried for you, what happened?”

Celeste let out a heavy sigh and slumped her shoulders forward, looking down at the hot cup of tea in her hands she started “I think… I’m not sure.. But I think I found my consort..” Raven c****d an eyebrow at her “alright.. Do you not like him? Has he hit you? Is he a human?” she asked prompting her daughter to go on. Celeste shook her head and looked up, meeting her mother's eyes she stated “He’s a werewolf.. I think he may even be an Alpha.. The Alpha, of his son, of The Frost Fang Pack…” Raven nodded thoughtfully as she listened to her daughter.

“That is a great burden.. To be the next Supreme Luna, the first in so many years. I can understand the heavy weight” said Raven as she empathized with her daughter, Celeste sniffled a little and shook her head “I don’t think it possible.. I think this is another test from the Divine, my last one before I become Supreme. A test to see if I can truly put the best interest of my people before my own selfish needs, if I can bare the pain of the rejection of the mate bond.. I know our people, I know the great chasm that has grown between our two people. The coven would never accept a werewolf as my consort and their Chief Guardian… Mother Moon only knows how much they hate us in return and would never accept a witch as their Luna either!” Celeste chuckled to herself as she listened to herself talk.

“I once heard a brilliant young lady say ‘carry yourself with great pride! Only then will you rise to your full potential and bring us another day further into the future..’” Raven then tucked Celeste’s hair behind her round ears and continued “I think it’s time we bring our people in to the future, it’s time for The Blessed to erect The City of Blessings. It’s time to unite with our magical brethren, and I cannot think of a more compassionate, intelligent, and courageous girl to do so..” Raven scooched over to her daughter and brought her into another sweet embrace and added “as long as he’s nice, as long as he’s considerate, as long as he treats you with regard and respect I will welcome him into our family and home with open arms. No matter who or what he is. Please my sweet girl, do not deny yourself the bliss of love. May it be selfish to disrupt the status quo to experience love? Yes, but it is at the least the one selfishness we must allow ourselves to have. Love is our most powerful magick after all.”

Celeste smiled up at her mother, she could always count on her to be in her corner and it was a sentiment Celeste would hold most dearly. “If only papa was here..” Celeste mused as she snuggled up to her mother, “he is always with us my love, always watching and guiding us..” After another quick squeeze of her shoulders, Raven tapped Celeste’s shoulder and asked “SO! Tell me about your scheme to handle all this all on your own, and tell me how mama can help…”