Fighting Destiny (Central Coven) (3 page)

I closed the door behind them, and turned to Anita.  She fell back onto her bed, covered her face with a pillow, kicked her feet, and laughed.  “Are you loosing it?” I teased.  “Oh, Chloë!  He’s perfect!  Blond hair, green eyes, muscular, and his voice is smooth as silk,” Anita exclaimed with her face still smashed into her pillow.  “So, can I assume Finn is safe now?”  “Yes.  He’s all yours, just give me the roommate.” 

“Anita!  I’m teasing.  Neither of them are
ours
.  Not yet of course.”  “
Yet.
  Let any of the other girls in this dorm, school, or town try and compete with us.  We have a supernatural edge,” Anita said with a hint of mischief glinting in her eyes.  “An edge you have no trouble using obviously?” “You know what they say…all is fair in love and war.  Besides it isn’t like we have a choice,” Anita replied with a sharp edge cutting through her playfulness.

I grabbed my small black Chanel purse that held my student ID and keys.  Then I slipped on my favorite kitten-heeled black leather boots.   Anita applied a peach colored lip-gloss and put on some bejeweled sandals that matched her bronze top.  “Now it looks like we needed that minute.”  “Let’s not leave those guys waiting any longer,” Anita said and grabbed her clutch from the desk. 

Finn and Dean were sitting on a bench out in front of the dorm enjoying the warmth of the late afternoon sunshine.  Sunset in central Washington, in every month except winter, is late in the evening, so at six thirty it was still bright.   On the walk to the dining hall we meandered through the ill-tended freshmen dorms, toward the more attractive upper-classman dorms.  A large lawn separated the dormitory adjacent to the dining hall.  It was well manicured, with thick green grass, tall shade trees on the perimeter, and surrounded by a brick-laid pedestrian mall.  A back to school barbeque was set for the following day.

Ordinarily this would have been a perfectly serene setting for the first school gathering, but what I saw settled on that lawn, sent shivers down my spine, a flock of ravens.  Their yellow-eyed gaze turned to focus on me, and a few let out a screeching “ka,” but I heard “kill.” 

My magical senses kicked in, and my eyes flashed green.  Anita noticed and grabbed my arm.  “Are you alright?” she whispered.  I subtly shook my head. “What do you know about ravens?” “They deliver warnings from the spirit world that someone is going to die, right?”  “Yes, and there are a lot of them here,” I pointed as if she hadn’t noticed.

“This looks like an awfully serious discussion ladies,” Finn said and slipped his arm around my shoulders.  I smiled, and looked up at him through my eyelashes.  Anita closely studied the birds, and before I had time to wonder why Dean copied Finn and placed his large, muscled arm around tiny Anita.  “So are those birds making you nervous?” he teased her.  “Why don’t we go get dinner and move away from these creepy pests,” Finn interjected.   He slid his hand down to the middle of my back and applied gentle pressure to guide me forward.  Neither Finn nor Dean made the slightest effort to remove their arms from us all the way to the dining hall.

I tried to enjoy the attention, and I was mostly successful, but there was a large part of my brain that would not let me forget the ravens.  That part was tied to the earth, a daughter of it.  I didn’t see much of my father, a very powerful Native American shaman, but what he taught me lingered.  I knew the Creator had signs and spirits everywhere if you were willing to pay attention.  I heard their message loud and clear, something evil was coming to Central.

A week passed, and nothing ominous materialized.  I began to relax.  Anita and I spent every free moment with Finn and Dean.  We went to dinner together, and for walks.  Since I had Anita to confide my secrets to, hiding things from Finn and Dean didn’t feel like too bad. 

It was an easy routine, our first class of the day, conveniently at eleven in the morning, was History 101, a basic requirement.  Anita and I had Theater appreciation the next hour.  Afterwards we both had a break.  Except, I had two hours, while she only had an hour.  Then I was off to Philosophy 101, a two hour-long class.  I was done with class at four most days.  Anita was taking Geology, and was usually done about an hour before I was. 

Central was everything I had hoped it would be.  Small classes filled with interesting discussions, and the professors remem
bered my name.  I couldn’t say I was interested in majoring in Theater or Philosophy, but it was new and I enjoyed the variety of subjects.

