Chapter Seven - Melodies and Shadows

The village square was alive tonight with lanterns and soft glowing orbs floating all around a beautiful wooden gazebo that stood at the center. It was decorated with flowing silks and blooming night flowers. There was a large crowd gathered to watch the beautiful woman on stage, playing a harp and singing words that were really starting to get to me. The crowd was a mixture of witches, wizards, and other supernaturals that had all gathered to hear her story through music.

I was starting to feel like I belonged in this village, leaning back against a tree as I listened to Iris singing. She was wearing a long white, flowing dress and her blonde hair was hanging long down her back as her fingers moved expertly over the strings of the harp. She sang words of struggle, of heartbreak, and of overcoming obstacles. She had said her name at the beginning of her performance, and that she was the second in command at the Icarus Coven, which I’d heard plenty about already. I hadn’t expected her performance to be so raw, so captivating, so moving.

As she continued to sing, I wandered towards a stand that had been set up where there were a couple of people, I assumed they were people, serving drinks and snacks. The man was rugged and muscular and he leaned forward against the makeshift table with an almost wolfish grin. When he spoke, he was definitely charming, but also incredibly shady.

“Well hey there, new girl. You look like someone who appreciates good music. Feeling thirsty?” He reached for a glass full of some sort of clear, glowing liquid. “It’ll really help you feel the music…” he winked at me.

“I’m okay thanks… I think I’ll just have a soda,” I reached for the can of Coke that was basically like a drug to me anyway.

“I mean, if you want… I could always introduce you to my wife,” he winked. “I’m Will, and this is Wanda. Come say hi to the newest Aquarius member, babe.”

The woman turned around and gave me a look that could only be translated as ‘stay away from my man’. I hesitated, wanting to take a step back from the table, when I bumped into Nate the Warden who happened to have come to my aid just in time.

“There you are,” he said casually, putting his hand on my lower back. “I’ve been looking all over for you…”

“You… have?” I blinked at him, feeling more than a little rattled.

“Why of course. I wanted to introduce you to some people,” he offered, starting to lead me away from the suspicious couple at the table.

“Just trying to help the new girl loosen up, Warden!” Will called after us as we walked away.

Nate sighed and led me to the other side of the gazebo where Iris had finished her performance. She was now sitting behind a table from where she was selling records of her music and signing autographs. “You’re learning fast. Most new arrivals would’ve taken that drink.”

“I know better than to take drinks from strangers… Especially ones that seemed, well, not human,” I winced a bit, looking up at him.

He laughed at that and slid his hand a bit higher on her back. “I wasn’t wrong about your intuition either. Will and Wanda… They’re werewolves. They’d love to eat you alive. Literally.”

I shuddered and said, “I knew it…”

“Come on. Let me introduce you to Iris. She’s been wanting to meet you.”

I followed him towards the table and felt a little starstruck at meeting the woman up front. The woman smiled brightly at her and said, “Oh hello! You must be Tyra Pierce, the one I’ve heard all about!”

I had to blush a bit. “All about huh? Hopefully nothing bad,” she smirked.

“Oh no, of course not! Your purple magic has been shimmering all over the village. Here, sweetheart,” she said, handing me a record that had been signed. “A welcome gift. Play it when you need to remember why you chose this storm.”

“Thank you so much…” I couldn’t contain how grateful I was. “Your voice was so beautiful, but it was your words that pulled me in.”

“That is the point, dearest. Music is just another type of magic. Some use spells, but I use the melody.” She studied me with curiosity and said, “I heard you chose Aquarius. That’s quite a bold decision.”

“I’ve spent my whole life living in cages,” she admitted, chuckling a little. “No offense or anything… but Aquarius feels like the first place that won’t try to lock me up again. Even if it is a little wild…”

“Wild can be good,” Iris chuckled lightly. “Controlled power is useful, but uncontrolled power? That’s where the real change comes from. Jezebel is lucky to have you.” She looked from Nate back to me and leaned forward. “Just… be careful. Aquarius rewards the bold, but it will also eat them alive. You may think that they have no rules, but they’ll reveal those subtle rules in their initiation. If you ever need advice… or a friend to talk to… you know where to find me.”

I winced a little, a bit worried at what that might entail. “I’m still figuring things out, to be honest… Just figuring out how not to accidentally short-circuit half the village when I get too emotional.”

“We’ve all been there, haven’t we Iris?” Nate chuckled, reaching over to squeeze my shoulder. “The first day I got here I made it rain for three days straight. The werewolves were not amused.”

“Hah, that’s true… You’ve got a real fire in you, Tyra. Or lightning, I guess. Don’t let anyone dim it.”

“Thank you, Iris… truly,” I smiled softly at her.

As Nate walked me back to the Aquarius Coven, I knew that I would have a lot to think about. I knew that I was starting to find something a bit more dangerous than freedom… Connection.