"Look at her, the poor thing. Fighting off that stunning spell left exhausted." His mother said, with the largest sigh he ever heard. He wanted to ask her what was going on here, but he knew that he would get the same answer as Evanora did. He looked at her, and she was indeed fast a sleep. It was the first time since he knew her, and he had to admit that it was not that long, that she was truthy at peace. "Kayne, be a dear and bring her to the guest bedroom. But do not wake her up. She needs the rest. They probably placed those stunning spells on her, while she was at sleep." He knew that the last part was not for him, but his mother cursing at the situation and the state Evanora was in right now.
"You were right about her bedroom, mom. It was not much larger than the broom closet. She didn't have any extra clothes, the most things she owned were books." He said. "A lot of them. I checked them for spells, before I placed them in the bag. But I think it would be better, if dad looked at them one more time." His mother, took one hand off the wheel and petted him on the head.
"I knew, I raised you well. You have proven that to me over and over today. And I am so proud of you, and so will your father. Once I told him." She said, with a smile. "Once I calmed him down, and prevented him from killing that sorry excuse of a man. He and Bevan Razor were once thick as thieves. Like Alani and I were, we always hung out together. Back then it didn't matter to us that they were white witches and it didn't matter to them that we were black witches. I do not know what has changed that, probably Alani's death. But that was not Evanora's fault, she didn't ask to be born. She didn't ask to be part of twins, or even to be the youngest of the two." His mother sighed again. "I can tell you right now that she is a smart cookie, strong too. Kind, carrying, and all Alani's good treats."
"Mom, are you alright?" He asked, and she shook her head.
"No sweetheart, thinking about Alani made me realize how much I miss her. She was my best friend, she couldn't wait until she became a mom. Especially after I had you, there was not a day that went by that she was not over at our place. Dotting on you, she is the one who gave you your favourite teddy bear." He frowned, he knew the teddy bear. He still got it, although it was sitting on the top of his closet. But he never knew that it was not one of his family members who gave it to him, which he always assumed. "Do not worry about me. I will be alright, after Evanora is settled in and I told your father once he gets back from work." She looked at her watch. "Which will not take that long." He nodded, as the house he apparently was born in came into view. It was so different from the Razor estate, the old Victorian architecture. The large white oak trees that surrounded the house, giving it much needed shade. The leaves and bark of the tree could be used in amulets and potions. His family just moved back, the day before yesterday. So he was not yet used to the place, but it felt like home. The car stopped on the driveway and the butler Mister Caton Heliot rushed outside. He was an old family friend, and he had served Kayne's grandparents before he moved with them.
"Madam, young master. Welcome back home. And who is the young lady?" Heliot asked.
"Do you remember Alani Vandran? " His mother asked. Heliot nodded.
"Lovely lady, especially for a white witch. It is a shame that her life was cut so short." He replied.
"It indeed is. This is her daughter Evanora Razor, she is going to stay with use." His mother said. "Kayne, please take her to the guest bedroom." She already asked this of him. But he didn't mind that she asked him again.
"Do you think it is wise to bring a white witch into your home, madam?" Heliot asked.
"She is not a white witch." He replied for his mother. "She has a bag in the boot, can you place it in my father's studies. Mom, I want to order some stuff for her on the Hex web. She is in high need of a new backpack and some extra clothing." His mother nodded.
"I will order some underwear, and such." She said. "But good thinking. Go ahead, but keep it reasonable. Please." He nodded and walked away from his mother, with Evanora in his arms. She was still a sleep when he placed her on the bed. The guest bedroom was empty and very natural. The walls were an empty beige, and the sheets on the bed were pale, as if they lost all their colours. Maybe he could look for some bedroom decorations as well. He didn't know her taste and it would be her bedroom, but a rug and some coloured sheets. Some art for on the wall, it will come a long way to make it a bit more cosy. He quickly went to his bedroom, which was just down the hall, and grabbed his laptop. Softly, and carefully, he sat down next to her bed. It didn't take him long to order some decent clothes, something he saw other girls wear. He had selected a black backpack with a crescent moon on it. Which came with a nice pen case, some wall art was not difficult. A large poster with the tree of life seemed fitting, and he had selected sheets with the same design. The rug, was something else. He was debating between colours.
