Fighting Destiny (Central Coven) (2 page)

A year ago, I received my inheritance.  I didn’t receive money, or property, but power, nearly limitless power.   As if high school wasn’t awkward enough, I had to hide my true self from everyone.  There in the horizon loomed college, a chance to start fresh and perhaps learn to blend in again.  And, if it is too hard, well I am a witch I’ll find a spell and fake it…

I chose to attend Central Washington University, in Ellensburg Washington.  It is in a small town, with a very charming, well-kept campus.  The University of Washington is more prestigious, and considering my family’s money, that might have made more sense, but I was attracted to the personal attention students received from their instructors at Central.  Perhaps it was an odd choice for someone wanting to blend in, but I was pulled to this university.

So, that is how I found myself standing in front of one of the ugliest buildings on campus, or maybe anywhere, and this was going to be my home for the next nine months.  Well, at least I wouldn’t be living with my sister and her family anymore.  Instead, I would be in this square, plain, brick building with brown paint peeling off all of the woodwork.   And, I would have my own room, which was essential for keeping my secret.  Now, if I could magically get these boxes into my room on the third floor without getting caught… no, it’s probably best to carry them.

“Do you need help bringing in your stuff?”  A deep melodic voice asked from behind me.  Wow, I really need to be careful what I wish for.  I turned around slowly, and time stopped, I think my heart stopped, I’m sure I at least stopped breathing.  What I saw was the most beautiful man, over six feet tall, thick dark black-brown hair, piercing deep blue eyes, and sharply defined features,
talk about
gorgeous
.  Get it together…
am I staring at him?
Wow, I really can’t think.

“Thanks, I really could use some help bringing some of this stuff up to my room.  My name is Chloë, by the way.”  He was smiling, I couldn’t decide if it was good, or bad.  Right, he’s human,
so it’s
bad…
sooo bad.
  “I’m Finn, and it’s no trouble.” 

Hmm, that’s what you think.  “Well that is actually a life saver, there was no way I was up for carrying all of these boxes.” Absolutely no way I was
carrying
them, using magic certainly, but carrying, uh uh.  “So have you been inside yet?  Is it as bad inside as it is outside?”  “Well, prepare yourself if you think the outside is bad, the inside is worse.” 

“I fail to see how that is possible. Is there, toxic mold?”
“Close, asbestos, and signs telling you not to poke holes in the walls or ceiling.  Oh, and cover your mattress, they aren’t new and well…they get around as much as the students do.” Gross!”  “Come on lets go see if your room is as
pleasant
as mine.”  Finn reached over and grabbed my room assignment out of my hand, and I could swear I saw sparks.  “Hmmm, now this is convenient.  You’re in room 307 that is right next to mine.  Let’s go.” 

Finn was right when he said the inside was worse than the outside.   This building hardly inspired a “homey” feeling; exposed brick, waiting room style furniture, and seventies era linoleum flooring doesn’t exactly shout “make yourself comfortable.”  Oh well, must make the most of it, besides at least the view from my room (because of its location to Finn’s) would be good. 

“Ehhmm, you day dream a lot don’t you?” “Just taking everything in, and… yes I…I guess I do,” I stammered.  “Don’t be embarrassed, I can’t help but notice things about you,” he winked.  “Uhh… the stairs are behind that door, and then we just keep going up until we get to the top.” Finn tried to conceal blushing.  Maybe, (hopefully) I wasn’t the only one enjoying the
view.

“Have you met your roommate yet?”
he asked. “I don’t have one,” I answered with a shrug.  “Really?  Why not?” he pressed. “Well, I really like to have privacy.”
Because I have too many secrets.
  I continued babbling, “And I don’t think I could share my bedroom with my best friend of all people, and it is as large as some people’s apartments.  I think I would go nuts in a small room with a stranger.”  

“Your bedroom at home
is as big as some apartments?” he said with surprise.  “
Yeah
, uhm, I didn’t mean to add that part in.  I forgot for a second no one knows me here, so can we just forget that part?” I asked panicked.

