Old and New Faces

Two hours later, Seb yowled from his cat carrier impatiently. He detested car journeys no matter how short they were. His carrier was secure in the foot well of the passenger seat while Elaina drove across the M20 towards Oakley Hall begrudgingly. In the boot of her car were boxes of things she’d collected growing up and two black and red suitcases full of her clothes. In neither of the suitcases were the uniform students at Oakley Hall were permitted to wear. She’d outgrown her trousers by the end of the last school year, her white blouses she wasn’t sure about.

Elaina drove for a little longer under the darkening sky. With winter, the world seemed to retire for the year, hide from the death winter bought to see the rebirth in spring. Elaina glanced up to the sky taking her eyes of the road for a short second. It was wrong of her, she should keep her eyes on where she was going, and luckily the road was quiet. 

 

Elaina could see dark clouds fill the empty sky. The moon was already out, the thin curve of the white glow hung above a dark pointed silhouette of a steeple.  It was Oakley Hall.

Oakley Hall was owned by the Duke of Kent, who just happened to be a witch also. The blood of Hekate was passed through generations; there was no surprise that it had managed to seep into the blue blood of the British Royal family. With someone with some power in the mortal world it made life easier for us with ties to the Ancient world. We were able to keep our privacy and keep our secrets from mortals.

 

Along the road, Elaina turned the steering wheel to the left. The car bumped up against a small ridge in the road before continuing along a three mile drive way full of twists and turns to shake of any mortals who had crossed the enchanted boundary which Elaina had just drove through. The ridge on the road, didn’t really exist, it was only noticeable to those able to pass through it. A sign you were on the right track.

The small road was shadowy and hard to see, Elaina stopped the car before continuing. She turned her headlights on to full beam. She wasn’t worried if she’d run into someone along the road which was only wide enough for one car. The Council had already thought of that. Further along the road which she had been travelling along before turning left, there was a second turn on the left side, this was the exit from Oakley.

 

Elaina remembered how she felt once she’d crossed the boundary. So relieved and free from all the weight of the Council. She had finally been independent and able to live by herself. And now she was back, again.

Able to see what was in front of her, Elaina travelled slowly along the road bordered by old oaks and pines that had probably been there since the nineteenth century. She bounced in her set at the potholes in the ground and was thankful she had her seatbelt on or she was sure she’d hit her head on the roof. Sebastian however, was very unhappy. He wasn’t going to be friendly anytime soon, pay back for the bumpy ride, Elaina guessed.  “We’re almost there, Seb. Promise.”

The last bit was Elaina’s way of ensuring the cat would calm down a little. She had been telling him they were almost at Oakley for the past hour. This time she meant it and hoped Seb would be a little forgiving when she let him out his carrier.

The three mile snail paced drive was over the moment Elaina made the last turn on the right. The wheels of the Ford met flat tarmac and Elaina had never been so pleased to no longer be bouncing about in her seat. She drove along the fire lit road and found herself driving towards the car park for residents.

 

Elaina found a parking space away from the rest. She was parked alongside the inner wall which circled the main building. Elaina got out of the car and walked to the passenger side to get Seb’s carrier out from the foot well. The air was cold on her face and she was happy she’d put her winter coat on before she got out the car.  Outside, Elaina was able to see the small amount of Oakley visible in the dark form the inner wall. To the south of her she could see the start of the path that would take her to the woods where she’d find various temples and large wrought iron fire bowls which would light up the many rituals witches practiced.  The side where Elaina had just pulled Seb out of was another path, this one lead to the student buildings which was situated behind the main building of Oakley. That path was in front of the car alongside the red coloured wall illuminated by the use of

Eleusinian torches which cast shadows of dancing flames across the wall.  These torches were very important to witches; their significance was great in conjunction to the Goddess Hekate. As well as witchcraft, Hekate had power over fire, the moon, light, necromancy and crossroads.

 

Elaina had first learnt about the Goddess who had given her the ability to use magic at the age of five. Teachers had made sure the name Hekate was one of the first words a witch knew when they started speaking. The name Hekate had been ingrained into so many from a young age. The Goddess was important to all witches; thanks to her they were able to use magic. Some witches were not as passionate as others and there was definitely no one more passionate than High Priestesses to the Goddess.  They were in charge of the rituals and events at the temples which took place, come to think of it, Elaina actually knew one who was in training.

