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[sup]A [@Sadie], [@Hedgehawk] and [@SouffleGirl123] post 
Featuring [color=fff79a]Mary Price[/color], [color=00FFFF]Carlisle Aston[/color] and [color=violet]Violet Parker[/color][/sup][/center]
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[i]Meet me in the kitchen[/i] was an ominous text, Mary knew that, but she wasn’t so hot on the texting thing to really know a less intimidating way to call someone over on it. Stood once again at the bench, the woman had another pot of coffee brewed and was awaiting Carlisle to respond. Violet was due to come in 15 minutes or so and Mary wanted to make sure Carlisle wouldn’t jump straight to attacking his sister. Violet was in a vulnerable state at the moment. Although Mary knew she genuinely didn’t want to do the full extent of Amanda’s wishes she wasn’t quite sure she’d convinced her away from Amanda's plan in its entirety so it was best to play it safe and not give her a reason not to trust them.

Carlisle was happily flicking through paperwork in his office. While it had been a couple of weeks since his nice discussion with Salem, that paperwork onslaught never seemed to end. If anything it got worse. It was almost as if the other coven leaders and Salem were testing Carlisle to see if he could cope. He was expecting it. Whenever you got a new teacher in school you always tried to push your luck to see if you could get away with new things. This was no different. Putting his down he glanced at his phone when he got a text. Looking at it he frowned. Why was Mary sending such a strange text? 

Getting up off his seat he almost immediately left the office and went downstairs to the kitchen. Entering he saw Mary there and smiled as he sat on one of the breakfast bar stools. [color=00FFFF]"So what's so urgent you called me down? We ran out of food?"[/color]

As Carlisle approached the bench Mary gave him a small but warm smile, placing a mug in front of him. [color=fff79a]"And when have you known this place to be out of food?”[/color] she scoffed, taking a sip of her own. [color=fff79a]"So I had a talk with your sister yesterday.”[/color]

Carlisle picked up the cup and had a look inside. Having a small sip of the drink he let out a chuckle at her scoffing comment. He had meant to be jokey about it, clearly he had I landed that correctly. Taking another sip, Mary finished her sentence and Carlisle nearly choked on the coffee. Did she just say she spoke to Violet? [color=00FFFF]"You spoke to her? Why did you do that!?"[/color] Was this revenge for Carlisle getting involved with Miles and Lils baby? For inviting Salem to the dinner? 

[color=fff79a]"Oh, cool your jets, Carlisle. She was out here causin’ a ruckus so I just had a talk with her.”[/color] The woman gives a sigh, sipping at her coffee. She couldn’t quite place why the man was so offended by her just talking to Violet. She knew what she was going to tell him soon would not go down great but it was necessary. [color=fff79a]"“Look, Car, she ain’t pure evil. Poor girl’s gotten herself wrapped up in Amanda’s lies. Did you know what your ma’s asked her to do?”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]" Yeah I do. Mother asked her to kill me. She even said she was going to do it. She even threatened to kill Miles just for the hell of it. She isn't right in the head."[/color] Carlisle buried his head in his hands. This wasn't good. He was already having enough trouble with Werewolves and tracking down the possible den location, that this was the last thing he needed. 

Mary sighed, leaning deeper into the bench before her. [color=fff79a]"Amanda wants her to go after Lil and Miles’ babies,”[/color] Mary says gently. Verbalising those words hurt, the reminder that her future grandbabies were already at risk before they were born, the woman couldn’t imagine what it’d be like after they were. [color=fff79a]"It’s making the girl question things. Look, she asked for help keepin’ your ma at bay. She’s startin’ to understand the trouble she’ll get herself in for following through. She just needs-”[/color]. Mary gives a sigh, internally bracing herself. [color=fff79a]"I invited her over this afternoon. I think you two need to talk.”[/color] 

Carlisle looked shocked, almost on instinct he cast shield on himself. [color=00FFFF]" I knew she was going for the kids too. But my mother wanted both. She wanted control of the Coven through Violet and then kill the kiddos. She wanted you to suffer more than me Mary"[/color] With a small sigh he looked back up and took a sip from his cup. [color=00FFFF]"What she needs to do is go back to whatever hole she came from and stay there, out of Tanner"[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Carlisle!”[/color] Mary chastises, pulling her reading glasses off of her nose. [color=fff79a]"Your sister is not your ma. Look, I got her mainly on board with leaving the lot of ya alone, she could prove a powerful ally. But she’s alone, and she’s scared. She needs someone who’s done this before. I can yak all I want about how much effort your mumma went through to make my life hard but the person she’ll relate to the most is you. Trust me.”[/color]

