Understanding

For a moment, I could do nothing but stare into the light, mesmerized, then I yanked my hand back, staring at the floor, fighting back tears of hopelessness and rage. I balled my hands into tight fists, then looked Minias square in the eye. “You will remove this bond, demon, or so help me, I will remove it for you! I asked you to free me from Emanuel. That was our arrangement and nothing else. THIS was not a part of our agreement and therefore our previous contract is null and void and you OWE ME ONE FAVOR!” My voice was shrill and panicked, but Minias looked at me as though I was a child.

“Are you through with your tantrum? I have all day, make no mistake, but I grow bored of your outbursts. They get you in trouble far too often, little witch.” I detested the way he knew me, but I suppressed the urge to cross my arms over my chest and huff. I waited for him to continue. “I cannot remove a demon bond, it is beyond any beings power.” He smirked. “Unless you wish to die, because that can certainly be arranged.” I glared at him, my arms at my sides, fists still clenched, but said nothing. “Very well. As you wish. Then we will spend all of eternity with this bond.” His voice took on an irksome, dejected tone.

“Eternity?!” I practically choked. “I am not immortal, I am a witch!”

I could sense his impatience. “You hear, but you do not listen. You have demon blood inside of you. Which means,” he grabbed my chin, tipping it up to his face, and spoke slowly, “you have the lifespan of a demon. I did not say you were immortal- your human body is still as fragile as it ever was. But you will not age.” I pulled my face back angrily. I didn’t want to hear anymore. I wanted to get the hell out of the Ever After. He peered at my curiously. “Why did you come here? Another joy ride?” He smirked slightly, then frowned, obviously remembering my last ‘joy ride’ here happened to involve me saving his life.

I sighed, then explained to him my need for a familiar. He nodded while he listened, confirming my suspicions were right. When I was finished, he left the room, and I hesitated, unsure if I should follow. Before I could take my first step, he’d returned, holding a sphere the size of a magic 8 ball. He held it out to me, and I looked him over suspiciously before taking it. “What is it?”

“This is an energy sphere. More accurately, this is my energy sphere. I believe, as my bonded, you will be able to spindle your energy through it, and seize it’s force. It works as my familiar. I created it.” He lifted his head proudly. I looked at him, shocked. “You’re sharing this with me? Why?”

He sighed and shook his head, muttering, “I do not know. Just take it and leave the Ever After. If I need it, or you, I will call on you.” He frowned again. “Can you be summoned?”

I blinked. “Demons are summoned, and I’m not a demon…right?” He looked at me perplexed for a moment, then seemed to dismiss the thought. “Go now, Evelyn. Go back to your dimension and do NOT return to the Ever After until I call on you. Is that understood? If you are harmed, I am harmed, and I will not allow that.” He murmured more Latin, and I could feel the line energy spindle quickly into my head and I knew I could teleport. I nodded. “Thank you, Minias. For not letting me be sold, for the sphere, and for explaining it to me…” I watched him, confused, for tapping into the line and teleporting home, my hands grasping the energy sphere tightly.

Caught

I hear a voice before I wake. It is an angry voice, filled with adrenaline and aggression, and familiar. So familiar. My eyes pop open as I recognize him. Minias. Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck…Why the fuck is Minias here? I squint, trying to see anything, but all around me is black. I have no choice but to listen to Minias, hoping to get an idea of where I am, and why. His words send shivers down my spine.

“Evelyn Dawn Valmont is mine! It is her blood inside of me and I therefore claim her. You filthy urchins have no right to sell her any more than I can sell you!”

I felt nauseous. I was Minias’? And if I wasn’t, I’d be SOLD?! To a demon? I tried to clutch my stomach, it hurt so badly, but my arms were trapped. I tried to look around, but my neck was bound. All around me was darkness. My eyes ran wildly in any direction, seeing nothing. I started to panic. My chest burned from trying to hold back my tears. I tried to teleport, and couldn’t. Again and again I tried to tap into a line and escape, each attempt sending me into further hyperventilation. I heard Minias speak again.

