Edith, ever the pessimist, simply growled now and again and released small smoke rings out. Her eyes would constantly watch the other three familiars as if they planned to ambush her. Edith had always found it hard to trust. It had taken Jessica a long time and a lot of patience.
“So, Jessica, where are you from?” the dark heard witch called Arietta piped up. Next to her sat a very good-looking warlock. They both couldn't seem to keep their hands off each other, much to the chagrin of the cat familiar who kept rolling his eyes and making tutting sounds.
“I’m from up north, from the Mistwalker Coven. My parents are both active witches,” Jessica admitted, even though she hadmissed out on the witchy gifts, she adored her parents and what they did for the magical community.
“Holy shit, I know of that coven. Maeve, they are super powerful,” the third witch piped up.
Throughout the conversation, Jessica couldn’t help turning her head and looking back towards the doorway that led to the cavern under the Hollow.
“Bitch, how did you think I got the contact details for Jessica? Her parents recommended her.” Maeve laughed and threw a carrot at the witch’s head.
Jessica watched their back and forth, absolutely loving the family dynamics, no matter how crazy it seemed.
“Isabeau, where’s Brutas?” Maeve finally asked.
“Looking for Dave, he’s not seen him all afternoon and that’s unlike him.”
Jessica placed her soup spoon down and wiped her lips on her napkin, Brutas and Dave? Why did those names seem so familiar. As she took a sip of her wine it hit her, almost like a lightning bolt to the head. She couldn’t help but blurt out.
“Brutas and Dave, meaning the Krackens!! They are coming to dinner. How the hell will they fit?” Jessica asked in quick succession. She glanced around the table and no one moved, instead they just looked at her like she had grown a second head.
“Err, Maeve, you didn’t tell her, did you?”
“I meant to, but well, she keeled over seeing Dave in his Kracken form so I thought I would leave that little gem until she had adjusted to the crazy that is this house.”
“Maybe now is a good time,” Arietta advised as she slavered a huge amount of butter onto a bread roll.
“Yeah, okay, Jessica. So, the same magic explosion that created the Kracken eggs also made it so Dave could shift into a human. Brutas was hit with something similar but a lot earlier.So yeah, they can come to dinner ‘cause they can shift to human, although they are big guys.”
A snort sounded from the bottom of the table where the familiars all sat. The squirrel chuckled, “You could say that… fucking huge comes to mind.”
“Human tripod,” another followed.
“Baby’s arm holding an apple.”
“Dick like a dinosaur.”
Then all three familiars started to laugh, laughter that quickly turned into hiccups and sobs as they couldn’t contain themselves.
“Will you three pack it in, it’s not nice to make fun. Especially of someone who is family,” Maeve scolded.
Jessica was still trying to process the news. Kracken shifters. That was crazy but also absolutely amazing.
“How exciting.” Jessica smiled, she needed to add that to her notes. Day one and she was already gaining so much.
“For flip’s sake, she’s saying that weirdly again,” Edith piped up whilst sidestepping Binky, who was attempting to get closer.
“Listen, feather brain, if you don’t want to get singed, I suggest you back away.” Her little growl would have been cute, but she backed it up with a little fire ball that hit his plate and set the contents on fire.
“Bloody hell,” Binky exclaimed and shot behind the squirrel.
“Oi, don’t hide behind me, I DO NOT want my tail singed…” the squirrel shouted as he hugged his squirrel to him.
Jessica couldn’t stop herself from laughing. The sound filled the room and soon everyone followed. It felt good to laugh at nothing in particular. Jessica couldn’t explain it, but she needed this. To others, she was the perfect daughter who, despite her lack of magic skills, had made the most out of her life. But she still felt like a failure. She hadn’t missed all the remarks that had been said to her parents when they had attended functions. Themagical community could be very set in their ways. A witch with no magic was no use and was to be shunned, and if she had been born to a less prolific coven she may well have been cast out.
So yes, she had been lucky to have such amazing parents but that, unfortunately, didn’t stop the bullying that went on well past school. So, to come to a coven of exceptionally talented and powerful witches and to have them accept her for her and not the powers she didn’t possess, was a blessing to the soul. From the moment she had stepped off that rickety pirate ship she had felt settled. It was like the town almost welcomed her.
Jessica had seen many a thing in her years searching the globe for creatures, but Kracken’s Hole was the first place to make her feel like she belonged.
