a visit home || Sofia & Juliet
November 10, 2015 Occurs: After Sofia’s Encounter with Lucky
Summary: Sofia texts Juliet for some help after her encounter with Lucky, and they end up paying a visit to the rest of the Floros coven.
Sofia: [TXT] Hey. You're still safe, right? ... Please answer faster than usual.
Juliet:
[TXT] Yes. [TXT] Why?
Sofia: [TXT] Because the minute you got here so did the Hunters. At least that's what it feels like and I'm worried about you.
Juliet:
[TXT] I'm not sure if you're trying to say that I brought them here. [TXT] Some of them did try to attack me but I escaped unscathed.
Sofia: [TXT] Juliet...No. I...
Sofia: [TXT] WHAT?
Sofia: Where? When?
Juliet:
[TXT] ...Did I not mention it Halloween night? [TXT] It happened Halloween night. But it's fine. A witch came to my aid.
Sofia
[TXT] No. You didn’t. [TXT] Who?
Juliet: [TXT] ...Did you contact me for a reason?
Sofia: [TXT] Do I need one to speak to you? Are you trying to lay down some sort of boundaries?
Sofia: [TXT] I know it's been a bit since we last spoke in person, but if you can make it out to my house…I would appreciate it.
Juliet:
[TXT] No, of course not. I was just about to enjoy my meal. [TXT] ...Where is your house?
Sofia: [TXT] Doll meal?
Juliet: [TXT] Yes. Where is your house?
Sofia
[TXT] Well, when you're through... [TXT] -PIN DROPPED-
Juliet: [TXT] I'll be right over.
Sofia: [TXT] Text me when you're out front. Please be careful on your way over. It's kind of far out, I know.
Juliet
It had been two days since she’d last had a proper meal, but Sofia’s texts were a heavy weight in the back of her mind and so she fed quickly, dismissing the man as soon as she was done. She glanced at the map, trying to commit most of it to memory, and then climbed onto her bike. Within half an hour, she found herself at Sofia’s place - a cute cottage with a large garden, and instead of knocking on the door, she sent Sofia another message:
[TXT] I’m out front.
Sofia:
Before Sofia got the text she made an effort to try and get out of bed. Other than forcing herself to do so when she was absolutely too hungry to wait any longer or had to use the restroom, she had been rather bedridden. She wanted to greet Juliet properly, tidy up, all these things ran through her mind. They were useless and stupid but she still considered them despite their impossibility with her weakened state. [TXT] Door's unlocked. I would get up to greet you but I’m pretty sure my ribs are bruised…if not fractured. My bedroom is down the hall all the way in the back.
[TXT] Omg. I'm stupid. I'm sorry.
[TXT] I'M SO SORRY. I'm a little out of it.
[TXT] Just....hold on a sec...
With short breaths so as not to make her lungs expand too far, the brunette tried again to right herself and move to the door. Realizing Juliet had never been in this house before, she had to invite her in face to face. Living together for so long previously had caused her to forget this detail. It wasn’t often Sofia allowed vampires into her home. In fact, she hadn’t since her move. She and Otto always met on the school campus or for coffee. Other than that she had no intention of doling out invitations to her home to those with fangs — or anyone else, really. She was still the same private homebody Juliet had known and loved some time ago.
Her side was the worst of it. The rest of her body wasn’t much better off. Lucky had ordered her to hang by her arms. Now they ached like nothing she had ever felt. The toes of her shoes begged for solid ground but never were granted the privilege of actually supporting her weight. The ligature marks on her thin wrists were glaring, unmistakable evidence of this. Sofia’s bottom lip was still fat. The split had scabbed over while she attempted to sleep. Tiny flakes of dried blood hid beneath the edge of her swollen mouth. Some was tucked into the corner where Lucky had smeared it with his thumb. A shower would have been too much exertion, even with the pain killing and sleeping potions she was using (quite sparingly).
For a moment she considered crawling. It was a struggle between mind a body. Sofia finally made it to the end of the couch near the front door on two feet. It basically opened into the living room. She perched herself on the armrest, putting as much weight as she could into the piece of furniture without bringing pressure to her bruises and cuts. “Okay. Now you can open it,” the brunette called through the wood the separated her from the redhead she had called to come to her aid.
Juliet:
Sofia’s texts had her frowning, her protective nature when it came to the witch rising to the surface. Why were her ribs fractured? Had she had an accident? Or if someone was responsible, who was it, and how many ways could she rip out their throats? Those were the questions that drifted through her mind as she waited for Sofia to let her in.
