Enchanting Winter

A

fter Pure Craft classes the next day Willow finds herself being led down a long corridor by Jonathan.

“I really could have found my own way.” Willow mutters.

“Lord Black has instructed me to never leave your side.”

“Never?”

“Yes m’lady.”

“Do you wish to follow me into the bathroom?”

Jonathan coughs his face turning a deep shade of red.

“No, miss.”

“That is what I thought.” Willow enters the nearest bathroom and she hears Jonathan let out a sigh.

Willow takes some time, splashing a little water on her face. Pure Craft class had taken its toll on her today. Her classmates very clearly did not like her. They were doing everything in their power, sometimes using literal magic to make her life hell. This was new for her. Back in California Claire and Willow were hardly popular but their connection to Charlie made high school bearable.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Willow jumps when she sees Jessica Mills staring back at her in the mirror. “Oh god, I’m sorry just had to make sure the coast was clear. You have about five different guys trailing you.” Jessica says as she pulls herself from the mirror.

“H-How did you…?”

“Your thing is ice, mine is reflections.”

“How did you know about the ice?”

“Are you kidding? Blair hasn’t shut up about it. I’d say she is jealous but it is hard to tell what is going through her head considering her facial expression never changes.”

“What are you doing in here?”

“I needed to talk to you. Away from prying eyes and ears.”

Ears.

Willow wonders to herself whether Cassius can hear them.

He has managed to keep his mouth shut today.

Willow actually found herself missing him.

“Anyway, here I have a few things for you.” Jessica holds out a small black handbag. “Open it.”

Willow does as she is told and it reveals a mobile phone, a compact and a midnight quartz pendant.

“What is this?”

“This phone will work here. You can talk to your friends in the natural realm. It is enchanted.”

“How?”

“That isn’t important but basically my dad wanted to be able to contact me when I stay with my mum and vise versa so he made this.” Jessica shrugs as she talks incredibly fast. “The compact has a bit of me in it. Basically think of someone and it will show you where they are in that moment.”

“Why would I-”

“You never know.” Jessica cuts Willow off to continue. “And this pendant will keep certain people out of your head.” Jessica reveals a stunning purple pendant.

“What?”

“I may have overheard your conversation with Nicholas. Lord Black is in your head isn’t he?”

“Well, not at the moment.” Willow says softly.

“Because I’m blocking him. Willow you may like that connection with Cassius but it is dangerous having someone that close to you. Use it, don’t, I don’t care. I’m just giving you another option. At least until you can block him yourself.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re-”

“Lady Willow, we really must be going.” Jonathan knocks on the bathroom door cutting Jessica off.

“I’ll catch you later.”

Before Willow has a chance to respond Jessica has reentered the mirror and is gone. Willow quickly stashes the small handbag inside her slightly bigger shoulder bag hoping Jonathan won’t notice the bulge.

She pushes open the door to see a panicked looking Jonathan standing with a furious looking Cassius Black. Willow does her best to keep her expression stoic. Cassius’s eyes run up and down her body narrowly appraising her. He pushes passed her with a huff and does the same to the bathroom.

You may have a girly name but that doesn’t mean you need to use the girl’s bathroom. Willow laughs to herself and Cassius turns to face her with his eyes narrowed.

“How is it, I couldn’t hear you inside this bathroom?”

I have no idea.

“Are you telling me the truth?”

“You must excuse us Lord Black I have tutoring session to get to.” Willow says confidently.

“I can escort you.” Cassius replies his lips tugging up into a smirk.

“No I-”

“Mr Clark I will see to it that Lady Willow returns to her room.” Cassius cuts Willow off staring Jonathan down.

“Very well m’lord.”

Jonathan practically disappears into thin air which surprises Willow slightly.

I’m still not used to all this magic.

“You will be one day.” Cassius answers her out aloud.

“Why do you feel the need to be inside my head?” Willow asks but Cassius places a finger over her lips.

“Not here.” He whispers before Willow feels her feet leave the floor. The feeling is over before she can realise what has happened and when she looks around she finds herself in an extravagant looking office instead of the hallway they were standing in earlier. Her stomach does a little flip as she takes in her surroundings.

“What was-”

“Transportation spell. You never know who is listening.”

Willow scoffs at Cassius’s words with an eye roll.

“You most likely.”

“Willow-”

“Look, I’m doing what you asked now I’m supposed to be at my blasted tutoring session.”

“You are here.”

“You can’t be serious?”

“I most certainly am.”

“You are my tutor?”

“Of course.”

“Will you answer my questions truthfully?”

“To the best of my ability.”

“That is a fancy way of saying no.” Willow rolls her eyes.

“I’m drawn to you Willow. To your magic, to your mind and to your soul.”

“You are insane.”

“Maybe.” Cassius shrugs.

“And how would your fiancé feel about this?”

“Quinn was a means to an end. The Duke saw it as a way of honouring me.”

“You don’t love her?”

“No.”

“Why did you agree?”

“Arranged marriages aren’t about love Willow. I had very little choice. I didn’t think you would return.”

