11 | Remembrance

Seaside, California September 4, 2012

Scott

I was glad Zach was completely occupied with Lily and Celesta. He wouldn't even hesitate to rip Seana apart if given the chance.

Now here she was in front of me, the cafeteria's lights leaving a glint in her silvery eyes.

"It's been a long time Scotty, have you missed me?" Seana purred, a smirk forming on her red-painted lips.

"Not in the slightest," I replied, seething, "What are you doing here?"

"Well I thought we could catch up," she smirked, "But I do have other priorities to take care of as well," her gray eyes blackened for a split second then receded. "I'm wondering if you're still stupid enough to even try and stop me."

"Well here is a fair warning," I began, each word laced with contempt, "If you even try to touch either of them, you will have an entire coven of witches descend upon you. Every supernatural in this town already wants you dead, so I suggest you walk your psychotic ass out the door before you make a mistake."

She wasn't even fazed, just borderline amused. "How interesting, I must have hit a nerve, I know you care for the boy, I've kept tabs over the years. But her? She is only just a human, a weak one at that." Seana spat.

"I'm surprised you haven't connected the dots. She isn't just some puny human you can squash this time," I hissed, glancing towards where the three of them were sitting, Lily's head was turned, looking at Seana and me curiously. She turned her head back around, only for me to see Zach looking past Lily, straight at Seana.

Seana started to grin like a lunatic, "Ah, a witch, how fascinating. I'll consider your empty threats, but I'd advise you to tell your little abomination behind us to refrain from trying anything stupid, it would be a shame if he were to make," she paused, her face contorting into a sneer then hissed, "a mistake."

"Go to hell," I hissed under my breath.

Her sneer turned into a smile once more.

"I'll see you around," she purred as she walked around me and left the cafeteria. My gaze snapped to Zach he chucked his tray into the trash, his expression turning to rage as got close to me.

I hoped to God he wouldn't try anything stupid here; Zach could be very unpredictable at times.

"What the hell was that?" Zach snarled as his brown eyes gave off flickers of a blue glow.

"A problem, one that we will solve elsewhere, now calm down before you fucking wolf out for the entire world to see," I remarked, his eyes narrowed.

"You're asking me to just let her go, after what she did?" Zach hissed.

"No—" I began, till Zach gripped my wrist in a death grip, if I had been human, he would've snapped my wrist in half.

"No, you're going to get out of my way so I can fucking kill her," he snapped.

Not caring who was watching, I grabbed him by his other arm and yanked him from the cafeteria. I couldn't handle a witch who couldn't control her magic and a werewolf who wanted to kill everyone simultaneously.

After I dragged Zach behind the school's gymnasium and heard relentless threats toward Seana and even me, he finally calmed down.

A fraction anyway.

"It would be best if we leave," I reasoned.

This high school shit was not going to work. Especially with Seana lurking around.

Zach was sitting on the ground in front of me but then jumped up till he was at eye level with me.

"You think I'm going to go cower under a rock like you?" he spat at me and started walking back toward the cafeteria.

I snarled under my breath and sped in front of him, blocking his path.

"I'm just trying to keep you from getting yourself killed, can't you see that?" I retorted.

Zach scoffed and walked around me.

I gritted my teeth. Why couldn't he just comprehend the amount of danger he was in right now?

I sped in front of him again, earning a more annoyed look from him. "You don't understand how dangerous she can be, if you get caught alone with her she can kill you in an instant," I admitted, though it seemed to only make Zach even more pissed off.

I heard a quick pace of footsteps coming from behind us.

"I can take care of myself don't you think?" Zach hissed in response.

"What's going on?" I heard Celesta ask in a concerned tone.

Zach's eyes widened as he turned towards her, perhaps he would finally stop his tantrum.

"Nothing!" Zach chuckled nervously. "Scott and I were just talking about some things, like uh, homework?"

Seriously? That was the best he could come up with?

"You know you are a really bad liar," Celesta smirked.. "But really what is going on? Is it that girl you were talking to?"

Celesta was looking at me now.

I sighed. How could I describe her? My psychotic murdering sire? Maybe just something more subtle would do.

"She is just an ex," I finally said.

A psychopathic ex.

"Oh," Celesta mumbled, "Well! Nothing like some good old drama!"

