The witches

When I arrived at the house, I immediately searched for Jensen and I sigh in relief as I saw him with Faira and Clark in the living room. They all seem to be preoccupied that's why they didn’t notice our presence. I walked towards them and Stefan followed me, this time the three of them turned to us.

"Celine!"

Jensen rushed over to me and held me firmly. I hugged him in return.

"Thank God your safe !!", he whispered to my ears.

I’m relieved to see him here. I thought the hunter would take him as well, if that happens, I don’t know what to do anymore. I pulled myself away from Jensen's hug when I noticed Faira and Clark both glaring at Stefan.

"Who is he and why are you with him?"

Clark spoke solemnly while his gaze fixed on Stefan, as though studying him from head to toe. I turned to face Stefan, who was also staring intently at my cousins.

"Wait, where's mom? And why do you look like that? What happened?", he said, pointing to the bandages on my knee and elbow.

I swallowed hard at Jensen's question and looked at Stefan. He nodded at me as if telling me that I should tell him the truth.

"She was abducted."

I bit my lower lip as I remember everything that happened.

"What??!"

My brother acted like he didn’t hear it clearly.

"Celine", this time Faira called me and moved closer to me.

"Who abducted her?”, my brother asked again his expression filled with fear and worry, and I shook my head in response because I don’t know how to tell him that a vampire and hunter abducted my mother and killed Lolo Juanito and his wife.

"How did you escape?", he was stuttering it seems like he couldn’t grasp what happened.

"He saved me" I pointed at Stefan.

We all fell in silence for a moment then they started bombarding me with questions until Faira interrupted then asked us to all calm down and we all sit in the living room. When we finally settled down, that’s when I told them what happened. I explained that mom was the only one who went inside and when it took longer than expected, I started to worry then I followed her inside, that’s when I saw my mom being abducted. I was startled when Jensen suddenly kicked the table glass hard enough for it to shatter. I didn’t tell them everything, I skipped the part about the supernatural creatures because I’m still debating if I should tell them.

After we talked, Faira and I went up to my room so I could change while Jensen remained in the living room contemplating while Clark and Stefan went outside.

I took a bath because I couldn't stand the viscosity anymore. I wore sweatpants and my black shirt. Right after I came out of the bathroom, Faira entered my room and I noticed that she locked the door. She looked at me and took a deep breath before speaking.

"Celine tell me the truth who abducted your mother?"

I turned my back on her and approached the mirror and combed my hair. "I already told you everything "

She walked towards me and stopped behind me.

"You're hiding something Celine, I can feel it?"

Her expression changed, it became colder but I kept my gaze on the mirror where both of us are looking.

"I don't know what you're talking about Faira"

I continued to fix myself oblivious to her doubtful looks. I was planning on not telling them because I can't drag normal people in this case. I was surprised when Faira sat at the table facing me.

"How can we help you if you don't want to tell us the truth ??!"

I stopped brushing my hair when she raised her voice at me.

"I already told you everything”, her eyes are telling me that she is not buying that. I stood up to avoid her.

"Then why are you with that vampire?

I halted upon hearing her question and my eyes widen as I turn to her.

"How—"

"See you're hiding something”

She stood and walked towards me.

"How did you know?!"

I’m sure Stefan didn’t tell her because they didn’t even get a chance to talk, or does he know he even before?

"I'll tell you that but first tell me is it a vampire who took Aunt Isabelle? Does that guy have something to do with it?”, she asked while looking straight into my eyes.

"I told you, he helped me. The one who took mommy was a hunter and a vampire ......"

My voice trailed off at the last thing I said. When I told Stefan what happened he is sure that the other guy is indeed a vampire.

"But it's not Stefan!", I immediately said because she looks like she is suspecting Stefan.

"Why do I have a feeling that you're compelled?"

She gave me a doubtful look and I frowned at her. This is frustrating, I feel like she is not believing anything that I say.

"So how did you know that he is a vampire?"

I returned the question to her. She looked at me for a moment before responding.

"I'm a witch, Celine. I can easily sense if there is a vampire"

My jaw and shoulder dropped at what she said. I'm at a loss for words since I was taken aback by this revelation. I began to wonder if I had heard correctly or if I was simply too tired that I’m

already hallucinating but I jumped in surprised when things in my room started to float.