Carlisle couldn't believe this. He knew that he on occasions got involved with things that he shouldn't. But he always did it because he either had the power to fix it or just had to for his job. But this was just out of line. Violet was his problem to deal with. The fact that people were taking it out of his hands was just not right. [color=00FFFF]"I wouldn't trust a word she says. She is devious. As your son. He knows about being sketchy and devious. And the way she spoke to him. You don't fake that."[/color] Carlisle let out a deep sigh. [color=00FFFF]"I love you Mary, but you have a big heart. And that is why Violet spoke to you. She is trying to get away from Amanda and get closer to us. It's all a ruse"[/color] 

Mary huffed at Carlisle’s response. He may be the coven leader but she wasn’t going to stand there and get lectured by a [i]child[/i]. [color=fff79a]"And are you gonna tell the divination that it’s wrong or should I? I’m no spring chicken, Carlisle, I checked if she was being genuine,”[/color] Mary snaps back, sighing into her coffee. [color=fff79a]"I never said she’s been a model witch but the way I see it is she’s gonna stay whether you like it or not. We’re better off with her as an ally rather than an enemy.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]" Why does she have to stay though? She has a family back home. She can go back to them. I pulled up her information from the coven leader down there. Right piece of work. The coven think I am doing them a favour by getting her out of their hair.[/color] Carlisle wasn't pleased, but he was acting more aggressive and assertive to hide the fact that he was scared of Violet and scared of the way that she spoke to him during the ceremony. 

[color=fff79a]"Whether she stays or goes isn’t our call,”[/color] Mary points out, downing the rest of her coffee. [color=fff79a]"Carlisle, I get that you’re scared but if you want to be a successful coven leader you have to do scary things, you can’t go and take it out on everyone else. Now you’re gonna be nice and respectful and hopefully we can disrupt your ma’s plans.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"I can disrupt her plans simply by sending her away. That way when she turns out to betray us, she won't be here to actually do anything. I am being a leader. It's a tough call to decide to banish someone from a coven"[/color] Carlisle clearly wasn't getting anywhere with Mary. Her stubbornness made her such a difficult woman to argue with. 

[color=fff79a]"Just- Give her a chance. What if everyone else just pushed you away because of what your ma asked you to do?”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]" Whenever my mother asked, I said no. That's why she had to start enchanting me. But fine. I will at least listen to her"[/color] Carlisle huffed.

[color=fff79a]"That’s all I’m asking,”[/color] Mary replies, eying the clock on the wall. Violet was due any minute now.

The cab had dropped her off just ten minutes ago, but Violet stood in the driveway for what felt like hours. She didn’t know what was going to happen when she walked inside. Part of her wanted to just turn away. But, she had made a promise to Mary. And she knew the woman would probably hunt her down anyway if she didn’t show up today.

Huffing out a breath, she slowly walked up the drive and entered through the main door. She looked around the front hall and heard voices coming from the kitchen. Violet cleared her throat and walked into the room, her eyes darkening for a moment as she took in the sight of Carlisle. She let out a breath and looked over at Mary. [color=violet]”I’m here. So.”[/color]

Mary looked up from her coffee to see Violet standing before them. [color=fff79a]"Oh Violet. Welcome, my dear. Please, sit,”[/color] Mary pours a cup of coffee and places it before her then slides the bottle of creamer in the younger woman’s direction. She then shoots Carlisle a warning glance before nodding her head at his sister. 

Taking the creamer and ignoring the fact that the woman remembered how she liked her coffee, she fixed up her cup before moving to take a seat. She bristled at the fact that she was so close to Carlisle, but she had to get over that, didn’t she? Violet wrapped her hands around the mug, clearly ignoring her brother.

Carlisle didn't bother saying anything either l. He hadn't asked for this meeting. He couldn't care less what Violet had to say. He made his kind up about her at the ceremony. He simply looked over at Mary as she looked at him. 

Mary narrowed her eyes at the boy before turning her attention to Violet. [color=fff79a]"So how are you finding Tanner?”[/color] she asks the girl. Lame question she knew, but she was hoping that it’d get [i]some[/i] form of conversation going. 

Clearing her throat, she wrapped her hands tighter around her mug before nodding to Mary. [color=violet]”Well, it’s definitely different than Florida.”[/color] Violet took a sip of her cup and continued to not acknowledge her brother next to her.  

[color=00FFFF]"To be honest I don't know why you don't fuck off back to Florida? Would be doing everyone else here a massive favour"[/color] Carlisle muttered, moving his coffee cup away. 

