Celia had taken her time to think it over. The pros and cons of leaving, whether or not it was right to go now that she’d sort of settled in as a teacher (despite it never having been her dream career). She wanted to delve more into science. She always had. Her curse had been...a dreadful blip on the radar of her life, though it had allowed her to meet wonderful people. This was never supposed to be permanent.
Making the decision to leave, was in the end, rather simple. Her conversation with her mother had left her shaken up, and it brought forth such longing that it was hard not to think of it. It was impossible not to want to go home and have her favorite dishes and remember a childhood full of warmth and want to rebuild from her messy past. Maybe it was overly optimistic, but she felt like home could really be India once again. Time had passed, and Celia felt stronger than she’d been back then. If not now...when?
It was easy enough to end her lease, to pack up her things and to pay the extra fees to bring her dog with her. She wrote letters to her friends and she informed Secondary’s principle that she would not be returning that year. After that there were no real loose ends to worry about.
Several of her possessions were being sent through the mail, but she did manage to get it all packed up quick enough. Despite her living there for close to two years, Celia had never allowed herself to settle enough to own too much. It had never felt permanent. That made it much easier for her to go.
Celia took one last look around her flat before she made her way out, her dog in tow as she called a cab. She asked the driver to loop around town once, wanting to capture it all in her memory one last time before it took her out of Swynlake and brought her toward London.
In what felt like no time at all she had boarded the plane and despite the length of the flight, Celia was filled with a nervous energy that made it difficult for her to rest throughout the journey. That same energy remained as they landed, as she made her way through customs, as she stepped out and caught sight of her Amma and her Abba with a big sign spelling out Chandni.
A smile spread across the woman’s face as she rushed forward to embrace them, dropping her luggage to the side as she was engulfed in their arms and in her family’s love. This was it. This was what she had been longing for. She was home.
The one where Celia calls her mom for the first time in 2 years
It had taken a few weeks from when the curse was lifted for Celia to get the courage to do this. She hadn’t spoken to her family since...well since she’d decided to change her name and flee India. That had been nearly two years ago, and she hadn’t let herself look back. She was too afraid to do so.
Even then, she had her parents’ numbers saved. She’d glanced them over from time to time, telling herself that this would be the moment she’d tell them where she was and how she was doing. She’d tell herself this every month, but Celia hadn’t had the courage.
Celia had let it sit and let it fester. That meant she’d let her family wonder where she’d gone with no real answer other than out of the country. It was long overdue for her to reach out to them.
Even so, she stared at her phone as if it was toxic. The longer she’d waited on this, the harder it would be for her to do it. Celia sucked in a breath and let it out again, running a hand through her hair as she finally forced herself to dial the number.
Celia didn’t trust her hands not to shake, so she set her phone down on her coffee table, letting it go on speaker and reaching out to pet her dog to calm herself down. It rang and rang until finally it cut off abruptly, a breath taken and Celia almost found herself hanging up again.
“....Hello?”
“Amma? Amma it’s me...” Celia managed, tears already blurring her vision as she tried to keep herself steady.
“Me? How...Chandni? Can it be?” The woman gasped on the other end of the phone, and just the few words had her start to cry. Celia couldn’t believe that she’d let herself go this long without speaking to her mother. Without communicating at all. She had forgotten how comforting her mother’s voice could be.
She sucked in a shaky breath, rubbing at her eyes furiously as she tried to steady herself. “Yes...yes Amma it’s me. I’m...I’m so sorry I haven’t called I...I know it’s been so long and you might not want to speak to me b-but I-”
“Beta no. I cannot let you continue without telling you something important. You are my daughter, I love you very much, and I’ve missed you terribly.” The woman was steady and clear, and Celia felt herself hunching over as she gave up on her attempts not to cry. She had missed her mother and her family terribly. “I-I’ve missed you too Amma. So much. I’m sorry that I panicked. I didn’t know what to do and I...I thought that leaving would be the best thing for all of us.”
“Because you turned that idiot at work to stone? Chandni, you know we would have supported your case yes? We had no idea where this came from but you are our daughter...your father and I...you know this...” The words washed over her and soothed her as much as it ached to hear her mother and not see her. It had been far too long since she’d been home, and even longer since she’d allowed herself to be thought of as Chandni Ghosh and not Celia Gorgon.
She felt for the first time like she was really herself again. It felt like she could finally breathe. “I...I know that now Amma.” She wiped away some of her tears, forcing herself to take a deep breath and let it out again. “I was scared. But...But I don’t need to be scared anymore. I...I’m free of it. I...I got rid of it!”
