Athena Laurent

With twelve hours to spare, Athena decides to visit her old home in the woods. Every now and then, she would return to the place she spent months of her life trying to survive. The cabin she made for herself is now shielded by magic; no one can set foot in her former home. This part of the forest is the only neutral part in the whole United Kingdom; every other part belongs to one of the Alphas. She has seen werewolves and other shapeshifters pass by her cabin many times, travelling from their own pack to another and back.

There have been rogues in the neutral zone... but most of them she saw only once. They probably got killed by one of the packs for violating the laws. Those laws are gruesome, and often wrong. Perhaps, some rogues deserve it, the ones who kill innocent people for example, but not all rogues are terrible beasts. In Athena's eyes, most of the alphas are the real monsters, especially the alpha of the werewolf pack in England. He kills all kinds of supernatural creatures without a fair trial or any remorse. Because of him, Athena's always careful in the woods. In his eyes, a witch without a coven is considered a rogue, which means he would kill her if they ever found her wandering close to his territory.

The hut isn't big, but certainly big enough for a small witch. She has grown tall when she joined the coven. Athena sits down on the bed. The first months in this cabin, she didn't even know she was a witch. Her powers came so suddenly, without any warning. Before that, surviving was challenging. Food was hard to come by and during the cold months, she almost froze to death. And yet, she never thought about giving up, because she always held onto the thought that life would get better one day. And it did. Until it didn't.

A terrifying scream wakes Athena from her daydream. She's immediately focused and locates the source of the scream. A second one follows, this one even more frightening than the one before. After that, only silence follows. That makes Athena nervous and as fast as she can, she runs towards the place someone was screaming for their life just a few seconds ago while keeping an eye on the invisible borders. I can't help anyone if I'm dead.

She looks around the area and sees two people in front of her. One is a she-wolf, lying unconscious on the ground.

The other one, a werewolf, is standing above her body, ready to rip her head off. Before Athena can think about it, she stops his heart before he can finish the girl off. His lifeless body collapses on the ground like a sack of potatoes. Athena watches the body on the ground, but not a single drop of guilt enters her system. He was a monster. She saved the she-wolf's life. Athena approaches the girl and sees immediately the cause of her condition; there almost isn't a spot on her body not covered in bruises and there is blood flowing from different places.

Athena places her hands on the wounds and calmly starts to whisper the words that will heal the bruises and cuts within minutes. Unfortunately, she's interrupted by, who she assumes are the friends of the rogue she just killed. Athena can't stop the sigh sliding from her lips. If they just wouldn't have come back or looked at her like they want to murder her, then she wouldn't have to kill them. But if they attack her, she might have to. They approach her fast, but not nearly fast enough. With almost three meters to spare, she freezes their bodies, letting them hang in the air until their hearts stop too. Maybe Alexis is right, maybe I am the right person to transport a dangerous piece of paper across the country, she thinks, ignoring the proud feeling while she turns around to the she-wolf again, completely ignoring the three dead bodies around her. She lifts the she-wolf with her mind and leaves for her cabin, but not before wiping both their scents from the scene of the crime.

Only a few minutes later, the she-wolf wakes up in Athena's cabin. Thanks to the witch, her wounds are almost completely healed. It took her a bit longer than she expected due to the fact there were more wounds than she anticipated. Athena wondered who did this to her, it couldn't be the rogues; some wounds are much older than the cuts inflicted by those petty monsters. The she-wolf opens her eyes slowly and it takes a second to adjust to the light. She looks at her arms, then her legs and the rest of her body. Astonishment is written all over her face. Eventually, she notices Athena who just returned with a glass of water. Hesitantly, she accepts the glass and empties it in three big sips.

"Hi, I am Athena, who are you?"

"S-Shani, my name is Shani," the she-wolf says softly. Her brown eyes become hazy when she tries to figure out what happened and how she ended up in this cabin. Athena quickly fills in the blank spaces she couldn't remember because of the blow she received. "What happened to you? How did you end up fighting with those rogues?" Athena asks, she's curious about this she-wolf. Shani seems to hesitate, she doesn't want to tell the truth, but she must have noticed Athena demands an answer. "I ran away from my pack because t-they hurt me. I wanted it to stop." Athena's eyes immediately softened. She can sense that Shani isn't telling the whole truth, but this part of the story is enough to determine whether Athena could trust her or not. "I'm sorry, Shani, nobody deserves that. I am glad you made it out in one piece." Shani laughs nervously. "I obviously did not, it's thanks to you I am alive. I don't know how to thank you enough."

"What are you going to do, now that you're free?"

"I don't know, I have nowhere to go. I was barely allowed to leave the territory; I hope I can find my way." Shani's answer makes Athena's thoughts fly fast; before she can stop herself, she has popped the question. "Do you want to come with me?"

"Really?"

"Yes, I would like that," Athena says. From the moment they started to talk, she had felt the connection between them. She could be an ally. A friend. Is this what Alexis meant with the help I would find along the way? It was her choice to help Shani, maybe her coming along will benefit them both.

"Great, I don't even care where we are going, as long as it is as far away from here as possible."

"That won't be a problem, we will be travelling north." Even though the answer is a little vague, a smile appears on Shani's face, along with a flash of hope Athena suspects, she hasn't shown in a long time. Athena notices Shani staring at her again, trying to make sense of the situation. A few hours ago, she probably thought this would be her last day on Earth.

Fate must have had different plans for her too.

"Athena, you smell human, but you definitely aren't one, are you a witch?"

Athena smiles, but the joy doesn't reach her eyes. "I prefer enchantress, but yes, I am a witch."

"And you are alone? You are not a part of a coven?"

"I used to be, but I left two years ago. Since then, I've been pretty much on my own."