High Priestesses were rare, to be one they must have a large amount of power and swear to use it only for good and in the name of the Goddess they devoted their lives to. Elaina’s friend, Kaida Maki was one who had shown an ability for necromancy at a young age, when she’d found a dead butterfly and bought it back to life in her hands. Elaina remembered when that had happened. She’d only been six and stood in awe at the sight of life being bought back to an empty shell.

Of course, animals and human beings were completely different. Unlike animals, humans were not able to remain alive if they had been bought back as they would not be the same.  It was something to do with the brain, Elaina didn’t really understand necromancy. She’d never had the level of power for it and she hoped that if she did find a specific ability in magic, it wouldn't be necromancy.

 Even now at eighteen, Elaina was uncertain on where she stood when it came to the dead. Half of her wanted to bring people back, it would take away grief. But, only for a short while, soon enough grief would resurface and this time it wouldn’t be healed. She wasn’t sure if that had happened to her, if someone had bought her father back after had died, she wondered how different he’d be. Would he still be her father, or if he became something other.

 

Elaina carried Sebastian to the back of her car, where she opened the boot to reveal five cardboard boxes shoved uncaringly onto her suitcases.  From the carrier in her hand, Sebastian meowed. She bought his carrier up until it was parallel to her face and supported it from the base.  Through the grated metal door a mass of black fur blinked slowly, with luminous pale lemon eyes, they stared out at her. He opened his mouth but no sound came out.  “I suppose you will want to be fed soon.” She nodded at his silence before placing him on the ground and started to pull the boxes out from the car.

“Elaina!” Her name was shouted out from the dark. She peeked out from the boot of the car to see a man dressed in black make his way towards her Ford car. Their face was hidden by the darkness, but the person’s voice was recognisable. For fifteen years their voice had been a welcome advice sanctuary.

 “Hey, John!” Elaina called back to him.  John Simmons was what witches called Guardians. Specially selected witches trained not just in protection magic but also physical defence. They were used to protect High Council members and High priestesses. At Oakley, there were five members of the High Witch Council present and only three High Priestesses, including those in training. John had been a Guardian for twenty years and had been close friends with Elaina’s father, after Alexander had died; John took it upon himself to be there for Elaina where her father was not.  Elaina was grateful for all the time he had been there when she was growing up. When she had left Oakley four months ago, John had been there to say bye along with her close friend Kaida.

John stepped out of the shadows and stood at the side of her car. The silver thread of the Council’s emblem glistened in the light. As he came closer Elaina was able to read the writing which surrounded the emblem on the Guardians chest.  Fire is light. Light is guidance. Guidance is trust. The writing was in Ancient Greek but Elaina had been taught to speak and read in the language since she could utter her first English word.

“Look at you, all grown-up.” He chuckled and pulled her into a hug.  Luckily Elaina had put the last box on the floor around Sebastian’s carrier and hugged him back tightly. In his arms Elaina knew he could not replace the feel of her father’s arms she struggled to recall what they felt like now. Her memories of her father felt like a dream and it seemed that was the only time she could see him.  John couldn’t replace her father, but he did a good job at doing it. John released her and held her shoulders in his cupped hands. “How are you, girlie?” he asked attentively. 

Elaina looked into his ruddy brown eyes; full of warmth and love. She recalled the day she left again, this time when John had told her she was like a daughter to him.  “I’m fine; Gryphon sent me a letter summoning me back to Oakley, so here I am.” Elaina opened her arms in gesture to the place she stood. She was neither angry nor enthusiastic.  She was mostly tired and fed up. John released his hold on her and looked over the top of her head down at the cat carrier. He was able to see Sebastian without straining himself; he was at least a foot above her.

“Have you been picking up strays? You know that’s not allowed.” John said looking back at her down the slope of his nose. Elaina knew he didn’t mean it in a demeaning way, it was part of his job as a guardian to ensure that Oakley remains safe and protected from the outside world.

“Ah…That’s Sebastian.” Elaina said innocently. At the mention of his name, Sebastian meowed loudly. Elaina rolled her eyes slightly. Why couldn’t he have just stayed quiet?

 “And he’s a cat.” John raised his eyebrows at her in a concerned manner.

“Ta dah?”

John breathed in heavily and watched the cat carrier intently. “Is he fully wormed and de-fleaed?” 

“Yes.”

“Then I suppose I’ll allow him on site.  Do I want to know how you managed to get a cat?”

“He walked into my apartment and refused to leave unless I fed him, and then he never left.”

