That photo up top, I think, perfectly replicates Millicent's return to Pine Springs. It's a more rural town like this and I think the girl looks a lot like Millicent as well. That's also how I considered Walter's sweatshirt and Iven's hat to look, both of which will be very important characters to you in a moment...

I am adding a whole bunch of new characters to this story, by the way. I always notice myself struggling to create side characters that contribute to the plot. In the first LML, I focused a lot on Sophie and Cortez's relationship, which I really enjoy. I love writing about two people and their personal development with one another. But... There is never just two people in a story. Especially, not in a story as grand and dramatic as this one is going to get.

So, please bare with me in the beginning here. There will be a lot of unfamiliar faces and it might seem like you're reading a completely different book, but it all comes together and connects and I can't wait to bring you all along on that journey. I have big plans for this book so I hope you'll stick around!

Anyways, HERES BOOK TWO OF LITTLE MISS LUNA!! IM SO EXCITED TO SHARING THIS WITH ALL OF YOU! IVE NEVER WRITTEN A SECOND BOOK IN A SERIES! THIS IS CRAZY!! Thank you all for the love and support and comments and votes! I really really do appreciate every single read. It means the world to me that people are experiencing the worlds that my head gets trapped in every day!

Also, quick question... How does everyone set their reading settings? Do you scroll or flip through pages? Genuinely curious!

•
Fire
And Gold
In Our Eyes
•

Millicent watched from a couple feet into the field on the right side of the house. She anxiously stood with her hands by her sides as she fidgeted with the sleeves of her sweatshirt. It was silent, it was dark, it was the calm before the storm. The forest was to her left, dirt road to her right, her escape path directly behind her. All she had to do was run, but not yet. Not until she saw them exit the house.

This was the plan, but still, when she watched Walter and Iven burst through the back door of the house, she felt panic set in her bones. She held her hands up, palms open and fingers wide. The explosion went off and instantly, Millicent closed her fingers into her palm as quickly as she could. But the very moment that she did so, she could feel the pain of the explosion blow through her from her finger tips to her toes.

The burning sensation caused her to cry out in pain, release her clenched fists, and collapse into the grass. Walter and Iven looked from Millicent to the house, their eyes wide as they watched the house split in half and the flames reach violently for the dark night sky. None of them said anything as they watched the house burn and listened to the sound of the crackling fire consuming all the wood and belongings in the house.

And then, out of the corner of Iven's eyes, he spotted something move in the dirt road. He turned and narrowed his eyes in an attempt to see clearly. But it wasn't hard to figure out, it as Sophie. She was pushing herself up on her hands, her body covered in blood, dirt, and impaled in various places by wood. She wasn't dead, obviously. And even worse than that, she was getting up rather quickly for someone that just got thrown out of their home from an explosion, even for a wolf.

Iven grabbed Millicent's arm and forced her to stand on her feet. His fingers wrapped around her burning skin caused her to cry out once more as tears streamed down her face. It all hurt so badly. Her body was shaking uncontrollably as the burning coursed through her veins, hot and unrelenting. Even in the darkness, with only the fire of the house providing any light, Iven could see the Lichtenberg marks where her skin was exposed.

Everywhere that her veins were close enough to the surface of her skin, they appeared in a burning red color. It was as if she was struck by lightning, the patterns reaching and disappearing, traveling over her skin like desperately clinging vines. The tops of her hands, over her chest, and up her neck and jaw. Even when Iven was grabbing Millicent, he could feel how hot her body was. She was nearly baked from the inside out because of her attempt at containing such a big explosion.

"You were suppose to contain the explosion, Millie!" Iven exclaimed in outrage, his words falling into a threatening growl.

Millicent flinched and cried as she shook her head. "I told you, I didn't think I could contain something so big! I'm not that powerful!"

Iven threw Millicent into the grass with a frustrated grunt. Millicent weeped as the impact of hitting the ground caused all of her muscles to tighten and burn even more. Every single movement she made angered the burning within her. She felt like her eyes were on fire as she cried, her tears painful on her cheeks, fingers in a blaze of fury as she gripped the grass beneath her. Everything hurt so much.