Violet’s eyes immediately darkened as she finally looked over at him. She remembered the promise to her mother to kill this piece of crap next to her. She could very much still make that happen. Her hands tingled with the thought of unleashing pain upon him. It was very, [i]very[/i] tempting. [color=violet]”Really? Cause what I’ve heard, it’d be a massive favor if you suddenly left the Coven.”[/color]

This was not the direction Mary wanted this to go, but it was also the exact direction she [i]expected[/i] it to. At each of their lines she in turn chastises them by name but it all seems to fall on deaf ears as they were locked in their own battle. [color=fff79a]"Alright!”[/color] she snaps, slamming her mug down on the kitchen bench. A loud [i]bang[/i] infiltrated the room as she did.

[color=fff79a]"You!”[/color] she turns to Carlisle. [color=fff79a]"You are gonna give your sister a proper chance. I don’t care what she’d been asked to do or how much you don’t want to be here. You’re gonna listen and give her the time of day before I hear anymore backhanded comments. And you,”[/color] she turns to Violet. [color=fff79a]"You’re gonna give your brother some damn respect. You might not think very highly of him but he does have the power to get you kicked out of here and walkin’ home to Florida.”[/color] She takes a loud sip out of her mug. [color=fff79a]"We’re gonna play nice otherwise Imma force you to play nice.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]" As if you could force me to play… "[/color] Carlisle stopped himself from finishing the sentence as he looked down. [color=00FFFF]" Fine, I will give her one chance to explain to me why she came here and why she became so hostile towards me without even getting to know me!"[/color] 

Biting the inside of her cheek, it took everything in her to not roll her eyes. She didn’t give respect, people had to earn it with her. And Carlisle had done everything but. Violet shifted in her seat and looked at Mary as she spoke to her brother. [color=violet]”Because of our mother, you half-wit. I was promised the Coven and you were in my way.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"Oh really? You believe everything mother says? You could have just been polite and learnt a bit a out me before running to mothers side. But no. You threatened to kill me and my best friend. So why should I even begin to trust you?"[/color] Carlisle snapped. If anyone else but Mary had set this up, he would have told them where they could shove it. He was only even entertaining listening to this conversation because of his respect for Mary. 

[color=violet]”You shouldn’t.”[/color] She finally turned in her seat to look at her brother. She raised a brow at him and shrugged her shoulders. [color=violet]”Mother still very much wants you, Miles, and the triplets dead. I’m her weapon. And you know how our mother is. If she wants something and she doesn’t get it, it doesn’t turn out very well for everyone involved. So no, you shouldn’t trust me. She still believes I’m going to follow through with her orders.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"You might have managed to dupe sweet Mary, but I fully believe that you are still going to do just that. I can solve this so quickly by just banishing you back to Florida. So why shouldn't I do that huh?"[/color] Carlisle questioned Violet. 

Her fingers tingled with the magic she so badly wanted to unleash on him. She let out a slow breath before tilting her head at the man. [color=violet]”Because you’ll still have our mother out there with her missions. If it isn’t me, she’ll just find someone else or do it herself. You have this one chance to turn me against her, and work as your spy. If I were you, I’d take it.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"I don't need a spy. I have my own plan to deal with mother."[/color] Carlisle said as he huffed. In all honesty he had been coming up with a plan. He knew what he needed to do. It was just upto to Carlisle to see if he had the guts to do what needed to be done. [color=00FFFF]" I don't need a spy. More so, a spy who is my long lost sister who thinks I am weak"[/color]

This time she did roll her eyes. She looked back over at him and sat back in her seat, crossing her arms against her chest. [color=violet]”If you had a plan and had what it takes to stop mother, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be on this mission to kill several people if you just took care of her from the very start.”[/color] Violet looked him over and shrugged. [color=violet]”You might not be weak, but you’re sure as hell [i]scared[/i].”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"I am not scared alright!"[/color] Carlisle shouted at Violet, pointing his hand at her. [color=00FFFF]"I am not scared"[/color] Carlisle said in a lower tone this time [color=00FFFF]"My mother is a nasty woman yes. And she did terrible things, and still does. But she is my mother. But she is threatening to kill my friends. And I can't have that. So no Violet. I am not scared. I am just trying to rack away my conscience"[/color]

Another roll of her eyes. [color=violet]”Aw, cute. You’re worrying about your conscience. I have none.”[/color] She leaned towards him. [color=violet]”I can do what you cannot.”[/color]

At this point Mary had her face buried in her hands. The more they talked the more it should have been obvious that both had something the other needed. She wondered how much more smoothly this would have gone if Carlisle had just bit his tongue, Violet even stated she was open to being turned against their mother but instead the boy was so set on just going it alone he straight up failed to see reason. Astons were the worst. 