 John walked over to the carrier and picked it up. “‘Ello, Sebastian.” He said as he poked a finger between the metal bars and wiggled it around.  Elaina raised a hand out to stop him but it was too late. John hissed and ripped his finger away from the metal bars. He placed the carrier back on the ground and turned his back to it. Elaina looked sheepishly at the ground.

“Well at least I know cats haven’t changed their chemical balance and have started liking all witches.” John rubbed his hands together. “Now, you are wanted in Councillor Gryphon’s office.”

“What?” Elaina’s pitch became higher. She’d just got here and already she was being sent to the Head Councillor’s office. “I just got here.” Elaina crossed her arms over her chest and leaned on one leg, the other extended out as she let out an exasperated sigh.

“You’re not in trouble; you haven’t had time to break anything yet. The Councillor wants to talk to you in person about your application. That is all.” Elaina didn’t move except narrowed her eyes at John. When he looked back to her he chuckled. “You are the most stubborn girl I know. Now, go and See Councillor Gryphon or I will escort you to his door myself.” When Elaina still made no attempt to move, he gestured with his hands for her to shoo.

“I’m not an animal.” Elaina murmured as she took one step backward. “My stuff?” She pointed over at Seb.

“I’ve got it all. They’ll be in your student house before you get there, don’t worry.”

“Okay…thanks.” Elaina walked backwards a couple more steps before turning round and making her way to the pathway alongside the inner wall. There she’d follow it and end up in the courtyard.

“Elaina?” She looked back. “Remember to be polite.” John smiled at her from her car as she walked away.

Elaina laughed. “I’m always polite.” She said loudly as she jogged up the small curb and on to the path. Elaina walked quickly towards the main entrance to the courtyard. The sound of her coat arms rubbing against the body of her coat seemed to be the loudest noise around her. Hardly anyone was here and it was only, she pulled out her mobile phone from her pocket and looked at the lit up screen. It was only six in the evening.  Where was everyone?

On her left the red bricked wall stopped. She turned into the gap which led her into the courtyard. There she saw a cluster of witches in a circle on the grass. They moved in unison to their own silent rhythm. All of them were dressed in white and they illuminated the rest of the courtyard as they reflected the little amount of light there was. Elaina raised her eyebrows in wonder. “Since when was there yoga club?” She mumbled quietly no one overheard her. She walked further along the wide pavement that led to a large statue in the centre of the courtyard.

Elaina stopped a little from the base of it. The statue towered over the main buildings with east. Elaina strained her neck towards the sky. There she was able to glimpse the large face carved out of a stony coloured marble with black veins which spread across the cold figure.

Three faces looked out across the whole of Oakley. A reminder that the Goddess saw all in her triformis glory, Hekate was the triple Goddess, and was usually depicted with three bodies. Elaina took in the view of the figure. On many occasions, Elaina had found herself standing here before the Goddess seeking guidance and help. She was unsure whether the Goddess heard her wishes, and yet she persisted on sharing them with her.

Elaina took a step from the statue ready to face Gryphon. Gryphon never seemed to be happy when it came to Elaina, not once had he cracked a smile, most of the time he had been shouting at her, maybe now he’d smile, just a little.

 

Elaina made a strange noise as she banged into something hard. Whatever it was it caused her to lose her stepping and tumble towards the floor. She tried to turn so she wouldn’t land on her bottom. She went with the hip; she could always get a hip replacement when she was older.

Elaina hung by the grip of a strong hand on her small bicep. She felt herself be lowered gently on to the floor instead falling into it face first. On the ground Elaina flicked the hair out of her face and looked up to see a rugged looking male at her side.

“Uh…” Elaina struggled to say something except a strange noise. The man who had been the one to let her fall gently remained silent. His expression gave nothing away. It was like the statue she had been staring at before she’d hit…

“I walked into you.” She said slowly trying to process what had happened.

“Yes.”  His voice was like a bucket of cold water had been chucked over her, she felt her body shiver in response to his gruff voice. Elaina was taken aback by his blunt voice, it wasn’t her fault. Okay, maybe it was a little as she hadn’t been looking where she was going, but she didn’t exactly deserve to be drowned in cold water by this guy.

 

Something about him screamed power and influence. Elaina couldn’t mistake the aura which circled him as something mundane. It was blindingly bright; she squinted and was able to perceive the bright colour much better. It was silver. Elaina thought back to her books she had read during the summer and recalled silver related to the cosmic mind. No human or off-spring of the Gods could carry a silver aura; it was entirely unique to the Immortals. Which one she wasn’t entirely sure.