Iven's hands buried themselves in his hair as he took a deep breath. "Well, fucking great, Millie! She's still alive and getting the fuck up already! You were a lot of help, dumbass!"

Millicent looked towards the road and watched the small human figure rise to it's feet. Her eyes instantly widened in shock and fear. Sophie looked like she had just been thrown through a wood chipper. Blood poured down her arms and legs, and even her face. Her eyes were glowing a bright gold as she stared at the house before her. Even as she took a step forward, she looked like she would fall over dead, but she didn't.

Millicent was absolutely petrified at the sight. Seeing a girl her age take a step towards her destroyed world, impaled with planks of wood, and dripping in her own blood, was a devastating sight to see. Millicent didn't imagine Sophie would be so young, and she definitely didn't imagine she'd see such a destroyed look on her face. This wasn't what Millicent wanted. She thought all of this would be different.

"They're coming. I hear them." Walter aimlessly slapped Iven as he stared towards the woods. "Come on, come on, come on!"

Walter and Iven began running away from the house, parallel to the woods and dirt road. Millicent attempted to stand but froze when every joint in her body ignited in that excruciating pain. She tried to cry out for Walter and Iven but they were already so far away. They didn't even look back. Millicent was devastated, but she couldn't help but start to rationalize why they would leave her behind. She had failed, she was weak.

Of course. Why would they risk their life for someone that had failed them?

Millicent's weeping and sulking was cut short when she heard the wolves at the edge of the forest. Walter and Iven shifted somewhere in the distance and bolted for safety. Millicent, in too much pain to follow them, forced her aching body across the street and into the fields in front of Sophie's house. Luckily, the road was a bit higher than the open fields so there was enough of a small hill for Millicent to hide against as she stilled to soothe her burning and aching body.

A blood curling cry behind Millicent made her flinch. She gripped weakly at the weeds of the small hill and peeked over them to see Sophie's house. It was still up in flames but there were a few more people—werewolves—there now. Millicent could see Sophie's silhouette backlit by the flames that overtook her home, and right beside her was an Alpha. Instantly, Millicent realized it was Cortez. It was the man Walter and Iven despised.

"Please, I need my grandfather! He's still in there! Cheif!" Sophie cried at the top of her lungs as she fought to escape Cortez's grasp, the two silhouettes tugging and pushing against each other.

Millicent watched as Sophie fought Cortez to get back to her house until she nearly escaped him and he caught her with his arms around her in a tight embrace. That only made Sophie scream louder and cry harder. She was nearly thrashing in his arms, begging for her grandfather. Millicent felt more tears roll down her face, but this time, it wasn't from her pain. It was from Sophie's. Her heart was broken at the sight. She didn't expect any of this..

Millicent admittedly had no idea. She had no idea Sophie was her age, no idea her grandfather would be in the house, and didn't think she'd have to witness something so heartbreaking. All Millicent knew about this plan was that Cortez was bad and Sophie was a useless pawn in the boys plan for revenge. She had no other information. And besides, Millicent only agreed to this plan because it would be a quick death with zero pain, which was no longer accurate.

Seeing a human figure, holding another human figure, escape from the flames of Sophie's home made Millicent fill with hope. That was her grandfather, she could tell. Millicent watched as Sophie collapsed beside the figure on the ground and soon begin crying over him. As much as it pained Millicent, she couldn't look away. Part of her felt like she deserved to see what kind of destruction she was able to cause when she messed up. This was partially her fault.

The scene didn't last long before the sound of sirens appeared over the hill. Millicent panicked and was about to run before she heard Sophie scream again. She looked back to see Sophie being pried from her grandfather by Cortez, loudly protesting with screams and begging.

"Please! Let me stay with him! I can't lose him!" Sophie screamed, her words muffled by the roaring fire, the anxious sirens, and her own violent sobs.

Cortez only got a few feet from her grandfather before he set her feet on the ground and turned her to face him. Millicent watched as he caressed Sophie's face in his hands, speaking gently and calmly. She was captivated by the sight. Through all the chaos, Cortez had yet to do anything mean. He was by Sophie's side in a millisecond after the explosion, trying to keep her under control, comforting her, and was trying to keep her away from public authority. He looked so gentle.

