Willow's POV: 

I can't even begin to describe the feeling of elation that running hand-in-hand with Sir Royalty brought me. But I'll do my best: 

Have you ever wanted something really badly, with all of your heart, soul, and mind, but not even been aware of how much you wanted it? Not even been aware that you wanted it at all? And then someone surprises you with it, out of nowhere, and you just feel like the happiest person in the world, like you're floating. Like if you wanted a book, or a phone, but not really known you wanted it until someone got it for you and then you're on Cloud 9. That's how I felt, but multiply that feeling by 100. I felt like I was running on air, like the sky was parting just for us three, like flowers and trees were growing simply to see the sight. 

I'll say it: I felt like a Disney princess. Happy? Shut up and stop making me regret saying it or I won't hesitate to hex you. 

Back to the point: I can safely say I was happier than I've been in a decade, if not my whole life. And, as much as I wanted to see Bella again and talk to her and feel her fur against my skin, I was undoubtedly disappointed (yet extremely confused) when we arrived at my house. It wasn't in the best condition, but it was comfort. Just looking at it made me both sick and excited. 

I looked at Sinister, my face perhaps more confused than his was when I charred Brian's face off. "How did you do that? How did you know where my house was?" He just shrugged, looking sort of astonished himself. "I don't know, my feet just lead me somewhere and, well, I followed them," he said. Shaking my head in disbelief, I told them to wait here, and walked to the door. When I opened it, I had barely gotten to say her name before she was bounding towards me, knocking me down to the ground with her front paws, and laying down on top of me so I couldn't escape. "Holy Hecate, Bella!" She'd been this way a lot recently; overly concerned about small things, overly excited when I came home, and overly aggressive at people hiking through the woods. The vet said it was because of her puppies. Both me and her completely ignored that I had blood on my hands, and the head in them that was causing the blood. She bombarded my face with kisses, putting her front paws on my neck so I couldn't twist and try to evade them. Her message was clear: You're finally home, I've been waiting all day, and I'm not letting you go anywhere for at least the next 12 hours. 

Anyone watching would probably have assumed I was being attacked. That reminded me that Sinister and Elliot were only a few feet away, but luckily they had kept their distance. I managed to free my arms and gently pry my sweet dog away from me, but it wasn't an easy task. She was quite a heavy dog, and combine that with her determination to not let me go, it would have been impossible if she wasn't so smart and well-trained.

I knelt in front of her and scratched behind her ears, under her chin, on top of her head, and on her belly. I kissed her forehead, something I've learned she loves, and then unwrapped the head for her to smell. After she inspected it to her liking, she tilted her head and looked up at me, confused but not displeased. I skimmed over the details, but explained to her what had happened. Since she knew what this bitch had done to me, she smirked (as much as a dog could, anyway) and dug right in, knowing which parts to avoid. Don't ask why or how, but she'd done this before, so we both knew it was safe for her to eat. Most people would've been disgusted to think about, let alone watch, a dog eating a human head, but I just giggled as I saw the enjoyment in her eyes. Gods, I loved this dog. 

Once she had finished, she looked up and saw Sinister and Elliot. Elliot looked slightly green, and Sin was grinning like a madman. I had to hold on to Belle by her collar, not allowing her to run to them and attack them, though I was almost 100% sure she had learned by now not to attack people without my permission. Still, that didn't stop her from growling and barking, her eyes shining with utter mistrust. 

Sinister, being the odd guy that he is, was still grinning like a clown, but now out of awe instead of twisted joy. Without warning, he slowly walked toward us, but once he got within a foot, he sat down and slowly extended his hand, palm facing up to Bella. I didn't want to interfere, but I just let go of her collar, letting her inspect him. 