Mary slapped her hand on the bench in front of Carlisle to get his attention. [color=fff79a]"She is quite literally offerin’ to help. Her being in your corner at least means one less powerful adversary. Do you have a death wish, Carlisle? Cus the way you’re actin’ right now tells me you got a death wish. And when you’re puttin’ yourself at risk in this you’re puttin’ my family at risk. Y’know what puttin’ others in danger and acting like you can and will do it alone like this does? It makes you just like your mumma.”[/color] Mary paid no mind to what they were hinting at needing to be done, that was a conversation for later. For now she just wanted Carlisle to actually make use of his resources. Why were so many of these kids so damn set on physical battle when it was hardly the best option?

Carlisle sighed and rubbed his head. Why was everyone so insistent that he needed help? His mother berates him for being weak, and, then others always imply that he needs help dealing with problems. [color=00FFFF]"Look Violet, you do you. It's not like I can stop you apparently"[/color] 

Scoffing, she shook her head and tilted her chin up to  the ceiling in annoyance. She let out a frustrated harumph from her throat before looking once more at Mary. [color=violet]”Do you see why I still want to kill him? He’s making it pretty damn easy to want to right now.”[/color]

Tugging at her hair by the roots Mary let out an exasperated groan. She massages the top of her head with her fingertips a couple of times before looking between the Aston kids. After the multiple threats on Lilith’s life, Miles’ father coming back and refusing to leave her alone and the risk of Salem breathing down her neck, the most frustrating thing she’d dealt with all month was trying to get these siblings to talk. Actually talk, not snip at each other. This should have been easy. Carlisle should have been at least retrained, Violet should have been receptive and all the way willing to help and like that, Amanda was much less of a threat. But that would be too easy. [color=fff79a]"You two are impossible, y’know that? I don’t know if it’s the Aston in you or what but you’re both being as bad as each other right now.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"Look, it's alot. Asking me to trust someone who hasn't earned it."[/color] Carlisle sighed heavily [color=00FFFF]"But alright. For you Mary. I will trust her. I will work with her"[/color] 

[color=fff79a]"And how is she gonna trust you?”[/color] Mary asks Carlisle before turning to Violet. She was interested in what she might have to say.

She rolled her eyes and sighed. [color=violet]”Look, I still want to kill him. Just for him being so damn annoying, not because of our mother. But I guess that’s how siblings usually feel or some shit. So.”[/color] Violet shrugged her shoulders and grabbed her mug, sipping from it. [color=violet]”And there’s no way in hell I’m trusting Carlisle. But I’m trusting you can keep him in line.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"I am not the one that needs to be kept in line. I haven't threatened to kill anyone or overthrow them. I have just been trying to do my job. I saw your file. I have read how you basically terrorised your fellow Coven members down there"[/color] Carlisle was really starting to get annoyed. [color=00FFFF]"If you are willing to back stab mother then fine. We can work together. But that doesn't make anything different between us. We aren't friends"[/color] 

Violet sneered her nose at the man and raised a brow as she looked over at him. [color=violet]”Who in the hell said anything about us being friends? I’m just agreeing not to kill you.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"You are never becoming Coven Leader at all. So don't even think about trying to take this away from me. Once mother has been dealt with you can have the money and the property and then you can leave me the hell alone"[/color] Carlisle retorted. He placed his head in his hands. He could feel himself losing control. 

[color=fff79a]"Carlisle,”[/color] the woman warns. Unlike the earlier chastising she spoke his name calmly, imbuing her words with enchantment magic to calm him. She was hoping it wouldn’t come to this, she knew she’d get an earful from the boy later for it but she’d rather not watch Amanda use the poor girl to kill those she loved most, or at least die trying.

Looking over at her brother, she rolled her eyes before looking back at Mary. [color=violet]”Is he always like this? No wonder mother wants him gone.”[/color]

Carlisle simply sighed. This was something. [color=00FFFF]"Look. I just want things to be simple and normal. My friends are in danger. I don't care about me. I don't care if I die. I just want to make sure that Lil and Miles are safe. I was even willing to go toe to toe with Salem if things went south. But thankfully I navigated that one quite well."[/color] Carlisle looked up from his hands towards Violet. [color=00FFFF]" But, if you have a plan to deal with my mother that doesn't involve me killing her. Then I am all ears. Just tell me what you need."[/color] 

She scrunched her nose as he continued to talk about being a martyr and she shook her head. There was no way she was going to get along with the man. Sitting back once more in her seat, she shrugged her shoulders at Carlisle. [color=violet]”I just need you to not be in my way, and for nobody to so much as bat an eye when I kill Amanda.”[/color]