Cortez even scooped his mate into his arms to run for the forest when the lights of the police sirens started shimmering through the night sky. Millicent knew she couldn't stay any longer either. With her blood boiling in her veins and muscles snapping under her skin, Millicent forced herself up as she disappeared into the corn fields. She disappeared into the night, lost and alone for the first time in awhile. The familiarity of that feeling was terrifying.

-

Millicent returned to the only place that she knew to call home. Pine Springs wasn't as nice as it sounded, but it was comfortable and simple. There was a lot of antique stores in town, a small elementary school, middle school, high school, a couple of parks, and a big orphanage right next to the towns Christian Church.

And in the center of town, there was a fountain that poured water down a big pine tree sculpture. That's where a lot of people thought the name came from in the first place because there were no springs. Plus, the only pine trees around were on the far outskirts of town, where nobody really bothered to venture out to.

Millicent hated the place but had nowhere else to go. She knew all the in's and out's of Pine Springs like the back of her hand. Which is exactly why she figured she could sneak in to steal some food and supplies and then book it. She didn't plan on sticking around. By the time she reached Pine Springs, the aching and burning throughout her body had calmed. She was still sore all over and the red Lichtenburg pattern remained atop her skin, but she was relatively fine.

Millicent managed to slip in and out of the store on the strip that took in clothes that people didn't want anymore. She came out with two pairs of jeans, three shirts, and a sweatshirt. The old, tattered shoes she always wore would have to do since shoes would take up too much room in her bag. Next, Millicent went to their local grocery store to steal some snacks for the journey.

When inside, Millicent was careful not to look too suspicious. She walked casually, almost as if she were bored, and didn't avoid eye contact with those she passed. It was best to look as confident as possibly, not timid and suspicious. Stealing food that was meant to last awhile was a rather hard task to complete, though. She didn't know what was a pity excuse for a meal and what would actually fill her up.

Jerky made sense to her, just like a box of goldfish and other preservative junk foods. They wouldn't go stale or rotten quickly like fruits and stuff that needed to stay cold. Millicent figured Gatorade should hold her over for awhile. It was better than water and water was usually free at fast food places anyways. Might as well go for something like that.

But, as soon as Millicent put her bag down to tuck two Gatorades inside, the bottle popped open, completely unprovoked. Blue liquid poured all around her in an instant, pulling a loud gasp from her lips. Millicent abruptly stood and raised her backpack off the floor to keep it from getting soaked in the Gatorade pooling around her feet. Her first instinct was to run, until her bag was forcefully tugged out of her hand.

The backpack splashed into the blue liquid, her stolen food and clothes falling out and into the puddle. Millicent felt her heart sink. All of her escape equipment was ruined. But, she didn't get to sulk for long before she realized just how that happened. This shouldn't have happened by accident. She didn't drop the Gatorade, or even hold it with that tight of a grip, and her bag was forced out of her hand. Something weird was going on...

Looking up, Millicent spotted a women staring dead at her at the end of the aisle. The woman's hair was a light brown, wavy in nature but very messy with braids, tangles, and mats. Her eyes were brown but one looked a bit lighter, as if there was some grey clouding her iris. She wore a long dress with a blue floral print, the shape unflattering and awkward over her figure. There were far too many necklaces and bracelets on her, making a certain familiar word pop into Millicent's head.

Witch.

"Come." The woman calmly but firmly commanded the young girl in front of her.

Millicent slowly shook her head but didn't move. She was obviously taken aback to see another witch in front of her. She had never met another witch before and was absolutely terrified. There was no telling what this witch was capable of if she could manipulate inanimate objects. Was she a bad witch? She already used her powers against Millicent. Did that mean she'd rat her out too?

To Millicent's surprise, even when she did finally turn to run, she tripped out of her shoes as if they were suddenly glued to the floor. Millicent fell and collided with the tiled floor of the store and spilling even more Gatorade out in front of her. She quickly turned over to see the woman slowly approaching her when she let go of the ruined bottle. Although, her dress was unflattering, it made her look as if she were floating since it hung so low as she sauntered forward. She looked menacing.

