SOULBOUND
by Dexter Banks
CHAPTER SIX – PROTECTIVE
Willow’s eyes fluttered open, slowly adjusting to the sunlight that filled the unfamiliar room. Where was she? That definitely wasn’t her room in the Academy. Then she remembered what happened the previous night. Meeting Tara, healing her mother and… She blushed remembering her last comment to Tara.
Her body felt kind of heavy, but she still lifted herself off the bed and walked to the mirror fixed on the wall. She almost laughed at the state of her clothes and hair.
With a wry grin she took a smallish box out of her ceremonial tunic’s pocket and returned her trunk to its normal size. Those trunks were mighty useful, she thought to herself as she opened the bottomless shrinkable trunk and took out a clean change of clothes.
She took off her wrinkled clothes and put on a pair of black trousers and a white button up shirt, leaving her bracelets on. Then she picked up her brush and attempted to tame her bed head. She found her army boots beside the bed and quickly put them on.
When she looked at the mirror again she was content with what she found. She looked almost like a normal teenager, except for her ears that stood out sharply against her bright red hair. Deciding against a glamour for now she tried to use her hair to cover up her pointy ears, managing to hide them almost completely.
Finally satisfied with her appearance she walked out of the room and tried to find out where her friend was. Her incredibly accurate hearing picked up the sound of Tara’s voice coming from the room down the hall as well as an older woman’s voice, no doubt her mother.
She walked to the room’s door and knocked quietly.
The voices talked a bit more before she heard her friend’s familiar steps towards the door, which opened to reveal the beaming blond.
“Willow!!” Tara threw herself at the redhead, squeezing her tight.
“Oof! Someone is happy this morning.”
Tara blushed and backed away hastily. “Um, sorry.”
“I wasn’t complaining.” Willow grinned and kissed the blonde’s cheek, watching in amusement as it reddened prettily.
“Ahem!” the other occupant of the room cleared her throat and smiled when the girls jumped, looking like they were just caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
Willow glanced at the woman that was propped on a couple of pillows and noticed how much healthier she looked. Of course, she still looked weak and still was very thin, but was considerably less pale than she had been the previous night. And judging by the twinkle in her eyes she was also feeling much better.
“Willow, isn’t it?”
“Yes, m’am. How are you feeling?” Willow asked politely.
“Well enough to tease me, it seems.” Tara grumbled half-heartedly.
If Mrs. Maclay heard the comment she chose not to acknowledge it. “Very well, thanks to you it would seem.”
Willow blushed to the tips of her pointy ears. “Um…”
“No need to be embarrassed, young elf.”
Both girls looked up startled.
“You didn’t really think I would buy that a sixteen-years-old witch performed a healing that complex by herself, did you?” The woman raised a blond eyebrow and smirked. “Besides, the ears are a dead give away.”
Willow’s hands automatically flew to her ears, which were no longer hidden by her hair.
“Aren’t you freaked or… mad?” Tara asked hesitantly.
“Not at all, my dear.” She smiled kindly. “I’m very happy that you’ve found such a good friend.”
Both girls release the breaths that they didn’t even realized they had been holding.
“It’s also good to finally find out why you were always going to the forest.”
Tara’s eyes bulged. “You… you knew?”
Right now she was willing to bet that her mother was omniscient.
“Of course I knew, sweetie, for the record I’m not completely senile yet.” The older Maclay smiled amusedly.
“Then why didn’t you… you know, stopped me?”
“Why would I? You always came back safely and you were so happy after your escapades, so it couldn’t have been anything bad. I figured you would tell me in your own time. I must say, it’s quite a fortunate surprise.” She smiled at Willow gratefully.
Willow couldn’t help smiling back, that woman was like Tara in every way. She could see clearly where her dear friend had gotten her smile. It was contagious.
The moment was suddenly interrupted by a loud growling sound.
Both blondes looked at Willow owlishly before bursting into fits of laughter.
Willow grinned sheepishly. “Whoops?”
After she finally stopped laughing Tara wiped her eyes and smirked at the redhead. “We better feed this monster of yours, huh?” she patted Willow’s tummy.
Willow bumped her shoulder playfully, feigning indignation.
“I’m going to cook breakfast for us.”
“Want help?” Willow offered.
“Since when do you know how to cook? Nah, I’ve got it.”
“Um, but what about…?” she looked at Tara pointedly.
“Won’t wake up at least until noon.”
“Okay…” Willow agreed reluctantly.
“I’ll be back in a few.” Tara skipped out of the room after kissing both females on the cheek.
“Um…” Willow sighed, a blush covering her cheeks.
She looked at the smirking woman on the bed and felt more than a little embarrassed. Willow cleared her throat and approached the bed. “Mrs. Maclay, I… There’s something I need to talk to you about.”
Mrs. Maclay nodded, sensing the seriousness of the situation. “I’m all ears, dear.”
“I want you to know that I care about Tara very much, she’s my best friend and I would do anything to see her happy and safe.”
“You don’t need to tell me that, young one, anyone with eyes can see how much you love my daughter.” The woman smiled gently.
Willow blushed hotly, but her expression remained serious. “But… I’m afraid she’s not very safe or happy here.”
The blond woman frowned. “What do you mean?”
Willow then explained how she had found Tara the previous night and how her father had been treating her. The redhead got angrier with each word said about the scum who dared to hurt her best friend and Mrs. Maclay listened in silence, her expression somber.
“I was afraid that would happen.” She shook her head sadly. “Robert isn’t a bad man, he’s just afraid of what he doesn’t understand and he tends to let that fear get the better on him. He never really understood Tara’s light.”
“With all due respect, Mrs. Maclay, afraid or not I don’t want that man to keep hurting Tara. Honestly, I don’t want either of you to get hurt.”
Mrs. Maclay nodded, her eyes determined. “Rest assured, I will take care of that.”
Willow finally smiled, a feeling of accomplishment in her heart.
To Be Continued…
That's all for today folks! Can I have some feedback please?
Dex
The purpose of writing is to inflate weak ideas, obscure pure reasoning, and inhibit clarity. With a little practice, writing can be an intimidating and impenetrable fog! – Calvin
Edited by: Snooper at: 7/25/04 12:53 pm
BWR 
............ 
Nicely done Dex! Can I call you Dex?
Please some back 
missy!!