The invitation to open the door was barely audible through the thick wood, and it was only because she was listening that she heard it. And as the door swung open and she came face-to-face with Sofia - who had pulled herself over to the couch, by the looks of things, the anger surged up inside her once again. In her years with the witch, Juliet had never seen her like this: the marks on her wrists were red and angry, and coupled with the split lip and the ribs she could not see - this was far from an accident.
“Invite me in,” she demanded, pressing against the barrier uselessly. It would not give, just as the town barrier hadn’t. “Sofia.” Her tone was urgent, almost a plea.
Sofia: Maybe it was a little sick, or maybe it was just how things had to be. It hurt her lip to stretch into a sad smile when she was faced with Juliet. Her green eyes surveyed her and Sofia sat there, fidgeting nervously. She should have taken the time to put on long sleeves. She didn’t need to go into detail about this. No one deserved to listen to her cry, and she wasn’t sure if she would break under the pressure again when reliving it a second time. Her pause was short, but obviously too long for her impatient ex. “Please come in, Juliet” she said, voice hoarse. Her throat still hurt from the whole ordeal. Her body had been put through the ringer and her mind even more so. “And please /don’t/ freak out. It’s not as bad as it looks.” It was worse, but the witch would never say that. “It’s mostly superficial, swear.”
Juliet: When the barrier gave way, Juliet was inside and by Sofia’s side in an instant. She minded her visible cuts and bruises as she took a seat on the couch next to her, hand tentatively reaching out to cup the brunette’s jaw gently as she surveyed her split lip. “You look terrible,” she stated bluntly. “And you called a nurse for a reason, so I’ll be the judge on whether this is as superficial as you claim.” She wasn’t sure what Sofia would allow her to do, if she would allow herself to be touched, but Juliet decided the best way to do it was to treat her like any other patient, even if all she wanted to do was to wrap her arms around her - injuries or no. “You mentioned your ribs were fractured.” A gentle hint to elaborate, or at least to show her her ribs. She could get the full story later - for the moment, she just needed to know the extent of Sofia’s injuries.
Sofia: A small groan of discomfort left Sofia. She guessed there was no use in trying to hide it now. She moved to sit properly on the couch next to the vampire. It seemed soft cool hands were on her face in an instant. “I didn’t call /a nurse/. I called you. I called someone I trust.” There was more to it than that, really. “Your medical expertise is a lucky bonus.” The brunette grimaced at the accidental mention of the name who had ordered the torture. “I would have called you even if you were…I don’t know..” Sofia sighed. “A telemarketer..” her slow brain finally caught up to her quip. Th witch let the redhead touch her as she pleased. She didn’t really think about it. It was just nice to have someone care. Nice not to be alone when she felt like true death. “Yeah..” she lifted her loose old T-Shirt that was already falling off one shoulder. She had nothing on underneath. It was nothing Juliet hadn’t seen thousands of times before. “Could just be a bone bruise. But like you said, you’re the expert.” Sofia held the fabric up revealing the large bruise from the direct punch to the roundness of the bones beneath her creamy complexion.
Juliet: Juliet didn’t want to read too much into Sofia’s words and assign feelings where there were none - she hadn’t quite forgotten her encounter with the distraught nymph, but now was hardly the time to bring such matters up to Sofia. “I’m glad you called,” she said instead. The look she shot the brunette was half-fond, half-exasperated at her remark. As the extent of the damage was revealed to her, however, normally creamy skin mottled with patches of red and blue, her heart seemed to seize. “That’s not a /bone bruise/.” She skated her fingers gently across the expanse of her ribs. “They’re fractured.” She pursed her lips. “I don’t have any of my pastes with me… and even if I did, they wouldn’t be of much use, besides pain relief.” She bit her lip. “I can give you some of my blood, and that should speed up the healing process. But otherwise, you’re looking at six to eight weeks of bedrest.”
Sofia: “Oh..” the brunette exhaled. In the middle of it she winced drawing her breath back in. Even the gentle touch was more than she felt she could take with the injury so recent. Not that it didn’t also hurt to breathe. Sofia’s voice held more rasp to it than usual. Her throat was sore from the magical chokehold — most of that she couldn’t feel thanks to her own potions. “I’ve got that covered.” Her comment was quiet in regard to pain management. Look at the kitchen table behind you..” It was littered with small and large bottles alike, as well as various jars of ingredients the earth witch always kept on hand. Sofia herself did not turn. It would hurt too much. She knew the sight would be another familiar one. People didn’t change so quickly. Particularly when it involved the foundation of their being and self worth. “It’s not doing all I would hope though. Which is odd in itself… I…really can’t believe this.” There was a lull before Juliet offered her her blood where green eyes met hazel. “I can’t sit in bed for that long. You know that. Not with my home under attack as it is! But..” Brows knitted together and she looked down at her hands. It would be nice not to have to look at those awful marks. They were a disgusting reminder. “I’m not sure I should.”
