The Witch of Willow Lake - 1

I watched as Alicia’s eyes lit up as I told her about how Jacob had asked me to his family’s dance while we sat listening to the radio in our cozy lounge.

“Oh, Emmett, I can’t believe our girl is going on her first date!” Alicia swooned like a doting mother as Emmett appeared, fresh from work.

“I may not be your dad, but I feel like a proud father.” Emmett grinned widely as he walked behind the couch I was sitting on and squeezed my shoulders softly.

Alicia cleared her throat and pulled a stern face, but her lips curved ever so slightly, so I knew it wasn’t serious, “Now, you be sure that boy treats you right, or we’ll have to rough him up a little, won’t we, Emmett?”

“Too right, can’t have someone messing with our girl now.” Emmett chuckled. “But first things first, who’s going on the supply run?”

“Hallie and I will go. We can get in some girl time, just the two of us, if you want to, Hallie.” Alicia smiled as she stood up and walked over to Emmett to kiss his cheek.

I nodded and grinned, “I’d like that. No offense Emmett, but you know, there are just some things only moms and fellow females can understand.”

Emmett held his hands up and shook his head, “feel free, you girls do whatever you women do. I’ll hang back here, get dinner going, and clean up a little. Have fun and be safe, please.”

I couldn’t deny I was nervous about tonight, and I knew nothing about making friends, let alone dating. We weren’t friends in Willow Lake, just one big extended family; you just became friends with everyone in the village because you didn’t have many other choices.

However, Alicia had been human once and was a human right until she was thirty-six. She’d become a Vampire when one had found her close to death from influenza, and he’d turned her instead.

Alicia had told me how she’d been married in her human life and found love as a Vampire, too, with Emmett. So going out on a supply run just her and I would be the perfect time to talk to her about things.

Alicia placed her hand on Emmett’s shoulder and gave it a little squeeze, “we always are. Come on, pretty lady, let’s go get those supplies, eat some food and get you ready for your date!”

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Alicia and I trod carefully through the woods. Although the sun was still up, we knew that we needed to be careful with two wolf packs within the area.

They didn’t come out during the day often, but it didn’t mean they wouldn’t nor remember our scent if we trod on their land. They mostly came out at night solely because that was when there was less chance to encounter a human. Yet, some still prowled in the daytime hours.

“Hmm,” Alicia hummed as we walked further into the woods, towards the patch we knew grew the best berries, “I was thinking maybe a rabbit stew tomorrow night; how does that sound?”

“I love your rabbit stew. The rabbit tasted awful when I was out on my own, but I like how you do it.” I agreed.

“Ah, it’s one of those meats you have to cook and season just right. Although mind you, it tastes vile to Emmett and me no matter what. After taking yours out, we add a load of spices or herbs, making it a little more bearable to eat.”

I paused for a moment, “When did you and Emmett decide you didn’t want to, you know, drink human blood?”

“I don’t know.” Alicia shrugged softly as she waved around some overgrown bushes, “Emmett was, in his early days, brutal, and he could kill hundreds given a chance, and he did. He said it wasn’t until he met me, already a vegetarian, that he changed. It was rough on him because his primal need to hunt and kill was, and still is, far stronger than mine. However, with my help, he became the man you know now. I was just never wired that way. After my first kill, I felt so guilty that I cried for days and starved myself, but that was awful.”

I shuddered at the thought of the things Emmett had done. The man I knew now would never be capable of hurting one human, let alone hundreds. To think he could kill hundreds, let alone one person, was a bitter pill to swallow, so I decided to push the thought aside quickly.

I cocked my head to one side at her comment on starving; I’d not heard of Vampire doing that by choice, “What was it like, starving yourself?”

“I couldn’t even tell you, Hallie, it was dreadful. When we don’t feed, we don’t die — we just kind of become mummified, but you’re alive. You can feel everything but can’t move or even talk, scream, or cry.” She paused in thought, “Have you ever gone more than a day without water?”

“Yeah, once or twice before I met you guys. One time I went three days without water; the thirst and dehydration were horrendous. I could cope with hunger, but thirst was one thing I couldn’t deal with.” A shudder ran up my spine as I recalled those days, moments I hoped I’d never had to relive.

As I evoked the memory, it was almost as if I could feel how it felt again. Each breath I took burned; I felt weak, dizzy, and lightheaded. Each time I swallowed felt like I was gulping down sandpaper. I reached for the small flask of water I had tucked inside the bag I carried to put berries in and shook off the feeling as the water refreshed me.

“Well, amplify that feeling tenfold, then you get the smallest idea of what it’s like, but even that doesn’t do it justice. I’d killed a squirrel out of sheer desperation and drank its blood. It didn’t taste pleasant, but I felt like me again, so that’s what I did. Sadly, I discovered that we sometimes have to drink human blood to stay healthy, quick, and function at full capacity. But I can proudly say that I can count my kills on both hands in one hundred and thirty-odd years.”

“What’s it like, being a Vampire? Besides the bloodlust?” I’d always wondered about it but never really thought to ask before now. I had no desire to find out personally, but I was curious.

“No different from being a human once you adjust.” Alicia chuckled, “There are some significant differences, sure. For example, there is no heartbeat, and you get cold much easier. You’re faster, quicker, and more agile than a human, but you can learn to control that. Honestly, once you adjust and learn to control the powers like you have your capabilities, I guess I don’t feel much different.”

I hesitated a little. I felt like I knew Alicia’s response to my next question, but I decided to ask anyway, “Do you ever wish you hadn’t become a Vampire?”

“I used to. At first, the whole live forever as long as I don’t get staked or decapitated was great. But after a hundred years, it got boring.” Alicia turned to me with a soft expression and adoring smile, “Then we met you, and suddenly it didn’t seem so bad, and then you did one better by creating the rings. I haven’t had one feeling of regret or wishing I hadn’t become one since. You made us feel human again, Hallie.”

I gave Alicia a small smile, “I’m glad I could help because you guys have helped me. I lost my family in that attack, but I found a new family with you.”

Alicia’s arm came around my shoulder as she pulled me into her side, “Well, so long as we’re around, we’ll always be your family. Now anyway, enough of that, you excited for your date?”

“Nervous, actually.” I let out a small sigh, my shoulders slumping a little with it, “I have no idea what to do, say, or anything; I’m a complete fish out of water here, Alicia.”

“Ah, pretty lady, that’s the thing. You need not do or say anything; there is no right or wrong, so just be yourself. If he’s a decent man who is deserving of you, he’ll take you as you are. Besides, this is just a chance for you to experience something all girls should at your age. When you’re older, we can look at finding you someone for real, someone you can reallybe yourself with. If the men in your family can do it for millennia, then so can you.”

“Thank you.” I gave her a small smile as I felt a slight weight lift off my shoulders. She was right. I knew deep down she was; my mother would always tell me how I should only ever be myself and if people didn’t like it, that was their problem, not mine.

“We’re family, always and forever, no matter what, Hallie. Now, let’s get picking, hey?”

Once Alicia and I had picked enough to last us a few days, being sure to leave enough for the wildlife, we went to head home. However, we were stopped dead in our tracks at the sound of a twig snapping in the distance.

Alicia instantly sprung into action, darting in front of me in a protective stance, “Hallie, get behind me. Now.”