Aurora’s Coven: The Lost Coven | Book 1 Read online

  I mean, actually feel her, like the air came back into the room. My smile turns genuine, and I can’t help but stare at her as she walks around a table. My breath catches the more I gaze at her. It’s like nothing else exists but her. Shit, I’m right. She’s one of us.

  Then why she is pretending to be human, I wonder. Guess I’ll have some news for the others when I get back. Speaking of the others, I glance at the clock, Ezra is unbearable when he’s hungry.

  - AURORA -

  Fixing my hair in the mirror, I stare at my reflection, not recognising myself. My usual vibrant and full of life hazel eyes seem hollow, my pale—almost translucent—skin highlights the bags under my eyes, and even my usually long, silky hair seems dull and lifeless. I look away before I have another breakdown.

  “Come on, girl, he didn’t notice, you know he didn’t. It’s nothing. You can do it, he might not even be out there anymore. If he is, just smile and don’t act like such a weirdo.” With a stern talk to myself, I march to the door, flip the lock, and open it. The dull grey corridor greets me, and I allow myself a second for my eyes to adjust to the darkness after the almost clinical lights in the bathroom.

  I stride down the corridor, determination in every step. At the corner, I hesitate. With a deep breath, I steel my spine and walk back into the pub.

  Two sets of eyes swivel my way as soon as I enter. I ignore them and head to the table where some dirty pots are stacked precariously. As I clear them up, I try to ignore the looks being thrown at me. With my head held high, I spin and walk towards the kitchen. I allow my eyes to lock with Tom’s, his concern stretched across his wrinkling face. I offer him a nod and keep walking. Beaming at me, the stranger with the ocean eyes studies my every move. My footsteps almost falter, but I smile back and go through the swinging doors. I put the pots on the counter and watch silently as Eddie works. He turns with a wink after only a moment.

  “Order to go, darling, some chap stood at the bar.” I gulp and nod, reaching hesitantly towards the two brown bags he holds out. With an arched bushy eyebrow, he shoves them at me and rushes to stop the incessant beeping of the microwave.

  Turning, I head out the doors towards the bar, keeping my eyes fixed ahead. I reach the stranger, who wears an amused expression, which pisses me off. My back hardens as my anger rises, along with my magic. My lips tug down at the corners as I shove the bags at him.

  “Take out is ready,” I mutter, getting ready to spin and walk away.

  A small laugh, which sends chills down my spine, interrupts my fleeing. Oh, hell no. I will not look up, I will not look up, I chant inside my head.

  “Thanks, don’t think I’ve seen you before, and trust me, I would notice.” His voice is deep and smooth like honey. If it came out of anyone else, I would put on my flirtiest look, but I remind myself what he is with a quick peek at his aura. Tom coughs, and I turn to stare at him quizzically. I arch my eyebrow, which by the way, is harder than it sounds—it took me a while to perfect the look.

  “I was telling Benjamin here that you moved to town a couple of months ago,” he says with a pointed glare at Benjamin. Huh, cute name. No, not cute. Not cute at all, Aurora, jeez. I finally meet his eyes again. No power swirls in them now, but his unnaturally deep eyes pull me in like nothing before. I blink and take a deep breath before replying. The smell of the ocean curls towards me, settling in my nostrils and heating me. My toes sink into the warm sand while the sun heats my skin.

  “Yeah, that’s right,” I say with a bit of sass in my voice. Damn, I can never control myself. It doesn’t matter if I’m shit scared; I always have to be a sarcastic bitch. His face breaks into a smile, and it makes me catch my breath. He’s gorgeous. I tried not to notice earlier, but it’s undeniable now. He’s the type that graces magazine covers and in films. His shirt stretches tightly across his abs in a delicious way, and I almost drool. His big arms flex as he puts the takeout bags on the counter, and my mouth goes dry. I’m such a sucker for a nice pair of arms. He stretches his long arm out towards me with a cheeky grin, one that most girls would drop their panties for. I’m sure that’s the response he’s used to, which makes me even more determined to ignore him. His eyes twinkle with mischief and amusement—the blue in his eyes changes depending on the light.

