Chapter 201

Tessa’s POV

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous about seeing Anna and Bernard. With everything that happened since I last saw them, I wasn’t really sure where I stood with them.

Joseph slept like a log for the rest of the day, but I couldn’t bring myself to get any sleep. Maybe it was the fact that the sun was awake, so naturally I was too. Or maybe it was because I was nervous about my finals and still wondering if I passed. My mind has just been so clouded.

Or maybe it was because I went from being an average mortal girl to a witch overnight.

It was a lot to take in all at once.

“I might not be able to get into your head… but you can certainly get into mine,” Joseph murmured from beside me, startling me.

I looked at him and saw that his eyes were now open, and he was peering up at me.

“What?” I asked him, genuinely confused by his statement.

“I can feel your worry as if it’s my own,” he said, sitting up and leaning his back against the backboard.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, staring down at my hands. “I guess I am a little worried about today.”

He reached over and grabbed my hand, holding it gently.

“Let’s just take it one step at a time. Anna is knowledgeable and I’m sure she will be able to help you.”

I forced a smile, but I knew it didn’t reach my eyes.

He leaned over and brushed his lips across mine, making my heart skip a beat. I smiled into his kiss, a genuine smile this time. There wasn’t anything that a kiss from Joseph couldn’t fix.

I loved the way he felt against me; I loved his warmth and touch.

I loved him.

We soon got out of bed, and I grabbed some clothes from my suitcase before going into the bathroom to take a quick shower. When I was finished, the scent of bacon assaulted my nose, and my mouth began to water.

Joseph must have been cooking breakfast.

It was strange eating breakfast at 9 pm, but I hadn’t eaten in hours, and I was starving, so I wasn’t going to complain. When I went into the kitchen, he was standing over the stove, frying bacon and scrambling eggs.

I walked up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist, resting my cheek on his back and basking in the comfort he provided me, and the knowledge that he was here. This time in the mountains was going to be different because we were no longer in a dating trial; this was the real thing.

This was our end game.

Or… it was my end game.

Joseph was going to live on long after my death.

The thought of me getting older while Joseph remained young and vibrant invaded my mind again and suddenly, I was feeling self-conscious.

“Tess?”

I realized Joseph had been talking to me and I hadn’t been listening.

I released my hold on him and stood beside him.

“Sorry, what?”

He smiled and glanced at me before returning his focus on the eggs.

“I was just asking if you could hand me that plate on the kitchen island.”

“Oh, yeah,” I said, turning and grabbing a plate off the counter before turning back to him. “Sorry. I guess my head is still a little cloudy.”

“Nothing a little breakfast can’t fix,” he said with a grin.

I nodded as he piled eggs and bacon on the plate.

I gave him another plate and he did the same with that one too. While he was finishing plating the food, I poured a couple of mugs of coffee that were freshly brewed.

We sat at the kitchen table, ate our breakfast, and drank our coffee. We mainly ate in silence with some small talk. But I was too lost in my thoughts to truly engage in a conversation, and he knew this as well, so he allowed me time and space to come to terms with everything that was happening.

When we finished eating, I helped him wash the dishes and clean the table. Then, I waited until Joseph finished getting dressed.

Once we were ready, we left the house and stepped into the cool night air. As soon as we were outside, I took a deep breath and felt my entire body relaxing.

It was a lot livelier at night; a few vampires were walking around, getting ready for their daily duties and work. I knew most of the vampires went to the Vamp House for breakfast and I wondered if Anna and Bernard were there this morning with the other elders.

I got a few looks of recognition as we walked through the small mountain neighborhood, and I tried to give them small smiles as we passed.

"Does Anna and Bernard know we are here?” I asked.

Joseph nodded.

“Yeah, I told them yesterday,” he answered. “Even if I hadn’t told them, as the overseer, Bernard would have known we entered the mountain area.”

“I see,” I said as we continued walking.

We didn’t walk for long until we reached Anna and Bernard’s house. Joseph knocked on the door, and within seconds it was opening.

“Joseph!”

I recognized Anna’s voice right away as she stepped out of the house and threw her arms around Joseph who returned the hug.

“Hey, Anna,” he greeted as he released her.

She stepped back and stared up at him fondly.

I will never get over how beautiful Anna was; she was like a goddess, and it took my breath away.

