Welcome to Mist Hill

Chapter 31. Are you lonesome tonight.

'You have ten minutes' said Elaine.

I had been learning more and more from her this past month. Enough so that I decided to ask her to let me write tests and do assignments to prove that I had actually learned the things she taught.

It was the same with Iladin, with him I had to show all the moves he taught me, and write essays on everything he taught me, like Fae history.

But with Elaine...

I was currently doing match column a to b. a being different dresses, b being to which occasion would you wear them. Her essays were more like speeches I had to write and she would deem if they were appropriate for the public or not.

When Cillian left I threw myself into work. I was nearly excellent with both fire and lava, not ice. We had no ice users here, not since Morgana died. I knew more about Fae history and language than I did human.

As I wrote my bracelet clinked against my wrist, there were four bronze arrows on it, back to back to cover my wrist. He left it for me with a note when he decided to leave.

I understood why he left, but I hated that he did. He could've kept me safe from here. Not hunting dangerous witches.

'Time is up'

I put the pen down, finishing just in time.

I don't even say goodbye as I leave, they were used to my moods by now. I preferred being quiet, afraid that if I speak I would crack. I'd cracked enough the two days after he left.

Bette had saved me. She basically broke into my home when I wouldn't answer my door. She brought the scrolls. I was depicted in those damn pictures. There was no mistaking it. Since then she has been helping me. Coming over almost every day. Most days Gabbe tagged along, she would play with Red or Mixi while Bette and I worked, she helps me study.

At least today I would be alone today. The coven had a meeting with my Father today. So, I could clean, then indulge in a hot bath with a glass of wine.

'Hey girl' I say when Mixi runs to me.

'Hungry?'

After feeding her I put my iPod into a speaker and turned to "I Prevail"

Something hip to listen to while I cleaned my place. Later I could enter my old school heartbreak hotel type stuff. It wasn't ideal, I knew we hadn't broken up or anything, but I still missed him. One month...he had been gone for a whole month. He left and I haven't heard a word from him.

He could at least have texted me now and then. Called me maybe? I slept with his note under my pillow, it was the closest he had come to saying he loved me. Unfortunately, I had only let myself realize I truly loved him when he left. Not that I could tell him that anyway. Not with his damn curse. Yet another reason I wanted to track down those hags and wring answers from their necks myself.

I had no proof but I had a sneaking suspicion that all of this was connected.

The curses, the assassination attempts. Why wouldn't it be connected? It all happened when I started digging around. Bette and Arriane assured me that it didn't mean that I was responsible. That there was no way they could've known I was poking around when I was. They, Bette and Arriane were both helping me by looking into their world to try and locate that one witch and figure her name.

House clean, I went upstairs to run a bath. The I as the water was running I got me glass of Faerie wine, to be quite honest I drank about a bottle of this a night these days. I didn't know if that made me an alcoholic or not. Probably did. Putting on Elvis Presley's greatest hits I got into the bath.

"Are you lonesome tonight?

Do you miss me tonight?

Are you sorry we drifted apart?"

Yes, yes and yes. I loved me some Elvis, it was a nice switch up from the Beatles.

"Now the stage is bare,

And I'm standing there,

With emptiness all around

And if you won't come back to me,

Then they can bring the curtain down...'

I sigh after singing along with that part. The truth was that I was indeed lonely. Especially at night. Without him next to me sleep felt impossible. I had gone to his room a few days after he left and stole one of his shirts, put it on a pillow and had been holding that every night since.

I was pathetic. Mixi at least sticked with me, she wouldn't sleep anywhere but here with me. And I found comfort in her presence.

I was brushing my hair out when my phone rang. As always, I had hoped it was Cillian, but to no avail. Instead it was from a number I didn't recognise. I declined the call, only for it to ring again. So, I picked up

'Hello?'

"Phyre? Is that who?"

'Uh yeah who's this?'

"It's Amarina. I'm sorry dear Nicholai gave me your number. Is this a bad time?" Amarina, the Vampire Queen of Italy was calling me on my cell phone. But then what was I expecting? Her to send a messenger bat?

'Uh hey Amarina, no well yeah but you can talk'

"Oh yes I heard about al that trouble you had last month. And of Cillian's departure. I am very sorry to hear about it. Are you okay?"

'I'm as good as can be expected. So, what's up?'

"I don't want you to get your hopes up but I might have a lead on that witch. But as it is very crucial information I thought it better to meet in person"

Oh my God, she might have a lead.

I could end this...I could end it soon. Cillian could come home...wait, she said not to get my hopes up, but...

'Wait are in Mist Hill?'

"No, I'm not I was wondering if you would like to come to me? You did say you always wanted to see Rome? We also have an ice user here that may be able to help you. Your father said you needed an instructor?"

'Yes, I do, uhm there is one thing, I have a cat, I am not willing to leave her here alone'

After Raoula wanted to hurt her I wouldn't leave her, she sometimes even accompanied me around the lands.

"Oh, please Phyre, of course you can bring your kitty! I'll send my private jet to fetch you. They can be there by tomorrow afternoon?"

'Awesome Amarina. Thank you'

'But of course, Ciao Phyre see you soon" she says hanging up.

I put my phone down and look at Mixi;

'Guess what baby girl' I ask her picking her up and cuddling her to my chest;

You and I are going on an adventure, we're going to Rome!'

And hopefully get a new lead...