#witchesofrosewood

Continued from Here ... @witchesofrosewood

Wes takes a deep breath, closing the door behind him. I will not lose it, he chants to himself as he presses the door frame with his hand, counting backwards from five before he turns to look at Cass, her sheepish expression making him even more terrified.

“Just a chaos demon?” It comes out very evenly, and he pats himself on the back for it. “Just a minor chaos demon, oh, well that’s fine then as long as they’re minor…”

He pinches the bridge of his nose in between his fingers, mind racing. God save him from headstrong, reckless, beautiful Cass, her pride and stubborn nature making her one hell of a woman, and a horrible student. Despite not knowing, well, anything, including how to draw a circle, she’d called up a chaos demon.

“Let me ask you this,” Wes manages, still trying to get himself under control, even as he wants to scream at her, and shake some goddamn sense into that normally intelligent brain. “How, exactly, did you do that? Last week I couldn’t get you to use your second sight, now you’re out here messing around with demons? Cass, darlin’, I don’t even talk to demons.”

Cassidy breathed a little easier seeing Wes’ effort to remain calm. That was a start, at the very least, and he felt her shoulders lower from her ears, the tension releasing. “I realize it’s not the brightest decision that I’ve ever made, Wes. I know, believe me.” Understatement of the century…no, of the millennia. “For what it’s worth, I did create a circle of salt as the book advised,” She didn’t necessarily need to mention right this moment that she almost immediately broke the circle in the shock of having successfully summoned the demon in question. “I am fully aware that I screwed up, royally so, and I should have asked for your help before acting on impulse. But…never mind.” Cassidy didn’t particular feel like going into detail about the why of her making this stupid decision.

Sebastian didn’t expect Sabella to walk into his life, he never expected her to stick around but she was good help and just as much as he expected to walk away from her - he didn’t. Besides the abilities she had about her - there was more. Of course, she was beautiful - he had noticed that from day one. There was so much about her that went much further than skin deep though. Feelings were never his forte, half the time he never felt human or sane - Sabella kind of just made him feel like he belonged. That maybe he wasn’t the monster in all of this. Granted she had never had to witness the killing machine he could be and he never wanted her to. 

Azalea didn’t know how long Adrian had been standing there. It had been several months since Adrian had found her and their past had come to light. She was trying, truly, to open up with him and let down her guard. Regardless of their past, a past she felt in her sould but coudln’t remember for herself, it felt like starting over in a way but with a familiar stranger. Azalea had had a difficult time letting him in but it was happening in doses, little moments that were huge leaps in progress in the grander scheme of things. She’d even given him a key to her apartment in the event he wanted to stop by but she had asked that he at least text her before just barging in. That day, though, her phone was on silent and sitting forgotten on the kitchen counter. She’d pushed what little furniture she owned back against the walls, leaving an open space in the center.  It was in that space that she now moved, eyes closed, body accentuating the rises and falls of the music with flowing grace. She’d started out with the intention of working on her technique, but her pointe shoes were now strewn across her mattress, tossed aside in favor of feeling the floor against her feet. A soulful songs, something slow and jazzy, spilled from the speakers of her laptop. A leg rose slowly into the air by her ear. Arms weaved around the notes. Her head rolled, long brown hair falling loose around her face and shoulders. Azalea’s back arched with a sensual prolonged saxaphone note and that’s when her eyes opened. Adrian was just as infuriatingly beautlful upsidedown and she damn near fell on her ass in surprise seeing him there.  “Adrian, what the hell are you --” she started, but his expression stopped her short. He looked...impressed. But more than that. He looked entranced, enraptured. “What is it?” Azalea moved toward the laptop between them, hand reaching to turn off the music, but his own hand stopped her, capturing hers in a gentle grip.  “No, don’t.” His thumb grazed over her palm as grey eyes slid from his hold on her to his intent gaze. “Dance with me.” It was a directive, not a question. 

He tugged on her hand, pulling her back to the center of the room. Azalea’s heart thrummed against her chest and she was certain he’d be able to hear it. She didn’t refuse him, though. Babysteps, she reminded herself. But she did remaind quiet, tongue tied, the English language lost on her as she watched a fire dancing behind Adrian’s eyes. 

Lily had told Spencer shortly after they had started spending time with each other that she was spoken for in a romantic sense. He’s said it was fine, that he still wanted to be her friend, that he still wanted to spend time with her. But Lily couldn’t help but notice that something seemed...off, tainting their quality time and practice sessions. This, however, was a new level. It was the first time Spencer had seen her and her boyfriend together in person, the first time he’d seen the other man kiss her and hold her possessively around the waist with a familiar touch. They’d run into each other as Lily and her partner had been leaving her apartment and Spencer had been on his way up for a surprise visit. You could have cut the tension with a knife and Lily had heard the jealousy in Spencer’s voice when he’d muttered a hasty goodbye to the two after a few moments.

Now, sitting on the piano bench next to Spencer, her fingers paused on the keys with a soft sigh. “Spencer...” She turned to her oddly quiet companion. “About the other day, you don’t have to be jealous, you know.” Lily’s voice was quiet, gentle as she lifted a small smile up to him, giving his arm a little nudge with her shoulder. “You’re a better musician than him,” she offered with a little conspiratorial smile before laughing softly. 

“He actually doesn’t care much for music...” The words trailed off as her features took on a pensive expression, brows furrowing a little. In fact, her boyfriend had taken an issue with several things recently and she’s spent the better part of their private time together listening to complaints about how much time she’d been dedicating to her music rather than jumping when he requested to spend time together among other grievances. 

Gabriel walks around his desk, giving the redhead a look of guileless confusion. “You know, I had heard that you have a certain tenacity to you. It’s quite charming.” His voice is a clear, deep one, tinged with a northeastern flatness to the vowels. Gabriel Vdekje is a charming man, conventionally attractive, but his eyes show his true colors. Flat, emotionless, grey.

“I have no intentions on keeping you here forever, never you mind.” With long, elegant fingers, he turns his attention to his desk, idly flipping through a day planner. Silence stretches between them for a moment, and Gabriel glances up to smile at Delaney, currently tied to his very expensive, post modern office chair. Wrist to arm rests, ankles to chair legs. He doesn’t look at her lustfully, no, more mockingly, even widening his eyes to mimic hers.

“You know, I have been looking for someone who’s well skilled in emergency medicine for my personal staff. Have you considered going into private practice?”

Why she’d accepted an audience with Big Daddy Death was lost on Delaney as she sat there, looking up at Sabella’s sperm donor. She couldn’t recall why she’d accepted, but here she was and she’d bide her time until she figured out what he wanted. When Sabella found out about this stupid move, well...she’d worry about that later. A few kisses and well-planned touches and hopefully her Hells Bells wouldn’t dress her down too much for this little adventure.

“You know, call me crazy, Gabe - Can I call you Gabe? But, yeah, I don’t think it’s standard practice to tie down your potential employee...” The redhead shrugged nonchalantly, “Just a thought.” Despite her casual exterior, the normal mischievous glint behind her keen green gaze had hardened into uncharacteristic suspicion. Sabella had not told her too terribly much about her father, but she reckoned that being restrained in his office was definitely not a favorable situation.

“How about you save us both some time and energy and just tell me what you really want, hm? Your daughter and I have standing plans tonight and I’d hate to leave her hanging.”

“I’m not sure if you’re marking your territory, Westley, or if that ‘xxx’ at the end is your veiled way of telling me you do porn now.”