Like most of the immortals, he had good looks on his side, if that was to be the only conclusion she could make about this immortal she was content with knowing it was right.

Elaina had never seen an immortal in person before, she had read about encounters from records of famous witches from the past, but even then, Elaina had never assumed she would meet one, especially at Oakley. Come to think about it, no one had even mentioned to her about an immortal’s presence here. The God couldn’t have been her long otherwise she would have been inundated with texts from those who still kept in touch.

 Why do all the interesting things happen when I’m not here? Elaina mumbled to herself from inside her head. She wouldn’t dare speak out now. One thing she had learned from her reading collection was that the Immortals were the most fickle bunch out of all Ancient Greece. For one Zeus seemed to be everyone’s father and brother and husband…not all at the same time of course, give or take one or two of those titles.

The God hung over her like a dark cloud. From the look he gave her Elaina could tell two things: One, he believed himself to be the most important person here; and two, being run into but a witch didn’t seem to change his immortal status in the mortal realm, either that or he just really hated witches. Both were just as viable.   

Elaina stared up from the floor as she sat up and rubbed any debris from her coat. She glance from him and round to the courtyard. Some people stared and whispered to those they were with. Elaina sent them a glare of steel. If that didn’t back them off she didn’t know if she could bare being the talk of Oakley for the next year.

From her side Elaina heard the sound of clothes creasing. She whipped her head round and found the God crouched on the balls of his black leather boots. His arms were bare and rested against the dark denim over his legs.

Elaina frowned, how on earth could someone managed wearing a short sleeved t-shirt in November? There she was, all wrapped in her thermal coat with a fur hood and beside her was  an immortal hardly dressed for the season, she wondered if the climates of countries effected them as they did mortals, and she continued to wonder, Elaina was not going to even think about asking this one. He’d already made it clear that words were not to be exchanged.

“Need a hand?” His rough voice softened ever so slightly, the razor shard prickles of it seemed almost bearable against her ears. The God extended his arm out from its resting place and held his hand out for her to take.

Elaina raised an eyebrow at it and looked up into his face. His masculine features from his eyebrows to the small curve on his lips seemed too perfect to be true. Of course, even an immortal wasn’t perfect. Elaina scrutinised him silently with efficiency, quickly she found a flaw. Along his jaw line a faint line, paler than the rest of his skin was drawn. It was rugged and scarred against the rest of his skin. She had almost over looked the marred part of his face as it was peppered with black stubble.

The flaw on his face didn’t take his looks away from him; beauty was after all, in the eyes of the beholder.

 Elaina planted both her hands beside her on the cold concrete and pushed herself up to her feet. “I’ve got two already.” She said as she dusted dirt from her hands. She looked down at the God who still remained crouched at her feet.  His eyes were lifted up to the sky at her; he smiled and brought his elbow back to his knee before rising and towering over her. Elaina was almost level with his shoulder and guessed the God had to be over six foot.

“I can see that.” He shoved his hands into his jean pockets and watched her intently with light blue eyes. Elaina avoided his eye line and surveyed the floor. The glint of metal attached to his thigh caught her eye. She tilted her head and inspected the glint from where she stood. She was able to see the bands of a second fabric wrap around his thigh and a longer piece of leather extended down on the outside of his leg.

Elaina recognised it as a sheath for a dagger. She raised her eyes a little and saw the dark hilt of it. She tried to make out what the design of it was, but a cough brought her attention away from the sword.

She looked up. “Don’t you have a meeting to go to?” He asked. Elaina scowled, how could he know she had a meeting with Gryphon? Elaina mentally slapped the stupidity out of her, he was a God of course he knew, and Immortals knew everything.

Elaina took in a breath and nodded slightly. She tugged at one of the sleeves of her coat and said, “Erm…sorry for walking into you.” She looked up at him and apologetically. She hadn’t meant to cause this and even if he had no manners, she did.

“Apology accepted.” He said abruptly. No emotion hung in his words, there was no sincerity and his body remained stock still. Elaina was surprised she’d even seen his lips move; he seemed to be slightly warmer than an ice block. But it still wasn’t something you’d cling to.

Elaina sucked in a breath. Well this is hard work.  She thought to herself as she nodded and pointed towards the entrance of the main building. She retreated slowly as if she’d walked into a den of lions and was looking for the way out.