“So you’re rich,” Finn teasingly bumped my shoulder.
  “My family is, but don’t tell anyone please,” I begged.  “Your secret is safe. Here is the third floor.  Our rooms are at the end of the hall by the girl’s bathroom. What is wrong with being rich, exactly?” “Nothing.  I just want people to get to know me for me, and not for my family or my money.” “I understand. I’m
comfortable
myself, I mean, you know, my family is.  You keep that secret, and I’ll keep yours.”  “I meant what I said.  My family has money.  I won’t have access to it until I am much older.”

That was partially true.  I didn’t have access to the unlimited funds spread out around the world, but I
did
have a trust fund, one most people would find obscene for an eighteen-year-old girl.  It just wasn’t unlimited. 

“I’ll set this box in your room and let you get settled in. Do you want to go to the dining hall with me tonight?”  “That sounds perfect,” I replied, trying not to smile like an idiot.  I placed the large key into the door, turned, pushed, and walked into a nightmare.

The room was the size of a walk-in closet.  Stuffed into the claustrophobia inducing space were two twin beds, matching wardrobes and a built in desk the length of the room.  The walls were exposed brick, the ceiling had a popcorn texture, the wood was scuffed and worn, and everything else had an ugly green laminate on it. 

The bed next to the window was made up in black and red linens.  There were books on the self, a laptop on the desk, and
she
stood in the center of the floor.  She looked like a cross between Jessica Alba and Penelope Cruz, only more beautiful, in an unearthly way.  Her teeth were bright white, and her skin had an odd tone.  It seemed to radiate a deep golden, and a pale porcelain glow at the same time.  She turned to look at me, and when the light hit her eyes they shone an odd mixture of bronze and florescent yellow-green like an animal at night.  Great, she was a supernatural creature, but what kind? 

“I thought you didn’t have a roommate?” Finn said, looking puzzled.  “It must be some sort of mix up.  Let me sort this out, and I will come and meet you around dinner time, say six thirty?” I wanted to get him out of the way before I confronted this person.
“Sounds good.” He was noticeably uncomfortable by her presence.  That is never a good sign.  Humans have a great instinct when it comes to dangerous supernaturals, but they tend to ignore it.

My dark chocolate brown eyes turned a vivid emerald green.  A normal reaction (for me) when I tap into my magic.  I turned to face my new roommate.  I
really
wanted to live alone,
needed
to live alone.  These supernatural showdowns were such a hassle.  She raised her head, looked deep into my eyes and released a feral hiss from deep in her throat.   Her lips pulled back in a snarl and revealed two sharp canines.  Fan-freakin’-tastic, my roommate is a vampire! 

I’m new to having my powers, but trying to intimidate me is criminally stupid.  I don’t scare easily.  My hair began to blow wildly around me, and a thick green mist swirled around my body.  With a flick of my fingers I closed the door. 

We started circling each other.  She crouched down, like an animal preparing to strike.  I flicked my fingers and sent sparks flying towards her.  She gasped, “What are you?” That was a minor display of power; perhaps she wasn’t really interested in confrontation.  It certainly would be preferable to have a decent relationship with my roommate, which I apparently have.  “I’m a witch.  My name is Chloë.  How about you?”

She took a deep breath and her fangs retracted.  “Now, that is complicated.  I am part-vampire.  I was bitten, and half changed, but I was rescued before my attacker could finish the job.  Oh, and I’m Anita by the way.  I’m sorry I was hostile toward you.  I could tell you were ‘other’ I just couldn’t tell what
, and I’m a bit paranoid now.”

“Understandable.  What I want to know is why are we roommates? I requested a single.”  “You don’t need the whole
story of why I wasn’t changed?”  “Not now.  Girls like us have to save stuff like that for our late night gabfests, right?  Plus I’m guessing that story is going require some Ben and Jerry’s right? For now, I’m more interested in why we are sharing a room.”

