I'm the Queen of Nothing

Avery Hughes. 19. Witch.

[sabrinanevian-blog]

Sabrina moved through the kitchen, searching through every single cabinet that she saw. But even after she’d checked every single one of them, she still couldn’t find what she was looking for. “Fuck, are we out of Oreos?” She let out a sigh and banged the back of her head against a cabinet door. “Guess that means I’m going to a store…. At,” she glanced down at her phone,” 1:12 in the morning. Shit.” 

[avery-hughes-blog]

Avery wandered into the kitchen with a growling stomach and not much else, and was caught off guard when she found Sabrina Nevian, Elder to be, standing so close to her. She quickly blinked away the bleariness in her vision and pieced together a tired but friendly smile. “Why are you going to a store? Actually, whatever the reason, can I come?”

[meadowxchambers-blog-blog]

Her first thought was the alcohol. Meadow was almost ten years older than Avery Hughes. Though they only a few interactions in the past Meadow remembered Avery from her early days in the Coven. Before Meadow had much of a friend group she would sneak away to find time to be by herself. In these moments she would run into the younger children at the Coven, up to some sort of mischief. 

Meadow let out a small smile, tinted with sadness. Where had those kids gone? Meadow had been too wrapped up in growing up that she hadn’t bothered to watch those younger than her. Now Avery was an adult, and she was out here drinking away sorrows. Meadow glanced at Avery as she spoke. Her eyes seemed filled with secrets and sadness. 

“Yes, it is,” Meadow said taking in a breath and finally looking around. Avery had been right. Despite the tension surrounding the Coven due to recent events, the night was calm and comforting. Even the occasional breeze that seemed to envelope them was warm rather than aggressive. 

“I hope I’m not disturbing you,” Meadow adds calmly. Though she was overprotective how could Meadow pretend that she and her friends hadn’t had their share of alcohol underage. No, she wouldn’t be that adult. 

[avery-hughes-blog]

Part of Avery’s secret job was to know everyone inside the coven as intimately as she could. She was good at her job, she liked to think, and because of this she knew to place the glass of wine down before Meadow would think to ask. She even slid it a few inches away along the table, for good measure.

Another part of her job was to be inexhaustibly cheerful, or at least welcoming. In this case it meant giving her alone time a premature goodbye and inviting the other witch to join her. Showing no signs of annoyance or discomfort, Avery twisted in her chair, smiling at Meadow. 

“Not at all,” she lied convincingly, as warm as the night around them. She gestured to the seat beside her. “Want to sit?”

[avery-hughes-blog]

At night, when the moon traced lines across the star-speckled sky, Avery felt most alive. A small part of her knew that there was probably some exaggeration in that statement, an imagined state of being due to her embracing her powers. It didn’t matter, because right now, sitting on one of the coven’s balconies—  her eyes twinkling with plans for the future— she felt drunk with happiness. Although, she probably had the alcohol to thank for that as well.

This was becoming a routine for her. A bottle of wine in hand, she would steal away from her social life, dedicate a drink to her parents, and spend a few hours letting her mind wander. Music played softly, the night was warm, and Avery was content. Maybe one day she would bring someone out here with her, but for now this was a personal ritual.

When someone else stepped outside, Avery didn’t move or try to cover herself up with false smiles; it was a rare moment of truthfulness. “It’s such a nice night, isn't it?” she hummed at the newcomer.

[eviebrxnnan-deactivated20160723]

“I’d like that, yes. If we stick together at least there’s no risk I’ll wander away and bump into a familiar.” She desperately wished to steer clear of them for awhile, there were no words to possibly reassure them when Alain already considered them like a subspecies and treated the as such and now one of their friends had been murdered. Take the fear she felt and triple it and perhaps you’d get close to how they must have been feeling.

[avery-hughes-blog]

"Okay, sounds like a plan.” She stands up and runs a hand through her hair. “I have to go now, but are you gonna be okay? I’ll text you later to make sure you’re holding it together.” She  rubs Holly on the back. “Promise me you’ll at least try to relax.”

[addisonmaxewell]

“No, not very well at least,” she blows strands of her hair out of her face. Samantha had been a couple years younger than her, so while she’d been aware of her existence, but they’d never been friends. “My dad knew her dads though, so he’s been helping them out this past week. What about you?”

[avery-hughes-blog]

Avery sighs sadly. “I don’t think I ever talked to her. I feel terrible because we so easily could have been friends. She didn’t deserve this, at all.”

[arthurinchains]

Jasper raised a brow, not sure he was allowed to tell a witch no. And he certainly didn’t want to get on one’s bad side if he wasn’t already there. “If you really want,” he shrugged before continuing on his way to the kitchen, expecting for her to follow. “What kind of foods do you like? I’ll try to tailor things more to your tastes since you’ll be trying it all.”