Anna’s eyes soon found mine and her smile grew.

“Hello, Tessa,” she said sweetly.

Then, to my utter surprise, she stepped closer to me, wrapped her arms around me, and hugged me tightly.

I, of course, hugged her back.

“Did Bernard tell you why we are here?” Joseph asked.

Anna nodded.

“Yes. Those new vampires are making a name for themselves, and nobody here can be bothered with it,” Anna said rolling her eyes. “But he also mentioned Tessa and I would be happy to share with her what I know. It’s not much, but I might have something that can help.”

My eyes lit up from her words and I felt a heavy weightlifting off my shoulders. Anna had some knowledge about this, which meant she could help me.

Joseph turned to face me, pressing his lips against my temple.

“I’m going to the Vamp house to find Bernard,” he said to me softly.

My stomach clenched from his words.

I didn’t like the idea of Joseph not being by my side during all this, but I knew he was mainly here because he had a job to do. So, I smiled up at him and wrapped an arm around his waist as he wrapped both his arms around my body.

“I’ll see you soon, okay?” He whispered against my ear.

I nodded and lifted my head so I could kiss him.

He brushed his lips across mine before releasing me.

He said goodbye to Anna and then he was gone.

Anna turned to me and motioned for me to enter her house; I didn’t hesitate. I followed her through the door, and we went into her living room.

Anna sat in her reclining chair, and I sat on her couch.

“So, tell me, Tessa. How have you been?” She asked, a smile on her lips.

“I’ve been okay,” I told her, trying to be as truthful as I could be. “I just finished finals and am mentally and emotionally drained.”

She nodded thoughtfully as she took in my answer.

“I’m sure you did amazing,” she breathed.

“I hope so,” I murmured. “These last few weeks haven’t been easy on my mind, so I hope I wasn’t too clouded.”

Her face softened as she leaned across the coffee table and grabbed onto my rested arms.

“Tessa, I know it can’t be easy finding out new things about yourself,” she breathed. “I’m sorry that it was thrown at you so suddenly. It’s funny because when you were here last time, I sensed there was something different about you. But I couldn’t figure out what it was. Knowing that you’re a witch, didn’t come as a surprise. It was more like a realization.”

My face heated from her words, and I stared down at my hands to avoid her piercing green eyes.

“I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” she breathed. “I was close to the witches when I was growing up. I lived near a Coventry and one of my best friends was a witch. They were healers. It’s the reason I wanted to become a nurse.”

Beyond the thoughtfulness in her eyes, I noticed a bit of sadness as well.

“But that was a long time ago,” she continued, clearing her throat.

I frowned.

“What happened?” I asked.

“When I became a bloodslave for a vampire, they kept their distance from me. But then I met Bernard, and he saved me from the bloodslave life. However, when I became a vampire….” Her voice trailed off and she stared at the ground, sheepishly.

“They cut contact…” I finished her thought.

She lifted her gaze and met mine again before nodding.

“Vampires and witches are known to not get along.”

“Why?” I found myself asking; curiosity piqued my interest.

She sighed and shook her head sadly.

“I’m unsure,” she said softly. “I’m afraid that’s just how it’s been for a long time.”

“I’m sorry you had to lose your friends,” I replied.

She gave me a small smile before leaning back in her seat; she studied me for a moment.

“Enough about me, we are here because of you,” she said, entwining her fingers and placing them on her lap. “You just found out you are a witch and that is huge.”

“It’s nerve-wracking,” I said, giving her a nervous chuckle. “But I guess I don’t have to worry about the magic part of it for another couple of years.”

Her brows furrowed together as she assessed my face.

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“My father told me that I won’t actually get my powers until I’m 25,” I answered.

Her brows rose to her hairline.

“It might be true that magic reaches its mature point at age 25. But you can start using your magic much earlier. I believe it’s 21.”

My whole heart fell into my stomach.

“What?” I gasped, unsure if I heard her correctly.

“I believe a witch’s magic arrives at age 21,” she repeated. “It’s important to start learning how to use and control your magic by the time it matures.”

“What happens if it matures, and I haven’t learned how to use it?” I asked, terrified of what she was about to say next.

Worry crossed her features as she met my eyes.

“If you don’t learn to control your magic by the time you are 25… your magic will control you.”