"Where did you think you were going with a bunch of stolen shit?" The woman asked, her voice more demanding than anything, actually.

"None of your business, witch." Millicent spat.

Millicent already knew what this woman was trying to pull. She was using her powers carefully. If Millicent wasn't a witch herself, she would've assumed she had bad luck spilling her Gatorade and then all the things in her bag. She also could've just assumed that she tripped. But Millicent knew better. This woman was manipulating the things around her, at will. She was, as clear as day, a witch.

Millicent assumed she had the upper hand knowing this information. Unfortunately, this witch knew a whole lot more than she did.

"You say that as an insult. As if you're not one of us." The woman smirked, the expression cocky and menacing in nature as she towered over the young witch.

Millicent felt the blood drain from her face. She did not have the upper hand. Not at all. Who was this witch and how much did she know?

Before Millicent got to ask anything of the sort, two store employees came rushing down the aisle. "Hey kid! You think we don't have security cameras! You're coming with us!"

Millicent stumbled to her feet, ready to bolt, but by the time she was upright, the witch had turned and stepped in the path of the two men. Peaking around her tall frame, Millicent could see the witch holding her hand out between her and the two men. One of the crystals on the witches many necklaces spun in mid air above her palm as she muttered under breath to the two men. Both of them had their eyes on the crystal as the witch muttered and the crystal spun, as if they were completely entranced.

With wide eyes, Millicent watched as the two men completely ignored her and begin collecting the stolen clothes and food sat in the puddle of Gatorade. They gathered what they could and walked off, ignoring both Millicent and the witch. Millicent looked from the employees to the witch, still completely dumbfounded. She wondered if the witch had physically manipulated them as well. That would take very strong, dangerous magic.

"Woah.." Millicent watched as the crystal floating atop the witches palm fell gently against her chest with all the others. "Can you teach me how to do that?"

"Come with me." The witch calmly commanded as she walked past Millicent.

Millicent reluctantly stepped around the blue liquid and slipped her shoes back on as she debated following the witch. As soon as she turned the corner, though, Millicent hurried to catch up so she wasn't left behind. She didn't want to be left here with the consequences of her actions when this witch was offering to help. She couldn't be a bad witch, right? Even if she was, Millicent had powers of her own. She could get herself out of trouble if she really had to.

The older witch glanced down at the ginger awkwardly stumbling beside her as she headed towards the cash registers. "You have a bad habit of following those you know nothing about."

Millicent curiously looked up at the witch and shoved her hands in the big pockets of Walter's hoodie. She shrugged. "I have nowhere else to go.."

"If your reckless use of magic doesn't kill you first, your imprudence will." The witch lowly muttered.

Millicent stared up at the witch in confusion. What did she know about the way Millicent used her powers? How did she know about Millicent's habits? This witch obviously knew more than Millicent could even guess. That worried her a bit, obviously. How much did this witch know, how did she know anything, and what was she going to do with all of that information? Was following this witch really a good idea?

"Help me put these groceries away when we get inside." The witch said as she turned down a dirt path off the main road and towards the trees. She was heading into nothingness.

Millicent didn't respond. She was too busy contemplating. The longer she was with this witch, the more she regretted not running. She had no idea where she was, which would make it harder to get back into town. What if she was walking into a trap? What if this woman was secretly a crazy nut job and would try to cook her or something? Anything could happen and Millicent was, admittedly, scared.

The witch turned the car down another dirt road that was even more uneven than the last. The line of trees was pretty thick until the area opened up into green grass and a pond that the dirt road curved around. And around the pond, passed even more trees, was a huge house that looked just like the orphanage. The building was large, square, multiple levels, minimalistic, drowning in vines and weeds, crumbling with age.

Despite it's boring appearance, though, it seemed very lively. There were a couple kids chasing each other around outside, some walking along the trees and chatting, and Millicent could even see people through the windows. It didn't seem like an orphanage. Not like the one in town. That was good. There were far too many adults for that to be true. Still, Millicent couldn't figure out what it was. A community home of some sort?

