Dr. Joy Vaughn
I stared at the four women covered from head to toe with beaded veils coming down their faces.
Their bodies were tall, sleek and curvy like cat statues and skin as dark as paint.
Their long bony fingers stretched to the tips of their sharp black polished nails, and they smelled of smokey sweet oils.
There was a burnt smell that seemed to linger around them like they’ve been around flames their entire life.
I knew a witch when I saw one. It’s in my blood down to my DNA and this woman in the front carried herself like the darkest of them all.
“I have a student who is familiar with your daughter,” I said as I called for my assistant to find Xavier. “He always speaks so highly of her.” The woman’s brows raised. At least she understood English. “He should be on his way, and you can talk to him.”
“My daughter has always been…” Her voice, deep. Almost melodic in the way she carried each word with a faint native accent. “Independent and rebellious. I am not concerned for her safety at all. I know she is fine.”
“If you are not here for your daughter, then what are you here for?” I asked.
“Dr. Holmes is who I need to speak to. He and my husband have some sort of…agreement and bond that I was not aware of… I want to know if Dr. Holmes knows where my sister is…”
“He’s…. not here and has no intentions on returning.”
The irritation that crossed her face couldn’t be mistaken, even through the beaded veil. I could see that wasn't what she wanted to hear. What is this about? What is really going on? You’re not here for your daughter yet you’re here for something. You want something, but what?
“My husband does not know his daughter is missing but he is slowly growing suspicious,” she said.
I looked between her and the rest of the women, and I suspect there were men waiting outside on her behalf. She was more than just royalty; she was the Queen herself which meant she really is a princess.
“So who is in her place?” I questioned with a slow sleazy grin, realizing what was happening.
“My daughter,” she replied. “I give birth to two.” She motioned with her hands like she was holding a newborn to push out to the world. “I give birth to two identical souls.”
“Annnnd he doesn’t realize it yet but if he found out…You would be in trouble.”
The beads on the veil jiggled and knocked against one another as she lowered her head in agreement before raising to look at me.
Before she could speak, the office door opened as Xavier Martin came walking in wearing a maroon blazer with khaki pants, and a white shirt tucked underneath.
He smiled as soon as he saw me and probably assumed I called him here to continue our intimate sessions.
Yet when he came closer to the desk, the four women looked at him, lowering their heads out of respect but I could see where his eyes went.
The lack of bra, and obvious outline of their bodies showing against the thin material that covered them.
I instantly regretted calling him here, knowing now this was a discussion between two women.
“This is Xavier Martin,” I said, forcing another smile. “One of our most popular male students here with much promise, and a successful career above ground. He’s here to extend his education, learn more about his family history and pursue a political position in the Underground.”
“Hey, how are you ladies doing?” He greeted with his hand out. They stared at it, almost recoiled at the sight of it before he carefully pulled it back.
“These lovely women are natives of the Solhari, like our Ayira and the young woman you claim her to be, Danielle.”
The mother immediately picked her head up before reaching to pull away at the hooded veil revealing her model bone structure, deep set eyes that seemed to sink into her face and full round lips with a long neck.
The large earrings were just as big as her ears and her bone straight hair was pulled back so tight; it looked like it hurt as she stared at Xavier.
She was a witch alright. I could see it in her eyes how she read him.
She was playing coy and the helpless mother, but she was probably as dangerous as they come.
“You know…Danielle?” She asked. “My…daughter? Do you know my sister? Her…her mother who raised her?”
“Yes…I’m… I’m her husband,” he said after a second thought. “I knew her mother…Marani Jackson. Did Danielle not tell you?” Whatever smile I had on my face immediately tightened up as the woman’s expression grew dark. You could see the other women with her, exchanged worried looks.
“He’s not her husband,” I said, standing up with a nervous laugh. “Xavier, why would you say that–––”
“I plan on marrying her. She was engaged to me before she suddenly disappeared–––”
“Xavier!?” I shouted.
“Where is she?” He pressed.
“Xavier, you have meetings, press conferences–––”
“I don’t care about any of that shit. Where is Danielle?
I need to speak with her. I wanted to speak with her sister and see if the two could reach out to one another, but she’s gone too.
I…I want Danielle to know I haven’t stopped trying to find her…
to reach out to her. I love her and plan on marrying her.
My family loves her. My mom adores her and is asking for–––”
“Enough!” I snapped. The woman held her hand up to me, but her gaze remained fixated on Xavier.
“Do you want to see my daughter?” She asked.
“Xavier, no–––”
“Where is she? Is she okay? Is she hurt? Is she…is she asking for me?”
“Do you want to see her?” She asked again. “If you are to marry her, you would need to meet the family, and she is…currently courting other men at the moment.”
“Xavier if you–––”
The Queen sliced her hand in the air as my lips suddenly folded into one another with a single zipper going across, silencing me.
She stepped closer to Xavier who was foolish to never take his eyes off of her.
I began banging on the desk as my hands suddenly dropped down to padded paws and dark fur.
My claws came out, attempting to scratch at the desk.
My body slipped down into the chair before falling onto the floor on my feet.
My full-on feline form was covered in my clothes when I quickly dashed out from underneath my desk only to see no one was left standing in my office.
It took a moment to adjust back into my body when I grabbed my phone and made the first phone call.
“Amelia Lovelace’s front office of Belmont University. May I ask who’s calling–––”
“Put her on her phone Jas,” I said, bypassing the formalities. A second later, I heard the phone crack with static until her voice came through.
“Amelia Lovelace–––”
“Xavier Martin is gone,” I said. I pinched the bridge of my nose with my head lowered over the desk. “He’s fucking gone. The fool just–––”
“It doesn’t matter,” she said. “We don’t need him. The Martins will have to figure that out on their own–––”
“What do you mean we don’t need him?” I hissed. “All of this started because of him. He’s the reason we are getting this type of traction in the first–––”
“We do not…need him,” she repeated calmly but with a firm tone.
“He was never a part of the plan from the start. Just a perfect distraction for something more… Trust me. Let the rumors circulate that he’s missing, and people will assume the First Family did it in retaliation to Maggie Grey. We do not need him.”
“I thought this…this was about gaining control of the Underground and getting rid of the First Family–––”
“Stay in your place at that school and do as I say kitten…That is your only concern, yes? This is much bigger than the First Family…they are not a factor in this, just another distraction to the masses. We are moving forward.”