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
"Would she like, a cherry red, or plum purple?" He asked himself out loud.
"Plum purple." She replied. "If you were talking about me?" He nodded, and she hid a yawn behind her hand. Clearly she was still a bit tired.
"Plum purple it is." He said, and selected the colour. Paid for the order and now it was time to wait for the doorbell to ring. It could be that quick.
"What did you order?" She asked. He could see in her eyes that she didn't want to talk about her family. Not now, at least.
"Clothes, sheets, wall art, backpack and a rug." He said, summing everything up. "Nothing to crazy. My mom is ordering some extra, woman stuff." He felt his ears turn red, he was about to talk about her underwear. From which he knew she didn't have much of either. "Your books and other clothing are under investigation. We are not sure if they are spelled or not." Evanora nodded, taking that news pretty well. Maybe after what happened today, nothing would surprise her at this point. Or she was used to it? He didn't know, and a part of him didn't want to ask about it either.
********
The doorbell ringed and echoed through the house.
"There is your stuff." He said, and she looked surprised. "Did you never order something on the Hex web?" He knew that was a stupid question, of course she has not ordered something on the Hex web. She didn't have any clothing to speak off, all the trinkets she had, she got through school. Maybe it was the same with her books, or that was maybe the one thing her messed up family gave her. There was a knock on the door.
"Young master Kayne, are you in the young lady's room?" Heliot's voice came through.
"Yes, I am. You can come in." Kayne replied. The door opened, and the old butler entered the room. He looked at Kayne, sitting on the floor and then to the now awake, Evanora.
"Ah young lady you are awake. That is good, there is some tea downstairs." Heliot said. "Also young master Kayne, your mother wants to remind that she had told you not to go overboard." Heliot left the room.
"Was that your father?" Evanora asked, and he shook wildly his head.
"No that was Mister Heliot, he is the families' butler. But we should go downstairs to look at all the new stuff." He replied. "My father will come home soon too." He stood up and placed his laptop on the now empty desk. "Is there anything we should know for dinner? Allergies and such. I do not believe your father has provided my mother with a list." She got up from the bed, but was still a bit wobbly on the feet.
"I am deadly allergic to peaches, learned that the hard way." She said, the last piece of information didn't get lost on him. Peaches, right.
"I will inform the kitchen." He said, reaching out his hand. She shook her head, and took a few steps. But almost fall to the ground, if he was not there to catch her. "You have used all your energy, to throw off that stunning spell." He said. "It is now important that you do not push yourself too hard." She nodded and sighed.
"It is so frustrating to know that my family would do such a thing." She said, he could only nod to that. He didn't live in that kind of household, he didn't have to walk on eggshells, afraid of what kind of punishment will come next. And now she didn't have to worry about that either, although he knew that it would be a hard habit to break. He supported her downstairs, were his mother was waiting on them in the living room. The packages were stacked in one of the corners of the room.
"Ah, Evanora you are awake good. I asked the kitchen staff to prepare some herbal tea, to recharge your energy." She said, holding up a cup. "Also the pink boxes are not to be opened in the common room. The rest is fine, and I need to say that I want to know what my son has picked out for you. I also saw that he ordered some stuff for your room. On that he and I were of the same mind." Now she focussed on him. "What did you order for her room?"
"Poster, sheets, wall art and a rug. The cold wooden floor was not comfortable whatsoever." He said, his mother nodded.
"I also ordered some sheets, and wall art. But then she is able to switch sheets from time to time, and the room has more then one wall." She said, standing up. Evanora walked towards the black velvet couch sat down, he was able to see that she was not sure what to do.
"Heliot, can you bring those pink boxes to Evanora's room please?" He asked. "And can you inform the kitchen that she is allergic to peaches?" He added. Heliot who was just outside the room, came in, nodded. Took the pink boxes from the stack and left the room. "A man of few words." He said, while walking towards the stack of boxes. Grabbing the first one, when he turned around he saw that his mother pushed a cup with tea into Evanora's hands.
"Here drink up, you will feel much better afterwards. I promise." She said. Kayne gave her the first box after she took a sip of her tea. He knew the brew and he agreed that it was the right thing to do. Especially after he needed to guide her from the stairs.
"Here, I hope you like it."