[color=fff79a]"Is that really necessary?”[/color] Mary asks, furrowing her brows. She wasn’t stupid, she knew that was what they’d been hinting at for a while but she’d left her feelings on the matter behind until now. Sure, her and Amanda didn’t get along even in the loosest meaning of the word but killing her felt a bit far fetched. [color=fff79a]"I’m not gonna stop you, I just need to know if we have any other options here?”[/color]

Huffing out a breath, she looked over at Mary. [color=violet]”The woman knew what she was doing when she got me involved. My magic brings pain. Every bit of it.”[/color] She leaned closer to her. [color=violet]”Amanda wants your son and his children dead. If I don’t do it, she’ll find someone who will.”[/color]

Mary slowly let out a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding in. [color=fff79a]"So be it,”[/color] she drawls gravely, her eyes directing themselves on her coffee. [color=fff79a]"Do what you need to do.”[/color]

Carlisle shifted in his seat [color=00FFFF]" I am still not entirely comfortable with her being killed. I had planned to create a mental prison for her, but rather than using my brain for it, using a crystal to hold it instead"[/color] 

Shaking her head, she looked over at her brother. [color=violet]”You didn’t see her when she was in your head. She’s just biding her time. She’s [i]dangerous[/i]. She’ll just find someway to get out, or someway to contact someone on the outside, and the hit will still be done.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"Well to be fair. I had to maintain that spell twice. It wasn't my best use of the spell. Using an enchanted object would make it far more secure. And if she ever wanted to escape, shattering the crystal would destroy the prison, her with it"[/color] 

[color=fff79a]"I do like that crystal idea,”[/color] Mary muses. [color=fff79a]"If it’s gonna work it is better than outright killing her, just-”[/color] Leaving the second half of her sentence hanging in the air, she fixates on Carlisle, at least that’s how it appears. Really she was disassociating, her mind severing from the rest of her for a moment, as she reached in to ask her divination for answers.

[color=fff79a][i]Is this crystal mind palace a good idea?[/i][/color]
[i]Yes[/i]
[color=fff79a][i]Is Carlisle capable of making a strong enough crystal to contain her?[/i][/color]
[i]Maybe[/i]
[color=fff79a][i]What if he gets help from another abjurer?[/i][/color]
[i]Then yes[/i]
[color=fff79a][i]What are the chances Amanda would break out?[/i][/color]
[i]Very unlikely[/i]
[color=fff79a][i]Could she contact the outside world[/i][/color]
[i]No[/i]

With a sigh, Mary returns back to the real world, blinking a few times as her eyes adjust. [color=fff79a]"A crystal mental prison actually ain’t half-bad. Very unlikely for Amanda to escape, she can’t contact the outside and we avoid a murder. Just one thing, Carlisle. You can’t make this mental prison alone.”[/color]

Blinking as she looked between the two of them, she bit back a growl and sat back. She focused on a nearby wall and tried to calm her breathing. Sure, a crystal prison could work- but if Amanda ever got out? The woman would not blink at killing her daughter for turning on her. Violet bit the inside of her cheek and shook her head quickly. [color=violet]”There are too many variables. We have to get rid of her. For good.”[/color]

[color=fff79a]"And what’s to say she won’t come back from the dead, cus that’s happened already this year. It seems like both bets are as safe as the other honestly.”[/color] Mary points out, taking another sip of coffee.

[color=00FFFF]" If she gets out we put her back in. We did it once. And we can do it again. I wouldn't worry bout it too much."[/color] Carlisle dwelled on Mary's last sentence. [color=00FFFF]"I can do it. I know I can. I just have to focus. Don't make me ask Lil for help again. Our friendship is barely holding it together as is. Asking her for help again is going to make it even worse"[/color]

She was biting the inside of her cheek she knew she was bleeding. She would have a sore there later. Violet didn’t know anything about coming back to life bit, but she also didn’t trust this crystal. Now fear was full blown in her eyes as she looked at Mary, her voice trembling slightly. [color=violet]”If we do this crystal, and she gets out, she’s going to know. She’s going to know I turned into a double agent. What the hell do you think she’d do to me?!”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"Not exactly. I have a plan for that too. She won't even know you are involved, because all I need you to do is help her. It's my birthday this month. I am going to have a little party. Me, Miles and Lil will be there. Perfect time to kill us. Just help my mother plan an attack. Once she is there, I will trap her.[/color] Carlisle said with a small smile. He was confident in his plan, he knew it could work. 

