Chapter 3 #2
“I think he’d be proud that his daughter fearlessly confronted a fae and held her own until most of her coven arrived to capture it.
That was important,” he stresses, taking my hand and squeezing it when I blush and look away.
It brings my gaze back to him. “Your quick thinking saved the town, Ada. If the fae was allowed to get away, who knows what worse could have happened?”
“Clearly I wasn’t very successful,” I argue, waving my free hand toward myself.
“Victory isn’t only measured by coming out of a battle unscathed.
The most important battles are rarely won easily.
You were courageous, you didn’t flinch when everything was on the line, including your life.
And you turned the tide for all of us because of it.
Your battle wound is a sign of your bravery.
You’re still standing, still helping, even at such a great cost to yourself,” he commends me, his weighty tone brooking no argument.
Staggered, I nod, the lump in my throat leaving me unable to speak.
Sometimes it’s hard to accept praise, even from a friend, especially knowing I went into the fight on a wing and a prayer.
I didn’t have any notion of courage or bravery or any of these pretty words he used.
I did what I had to. There wasn’t any other choice for me.
I turn my gaze again to my father’s desk, breaking eye contact with Niven. He still watches me for a quiet moment. With one last comforting squeeze, he drops my hand. I wipe the wetness from my eyes and cross my arms over my torso, taking a few ragged breaths to gather myself.
“You know I saw them that night? My parents. My long-gone family. They were there. They protected me and the rest of the coven too when they arrived. I wouldn’t be here without them. Probably shouldn’t be,” I whisper hoarsely, my throat still tight.
“They’re a part of you. Their magick is a part of you.
And always will be. They did all they could to save you through the ward.
” He exhales deeply, like his own words are affecting him as much as they are me.
“I’m here to talk if you need to, anytime.
I’m never too busy for you. Okay?” There’s an uncharacteristic gentleness in his voice.
“Okay.” With a brittle smile, I add, “Well, I’ll let you settle in.”
Before I thoroughly embarrass myself and blubber like a baby in front of him, I turn on my heel and walk back downstairs to the comfort of my kitchen.
There’s a lull while my first two guests unpack.
I need it after that unexpectedly sentimental talk with Niven.
My hands shake, slowing me down, as I slice lemons for the pitchers of sweet tea and lemonade I made earlier.
I push the cutting board away from me as a jumble of memories from that night rush through my brain.
Turning around, I lean against the kitchen counter and wrap my arms around myself, willing them to go away.
Soon enough, Aurelia and Niven chat animatedly as they descend the stairs.
I wipe my face and hurry to meet them in the foyer so I can show them around.
They must have finally piqued the cats’ interest because Vanny and Earl Grey tear around the corner, racing toward our new guests like they’ve been dipped in tuna.
Earlier, I’d given them strict instructions to be on their best behavior.
Clearly it was in one ear and out the other, as they batted at and then rubbed against the accusing finger I had pointed in their direction until I gave them scritches.
“Who are these two munchkins?” Aurelia coos as she picks up Earl Grey and scratches under his chin.
A snort of laughter bubbles out of me at how adoringly they stare at each other. “These lover boys are Vanilla Paws, or Vanny as I call him, and Earl Grey,” I say, gesturing at each. “They’re brothers and best friends. This is their house and I’m just living in it.”
Niven bends down to run his hand along Vanny’s back and up his tail. After walking in circles, rubbing himself on Niven’s pantlegs, Vanny lays down at his feet stretching out on his back for belly rubs, which Niven immediately obliges.
“Well, I see they won’t have any trouble with strangers invading their space,” I jest. “But I will warn you they have no sense of propriety or boundaries. What’s yours is theirs.”
“I see no problem with that. I think we’ll be as thick as thieves,” Aurelia remarks, making me chuckle at this ridiculous love fest.
“We’ll bring them on the house tour. Too bad they can’t lead it themselves. I’m sure they know all the best spots to nap. First, would you like sweet tea? Coffee? Lemonade?” Both opt for coffee.
Leading everyone into the kitchen, including Vanny who hops along closely at Niven’s heels, I pour their coffee into mugs to bring along. Since this will be a very long, stressful day, I take a mug as well.
