Atticus had just told Kat one of the few things he hated admitting out loud. He was oddly sensitive about his amnesia, but he didn’t like for too many people to know that. He knew it wasn’t fully his fault, but often times he felt like people would try and take advantage of it. Then, perhaps one day, when he could remember his life, he’d know how many people had lied to him after the fact. He still wasn’t quite sure who would have done something like that, but his mind was pulled away when Kat spoke and he gave her a soft smile before nodding. “I feel very privileged that you’ve shown me then.” And when she offered her help he gave her a look. He didn’t know what she was strong in, he noticed it just now, in fact when it came to her magic he didn’t know much at all other than how it was beginning to balance.
He turned towards her and gave a nod. “Thank you for the offer, I’ll be sure to keep it in mind.” He said, listening carefully to her explanation. He subconsciously touched his hair when she touched hers and he felt his was wet too. “Shit,” he mumbled when she said they were out in the storm. He felt only slightly dizzy as they came back to reality. He saw her shivering, and though he knew his soaking wet coat might not help much, he took it off and placed it around her and he nodded. “Of course, come on, let’s get you back.”
Despite the mud and rain, they had made it back to the cottage rather quickly, and once they were out of the rain, he took his shoes off before he turned and saw Kat motioning her finger to her lips before he looked over and saw Lia and Mitch dancing. A small smile came to his lips and he nodded, but he knew they were caught when he heard Mitchell. He saw Lia’s face, trying not to convince herself that they hadn’t seen anything as she walked over. Atticus was fully prepared for an ass chewing, but what he was met with with something different.
“Will you put on coffee or tea? You’ll both need something warm.” Lia said, handing him a towel out of a nearby linen closet and pulling one around Kat. “Come on, before you start getting sick, we better get you into something warm and dry.”
He watched as Lia took Kat up the stairs and he put on some water for tea and some milk for hot cocoa. It was a little too late for coffee, even for him, and plus he’d be up a while anyway. He finally spoke, looking at Mitch, “So, I’m guessing you had a good evening?” he asked, rubbing the towel through his hair and then holding it around his shoulders a minute. He’d wait until the girls were back to go up and change into something dry. “I do have to say though, despite the dinner being a bit uncomfortable, the South Leader is quite nice. Checkov even seemed surprised to see her.” He said, making Kat a cup of cocoa and placing it on the table before making himself some tea, pouring a but for Lia as well. He looked to Mitchell and asked, “Want any?”
As he thought about it, Cassandra had reminded him a lot of Alessandra. The girl may have only been in his life a few weeks, but there was a similarity in their mannerisms. It was comforting, but Issack had been enough to make him not realize that at first. He hoped he’d get to see her again, see if he could maybe ask her a few questions about the fall of the west. Checkov had always given him vague answers, but Cassandra, he had a feeling anyway, wouldn’t. He took a sip of his tea, the warmth helping a little and he thought for a moment and smiled into his cup.
”Get in here before you catch your death!” the female voice rang out from the small cabin into the rain. Even though they were still in the South, they were definitely nearing the north. It was much cooler and the rain itself was cold. Atticus quickly ran into the small cabin before he looked down to see the pair of amber eyes that belonged to the voice. “Are you crazy? The storms are coming, and you’re wondering about like a madman!”
Atticus chuckled. “It wouldn’t have hurt me.” He said, “But I do have to say it’s not everyday I get to meet someone willing to help a stranger. You don’t know if I’d kill you in your sleep or not.”
The girl just shook her head and placed a cup of tea in his hands. “Trust me, I’ve been through my fair share of psychos to know you’re just lost. Don’t flatter yourself.” She said, and she motioned over to the small table near the middle of the room. “Take a seat, we can talk. Forgive my cooking. It’s not good, but it’s edible.”
Atticus took a seat and he watched as she did the same, taking a sip of her tea before a bite of her soup went into her mouth. “What’s your name?” he asked.
“Alessandra, but call me Aless. What about you?” she asked.
“Atticus.” He answered.
She gave a nod. “What brings you out this way? You don’t seem like you’re from the South. Can’t navigate the wolf infested areas well at all.” She said, and he gave a look. “You’ve been in front of me for a while. I was headed west, but heard the situation isn’t the best so started heading back.”
“So you can navigate this place? I’ve been trying to head East.” He said and he saw a look cross her face.
“You’d be better off heading north. The East has some not so nice people there.” She said, and he looked at her. “A few friends of mine were heading that way and died. But I hear things in the North or quite nice.” She said. “I could always help you get to the borders, but then I have to go back.”
Atticus nodded. “I’d appreciate it, thanks. Do you know what happened in the west?” he asked. She gave a look and he spoke. “I have a lot of memory problems. I lived there once but I don’t know what happened.”