“Shut up you despicable creature. She is awake.” his voice took on an amused tone “And she is trying to escape.” I heard two sets of footsteps approach, one standing directly in front of me. Minias murmured a word in Latin I did not recognize, and suddenly I was released. Light shone in from all direction, and I collapsed on the floor, at Minias’ feet. Both hands pressed against the concrete floor, I slowly look up. Minias’ face wore a smirk that sent fear to my core.

“Good morning, Evelyn. How…nice of you to join us”. He looked down at me, his voice slightly singsong. Surprisingly, he reached down with one hand, grabbing me by my forearm, pulling me up quickly to my feet. “You will prove to this”, he sneered “gentleman that I am your maker and you will therefore not be sold in demon court”.

My voice trembled. “My maker? You turned me into a demon, Minias? You son of a bitch, you were only supposed to give me back my mortality!” I balled my fists up, punching at his face, but he dodged it stealthily, looking bored. He simply shook his head. “You cannot turn a witch into a demon, Evelyn. You are not a demon. I am your maker, as it is my blood inside you, but it is your witch’s body you possess, and therefore, you are a witch.” His words were contemptuous, he practically spat them out at me.

“I’m not a demon?” Relief washed over me, but it was brief. My stomach knotted up as his words sunk in. “But I am bound to you…aren’t I?” His nod was slow, deliberate, and full of meaning. “Yes, you are. Do not mistake me, I had no intention of creating a...” he paused and thought, then continued, “child. I was only aware of the connection myself when I could sense you search out a line, so close. I arrived in time to see this” he jerked his thumb to the other demon in the room “neanderthal attempt to bring you to court to sell you. And you do not want to be a demon’s familiar, now do you, dear? I suggest you prove our connection and he can be on his merry way.”

I looked at the other demon, his face still hidden behind the cloak, who had yet to speak. My eyes went back to Minias’, terrified. “How do I prove it?” His eye roll was patronizing. He stepped closer, taking my hand, murmuring more unknown Latin. I felt his hand draw the warmth from mine as he spoke, our heat transferring to our fingertips. A burst of light from our hands made me gasp loudly. After a moment, the cloaked demon snarled, then nodded, abruptly turning his back and walked out of the room, leaving me alone with Minias.

Into the Ever After...

I breathe in deeply as I feel the ley line pull me through to the Ever After. I’d been here once before, years ago, after I had graduated from college and first learned to teleport. Back then, I had been naïve, bright eyed and doleful, and my trip into the Ever After had been a wake up call to what the witch species had lived through.

Looking around now, a cold shiver runs down my spine and settles in my stomach. I had arrived in the dimensional mirror of New Orleans. I kept my breath shallow, telling myself I needed to stay quiet, but in actuality, I didn’t want to breathe in the air. It tasted dead, stale, and thick, like a closet that had been unopened all winter. The sky held a yellow haze, as if the sun wanted to get through but was trapped behind an amber blanket.

I jump as I hear a sound resembling a twig snapping, and scurry quickly into the shadows, keeping myself on guard. I push my back against the wall, feeling my pulse race, waiting for a long moment, my ears practically twitching as I listen. Nothing. I peer around the corner, taking in the scene slowly. No mistakes. Closing my eyes, I tap into a line, spindling the ley line energy into my head, ready to use in an instant. A smile curves up my lips when I feel the power swirl around my thoughts, as if being in the Ever After and using ley line magic was what I was born for.

As I open my eyes, my smile drops. Standing before me, staring at me with leering eyes were three demons, their faces hidden by the hoods of their black cloak. I cry out in fear, flinging my newly spindled line energy at them in an attempt to distract them long enough to escape, but it is futile. The three tap into a line simultaneously and hurl a wave of black magic at me, dissolving my white energy into nothing, and tearing through me, knocking me unconscious.