“Return?”

“You lived here in the magic realm until you were two and a half. I knew you back then. Nicholas and I lost our parents and the Duke and Duchess were named as our guardians.”

“You knew my mother?”

“Nora used to tuck in me into bed.”

Willow shakes her head as images of the accident appear in her head.

“You need to harness it Willow. Don’t turn away from the memories, embrace them.”

“I need to forget.”

“No, you don’t.”

“It is too painful to remember.”

Willow squeezes her eyes shut as the magic starts to pulse through her.

Stop.

“Trust the magic.”

No!

Willow opens her eyes suddenly and the whole room is icy.

“I have to go.”

“Willow!”

“Just leave me alone!” Willow isn’t sure how she does it but she manages to trap Cassius in his office behind a pane of ice. She darts up the hallway eager to get as far away from the destruction she caused.

She rounds a corner and finds Luke with his eyes wide.

“Holy cow Winter.” He gasps and Willow looks back where she came from to find a trail of ice.

“I can’t stop it.” Willow whispers her tone desperate.

Without reply Luke pulls her into his chest. Warmth takes over her and she feels the ice defrosting. When he pulls away the pair look down at her ring, which is glowing softly.

“It is Wiccan.” Luke says and Willow nods.

“Willow, stay where you are. I’m coming.” Willow can feel Cassius’s anger and she grabs hold of Luke’s hand.

“I need to get out of here.”

“Back to your dorm?”

“Anywhere.”

“Want to know how to control the ring?” Luke asks with an excited grin.

“Willow!”

“Please.”

Luke squeezes Willow’s hand as he darts through the corridor pulling her behind him. She has no idea where they are heading but knows they are getting there quickly.

“Wait.” Willow pulls the pair to a stop.

“Second thoughts?” Luke looks back at her.

“Willow, I won’t ask again. Stay where you are. And stay away from that damn wolf!”

Stay out of my head.

“I can’t do that love.”

Willow shivers at the endearment and her cheeks blush. Luke looks at her curiously as she pulls the pendant Jessica gave her out of her jacket pocket.

Please Cassius. Stay out of my head.

“Never.”

Then you leave me no choice.

“Will-”

Cassius’s voice is cut off as she pulls the pendant over her head letting it rest against her sternum.

“Ok, let’s go.”

…

It is nearing two in the morning when Willow returns to her dorm room. Luke took her to his dorm that he shares with Spencer and the two listened when she wanted to talk, gave her answers when she asked questions and sat in silence when it was necessary. It was the first time since coming to the magic realm that she seemed to make peace with her situation. Luke shed a lot of insight on Werewolves and she found herself growing more curious. He refused to talk about his hatred for Nicholas and Cassius only going so far as to refer to them as undead witches.

Annabelle practically tackles her as she enters the room.

“Oh my goodness Lady Willow. We had no idea what had come of you.”

“I’m fine Anna.”

“Fine? M’lady Mr Clark and I have been worried sick. When Lord Black told us you had run away from him, well, I was losing myself with worry. Mr Clark was ready to call the Duke.”

“Anna, I’m fine.” Willow says sternly and Annabelle nods.

“I will tell Mr Clark you have returned and you should really get your rest.”

“Goodnight Anna.”

“Goodnight m’lady.”

Willow strips off her dress and corset and pulls on the one thing Anna allowed her to pack, her Rolling Stones tee. She slides into her bed between the covers and feels the weight of the pendant around her neck. Her eyes droop and Willow is asleep before her head hits the pillow.

Willow stirs awake and the room is dimly lit.

Candles? When did Anna do that?

Cassius sits on the foot of her bed and she quickly pulls her sheets up as a form of protection. She studies him for a moment, as he seems lost in thought. The light captures what is in his hands and that is when she realises he is holding the pendant that was once around her neck. Her hand grasps where is once sat and Cassius turns to her with sad eyes.

“You wanted to escape me that badly?”

Willow’s breath is shaky and she is unsure how to reply. Cassius squeezes the pendant in his hand and Willow gasps when it shatters, pieces of the purple stone fly around the room.

“You are my light Willow. My light in all the darkness.”

“I didn’t ask for this Cassius. For any of it.”

Cassius moves closer and Willow tries to shuffle away.

“I would never hurt you Willow.”

“But I could hurt you!” Willow exclaims. She watches as Cassius’s lips tug up into a smirk.

“If only that were true, love.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Love?”

Willow nods sadly. “It implies there is more to our relationship.”

“Isn’t there?”

When Willow doesn’t reply Cassius closes the distance between them. He doesn’t kiss her lips like Willow first thinks instead his lips land on the exposed flesh of her neck. Willow loses herself in his kisses she almost misses it when he murmurs, ‘mine’ against her skin but then all she feels is pain. Searing pain. It burns for a minute before it is gone completely.

Willow sits up her brow covered in sweat and her breathing heavy. She looks around for any trace of what just happened but comes up short. No candles. No Cassius. No pain.

It was just a dream.