Juliet: She removed her fingers from Sofia’s ribs, regretting the decision to brush her hands across bruised skin - she could tell by the wince that even that was too much for the witch. She glanced back, her eyes easily finding the concoction of potions on the table - she’d been in such a hurry to get to Sofia on the couch that she barely registered the familiar scent of potions that filled the room. “It’s not a small injury,” she offered - a suggestion as to why Sofia’s potions might not be having their desired effect. “And you’re not defending your hometown in this state.” She was unsurprised by Sofia’s hesitation, and only nodded, not wanting to force the brunette into anything - least of all drinking her blood. “It’s up to you. I can stay and help you make more potions, if you would prefer that.” But the doubt was clear in her voice - her blood would be the quickest and most painless way to heal herself.
Sofia: “If I drink from you…that’s not too invasive? Just now you acted like it was weird that I was only sending you a text.” Sofia didn’t really want to get into it. There didn’t seem to be much choice. “I know things are different now. If it was before, I probably wouldn’t hesitate. I don’t know. I worry. You know that.” The brunette was a worrywart. Juliet was one of the few who had seen the depths of that side of the witch. “Not the town..but the people I love.” The pair had done a lot of things and had never been shy with one another. Sharing blood was no exception. Before it had been flowing from witch veins instead. “Only if you’re fine with it. If it’s the best option…I suppose we can call it even.” The joke was in poor taste, she knew. The brunette was feeling a little awkward, though not unhappy to be sharing her couch with the woman beside her.
Juliet: Juliet didn’t even know where to begin with that statement. “This is different,” she finally said with a sigh. Sofia was so concerned about boundaries that she seemed to neglect her own pain - but Juliet wasn’t about to let her do that, not if she truly was all right with drinking vampire blood. “If you’re worried about me, please don’t be. I want to do this for you, if you’ll let me.” Though she had grown to like the town and its people, they were secondary to Sofia and her safety - but somehow she didn’t think the brunette would appreciate the sentiment, and kept quiet. “The people you love will be very unhappy if you’re not alive and well.” She frowned slightly at the joke but found it easy enough to ignore, instead allowing her fangs to distend as she brought her wrist to her lips, biting into the skin at her wrist and drawing blood so Sofia wouldn’t have to. She held it up to Sofia, an offering, but allowed the brunette to take the lead from there.
Sofia:
Sofia appreciated that Juliet never pushed her. So many people tried to override her cautious side. They didn’t want to hear her questions or answer them to quell her nerves. Juliet had never been that way with her. The redhead had always listened thoughtfully. Sofia knew, even sitting here now, that was part of what made her so easy to love. She was open and she was honest in her finicky vampire way. The brunette nodded a few times to indicate that she would try the blood. “I know. You’re right.” Her voice was low and quiet, though did not hold a note of shame where it might have with another. The English vampire knew how to tell her things. She wasn’t overbearing in the way that she cared — Sofia felt she, herself, could be that way sometimes.
The witch had always loved seeing Juliet with her fangs out. It wasn’t all too common of a sight. The redhead often ate (well, drank) with others, and when with Sofia indulged her in her love of cooking and caring for her. “You’re really beautiful,” she spoke on a whim, as the other woman’s pale wrist was set in front of her chest. The brunette brought her hands underneath the arm and raised it up slowly and gently. Bending over to get to it and feed like that would hurt her side too much. Hazel eyes were kind of cloudy. They looked back to Juliet. “Thank you…tell me when, alright?”
It took more than a moment for Sofia to figure out how much suction was too much. Her lip stung with the pressure of her mouth pressed to the vampire’s skin. It was almost like she was giving open mouthed kisses trailing up her arm. That might have been so much more pleasant for the both of them. The taste was like nothing Sofia had ever tried - though far from awful. The affects were instant but a few minutes after she pulled away she could feel herself starting to sit straighter naturally. Her wrists no longer showed the signs of her struggling. The witch’s once fat lip was good as new. Juliet was her own personal miracle. The Sumner Native wanted to tell her so. For now, she held her tongue.