As Carlisle begged Mary to not get Lilith involved she narrowed her eyes at the young man, a clear indicator she wasn’t impressed with his response. A discussion for a little later when Violet had left. As Violet spoke up Mary leveled her eyes at the young woman, giving her a gentle smile. Mary shakes her head. [color=fff79a]"Not on my watch, darlin’. Say what you need, I enchanted her plans out of you or somethin’. Look, the divination doesn’t lie and it does say this is a good shot.”[/color]

Violet blinked at her brother and tilted her head. [color=violet]”You want every single person she wants dead in the same room, and you want to chance her doing anything when she arrives.”[/color] Running a hand through her hair, she looked over at Mary and shook her head. [color=violet]”I’m as good as dead if Amanda finds out anything.”[/color]

[color=fff79a]"She doesn’t have to. Look, the chances of her breaking out are next to nothin’ anyway. We’ll have an enchanter, maybe Miles, charm it to alert if it ever breaks so we can get to her real fast. And have a second crystal for back up. If it doesn’t work the first time we can- take the next step.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"I can cast shield or even barrier around everyone at the party. She isn't breaking my shield. I can counterspell too. I was trained to be an anti-witch, I can contain my mother if she tries something"[/color] Carlisle said with a smile. [color=00FFFF]"I might not be the flashiest or the most confident guy, but I am a council member Warlock. My specialisation… my abjuring, no one is going to be better at it than me."[/color]

She blinked and folded her arms across her chest as she looked at her brother. [color=violet]”An [i]anti[/i] witch? Actually, no. I don’t want to know.”[/color] Violet shook her head and looked between the two of them. While she had just saved Carlisle and Miles, she felt as if she just put her own head on the chopping block. She didn’t trust this plan at all. [color=violet]”So, what? We’re just going to forever contain her? I’m going to be the first one she kills, you two know that, right? My head is on the line here just by speaking to the both of you.”[/color]

[color=fff79a]”Yet here you still are,”[/color] Mary muses, cocking her head slightly. [color=fff79a]”To be honest with you Violet, I don’t even think she’ll come for you first if she gets out. Knowing Amanda, chances are she’ll go straight for Carlisle or Miles herself. I wouldn’t be for this plan if I thought there were other ways to make those boys more safe. We can get you someplace safe to stay and all that jazz. I think we have a teleporter or 2 in your generation if things go awry,”[/color] 

[color=violet]”Someplace safe.”[/color] She snorted and rolled her eyes. Violet shook her head and looked at Carlisle. [color=violet]”You said you saw my files. Did you look at my adoption papers? They were supposed to be closed, with no information available. And yet Amanda still found me.”[/color] Violet looked back at Mary. [color=violet]”Nothing will stop her.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"That is because she knew your parents. Without being leader of the Coven, she is a sad little woman who craves power and attention"[/color] Carlisle replied, looking back at Violet. [color=00FFFF]"This will work. She has already fallen for the prison once. And I was in a weakened state that time"[/color] 

[color=violet]”Right! She fell for it already! Don’t you think she’d be a little more on guard?”[/color] Violet shook her head and scoffed. [color=violet]”I still say we kill her. Get it over with.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"I don't know if I could go ahead and kill her. At least not yet. She can't guard against the spell. She would have to kill me before I cast the spell"[/color] 

Violet laughed a bit and shook her head. [color=violet]”Oh, good. Considering that’s [i]exactly what she wants to do[/i]. And if we show up at the party, and I don’t kill you myself, she’s going to have questions. Questions that I don’t have the answers to ‘cause I still don’t understand why I’m on your side instead of hers.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"Well, I was going to say, you can attack me at the party. Or perhaps Miles would be the better target as I need to be able to concentrate for the spell. Don't have to go full power, just enough to make it look painful"[/color] Carlisle replied to her. 

She blinked at him and rose a brow. [color=violet]”Make it [i]look[/i], painful? It’s going to [i]be[/i] painful. No matter which of my powers I choose. So I think you better talk to Miles and make sure he’s willing to go along with all of this.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"Don't worry. I will run it past him. It's fine. I can cast wards on him beforehand, make it less painful, all he has to do is act the part. Or if you really want to use me, you can"[/color] He asked back. He was unsure exactly how Violet would take it. 

Violet watched him for a moment before she slowly grinned. [color=violet]”She wouldn’t expect me to take Miles out in front of his mother. But you? She’d definitely be on board with me causing you some pain.”[/color] 

[color=00FFFF]"So would you though. You would like to see me struggle in pain. And I have got to trust you that you will stop when it is time to perform the spell?"[/color] Carlisle would say with a worried look on his face. 