[avery-hughes-blog]

“Oh, don’t let me change your plans, I’m sure I’ll love whatever you make. I've really, really liked the food here lately, and I'm sure that's your doing.” Avery fell into step with him as they both walked to the kitchen. “If you really want to know, though, I have a killer sweet tooth.”

[eviebrxnnan-deactivated20160723]

Holly didn’t believe Avery’s words as it was impossible to care about every single person here when some of them were intolerable, but she bit her lip keeping her thoughts to herself. “Will you attend the funeral? I don’t think it’s mandatory, but I want to pay my respects to Samantha’s family.”

[avery-hughes-blog]

"Of course. It’s the least I can do.” She actually wished she could stay away, but she knew that not attending wasn’t an option for her. “My family is probably going, too, but I can meet you there if you’d like.”

[addisonmaxewell]

She laughs awkwardly, “Uhm, no … just got caught up in some drawing, but I shouldn’t really be doing that during a funeral.” She subconsciously pets the cover of her sketchbook before she decides to slip it into her bag. The book held nearly every single vision she had since the beginning of the year, and if Alain had caught her drawing in public, she would have been in lots of trouble. 

[avery-hughes-blog]

Avery nods, sweeping her hair behind her shoulder and taking a seat next to Addison. She was all kindness and compassion, and a tight-lipped, sad smile decorated her features. “Did you know her well?” she asked tentatively.

[addisonmaxewell]

It was a nice day out, at least she could say that. The sun was out and shining with bright blue skies, the flowers chosen were beautiful. She was a little surprised that the Elders had actually put in so much effort on the funeral. Not that it really mattered, it would change the fact that the family would never see their daughter again. Her eyes glanced towards the casket where Samantha’s two dads stood with their youngest daughter, greeting everyone that came to give their condolences. It was obvious that they were trying very hard to keep it together.

With sigh, she sits cross legged in her white, lace dress with a sketchbook in her lap. Her current page was opened to a disturbing picture of a woman holding a bloodied knife in her hand well-manicured hands. It was vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t understand why … Addison slams her sketchbook shut when she sees someone walking her way. 

[avery-hughes-blog]

Avery had attended few funerals in her life, and each one filled her with an unpleasantness that left a bitter taste in her mouth. She hated looking at the family of the deceased, having been in their place once before. Granted, she was barely old enough to remember her parents, let alone their death, but every passing within the coven since has held remnants of theirs. After going through the motions, paying her respects, and looking appropriately somber, Avery wandered to the back of the crowd.

It was there that she found Addison, sketchbook decidedly snapped shut once the young witch had moved too close. She blinked once in mild surprise and then offered a smile. Her curiosity compelled her to moved a little closer. “Am I interrupting something?”

[eviebrxnnan-deactivated20160723]

“I will once it’s all quieted down.” Holly replied, her voice firm and unwavering. I can think of myself, then. Once they’ve caught the killer. “Thank you for saying that, Avery. For caring.”

[avery-hughes-blog]

"Of course,” she says. “I always care. About you, and everyone else. This coven is my life.”

[blackcatisms]

Brandon could see there was no way he was getting out of this, and he didn’t exactly want to be mean and tell her to leave him alone. Who knows, maybe Avery was helping him out, telling him to show face. Maybe it was a good idea to not be cooped up in his room for the rest of his life. Pursing his lips a moment, Brandon then sighed in defeat. 

“Alright, alright. I’ll go to that movie. But if it’s The Notebook, I’m leaving.”

[avery-hughes-blog]

"Yay!” she exclaimed, then shrunk into her seat. “Sorry, that was loud. But good. I’m glad you’re doing this. And trust me, if The Notebook was playing, I’d walk out, too.” She grinned. “I promise you, you’re gonna have fun. Being social and interacting with people shouldn’t be scary.”

[eviebrxnnan-deactivated20160723]

“That’s true and the choice here is to be strong or break down,” Holly replied with a sigh, as she fiddled with the envelope before finally shoving it into her pocket. “People count on me to be strong, that’s what I’ll try to be.”

[avery-hughes-blog]

"Well...” Avery pauses, not entirely sure what to say, which is rare for her. “I think, you owe it to yourself to experience what you’re feeling, you know?”

[arthurinchains]

“That must get exhausting.” he commented when she said she tried to learn everyone’s names. There were so many people within the Coven that he wasn’t even sure there were enough hours in the day to try to remember all of their names. He studied her closely as she took a step forward, instinctively wanting to step back but fighting the urge. “Why’re you sorry? You’re allowed to look however you want to look,” he shrugged. After all, he’d been the jackass that hadn’t been looking. “I was just heading to the kitchen to try to work on a few new recipes for meals.  Yourself? Up to anything exciting?”