Juliet:
She smiled slightly at the compliment; it wasn’t something that was uncommon to her, but she had always liked the way they sounded from Sofia’s lips - reverent, but in a way that was almost an afterthought. Like she knew that Juliet knew this, but wanted to tell her anyway. Where in the past, it would have made her heart warm, it now only caused it to drop, a reminder of a woman who thought her beautiful and yet did not want her. “And you’re delirious with pain,” Juliet murmured, though her words were neither cutting nor harsh. “Whenever you’re ready.”
The redhead had given her blood before: to other vampire lovers in a moment of passion, increasing both of their pleasures, and also to patients when there was no other way, though not when they were on the brink of death. She’d never given it to someone who was both at the same time; even Charles had been a patient on the battlefield long before he became something more.
And as Sofia pressed her split lip to Juliet’s wrist, the vampire could feel the cool blood being pulled from her body, past Sofia’s lips and down her throat. It was a pleasant sensation, but her overwhelming worry for the witch dulled it and had her reaching a hand to brush a few stray brown locks away from her eyes. When the witch pulled away, Juliet could see the instant improvement: her wrists, when she held them up gently to inspect them, no longer had red ligature marks, and her lip seemed to be fully healed. “And how do your ribs feel?”
Sofia:
Sofia lifted her baby blue shirt once more. She looked down to see the bruise nearly entirely gone, and still fading. “Better. Much.” The fabric fell back into place with ease. She licked her bottom lip and worried it between her teeth before realizing it was still tender. “Ah!” the sound was in recognition of the slight pain. “..uhm..I mean, thank you. So much. That’s — you’re so amazing. For this.” The brunette was quick to clarify.
The sweet touch while she had been drinking did not go unnoticed. Sofia kept her eyes closed so that she would not cry at the lovely gesture. It was so simple and so needed. She didn’t know how to explain it. She also had a feeling that her vampire love would not be interested in such things. She didn’t deserve to have to listen to the hardships brought on by her poor decisions. No matter their differences Sofia still had the same amount of love and respect for the woman beside her. “I can’t believe this is my life. Or that we’ve ended up here.”
Juliet:
Juliet was almost afraid of what she would see when Sofia lifted her shirt, but thankfully, the injury was not /so/ great that more of her blood was required to heal it - not that Juliet wouldn’t have given it, but it was more a testament to what Sofia had been through. The red mottling had mostly faded, leaving in its place a faint hint of a bruise. That would heal in its own time, and so she brought her wrist to her lips, laving her tongue over it to slow the bleeding. “Be gentle with yourself,” she chided softly at the other woman’s gasp. She brought a finger to Sofia’s lips, brushing away the remaining scabs and taking with it the last vestiges of blood - undoubtedly Juliet’s own - at the corner of her mouth. She sucked her finger into her mouth, tasting and cleaning it, before popping it out. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
The right thing to do would have been to leave - Sofia had called her over for a purpose, and she had fulfilled it. And yet, the anger that she had suppressed was now bubbling back to the surface, reminding her that someone had done this to the witch and that there would have to be a price to pay. “Do you want to talk about what happened?” Her tone indicated that that was indeed something Sofia should feel like doing, and her concern made itself present in the furrow of her brow. “Or would you like to get some rest?” At this, she shifted on the couch, as though getting herself ready to stand and leave.
Sofia
A shallow slow breath left Sofia as Juliet tended to her with affection. The witch drank it in, even if the redhead was only doing her job. Sofia had always been the first to praise her partner in her skill and finesse - particularly when it came to her profession, when they were together. While Juliet could be self-involved on the surface, the brunette knew that was not what was in her heart. It may have no longer been able to beat in time with her own, that was true. True, and unimportant. Within the muscle there was strength and care, concern and the utmost value of life. They carried the same core values. That had never been a question for the earth entity who had zest for life and its processes bred into her magical blood.
