Joy, love, and deep secret

"Dad, how many of our kind usually attend this gathering," Jaxson asked as his eyes wandered around the grand ballroom.

It was his first time observing this ceremony. Usually, it was only his father who attended this yearly event. Although, there were several times that his father also came to some private meetings with their congregation.

He had recently learned that his father played a significant role in their community as one of their Counsels. He had not been privy to this information until his father felt it was time that he started participating in the activities of their kind.

"For a yearly event like this, it depends on the year. The most that I can remember was around three hundred." Simon answered his son, recalling all the years he had been present in this celebration, except for one.

Not every witch in the world received invitations. Mostly, only those who came from their lineage. Then, a few leaders of the other congregation as their special guests.

Although he had delivered new babies containing their blood each year, more of them were still dying through different causes.

"I wish Mom and Gav could also experience this." He earnestly expressed his wish, thinking that his mother would love to see her friends while Gav could probably write something about this place.

Although, he wondered if her sister still knew how to behave at a formal party. The last time he saw her, he almost did not recognize her. She did look different from the girl they had raised.

It had been a few months since he last saw her. He was busy with his career while she was off from one place to another, chasing her story. She looked more comfortable wearing her baggy pants compared to her girly clothes.

"I wish they could also come, but you know the rules. Only those with our blood could join the celebration." Simon reminded his son.

His wife was not a witch. So she could not partake in this event, which she had understood when she learned about his secret. He did not try to hide it from her, wanting her to love him for who he was.

Gavrielle had no idea of the gathering since the meeting was for witches only. She never knew about the existence of witches or that they were one.

For her, those were just stories conjured through the imagination of one creative writer. Fictional characters were born to entertain the young, while others used them to scare naughty boys and girls.

"I know." His eyes roamed again around the room, watching as more people gathered around the room. "It seemed that more attended today." He concluded, seeing the attendees crowd the enormous assembly room.

There were only a few things he knew about her adopted sister. First, she needed a home when her parents died in an accident. Then, her parents learned that some people who seemed shady were looking for her, so they had to hide her identity.

But, his sister was not like them. She was just like his mom, an ordinary human being without the capability to conjure magic and create spells.

"I think your friends are calling you." Simon encouraged his son to enjoy the party. It was, after all, a celebration to welcome all the new members of the congregation.

He also had to greet some of his colleagues in the congregation and make his presence known. He knew he could not skip another celebration. He could not draw attention to himself. He did not wish anyone to start sniffing at his affairs.

"Ok. I see, Allen, waving at me." Jaxson told his father, seeing an old friend beckoning him to come over. "Just call me if you need me." Reminding his father that it was the twenty-first century, pointing to his phone in his side pocket.

He could see several more people he had already met before when they dropped by the house to visit. Some had become close friends through the years, but still, he missed the company of his mother and sister.

He believed it would have been an entire family affair if they could join them. However, he could not make them witches. One had to be born with the blood to become one.

"Try not to do anything foolish?" Simon warned his son, remembering the last time he was with this set of friends.

He found them in the basement creating mayhem with his spellbook. Luckily, no one was hurt. But he doubted they would be making the same mistake now that they were grown up.

"Neil, it is so good to see you again, my friend." Simon greeted his long-time friend.

Aside from Laurence, Neil was also a close friend of his. He was also closed to Laurence and the leader of the White Rose Congregation. But Simon could not trust him with his secret.

He believed that the fewer people knew about her, the better. He was afraid to endanger his daughter if more knew about her identity. The only person he could completely trust was his wife and no one else.

"I am glad to see you too, Simon." Neil greeted him, shaking his hands firmly, genuinely happy to see an old friend. "How are Julianne and your daughter?"

He always enjoyed his wife's cooking. He believed she served the best meals he had ever tasted in his entire life. He could only wonder how his friend could keep up his healthy appearance.

He thought it was unfortunate they had adopted an ordinary child. If he had known he was looking for a child, he could have recommended another orphaned baby of their kind. Her parents died during a fire. She would have been perfect for them.

"Julianne is packing up our things as we speak. She wished to go on a cruise." Simon scratched his head at his wife's plans. "She could not stand the loneliness of the house now that Jaxson and Gavrielle had moved out of the house."

He admitted that seeing his son leave the house was a relief. He wanted Jaxson to start a life where he could build a great future for himself and his future family.

But hearing his daughter say she was finally moving out. Then, transferring away from them into another city was a different story. If he could only chain her into his side to guarantee her safety, he would.

Now, he was left again wondering what she might be doing now. Julianne already warned him not to call her every chance he could get. He did promise.

So, here he was, missing her, wondering what trouble she had found herself into today. She would always be his family's joy, love, and deep secret.