“Really? That’s wonderful Beta! Your father spent months and months trying to find out more about that awful man that did this to you. Of course I told him that this was a rather dangerous notion, and that he should really do more research on how to protect himself. But he really missed you, and just recently he thought he’d made a break through.”
Celia let herself sigh, leaning against her couch cushion as she let her mother’s words wash over her and soothe her in a way nothing had fully done since she’d arrived in Swynlake. Maybe that was a sign. Maybe Celia could do with a trip back home. “Well he can stop now. I’m back to normal. I’m not sure...but I think I may be ready to come home.”
She had made wonderful friends in this town of course, and she’d experienced incredible things, but Celia was ready to go back. She was ready to be Chandni Ghosh again. “I’ll call you again soon Amma. I need a few days to get my thoughts in order.”
Tom could tell that Celia was nervous, but he was impressed how well she was handling it that regardless. He’d only met her a few times, of course, but she was the shy type. The kind that seemed to be a bit more like water than the ship cutting through it. Tom may be quiet, but he rose to a challenge, when the cause was worthy. He didn’t hesitate. It got him into trouble but it also served him well.
So, he admired that despite her shortcomings, Celia was more than willing to get up on Joey and give it a try.
Once they were up, he gave her a few more pointers about where to keep her feet, how to steer, and how to speed up and slow down. Then, they started off together, angling towards the forest that had just been mentioned.
“Yes, usually. I go with my friend Phil, a lot. His horse is Samson, that first one you saw me with. Sometimes, if I want to let the horse run free, I’ll take them down to the South of Swynlake and let ‘em stretch there legs that way. But, it’s great to have so many different paths. Even my island didn’t have so much.
How are you enjoying it then?” he asked, turning in his saddle a little to see her.
“Ahhh. I’ve always wondered where riders might want to go.” Celia had figured the forest was one of the main places, but she did think there might be some drawbacks or extra caution one might need to take to go in. The forest wasn’t called Enchantra for nothing after all.
But maybe Celia was just overly cautious, as per usual. But it was nice, if a little strange to sit so high off the ground. Joey walked very comfortably, and it brought a small smile to her face. Perhaps new experiences like this were important. It was fascinating!
“Oh. I like it I think. I mean I do like it. It’s sort of strange, but in a good way. I think it gives you a wonderfully different perspective. I wish I’d thought to try this before. Thank you for this.”
Artemis had never taken someone’s magic like this. She had been trained to only do so when ordered. It was that fear instilled within her that allowed her to control her powers. Always the fear of hurting someone. Of taking too much. Of taking something that did not want to be taken. The Tribunal saw her for what she was: terrifying, powerful. She knew these things of herself.
And she wanted to not be those things. It was why she had offered Belle her help, back when Belle was pregnant with the darling child that sat quietly now, watching intently. Artemis did not want people to suffer. She was under no illusion that all magic was a gift. Sometimes, sometimes, magic was only a curse. Perhaps, under the right circumstances, one could use it to protect, to dole out justice, as Artemis so often did, but just as often–
It only hurt.
“No, it won’t hurt. And I suppose, if you cannot already feel it thrumming in your veins, then you will not feel it when it leaves.” Celia’s hands touched Artemis’ and she felt the magic pulsing. A little shiver ran up her spine and then, Artemis breathed out. “It is already done. Go in peace, sister.”
It was strange.
One moment Celia was cursed...and the next it was gone. Or so Artemis said. She could feel her face warm, or was it just her eyes? The hint of tears at the possibility of finally being free. Of finally just being herself again.
Her heartbeat picked up speed, the fear and nervous energy building up despite her best efforts. Celia made herself look at her savior. If Artemis was wrong she would know in a moment. She would know and she’d look out for her and apologize the moment Artemis returned to normal. She looked and she looked, and her anxiety waited and waited to see if anything would happen. To see if Artemis was truthful.
Nothing had changed. No one was turned to stone. It was just Celia and Artemis holding hands. Celia found herself giving up and just letting the tears go. It was a good cry, something that had built up over the years she had been experiencing this, had closed herself off to others because she knew she was dangerous.
“I...I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am. Thank you Artemis. Thank you Belle. I....I truly...” She was at a loss for words, but the smile that spread across her face, the relief that she really was free brightening her face. Celia was no longer cursed. She could do anything she wanted. She could finally return home.