The lie was out in the open before she even considered telling the truth. Athena just met this girl, it's too soon for the secrets to reveal themselves. She's not ready.

Athena grabs a notepad and a pen to write down the address of the car company she will be renting a car from. "I have to take care of something, but if you still want to go in six hours, meet me at this address, okay?"

Shani simply nods, but her eyes are trying not to confess how excited she really is. Athena sees it but decides not to mention it. She too is enthusiastic about this newly formed friendship she just bumped into. Maybe, just maybe, Fate has decided she doesn't need to be alone anymore.

That would be nice.

֎֎֎֎֎֎֎֎֎

"Come, we must begin," Alexis says and she guides Athena through the giant door. When Athena enters, there are eleven witches gathered around the wooden table. They all know who she is and it is visible they don't like the idea of her being in this sacred room. It's the most secret and secured place in the United Kingdom, protected by many, many complicated spells. Nobody would dare to enter this place without permission. And clearly, the witches don't find Athena worthy of standing in the room only the most powerful, full-blood witches are allowed in. Athena hides her joy, as well as her irritation; she wouldn't have to be here if one of them sacrificed their time and probably their life to a cause that will benefit the whole world.

Athena awaits the moment something will happen and after a few seconds, the witches start to whisper. She can feel the energy released by their words and voices. She knows they're summoning the safe with the spell in it; it's going to take some time, which means the spell is very well protected. Once again, Athena is doubting her abilities to protect a scroll so sacred it was hidden away so well, nobody even knew about it. What if she fails? What if her mistake means the end of the world as they know it? Suddenly, she's pulled out of her fearful thoughts when she sees something appear out of thin air.

The safe isn't a concrete, metal object, but flashes of ancient memories forged together with the magic of twelve witches to a real, physical substance, in this case, a scroll. This is magic from the beginning of time; Athena feels overwhelmed, simply by being a witness of this moment. Every witch places a drop of their blood onto the scroll; it sisses every time. "Lift your hand Athena," Alexis says calmly and Athena immediately obeys. The scroll starts to change again, losing its form, and flies towards Athena's hand, attaching itself onto her wrist, leaving only a simple dot as a reminder. It all went so fast. "Wow," Athena whispers, looking at her wrist in bewilderment. She's not the only one. All the witnesses are staring at the little dot on her wrist, a shade darker than her normal skin.

"Athena, listen carefully. Your blood can reveal the scroll again, but only a day after a full moon. And you have to use the blood in your little finger on the left hand."

Athena nods.

"Remember, when you open the scroll again, you become the thirteenth witch, which means you have to cast the actual spell, using the blood of the Alpha in the North. You know how powerful this spell this, but if you follow the steps I just gave you, the spell will do exactly what the Moon Goddess has predicted."

She nods again.

"It is up to you now, Athena," Alexis says serenely, but the heavy undertone in her voice and the serious look in her eyes do not escape the young witch. In answer to her mentor, she simply bows her head. Alexis responds by embracing her tightly, leaving no space between them. "Good luck, Athena, " she whispers in Athena's ear. "I believe in you, but please...please come back."

Back to the normal world, where ancient scrolls don't fly into my body, Athena thinks relieved, still a little shaken about what happened in the sacred room of the coven.

֎֎֎֎֎֎֎֎֎

"Are you sure you know how to drive a car, Athena?" Shani's head is slightly tilted to the right as she watches her new friend settling into the rental car with narrowed, doubtful eyes. "Yes, of course, most of the time I was travelling, I used a car, don't worry." Athena is very fond of cars. For her, it's the most relaxing way of travelling. She can just drive the car, play some music, get in or out of her own head without having to fear someone is tracking her magical residue.

"So, what is our first move?" Shani asks, looking more curious by the second. Athena pulls out a map from her backpack, unfolds it until every country in Europe is visible. "The first thing we're going to do is getting the hell out of England," Athena says, pointing at a British harbour on the map. Shani nods approvingly, her eyes already looking more hopeful than before. "Then we'll travel a bit to the North, but not to Scandinavia or Russia because the pack of the North won't be there."

"How do you know?"

"According to my mentor, the pack in the North isn't actually in the North. Geographically it's in the middle of Europe, which is still pretty big. It's only the most northern pack in Europe, there are only humans living in the North, plus perhaps some lone wolves and a couple of vampires and other supernatural creatures, " Athena explains to her; Shani listens with interest, absorbing every little piece of information Athena is giving her.

"Are you nervous?" The she-wolf asks; looking doubtful Athena will answer that. The witch smiles at her before responding. "Very," she admits. Even though Shani knows nothing about her mission, she isn't afraid to say out loud she's scared. Once again, she leaves the only place behind she used to call her home. With her mission in mind, she also allows herself to be a little frightened. She doesn't know what will happen in the next couple of days or weeks. She would be a fool not to be a little jittery, it will keep her alive when necessary.

"Yeah, me too," Shani says casually while Athena starts the engine of the car. She looks sideways, directing her serious gaze at Shani. "Are you ready?" It was meant to sound tough, a warning packed in enthusiastic soundings words, but Athena couldn't express her ominous feelings. This journey can become dangerous one day. Shouldn't she warn her new friend? Yes, you should. But what if she doesn't want to go when she tells her? Athena doesn't want to lose the company. Not when this is the first interaction she has had in two years. Luckily, Shani's too excited to read the hidden meaning behind the words. She buckles her seatbelt and taps her fingers excitedly on the dashboard. "I am ready. Let's do this!"

I can protect her, Athena thinks to convince herself she shouldn't be driving off alone. At least I can get her out of England; we'll see what happens next.

"All right then, "Athena grins before starting the engine. "Off we go."