There was a part of Sofia that hoped maybe Juliet was not /only/ here out of obligation, past fondness or medical oath. Eyes stayed downcast until Juliet brought finger to her own light pink lips, thinking over this new realization. Her question afterward was no surprise. Sofia took another breath and realized she could hold more air in her lungs for longer and in a way that was very close to normal. It was a relief. “I…” she did want to talk. Her hesitation probably indicated otherwise. Though, that was the main reason she had texted the vampire in the first place. “Don’t know..” Juliet’s clear worry and subsequent displeasure in the idea of what had happened to Sofia was written all over her face - that flawless, unchanged face, as though she had woken up to watch her sleep not too many months ago. “I’ve been resting for nearly 48 hours now,” she sad quickly. On instinct she reached up and grabbed the English lady’s hand. Her grip was sure and gentle, unassuming and still clear in intent. ‘Please stay,’ she wanted to say. She didn’t. Hazel eyes pleaded with the woman beside her, praying to all the gods she believed in that she would not stand and find a polite way to excuse herself. Aden hadn’t given her the chance to talk about how she felt or explain herself. She was all alone now. There was no one. But then…was there ever anyone but Juliet?
“I’m not sure I remember everything. Or that I remember it right. It seems like some awful nightmare of a crime show - Except it probably really did happen. They messed with my mind more than anything.” Sofia’s voice was full to the brim with shame.
Juliet:
Juliet blinked at the admission. “You waited forty-eight hours to tell anyone about this? You could have /died/.” Her anger was clear as day, and she curled her fists into themselves. It was an overstatement, perhaps, but the thought of losing Sofia just because she wouldn’t seek help sooner… She frowned, and wondered if Sofia had asked someone else to come to her aid, only to be turned down. That person would have to be dealt with as well.
When Sofia placed a hand on hers, Juliet stilled - and then relaxed, though she didn’t move her hand away, instead turning over her own hand so she could link her own cool fingers with warmer ones. “They?” she echoed. So there was more than just one person responsible for what had been done to Sofia. That was a start. “Who are ‘they’?” She didn’t miss the way Sofia’s voice was drenched in shame, and she wanted nothing more than to gather the brunette in her arms. She settled for a gentle squeeze of the hand, as though to reassure her that she was still there, listening. Her next question was almost hesitant, as though she was afraid it would be too much, too soon: “What did they want from you?”
Sofia:
“That’s not an exact number,” Sofia added when she was met with annoyance and disbelief. “I can say for sure how long I was out for the first half. I was knocked out, in withdrawal. Spirit magic does that. This was dark, so it was heavier than most.” Sofia cleared her throat. It was still scratchy. The irritation might have been brought on by all the emotion she was trying to suppress. Juliet increased their contact, holding her hand as though no time had passed. The feeling was so different from that of their reunion after her lecture. Now it felt like old times. “The Croatoans…they abducted me. Targeted me.” The witch assumed this given that the man who had mentally violated her was an old family friend. This, in turn, meant that Sofia’s old reputation remained intact. She was still the weakest link in the coven - or, so she told herself now. All of her hard work felt undone. “I don’t know how long I was gone, or even exactly where they took me. Pieces come back in small bursts. A lot of it in dreams — but I need to sleep to heal. It’s such a sick catch twenty-two.”
The second question had the witch holding her breath in her gut. She looked to Juliet and then down at their feet. Hers were bare and Juliet in one a pair of shoes that reflected her pristine taste. Good. Some things weren’t all that different. “They wanted. Information….” And that was all Sofia said before a choked back sob filled the small living room. Her guilt finally overwhelmed all of the little strength she had left. “I told them things. I told things that I shouldn’t.” The cadence of Sof’s admittance was shaky and irregular. Some words short, others drawn out. “I betrayed my own kind, Juliet. I’ve made everything worse… and it’s not over yet.”
Juliet:
Hearing Sofia describe her experience only made Juliet all the more furious, and she let go of Sofia’s hand to avoid crushing it in a fit of anger.
Spirit magic. It wasn’t something Juliet was familiar with; in fact, she wasn’t even sure what it /meant/, exactly. Most of what she currently knew about witches had been picked up over the years she spent with Sofia, and as far as she could remember, the brunette hadn’t mentioned much about this so-called spirit magic. But it sounded sinister enough, and Sofia was quite obviously still shaken from her encounter.
She stiffened at the mention of the Croatoans, her lip curled in distaste as she recalled the word painted in blood on every surface imaginable back at the Academy. So those were the ones who had taken Sofia - this, at least, made it an easier target on whom Juliet could focus her attentions. “Would one of your potions help? For a dreamless sleep.” She didn’t know if this was what Sofia would want, but the witch needed at least one night of decent slumber.
“No one can blame you for anything you said while they did this to you,” she said fiercely, the anger still simmering at the surface. She understood on a superficial level how other supernaturals were loyal to a fault - would never betray their own under any circumstances. Vampires were not like that, and so she had trouble /truly/ understanding what that was like. Still, she made the effort to try. Though, the last words caught her attention, and her hand found Sofia’s again of its own accord. “What do you mean, it’s not over yet?”