"Come on, then. Hurry up." The witch commanded after parking her car and carrying her grocery bags towards the house. Millicent noticed that there were only two other cars beside the house and was even more confused.

"What is this?" Millicent asked once she had caught up to the witch.

"Rich Springs pack house." The witch answered.

Millicent's eyes widened as she looked up at the witch. "You live with wolves? Don't they know you're a witch?" Millicent spared no attempt at whispering.

The witch chuckled with a slight toss of her messy hair, shocking Millicent even more. She had yet to see this witch smile, but when she did, it was cryptic. "Yes, they know. But, only because I've let them know." The witch winked.

Millicent blinked, obviously confused. "Let them? You told them you're a witch and they still let you in?"

When talking to Walter and Iven, they had explained some things about werewolf culture. They especially liked to brag about how good their newly formed trio was because neither of them were allowed into another pack house, just like Millicent. Wolves didn't like witches in their packs. They had a reputation of bringing bad luck to the pack, and if a witch died from her own magic, like they always did, there was a high chance they'd take the whole pack down with them.

"They didn't let me in." The witch smirked, the expression shaking Millicent's bones. "I manipulated them the same way I manipulated those store workers."

Millicent's mouth fell agape as she stared up at the witch. No wonder. She got in by tricking all of these wolves. It was her crystal, wasn't it? Millicent couldn't help but stare at it. It was the one with a pinkish tint to it, silver metal wrapping around it in a particular pattern to keep it around the witches neck. But the witch had so many others hanging off of her neck. Did she use all of them for different things?

The witch approached the main entrance and Millicent stopped behind her as the the witch raised a single finger. With all her bags in hand, she couldn't really open the door. Luckily, her powers came in use during situations like this. All she had to do was lift her finger, the knob turned, and the door slowly creaked open. Millicent was jealous of this witches powers, even though she enjoyed playing with fire.

The witch stepped inside and Millicent followed, her eyes on everything at once as she made sure there were no boobytraps or wolves about to shoo her away. "So... They are all brainwashed, right?"

"Yes." The witch answered simply.

"Griselda!" Someone excitedly shouted from the kitchen as Millicent and the witch walked inside. Millicent turned her attention to the man as he stood from the kitchen island. "You're finally back! I was worried and about to come search for you."

Millicent stood idly by as she observed the scene before her. A man, obviously a wolf, stood up from his seat and rushed to Griselda to help pluck groceries out of her hand. When her hands were empty, he grabbed her face and kissed her. Millicent instantly blushed. They looked in love. The smile on Griselda's face was obvious as the man kissed her so sweetly and held her so lovingly.

The man was rather big and intimidating to Millicent. He looked like an ancient Viking. His beard was big and long, two braids at each corner of his mouth, that actually matched Griselda's, and his body was twice as big as a normal human should be. Even Griselda, who was tall and had a big aura around her seemed small before the big Viking. His huge muscles, obvious underbite, and bright blue eyes really put the finishing touches on his Viking persona.

"Who's this?" The man asked when he pulled away, his hands still holding Griselda close to him as her hands rested on his biceps. Those bright blue eyes scanned the small girl in their kitchen as she stood awkwardly before them.

"A little orphan witch. I found her trying to steal food at the store." Griselda smirked at the young witch before turning towards the wolf again.

She leant into the man's ear and quietly whispered to him. The man looked at her in shock and then at the little ginger, his blue eyes still wide as he examined her. He took her in even more intensely than the first time. Millicent nervously shifted in place as both the witch and the wolf stared at her. Griselda was quick to realize Millicent's discomfort and pulled the wolf's attention back to her.

"Dearest, do you mind setting up a nice room for Millicent?" Griselda asked as she lovingly pet the wolves neck. Millicent searched his neck for any markings but only found a hickey. That wasn't a traditional mates mark.

"I don't mind at all. Anything for you, baby." The man smiled and kissed Griselda again before he stepped towards Millicent. The giant wolf lowered to one knee and jutted his huge hand towards Millicent. "Nice to meet you, Millicent. My name's Ulrik."

