Selene
“You can’t be serious.” I drawl, crossing my arms over my chest and glaring at Drake.
“What?” He counters in exasperation, “She’s a powerful witch, why wouldn’t you seek her help?”
“Because she’ll never work with me without knowing the source of my power.” I exclaim.
After the almost kidnapping at the zoo, the Beta’s placed Lila and I on lockdown, while Drake holed Sophie up in his rooms and presumably showed her how grateful he is that she’s safe. Every time I’ve seen either of them since, they’ve been wearing dopey lovesick smiles and Sophie’s been wearing long sleeves and long pants that tell me she’s trying to hide more than a few hickeys and lovebites.
On the other hand the betas were true to their promise and immediately began searching for a teacher to help me with my powers. After everything calmed down, we learned they got a last minute tipoff from one of the original kidnappers who got fired a few hours before the job began and wanted revenge against his former colleagues. So in all likelihood, the guys would have arrived in time to rescue us, but thankfully they recognized the value of training me anyway.
Now Drake has located a revered witch in the oldest part of the city, but he brought me to meet her without first finding out whether she’s even willing to take on a student.
“Simply tell her you’re a Volana, she doesn’t have to know you hold the key to eternal life in your veins.” He states matter-of-factly.
“Could we please not advertise that!” I exclaim, encouraging him to lower his voice.
“Oh come on, no one’s listening.” He assures me, “now stop being silly, and go introduce yourself.”
Grumbling under my breath, I cross the distance to the stately townhouse and prepare to knock on the door. I turn back to look at Drake one last time before raising my hand, receiving an encouraging nod in reply. However before I can actually knock the door swings open, revealing an elegant woman with coils of shiny silver hair piled atop her head and loose flowing clothes. She blinks when she sees me, “well I have to say you’ve surprised me. I was expecting a new student, but I never imagined it would be the Alpha’s mate.”
I glance hesitantly at Drake again, “You knew I was coming?”
“I’m a witch darling, that is why you’re here, isn’t it?” She questions, stepping to the side and sweeping her arm wide to welcome me into her home.
“Well yes, but…” I don’t know how to explain.
“You’ve never met a real witch have you, little mother?” She surmises, nodding at Drake so he’ll join us in the house.
“No.” I admit, “and I’m not one myself.”
“Well that’s obvious enough dear.” She remarks with a rueful smile. “You’re not my first student to come from another walk of life.” She’s circling me now, studying me closely and even poking at my arms, shoulders and hip experimentally. I don’t have the first clue what she’s doing, but she stops in front of my after three slow circuits, staring at me curiously. “Though I suspect you will be my last.”
“Last student, or last one who isn’t a witch?” Drake clarifies uneasily.
“Last student.” She replies unemotionally, hopping ahead to the next subject as if she hasn’t just made a thoroughly ominous remark about her own fate. “I’ve seen magic like yours before, but never this strong.”
Wrapping my arms around myself protectively I ask, “Can you help me learn to wield it?”
“I would not have been home for your visit today if I did not intend on teaching you, silly girl.” She chuckles, gazing at my two-tone eyes and making me feel as if she can see right through me. “My grandmother told me stories about Volana wolves when I was a girl, though even she did not know the secrets of your blood. I see now we’ve been underestimating your kind’s true power.”
“How do you see that?” I question, more curious than unsettled.
The woman laughs again, “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, you shifters are never taught how to truly look at the world. There is so much you do not see, simply because you do not open your eyes.”
I don’t really understand what she’s talking about, and I can see that Drake doesn’t either. Shaking off some of my nerves, I extend my hand to her, “I’m Selene, by the way.” I offer inanely, quickly amending myself. “I mean, I know you recognize me, but we haven’t truly been introduced.”
“Helene.” She introduces herself, but instead of shaking my hand she uses it to pull me forward. When she was young I imagine she must have been much taller than me. She still has a few inches on me, but her spine is bent and curved with age. She turns my chin right and left in her hand. “Pretty thing.” She says to herself, an observation rather than a compliment. Her brow furrows then and she tsks regretfully, “and to have survived so much darkness… I confess I’ve never met another like you.”