She glanced at the closed door, then stood to lock it - she had forgotten to do so earlier in her haste. She would probably have to leave soon - Sofia would ask her to - but at least while they were here, they should at least pretend to have some regard for safety.
Sofia:
“I need to make something stronger. But it takes too long. Or it would have, before you..you know..” She spoke of a potion. The important ones were not as instant as they seemed. It was not like seasoning a bowl of canned soup as some movies liked to dull it down to be. Sofia looked to Juliet, her hands now neatly in her own lap. The brunette knew when Juliet closed off like this that she was thinking more than she was letting on — a problem they both shared.
Juliet knew her. That was another problem. She knew what to say and how to say it, and also when she should not speak on something — even if she didn’t /always/ follow that instinct. So when the redhead sat there next to the sobbing witch explaining how her blame was misplaced it only made Sofia more upset. Her own anger bubbled over too. “Yes! They can! They should.” She took another ragged breath and her expression showed the pain of doing too much too fast. “They will…” she quieted down. Now her knees angled toward the vampire. When Juliet reached out for her once again the other woman’s shoulders relaxed instantly. She held to that hand like the lifeline it truly was to her. With her freehand she wiped her stray tears away. Her throat cleared. “The only reason they let me go was to deliver a message. That part is what I remember the clearest. It plays in my mind on a loop. Sofia repeated it verbatim “‘Reckoning will come to your coverless peers should they choose the wrong side of right. The hope is in their hands. Only theirs. This is the way.’” Now she was the one pulling from her exes hand. The brunette leaned down cupping her face with both as she cried. “I told them things ..about a coven more powerful than ours. I mentioned the Atterberry witches too you once or twice.” She looked up, tearing still streamed. Her voice cracked though the volume was normal. “They were my dad’s prospective group when he was young. Right before mom got pregnant with the twins..” She tried to jog Juliet’s memory.
Juliet:
“Oh.” It was the only thing she could think of saying, though it amused her that Sofia couldn’t say the words - as though they were taboo. “Before I gave you my blood, you mean.” Because Juliet had never been shy about filling in sentences as she saw fit, especially when they spoke the truth. But she did remember that potions could take time, and it was probably too much to hope that one of them could whip one up and have it ready in a few minutes.
Her natural reaction was to comfort the witch through her sobs, and she was glad that the simple gesture of offering her hand seemed to help, however small it was. She listened carefully as Sofia shared more - nothing about her captors, but more about what she had done, and what was actually troubling her about the encounter. She blinked at the message, silently repeating the words after Sofia and turning them over in her mind. It certainly sounded ominous, and given what they had done at the Academy, it wasn’t a threat to be taken lightly.
The Attenberry witches. The name sounded familiar, but it was only when Sofia elaborated that it clicked. “I remember,” she said, nodding once. She assumed from Sofia’s words that the information Sofia had divulged was likely critical to their survival. “If they’re powerful witches, they should know how to protect themselves.” It was selfish of her, perhaps, to be /happy/ that Sofia was here with her - safe and sound. But Sofia was quite clearly distraught, and she knew the answer she’d just given would not suffice. So she added, gently, “Could you warn them now? It can’t be too late.” Though it was a statement, her tone was questioning.
Sofia:
Sofia nodded, her expression a little annoyed that Juliet felt the need to correct her now. “Yeah,” she grumbled. Though that was really the last thing on her mind considering she might have just supported the abolition of a huge portion of history, lives, and an already thinning, painfully careful species. This was Sumner. They were supposed to be safe here.
“My friend showed me the powder, er-eh, seasoning they use to break down the flesh and absorb powers. I couldn’t figure out all the derivatives. One piece that keeps it potent…ugh..” When Sofia talked about her magic and her work related to it, it often came out very much like a stream of consciousness. “It shouldn’t keep like it does, or be so strong without spells behind it. And when humans speak spells, it’s very different. It should not work and it does and it’s making me insane!”
Sofia’s head shot up. Her expression showed shock, disbelief, anger. “Juliet…no..” Long black waves fanned out while she shook her head. “I mean, I hope they can yes! But I can’t just sit here! Fuck!” For a woman who hardly swore — less than once a blue moon — this showed the way her feelings were clogged by inner turmoil and pain. “Will you go with me?” The question slipped out before the lone witch could overthink it . “First I need to go to my Mom’s. Then to Sang Wen. I have to tell them.” Sofia spoke as though she had never been more certain of anything in her life. She was, indeed, terrified. She was also unwittingly noble.