  “I’m Benjamin, but everyone calls me Ben. And you are, beautiful? Old Tom here wouldn’t tell me your name. Seems right I should know who’s been glaring at me for the last ten minutes.” His smooth voice rolls across me. What a dick. I purse my lips from saying it out loud.

  “Maybe I was glaring at the massive ego that followed you in,” I reply before I can hesitate. A startled laugh bursts from him, not the reaction I was expecting. I pop my hand on my hip as Ben turns to Tom.

  “I like her,” he declares, his face covered in genuine happiness.

  “So glad, I will sleep easier tonight.” Shit, one day my mouth is going to get me into trouble. He doesn’t say anything, but his smile grows bigger as he takes a second to stare at me. I’m surprised when he doesn’t give me the once over. I figured a guy like him would at least check out my boobs. I don’t know whether to be offended or angry.

  “Looks like you could need it, so glad to be of service.” Concern flashes across his face, appearing quickly before he hides it with a small grin that doesn’t reach his eyes.

  I stare at him with my resting bitch face clearly in place. Lane says it’s enough to make grown men nearly cry. I mean it was only one time, but still. His smile kicks up a notch, interrupting my mental blabber.

  “Well, you’re a ray of sunshine. Hey, if you won’t tell me your name, I guess I’ll just call you that, maybe Sunny for short.” In disbelief, I watch as he grabs his food and, with a quick wink at Tom, turns to walk towards the front door.

  My eyes dip to his bum as he walks. Damn, even I can admit he’s hot as hell. Catching myself, I quickly avert my eyes in time for him turn and smirk at me.

  “See you around, Sunshine,” he calls and, with a wink, saunters out the front door.

  With a strangled snarl, I turn back to the bar and Tom. My emotions are all over the place but settling on anger is easier.

  “Friend?” He grabs some glasses from the bar and avoids my gaze.

  “Erm, yeah sort of. He and his friends used to live around here,” he replies hesitantly.

  I tense up. Shit, there’s more of them here?

  He glances up and must notice something in my expression. “Way out of town. They’ve been gone for almost six months, and I don’t expect them to stick around this time,” he says slowly.

  I breathe in deeply. I can’t keep getting worked up, and if I show how panicked I really am, it will lead to questions. Ones I can’t—no, won’t—answer.

  “How many of them are there?” I ask before I can stop myself.

  Tom stares at me for a minute, and I can’t decipher his expression. He sighs like he’s come to some sort of decision; I only wish I knew what.

  “Five,” he states and turns to put the glasses away.

  I nod as if he can see me.

  “I wouldn’t worry. Like I said, they don’t stay long.” His voice rumbles out.

  I nod to myself. That’s good. The sooner they leave, the better. As if he can read my train of thoughts, Tom turns and gives me a hard look.

  “Any problems you come to me, okay?” Taken back by his intensity, I find myself nodding.

  “Good, looks like you’ve got another table.” He nods at the front door.

  I quickly follow his stare toward an exhausted mum and two kids. Without saying anything, I walk her way, sliding a fake smile in place as I try to ignore my fight-or-flight instincts which scream at me.

  As I serve and clean, my mind wanders. The first time I met Tom, I knew what he was, but I can never tell if he knows what I am. Sometimes, I think he does, like today, but surely, he would ask me questions. Either way, we have this unwritten policy—we both don’t ask and don’t tell.

  The rest
of the night rushes by as the pub fills up, and before I realise, finishing time arrives. Luckily, no more strange encounters the rest of the evening lets my emotions untangle and fills me with hope. I say a tired goodbye to everyone as I grab my stuff and leave for the night.

  3

  - BENJAMIN -

  “Honey, I’m home!” I shout at the top of my lungs.

  Mumbling drifts to me in the direction of the kitchen, so I head that way with a skip in my step.

  “Thank fuck.” Ah, Ezra must be extra hungry today. I let what he calls my evil grin stretch across my face.

  “Well, hello to you, too. How was my day, you ask? Yes, well, it was good, yours?” My chipper voice stops the grumbling as I walk into the large, modern kitchen where three hungry witches wait.

