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A collab between [@Hedgehawk] & [@HaleyTheRandom]
Featuring [color=00FFFF]Carlise[/color] & [color=6ecff6]Salem[/color]

[img]https://phoneky.co.uk/thumbs/screensavers/down/nature/beautifulg_l8srz5j1.gif[/img][/center]

Carlisle had an interesting evening to say the least. From his mother and her revelations, to the fact that Lilith was pregnant. And that was the simple part of it. Suffice to say, there was enough drama to give him an aneurysm. But he couldn’t quite afford one right now given that he was having to focus on containing two of his family members within his mind. As much as Carlisle wanted to give off the aura of a strong leader, his body was betraying him. Violet seemed determined to get out, and by this point in the night he was a white as a ghost.

Still, he had managed to get the dance out of the way and managed to do the ceremony. The last thing on his itinerary was to speak to Salem, leader to leader. He knew how important maintaining relations were between Witches and Magi. He didn’t exactly want things to get worse on his watch. Still, It seemed Amanda had done a good job of denting relations just by being her power hungry self. And Carlisle would be lying if he said that Salem did not scare him. He had seen her attitude when they had met next to Amanda at the start of the party.

Discussions between leaders at events like these were a given. Though Carlisle wasn't exactly sure what the protocol was for these kind of things, and given that Amanda was currently locked up, he couldn't exactly ask anyone. No one seemed to be able to give him a straight answer. So he decided to try and initiate the conversation himself, though that meant finding Salem. He scoured the floors of the party, looking around he found Salem mingling with a group of people who he was certain were possibly leaders of some of the other covens. He walked on over waiting for Salem to finish talking before smiling. 

[color=00FFFF]"Hello Salem, hope you have enjoyed the evening so far? "[/color] 

All that Salem really wanted to do right now as reach out and kill Aloysius Leighton. The fact of a demi-witch being born was one that Salem was having a hard time wrapping her mind around - much less the possibility of three. Resisting her urges, Salem had ventured off to mingle with the crowd. With her newly found glass of champagne in hand, Salem turned around at the sound of Carlisle's voice. 

[color=6ecff6]"It's been an interesting one,"[/color] she replied before taking a drink. [color=6ecff6]"I'm assuming the same could be said about yours?"[/color] 

Seeing that Salem had a champagne in hand, Carlisle let off a small smile. He was remembering everything that Willow had spoken to him about during the dance, as well as concentrating on the spell. [color=00FFFF]"Yeah. If I am perfectly honest I didn't anticipate my first official day as leader to be this chaotic!"[/color] Carlisle would let out a sigh, running his forehead as he removed a bit of sweat. [color=00FFFF]"Found out my mother was more devious than I thought, Miles' father turns up. Turns out he is Magi. Now he And Lil are pregnant. And to top it all off, I found out I have an older sister who is just as unhinged as my mother. So I have placed them both in a mental prison. Which is why my colour is so, off, right now"[/color]

[color=6ecff6]”Really,”[/color] Salem responded quizzically. [color=6ecff6]”I just thought you always looked like that.”[/color] Shrugging her shoulders, Salem took another drink from her glass. [color=6ecff6]”Apologies. I don’t think we’re quite friendly enough for me to make comments like that,”[/color] she joked. [color=6ecff6]”Go on ahead and cut to the chase for me, kid. I don’t think you walked all the way over here to vent.”[/color]  

Carlisle tried to let out a laugh at her comment. He was honestly a little too exhausted to carry on as normal. [color=00FFFF]"Well. No. That much is true. I mean, we are going to be working closely together as leaders, plus, we have some issues we need to discuss regarding some of what we have learnt tonight"[/color] Carlisle wasn't trying to push hard, but given how the night had gone, he needed to be sure that Mary was right, and that Salem wasn't actually going to be a threat to the Coven, but also, what the long term outlook was going to be. 

Looking him up and down, Salem pursed her lips. The thought of Amanda having another child was interesting, but all in all didn’t really concern her. The Guild Leader was more than sure that Carlisle was hinting at his friend's situation, but it wasn’t Salem's responsibility to pull the words from his mouth. With a curt nod of the head she asked [color=6ecff6]”Do you have the strength to walk through the garden, or should we find somewhere to sit?”[/color] 

[color=00FFFF]"The garden will do nicely. Reminds me I do need to get parts of it redone"[/color] Carlisle politely stood aside so the duo could walk side by side to the garden. [color=00FFFF]"Forgive me for prying, and you don't have to answer, but this Aloysius guy. What's the deal here? I can't ask my mother for context, so I figured I might as well get some from someone in the know"[/color] Carlisle asked as he stepped down the veranda steps into the garden. 