He remained still; his eyes followed her until she was out of sight.

Elaina quickened her pace and pushed the double doors of the main building and followed the directional signs on the wall towards Councillors Hall. In all honesty, it wasn’t a journey Elaina needed a map or any directions for. She’d spent many times travelling from the educational facilities around the campus to Councillors Hall, but that was all in the past. Before she had left Oakley four months ago, Elaina had been a small trouble maker. Moving away from Oakley had changed that; she had had to learn to be more independent and more of an adult than she had been before.

 

The closer she got to the Councillor’s Hall she felt she travelled back through time. The electricity seemed to disappear and was replaced by torches of fire. The sound of fire spitting and waving in the air filled the halls; the halls themselves were filled with artefacts from all over the world from all different eras. Portraits of past Councillors occupied the dull white walls; alongside them were powerful witches that have carried great influence around the witch world. Podiums stood between every other painting, busts of heads and fired clay vases from Ancient Greece collected dust. Elaina was surprised some were not broken or chipped considering how old they must have been. But she was certain most were just replicas. She’d seen many of the same vases at a second campus in the north of England.  

Councillor’s Hall was nothing more than a museum.

At the end of the hall, Elaina stopped in front of a dark wooden door with a round brass knob and a key hole. She took a deep breath, composed her thoughts and knocked twice on Gryphon’s door. The sound echoed throughout the hall. Elaina glanced back in case she’d disturbed any of the other Councillors. No doors opened, so she assumed no.

“Come in.” A muffled voice called out from behind the door. Elaina reached for the handle and twisted it. The door sprung out of its lock and opened. The light from the hallway flooded through the doorway and into the office. Elaina took a step in and was hit with the warmth of the fires which must have been burning for the majority of the day.

Elaina shut the door behind her and turned to see the room flicker with shadows. The dark room became even darker now that the door was closed. It didn’t help that the floor was a dark burgundy.

The walls were an improvement; the dark cream reflected some light, but not much. The Councillors never had electricity. Instead they preferred to rely on hard filing systems and torches of fire for light. It explained why the room was dark and the desk Elaina approached now was full of different files and folders, with a large stationary pot at the side.

Behind the desk, Councillor Gryphon sat with his head hung low as he looked over paperwork on his desk.  The hair on the top of his head was slowly receding to the back and sides of his head where the rest of his hair flooded into his side burns.

“Take a seat.” The Councillor said heavily. He didn’t look up to address her, his paper seemed to be more important than a student.

Elaina scooted around a green fabric chair with wooden stumps for legs and sat down. She melted into the soft padded material of the chair.

“You got new chairs.” Elaina said to fill the silence in the room. Whatever he had in front of him, it was obviously more exciting than having Elaina back at Oakley.

The thought of it made Elaina wonder why they’d even asked her to come back, but obviously she already knew that. She had ‘potential’.

Elaina didn’t believe a word of it.

“Yes.” Gryphon responded without looking up again. Elaina let her head fall back against the chair. It seemed everyone at Oakley apart from John were short on words to use around her.

“If you want me to come back later, Councillor, I can.” Elaina leant forward, the waist band of her skinny jeans bit into her stomach. She wiggled around the chair for a second to stop them from digging in. Once she had finished, Gryphon lifted his head slowly and looked at her meticulously.

Gryphon hadn’t changed over the four months that she hadn’t been here. He was still old and wise looking with his gold rimmed spectacles hanging of the edge of his large nose, where Elaina was certain a few strands of unruly hair poked out.

Elaina noticed his skin was still slightly dark from his visit to the High Witch Council in Greece. The light tan camouflaged the age spots he had gained in the last five years.

His small beady eyes were void of any light; Elaina should have recognised the dark void which spread across his eyes. Elaina started to push herself up from the chair. Except something pushed her down and back into the chair. The chair juddered across the carpet slightly at the invisible force pushed against her chest holding her down.

Elaina gritted her teeth.

Yeah, Gryphon still hated her.

His eyes were now full of the black pupil all witches were able to adopt when using magic. His eyes remained black and Elaina felt the pressure on her chest push harder making it harder to breathe. Gryphon began to speak, fully aware of what was happening opposite him. “You have been here no more than an hour and you are already marred by the unruliness of the outside world.” His voice boomed around the room. Elaina dipped her chin towards her chest to avoid Gryphon’s watchful gaze. She wanted to speak out, tell him exactly what she thought, but it would be no good.  “You, according to the council are full of potential, Miss Peters. I did not agree with them. You seem to be nothing but a poor excuse of a witch.”