My past--Evelyn's history, part three

Shortly after Memphis' arrival, I started to feel weaker. I assumed it was because I overexerted myself, and needed rest. But it all came to a head when Memphis and I went to Rainbow Lake to bring her materials for the shop back to New Orleans. I'd constructed a box to carry everything in shorter trips, and after loading it up and brought it back, I felt drained and nauseous, and instantly got sick. Again, I assumed I had simply depleted my powers since I had been irresponsible on how I divided my abilities.

Memphis performed numerous charms and spells with her healing stones and chants, drawing out bad energy from my aura, and though I felt better, I was powerless. I could not teleport, I could not tap into a line. Each time I did, my head exploded and my stomach turned inside out, setting me right back to where I was. I was confused and concerned-- was I no longer a witch? The answer came to me when, while holding Severus' hand, I was able to teleport. Why then? I reflected over and over why... was it Severus? I eventually concluded that I had used his demon abilities to funnel my energy. But why?

I remembered my undeath from the Demon Minias, and realized what had made the difference. He had drained me of my vampire blood, so what was flowing through my veins now? Demon blood. Minias had given my life back to me in the same fashion a vampire is created. He replaced my blood with demon blood. So what did that leave me? A witch... or a demon? And even then- I had been brought back nearly three months ago, why would my powers fade now? I felt dumbstruck when I realized the only possible conclusion: Memphis. More specifically, her magick. She was a healer, the pure epitome of a white witch. And I... I was some crossbreed of good and evil, demon and witch. My aura was tainted with black smut and her magick could not expel it...

So Memphis moved out, to the apartment above our shop. The decision was propelled by my species issue, and the fact that Memphis did not approve of Severus, because he was a demon. Naturally, once I told her of my...delicate predicament, she was more considerate of my feelings toward him. She opened up about why she had such a prejudice against demons: Demons had sought and killed her parents, in an attempt to eliminate the witches of the north. Those demons still walk the earth, and though she doesn't seek revenge, she holds onto the bitterness of her parents death.

That left me alone to figure out my next step. Over and over I thought about why I could channel energy through Severus, but not on my own. I had always considered creating a familiar, like Nix, who is Memphis' cat. She can stream her earth magick through Nix, similar to how I pull energy though the ley line. After comparing Nix's power, to how I siphoned Severus', it became logical that to hold onto my power, to be able to be near Memphis and any of her white aura's abilities, I had to bond to a demon. Obviously, I could not use a living, breathing demon like Severus. I would never pull such large amounts of ley line energy through a demon attached to a human. Therefore, I must go into the Ever After and find a hopefully willing lesser demon.

The Ever After is a dangerous place for witch... Centuries ago, the witches had abandoned the Ever After to live in the mortal world. The demons who still reside there feel animosity towards the witches for deserting them, leaving some stranded. The Ever After became desolate, ransacked and ruined, filled with anger. And it's there I must go. It will be a blessing in disguise if I can slip in unnoticed, find a lesser, willing demon, and escape without being recognized as a witch. Which would mean they'd see me as a demon...

My past--Evelyn's history, part two

Without my friends, I never would have survived without Silas. They pushed me to get myself out of bed every day, to meet new people. They let me cry on their shoulders, and weren't afraid to tell me that I had made mistakes and I had to deal with the repercussions of them. I forced myself to keep busy. With my stronger powers, I stretched my limits. I could purge my energy into objects, thus creating charms that were just as dynamic as if I were casting them that second. I could call upon the ley lines and teleport anyone, from anywhere. I knew that these abilities could help many, so I decided I would open my very own shop.

The months I spent getting over Silas, I spent in my backyard, invoking charms. I built inventory, I thought of new ways to make life easier, for humans and supes. I kept busy. I went to bed exhausted every night, trying to sleep dreamless nights.