“The kitchen is fully stocked with groceries and even some new kitchen gadgets, so feel free to eat or use anything here. You can go out to the garden through these doors whenever you please, there’s plenty of seating out there,” I tell them as I point out the various elements.
The tour continues as we walk through the succeeding doorways into the richly painted terra cotta dining room and dark pine green living room.
Wide-plank antique wood floors run throughout.
I point out the wide, light gray marble double-sided fireplace that sits between them that I light during the short chilly season.
Exiting the living room into the foyer, matching double doors on the opposite side of the house lead into the salon, an over-sized formal entertaining room painted a dark, muted blue that runs almost to the back of the house.
It once held balls and dances, but now it only serves as a meeting space for the coven.
Tucked away at the back of the house is a workroom stocked with everything needed to make potions and enchantments.
The attached short hallway with the downstairs powder room and a butler’s pantry leads back to the kitchen.
“This house is something! No wonder these two act like little princes,” Aurelia remarks.
“Just like me, the kitchen is their favorite room. As you can tell, they love to eat,” I joke as Vanny lopes between my legs toward his food bowl.
“There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a good meal, Earl Grey,” Aurelia whispers into his ear, making all of us laugh. He could not care less about our conversation as he contentedly purrs in her arms, oblivious to anyone but her.
Stepping back into the foyer, I take them upstairs once again to point out all the bedrooms and bathrooms. Luckily, they’ll only have to double up on bathrooms. And everyone will have their own room except Aurelia and Cyrinda, who I learned are close friends.
“That’s about everything there is to see. I do have a musty old attic, but I’ll spare you. It’s a lot of old furniture collected over the generations. Who knows, maybe someday I’ll go through it,” I say with a shrug.
“I had no idea your house was so impressive,” Niven remarks as we head downstairs again.
“It was built by my family in the mid-nineteenth century, many decades after they founded the town. There’s so much history here, and I love every inch of it.
” I sigh, and my smile slips a little. “But it’s a lot of house for just me, if you can’t tell.
And upkeep just got a little more hands-on,” I add wryly.
“You mentioned it at academy, but I guess I didn’t pay enough attention. At the time, if it didn’t revolve around New York City, I wasn’t that interested,” he confesses with a chuckle. “Clearly I wasn’t at all a snob.”
“Well, if it’s hands you need, we’ve all got them. You didn’t think we were going to make you slave away cleaning up after us?” Aurelia accuses, pretending to look offended.
“No, no. You’re all guests. You wouldn’t have to do much if you were staying at the inn.
Besides, I’ve considered hiring a housekeeper since everything…
happened. It’s the smart thing to do.” It’s a serious consideration I mulled over while getting the house ready.
Staying on top of everyday upkeep will be too much, even after everyone leaves.
While refilling everyone’s coffee after we make our way to the kitchen again, Aurelia suggests we sit outside.
After bribing the cats to stay in the house with some treats, I take us to the front porch in case new guests arrive.
Aurelia and I sit on the porch swing and Niven stretches out on a nearby chair.
“Why the light blue on the ceiling? It doesn’t match the shutters,” Aurelia questions as she points out the two different shades of blue.
“Haint blue,” Niven replies.
“Exactly. It’s the color of water, something feared by haints, as some called them.
This isn’t warded, but it’s a nod to the lovely tradition that some regional witches developed to protect their neighbors’ homes.
The enchanted paint tricks some of the lesser Malefic into thinking they can’t cross into a house.
Maybe I needed to splash more of it around the carriage house.
” My gaze wanders to the plot of dirt where the carriage house used to be.
“I don’t think the fae cares about shades of blue,” Niven notes.
“No, it didn’t care about much,” I confirm.
“Ashes, they sound like vicious buggers. I’m glad they’re rare. I’ve never seen one before and I want to keep it that way,” Aurelia remarks with a wince.
“I hadn’t either. It was the single scariest thing I’ve ever seen. A real-life bogeyman. I don’t think I could stand to look at it again,” I divulge. I rub my forehead, as if I could scrub the image from my brain.
“You won’t have to,” Niven assures me.
“Thanks for looking out for me.” I reach over and pat his arm.
“How long have you known each other?” Aurelia asks, eyeing me and Niven.