Anita and I ate lunch together every day, either in the dining hall, or in the student union.  Sometimes the boys joined us.  We didn’t want to appear too eager, even though we were, so we didn’t eat with them every day.  If you can’t be casual fake it.

It wasn’t exactly laid-back to memorize Dean and Finn’s schedule, but it did help our campaign to spend as much time with them as possible, casually, of course. Finn had kickboxing on Tuesdays and Thursdays after history, while Dean had weightlifting.  They had the same break time Anita did, which of course she took advantage of.  Then Finn had Calculus while Dean had Cultural Anthropology. They both had English 101 together.  Anita and I took AP English in high school, so we didn’t have to suffer through that. 

We fell into a nice routine during the first week of class.  We might not have seen each other everyday for lunch, but we did meet every night for dinner.  We spent so much time together that, Anita and I started to relax and grow comfortable around the guys, which is always when disaster strikes.

Friday night, the end of our first week as college freshmen, Anita and I hit the library so we would be free the rest of the weekend.  We lost track of the time, and ended up meeting the guys outside the dorm, later than we usually headed for the dining hall.

I didn’t even think about the effect of the setting sun could have on Anita. Probably because any other time light was an issue, she wore sunglasses.  The sun dipped into the tree line, and thin rays of blood orange light slipped through the leaves.  Unfortunately, Anita’s eyes reflected any lights that hit them. She would never appear completely normal at night, and since sunglasses are just wrong and weird to wear in low light, there isn’t much she can do about it.

Dean sucked in a breath, and then smirked.  I’m pretty sure he saw the flash in Anita’s eyes. The smile might have seemed strange, except, I thought I caught a hint of the same glare in his eyes.  No, I mean, three supernaturals in the same school, I had to have been mistaken.  Right? After all, I was still new at this.  But that smile…hmmm…

“Perhaps we should head back to the dorm,” I suggested.  Anita didn’t seem to hear me. At first I thought maybe she noticed Dean’s eyes too, but her nostrils flared, as if she was trying to catch a scent. “Come on Chloë, we haven’t had dinner yet,” Finn pointed out. 
Shit
, dinner, the entire reason we were outside, oops.  I laughed nervously, “Of course, I was trying to suggest we go rent a movie and get a pizza.  It’s Friday, let’s do something.”

“Yeah, that sounds great, but let’s go out to dinner and a then rent a movie.  Oh…damn, I forgot I parked my car in the lot across from Farrell Hall when I was running late to history yesterday.  We are so close to it right now, I should get it real quick. I will meet you back at the dorm or where ever you decide to go, sound good?” Anita jumped in.  What was she up to?  What ever it was she wanted space to do it alone.  Well, I could give her space, besides I wanted to know if there was anything
special
to learn about Dean.

I quickly agreed with her before Finn or Dean could suggest we all ride together back to the dorm, which they both appeared on the verge of doing.  “Come on guys, I want Chinese food.  How does Panda’s sound?” “Sure,” agreed Finn, “but can I gotta ask, how the hell does someone forget their car?”  I laughed, and shrugged.  I doubt her car was even there.  It seems she is talented at lying.  We headed off down the mall, and left Anita standing at the base of the concrete footbridge. 

Anita knocked lightly on the door and Dean jumped to let her in.  “Did you lose your car?” Dean joked.  “No, I moved it back behind the dorm, ” Anita fibbed.  “You’re here now, come sit by me.  We ordered a pizza.  I hope you like pepperoni,” Dean said and guided her to sit on his bed. 

I winked at Anita.  She looked at me pointedly, and tipped her head toward the hallway, but I was not in the mood to leave my place next to Finn, even if I was forced to watch the latest Vince Vaughn guy version of a chick flick.

She groaned, annoyed she was going to have to ask me.  “Can I talk to you a sec?”  “Sure,” I replied, and reluctantly slid out of Finn’s warm embrace. “We’ll be right back,” Anita whispered to Dean.  She led me to our room, and shut the door.

“I should tell you what happened when you guys left.  Wait. Is there a way you could see it for yourself? You’re a witch. Don’t you have psychic powers? ” I cocked my eyebrow contemplatively.  I was still learning the extent of my own powers. I thought about how something like that might work, and figured it was worth a try.