Millicent looked at his hand and moved both of hers so they were locked behind her back. "Hey." She said, her voice hesitant.

Ulrik dropped his hand, his expression turning upside down. He was obviously a little hurt by her standoff-ish response to his friendly introduction. Millicent didn't really dwell on his hurt too much, until she looked past Ulrik and saw a heated glare in Griselda's eyes. Still, Millicent didn't give in to the strange wolves kindness. Ulrik understood and stood up again to continue on his mission to make a room for Millicent.

The moment he walked passed, Millicent felt the floor shake beneath his steps. He was so big. Was he the brute of the pack? When they went into wars, was he at the front of the line? He was a tank. How did Griselda manipulate a man like that? Or did she manipulate him at all? Could you manipulate someone to fall in love with you? With magic, probably. But still.. They looked genuinely in love.

"No need to be so guarded, Millicent. You're safe here." Griselda huffed, turning to put all of her groceries away.

"Are you mated to a wolf? Neither of you are marked. Did you trick him into falling in love with you?" Millicent ignored Griselda's initial claims to quiz her about her own worries.

"Yes." Griselda answered simply. "I took a liking to him when I came here and decided I wanted him to be mine. I told him he loved me, so he does."

Millicent's eyes widened and face paled. This witch truly was ruthless, heartless, soulless. "Why would you do that? He's suppose to have a mate, you know! What happens when his mate arrives and he's obsessed with you?"

Griselda slammed the fridge shut and stared at Millicent with beady, dark, evil eyes. "Why does it matter to you? You're not a wolf. Mates have no value in your life.."

Walter and Iven had told her a bit about that as well. Mates seemed like a fairytale. Someone to live for, someone to die for, fates entwined in string. It sounded so nice. Like Sophie... Cortez was by her side and carrying her to safety in a matter of seconds after what happened. No matter what, mates were never too far apart. Never alone. Millicent didn't have anybody like that in her life. She was always carrying herself away from danger, all alone and lost. Even when she thought she had Walter and Iven, they took off without her.

"His mate died, anyways." Griselda chimed, causing Millicent to look up at her in curiosity. "His mate died, he almost died, and to save his life, I gave him a new source of life and love. Besides, he's the Alpha of this pack. It was only smart of me to pick the man in charge to keep a witch safe."

Millicent gulped, deciding to keep her mouth shut this time. Griselda continued to put away groceries. She stomped over to Millicent, snatching the bag from behind her, and returned to the fridge. Millicent stood in the same spot in the kitchen, uncomfortable and feeling trapped. She didn't like this place. She didn't like this witch. She didn't know if she wanted to stay the night here. But where else was she suppose to go? How would she get there? Would there be any food available on her travels?

"So... You're expecting me to stay?" Millicent asked in the silence.

"Yes." Griselda answered.

"Why? What am I suppose to do here?"

"Learn how to control your magic."

Millicent stiffened. "I-I know how to control my magic just fine.."

"No, you don't." Griselda stopped fuzzing with her groceries and balled up the plastic bags in her hands. "You tried to kill two people a couple days ago and, luckily, you failed. You made it out with your life and a Lichtenberg mark, which is a problem we're going to have to fix right away."

Millicent's eyes widened. "How did you know I... How do you know me? How do you know my name? Who are you?"

"I'm a witch. The witch of the Rich Springs pack. I know everything." Griselda answered with a smug expression.

"How are you not dead? You can manipulate things and people and know everything and still be alive? Witches can't survive with that much magic."

"They can't. But I have an unfair advantage to my witchy magic." Griselda explained with that cryptic smirk. "I have more than just my magic to do the things I wish to do."

"You have.. other witches magic?"

Griselda bobbed her head from side to side as she debated that question. "I have.. other methods—other sources—to my magic. It's hard to explain, dear. It will all make sense by the end of the night. No worries."

Millicent squirmed in place as she tried to find a reason to storm out of the house that very second. She didn't want to be here. She wanted to run and run and never look back. Until she found a home. Millicent didn't want anything to do with wolves, or witches, or her stupid magic. She was careless with her magic, she knew that. But, a big part of her didn't care if her magic was what wiped her off the face of this planet. So, what? What else was there to do on this crummy planet? It wasn't like she belonged anywhere.

