The Coven

Solstice: Chapter 22

The car ride back to Willow Creek was more sombre than Lilly thought it would be. Everyone was pleased with the outcome of the trial, though they had been too close to losing their Coven.

"Well I think this is a wake up call." Jake's mom said fom the front seat as she turned down the music on the radio, "You guys have been reckless with your affinities. Now that this has happened maybe you will spend more time using them to be helpful rather than to have fun."

"You think what we've been through is fun? Jake asked, "Mom, people have tried to kill us. We used them to defend ourselves."

"When you should have come to us for help." Mrs. Thompson continued, "The Anderson's, the Winters and us are all in a Coven of our own, we could have helped you with Norah."

Lilly listened as Jake and Hailey argued with his parents, back and forth they went with what the Coven should have done. Eventually it became too heated and Lilly zoned out. Yes, they should have asked someone, anyone for help but would the adults have believed them? Everything that happened from the summer was in the Book of Souls, something they didn't know the Coven of teenagers had access to.

Would they have belived that two hooded creatures were following them around town? Would they have beleieved that those creatures were Mason's parents and dragged him into the woods to use as a sacrifice?

Lilly's head hurt thinking of all the ways they could have handled everything that had been thrown at them. Would have. Could have. Should have. Everything was in the past now. Norah. Sine Anima. Raiden. They were all alone now, just the Coven.

The car pulled up in front of the cottage, Lilly thanked the Thompson's and closed the door as quickly as possible running up to the cottage and heading towards the back deck where she knew her parents would be.

"How was the city?" Her mom asked

Lilly shrugged, "Fun. I didn't find anything I wanted."

"That's a shame." She paused for a moment, "Mason is down on the dock waiting for you."

Lilly frowned. She just said goodbye to Mason outside of the Authority Building. She quickly trotted down the stairs to the dock where Mason was standing on the edge. When he heard her, he turned to her, holding out his hand. 

"What's wrong?" Lilly asked as she slid her fingers into his, "I just saw you. I thought we would get together tonight?"

He pulled her in and wrapped his arm around her waist, "What's wrong with wanting to see you now?" 

Lilly couldn't think of any reason why she would want to be anywhere else. The sun was setting and the waves were gently crashing against the shore. She pulled Mason down to sit on the edge of the dock with their feet dangling in the warm water.

This moment was her summer. The sun, the waves, the breeze flowing through her hair all the while holding the man she loved. Mason Avery may not be perfect, the tattoos, the attitude, the sarcasm, but to her he was perfect. She could not imagine not being with him, his arms wrapped around her body, his lips on her lips, the way he looked at her, the way he said her name.

When the summer was done that was going to come to an end. She was going to be in high school and he was going to be in college. He was only going to Boston but how many new people would he meet? How many of those people will be sophisticated women?

As much as Lilly didn't want to think of herself as an overly attached girlfriend she couldn't help but tighter her grasp on Mason's hand. He was hers and they belonged together. After everything they had been thorugh as a couple, she couldn't stand the thought of being without him.

"Hey." He said gently, squeezing her, "What's going on?"

Oh how he could read her, she turned to face him, "What's going to happen in the fall?"

He shrugged, "I'll be in college, you'll be in school. I'll see you on weekends and holidays, It's going to be hard but we can do it."

"What if you meet someone else?"

He laughed, his body shook hers, "Who am I meeting?"

"I don't know. Some Brazillian exchange student who is beautiful and exotic."

Mason laughed again, "Lilly look at me." Slowly she turned to face him, he was so close she could feel his breath on her skin, "There is no one I want to be with more than you. You're the first person I think of when I wake up, and the last one before I go to sleep. When I am not with you I wish I was, and when I am with you I dread when one of us has to leave."

Lilly smiled and pressed her lips onto his. Everytime she did she still felt the pang of excitement in her chest like she did when they first kissed. She pulled away and narrowed her eyes at him, "Promise? No exotic exchange students with chestnut hair and chocolate eyes?"

He laughed again, "Have I ever told you about my thing for blondes?"

Lilly grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him in for a kiss again. Things were about to start changing but he was right. As long as they had each other, and their Coven, they would be strong.

And a little help from affinities could never hurt.