Ophelia couldn’t help the sigh that escaped her lips as she walked around her room, putting the things she had gathered into a crate, eventually hitting the small CD player in her room to play the soft music she had been stuck on for the last month. She hummed to it softly before it had fully sunk in that she still had to tell Kat about the ball. She needed to speak with Checkov again, she had figured out part of the curse that created the vampires enough to have figured out a way to dull blood lust. She knew that the blood bound vampires had a thing for Kat, and though Atticus was a damn good guard, extra precautions never hurt. As she placed the sheets and blankets in the crate, she heard a light knock at her door, and then Kat’s voice. “Come in.” she said, finding the air mattress inflator and placing it in the crate as well before she gave a thankful nod to Kat. “Thank you.” She said. Once Kat wrapped her arms around her, Ophelia tensed only briefly before slowly wrapping her arms around her and gave her a gentle squeeze. However, at Kat’s words she gave her an odd look, but before she could speak she felt the energy surge into her and she felt herself opening her eyes in what felt like a different world. When she realized what was going on, she felt almost like a ghost watching the memory, but a faint smile came on her face. This was a sweet memory, and it gave Lia some comfort that she needed. Once her vision returned to normal she brought Kat closer to her for a moment and kissed her forehead before giving a soft smile. “You didn’t have to do that, but I do appreciate it.” She told her. “I’m not mad at you, I never was, I just felt weird because no one alive has gotten to see that part of me. It was odd for someone to see how I was before everything started happening was all.” She assured her before giving her arm a gentle rub before picking up the crate, looking towards the clock. “We better get this stuff set up, they shouldn’t be much longer.” She waited at the door for Kat, walking with her downstairs and back into the living room . “There is one other thing I do need to tell you.” She said, “The boys will be taking us to the ball this year. Checkov is insisting we should go this year. We’ll likely see the seamstresses tomorrow, and I’m going to see if Checkov will allow me to place a spell on the main hall to dwindle blood lust for the evening.” She said, plugging in the air mattress inflator and hitting the radio, changing the music to the soft tone she had been playing upstairs. Her mind had managed to wander from her though, to the last time she had been asked to something so glamorous… and it wasn’t even all that glamorous. Her wedding. [I]She let out a long sigh, looking herself over in the mirror before her. Her hair was done down in curls with a single white lily behind her ear. Her dress was a simple white, strapless sundress that fell just below her knees and she smiled at herself. Her friends smiled at her as they left her to her thoughts for a moment. “Bianca, I wish you could be here. You would love Abel. Even though he’s a dark soul, he’s a wonderful man. He’s helped me a lot the last five years.” She said, smiling as she heard the violin begin playing. She grabbed her bouquet of daffodils and lilies before she exited the house. She walked down the grass aisle alone, smiling to the man at the other end. His bright blue eyes looked at only her too. Sanctuary had definitely become her home now, and nothing would change that. Once she got to the end of the aisle, she smiled at him and he smiled back at her. The ceremony began shortly after, the officiating witch smiling the entire time at the two of them. It wasn’t horribly long either, and once it was over, they all headed back towards the middle of town, just on the other side of the house, and began the celebration. Abel held his hand out to her and smiled. “Well, gorgeous, may I have this dance?” he asked as the music began, and Ophelia gave a nod, taking his hand and allowing him to lead her out to dance to the soft violin music. She smiled at him and he have her a look. “What is it, Ophelia?” “I love you.” She whispered, and he gave her an equally bright smile as he spun her out and when she spun back into him he caught her lips with his. Once he pulled away he continued to dance with her closely. “I love you too.” He whispered.