Threads

Chapter Four: Part 2

            “But…what does that mean? How…does that mean I can’t be in a normal relationship because I won’t get old?”

            “Hardly,” Azura said. “It would be different if we really were immortal, but we’re not. You will still age to a certain point. I look…what…fifty to you?”

            “A well preserved fifty.” Alice admitted.

            “Yes, so it’s usually subtle enough for people to ignore. Aside from the occasional accusations about using Botox, my relatives never caught on.”

            “What about when you were all in your nineties?” Alice demanded. “Didn’t they notice you still looked fifty?”

            Azura shrugged. “I said had a facelift.”

            “But what if I have kids? They’ll know I’m not aging normally.”

            “They might be magic as well. Or some Witches just put a glamour on when they’re around relatives, just to look a bit older.”

            “What’s a glamour?”

            “Simple magic that makes you look subtly different.”

            “I guess it does guarantee that your husband will die before you though.”

            “It does,” Azura agreed. “Luckily I have no such thing as a husband to worry about, and I don’t plan on getting one. However, if you marry someone who uses magic you’ll be fine.”

            “Ah,” Alice said. “And how does that work?  Is there magical speed dating or a website or something?”

            Azura chuckled. “No, nothing so contrived as that. There are parties though, and gatherings. There are quite a few covens in Vancouver, or if the bar scene is more your type of thing, I can name a few pubs and such that cater to a special sort of group.”

            “Really?” Alice’s eyes widened with interest. “You mean there are entire clubs that just let magic people in and no one else?”

            “There are, yes.” Azura nodded. “Very exclusive some of them.”

            “That sounds sort of neat. And what’s a Coven?”

            “Like a club for Witches. Maybe in the next town I’ll take you to one.”

            “Not here in Victoria?”

            “Victoria’s underground is mostly Vampiric.”

            “Oh.” Alice shivered. “Is that bad?”

            “No, not necessarily, but it’s a different crowd. I don’t think I want you going there when you’re first adjusting to all of this. There are sometimes…incidents, at that sort of place.”

            “I’ll wait then,” she agreed, hastily. “I don’t like the idea of becoming a Vampire snack.”

            Azura chuckled. “I don’t imagine you do. Here, why don’t you go flip the sign over so it says “Welcome”.

Alice walked to the front door and flipped the sign over so the side facing them said “Closed”, feeling thrilled and anxious.

“Time for customers now?”