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[indent][indent][indent][indent]Carlisle was starting to get tired. Maintaining that level of concentration against Amanda and now Violet was a tough affair. He had been tempted to let them go, but he wanted to have other coven members around if he was doing that. He didn't dare risk letting them out alone, not since Violet seemed to have a violent streak in her. 

For the past half an hour, Carlisle had been mingling with several important leaders from other covens, all being here to represent each areas interests to the main coven. Carlisle listened, smiled and nodded. He knew that Lilith and Serena were tough witches, but maybe that was why Carlisle was chosen? He couldn't see the duo being able to maintain any kind of conversation like this without losing it. He wasn't saying they couldn't, but he could see Lilith getting really annoyed at having to smile and play nice to people who might have ulterior motives. After getting through pleasantries, he made his way back out onto the floor proper. He was looking around, scanning for Mary. Eventually he found her and with a small smile walked over to her. 

[color=00FFFF]"Hey, I want to say thanks for earlier. Also, are you alright? You don't look the best?"[/color] Carlisle asked, looking a little concerned. Not that he could talk, his skin had started to go paler than normal, and some of that exhaustion from last month was setting back in again. 

Wanting to distance herself from the mess with Claire, Al and Salem, Mary had taken a step onto the balcony. With a fed up sigh she rests her elbow on its barricades. This evening had been too much already, just all the new information alone was overwhelming but the fact she’d had to spend the night chasing after people and passing on all that information did none to help. Instead she found herself worn out and tired. While Claire was still a little pocket rocket Mary hadn’t missed the extra decade of aging and had nowhere near the energy of her younger years. 

Before Mary could elicit another sigh her time alone was interrupted by Carlisle. She turned to face him. At his words she forced a warm smile toward him. [color=fff79a]"Don’t worry about me kid, that ain’t your job,”[/color] she replies. She couldn’t help but notice the paleness of Carlisle’s skin in contrast to his tired eyes. [color=fff79a]"And how are you holdin’ up?”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]" Well in bout 10 minutes time it will be my duty to care. The entire weight of Witches across the world will be on my back. But that's not the thing that is bothering me. Turns out. I have a sister. An older sister. And for some reason, she is just as bad, if not worse than mother. She tried starting on me and Miles. So I had to lock her in my mind too."[/color] Carlisle said with a soft sigh. It was not going to get any better was it? 

At his first statement a small chuckle escaped Mary’s lips. [color=fff79a]"In 10 minutes time it’ll be your job to look after the coven, not nurse my generation’s mental state,”[/color] Mary points out. One of her hands grips onto the railing behind her as Carlisle finishes what he has to say. Mary bobs her head to show she was listening as he talked. It wasn’t until after he had said his piece was a certain piece of information brought to the forefront of the woman’s mind.
[color=fff79a]"How old is she?”[/color] she asks simply.

[color=00FFFF]" She didn't say. In all honesty. I never asked. She alluded to mother giving her away, discarding her. I would say she looked a couple of years older than me at a guess"[/color] Carlisle replied, holding onto the railing himself. [color=00FFFF]"Maintaining double concentration is hard. Really hard."[/color]

Mary’s grip on the railing tightened as Carlisle spoke. Memories danced in her head, memories of leaving baked goods on the doorstep of the Aston home because even if Mary and Amanda were very much at odds 27 years ago it didn’t make what Amanda went through stop being one of the last things Mary would wish on anyone. Or at least when she thought Amanda had gone through. Mary still remembered showing up to coven meetings while pregnant with Miles to be met by Amanda glares and cries of attack. Almost 3 decades ago Amanda Aston had claimed to lose her daughter in childbirth, turns out that was a lie. [color=fff79a]"I’m gonna kill her,”[/color] Mary growls to herself.

Carlisle’s next statement snapped Mary back into the real world. [color=fff79a]"I can’t imagine,”[/color] she muses, glancing around the room for an idea. [color=fff79a]"Is there somewhere we could just put them for now? Can’t have your mind actin’ up before you give your grand speech,”[/color]”

Carlisle gave a small smile as she showed concern for him. [color=00FFFF]" As nice as it sounds, I already have Salem walking around possibly hunting for Lilith, and the last thing I want is mother walking around. She invited my sister here. Clearly she was planning something. So I am just going to have to man up and take it. Besides I already did the big speech. Now it's the actual formal bit"[/color] Carlisle would sigh softly. He had asked alot of Mary these past few hours, and leaning in her again seemed to unsettle Carlisle somewhat.

[color=00FFFF]"So the actual ceremony is supposed to be Amanda, John and Ty. But given that Amanda is currently out of the question. And I see you more of a leader than she is. I hate to ask again. But could you step in. No worries if you can't. I have another plan if not"[/color] Carlisie quickly added. 

[color=fff79a]"I think Lilly's safe from Salem, at least for now,"[/color] the older woman muses, loosening her grip on the railing. Her mind was still much more on Amanda than she wanted but she couldn't shake the uneasiness and anger she held. At Carlisle's next request Mary presses a smile. [color=fff79a]"Y'know I'm happy to do it kid but I ain't an Aston, or from some powerful bloodline. Doesn't that defeat the whole point?"[/color]]

[color=00FFFF]"Neither is Ty technically. Does it matter? Plus who would step in? My father? Fat chance"[/color] Carlisle snorted as he pushed off the railing. Hearing Mary's news at least put him a little at ease. [color=00FFFF]"I will confirm it in our meeting together later. I want to be double sure. The fact that Amanda has been double crossing everyone makes me think Salem might try and double cross me out of my perceived naivety"[/color] 

Mary gave a knowing nod at Carlisle’s words. This evening seemed to be unending, she hoped that this would be the last eventful thing to happen that night, she wasn’t sure how much more excitement she could take. [color=fff79a]"Sure Carlisle, I ‘spose I can do that for you,”[/color] she responds softly.