"Sh*t."

Okay, that confirms that she's a witch. She lowered her hand and the things that were floating also fell. I remember the first time Stefan and I met where he asked me if I was a witch or a hunter because I could see the hunter's mark.

"Am I a witch too?"

Faira shook her head so I frowned, but that was the only explanation I can think of why I can see a hunter’s mark.

"You're my cousin, therefore there's a chance that I'm also a witch, right?"

I'm not sure whether being a witch is a good thing, but there's a part of me that wishes I could be one so that I could start to figure out what my true identity is because right now I’m still left in the dark. I don’t know why I can see the hunter’s mark which Stefan is claiming, that it is not normal and why did the hunter go after my mother, not me.

"No, you're not a witch, I assure you that"

A part of me is relieved because I don’t want to be any of them but a big part of me was lost.

"Then what am I?"

"I can't answer that because I don’t know. I'm sorry but I can assure you that you're not a witch"

I was about to ask her more but we suddenly heard a scream and sounds of things shattering from downstairs, as if someone was fighting. I turned to Faira when I recognized whose voice it was.

"What did you do?"

I asked her but she is calm like she didn’t hear anything.

“It’s nothing, let Clark do the work because we are not yet done talking”

I was stunned to see this side of her, she is acting like I’m not her cousin and she is treating me like I’m a criminal who is under investigation. I heard a scream again from Stefan so I ran towards the door but I wouldn’t open it.

"Zaphaira, open this door!!" I hissed, but she only shrugged which made me annoyed.

"I'm only trying to keep you safe, Celine; that vampire is dangerous."

I’m terrified because I don’t know what they can do to Stefan especially now that I know that they aren’t just normal people but witches.

"You can’t do that to him, he helped me!! Do you understand, he has nothing to do with my mother’s abduction!!”

I’m afraid that if they hurt Stefan, he might now refuse to help me and I can’t afford to lose him because he knows those kidnappers better than anyone.

I screamed in frustration as I attempted to open the door, but it refused to budge.

"He might have compelled you so I can’t trust anything that you say"

"I already told you a hundred times, he is innocent”

I can’t help but raise my voice at Faira, and she seems surprised upon seeing my attitude because she never saw me raise a voice at her.

"We will only know the truth once he either experiences an excruciating pain enough to break the compulsion or he dies"

I suddenly felt scared with the thought of Stefan dying and what scares me more is that they might kill him because with the way she said it like as if it's nothing. I can’t let Stefan die, not in our house and not unless I have found my mother.

"Faira, I swear if you don't open this damn door, you will regret it"

I threatened her while looking straight into her eyes. She stared at me as if she was thinking. I didn’t back down, instead, I stared at her, giving her the impression that I was serious. I tried to open the door again and it opened. I dashed downstairs and I found Stefan kneeling in front of Clark while holding his head and groaning in pain.

"Clark what are you doing ??"

Jensen asked in confusion. I ran over to them and intervened.

"Stop it, Clark !!"

Clark's expression softened when he noticed me

I was about to speak but things happened so fast, Stefan was like a wind who passed by and in a blink of an eye Clark was no longer in front of me but he was already against the wall, and Stefan was holding his neck.

"Sh*t"

My brother was shocked and suddenly lost consciousness then he fell to the floor. I wanted to help him but when I looked at Stefan, he looks like he is going to break Clark’s neck. I panicked, and Stefan flew away before I could even stop him. I looked at the stairs and there I saw Fair using her magic to stop Stefan. Clark quickly moved his hand controlling the wood on the floor and he made it fly towards Stefan.

Fortunately, Stefan was able to avoid it due to his speed, but it didn't stop there since Faira flew some shattered glass from the table that Jensen had broken earlier towards Stefan. I was relieved when Stefan was able to escape again, but I can see a few cuts and blood on his shirt.

"I said stop it !!"

I shouted and the three of them halted. Stefan stands up while Clark was catching his breath and Faira was glaring at Stefan.

“Fighting won’t help, if you kill him, will I be able to know where my mom is? I don’t even know if she’s alive”

All eyes were on me as I breathed heavily.

"We can check that Celine but I’m sure Aunt Isabelle is still alive."

Clark said softly as I gazed at him.