Juliet:
Quite frankly, Juliet had no idea what Sofia was talking about - but this was often the case when it came to the witch’s magic and potions. And since there was nothing of value Juliet could contribute, she kept silent, listening to the brunette’s train of thought as she voiced it.
Expletives were never Juliet’s favourite, and she was not used to them from Sofia’s lips. But they seemed to be rather common for the townsfolk, and she had, in a way, grown used to them, which was likely the only reason why she didn’t wince when she heard it. “Of course,” she answered - she wasn’t going to let Sofia go alone. Especially not after the past few days she’d had.
She knew any concern she voiced regarding the witch’s physical wellbeing would be brushed off, so instead, she stood and offered a hand to pull her up from the couch, watching her carefully for any sign of discomfort. She would have to continue doing so for the rest of the evening, she was sure, even if Sofia tired of it. She didn’t want to have to end up hoisting the woman over her shoulder because she collapsed from exhaustion.
Sofia
Surprised and glad to be met with nothing but a clear “yes”, Sofia stood from the couch. She turned back and looked down at the woman on her sofa. Her smile was soft, nostalgic. “I’m going to go change real quick. I’ll be right back. If you want some tea — or anything, the kitchen is right through there.” The open doorway was visible from where they sat. “Thank you. Again. And in advance too.” The witch left before Juliet could reply not needing a lingering moment between them right now. There was no time for that, even if she did want it just a bit.
Sofia returned dressed in jeans and boots. Her grey knit sweater would cover any left over bruising on her wrists or anywhere else. She had showered very quickly, washed her face and brushed her teeth. Her hair was damp but not dripping, curls in full force. “Ready to get this over with?” her voice hung low, heavy with dread.
In spite of all this, in the moments when she’d walked out from the back of the house, before Juliet noticed her return. It did feel nice to see her comfortable, making herself at home. That was about the only thing that kept the witch from entering a full blown state of panic.
Juliet:
Juliet nodded in reply to Sofia’s thanks, but didn’t say anything as the witch left the room. She was content to wait on the couch and observe the room from her vantage point, noting how different this house was from the one they had shared. Different, and yet similar in some ways. The potions, of course, were one of the things that hadn’t changed. And the garden she had seen before entering the house. There was another smell she couldn’t quite place: faint, but ever-present. She chalked it up to the blonde nymph she had seen those days ago.
Eventually, curiosity getting the better of her, she stood and made her way to the kitchen, peering around before getting herself a glass of water just to have something to do. And as Sofia returned, Juliet poked her head out from the kitchen, smiling slightly. She looked better now - she still looked as though she needed rest, but it was an improvement over the state she’d found the other woman in. “I’m ready when you are,” she replied, moving to the door. She briefly wondered if Sofia should, perhaps, dry her hair a little more - it was nippy outside - but she recognized the matter was time-sensitive, and kept her mouth shut.
“Would you like me to drive?” Juliet, of course, didn’t have a car, having made it to Sofia’s house on her blue bicycle, but she assumed that Sofia would have one.
Sofia:
The witch grabbed a black peacoat from the closet near the front door. She waited for the vampire to finish whatever she was doing and join her in there. Grabbing her purse and her keys from a table near the end of the couch she passed the lanyard to Juliet. She only drove her car to get to work. The rest of the time Sofia usually preferred to walk everywhere. “Yes. That would be really nice.” The brunette still had the same car she had bought when they were together, before they had made it official that day in Sofia’s kitchen. “I am pretty tired.” Adrenaline could work wonders but it probably wasn’t best for Sofia to be driving the black Audi for a multitude of reasons.
She locked the doors to her house. Both conventionally and a wave of her hand to seal them with magic only someone of her nature-oriented blood could undo with the proper key. Should Aden decide to come in from the forest for any reason, she would have a safe place to rest.
Sofia climbed in the passenger side and put on her seatbelt. As Juliet pulled out she gave her directions until they pulled up to her mothers two story house in nicest area of the Phelg. It was the oldest part of town and where the majority of her family and Coven had always resided. The sounds of the engine ceased and Sofia felt the anxiety in her gut swirl and tumble and multiple as she stared at the front of the house full of so many memories and so many important lives.
Juliet:
Setting her half-full glass down in the sink, she joined Sofia in the hallway, where the witch pressed a set of keys into her palm. She took them with a brief smile, noticing that they were the very same set from the Audi Sofia had had during their time together. She must’ve missed seeing the car in her haste to get inside.