“Hey that"” Elaina broke her silence with a gasp but was made silent once more but Gryphon’s magic.

“I will warn you now Elaina Korin Peters,” Gryphon all but spat her name out from his gritted teeth. “…If you so much as take one step out of line in the next two months, I will have Guardians arrest you in front of the whole of Oakley and you will stand before the Goddess and she will determine whether you should live with such filthy mortals or pass on to the afterlife.”  Gryphon remained the image of calm. His voice gave his true feelings away. Elaina rasped a breath as she tried to intake oxygen. Elaina prepared herself to speak out against the pressure on her chest. Gryphon was the Head Councillor at Oakley, his words carried a lot of weight around the witch world and she knew the truth behind his actions. She understood he was hurting and she was his way out, but there was a line and it had been crossed, destroyed and disregarded.

“I am not the girl you once taught, Councillor, I have changed.” Elaina began. She was about to continue when a knock sounded at the door behind her. Elaina twisted her neck to the side as far as she could without it snapping.

The door opened slowly, Elaina heard the footsteps of the visitor come into the room. She wondered who was interrupting Gryphon’s scolding meeting; Gryphon was not going to be happy if this wasn’t worth his time. The aura was the first thing Elaina picked up in the dim room. She groaned a little and let the pressure still mounted against her chest push her back into the chair without a struggle.

The bright silver aura of the God she had run into earlier came closer and closer to her, and then he spoke. “I have a question, Gryphon.” The God addressed the Councillor colder than he had Elaina, who had to fight back a smirk.

“This is not the time, Thanatos.” Gryphon said and averted his gaze from Elaina towards the God named Thanatos. His name brought Elaina’s attention back to the God. She remembered the small rhyme she had been taught when she was in pre-school about the different Immortals and what they symbolised. She found herself humming it quietly until she reached the part delegated to those of the Underworld.

Her humming wasn’t ignored; a curious glance from Thanatos was sent her way as he stood level with her chair before the Head Councillor. Elaina looked to the floor as she got the last few Immortals in the rhyme. In her head she recited it: …Hekate, Goddess of Witchcraft and Necromancy, Hypnos God of sleep and brother to Thanatos, God of Death.

Elaina shot her head up to Thanatos, she hadn’t recognised who he was, none of the artists’ impressions of the Immortals looked remotely lifelike, and there were hardly any of Thanatos.

Thanatos seemed to know Elaina had only just realised who he was exactly and gave her a lopsided smirk before turning back to Gryphon. “You’re the only person who can answer it.” He said, with the smirk gone from his face, Elaina felt the ice solidify further.

“I’m busy.” Gryphon continued to refuse the God a chance to talk, Elaina remained silent watching the tennis ball be hit between Thanatos and Gryphon.

“I can see that.” Thanatos’ voice became venomous with sarcasm. Elaina pursed her lips, Elaina may be a little sarcastic, but to hear a God speak to Gryphon in the very way Elaina wished she could get away with was unbelievable. Thanatos continued to speak and decided dragging Elaina into the conversation would be a great idea. “I thought it was against your own rules Gryphon for magic to be used in a non-teaching environment, am I on the right track, Elaina?” Thanatos looked to his left at Elaina who in return glared at him for bringing her into it.

All of a sudden Elaina felt both pairs of eyes glaring at her. She frowned, she hadn’t told Thanatos her name and yet he knew it. Either the immortals really did know everything or he had ready files on students. Elaina nodded in agreement with Thanatos. She was nervous, her siding with the God was bound to have repercussions with Gryphon and yet she still would side with him if she was asked the question outside of this situation. Gryphon had stated many times before about his rules, especially the one Thanatos had bought up.

Elaina felt the pressure against her chest tighten and she gasped at the force being applied to her lungs now. Elaina decided enough was enough.

Elaina felt the familiar tingle of her own magic manifest within her. Magic was a strange and wonderful element. For witches it was a part of the soul and was willed into existence by the user. There no wands needed it was a matter of thought and desire.

If Elaina was to look in the mirror now, she was certain she would see two black pupils looking back at her. The black pupils were the manifestation of the magic, magic was a part of the soul but it was a separate entity, one which required control.

Elaina focussed her magic against the force in her chest and it back towards gryphon. She maybe a witch with only the ability of telekinesis, but it was effective most of the time. 

