#being In Your 20s Like

—  ELEXIR APOTHECARY / OPEN

"I'll be right there," Amara said from the back. The bell hung above the door had rang more than usual today, or so it felt to the witch. The air in town felt different, she could feel it, almost taste it. Not that one needed to be a witch to see it, everyone waking up to the gruesome news. And of course, Amara knew it was just an animal attack, all witches knew. It was hard to think one of the wolves in town was behind this but one could never be too careful. "That crystal is almost priceless." The words were said with a smile as she walked into the shop. The crystal was one of the most priceless they had, more to help the shop's energy then to be sold. "Such a tragedy," she said with empathy. It was almost all anyone talked about, and with reasons, it wasn't the kind of things that happened in town.

Zoey had barely touched her meal and Charlotte couldn't blame her. She had barely eaten yet, surviving mostly on coffee. She would have to go to the town square later tonight, to see if anything could be tracked and she didn't want to do it at all. "Yeah, dad and the others worked hard for things like that to be keep far from here." They were both very younger the last time such a thing happened. "I hope not but honestly? It's not looking good for them." Maybe she should have reassured her sister, lie and tell her that everything would be fine. But that had never been her style. Charlotte never liked when people kept her in the dark and she made certain her siblings knew what was going on. Even when Zoey was a child, Charlotte did her best to explain things as they were. Maybe she had screwed up her sister for life by not protecting her from the truth, but if there was damage done to any of the Brennan, the Alpha blamed their mother for it. "Have you walked by the town's square?" Not that Charlotte wanted her sister to see such a gruesome thing. There was something strong in her, a need to protect her siblings. "The council had me go early this morning, before the news got out and I have to go back later. See if I can pick up a track or something."

zoey’s mind had been preoccupied since the discovery of the body. she had come to grab a bite, but she hadn’t touched her meal yet. one hand supported her head, elbow on the counter, while the other turned the glass of water next to her plate endlessly. in her mind, she kept going back to the town square.

her sister’s words brought her back to the family bar and the younger brennan hummed in agreement. “it’s been a while.” she shifted ever so slightly in her seat. “do you think the other two students will share the same fate?” she was mindful of the ears in the bar. her question seemed simple, in place, but it contained darker implications. she wondered: will they die if they hadn’t already been killed and will their bodies be displayed as well if they had?

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: ↪ 3.01 “Anne”

#siblings

Gabriel could be counted on to be there for the coven and it was with a kind smile that she looked at him. It was impossible to deny that things in town had taken a wrong turn this morning. Amara had been here only for 3 years, but it was not something she saw since moving here. "I'm good, all things considered," she said warmly. "What about you?" An animal attack. Code for werewolf attack. It didn't involved the coven, but since Gabriel was on the council, it involved him. "Here," the witch said, taking a special treat for Penelope from behind the counter. "Maybe that will put her in a better mood." It had taken a little time to get used to the bat, but now Amara liked seeing her and she kept a few things around for her. She did for a lot of animals. "Yeah, I feel it too. It's not just the poor soul in the town square. It feels...bigger." There was a shiver that ran down her spine as she said the words. It was impossible not to feel like this was only the start of something and she didn't like it. / @tcurniquets

As he did, many other times, Gabriel looked up toward the crystal and squinted at it. Perhaps it needed a kind word a recharge given all its work. "I came to see how you were," he said, glancing around the shop. He could be convinced to buy something, truthfully. On his lapel, a very tired and annoyed fruit bat opened its eyes to yawn and scowl before digging into him harder. "You didn't have to come," Gabriel reminded the bat, as if she was a child, as if she wasn't latched onto him. He found it funny — what he was, what she was, and irony of it all. "The Balance seems to be skewed this morning," he hummed, wondering if she could feel it too, he felt everything. He was able to look through all the world, into the dead world, and things were off.