Carlisle softly nodded and smiled at Mary. [color=00FFFF]" Thanks Mary. You are more of a mother to me than my own mother. Though admittedly the bar wasn't exactly set high. After the ceremony I will let Violet and Amanda out. And hopefully they will scuttle somewhere away from here. Be at the main stage in ten minutes."[/color] With that Carlisle gave a small nod once more and proceeded to rush off to get everything else ready. 

There wasn’t an awful lot to get ready. The various helpers and stagehands were getting the small bits together. Behind the back of the stage, Carlisle was gathered behind the stage with Mary, Ty, John, Lilith and Serena. Carlisle handed over a small seal that he pulled from his pocket to Mary with a soft smile, turning to everyone else.

[color=00FFFF]”I am not letting my mother out of this prison. She would ruin this. So I have asked Mary to step in. Since she has been a massive helping hand to me.”[/color] Carlisle spoke softly. [color=00FFFF]”Also, with this whole Violet business as well… ”[/color] Carlisle then realised he hadn’t explained to Lilith about Violet. [color=00FFFF]"I will explain later on. It's complicated"[/color] He sighed. He probably was going to need Lilith's help with it, possibly even Miles and Serena. But after the cool relationship they shared in the past month, Carlisle was hesitant to ask. 

The stagehands would usher the three pairs forward and onto the stage as everyone else stopped what they were doing and watched. Carlisle and Mary took center stage, Lilith and John to the right, with Ty and Serena taking up the left. Carlisle took a moment, taking a deep breath and spoke once more. 

[color=00FFFF]"Good Evening once more. It is now time for the main part of our evening - The official handover ceremony itself. Now, those of you who are more astute may notice that my mother is not standing next to me. Those of you who are even more tuned in, may have noticed that my speech was essentially a slam down of my own mother. I don't want my mother here for this. So I invited someone I trust to be here in her stead. It does mean however, that I will do the full reading. Not just the last part."[/color]

Carlisle rolled his shoulders, getting ready. He then thrust his chest forward, trying to strike a confident pose. [color=00FFFF]"Tonight, marks the end of another cycle. One of many where leadership is passed down, generation from generation. We place our faith and trust in the council families, to lead and guide us. And this generation has been… Fruitful."[/color] Carlisle struggled to get out that last word. In all honesty the rule of his mother, Amanda Aston, was hardly fruitful at all. If anything it was more like living under an iron fist. Still. Tradition stated that you never said anything bad about the current generation. Though the fact that the new upcoming leader was giving this part of the speech and not the actual leader, spoke volumes. 

[color=00FFFF]"However, every generation eventually comes to an end, and so we must pass in that burden of responsibility down to our children. We pass the responsibility downward, knowing that they are ready to collectively hold the burden that comes with such a role."[/color] With a slightly weary turn, Carlisle faced Ty and John. Exhaustion was really starting to set in, and his skin tone had really become white. [color=00FFFF]"So now, we pass on the seals of our families to our children and once more continue the cycle."[/color]

With his words spoken, Carlisle nodded to John and Ty, who in turn both produced a round belt buckle sized seal from their pockets. They both performed a simple spell on it, releasing the magical Energy inside that they sealed away many years ago. The seals now being empty, it was the turn of Serena and Lilith to perform a spell on it, transferring a tiny fragment of their own magic onto it, to transfer the seal to them. Once performed, they both took their respective seals and held onto them, the seals both glowing brightly in the respective colours of their magical auras. Carlisle tugged at his collar slightly, knowing what part comes next. He span back around to the crowd ready to continue. 

[color=00FFFF]"However, the coven cannot be ruled by a council alone. To bring order in chaos, the council must choose one of them to become leader. To be the one that must bear the burden of responsibility and leadership that is required to maintain witch-kind. The former council has chosen… Well… me to take on that responsibility"[/color] It felt awkward speaking about himself in the third person, and he couldn't quite do it. So instead he had to make it slightly awkward. Carlisle motioned for Mary to come forward with the seal. Without Amanda here Carlisle had to release the seal using his own abjuration magics. After that, he took the seal from her with a small smile before facing the crowd and repeating the same technique that both Lilith and Serena had done previously. 

[color=00FFFF]"I, Carlisle Aston, Do swear to protect the coven from any and all threats…"[/color] At that moment he couldn't help but look over at Salem as he spoke. It wasn't a threat, but he wanted to keep an eye on her. While Mary had said everything is fine, he wanted to make sure himself. Plus he needed to show that he had a back bone. [color=00FFFF]"... To take on the burdens of my fellow Coven members and make them my own. To uphold the laws of witch-kind and to enforce them in a fair and just manner"[/color] At that moment, he would hold the glowing seal up, with the crowd giving some applause. Carlisle would give a soft smile before lowering her arm and looking to everyone on stage for a little reassurance. [color=00FFFF] Thank you everyone. That was a tense moment. I had rehearsed it a million times and was never sure it would go right. Later on we will have the dance, so please do feel free to stick around for it and find yourself a dance partner."[/color] With that everyone would leave the stage. Carlisle would come down last, leaning against the stage when he was out of the view of the crowd, exhaustion really kicking in. 

[color=00FFFF]"Thanks for everyone for doing that. It was fantastic. I am really proud."[/color][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]