I wanted to cringe so badly, but I did not want anyone to know who Seana was or why she was there. The fewer people involved the better.

Lily began to look like she was about to collapse. I did not understand what was going on with her, her magic returning however might've been trying to unravel the compulsion from seven years ago. I didn't even know if I could give her the memories back because you can't compel a witch with magic. I could try, but it would have to wait. My priority was getting Zach the hell out of here, willingly, or unwillingly.

"You don't look so good," said Zach.

"I'm alright, except that my magic came early for some reason," she replied.

Zach's eyes widened, as did Celesta's. "Lily! You can't just tell people what you are!" she gawked.

"Well I mean I've known she's a witch since I've known her so..." Zach trailed off.

"I'll be right back," Lily chuckled to Celesta, then left to go into the building.

When Lily was out of earshot, Celesta's whole expression changed. One of complete suspicion.

"Can you explain who that woman really is?" she asked bluntly. I had a feeling Celesta was exactly what Lily was, a stubborn witch.

"Someone you should keep your distance from," I warned. "She is dangerous."

"Dangerous? I knew something was off about her the moment I saw her, but I could sense she was a vampire. Just like I know what the two of you are," Celesta murmured. She let her eyes flash blue for a second. "Lily wasn't the only one who got her magic."

Now, something was off. Could it be what I thought it was? If so, I am going to have a chat with Francis Hathaway.

"You're a witch too?" Zach gawked. "For a second there I thought you were like me, the whole blue eyes and—"

"Zach, can you just stop for one minute," I snapped.

"You okay man?" Zach cautioned, I just turned and glared at him. Just moments ago, he was the one yelling threats and wanting to murder everyone.

"We can talk about this situation later, I need to get Lily home," Celesta muttered and walked away from us to follow her cousin.

"Celesta, keep your guard up," I stressed. "Seana can be unpredictable."

"I understand. If you need help with her, I'll be more than happy to oblige," she replied.

After she disappeared inside, I dug into my pocket and pulled out the keys to the Camaro.

Grabbing Zach's wrist and firmly planting my car keys into his hand, I sighed. "Look, there is some shit I need to take care of, and I want you to go to the house and fucking stay there."

He slowly turned his gaze from the keys to being eye-locked with me, "Do I have to keep repeating myself?" he hissed.

Perhaps I could just knock him out and throw him into the trunk.

"If something happened to you, your father will disembowel me, do you not realize that?" I remarked.

"Shut up," Zach growled, turning his head towards where Celesta and Lily went. "Do you hear that?"

Then I heard it. Celesta freaking the hell out.

Zach and I were flinging the doors seconds later. Down the hall was Celesta, cradling an unconscious Lily in her arms. She looked completely limp as Celesta shook her, Zach glanced at me anxiously.

"Scott," Zach cautioned, he thought the same as I, Seana got to her before any of us could help.

A sense of panic shot through me, and I sped down the hall in a flash, startling Celesta.

She glanced at me frantically as I was looking over Lily for any signs of harm.

"Is she okay?" Celesta cried. "She just passed out of nowhere!"

I immediately put my fingers on where Lily's pulse was, to find it beating normally. Zach bent down beside me, listening in on Lily's heart rate as well. Whatever was happening to her must've put her into shock. Like an overload of something.

"I think she is fine, she is breathing normally," Zach assured.

Celesta looked at him unconvinced. Looking at me she asked, "Can you heal her? Maybe it will help her wake back up—"

"My blood won't do anything," I put in. "She is just unconscious. But I do have a question, were you two born on the same day?"

Celesta looked at me puzzled. "Yes, but what does that have to do with her passing out?"

"That is what I am trying to figure out," I sighed. "I thought witches don't get their magic until they are 18."

"Perhaps you just got your magic early?" Zach suggested to Celesta.

Celesta shook her head.

"Witches have never gotten their magic early in the history of our coven," she murmured. "But if her passing out is related to getting her magic early, why am I not passing out?"

She had a point there, but things were still not adding up. "Has she mentioned anything else today?" I pried.

"She said she has been having nightmares. But she kept mentioning seeing the same things over and over," Celesta stopped. "To me, it doesn't sound like nightmares, more like—"

"Memories," Zach sighed. Celesta's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Exactly," Celesta said bluntly. "Which leaves me to another question, why do I have this strange feeling you two know exactly what's wrong with her?"

