Chapter 2: Chapter 2(Tears and Goodbyes)

"Not forever, Deborah. Just a month. I promise I will make it up to you when I get back," Eloise said over the phone.

"Not fucking Jeremy Flint! I want you to handle them yourself. I don't want that shipwreck anywhere near my cases. Don’t burn out while I'm gone. I know, take care too. Bye!"

Eloise hung up with a small smile.

She went through her phone to find no calls or texts from Cole. He hadn't replied to any of her texts or returned any of her thousand calls. He was still angry at her. He had every right to. It wasn't every day your fiancée left you to marry another man. Although she had good reason, that did little to resolve the situation.

They had a terrible fight two weeks ago. It was after her parents and siblings left that Saturday. Cole went mad over the idea that she even considered it. He insisted there could be another way, as he didn't want to lose her. She wished there was, but there wasn't. Her fate was already signed.

She was to be condemned to a cruel, old man she would never love. Letting go of Cole was a sacrifice she had to make.

Amid the chaos, Cole said horrible things to her. He was hurting; his reasons for lashing out were justified. She should've refrained from saying anything back. But being as stubborn as she was, she retorted with more horrible words. He left her that evening and refused to pick up her calls afterwards.

She dropped by his house many times but he wasn't around each time. She went on to his workplace, but his secretary claimed he was too busy to even spare a minute. She left New York for London on Monday, after a long, angry, and sad voicemail to Cole that morning.

Eloise dialled his number again and it went straight to voicemail. It was a Saturday evening. He was probably at their favourite place having a drink, alone.

"Hey, it's me again for the hundredth time. god, I'm pathetic, aren't I? After a thousand unreturned calls, texts, and voicemails, I should bow out now, shouldn't I? I should leave you alone and move on with my wretched... Tsk, look at me making it all about myself again. Cole... I have no idea why I'm doing this again, but this may be the last message I ever leave you. I guess all I wanted is... I... I know leaving is tearing you apart but… the thought of living the rest of my life with you hating me is something I can't bear. I have no right to ask this of you, but please forgive me for everything. Please, I....." Eloise's voice broke, with tears slipping down her face.

"I love you, Cole. I always will," She clicked the end button, throwing her phone to the bed.

"El!" She turned to find her three friends, Corentine, Tamara, and Korra at the door. Apart from her late friend, Nei, these three were the only close friends she had.

"You made it!" Eloise excitedly walked towards them. The three clustered in for a hug. Her friends turned to find her with tears in her eyes.

"How could we miss this?" Tamara said as she cupped her face. Her curly brown hair was straightened into a ponytail tonight.

Tamara was a high-born wolf from the Luna pack, which was headed by her family, the Lenoire family. Corentine was a vampire from one of the elite vampire founding families, the Hardens. Her father was one of the high-ranking officials at the Imperium, which meant they were a big deal. Korra was a fairy, and her mother was the leader representing the faction of fairies from India.

She met them ten years ago after she eloped from home. Korra and Corentine were already friends before Eloise and Tamara joined the fold later. Back in their normal lives, Tamara was an editor at Vogue, New York. Corentine was the daddy's girl, who didn't have to work for anything. She owned an Art Museum in L. A and worked as a model there. Korra was a fashion designer, makeup artist, and stylist who lived in New York. She, like Corentine, had her mother covering all her expenses. But Korra was the kind to get sick from doing nothing. She liked to work, explore and make things for the fun of it.

"Oh, don't cry, you are going to ruin your makeup!" Korra groaned, leading her back to the bed.

After hours of working on her face and hair with her team of professional stylists, she wasn't about to let her cry it all to ruin.

"I'm so sorry about Cole. I liked Cole," Tamara said with a sad smile. She was the sentimental one who saw the good in everyone.

"Oh please, spare me the theatrics. You hated him. Always saying he was too good to be true," Corentine disclosed, as she pulled a chair closer to the three seated on the bed. She was the free-spirited and self-absorbed one.

"I know, but I liked him, honestly. He was so sweet and kind… I always thought they were going to end up together," Tamara said.

"Me too!" Corentine said, clicking her tongue.

"You two aren't helping!" Korra snapped at the two, as more tears welled up in Eloise's eyes. Korra was the knowledgeable, strict one with a sharp mouth.

"Oh, honey. We are so sorry!" Tamara sympathized with Eloise, as she hugged her from the side while Corentine squeezed her hand.

Korra gently wiped her tears and prayed she wouldn't cry anymore.

"Honey, look on the brighter side. You get to help your people. You are doing a good thing," Tamara told her.

"Listen, putting your life on hold for something like this is a sacrifice not everyone will make. I sure as hell won't. But you have. You should be darn proud of yourself because I am," Korra told her, tugging a few strands of Eloise's hair behind her ear.

"Yeah, the witches should be laying at your feet and worshipping you right now," Corentine said.

Eloise chuckled. "As much as I would love that, people laying down at your feet is more of your expertise, Cor," she said.

"Definitely!" Corentine answered smugly. She slowly reached into her purse and pulled out a silver hip flask. She quickly took a sip and then turned to the three who had raised brows.

"So, what if I said I quit and I didn't? Here you go, El. A very underrated trick to clear your mind." Corentine offered her the silver flask.