She rolled her eyes and nodded slightly. [color=violet]”It’ll be difficult, considering how extremely annoying you are. But I’ll stop. I hate mother more than I hate you.”[/color] Violet lifted a hand and wiggled her fingers. [color=violet]”Want a little taste so you know what to expect?”[/color]

[color=fff79a]”Alright,”[/color] Mary interjects softly, slowly guiding Violet’s hand back down with her own. [color=fff79a]”Maybe let’s not right now.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"Yeah. I am not so sure on that bit"[/color] Carlisle sighed [color=00FFFF]"But I am happy to work with you to deal with mother. Even if you threatened to kill me in the past"[/color] 

[color=violet]”Always bringing that up.”[/color] She scoffed and looked over at her brother. [color=violet]”Why do you seem the type who always holds people’s past against them? You just can’t let anything go.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"I can let things go… but threats of murder to me and my friends. Yeah. No. That takes time"[/color] Carlisle snapped back. 

Violet huffed out a breath and rolled her eyes. [color=violet]”Whatever. When are we doing this?”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"Well, I would say on my birthday would be the best time to do it. It presents too good of an opportunity for mother to miss. She gets to kill me on the day I am supposed to be happiest" [/color] 

She groaned out and looked back over to him. [color=violet]”Your birthday. Okay. Awesome.”[/color] Violet leaned forward on the table and raised a brow. [color=violet]”And when is that?”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"November 22nd"[/color] He replied, running a hand through his hair. 

With a slight nod, she sat back against her chair. She looked between the two. [color=violet]”Gives us plenty of time to iron out a plan, but I’ll need to come up with reasons why it’s taking so long to kill all of you.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"Say i have shielded the pair of them and I am never left alone"[/color] Carlisle said with a small nod

Violet shrugged her shoulders and nodded. [color=violet]”Then do that. Amanda will check. You need to make sure you’re never by yourself, and Lilith definitely needs to be shielded during her pregnancy. Don’t just say it, but actually do it.”[/color]

[color=fff79a]”Better still, they’re too surrounded by too many people. She would want Carlisle alongside them all the time; kill 3 birds with one stone, but I doubt she wants an audience. Amanda is a lot of things but stupid isn’t one of them, the last thing she’s gonna wanna do is tussle with Claire, John and myself. Killing Miles at his job would be witnessed by 30 or so people, killing Lilith at hers would be seen but at least another witch or warlock on top of another 5 to 40 people. Carlisle’s birthday gives a good open, they're all together and all alone.”[/color]

[color=violet]”Fine.”[/color]She pushed her chair back and stood. [color=violet]”November 22 it is. Don’t do anything to make me want to kill you before then, “[/color] she joked. Violet nodded at Mary before looking back at Carlisle. [color=violet]”Seriously, though. Stay alive and out of mother’s crosshairs.”[/color]

Carlisle simply nodded. He didn't want this meeting to go longer than it needed to be [color=00FFFF]"I have enough work to keep my busy until then"[/color] 

[color=violet]”Good.”[/color] Taking a step away from the table, she nodded her head. [color=violet]”Keep an eye on that girlfriend of yours, too. If Amanda can’t get to you, she’ll find a way through you.”[/color] With another nod, she turned and walked out of the Coven house.

Mary nods the girl a farewell in return, watching as she walked to the doorway and left. Mary was glad a conclusion was come to that wasn’t an attempted bloodbath, she was not in the mood to clean blood off of the wooden floor. As Violet left the woman turns back to Carlisle. [color=fff79a]”Don’t you run away just yet, we need to talk,”[/color] she says matter-of-factly, sipping her coffee.

Carlisle was just about to walk off, getting up off the seat when Mary spoke. Almost like a moody teenager, Carlisle let out a soft groan and felm back into the stool. [color=00FFFF]"What is it we need to talk about?"[/color] 

Mary couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the groan Carlisle gave her, waiting until he sat back down before continuing. [color=fff79a]”You need to stop trying to do everything alone,”[/color] she sighs. Mary keeps her voice calm, keeping her eyes fixated on the young man. [color=fff79a]”You have a whole coven for a reason. You’re not a leader to deal with all the problems, you’re a leader to [i]lead[/i] everyone to fix the problems.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"It's my job to protect everyone. That is the oath I swear. Plus I do work with others. I just draw the line at people who side with my mother and threaten to kill me, my friends and my girlfriend"[/color] Carlisle said with a soft sigh. 