"Hey, it was just a suggestion!" Zach defended. Celesta pulled her phone out, her expression turning frantic.

I remained silent, looking back to Lily something caught my attention. A familiar-looking chain around her neck. I started to move my hand toward it but stopped.

"Her mother is about to call, I am so screwed," Celesta cried. Looking at Zach she added, "You are going to tell me what is going on after this, got it?"

How the hell would she know Laura was about to call her? My theory must be right then.

Then her phone began buzzing,

"Hi, Aunt Laura! I—"

"Put Lillian on the phone right now," I heard Laura demand abruptly.

Celesta's eyes widened and then held out her cell phone toward me.

I grabbed it from her.

Yes, leave me to solve this problem.

"Hey Laura, it's Scott. Look, Lily isn't exactly awake," I muttered, Celesta and Zach were looking at me anxiously, though for different reasons. "I can bring her home straight away if that is what you want me to do."

"You know her mother too?" Celesta gawked. "Who else do you fucking know?!"

"Scott? It has been, a while—" she paused, her tone becoming urgent. "Bring her home, now."

Just as I was about to reply, a new alarm began to blare just as the phone call cut off. I see she has become curter. Celesta covered her ears while Zach winced. He has never heard a school fire alarm before in person. He lived under a damn rock his whole life.

"I hate fire drills," Celesta muttered and got up from the floor, Zach right behind her. Celesta took Lily's bag from the ground and slung it over her shoulder. I lifted Lily from the ground.

"You will stay out of trouble, won't you?" I asked Zach.

He just glared at me in spite.

"Get her home safely okay?" Celesta pleaded and looked at Lily who hung lifeless in my arms.

I gave her a nod. We all started walking towards the door, Zach opened it, leading us out.

Zach gave me a nod to go on ahead before anyone else saw this. Making sure Lily was secure in my arms, I launched across the schoolyard, and down the road, everything blurring by in flashes.

I was almost at her house before I decided to do something stupid. There was something I had to see, even though it would only bring me pain. There was a dense forest that housed a park near her house. Making sure no one was around, I stopped. Lily was still completely out when I slowly leaned us onto the ground, I had my arm around her and propped her against my shoulder.

I shouldn't be this close to her, especially not like this. Being around anyone this close was a risk. But I had to know if it was the same necklace.

I slowly grabbed the chain and pulled on it, it was tucked underneath her shirt. I felt like a total fucking creep now. Pushing those thoughts out, I pulled the rest of the necklace out.

And there it was, the unmistakable large blue opal that Adelaide always wore. My entire body went numb, so numb that I didn't even notice I was shaking. I grasped the opal in my hand tightly.

Why would she be wearing this if she wasn't Adelaide? She looked almost identical to her. The resemblance couldn't have been a coincidence. I peered down at Lily's resting face, while she looked so much like Adelaide, I knew it wasn't her. A feeling buried deep in me wished she was, but this girl was something Adelaide was not.

Alive.

I let the necklace fall from my grip, and it landed on her chest, right over her beating heart.

Sighing, I lifted her back up and sped off down the street.

A few moments later, I made it to her home. I walked up the front porch steps, the door was already being swung open.

Laura stood there in the doorway, her eyes bloodshot from crying, though a flash of relief crossed her face. She looked the same, yet she had aged slightly around her eyes.

"Thank God!" she cried.

I walked towards the door but something knocked me back, almost making me drop Lily. You'd think after being what I am for years, I would remember I needed to be invited in.

"Scott, please come in," said Laura though she sounded almost hesitant.

I wouldn't be comfortable with inviting a vampire into my home either. Most of my kind were, well. Fucking evil.

Like Seana Kane.

I stepped in, dark wood floors carried out to the living room. Laura led me upstairs until we reached what I guessed was Lily's room.

After laying her down on her bed I followed Laura back downstairs.

"What the hell happened to her?" Laura exclaimed as we both took a seat in the living room.

After explaining what had happened with Zach, the return of Seana, and Lily's "visions", Laura looked like she was ready to collapse.

"Laura, her memories are returning. Also, with Seana back, things will not be safe for anyone," I acknowledged, hopefully, the witches could help us, but knowing them, they would only protect their own.

"I will deal with my daughter and her well-being," Laura sighed and got up from her chair.