  “Shut up and give us the food,” Ezra groans.

  I pass over the two bags I brought in and watch as they devour their food. I smirk and hop up onto the counter under the window, swinging my legs in glee. Waiting until they each take a bite of food, I announce, “There’s a new witch in town.”

  Food gets spat everywhere, and three shocked faces round on me as I wipe burger off my face, laughing hysterically.

  That went better than I imagined.

  - AURORA -

  When I get home, I don’t even bother to flick on any lights. I strip on my way upstairs and sigh in happiness at the sight of my king-sized bed. I collapse on top of my velvet duvet and with a groan, get comfy. Before I know it, sleep claims me.

  My bedroom door creaking open wakes me up, and I squint at the bright light streaming in behind the silhouette. Nothing moves for a moment, then my mum rushes towards me, surprising me.

  “Mum? What’s wrong?” I cry in panic.

  She leans into me and puts her fingers in front of her lips. I nod in understanding but question her with my eyes. Tears stream down her face, and her skin is pale in fear. It’s clear she just woke up as her hair is in disarray and she wears her pyjamas. My chest rises and falls faster and faster, fuelled by the panic etched on her beautiful face. The same features and fear reflect back at me in her eyes.

  She grabs my hand and pulls me across the room, whispering as she goes. She stops next to my wardrobe and waves her hand, her white-coloured magic rushing out to do her bidding. A door appears, revealing the little hidey-hole she created for me when I was younger. Opening it, she gestures for me to go in. I cling tighter to her hand and shake my head, tears escaping my eyes. We both turn as the stairs creak under someone’s weight. Frantically, she pushes me into the cupboard and leans down to give me a kiss.

  “Don’t make a sound, don’t scream, baby girl, okay? I love you,” she whispers brokenly against my cheek as footsteps sound down the hallway. With a shuddering breath, she stands and shuts the door. Her footsteps retreat from the door, then it goes silent. My breath puffs out of me in panic, and my face dampens by the second.

  Boom.

  I bolt upright with a scream, my heart beating out of my chest and sweat pouring down my face. I scramble until my back hits the headboard and count until my breath evens out and my heart rate slows. I scrub my face with a tired sigh.

  A wet nose nudges my hand, and I drop it to find my baby—a husky mix, with piercing blue eyes and a beautiful black and white coat—staring back at me. I can just make out the sun-shaped white patch on his chest. Intelligence shines in his eyes I can’t explain, and it baffles me still, reminding me more of a human than a dog. He tilts his head at me in question after I just sit, staring at him.

  “Yeah, I’m okay, just a dream,” I say tiredly. If someone caught me talking to him like a human, they would think I’m crazy, but ever since I rescued him as a pup, we have had this unusual connection. I’m sure he can understand what I’m saying. Maybe, I’m crazy. Too tired to debate my mental stability, I watch his ears flick forward. He licks my hand, then lays down next to me. I allow my hands to bury in his fur, grounding me further.

  “What would I do without you, huh?” I snuggle down next to him and stare at the ceiling as my mind wanders. Tiredness slips through my body, but I try to resist, in fear of what will come to me in my sleep this time. Struggling, my eyes flicker shut, and as they do, eyes flash across my vision, first blue, then green, then brown. The colours blend, one after the other, like some creepy montage. Staring into their ever-changing depths, I fall. Words foreign to me whisper across my mind, lulling me to sleep with their softness.

  “ύπνος, απόγονος μου.”

  4

  - AURORA -

  A wet tongue swipes across my face, and I groan and flip over until my face buries in my pillow. My room is silent, so I start to fall back to sleep only to jerk awake moments later by a screech that would impress most banshees. Running paws make me laugh into my pillow and flip over onto my back again, plumping my pillows as I sit up and wait. It’s not long before Neville—don’t even ask—comes barrelling into the room and jumps on the bed. His tail wags as he lies down, a shiny, pink heel dangling from his mouth. I snort and shake my head at him.