The three burst out laughing, Corentine went nowhere without this flask. She was never one to go a day without a drink either. One time she thought she'd die of menopause and depression because she hadn't had a drink all day. Depression? Maybe. But Menopause? No. She was a fifty-two-year-old vampire who looked like she was in her twenties. To vampires, that age was like adolescence.

Eloise took one sip and then another, going in for a third.

"Okay, that's enough. We don't want you to drunk. The whole world has come to see you. It's a bad start when you show up drunk for your first appearance. Don't you think?" Korra snatched the flask, taking a sip herself.

Eloise scoffed. "The whole world, huh?"

"Yes, I've never seen so many creatures gather in one place before. Most of them claim they are here to experience the Fall Ball by the witches. But in truth, they are just here to see you and if lucky, some fire magic," Corentine said, taking the flask and taking a long sip.

"The crown jewel, that's what they are calling you now," Tamara said, taking a sip from the flask and handing it back to Corentine.

Eloise chuckled sadly. She stepped away from the bed, heading towards the full-length mirror. All her life, she'd never felt the pressure of being a high-born witch. She was the last of six daughters. She never bothered with the headaches of learning the ways to lead because she always thought she'd never be first in the line of succession. Her sisters were there to fill that space. That, amongst other reasons, was the reason she never learned the ways of the witch and cared less about her people, growing up. But now, she felt the pressure like nothing else. Because it was all abrupt.

Her friends moved to her side, staring at the mirror as well.

"Five sisters. Five! Why couldn't he choose from one of them? Why me?" Eloise asked. A small part of her was still clinging to the hope of reversing everything and going back to her life, to Cole.

"First of all, they don't have the power of the Phoenix. It's a political move by the Imperium. It's wise to have you on their side than against them," Korra said, placing both her hands on Eloise's shoulders.

"I care less about their side. Rebelling isn't new to me, firepower or not. I'm just in this for my people," Eloise said determinedly.

"I don't think this was entirely a political plot," Tamara said.

"Here we go again, more absurd conspiracy theories," Corentine groaned, rolling her eyes.

"They are not absurd..."

"They are not facts either," Korra interrupted Tamara.

"What are you talking about?" Eloise turned to them confused.

"Three days ago, I was going through an old journal of my great, great, great grandfather, Kit. I came across some old drafts about Lord Imperio and his late wife," Tamara began.

"A wife, who's dead and allegedly had the power of the phoenix too," Corentine interrupted her.

"There have only been two records of the appearance of the phoenix in history, before you. The original host, Syphe of the Heretics, and The Lord's late wife," Tamara said.

"Tammy, what has that have to do with why that man wants to marry me?" Eloise asked.

"I don't know why you haven't been told but the Lord's late wife looked exactly like...."

"Beam!" The four turned to find Heron at the door. He was dressed in an elegant grey three-piece suit, with black gloves. Like Eloise, he looked more like he was going to a funeral than a celebration.

This year, as a sign of new beginnings and bonds, the witches were holding the annual Ball of the Fall at Hastens Palace. All supernatural creatures around the world had been invited to the celebration. A celebration of unity between the witches and the other creatures. But in truth, they only came because of curiosity concerning the recent rumours: Rumors of the Suprema and the power of the Phoenix. A power thought lost by all and now a crown jewel of the witches. A prized possession that the witches were handing to The Lord Imperio, at a fair price.

"See you later, love!" Korra told her. They hugged her and bid her goodbye.

"You are going to kill it out there!" Corentine whispered to her. Eloise returned the smile and watched as they left.

"A crown jewel, that's what I'm called now," Eloise said when her friends were out of earshot.

"They are not wrong. You are my most prized possession." Heron cupped her face with his good hand.

"Eloise…child, I'm sorry you're going through all this...." He hesitated for a second.

"You have readily left your life to carry on a burden I should be carrying. Not everyone can do that, child. I respect you for that. I love you, little flame, and I am very proud of the woman you've become," he told her. Eloise slowly walked towards him and fell into his open arms.

"That must have been the most difficult thing you've ever said, Father," she said with a chuckle. Heron chuckled, patting her hair gently.

"You have no idea how much that means to me: Your respect, your love. You should know I love you too," she told him.

"I know that, child. I do," He replied quietly.

"First of all, I didn't leave my life behind. It's just on hold. And this, as much as I hate to admit it, is not a burden but a responsibility I have to fulfil. And I swear I am going to give the Lord Imperio one hell of a time!"

They both burst into laughter.

"I don't expect any less from my daughter," Heron said, as he caressed her face.

Eloise smiled, quickly turning towards the mirror, and taking in her reflection again.

"You look beautiful," Heron stepped in behind her, placing a kiss on her cheek. Eloise smiled.

At least her eyes aren't poofy as she expected, she thought to her herself.

Sad or not, there was no excuse to look terrible on a night such as this. She glanced at the door for signs of her mother.

"Mother didn't...."

"She, like everyone else, is waiting downstairs."

"Ready?" He asked her, offering her a hand. Eloise took his hand, exhaling deeply.

"Crush it!" she whispered to herself. This was a small word of encouragement she whispered to herself, every time she was to go to court. Those times, she didn't need it because she crushed her opponents all the time. But this time, she feared it wasn't enough to face what was before her.

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