Pressure

I liked the sound my high heels made as I walked down the marble corridor of the headquarters.

“Don’t you look beautiful,” Louisa said when I entered her office.

“Well, take a seat. We have someone to discuss,” she added once I had closed the door behind me.

“You have been meeting a warlock a lot lately. I’ve heard, you know that’s against the hunter protocol,” she said once I was seated.

“But it’s not against our squad’s protocol? Ellie said we’re just not allowed to create hybrids, and warlocks are humans. So, hypothetically, even if I did get knocked up, the baby wouldn’t be a hybrid,” I pointed out.

I had no plans for kids, but I still threw that out there.

“No, but it could get a dangerously strong connection to the arcane, so for future reference, no babies with warlocks either, Bella!” she warned, glaring at me.

“When it comes down to dating, though, you should understand why you’re allowed and that you should still keep it a secret from other umbra.” She began explaining and took a sip of her coffee.

“In exchange for this freedom, you have to report everything of interest to me. So, in other words, you are spying. If I find out you have withheld vital information from me, you will be disciplined,” Louisa finished coldly.

“Ellie told me to only report things where innocents get hurt, so I don’t think I have withheld anything,” I said.

“Maybe not yet, as far as you are aware. But Bella, if you fall in love, you might. So I’m warning you beforehand. I can tell when people lie, as you know,” she said.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said as I got up.

I had an uncomfortable feeling. Did she know something I didn’t?

I tried to shake the feeling; she hadn’t named him.

“And Bella, you should be careful about accepting a potion from a spellcaster. You never know what’s in them,” Louisa said as I left.

***

I had texted Ellie about my meeting with Louisa after I’d gotten home, since I felt a little odd about it.

Ellie

Me and Alex are coming over tonight! Have your coziest clothes prepared.

Not going out tonight? On a Saturday?

I did as Ellie said, and put on sweats before they came.

They arrived together. They had brought pizza, snacks, wine, and sparkling water.

“I know it’s a Saturday, but we are not going out, kitten. We are having a movie night!” Ellie said, barging in.

“Really? What are we watching?” I asked, skeptically.

“Lots of horror movies,” Alex answered while Ellie was arranging the snacks.

“Me and Alex have these every now and then, to just relax a little and wind down. We thought you might need to as well,” Ellie said.

“Also, you have the biggest TV,” Alex joked.

I looked at them. “I have been wondering for a while. Are the two of you dating? Or sleeping together?” I asked straight out.

They both laughed at me.

“I guess it really looks like it, doesn’t it? Well, I can’t blame you, we don’t look alike,” Ellie said.

“We grew up together, as foster siblings,” Alex answered.

That explained a lot.

“Must be nice to have siblings,” I mumbled, feeling a little envious.

They exchanged a look.

“That’s why we’re here, kitten. You don’t need siblings when you’ve got us,” Ellie said and ruffled my hair.

“You’re so cute,” she chuckled, making me feel embarrassed.

“Oh, right! That reminds me.” She suddenly gasped.

“Aurora has invited us to her Halloween party at their manor. Just think about it! A grand Halloween party hosted by one of the most powerful witches in existence. It’ll be bound to be epic!” she said excitedly.

My jaw dropped.

“Really?” I asked, surprised and equally excited.

I’d always wanted to go to a Halloween party.

***

I had completely forgotten about my mother when the doorbell rang in the morning and woke me up.

“Expecting company?” Ellie yawned.

She and Alex had stayed over.

“Just my mother. She’s gonna show me how to keep this place clean,” I answered.

“Good, it’s about time you learn,” Ellie mumbled sleepily.

I got up and put on the same black sweats I’d worn during the movie night.

I was tired and a bit hungover as I went to let my mother in.

“Oh wow, this is new. I don’t think I have ever seen you this tired,” she pointed out as she took off her shoes in the hallway.

She wore a loose white shirt and beige paper bag pants.

“I stayed up late,” I admitted as we went into the kitchen so I could put some coffee on.

“Good morning,” Alex said as he walked into the kitchen, lured by the smell of brewing coffee.

My mother looked at him, surprised.

“I don’t believe we have met. Are you Bella’s boyfriend?” she asked, assessing him.

Alex looked at my mother with surprise, but then he smirked.

“Maybe I am,” he joked, giving me a shady look.

Ellie entered the kitchen and hit Alex lightly on the head. “Don’t be an idiot, Alex,” she said.

“I’m Ellie, this is Alex. We’re from the same squad as Bella,” she said, reaching her hand out to greet my mother.

“Miranda, Bella’s mother,” my mother answered, shaking Ellie’s hand.

My mother laughed. “This place really looks like a mess. Reminds me of my university days.”

“We’ll help with the trash before we leave,” Ellie said as she served us all coffee.

My mother got along with my two squadmates.

It wasn’t surprising, though.

Alex and Ellie were very likable, and very good at adjusting to whomever they were speaking to, I noticed.

The rest of the day went on smoothly.

Ellie and Alex left after we finished cleaning up after the movie night.

My mother helped me clean the rest of the apartment.

She made me a schedule for when and how to clean.

She also left instructions on how to do my laundry, and what the symbols on the laundry advice on the clothes meant.

It took the whole day.

She made me dinner in the evening before she went home and tried to squeeze out of me who my new boyfriend was.

I hadn’t answered, just told her it wasn’t anything serious.

She couldn’t know I was seeing a warlock. She would likely have a heart attack.

Once I was all alone again, I wanted to text Erik.

Alex was probably right.

I shook the thought and distracted myself by planning my outfit for Halloween.

I hoped there wouldn’t be any ghosts.

I was absolutely terrified of ghosts, but Erik would probably be at that party, and there I went again, thinking about him.