[/i] Ophelia felt the smile take hold of her face, and it didn’t dwindle as the fond memory reminded her that she would get through these bad times. Perhaps even come out better than she was before, but her doubts caused the smile to fade slightly as she shook her head and began making up the boy’s beds, humming to the music. “You thinking pink or orange for blankets? They’re all I could find that didn’t have that old in the closet smell to them.” She asked Kat before she heard the porch creaking and she quickly finished up the beds before heading into the kitchen, seeing Atticus coming in. “The ball?” he asked her, obviously concerned. “Couldn’t that end badly? You two will be the only fresh-” Ophelia held up her hand to him and he quieted. “I knew you’d be concerned. I will be speaking to Checkov about a spell I have found. It dwindles blood lust, and I don’t think he will have an issue with me going into the main hall during set up to place it. So calm your nerves, I thought of it.” Atticus gave a roll of his eyes. “Sorry to doubt you, [i]mom [/i].” She gave him a sharp look. “Don’t call me that.” [I]Kat had been back in the cottage now for a few days since the attack had happened and Atticus had been extremely on edge. Ophelia had noticed it the most when Mitch and Atticus came in that morning as she was cooking them breakfast and she noticed he lingered a bit longer when he checked on her. When he came back down, he had went right out the door and onto the porch. Her eyes shifted to Mitch who was sipping his coffee, and she sighed. She headed out onto the porch and leaned against the rail next to Atticus. “Atticus?” she asked, and he looked over to her with an inquisitive brow raised. “What’s wrong?” He shook his head. “Nothing.” He lied and she fixated him with a stern look. “I just feel bad. I failed her I shouldn’t have left her along even for a minute… I should have known better, I should have-” “Atticus.” She said, and he stopped. “It wasn’t your fault. You gave her space when she asked for it. You respected her wishes. It speaks volumes on the amount you care for her. You can’t beat yourself up over one mishap.” She looked to the door. “One day you should ask Mitchell about the day I moved into the cottage.” He asked, “What do you mean?” She sighed, “Let’s see, it was my fifth year here when Checkov gave me the cottage. The blood bound vampires tried pretty hard to feed off me the entire time I lived in the castle and to make our lives easier Checkov let me have the cottage. Well, I guess I had managed to piss off the guards who had been petitioning to use it as a break post, but Checkov had denied their requests.” “Is that why when the guards come out Mitch insists we stay longer still?” he asked and she nodded. “Still some bad blood between me and them, but it pisses them off more that Checkov sides with me. Anywho, I had gathered up the last little bit of my things and when Mitch and I headed down there, they decided to try and attack me as I readjusted my bags. I insisted he could on ahead a little, and he respected that. One managed to grab me from behind and drank a little from me.” She moved her hair to show the two puncture wound scars. “But there is a reason vampires around here don’t try to drink from me anymore.” Atticus gave a look. “Why?” “Because, the teas and herbal compounds I drink are a form of poison to a vampire. I learned that early on in my life.” She said, “Mitch felt horrible. He didn’t let me out of his sight for weeks, except for when he wasn’t on duty. But let me tell you one thing about that whole ordeal.” She paused. “Never piss him off.” Atticus chuckled. “Why are you being so nice?” Ophelia sighed, “Because I can be.” “Alright, [b]mom [/b].” he said, and she gave him a look. “I’ll let it slide this once. But come on, breakfast is almost ready.” She said.[/i] Ophelia shook her head a bit before she looked over at Mitch. She poured some tea into a cup and took the bags from him and placed it in his hands. “Chamomile. I think this was the one you liked.” She said, giving him a soft look before she moved Atticus shoes straight and she whispered, “Should calm your nerves too.” She set the bags by their sleeping arrangements and she sunk into the arm chair, listening to the music softly humming to it. She then looked to Kat and Atticus. “So, lovelies, so I know what I can make for dinner, are you two here or there?” She hoped it wouldn’t set Mitch off, but she did need to know this. Atticus spoke, “I think I may go.” She nodded, and she looked to Kat. Once she said she was going too she got up and took her hand. “Come on, I’ll help you get ready.” She looked to Mitch. “Lay out something for me to make later, okay?” she said, leading Kat upstairs. -- Atticus sighed a bit with a nod before he looked at Mitch and shrugged. “You can carry it. I am quite enjoying this. Back west doesn’t get rain like this, plus the coven was in the mountains. Snow is pretty and all, but the ice isn’t at all nice. It’s good not having to worry about it.” He said, his thoughts going back to what he said about why they were staying with the girls. He finally spoke, “You know, I get why Lia doesn’t want Kat to worry, but you know Kat is going to