[color=6ecff6]”Indeed you do,”[/color] Salem chuckled. [color=6ecff6]”We used to be able to walk out back and see lilies, dahlias, irises, carnations…. Lillian Montgomery took a great pride in this garden, but I think your mother took an even greater pride in making sure all we ever saw again was boring ass rose bushes.”[/color] With a dismissive wave of her hand, Salem was sure to make sure to grab a new glass of champagne from one of the waiters before stepping outside. They had just made it to the bottom of the stairs when the first of Carlisle's questions came. 

Staring off into the distance, Salem sighed as they began to walk the stone paths. [color=6ecff6]”Aloysius started off as a friend. We went to high school together, trained together, even dated for like six months at one point. But he couldn’t handle the fact that I wound up as the Guild Leader instead of himself. He was angry at the council for ‘ripping us apart’ - as he would say - and even more upset that he wasn’t getting ‘his’ power. So shortly after the official ceremony, he founded the Dark Shadow and launched an attack on the Guild. I lost my father that day, and more importantly - I lost my friend.”[/color] As they continued to walk, Salem ran her hand over the fading roses. [color=6ecff6]”I’ve made him pay for it every day since. As long as I am alive and breathing, Aloysius Leighton will never know happiness.”[/color] 

Listening in, Carlisle paid close attention. So this was personal. It felt sad that Aloysius was once close to Salem. Carlisle couldn't even begin to imagine what she had to go through. [color=00FFFF]"I never really studied the Magi war in great depth if I am honest with you. The most I really learnt was from what Ty would on occasion give away"[/color] Carlisle rubbed the underside of his chin for a second, taking in the quiet as they left the party proper. 

[color=00FFFF]"While not seeing Aloysius happy is one thing, obviously he has been here in Tanner at some point and created a complication for us. None of us knew what was going on, or the implications… Well… My mother did and she kept it quiet. But everyone else is innocent. Magi-Witch cross breeds with both council and great family bloodlines… This hasn't happened before"[/color] Carlisle decided to keep the conversation open. Given her determination in her speech regarding Aloysius, he knew angering Salem wouldn't really be useful. Being too forceful would backfire quickly, but he wanted to try and keep an air of mutual authority. 

[color=6ecff6]”It’s not something that we like to talk about,”[/color] the Guild Leader mused. [color=6ecff6]”The history books only tell you of the death toll anyway.”[/color] Waving a hand dismissively, Salem kept her eyes focused on the path ahead. Taking a moment to collect her thoughts the woman continued to drink from her glass of champagne. 

[color=6ecff6]”You can judge or fear me for saying it - but your mother has a great deal of karma coming her way. I wonder how things would have differed if Claire was never in that accident…. Pretty sure Amanda staged that shit too, but I digress.”[/color] With another sigh, Salem shook her head. [color=6ecff6]”I can understand why everyones on edge with my added presence, especially with tonight's revelations. I’m not particularly known for my kindness or grace, but I do have quite the brain sitting between these shoulders. I’m not stupid, Carlisle. I know that your friends had no idea what they were actually doing.”[/color] 

[color=00FFFF]"I wouldn't say that. It's just. You hear stories you know. About how the Guild leader hurts people who threaten the Guild"[/color] Carlisle started, seeming white relaxed considering [color=00FFFF]"I know, regarding my mother that is. She is a problem and a waste of space. She is going to spend the rest of her life trying to undermine me just because I am not as powerful as she expects me to be."[/color] That was only the half of it. Amanda had always painted herself and Salem having a wonderful relationship. However, tonight seemed to prove that it was anything but. 

[color=00FFFF]" When news of this baby breaks out. The other coven leaders will be livid. I can keep them under thumb. But most are going to be looking towards you. This child has the potential to overpower all of us. Threaten both council and great families. From my perspective, it doesn't bother me much. I would rather the kid just be in a safe space where no one would harm them."[/color] 

[color=6ecff6]”Of course I do,”[/color] Salem quipped. [color=6ecff6]”I’d rather be feared than someone people know they can walk all over. Why do you think Aloysius was the [i]only[/i] one to challenge me in my thirty-something years as Leader? I know how much my reputation speaks for itself.”[/color] Pressing the champagne glass to her lips once more, Salem's brow furrowed. [color=6ecff6]”I know better than anyone else what the implications of a Montgomery-Price child means. The council had to give me and Aloysius that talk way back in the day. Might have used that as my out to call it quits but -”[/color] Waving her hand once more, Salem shook her head. [color=6ecff6]”That’s a story for another day.”[/color] 