Oh, right. Celia was a science teacher at the secondary. Which Tom had probably forgotten about on purpose until just now because it made him feel…inadequate. Or stupid, really. He didn’t know much about science at all. Just the basics. E=MC2 and all that. (Though, he couldn’t tell you what E=MC2 actually meant.)
Still, he thought it was cool. Even if it made him self-conscious.
And his eyebrows raised in surprised delight at the facts that she spouted about horses. “Woah, I didn’t know that!” Tom crowed. And while he did know that horses lived in herds, he’d never really thought much about it, since several mindless animals did that too.
“I’m glad I invited you too. And animals are definitely better than people. We should probably hop on if we want to catch our ride time, yeah?” He opened the stall and grabbed Joey by the reins gently, before handing them off to Celia.
“Just stand still, put one hand there under his nose, and hold the reins across your body on the other side. Just like that, yeah. I’m gonna grab my horse for the day.” John forgo Samson, not wanting him to make an asshole out of himself. Instead, the stable had set him up on a spirited mare named Karli.
“Alright, let’s go. To walk ‘im forward, just give him a little tug. Or cluck to him. Then, he’ll just follow you out.” Tom demonstrated with Karli.
Celia found herself sitting on a horse.
That was something she wouldn’t have imagined for herself when she’d left India. It was strange, though she found herself lightly petting joey’s neck with one hand, the other carefully gripping the reins the way Tom said. There was no way she’d disregard any instruction when it came to riding on a 80 stone or heavier animal.
“Right.” Well Celia wasn’t too sure she was confident in whatever clucking really was, so she settled for lightly tugging at the reins to guide Joey toward Tom and Karli. It was fascinating really, to see how far off the ground she sat. Really Celia would probably enjoy studying the shift in perspective more than anything else. But now wasn’t the time to think about different interesting studies she could make. She was going to enjoy her ride with Tom.
“Where do you usually go when you ride like this? Into the forest?”
Belle was not surprised at the reaction. She had shared a similar one with Celia when she had first learned of Artemis’ powers. There had been suspicion and worry, a little bit of fear, also awe. Mostly, it was just curiosity. Belle had read about those who were immune to certain (and in extremely rare cases: all) magic, but not someone who could take away magic the way Artemis claimed.
It was amazing and horrifying, but in this particular instance: it was a miracle.
Belle saw the same hope for Celia she had once grasped, if only briefly, for herself and Opal when she had been pregnant. When Artemis had appeared like a fairy godmother with the solution in the tips of her fingers. Even though they had not had need of her in the end, it was that encounter that made Belle trust Artemis now, even around her infant daughter–who could have magic, whose magic could be taken away by this gentle, intimidating person.
“No,” Artemis said with a shake of her head. “I wouldn’t ask for payment for something like this, sister.” She smiled lightly. “I want to help. If this is what would soothe your pain, I will do so gladly.”
Artemis placed her hands on the table, her palms facing up the same warm color of the wood, waiting for Celia to grasp them back.
Celia was a little overwhelmed. The prospect of her curse being gone in a matter of moments was big. It had felt like such a long time since she’d had the curse. Or time had moved rather differently to her since she’d gotten it. In any case, here she was and she was about to be rid of the thing that kept her from truly being able to live. It was overwhelming.
She forced herself to take a breath and let it out again. This would be fine. This would be more than fine if they were right and the magic worked. Celia took another moment to steady herself before she was reaching out, gently taking the hands that Artemis offered to her.
It was nice really. In all of the imagined ways Celia thought she would be rid of her curse, she never thought it could go so nicely. “How long will it take? I mean...will I feel a difference? Or...or will I have to be scared in order to know for sure?”
Tom dropped his hand away as soon as he could tell that Joey was going to behave himself around the lady. Which he wasn’t surprised about. Since coming to town, Tom often wandered down to the stables and had lent a hand mucking stalls or preparing horses for trail rides. So, he’d gotten to know some of the barn’s herd quite well.
He reached up and pat at Joey’s neck soundly as the horse lipped gently at Celia’s hand, looking for treats.
Tom watched Celia (though, he kept one eye on Joey too). He loved when he saw people around horses like this. Their eyes soft and full of wonder, realizing just how incredible the animals were. ‘Course, he didn’t see it ofen, considering everyone where he was from had grown up with his family’s stable and the races that the Order put together once a year.