"I want something." Millicent decided.

Griselda rolled her eyes and lazily leant against the kitchen counter beside her. "Of course, you do. I offer you food, shelter, and a long and prosperous life but you're still asking for more. You know, for a little orphan brat with nothing, you're unbelievably greedy."

With gritted teeth and a quivering lip, Millicent ignored Griselda's attitude and continued. "Just one thing.. I just want one favor and I won't complain or fuss or cause trouble.."

Griselda's eyebrow perked up with intrigue. She effortlessly gestured her hand, as if to insist that Millicent go on. "Out with it, then."

Millicent gulped. "I-I want to know where the wolves are. Iven and Walter. I want to know if they're alright. You can tell me, can't you?"

Griselda frowned. She recognized those names from all the times she checked up on Millicent. She hated those two boys. Those lowly rogues. They were headaches, nightmares, calamities. Griselda would've liked to give Millicent her answer right then but she hadn't been keeping track of Millicent and the boys since the explosion. It was both a relief and a pain to see Millicent show up in that grocery store, although, she did predict that the little girl would show up in this town again if she had nowhere else to go.

"I can.." Griselda sighed as she folded her arms over her chest. Millicent excitedly perked up at that news. "It's going to be difficult. I lost them after the explosion but I'm pretty sure I saw a couple wolves chasing them.."

Millicent gaped in shock. "Wait.. What? You were.. You were watching us or something? What wolves were chasing them? Cortez's wolves?"

"Yes, Cortez's wolves. Those stupid baboons planned an attack a couple yards from the pack and expected not to be chased? Why you were following around those morons is beyond me." Griselda bitterly huffed.

Millicent had so many questions. So many, in fact, that she couldn't spit any of them out. This witch knew all about her, Iven, Walter, and must've seen everything from that night. How did she know all of this? How did she see them? How long had she been watching? Couldn't she have helped if she knew what was happening? What about Iven and Walter? Could she help them? Could she find them?

"Do you have anything of theirs?" Griselda asked, managing to pull Millicent from her wistful thoughts.

"Y-yes!" Millicent excitedly barked. She shed her sweatshirt and fumbled with it as she pulled the worn out hat off her head. "The sweatshirt is Walter's and the hat is Iven's."

"Oh, perfect!" Griselda chimed and stepped forward to snatch the items from Millicent. Millicent watched as the witch carefully studied the items in her hand. "This will make it a lot easier. Thank fucking Christ, I thought this was going to be my whole night."

"So, you can find them?" Millicent asked.

"Yes, obviously." Griselda's eyes strayed from the items in her hand to the doorway of the kitchen. A smile spread across her face as she spotted Ulrik standing there with a handsome smile on his face. "Would you mind helping Ulrik cook while I prepare to look for the boys?"

Millicent looked back at Ulrik, carefully eyeing the big bear stood in the doorway. He wiggled his thick fingers at Millicent, his eyes and smile friendly. Millicent wanted to dislike him but there really wasn't anything threatening about him, besides his size and species. Overall, he seemed alright, as long as he didn't accidentally step on her.

"Fine.." Millicent grumbled, her excited posture slouching.

Griselda slapped a hand atop Millicent's ginger hair. "And behave, little witch. If you don't, I won't find those boys for you and I'll let that mark eat away at you until you're gone."

Millicent took a deep breath to keep from getting too frustrated. This witch really was a master manipulator and she hadn't even put a spell on Millicent, which she wasn't actually sure of when she thought about it. It never seemed like she had tried. Or, maybe, the witch had wiped it from her memory. Even if she had, even if she had done anything at all, Millicent needed to know where Iven and Walter were. She had to make sure they made it out okay.

"Care to mince some onions for me, Millie?" Ulrik asked kindly as he stepped further into the kitchen and Griselda stepped out, placing a kiss on his hairy cheek before she left.

"Please, don't call me Millie." Millicent spoke with a heavily awkward tone, still following the big man towards the fridge, anyways.