“I’m not sure.  I’ve never heard anyone’s thoughts or predicted the future or anything, but maybe if I concentrate.”  I closed my eyes and tried to empty my mind.  Nothing.  “Maybe if I touch you?” “Only one way to find out.”  Anita grabbed my hands, and I closed my eyes.  At first there were just flickers.  Bursts of color, and then I saw Anita talking to an image shrouded in darkness.

“Hello Grey,” Anita said to the darkness.  “Hello, yourself,” replied a disembodied voice.  “Grey, do come out of the shadows,” Anita snapped.  A man stepped out of the shadow of a large willow tree.  He had an unearthly beauty, similar to Anita, only he was much paler.  He wasn’t tall, but he had a presence that screamed power and danger.  His black hair shone blue when it caught the light, and his dark eyes had an all-knowing hypnotic charm to them. 

“Anita, I needed to see you.  Others of our kind have been moving into town, and nearby in Yakima.”  “Why would anyone want to go to Yakima?  Especially vampires?  Seattle sure, but we don’t even have much of a nightlife around here.” 

“They aren’t searching for entertainment, Anita,” Grey said and brushed his finger under her chin, lifting her gaze.  “I was sent to warn you, they have a plan.  They are after something or someone.  I was not told what their plans are, I am not even sure if the ones that sent me know. I was told there was danger heading here, and to assist you if I could.  My actual orders were to help without you knowing I was here, but I wanted to warn you he is with them.”

“Alexander,” Anita hissed, “but I thought you got rid of him. Did you come to warn me because you think I am the target?”  “No darling, I do not think they are after
you
.” He paused and thought for a moment, furrowing his brow, “Not just you at least.  Was that your new roommate you were walking with earlier?  She’s a witch, right?” 

“Yes, my new roommate, Chloë DuLac. Have you heard of her?” “Did you say DuLac?” “Mmhhmm, why?” Anita asked getting irritated.  What did she ever see in this guy?  Dean was definitely a healthier choice, especially since Grey was obviously fascinated by her beautiful roommate.

Anita pulled away her hand. “Can you ignore what I was thinking when I met with Grey?”  “Sorry,” I mumbled.  She nodded and placed her hand back on my open palm.

“Yes I have met some of them.  The DuLac witches are the strongest witches alive.  I believe Chloë’s father is some sort of Native American shaman, who might be as old as civilization in the western hemisphere.  It is hard to know for sure, because there are few who have ever met an original.  Her mother is Margueri
te, the head of the
Council
.” “What is the
Council
?”  “Ah, that is a discussion for another time.”

“So Chloë is a powerful witch, with powerful parents.  If that weren’t enough she has dark brown hair rippling down to her waist, a perfectly curved body, and fantastic clothes. I want to hate her, and ordinarily I totally would, but she’s so damn nice I think she’ll be my new best friend.  I’m sorry did you have a point?”

Grey chuckled. “I forget you are still a teenage girl.  Such drama. What I am trying to tell you is your friend not only comes from the strongest magical family, her unique lineage means she could be the
strongest
witch alive.  Naturally her father is probably the most powerful being alive, or at least one of them, but the originals have not circulated among the rest of us for centuries. After your little rant it occurs to me that the strongest witch alive allied with the only half-vampire alive might be unstoppable.  You my dear are a force of nature.”

“Listen, there are other supernaturals around in Ellensburg, but I can’t tell you about that now.  The group that sent me is trying to quell an uprising.  At least that is the rumor.  They do not have much trust for vampires, so I am never given the complete story.” 

“So there is like a war gonna start?  What do you mean about other supernaturals?” “Ugh, great vocabulary darling.  Yes, it seems a war is imminent.  Your roommate needs to be warned.  You could invite me in and I could do it for you,” Grey said, playfully wagging his eyebrows. “Grey, you are bad.  I think I will warn my roommate myself, and keep you away from her.” “Of course I am bad, I am a vampire. But you dearest are no fun.”  “Have a good night Grey,” Anita said turning her back and leaving.

Anita ensured no one was around, and raced back to campus at the speed only a vampire could manage. One minute she was standing still near where we left her, and the next she was a blur blazing through the campus.  She was so fast human eyes couldn’t see her.  The only thing any bystanders could see would be the whir of air that trailed behind her.  Outside of the dorm, Anita found the scent of her room and she scaled the side of the brick building and climbed into her open window.