Slowly and gradually Elaina felt the force dissipate from her chest allowing her to breathe more easily.  As if sensing her vulnerability against Gryphon, Thanatos side stepped closer to the desk until her stood between Elaina and Gryphon.

Elaina didn’t know why he had done it, but she was grateful, Gryphon would dare use his magic against an Immortal, especially one fairly close to Hekate.

“Get out of my office, Elaina, I am not dealing with a poor excuse of a witch in the presence of an Immortal” Gryphon almost growled. Elaina was happy to comply; she couldn’t bear to stand the emotional wreckage of this room let alone the campus. Where ever she would go now was forever haunted by Gryphon’s threat; ‘If you so much as take one step out of line in the next two months, I will have Guardians arrest you in front of the whole of Oakley and you will stand before the Goddess and she will determine whether you should live with such filthy mortals or pass on to the afterlife.’

Elaina stood up from the chair she had been glued to since the beginning of the meeting. She stepped out from behind Thanatos and looked at Gryphon seriously. “Have a good night, Councillor.” Said happily. She had learnt many times before that acting as though nothing had happened annoyed people like Gryphon more. Sure, they sometimes did things worse the next time, but it would make you more resilient.

Elaina turned from the desk leaving Gryphon in the company of an Immortal who, Elaina guessed, was unimpressed with the Head Councillor of Oakley who represents the Goddess’ world of order at Oakley.

Elaina shut the door of Gryphon’s office and jogged through the remaining corridors; until the cold air of the November night washed over her bringing relief from that hell of an office.

The courtyard was empty now and Elaina made her way slowly towards the statue of Hekate and sat on the small rim of marble that surrounded her like a small bench. She could feel the cold of the marble through her jeans, but the cold didn’t bother her now. She sat in silence and bit back the bitter edge of her tears which slipped through her grasp.

Elaina dropped her head into her hands. She let her hair fall over her face, shrouding her view of her surroundings.

In her silence, Gryphon’s last words became clear to her. She’d been called a poor excuse of a witch before, and she’d tried to not let it affect her, but she’d have just about enough of people today.

Gryphon was cruel; and he always was when Elaina was involved. He blamed her for the death of his great-nephew, William. William, like Gryphon was nothing but a bully with power. They’re family was one with immense power and they’d had control over the witch world for thousands of years.  That wasn’t going to change overnight. That kind of wrong needed removing from the source, but that would be impossible; the world would need a miracle for them to change into uncorrupted people.

William had died at the age of seventeen. He was remembered as a witch who would soon join the ranks of the High Witch Council and control the world of witches from Greece. Elaina remember William differently, she remembered the William which was not clouded by grief, the true William no one else knew.

When Elaina was thirteen, William had cornered her in the library here at Oakley. He had threatened her with death and taunted her about her orphan status as both her parents had died. William’s threat backfired, his own magic betrayed him. William had ended up unconscious for two hours. During that time he crashed five times and each time he did necromancers and medics restarted his heart. The fifth time they tried, William past into the afterlife.

With the memory of William’s death and Gryphon’s look of disdain at her, Elaina stood up and faced the statue of Hekate. She opened her arms wide and revealed her soul before the Goddess. Elaina looked up to see the three faces of the Goddess lit by the lights positioned around the courtyard. The front face looked down upon Elaina; the cold marble face was smooth of any blemishes as the Goddess was. A small smile had been carved on to her face and her hair had been styled up so she could hear the worries of all her children.

“Give me strength” Elaina whispered in the Ancient Greek Language. Which had been taught to her alongside other witches as their native language; it was thought the Ancient Language would reach the Goddess much faster than the modern languages.

Elaina remained standing in front of the statue for some time.  She dropped her arms and tucked her hands into her coat pockets. As she did this, Elaina was interrupted with the sound of someone coughing. Elaina quickly turned her head to see who had interrupted her silence.

It was Thanatos. Elaina looked at him expectantly; he obviously had something to say. “Can I help you?” She asked him.

“That depends if you’re in the mood.” He shrugged with his arms crossed over his chest. Elaina noticed a green folder tucked under his arm.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Elaina looked at him scrupulously with narrowed eyes.

“Do not worry, Elaina. Here,” He said and held out a small folder with her name on. “Gryphon was supposed to give you this, it has your house number and information about you further education options.”