  “One day she’s going to kill you.” His tongue lolls out of his mouth as he pants at me. A bright blond blob comes skidding into my room after him. Lane dramatically points at Neville and bends over, grasping her knees as she tries to catch her breath. Her breathing saws in and out dramatically. Honestly, if the girl exercised as much as she shopped, then she would have no problem.

  I raise my eyebrow at her as her eyes narrow at me. They flick between me and Nev.

  “He’s a menace! Why, oh why, does he hate me? My shoes, my poor shoes,” she cries when he drops it on the bed, saliva and all. Before I can help myself, I laugh. Her eyes narrow even further if that’s possible, and she swings her hand dramatically from me to Neville and back again, her bright pink nail polish glittering in the light that streams in through the floor to ceiling windows. I will never get the obsession with the colour. Why would you want to look like Barbie or bubble gum?

  “No pancakes for either of you, ever!” she shouts dramatically as she spins around and storms back downstairs.

  My wide-eyed stare meets Nev’s, and we both scramble up and out of the room as I holler at her retreating back, “Pancakes? Wait!” My bare feet slip on the floor, almost sending me ass over tit as I sprint to keep up.

  I reach the small, cosy kitchen in time to watch her slam open drawers and cupboards, muttering to herself about stupid dogs. I prop myself against the door frame and wait for her to cool down.

  “You know, your key is for emergencies,” I mention casually. She screams, dropping a plate in the process, and I frown as it bounces on the floor before it shatters. Her eyes narrow at me again—it’s quite impressive how she does that.

  “You shouldn’t scare people!” she declares, then glances down at the mess she made. We both stare at it, hoping it will magically clean itself up. Well, I mean it could, but then I’d have to explain how the hell that happened. Not ideal before I’ve been fed.

  I stand up straight and head towards the broken plate. I tiptoe around it until I’m crouched on the other side and start to clear up the mess she made. I finish picking it up as the smell of pancakes reaches me, almost making me moan in happiness.

  “So why breakfast? And did you make it?” I empty the broken plate into the bin and lean against the counter to study her.

  “Har har, no, I didn’t make it, and when will you get over that? I thought we could chill and watch films today as we aren’t at work.” I smile as she divides the pancakes between the two plates, being extra careful as she handles them.

  “Sounds good.” My grin is genuine and only grows when she turns to pass me one of the plates. She takes in my happy face and with a huff, she marches away, calling over her shoulder, “Don’t be a weirdo. I just didn’t want to watch all the Harry Potters alone.”

  We stretch out across my comfy, corner sofa as the first Harry Potter plays on the telly. I groan in delight at the food baby I have after eat
ing the delicious pancakes, and Lane echoes me. She speaks along with the characters, and I glance at her, the happiness clearly visible on her heart-shaped face. My eyes wander over her. She’s cute; there’s no other way to describe my shoe-oholic best friend. Her cheeks are plump, and her nose is small. Her full, pink lips always give the impression she’s just been kissed, and her skin is tanned—enough that she doesn’t need makeup to look like the living. Unlike some. Her natural, platinum-blond hair lays in a wave over her shoulder, unlike my unruly locks. She’s my total opposite in every way.

  I still find it weird how I can know someone for a small amount of time and become inseparable, but other people I can know for years and never feel that way. It was pure luck meeting her. The day after I moved here, I drove through hunting for food and decided to stay in the small town. I accidentally hit her with my trolley as I stared lovingly at the sweet aisle of the shop. She insulted me, and I insulted her back with a quote from Hermione, at which point she declared me an awesome person. My smile was small; I never did that before she came along. Smile, that is, there was no reason to.

  People say love can change you, but they never tell you it has to be the relationship kind. Her friendship fixed something in me. She stormed into my life with a flick of her hair and a twinkle in her eye and forced me to open up. To laugh, to smile, to be happy. I might not ever be able to tell her how much that means to me, but sitting here, watching our favourite movie, I realise she probably already knows.

  I turn back as Hagrid lands on Privet Drive, not wanting to be caught staring at her like the weirdo she accused me of being.

  “Turn up the volume,” her moan cuts through my internal monologue.