Letting their words settle into the air, the dark haired woman quickly glanced over at Carlisle. [color=6ecff6]”I’m not sure what you all want me to do here,”[/color] she laughed dryly. [color=6ecff6]”I’ve been told that it’s not my business, and then I’ve been dragged right into it. I can’t terminate the pregnancy, I can’t let them live, I should let them live… people always have so many opinions.”[/color] 

Turning her attention back to the flowers once more, she quickly added [color=6ecff6]”People wanted my mother to have an abortion, you know? The De Silvas had been growing in power for a while, and my father wasn’t a great magi, but his family had the potential. For the last fifty years - I’ve been the most powerful thing anyone has seen. The Northeastern blackout wasn’t just caused by global warming.”[/color] With another sigh, the woman squared her shoulders, well aware of the prying eyes that glanced over their way every few seconds. [color=6ecff6]”I can stake my claim now - side with the witches. I’d have to speak with Lilith, as offending another Montgomery woman is [i]not[/i] on my list of things to do - but I could be the one to announce the pregnancy. Make it clear to my people that I’m siding with the witches on this one. The next ten or fifteen years of my reign will be hell, and Celeste would inherit the problem, but it may buy us all enough time to see if the children will learn to control themselves or not. You can train someone all that you want, but how and what they use their powers for is ultimately up to their character. The only other thing that I can offer is a safe place for the children to train in New York.”[/color] 

Something shifted in her brain, remembering the way that Carlisle spoke beforehand. [color=6ecff6]”They’re having triplets.”[/color] 

[color=00FFFF]"I don't want you to take a side or anything like that."[/color] While Salem was certainly going to be tougher than Carlisle at breaking news and enforcing anything, he didn't want to rely on her. He could hear Lil's voice in his head telling him how she always relied on her to solve his problems. [color=00FFFF]"We can keep knowledge of the kid secret for a while. I can make sure Lilith and Miles get everything they need for a good pregnancy and hopefully we can teach this kid right from wrong and show that hybrid children are alright."[/color] Carlisle listened to Salem mention Celeste and he smiled slightly [color=00FFFF]" Yep, when I am your age I will have Celeste by my side instead. Feels weird. Circle of life and all that shit. Look, I am not my mother. I am not here for ego making, or backstabbing. I am here to try and keep Magi and Witches from killing each other. If you work with me, I am happy to work with you."[/color]

This was all going according to plan. Salem seemed to be taking things well. She seemed to be taking Carlisle's words seriously, and not just one of a petulant child like Amanda did. However at Salem's last sentence he almost choked on his tongue, spluttering slightly. [color=00FFFF]"Triplets! As in three. Oh god. That's alot more stuff to deal with"[/color]

[color=6ecff6]”Three seems to be a magical number for your kind,”[/color] Salem chuckled at his response. [color=6ecff6]”I highly doubt that Lilith would want to be hidden away for any amount of time. Perhaps we should just let she and Miles take whatever course they chose, and support them when and where we can.”[/color] 

As they came to the end of the path, Salem turned to look directly at Carlisle. [color=6ecff6]”You’ll have to forgive me if I don’t trust you completely - especially right away. Trust is something that everyone must earn, and the Astons have done nothing so far for me to give them that credit. However, I can promise to keep my people in order if you do the same. Support your decisions, aid when needed. The usual things. Perhaps with your mother out of the picture, I could even spend a little more time in Tanner.”[/color] 

[color=00FFFF]"Yeah, I will speak to Lilith in the next few weeks and check in. Our friendship has been… Strained in the past few weeks"[/color] Carlisle hung his head down at the end of his statement, clearly he was embarrassed and regretful. [color=00FFFF]"I will keep Witches in line, make sure everyone behaves and doesn't do anything stupid. I would like to see you in Tanner more. If anything there is a great deal I can learn. My mother didn't really do mentoring or teaching. Once she learned I was Abjuration only, I was kind of discarded"[/color] Carlisle let out a laugh before taking a step back and looking over at the party. 

[color=00FFFF]"I still need to decide about Aloysius. Miles hasn't said anything, but there might be a chance that he decides to stay in Tanner to try and reconnect with his… Family. Is there anything in particular you want me to do? I can kick him out if you like"[/color] 

Crossing her arms, Salem couldn’t help but raise a brow. [color=6ecff6]”Amanda is even dumber than I thought. Abjuration warlocks are… interesting. Very interesting. I can’t give you proper training, but magi and witch powers work very similarly. Perhaps with Tiberius and I both we’ll be able to teach you more than your mother ever could.”[/color] Standing there looking at Carlisle, Salem's hard demeanor seemed to drop for just a moment. Her shoulders fell ever so slightly with another sigh. The Guild Leader was far from perfect herself, but someone needed to lock Amanda in a basement for the way she had treated her son. 