"We don't need that vampire Celine, we can find aunt Isabelle on our own”,Faira added.

"He might be just using you"

Clark is usually friendly that is why I find it weird how he wanted to kill Stefan on their first meeting. I feel ashamed of Stefan because I’m the one who brought him here.

"I’m the one who asked him for help," I confessed while looking at Stefan. My cousins look shocked at what I said.

"He's been looking and following the hunter for a long time because the same guys took his brother that is why he knows a lot about them. So please, we need them."

I begged them and my cousins’ exchange glances.

"Fine but I still don’t trust that vampire"

It’s obvious that it’s still against her will but everybody is too tired to argue.

“Let’s go, bring a picture of Aunt Celine and something that belongs to her”

Clark said as he lifted Jensen who is unconsciously lying on the ground. Faira went out first and followed by Clark. Stefan and I were both silent after they left, I don’t know what to say because I feel ashamed of what my cousins did to him.

I'm sorry for what occurred; I had no idea they'd react that way, and I also didn’t know that they’re witches”

I said sincerely as I examine his facial expression, but all I see is a blank stare. I couldn’t discern what he thinks or what he feels.

“I understand if you’ll leave but I do hope you’ll stay because I need you. We could help each other.”

I turn my back at him and went upstairs to do what Clark has commanded me. I hope he stays because I believe that with him we have a better chance of finding those kidnappers. I immediately look for my mother’s things and I was surprised to see Stefan waiting at the door, I thought he had left.

“You’re still here”

I halted as I stare at him.

“I decided to stay because I believe it is better to have more people searching for them, but if your cousins still don't want me, I'll go."

“No no no, they already agree”, I said as I approached him and he opened the door.

“Okay, let's go”

I nodded as we step out of the house. We are both silent as we walk to my cousin's place. I kept on glancing at him, only now I have noticed how tall he was.

“By the way thank you for agreeing to work together”

“Don’t thank me because I didn’t do it for you, I’m doing this for my brother.”

When we arrived at my cousin's house, Clark is busy arranging things. I approached them and handed over the items Clark had requested. Faira lit the candles surrounding the circle where Clark is in the center of it. He placed the map, my mom's picture, and bracelet in front of him.

"Celine, I will be needing your blood"

I walked towards him without asking. Good thing Jensen is asleep and he can't see this, because I’m sure he’ll freak out. I extended my hand and he drew a little knife from his pocket and made a small cut in my palm. My blood started dripping on the map then Clark signaled that I could now go, so I went out of the circle and stood on the side. Clark started chanting some spells as he held my mother's picture in his right hand and my mother's bracelet on his left.

"What is he doing?"

I whispered to Faira who was next to me.

"It's a locator spell, he's trying to find the exact location of Aunt Isabelle"

I nodded and turned my attention back to Clark whose eyes are closed as he chants the spell that I could not understand because it was in a different language. The flames of the candles were blazing brighter and my blood was stirring. I watched closely as my blood is moving in a different direction.

When the flames went out, Clark opened his eyes.

"Did you find her?"

I asked immediately. He shook his head. I bit my lower lip and shut my eyes in disappointment

"How is that possible?”

Faira was perplexed as he approached her brother.

"Something's blocking me, I can't find her but I can assure you she's alive. I can feel Aunt Isabelle"

Clark stated, giving me hope.

"It's a cloaking spell"

We all look at Stefan who is standing at the door with his hands in his pockets.

"He did the same to my brother so I can't find him"

"So that hunter is working with a vampire and a witch", Faira stated.

"It means he’s not just an ordinary hunter”

Clark replied, worriedly looking at me. I got more worried after finding out that the hunter is also working with a witch which makes it harder for us to find them.

"Wait. I remember! I left my phone in the car and that's the car they used when they escaped. Maybe we can track them down. Let’s wake up Jensen, he knows about that tracking thing”

Clark hurriedly went to wake up Jensen.

I hope they are still in the car and I need to go back to the farm to give Grandpa and Grandma a proper burial. I feel sorry for them for being involved, they don’t deserve that.

"I will call my mom to report what happened maybe she can help us", Faira went upstairs to make a call.

I was thinking that this abduction is more than just an act of revenge because the hunter never made a move to me. So, what do they want from my mother?

----------------