“The only other Volana I’ve met myself is my mother.” I share, assuming this is what she means.
“I wasn’t talking about your bloodline.” Helene corrects me calmly, “but that’s no surprise, given you and your daughter are the last ones.”
At first I think I’ve misunderstood her, “What?”
She blinks, “Did you not know?” Her gaze bounces between Drake and I, and she doesn’t wait for us to answer, “No I can see you didn’t. Well I’m sorry to tell you, there aren’t any other Volana wolves left – why else do you think you are being hunted?”
“You know about that?” Drake demands.
“I do now.” Helene explains, “before today I confess I never thought much on the matter, but you learn a great deal meeting new people.”
I want to run from this house and beg her to teach me everything she knows at the same time. Helene grins as if she can read my thoughts, then bursts out laughing when I narrow my eyes at her. “Oh come now, don’t be silly. No one can read minds.”
“But if you can’t, how did you know I was thinking that?” I object.
“I read feelings and secrets, I read the past.” She clarifies, her tone becoming matter-of-fact as she continues, “And I’ve been at it long enough to know what it means when someone looks at me that way.”
“I’m impressed by your knowledge and skill.” Drake informs her, looking like he’s not sure whether to be pleased or concerned, “and I’m glad to know you’ll teach Selene. My question is whether that’s all you’ll do. Can we trust you with what you’ve discovered today? Can we trust that you will only help and do no harm?”
Helene gives Drake a long, assessing look that makes him shift nervously from foot to foot. After a moment she returns her gaze to me and arches a brow. “You have too many guard dogs.”
Trying to hide my snort of laughter while Drake growls in offense over being called a dog, I cough and clear my throat. “You have no idea.”
“Do not worry, Alpha.” Helene informs Drake coolly. “Your friend is safe with me. I have no need for money, I have no ambition for power, and I’ve already lived too long as it is.”
“And how long is that?” Drake demands.
“Drake!” I exclaim, outraged on my new teacher’s behalf, “stop being rude!”
“It’s alright little mother.” Helene tells me, patting my cheek. “Age is only a matter of vanity for the young. I’m a hundred and seventy years old young man. I’ve lived more than five of your lifetimes, and you cannot intimidate me by baring your fangs. You can either trust me or kill me, but do not expect me to bow and scrape like the rest of your subjects.” I cannot hide my surprise. Shifters have long lives as a rule, but I’ve never heard of anyone living past a hundred and fifty before.
Drake considers her for a moment, before nodding and turning to me. “I like her.”
I do too, far more than I imagined I would a few minutes ago. It’s such a relief to have everything out in the open and have someone not only willing, but capable of helping me. Besides, I get the feeling Helene will not coddle me the way the men do.
Drawing her attention back to me, I ask the only other question that might cease our association before it can truly begin. “Is it safe to use my powers in my condition?”
Her eyes light up, “that reminds me! I have something for you.”
Without another word she turns and disappears deeper into the house, the sound of her footsteps receding down a flight of stairs. “I- but, you didn’t answer my question.” I complain, trailing after her.
I descend the steps into what can only be her work room: the walls are lined with glass jars and herbs, the central table is scattered with heavy books and parchment, and there’s even a bubbling cauldron in the corner. I feel as though I’ve walked into a fairy story, even though it’s all still too surreal.
Helene is scanning the jars on her shelves, her gnarled finger skimming the labels until she clucks with pleasure and plucks one from the mantle. “Aha!” She uncorked the glass vessel and raises it to her nose, nodding in approval. “Not only is it safe, but using your powers will make you and the baby stronger, Selene.” She tells me. “So will this.”
Accepting the jar from her, I study the dried flowers inside, completely confused. “What is it?”
“The cure for your illness.” She says, as if it should be obvious. “Forget the doctors deary, when it comes to creating life, it’s best to trust a witch.”
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