Soon I realized I needed a business partner. There was no way I could keep it afloat on my own, and each time I attempted a healing charm, it failed, or was weak. I called my best friend, Memphis, who went to school with me up north, in hopes she'd be able to move in with me. Thankfully, cold weather was not in her cards, and a southern change seemed gladly warranted. We got the ball rolling quickly- opening our shop in the French Quarter in New Orleans. Memphis owning Healing Rains, attached to my store Southern Charms by Evelyn.

Having Memphis live with me was just like old times. I needed my best friend with me. I needed her to tell me what was necessary- That life had to move on. Memphis was always my rock, and I don't know what I'd do without her these last few months.

So now Evelyn is finally back to Evelyn-- for the most part, man free. Which brings me to Severus. Finally, a man in my life who is intriguing, sexy and interested in me- even if it's just for the sex. He isn't ready for commitment, or at least, not with me, but I'm greatly enjoying the time I have with him now. It feels nice to be wanted, though it is superficial. Yes, he is a demon, but in the life I've lived, I've learned that what we are does not define who we are. Severus is a good man, and I am going to have to hold the clamps on my heart down with this one... I think he would be capable of breaking it.

My past--Evelyn's history, part one

It seems like so long ago now when I met Emanuel. He had been looking for someone, someone from his home country Greece, where he was the vampire king. He was charming, elusive, a bit of an edge of danger, and my type. Definitely my type. We hit it off on our walk along the beach... And after a rough patch, we realized we were in love. He proposed and three weeks later we were married. But before the wedding, Emanuel wanted me to become a vampire, to be with him forever. It was something I was not sure of at first, but I was scared I'd lose him, so I let him turn me. We created a bond so strong, he was always aware of where I was, how I felt, if I was scared. I even made him a charm that would teleport him to me at any moment. I thought... I was in love. That life was perfect.

But underneath laid a foundation of lies. I could not trust him. He would say he loved me, but then...I knew of his other life. The one he manipulated me with. It was that underlying mistrust that led me into Silas' arms. Yes, at the time, I was married. Yes, Silas and Alyce were together. It was wrong for us to do that to them. I should have left Emanuel first, he should have left Alyce, but we didn't intend to fall in love either. It started off as just sex. Hot...passionate...kinky sex. But soon...it became more. He loved me and I loved him, and I knew I couldn't stay with Emanuel. I had to fake it around him, and he knew it. He would say things like "Why do I feel like I'm losing her?" I knew I couldn't keep up the lie, so one night, I told him about Silas and me having an affair. He was torn up, and still wanted me, but then I told him we were in love. I destroyed him that night... And right after I had to tell Alyce, though it was something I resented Silas for later. He should have been the one to tell her- not me. But I did, and she was devastated. She attacked both of us for all to see... and then everyone knew of our treachery.

I had to escape. I knew I was bonded to Emanuel and as a vampire, I was faced with the eternity of him knowing my every move... I'd died to be with him, and I died inside knowing my everlasting fate. I did the only thing I could think of-- I called upon a demon. A powerful one, from the Ever After. This particular demon owed me a favor, and was therefore forced to do my bidding. I asked him to make me mortal again, and he had no choice. He drained me of my vampire blood, and I died again... When I woke, I found my powers had been rejuvenated. I could cast spells greater than ever before. I figured that being turned into vampire had weakened me, and my new stronger energy was it being reborn... Then I went back to Silas, as me.

It never got easy for us. There were too many secrets between Silas and me, and in the end it was my mistrust of HIM that broke us up. I loved him, I was happy, but it was short-lived. How can you trust someone who cheated on their last girlfriend? Because don't you always wonder if he's going to do it to you? He had claimed to love Alyce, and slept with me. How did I know he wasn't doing the same to me? Rumors upon rumors flew, accusations came out, and it consumed me. Finally, on a tearful night, we said goodbye.

For months I wanted him back, but I'd hurt him too many times, and he was right not to let me back into his life. I didn't want to give up hope... but I finally let him go. It was hard, but I moved on.