I knew her ways of telling if someone was worthy of staying around. She would walk around them in a circle, smelling them and sensing if they were possessed by fear, evil intentions, excitement, etc. Then she would sit in front of them and stare into their eyes for at least a minute, paying attention to what their face and body language conveyed, and watching how much they blinked (people tend to blink a lot when they lie). She listen to his soft, gentle murmurs, saying comforting words, explaining his intentions, and asking questions. And for the entirety of Bella's inspection, he left his hand in the right spot. I knew what was coming last, and had no intention of stopping it. She bit his hand, hard enough to make it bleed, but not exactly aggressively. Then she simply waited to see how he would react; yell at her, try to harm her, yank his hand away, or simply leave it there. 

To say it was surprising when he didn't make any noise of pain, but laughed, is an understatement. I was impressed, because he left his hand there, letting it bleed, letting the amusement flow out of him. I was also extremely confused, because no one had ever laughed when she did that, or shown any positive emotion; no one had even left their hand there. Judging by her face and posture, Bella was just as impressed, if not more. And, finally, she licked his hand where she had bit him, a sign of apology and acceptance. She made a quiet, questioning, whimpering sort of sound. And I don't know how, but Sin understood, and nodded, acknowledging her apology. Slowly, carefully, he raised his hand and scratched under her chin. He laughed when he saw my face, which meant I was probably showing my amazement, confusion, and joy. 

Belle looked at Elliot, who was still just as silent as before, then she looked at me, silently asking if he was a friend too. I nodded, walked inside, and sat down on the couch, smiling when Sin walked in carrying Bella, both of them looking very happy and comfortable. After a few moments, Elliot walked cautiously inside, slowly easing up and turning back to how he was when I first saw him in the hallway today. He sat down next to Sinister, who set Belle down and watched, still smiling, as she trotted to where I was and curled up on my lap, promptly falling asleep. 

I sighed, knowing all the questions that were about to come my way. I looked at them and said two words only: 

"Ask away." 

Sinister's POV:

Meeting Bella was the best experience of my life. I'll never know why I laughed when she bit me, but the best explanation I have is that I was simply too overjoyed to flinch or be hurt. Since Father said pets are "filthy little creatures who need to be tended to night and day, and we don't have time to waste just for it to die" I've never met any animals except for the squirrels and birds in the park. But the second I locked eyes with this dog, I felt an understanding, like she was speaking to me, drawing me in. In those moments when I could hold her, it was like we passed a mutual agreement and understanding, like it was destined for us to meet. I knew perfectly well that Willow was her owner and caretaker, and that they would protect each other with their lives. But it was bliss to finally meet someone who I could silently bond with. 

I almost didn't want to ask any questions anymore, having felt magic and feeling like it was the most natural thing in the world, like I belonged with the power of it. But I needed and wanted to know more; it was so intriguing. However, Elliot got there first. 

"What are you?"

Willow chuckled at that, looking down at the fluff ball in her lap. After thinking for a few moments, she replied "I'm human. Just like you, and Sinister, and the majority of people in this town. However, I was blessed," she said the word like she meant cursed, "with the power of being a witch, thanks to my grandmother. She was burned, may she rest in Hades, but had managed to give birth to my... to my father." She teared up, but Elliot and I stayed silent and let her continue. "You know the Greek gods and goddesses? The ones Rick Riordan wrote about? Well, they aren't myths. My grandmother was a daughter of Hecate, and my mother was a daughter of Hephaestus." She stared at her hands, which were now wet due to tears. When she continued, her voice was choked up. 

"I inherited their powers. I didn't use them until ten years ago, and I didn't know what they were until 6 years ago. My parents... my siblings..." She didn't continue. No one said anything. I stood up, walked over to her, and gently wrapped my arms around her shoulders, letting her tears fall silently into my shoulder. When she had calmed down, she simply whispered "Thank you." I just smiled in return, letting go and sitting on the floor next to her. I looked back to see Elliot looking at someone next to him, except there was no one there. 

Elliot's POV:

Why did Ariana have to show up at the worst of times? I was going to hug Willow like Sinister was, when she swirled into existence next to me, babbling off about Willow being "a dramatic, sorry, sloppy, disgusting little bastard" like me. I wanted to punch her, but she wasn't a tangible thing, I couldn't touch her. Just when I was about to scream at her to shut up, Willow asked the most insane thing I could dream of, that made Ariana's face turn, for the first time ever, horrified. 