[color=6ecff6]”As far as Aloysius is concerned - I ask that you let me deal with that problem myself. He’s an easily manipulated pawn and while he may be in Tanner because of Mary and Miles, he [i]does[/i] have a purpose here. An actual assigned purpose. Even if he doesn’t know he’s on assignment.”[/color] 

[color=00FFFF]"Ha. Interesting. Please. My mother bought me up to believe I was anything but. She tried as long as she could to turn me into a witch. She was obsessed with turning me into a counter for you. She wanted someone who could go toe to toe with you."[/color] Carlisle gave off a small sigh. He recounted the numerous conversations where Amanda had made it perfectly clear that her son was nowhere near the strength or power type needed to be a leader. That the Aston line was going to end in shame and disgrace. Hearing Salem mentioning training and Ty, he smiled weakly [color=00FFFF]"Ty has been more of a father to me than my own father. He kept trying to keep me on the right track. Kept saying that he had seen what pushy, power hungry parents could do to someone."[/color] 

[color=00FFFF]"As for Aloysius. I will leave him be. He can stay around Tanner as much as he wishes, but I can't have him starting to cause too much trouble. Unity in the coven isn't exactly fantastic."[/color] Carlisle said matter factly [color=00FFFF]"I am guessing the assignment is some kind of secret one?"[/color]

[color=6ecff6]”Ty has a lot of experience with broken people. He’s a good one to have in your corner,”[/color] the brunette responded with a small smile. [color=6ecff6]”What I have going on shouldn’t affect the Coven much at all. I’ll let you know beforehand if I think any of my plans would cause an upset.”[/color] 

Carlisle shrugged his shoulders. He knew better than to try and start demanding that Salem reveal her plans. Amanda had always instilled both an oddly parabolic respect and lack of fear. Right now, he couldn't see either, but he didn't want to try and see why people feared her. [color=00FFFF]"Fair enough. I just hope he and Miles are able to sit down and at least come to some accord. I know you don't want Aloysius to be happy, but I at least want my friend to have some answers."[/color] 

Salem shrugged her shoulders. [color=6ecff6]”I’m not sure what answers Aloysius would be able to give, but I can push back killing him for a day or two I suppose.”[/color] Looking back towards the Coven House, Salem sighed once again. [color=6ecff6]”I guess we should head back. Both of us have a few loose ends to tie up before the night ends.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"If you are going to kill Aloysius, can you at least do it away from Tanner. I don't want Miles or Mary to see it. I don't know how they would react to the situation.”[/color] Carlisle wasn't trying to be a bitch about it, but Mary was a stubborn woman and sometimes drew her battle lines in strange places. He could totally see Mary somehow wanting to protect Al, despite everything, at least to save him from death. [color=00FFFF]"Yeah. We should. Listen. If you are here tomorrow, would you like to come to Family Dinner? It's not me and Amanda, but Miles, Mary, John and Lil. Technically I am a guest, but it might be good to help show that you aren't a threat to them by joining us for dinner."[/color]

[color=6ecff6]”I meant that mostly as a joke, but I digress.”[/color] In response to his question Salem shrugged her shoulders. [color=6ecff6]”I don’t see why not. My flight doesn’t leave until Wednesday, so that will give me enough time to figure some things out. Around what time should I be where?”[/color] 

[color=00FFFF]"Ohhhh okay… With everything going on tonight, nothing would shock me right now."[/color] Carlisle said with a chuckle. [color=00FFFF]"Well it is over at Mary's place I believe. I will arrange for someone to bring you over, that way you don't have to worry. I am sure everyone won't mind. After they freak out a bit.”[/color] Carlisle said as he led Salem back up the garden towards the party. [color=00FFFF]"You know, Ty was always shy about talking about you. Or about the Magi war in general. I never understood it"[/color]

The woman's brow furrowed as she tried to figure out how to respond. [color=6ecff6]”Ty’s relationship with the Guild is complicated, and the Guild's History even more so. The night’s getting late. Maybe we can talk about it all another day. I’m sure we’ll have to have a few more conversations like these.”[/color] 

Getting to the edge of the party Carlisle smiled. Hiding the fact that he felt a little intimidated at the thought he might have struck a nerve. [color=00FFFF]"Of course. Of course. Go and enjoy the rest of the night and I will see you tomorrow night. I have an exciting night with my girlfriend to look forward to. Be nice to relax after the drama of the night."[/color] 

Salem couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head. [color=6ecff6]”You kids better be careful,”[/color] she joked. [color=6ecff6]”Congratulations, by the way. I can’t remember if I said that or not. I have a feeling you’re going to do well as Coven Leader. Not sure how or when, but you’ll grow into yourself one day. Now. If you’ll excuse me, I should really go and find my child before she sets the house on fire.”[/color]