I watched her wearily as she paced around.

"I don't want her knowing any of this, I am her mother, I should be able to keep her safe, and now this psychotic woman who killed one of my dearest friends is targeting my daughter and her son, I just can't stand it!" she hissed to herself.

"I can protect them both at the school, but with her memories coming back, you can't hide this from her," I interjected.

She turned towards me, looking a bit pissed, "I know. Keep an eye on her, but please, keep your distance. I will tell her the truth when the time is right."

I stared at her, I knew she was petrified of something happening to her daughter, who wouldn't be? This argument was going nowhere, I needed to get back and protect Zach. I stood up from the chair.

"Whatever you wish Laura," I muttered sarcastically, then started to head for the door. However she quickly got in my path, looking apologetic.

"I know I am being a bit overboard on this, but I just want her to have a normal life for as long as possible," she cried.

"Mom?" I heard a voice croak. Laura and I snapped our attention to Lily. She was clinging to the railing as she descended the stairs, "What is going on?"

"Nothing honey, he was just leaving—"

"Scott? What are you doing here?" she gawked, cutting her mother off. "How did I get home?"

I glanced up at her, her eyes searching mine for answers, the ones her mother refused to give her. "You collapsed in the hallway, so I brought you home."

She gaped at me in shock, "I did what?"

"Please do as I ask," Laura whispered, her eyes pleading with me to leave. Lily was still staring at me, waiting for my reply.

"I'll do what I can," was all I said as I vanished out the door.

I heard Lily shouting after me, but I was already gone. I would tell her everything she wanted to know, but I had to get back to Zach. Plus, her mother was about to force me out of the house anyway. I wasn't going to leave anyone unprotected for a second, which would just be an accident waiting to happen.

The halls were empty when I returned to school, it was in the middle of fifth period. So I decided to just skip it. I searched the entire school for Seana, but she was gone. I later found myself wandering toward the building where they housed most of the elective classes. Nothing seemed amiss, Zach was safely in his science class acting like the dork he always was in the other building.

I strode over to one of the many bulletin boards on the wall, curious about what was on it. Many colorful pages had an upcoming event, Homecoming. I'm sure I would have to chaperone Zach to it as he would no doubt be going. Seana would surely attend as well and play her usual games.

I backed away from the board, only to see a familiar face striding down the hallway toward me. I froze, my eyes widening in shock. Shocked that Adelaide's father was here before me, posing as a teacher of all things. Evident by his ID badge with the school's insignia around his neck.

"Francis," I deadpanned.

"Hello Scott," Francis murmured, "I would say I am surprised to see you here, but given the way that fate works, I am not."

"Why are you here?" I breathed, my entire body felt rigid.

"To watch over my coven members of course," he replied. "As I am sure you know who they are. But I know there is something else you want to ask me."

Francis took a step closer to me, eyeing me with uncertainty. I knew he was not letting on to the real reason. Why would he? It was to protect his loved ones. But there was one thing I had to know.

"Is she Adelaide?" I choked out. I told myself it wasn't her, but what if she was this whole time? The only person who would know that truth was standing right before me.

"No," Francis lamented, his green eyes becoming glassy. "My daughters sacrificed themselves to aid our coven in our darkest hour."

"What do you mean?" I gawked. That brought up another question, as to why Celesta and Lily had their magic. Or why they looked so similar to them. Francis locked his eyes on mine, I felt that familiar feeling in my mind. One where it was being searched.

"You know too much for your good," Francis sighed. "To answer your question, yes. They have their magic within them. When my daughters sacrificed themselves, their essence fused with Celesta and Lillian before they were born. Therefore, they resemble my daughters, but not entirely. Given that it's been eighteen years today, their magic triggered."

"That doesn't explain why your daughter's had to die," I snarled.

"They were being hunted Scott," Francis remarked. "To keep my coven safe, I will say no more."

"So what, you are going to keep everyone in the dark till all hell breaks loose?" I hissed.

Francis' eyes became slits, "I said, I will say no more. If you know what is good for you, stay out of it."

Before I could say anything else, he vanished into thin air.

Gritting my teeth, I stormed out.

Then I felt his presence entering my mind again.

You must understand some things are better left unsaid. Besides, right now you have someone else to worry about.

Damn him to hell.