"Who's that?" 

I was more shocked than I had been when she made fire spew from her hands and a storm cloud swirl around her. Than when she bit off a person's head. Than when Sin laughed at being bit by a dog. Than when she explained her past. 

Before I could say anything, however, Ariana screeched "EXCUSE ME?" and almost blew my eardrums out. "I wasn't asking you, O Bitchy One, I was asking my friend, so if you could shut up for two seconds instead of rambling about me being sorry for myself, that'd be real fucking nice, thanks." 

In spite of myself, I cackled out of utter astonishment. How on EARTH had they just spoken to her like that? But when Ariana went silent out of shock, I mentally thanked them. 

"That's- well- well that's me. From a few years ago. Before I transitioned. She's Ariana, and how she's such an asshole is beyond my capacity to understand." 

"Yeah, because you're a dumbass," Ari said, finally regaining her voice and high-and-mighty attitude. I sighed. "Tell me something I don't know." 

I realized too soon that I had just fucked up big time. 

TW: Homophobia, transphobia, mentions of attempted self-harm, and abuse up ahead

"Well lets see, you're a half-gay fag, too bad you couldn't be straight. You're an absolutely filthy tranny who has no clue who she is or what to do with her life. You're marked by the rightful pain that dear old Dad gave you, the pain that you gave yourself with the butcher knife in the top left drawer of your nightstand, that you wish you could get rid of but can't because you know you deserve it. You barely eat unless you're in front of others, because you're desperate to look normal, you can't think straight unless you're off doing some weird designer shit, and lastly, you're just a sorry little bastard who can't do anything to get rid of the dreams of your past! Is that enough for you?" 

You may now sally forth, dear reader

"You act like I don't already know all of that. Fuck you." That's when her mouth broke into the most crazy smile I've ever seen. "Oh, I know you know. But they didn't." 

I gaped at her in horror, realizing she just outed me and explained my deepest secrets to two strangers that could have been my friends. I wanted to strangle her, run away, cry, scream, and try to explain all at the same time. 

That's when Willow stood up and stormed toward us, eyes glowing again, black clouds starting to form around her hands and head and under her feet. And she did the inevitable: 

She grabbed Ariana by the throat. 

As dear old Ari widened her eyes in horror, and I felt a weight being lifted off of me that I never knew I held, Willow's face was contorted in absolute fury. "You. You do not fucking out people like that. You are not allowed to leak information about them that no one needs to gods damn hear. You do not tell people that they're weird, unworthy, or a bastard just for being different. Just for not being 'normal.' Well," her hand tightened around Ariana's neck, "you know what I think, you little bitch? I think you need to learn some manners. I think you need to understand that if you don't behave yourself, you won't exist any more. If you want to taint other peoples' lives just for being themselves, then do it! But to yourself. Because no one deserves to be spoken to, to be revealed, like you just did to one of my only friends. Except you. You deserve to have that burden placed upon you, you deserve to be in pain. And if you can't learn to be a little nicer, then maybe I'll have to teach you how to be. I'll have to make you understand how to be a good little ghost. Or," flames flickered from her fingertips, "would you rather I teach you now?" 

I have never, ever been so proud of anyone in my whole life. As I watched Ari shake her head rapidly, as I watched her disappear, Willow's flames died but her eyes didn't stop glowing, and her clouds only dissipated slightly. As I saw all this, I had the strange and strong urge to kiss the person in front of me. 

And so I did. 

It's hard to explain what happened. It was like I lost control of my body, like I fell out of touch with my mind, and was being pulled by my heart. Shut up, I know it's cliché, but that's how it felt! It was like being pulled by a dangerous, invisible thread. Barely conscious of what I was about to do, I stood up, walked over to them, threw my arms around their neck and hugged them. And then I kissed them. 

It started out as a small peck of thanks, but apparently they were a lot more confident when magic was coursing in and around their body. They leaned down slightly, because I was shorter (Sin and Willow never stop teasing me about being shortest. Fuck them- not literally, that's my job). And then they kissed me back, and I understood what it was like to feel magical. 