Aless gave a sad smile. “I don’t. Maybe one day you can find someone who does though.” She then offered him a napkin, “But we’ll travel together until we get to the North. I promise. Who knows, after that we may meet again one day.”
His mind was drawn back once Lia’s voice came. “Bathroom is open, go get changed before it gets any colder.”
Atticus nodded, but soon a knock came to the door. He was the closest to it so he looked and opened the door.
“My, my, I see the storm definit’ly got ya.” The female voice chuckled. “Mind if I come in, sug? It’s pourin’ and I’d rather not get caught in the worst of it.”
“Of course, come in.” Atticus said, allowing Cassandra to come in as he grabbed a change of clothes before heading up to the bathroom.
--
Lia had nearly forgotten that for the first time in nearly 20 years, she and Mitchell were actually alone. It was a nice and kind of calm that she needed, and she laughed a little when he let her twirl him and she shook her head. “Little known secret, looking at the wall makes it worse.” She said as they went back to their normal dancing position. It wasn’t long before Mitch had twirled her and then all of a sudden she was dipped. She was looking up and managed to lock eyes with him. She had almost forgotten that his eyes were this pretty, but before she could even think of it she was being pulled up. A confused look crossed her face only briefly before she caught sight of Kat and Atticus.
She saw they were soaked, and Lia gave a soft look before asking Atticus to put on something warm for them. She grabbed two towels before handing one to Atticus and wrapping one around Kat’s shoulders and torso. “Come on, let’s get you into something warm and get once we get you out of your dress I’ll clean it for you. I should have it finished in a few days.” She said, gently taking Kat’s hand and bringing her up the stairs. She stopped in the bathroom, taking her little duckling, Edgar, out of the tub where he had been happily playing and she set him on the sink.
“Go ahead and wash up, I’ll get you something warm to wear.” She said, walking into her own bedroom. Lia knew she had by far warmer sweats than Kat. She grabbed her a long sleeved shirt and a pair of red sweatpants and one of her black robes. She walked back to the bathroom and handed her the clothes and gave her shoulder a gentle rub. “Here, Edgar and I will wait while you change.” She said, and she picked up the duckling and shut the bathroom door, softly behind her. He quacked at her softly before Lia walked into her bedroom and placed him in his small bed right beside hers. She patted his head and watched as he curled up.
Lia smiled a bit before she headed out of her room as Kat came out of the bathroom and she brought her hand out. “Come on, let’s get you something warm to drink, and I’ll cut you some of the brownies I made the other night.” She said, and as they headed down the stairs, she noticed Mitchell there. She gave a soft smile to him before telling Atticus the bathroom was opened. She went into the fridge and pulled out the brownies before the door opened and she looked at the woman who came in. In her hand was Kat’s coat, and Lia just smiled a bit.
--
Cassandra couldn’t have been any happier as she returned to her room after cutting dinner a little short, being sure to grab Kathleen’s coat before she headed up to change. She sighed a bit, stripping out of her dress and pulling on a pair of black slacks that she tucked into a pair of knee-high boots. She pulled on a nice beige sweater as well before pulling on her own coat. She tied her hair up in a ponytail and grabbed her umbrella. She was going to the cottage and this coat was her excuse.
With a sigh she headed towards the main entrance where Checkov was standing, leaning against another umbrella. “And where are you heading, Cassandra?”
She gave a knowing grin. “To return the young witch’s coat. She will be needing it with the weather getting colder, y’know?” he handed her the other umbrella and sighed.
“Alright, take them back their umbrella too.” He said, and she kissed both of his cheeks before opening her umbrella. “And come to my study when you come back, join me for a drink.”
Cassandra nodded and smiled. “Of course, sug. I’ll be a bit though.” She smiled, heading out towards the cotrage. Atticus had let her in and she placed the umbrella just outside the door as she slipped out of her shoes and came in. She saw Kathleen next and handed her her coat, “Now, sug, leavin’ your coat in this weather isn’t going to do much good.”
Cassandra then saw Mitch and Lia and chuckled at the brownies that were being placed on the plate. “Well, well, now, there you two are. Missed a hell of a dinner if I do say so myself,” she chuckled. She first greeted Mitch with a hug and a kiss to each of his cheeks. After that she greeted Lia in the same way. “Mind gettin’ me a cuppa tea, sug?” she asked Mitch as she took off her coat and seated herself at the table.
“I didn’t think we’d see you this soon.” Lia said, placing a brownie near Kat’s cup on the table and then placing one in front of Cassandra.
“I had some business up in Starforge for my witches, figur’d I could drop by.” She smiled. “I hear you and Miss Kathleen will fin’ly be attendin’ the ball. You two shouldn’t worry ‘bout a thing. I’ll make sure you’re prop’ly taken care of.”
Lia nodded a bit before Cassandra spoke again. “So… who is gonna catch me up?”
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