[avery-hughes-blog]

Avery shrugged. Everything about her was easy and weightless, and she silently extended the invitation for him to follow. "Oh, I’m doing nothing exciting. I was just going to go to my room.” She let a pause linger between them before she started up again. “So, do you mind if I join you? I can be your taste tester.”

[eviebrxnnan-deactivated20160723]

Avery had been watching silently as the brunette had been practically boring holes into the floor with her pacing, still she didn’t keep silent for very long and her words of comfort were ones of someone as detached as Holly was herself from the situation. The loss was hard to take but they hadn’t truly known that girl and it was more than likely Avery worried about herself and her loved ones first, much like Holly did. “They’re doing the best they can.” she assured the blonde, reassuring herself about the Elders and their ability to handle the situation in the process. “I’ll be fine. I don’t have much of a choice, do I?”

[avery-hughes-blog]

"You always have a choice,” Avery replied simply, her voice empty of judgement or accusation. She pressed her lips together and took another deep breath; she had been taking many of those lately. “You don’t have to okay with any of this. I’m not.”

[eviebrxnnan-deactivated20160723]

Holly had received an invitation to Samantha’s funeral in a sealed envelope like she assumed everyone in the coven had and she had been surprised by the wave of anguish that seized here. She hadn’t known the girl very well, but she did entertain good relationships with all of the familiars of the coven, they were just as much a part of her chosen family as the witches here. It was hard to accept that one of their own had fallen, but beyond that she worried about the safety of those that still lived. She put the envelope in her purse, standing up to pace around the room as tears fell freely down her cheeks. “I don’t even know what I’m supposed to wear to a funeral. I don’t think I own one black item at all.” she rambled on. “God, how are we expected to get through this?”

[avery-hughes-blog]

Avery sat calmly on a nearby chair, letting Holly mourn out loud. She offered a sad smile, her own invitation still in her lap. She picked at the seal as she watched the girl trek circles into the floor. “You can borrow something of mine,” she said gently. “As for getting through this, I have no idea. You would think they would schedule counseling sessions, but here we are.” Bitterness was clear in her voice as she spoke, so she rubbed her temple and played it off like an outburst of emotion. Now was not the time to diss the Elders in front of Holly. “Sorry. Are you gonna be okay?”

[arthurinchains]

Jasper didn’t miss the cursing or the challenging look and he planned on very quickly walking away before he managed to make this person - witch, his memory supplied - even more angry with him. But for some reason her annoyance seemed to fade slightly and she smiled at him and hearing his name come from her lips took him by complete surprise. He did his best to be quiet and unimportant so that he stayed under the radar so the fact that she knew his name was unsettling. “”That’s me, Miss…..?” he trailed off, unsure what her name was. Ashley or Allison or something like that, he was pretty sure. “Did I do something? I really am sorry about not looking,” he said quickly, unsure why else she’d know his name. Then again, he seemed to have an attitude with most people at all times, so perhaps he just didn’t remember giving her one previously.

[avery-hughes-blog]

The look on his face made Avery feel genuinely awful. She didn’t need to ask why he was so timid; she knew well the role familiars played in this coven. She swallowed her bristling outrage at the injustice of this and shook her head, laughing lightly. “Avery. And you didn’t do anything wrong. I just make it a point to try to know everyone’s name.” She took a step forward, hoping the slightly closer proximity wouldn't cause him to tense up. “I’m sorry if I looked angry at first, I was just surprised. Where were you heading?”

[arthurinchains]

Jasper had only heard small murmurings about the murder, having not been around that night and definitely not on the social end of things. His communication with anyone was as minimal as possible, but even still he’d managed to hear about it. At some point, he’d try to get more information but until then, he was just trying to continue to keep his head down, to continue to be as unnoticed and uninvolved as possible. But maybe the head down part shouldn’t have been so literal since he almost collided directly with another person, managing to side step them and avoid a disaster at the last second. “Sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t even see you,” he said quickly, though he knew it was his own fault for not looking up in the first place.

[avery-hughes-blog]

Avery was too busy looking through her bag to notice the person that nearly crashed into her. She cursed quietly as she took a step back shooting a challenging look at the other. She exhaled loudly, her nostrils flaring and lips pursing. “It’s alright,” she said quickly, flicking her hair out of her face. She sighed and looked the boy up and down. He had been in her line of sight before, but never someone she knew very well. He was new, after all. However, she recognized him enough to remember that he was a familiar. A smile spread over her face. “Jasper, right?”