[color=fff79a]”Carlisle, the past two weeks I’ve watched you plan and plan alone. Your coven is good for more than running into a fight kicking and screaming. Do you even know the potential your covenmates hold? Aurora is a wise kid, smart too- she’d make a good strategist someday. Clara has good relations with people in a lot of covens and Willow is a therapist, not to mention they’re best friends; they’d be good for negotiations with other covens and keeping good relations with them. Daniel’s strong, there’s your front liner. Lucas is very easy to underestimate with his disability- good for espionage. The list goes on. It is not a reflection on you needing help with coven issues, they’re coven issues.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"I know you are trying to say"[/color] Carlisle said in a softer sigh. [color=00FFFF]"I don't mind working with others. Honestly. It's just more a case of wanting to work out what needs to be done before leaning on people"[/color]

[color=fff79a]”Then you’re using your coven wrong,”[/color] Mary says simply, taking another sip of coffee. [color=fff79a]”You have people there who aren’t primed for fighting for whatever reason but are useful in other ways. Or what about when people get injured or start havin’ babies, they need to be good for more than cutting up wolves every few weeks. When they’re involved it give ‘em something to work toward. At the moment this coven doesn’t look like a coven, it’s a one man show with occasional hired help. That’s really not productive long term.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"I get that. I do Mary. I need to settle into the position. I haven't even settled into the job yet" [/color] Carlsie said with a soft smile. He understood what Mary was saying. But at the same time, Carlisle was still learning and doing his best given the situation. 

[color=fff79a]”I know, kiddo,”[/color] Mary responds with a sigh. She knew the poor man had a lot on his plate and for that she felt sorry for him but she didn’t want him getting caught out badly. [color=fff79a]”This is just one of those things you need to learn early on and better you do from me than from a near death experience.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"It's a lot to go through"[/color] Carlisle said with a short sigh [color=00FFFF]"I don't think that any other coven leader has been through so much at the start of their job. I have been trying to keep control"[/color] 

[color=fff79a]”I know, I know,”[/color] the woman sighs, [color=fff79a]”But ignoring doing the one thing that’ll make your job harder is gonna cus you some trouble. Stop makin’ excuses. A simple ‘you’re right’ and ‘I’m sorry’ would go a long way.”[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"I am not making excuses. It's infuriating. I am trying to help and get things done. And people keep having a go at me"[/color] Carlisle sighed. 

Mary gave a deep sigh at the boy's words, it was almost as if everything she had just flown over his head. [color=fff79a]”I know you're trying to help but you just need to slow down and assess what everyone else involved needs."[/color]

[color=00FFFF]" I plan to. Honestly. I gave you the position, I need to go through everything"[/color] Carlisle sighed. It felt like he was always being attacked [color=00FFFF]"Look, I know the family dinner didn't go particularly well a few weeks back, but I don't want it to hang over me like a cloud over the top of my head"[/color] 

[color=fff79a]”And who said it was hangin'"[/color] Mary asks in response. A couple of moments of silence falls upon the pair before she speaks up again. [color=fff79a]”Look, I'm sorry I snapped at you, Carlisle. You invited someone who's a potential threat to my house with only an hour's warning, you can't just do that. All you had to do was run out by me earlier. You can't treat everyone and everythin' like yours to use like that. You're gonna get yourself in trouble if you do."[/color] Her words were soft as she looked over at the young man. Part of her expected him to blow up in response.

[color=00FFFF]"Look. I didn't intend to drop her on you like I did. I wanted to try and mend the gap between everyone."[/color] Carlisle wasn't going to argue with Mary anymore. He was tired. He simply slumped on the stool and sighed heavily. [color=00FFFF]"Being a leader is alot of work, and it feels like everyone wants to make my life harder rather than easier."[/color]

Mary sighs once more, holding back the words on her tongue. In truth Carlisle was far from helping himself in that field but she doubted he'd listen to that reason. [color=fff79a]”You got a good heart, kid. You've just gotta learn how to be a good leader."[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"Honestly, when it comes to Violet, I would rather go twelve round with Kolby than trust her. But hey that's neither here or there"[/color] Carlisle said with a soft laugh.

[color=fff79a]”I know. I'm not saying don't be wary just- trust me on this, 'kay? I know what I'm doin'."[/color]

[color=00FFFF]" I trust you. Implicitly. But I don't trust her not to stop attacking me at the party. She is going to back stab me and actually try to kill me."[/color] Carlisle sighed sitting back up in the stool [color=00FFFF]" And the way things are now. I am not even sure Miles and Lil would actually step in and try to save me."[/color] 

[color=fff79a]”I 'spose we'll find out,"[/color] the woman muses. [color=fff79a]”Don't think I go into these situations without being prepared. You should tell Miles and Lil though. And Carlisle, for the love of all things on this Earth, don't make this crystal alone."[/color]

[color=00FFFF]"I won't. I will speak to them. This is going to be fun"[/color] With a small sigh he pulled out his phone. Opening his messenger app he sent them both the same message [i]Can we meet at my office this afternoon… I need some help RE: my mother"[/i]

[color=fff79a]”Good. Now if you excuse me, I've got some rose bushes to dig up,"[/color] Mary says, placing her mug back on the bench. She ties her hair back before making her way to the garden, humming as she leaves the scene.