worry regardless . I swear sometimes they could be related somehow.” He said, and he let the wind and rain blow against his face and he breathed in the damp air happily. However when Mitch brought up the ball he shot him a look. “Why? They’ve never gone before nor have they ever shown interest in it ever, probably because of all the eyes that would be eyeing them up like they were dinner.” He said, a hand running through his hair. “I don’t like that, and that just seems a little sketchy anyway, especially given its not just this coven to worry about, we have two other covens. And those south bastards always try going to the cottage when they’re heading out. Damn fuckers.” He felt his anger boiling beneath his skin at the thought of it. [I]Last year had been an odd year. The ball had been held later in the year than normal, and a light blanket of snow covered the ground outside. Atticus brought his jacket closer around him as he sat on the roof of the cottage, perched between the girl’s bedrooms. He couldn’t sleep at all, and he had gone out not long after the ball officially began and watched the cottage. He could hear Mitchell and Lia discussing something about her research just below him in her bedroom, and he could hear Kat doing her nightly ritual he assumed. He sighed and watched, his eyes trained all around him and soon he saw someone heading up to the door and he jumped down. “Where are you going?” They were from the south, it was denoted by their odd choice in color for suits. One spoke, his thick southern drawl coming through, “Fresh is the best buddy boy, back off.” Atticus chuckled darkly, his eyes darkening quite quickly, “No. Your party is in the castle. Not here. Now leave or I’ll make you leave.” He warned. The one laughed and went to move and before they could comprehend, Atticus had his arm shoved up behind his back and his face in the snow. “Again, your party is in the castle.” When the others backed off, Atticus let the one up and they headed towards the castle, glaring at him. He didn’t care if they were from another coven or not. A threat was a threat and he wasn’t going to let Kat get attacked again on his watch. He shivered a bit before he climbed back up on the roof, now sitting more towards Kat’s room. He reached inside his jacket and pulled out his thermos of coffee. It was going to be a long night.[/i] Atticus shook his head, composing himself a little better before he shook his head. He was definitely going to say something to Lia, but as they continued back to the cottage his mind went elsewhere. Since it was decided they were going and he knew nothing about this sort of thing he asked, “So we have to look nice, we have to watch over them, and what else?” he paused. “This is completely foreign to me.” He was glad to finally get under the porch and he shook his hair out with his hands before heading in, lazily leaving his shoes off to the side. When he voiced his concern, he wasn’t surprised to hear that there was already precautions being taken, but when he called Lia mom, he half expected her to be super angry, but she wasn’t. She just gave him a look and he shrugged. He looked over to Kat walking in further and chuckling a bit at the bedding. Pink and white sheets and one bright pink blanket and one orange. Then the question came, and when Kat said she was going too, Atticus was fully going, and seeing Lia taking Kat away to help get her ready, he looked in his bag and grabbed the nicest clothes he had. He knew for a meeting with the elders it had to be somewhere near formal looking. He didn’t own much that was formal either. He threw his clothes over his shoulder before looking at Mitch. “Be down in a few. Kind of have to change.” He said, and he heading up the stairs and into the bathroom, his ears slightly adjusting to hear Kat and Lia. It was quite endearing really. He had noticed more and more lately how motherly Lia had been acting and how Kat didn’t seem to mind it. He stood in the bathroom, taking a towel and drying his hair a bit before he stripped out of his wet clothes. He looked at the sink before rinsing his face off and dressing in his black button down and dark jeans. He brought himself downstairs, feeling the stubble on his chin but not caring. Not like his facial hair grew really fast anyway. Still, when he got back down stairs he pulled a tie from his bag and tried to remember how to tie it. “Fuck me man.” He muttered, holding his tie in either hand and staring at it. It took him a moment but once he got it started, he managed to tie his baby blue tie. It wasn’t his favorite thing, but it made him look a bit more formal than he previous did. He looked over to Mitch, “So, what’s the whole deal with the ball anyway? I never really cared too much to ask and I just don’t get it.” He asked.