“Thanks.” Elaina said slowly as she reached out for it. Just as her fingers stroked the soft paper of the folder, Thanatos pulled it back out of her reach. Elaina pulled back and watched him as he waved it in the air. His actions were not mocking, Elaina realised it was an attempt to make her talk more.

“Gryphon will bother you no longer.” Thanatos said as he walked past her with the folder and took a seat at the marble bench in front of the statue. Elaina turned and watched him. He patted the marble beside him and said, “Take a seat.”

“I’m fine standing.” Elaina shoved her hands into her coat pocket so they’d be warmer and kicked at the ground with her converse trainer.

Thanatos glanced at her sideways; Elaina noticed a hint of smile. “Are you defying an Immortal?” He asked and raised his eyebrows. If he was joking, Elaina didn’t know. He wasn’t smiling, that had disappeared as soon as spoke.

“If I said yes, would you smite me down?” Elaina responded.

“I’m a God, not a barbarian, Elaina.” He sat up straight and held his palms out to the sky. Thinking she has offended him, Elaina rolled her lips and twisted the tow of her converse into the ground. “I sincerely promise I will not smite you down, as you call it.” He said humbly and the motioned for her to sit on the marble next to him. “Now, come and sit.”

Elaina rolled her eyes and followed his instruction. If it had been anyone else Elaina would have outright refused to follow an order, but Thanatos was a God and even if he said he would kill her for defying him, others in the past had never been so lucky. Elaina would keep her wits about her when it came to Thanatos. He was surprisingly easy to talk to and that made it even stranger. Why would a God want to talk to Elaina, and besides when the God of Death was talking to her, she had to wonder if she was on his reaping list.

Elaina took a seat and felt the cold marble push through the edge of her coat and through her jeans. She’d purposefully left a reasonable gap between her and Thanatos. Immortals had a way of charming their way into people’s lives and then ruining them.

“So…” She breathed out and looked at him. Thanatos looked back at her and held out the green paper folder to her.

“I believe you’ll need this.” Elaina grasped at the opposite end of his hold of the folder and pulled it towards her. Thanatos let it slip between his fingers before leaning forward on his elbows.

“Are you not cold?” Elaina asked him. He still wasn’t wearing a jacket and she was certain it was getting later than she’d hoped.

“Immortals don’t feel the cold; nor the heat of the sun.  You’re lip is quivering.” He stated flatly. Elaina brought her hand against her lips to stop it from moving and looked away from him out towards the entrance of the courtyard. From where she sat she was able to pick out a dark figure against the shadows of the entrance approach the two of them. “You should get home, it’s getting late.” He finished. Elaina looked at him and saw he too had his eyes trained on the figure that was approaching them. Elaina looked back and was able to see the face of the person only partially, but it was enough.

“John?” Elaina said into the cold air. The person smiled and waved at her, but when they turned to who she was sat next to, John dropped his hand and his pace quickened.

“You know him?” Thanatos said quietly and glanced at her.

Elaina nodded and said, “Yeah, he’s my Godfather.” Elaina looked out to John who was now only a few strides away. She Stood up and walked towards him. John wrapped his arms around her and patted her gently on the back in a comforting way.

Elaina pulled back and turned to Thanatos, she was about to introduce John to him; whether they had already met she wasn’t entirely sure. They probably had considering John was a Guardian and was in charge of security.  When she looked at Thanatos was stood from his seat and wasn’t looking at her. Instead his full attention was on John. Elaina scowled, his expression reminded Elaina of a lion stalking its prey, watching and waiting until it would slip up and fall into the monsters vicious jaws.

Elaina whipped her head round to John. She didn’t understand why Thanatos was being like this to John. Obviously they had already met and apparently neither of them made a good impression on each other. John was stood with his shoulders pushed back and his chin held high. Thanatos was much taller than John and John knew it. Elaina watched John scrunch up a fist at his side showing the whites of his knuckles and then a muscle in his jaw contract as he clenched his teeth.

Elaina looked back and forth the two men for a second; neither of them seemed to remember she existed. She coughed and brought their attention away from each other. Elaina watched Thanatos turn his gaze away from John’s to her. He smiled warmly and approached her and John.

                Thanatos carried himself like the God he was. His steps didn’t falter and his eyes were glued to Elaina’s. He stopped away from her leaving John between them. Thanatos continued to smile and said, “I’ll see around, Elaina.” He smirked and glanced at John. As if sensing John’s agitation, Thanatos looked back to Elaina and winked. He then walked away as if nothing had happened.