Slipping into the driver’s side, Juliet adjusted the mirrors and seat before buckling herself in. She eased out of the driveway and followed Sofia’s directions to her mother’s house - this would be the first time she visited Sofia’s childhood home, and while she had seen pictures, she wondered what it would be like in person.
The Phleg was not an area she frequented, but she could tell that this was a much nicer part that the part she’d visited in her first few days here. Killing the engine, she stepped out of the car, pocketing the keys, and glanced over at Sofia. “Are you going to be all right?”
Sofia:
The house was old, but grand in its own way. Obviously lived in, clear even from the outside. It could have used a fresh coat of paint and some updates - which Sofia’s mother, Audrey, would never allow being so set in her ways. Her middle daughter’s heart beat hard in her chest. As if the last 48 hours hadn’t been trying enough. This, Sofia knew, would be one of the most difficult things she’d ever done in her life
The brunette looked out at the redhead through the open driver’s side door. She unbuckled her seat beat and gave a loud sigh. “We’ll see, I guess,” she answered clear enough to be heard and understood but the response lacked all confidence, as well as the usual melodic tone to her speech. Swallowing hard, Sofia stepped from the black car. She moved across the lawn and up to the porch to knock on the door and then ring the bell.
Juliet:
Even from this distance, Juliet could hear Sofia’s heartbeat fluttering in an unsteady rhythm. It made her want to reach out for her hand to offer some comfort, but she settled for drumming a quiet beat on the roof of the car instead. This was something Sofia would have to do on her own, though Juliet would be there for as long as the other woman would allow it.
She followed after Sofia as she climbed the steps to the large house, trying to imagine her ex-girlfriend as a young child pattering about the house. “I can wait in the car, if you’d prefer that,” she offered as they waited for someone to answer the door. It was a rather late hour, and she could only imagine they’d be met with displeasure. Only time would tell.
Sofia:
They stood waiting on the white porch. Sofia watched the swirls of her warm breath contrast against the black night. Her fingers ghosted over the back of Juliet’s hand, where they stood side by side. It was as though she intend to take it, wanting to keep the vampire from returning to the car for reasons which were both selfish and not. “It’s not safe.” The witch dropped her hand flat back against her own jeans. “And I need you.” It was a mumble in admittance, though not unclear. Sofia had learned long ago that she could hardly get anything past the vampire with her bat-like hearing. The witch was used to going unnoticed and saying her sassier comments under her breath and getting away with it. With Juliet, she had learned that was almost impossible - unless her former lover ignored it by choice or to be kind. Astrid answered the door. “You can just come in. It’s your house too. And it’s fucking 5AM…why are you here now?” “I have a guest,” Sofia answered. “You have to invite her in.” “Yeah, no. I don’t think so.” Astrid rolled her eyes. She had always been particularly wary of vampires. “Don’t be a bitch. This is important. To the coven and to …all of us. Astrid. Just do it.” The way Sofia looked at her sister, and the way her tone dropped Astrid finally understood the seriousness in the visit. She invited Juliet in. Sofia followed right behind and locked the door once she was inside.
Juliet:
As unnecessary as it was, Sofia’s concern was touching - and perhaps a bit unexpected, though she supposed it shouldn’t have been; the witch had always been caring, especially when it concerned others. The mumbled words /“I need you”/ didn’t escape her sharp ears, but she didn’t react to it - she didn’t want to read too much into it; Sofia was going through a very difficult time, and it was only natural that she would need someone to offer a shoulder to lean on.
She almost wished that Sofia had reached out to link their fingers together, but then the subtle touch was gone, and the redhead tried not to feel too disappointed. When the door swung open, they were greeted by a sour look and an even more sour mood. She recognized the younger woman in front of her as Astrid, from the pictures Sofia had kept. And Astrid, unsurprisingly, didn’t seem keen on inviting her in - but after some pushing on Sofia’s part, she relented, and Juliet found herself stepping indoors after the witch.
Glancing around the hallway, Juliet kept silent - unusual for her, but she was here for emotional support, and it was best that Sofia take the lead in the conversation. She could read Astrid’s impatience in the way she shifted her weight restlessly from one foot to the other, and finally, the other woman was the first to speak: “What do you need, Sofia? It’s early, and I don’t have to be up for another hour or two.”
Juliet wondered if the rest of her family was this rude. And how much trouble she would get into for baring her fangs at this woman - probably a lot, she decided, and so she refrained for the moment.