“Well there were men involved in my sob story, so of course we’ll need ice cream.  As for how we became roomies, well, I don’t know exactly. I requested a single too, but the housing office said they had run out. I was surprised I was being placed with a roommate.  Still, probably better than walking in and finding a vampire in your room. ”

“That would be an understatement, but I guess if I am going to have a roommate it might as well be someone I can share my secret with.  Honestly, the only reason I wanted my own room was because I wanted a space I didn’t have to pretend to be normal. I guess there is no harm in having a roommate if I can be myself.  It is nice to meet you by the way.”

I wasn’t sure why I was making a big deal out of it.  She was right after all.  If I had to have a roommate, another supernatural was ideal.  It just
felt
wrong somehow.  But, rooming with Anita could be nice.  I had never really had any close friends.  Kinda hard, when you are always keeping secrets.  But, there was an alarm screaming in my head that there was more than either of us understood behind our living situation.

“Well roomie, now we are past the weirdness, who was that hottie earlier?” Anita asked.
I laughed, “That was Finn.  He has the room next to us.  And I saw him first.”  “Yeah, yeah.  It’s no fair witches have that super model beauty thing anyway.  That is where
bewitching
comes from,” Anita complained. 

I’m not perfect by any means, but I do fit most people’s ideas of female beauty.  It isn’t diet, exercise, or some crazy beauty routine.  Nope, I’m a witch that is the secret.  All witches are beautiful.  I don’t know where the image of the haggard old crone came from.  It couldn’t have been a real witch, because I’ve never met one who appeared to be old or ugly.  In fact, I have yet to run into any
unattractive
supernaturals for that matter.  In the supernatural world, beauty doesn’t make you special, it is just common.

“It isn’t like va
mpires are ugly!” I teased.  “I know, but I’m only half, so I’m only half as beautiful.  But, I can come out during the day, so I guess there are advantages.” I wouldn’t have considered her half as beautiful, if anything she was the most beautiful vampire I’d ever seen.  I cocked my head, and really looked at her.  Definitely the most beautiful vampire I have seen, she must have been an unusually stunning human.

“So are you going to make a move on Finn?  I think he likes you.”
“I don’t know to be honest. Plus he can’t like me; we just met and have spent a total of like ten minutes together. Plus, I usually don’t date humans. But he is, I mean, he’s just so, I guess I’m trying to say that…” “He’s hot, that is what, and he has a certain something, kinda hypnotic, huh.” “Exactly!  Hypnotic.  He seems magical.  At least that is the story I’m going with if my sister or mother finds out about this.  I can’t believe I am considering this. How can you tell he likes me? Never mind, don’t answer.”

She laughed and touched the end of her nose.  Of course, she could smell pheromones. “
Carpe Diem
, so what first?”

“Dinner… tonight… in, let’s see… damn, ten minutes! Well, so much for doing things normal.” I answered as I searched for my wand.  “So I guess its time for some magic?”  “You guess right.  What is the use of being a witch if you can’t get yourself out of some trouble, huh?  Lord only knows it gets me into enough of it, only makes sense if it worked in reverse too.”

I used my wand to change out of my moving clothes.  I was instantly into my favorite pair of jeans, the ones that hugged my curves and showed off my slim muscular legs and rear.  My shirt was a flattering red blouse that the neckline was neither too low nor too high, the perfect amount of skin exposed.  A knock on the door interrupted my primping
. 

“I thought I was going to come to meet you.”
“Well, I couldn’t wait,” Finn said smiling his million dollar smile, “And my roommate wanted to come along.  So I thought maybe yours would too, and we could all go together.” 

“What a good idea,” I beamed back at him.  I really didn’t want to leave Anita all by herself.  I also hoped his roommate was good looking and she might like him. I subtly peeked in the hall…damn I love it when I’m right.

“Anita, Chloë, this is my roommate Dean.”  Anita’s gaze drifted up and down Finn’s roommate.  She flirtatiously flipped her long, strait, chestnut locks over her shoulder.  “Hello Dean,” purred Anita.  I stifled a giggle.  “Very nice to meet you,” I added more platonically than Anita.  “Uhm, Boys, we need another minute and we’ll be right down to meet you.”