Chapter Text
I knew I would find you again...
I’ve lived a thousand lives, and I’ve told a million tales. My own, I never shared. I don’t think I ever will. Not to anyone. Not anyone but him. I’ve lived so long that I can’t remember things correctly. I feel little shame for my past; I lived, and I have learned. I guess when you’re used to solitude, after losing the light in your eyes, it’s hard to stay in high spirits. When you pull your punches, when you tuck your cards away, conceal your hurt.. it’s hard to open up to anyone, including yourself. I know how to control myself, my actions, and my abilities.
I’ve spent my semi-lonely days honing my skills. The glow of a spell thrills the soul more than you would think. But after years of yearning. I felt a calling. Self destructing. I didn’t want to, but letting go felt right. I have nothing to lose, but I have things to gain: experiences, friendships. If I could even have such things. I remember my sisters. I remember being cast out. I know basic things about myself. So I started keeping a journal, writing my progress with my powers, my thirst.. I didn’t refrain back then, and sometimes I wish I did. I wrote alias’s I took, but never my name. I never thought I would forget that.
Throughout the day, one word has been on the tip of my tongue. Red. I’m not sure why it’s so stuck there. I just keep circling back to red. I come back to red, and a vision of glasses. My intuition works in mysterious ways. Either it’s a vision, it’s a word on the tip of my tongue, or my body shifts. I feel it nestling inside. A witch’s intuition is normally accurate; I just rarely take it seriously. Yet I feel more fatigued than normal. I rub my arms and shiver. A simple whisper and a flame is in my hand. I warmed my hands a bit before putting them out and rubbing my arms again. My abilities are larger than simple whispered spells, but I told myself I wouldn’t interfere with the mortal realm as much as my existence already does.
I fumble with my keys, my hands shaky. The cold reminds me of bitter memories. The weather and the still frames in my mind both attributing to my shakes. I feel such guilt. Guilt for things I can’t control, things I can. Things that happened long ago. I can’t let go of the memories... I feel so much guilt. Picturesque memories flash.. A cold forest with dark pine trees and laughter. The clouds covered the sun, and still his smile shone brighter than any reflection of the sun could. I opened my creaky door and stepped inside my house. The air was warm, but I was still so cold. After years of staying with others, or in motels, I bought this house. It’s been with me since the 70s? She’s old but full of character. Beautiful dark red walls, dark oak trim, red curtains with matching rugs. The floor matched the trim: dark and sleek.
I stepped into my room, braiding my hair and then wrapped it in a bun. It feels more secure and way lighter than if i threw it up loose. I slip out of the tight day clothes I was wearing and into pajamas. A green tank top and loose sweatpants. I take my toothbrush and glide the mint-charcoal toothpaste on it, my mind deep in thought. Perhaps these visions are a sign of a threat.. or worse. I set the brush down, rinse and spit, then go to dab perfume on my wrists and neck, my cat rubbing against my legs with a delighted purr. It’s not traditional for my kind to keep familiars, but the coven that took me in insisted I have a familiar to ward off the unwanted and to help strengthen my powers. You would think familiars are intelligent and dedicated, right? Wrong. Jana is lazy, useless, eats all my food, and scratches all my furniture. She occasionally helps with something, but mostly she negs me from the kitchen counter as I clean. And today, my dearest Jana has blessed me with ripped rugs.
“God damn it!” I sighed. The air was stupidly cold. I picked Jana up and put her on her cat tree. I bought this eyesore because it’s supposed to keep her off my rugs. But this spoiled princess does whatever she likes, and I can’t lie. It’s my fault. I spoil her rotten. She knew we’d be a magnificent pair, regardless of my threats to turn her into a scarf over claws. “I’m gonna put cayenne pepper on the rug if you don’t stop.” I muttered, dejected. Jana hissed and turned her back on me. Spoiled. I shiver so hard my teeth chatter; I step towards the thermostat and set it to 76 degrees, and step away towards the couch. As I sit, my body settles into the curves of the couch, swallowing me whole. I pulled my covers over me and tried to sleep. But I keep replaying the day over again. Well, here’s another night either thinking myself to sleep, or I try that new balm Donna gave me. She’s the coven elder; she and her sister, Jude, created the coven in the 40s to keep the witches of Torrance safe.
She made me the balm because she felt bad that I didn’t get good rest. It’s strange how I’m older but she seems wiser. I sigh; sleep evades me. I wrapped the blanket around myself and walked to my cabinet. Flicking through my bottles, reading tiny label after tiny label. Gotcha. I pull a mason jar out labeled “sleep”. It’s just chamomile, passionflower, lavender, hibiscus, lemon balm, and shea butter. I rubbed it on my venous points like lotion and grabbed my cookbook. I focused whatever was left of my strength into a single word in my mind, light flickering from the places I rubbed the mixture on. The spell takes effect. I felt my eyelids get heavy and ushered myself back to the warm couch. As I sank into the cushions, I saw visions of yellow and blue, like the sky on a hot summer’s day. A feeling of cold washed over my skin, like water on sunburned skin. The color red and long eyelashes. Then black..
I awoke with a gasp. The image leaving my brain, giving me mental whiplash. Not again.. I’m not ready. I clutch my head and sigh. Rubbing slow and deep circles into my temples. My breathing is rapid and shallow. I take deep breaths, but it feels unnecessary. I feel faint, so I rest on my elbows. Jana slowly climbs onto my lap, rubbing her head against my stomach. My breathing levels out, and I take one big breath. I forgot pets help with anxiety stuff, since all Jana does is make me stressed. I get up and make some coffee. The clock’s at 1 am, a hell of a lot earlier than when I normally get up. I poured the coffee into a mug I bought on clearance labeled “100% That Witch”. Very fitting. Sipping it, I slink to my desk, opening my ancient Mac up. The cogs in my mind turn until they click. Red and glasses. There’s a tightening in my chest, and I chew my lip. The computer finally loads with a ‘Welcome, Laurie.’. I punched in my password and checked my inbox. Nothing but junk mail and subscriptions I need to cancel. Payments overdue for Netflix, a newsletter from the local grocery store. Basic things. Something catches my eye right as I’m about to delete it. SDN is hiring! ... The fuck is SDN?
I click it open and am greeted by a very large, brunette man. He’s smiling with an enthusiastic thumbs-up. I scan the email. SDN stands for Superhero Dispatch Network. They’re hiring ‘villains’, hoping to rehabilitate them into heroes. I mean, you can lead a horse to water, but I doubt these will drink. I don’t think I’m a villain. I mean, I have a tangled history, but nothing insane. What have I done to be deemed a ‘villain’? I think it over, still chewing my lip. I suppose extra money doesn’t hurt. I scroll down to the “click here to apply” button and fill out an application. They don’t ask normal application questions, I suppose you wouldn’t ask “What are your job requirements” to people who have potentially killed. They ask about your job experience and teamwork skills. I put down that I was in a coven. Not sure if that counts as team skills or a job, since all we did was individual work and mini gatherings. Mostly for members’ home gardens, or for good health that month. Once I finished, I pressed send application and sighed. I pushed back from the desk, raked my fingers through my hair, and found my teeth a resting spot on my lip. This sure as hell is gonna be interesting.
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I grabbed a book and lay down, Jana trotting into the room and jumping on my leg. I wince, and she gives me a smug look before cuddling into my arms. I read a few chapters to her as she dozed off. I had something happening today, and I didn’t want to oversleep. Cursing myself, I forced myself to rub the soreness from my eyes and forget the idea of skipping and taking another nap. I pick my phone up and check my messages.
1 message from ‘Beck’
“Hey Laurie, let me know if you’re gonna be here.”