“They can. Depends on the horse really. Joey here is pretty sound, but he can get spooked if somethin’ surprises him. Just like anyone.” Tom pat his neck again. “Mostly, you just gotta watch their body language and pay attention to your surroundings. And the calmer you are, the calmer they are. They’re incredibly emotionally intelligent,” Tom explained.
"I did hear something about horses being intelligent,” Celia said after a quiet moment, a small smile spreading across her face the longer she stood in the animal’s presence. “Of course I also know the more scientific stuff...facts I just kind of keep in my head you know.” Celia had always been a woman of science, so it was easier to remember details about animals if it had to do with biology or that sort of thing.
She glanced at Tom and her smile only grew. “You know like the fact that they can see nearly 360 degrees at one time. That’s so fascinating. Or that they’re social animals...herd animals. I think there’s something really interesting about the ones that stick with groups.” But maybe Celia was coming off a little more nerdy than she needed to be.
“He seems lovely though. I’m glad you invited me.” Sure, the plan was to ride, but even this was incredible to Celia. With her limited knowledge of horses, she already felt like she had experienced something amazing. She took a breath and then stepped forward carefully, reaching out so she could gently pet the horse’s neck next. “Animals truly are amazing. Better than most people I think.”
“Please, sit,” Belle gestured towards the kitchen table to Celia who was hovering in the middle of the floor. She busied herself with preparing the tea for a moment. It was a soothing activity that cleared her head. Not that it really needed it. Belle was confident in this solution.
Not to mention, happy to be focusing on something that wasn’t her imploding marriage or now-doomed pregnancy.
Helping someone else was much better than all that.
“Artemis?” Belle prompted the nymph as she came back over with the tea, setting the tray down on the kitchen table so everyone could make their own cuppa. She settled in herself, running a hand over Opal’s head to get her to stop being fussy.
“I must ask that what I share with you does not leave this room, for it could be very dangerous for me if some knew of my magic,” Artemis started slowly, looking first at Belle, then Celia, waiting for her to nod.
“I can remove magic from a person, with just a touch. And no, it does not hurt. Nor will it cause any side affects. I have–done this plenty of times before.”
Celia found herself sitting before she could let herself fret more about how appropriate it was or whether she should be making herself comfortable. This clearly would be a longer conversation, if they were going to work out solutions to the curse Celia had had for years now.
She was quick to give her word to Artemis, if only because Celia also knew a good deal about dangerous magic and keeping that secret. She could only imagine the chaos if people knew that someone could just take their magic away with a touch. It was an intimidating notion. It also meant that Artemis could make it so that Celia was no longer a danger to others. And that was all she had ever wanted.
“You...just like that?” Celia questioned, disbelief clear on her face. After all this time, all her research and efforts, and this person could just remove her curse as easily as with a touch? Celia couldn’t help but stare. “I...wow. I hoped for a solution but I didn’t imagine it would be so simple. And you’d really do this for me? Do I...do you want payment?”
I will not ask you where you came from
I will not ask you and neither would you
Celia’s chosen a saree (her go to for formal events), hair loose, silver bracelets with matching necklace, earrings and hairband. Heels also there to match the outfit and put it all together.
Tito couldn’t help but smirk at that. Out of anyone, he was most aware that his name was longer than most. Perk of very Latin parents. Not that he cared. Tito was more fitting, suited him better than his whole name. All he heard when he said that or someone else called him that were his parents screaming at him. Not a good association or thing to think about with his current situation. He truly needed to focus on Celia.
“A cosmo? Fancy,” he grinned as he leaned on the bar and called a bartender over. He ordered her drink easily enough and then turned back to her with a grin. “So what’s a girl like you doin’ in a place like this?”
Celia snorted. She didn’t think a cosmo was all that fancy, but at least it wasn’t as awkward as she thought it would be. “Well, if I could stomach the taste of beer I’d settle for simpler but...well.” She shrugged her shoulders. She’d never been a fan of that.
“Ahhh you know. Trying to get out a bit more. I tend to work and not spend much time relaxing. Rita was trying to help me let loose a little.” Celia smiled sheepishly at him. “Workaholic. Go figure.”
While Rita gave Celia an encouraging smile as she looked back at her, she gave Tito one that said if he hurt her or fucked with her she’d kill him. The whole goal of the night had been to get Celia out, to help her get over the idiot that was DeSoto Sykes. Because a part of Rita felt somewhat responsible. Of course she’d told Celia not to get involved with the neanderthal Sykes but— she hadn’t exactly listened. And now she was heartbroken and scared of going out and meeting anyone new.
But when Celia agreed to one drink with Tito, well, she was hopeful. She knew Tito wasn’t one to get attached. He very seldom partied with the same girl twice and it was even rarer that he spent the night with her. If he did? They were more than aware it wasn’t anything serious. Just a bit of fun. He definitely had no problem being up front with someone.
“Be good,” she smirked after them as Tito offered his arm to her.
Tito saw Rita’s look and rolled his eyes. Obviously this was her friend which meant he couldn’t be too careless. An annoying thing, honestly, because that was his brand, basically. Reckless and careless. A total Casanova when it came to women. It was something he prided himself on.
Not that it mattered because this darling Celia would only agree to one drink. Which was fine. Totally fine. He could do plenty of work with just one drink.
“Nice t’meet yous, Celia. My name is Ignacio Alonzo Julio Frederico de Tito. But please, feel free t’call me Tito. S’way less formal.” He gave her a smirk as he he walked them up to the bar. “Sho what’s your drink of choice tonight? S’on me, beautiful.”
@amoderngorgon
Celia took the arm offered and made her way over toward the bar with the man. It was strange really. She hadn’t been out with anyone like this in months. She wasn’t sure that she would be anything other than awkward. But then the man introduced himself and she couldn’t help but stare.
“And less of a mouthful I should think,” Celia teased, if only a little. She hadn’t really met anyone with such a long name. She wondered if it was truly his name or if he added to it just to sound more impressive.
Her lips curled up into a small smile. “Well...I think I’d be happy with a cosmo. Thank you Tito.”
Celia really did look gorgeous: she was tall and had that thick mane of hair like a stormy ocean wave as it fell over her shoulders. Sure, she wasn’t the kind of girl the Order would want him to marry, but the heart wanted what the heart wanted. Tom had always believed that. He’d dated all sorts of girls at uni. His parents didn’t haveta know. Not til he was sure anyway. More and more Order members were going that route anyway. Though, none of them really got to the meet the parents stage. Knowing what kinda move that would be.
Usually, they eventually settled for an Order girl.
Maybe that would happen to Tom, but as it stood–he was glad to not be around everyone in the Order right now. After everything with Chadwick, no one in the Order really looked at him quite the same. Could just be paranoia, but Tom finally felt like he could breathe in Swynlake.
It was nice.
Celia was nice.
Celia also couldn’t ride horses.
“Wait–what?” Tom asked, blowing out a breath and shaking his head. The surprise was clear, though he wasn’t upset or anything. Just shocked. “Sorry, I guess I just–assumed everyone could ride.” He winced a little and rubbed at the back of his head.
“Donnae worry, I’ve taught plenty of people. We shouldn’t start on ol’ Sampson, here. He’ll take your hand clean off, won’t ya, boy?” Tom smacked the stallion affectionately on his neck, not realizing what that might sound like to someone who wasn’t familiar with horses.
Leading the way a few stalls down, Tom clucked at a lovely bay until the geldings head poked outta the stall. “Now, ya always wanna approach a horse sorta from the side, cuz they cannae see right in front of ‘em. Hold your hand out flat.” He grabbed her wrist gently, flattening her fingers and then holding it below Joey’s nose. “They gotta sharp sense of smell, they do. So, this is how they say hello. Once they smell ya once, they never forget. Joey, this is Celia. Miss Celia, this is Joey.”
Celia had to keep herself from snorting. Tom thought that everyone could ride? That must be a nice way to live. She certainly hadn’t been so well off that she could have been around horses all the time. Horses were expensive, and even if she’d had the drive when she was younger, she had focused her attention on her education. That was what had mattered to her the most.
“Oh. Well I’ve wanted to be able to try it at some point, so you’re giving me a lovely opportunity right now.” Admittedly Celia didn’t fully understand the draw of horses, but she could admit that they were beautiful. And she wanted to experience something new with her new friend.
The woman trailed after him, having to make a concentrated effort to not flinch as he grabbed hold of her wrist. He was gentle, but Celia had grown out of being accustomed to being touched casually by...well by anyone really. She forced herself to take a breath and let it out again, steadying herself and holding up her hand cautiously, watching the horse as she did so.
Joey breathed out, and the warm air and his whiskers brushed against her hand a little and tickled her. “He’s very sweet,” Celia remarked softly, a bit in awe of the animal. “Does he...I mean do they scare easily?”
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