It was less of an action and more of an experience, a feeling. As our lips touched, it felt like their magic had infected me. It was like the clouds swirling around us had worked its way into my veins, making me float. It was like the fire that had been on their fingers just seconds before was pulsating through my stomach, making me feel warm and fuzzy and jittery inside. I felt like we connected, two pieces of a puzzle. 

It was perfection. 

Almost. 

When we broke apart, the magic that had seeped into my pores was still there. Both of us just looked at each other, smiling, comfortable, content, my arms still around their neck, theirs wrapped around my waist. Their eyes had stopped glowing white, but they looked brighter than usual, though I wasn't sure if that was their inherited power or the spell of the kiss. The clouds had disappeared, but there was kind of a misty fog in the air. 

After, that, we realized that it was almost 9:00, since practice had lasted a long time and we'd been here for a few hours. Willow asked if we wanted to stay, and Sinister immediately said yes, a glint in his silvery eyes. I hesitated, thinking about Alain, but said yes. Their clothes fit Sinister nearly perfectly, and they were a bit too big for me but I was fine with that. I offered to sleep on the floor, finding it comforting and reminding me of all the nights I would do that and look after Alain to make sure he would be fine if he had a nightmare, but Sinister and Willow refused to let me do that. It was really sweet, and it made that fire in my stomach feel warmer. 

In the end, Sin and I practically forced Willow to sleep in their own bed, while I slept on the couch and Sinister (being the annoyingly humble guy that he is) slept on some blankets on the floor, which, I had to admit, did have an insanely soft rug on it. 

After many hours of switching between going on my phone, staring at the ceiling, and trying to sleep, I resigned to the fact that I wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight. That's when I heard Sinister whisper, "Are you awake?" "Yeah," I replied, "I've been trying to sleep for the past couple of hours. Obviously, I've failed." 

"Would you wanna sleep down here? Then maybe you wouldn't fall so much." I could hear the smirk in his voice as he said it. Classic Prince, no shame. In spite of myself, though, I rolled off the couch and lay down next to him. It felt weird being this close to the person everyone in school- scratch that, everyone in the city- admires and either wants to be or wants to be with. Weird, definitely, but not wrong, exactly. 

It was the strangest thing, laying there, thinking. I had kissed Willow, not only because I was grateful and amazed at them getting rid of Ariana, even if it was only temporarily, but because I liked them- really liked them. I knew that for a fact. There's just something about them that I can't explain or figure out. But here I was, gladly sleeping next to Sinister. Not just because he asked, but I felt like I liked him too. Not the meaningless obsession that makes every girl and more than half the boys follow him around school because he's rich, beautiful, royal, and popular, but an actual soft liking. For who he was, not who he was supposed to be. For liking books and that journal of his more than sports, for sitting with the worthless people instead of the popular ones, for being nice instead of pretending to care. For being strong- not physically, but emotionally. For caring about the ones who deserve it, not the ones who ask for it. For being this big, bubbly marshmallow behind that blank mask of who he's 'meant to be.' 

And as his breathing slowed, as I felt his chest rising and falling softly against my back, realization dawned upon me: I was in love with two strangers. How was this possible? For one, I hadn't even known them for a whole day. Secondly, was it even possible to love two people at the same time? Thirdly, was it even allowed to be in a relationship with two people? Four, did either of them like me back? Willow had kissed me, sure, but what if they thought it meant nothing? I had kissed them first, what if they thought it was just because I was thankful and relieved, that it was a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing and not because I actually really, really wanted to, and that I liked them- a lot. 

All of this was going really fast, and I'll admit that it was my fault; I had made the first move. I decided that I'd look it up in the morning. Right now I was comfortable and warm. Confused and questioning everything about my feelings, yes, but comfortable. And as that amusing thought passed through my mind, I drifted off into the Land of the Restless, the World of All Dreams. 

I had never been so happy for it to be a Friday. 

A/N That was my first time ever writing a kiss scene, so I'm sorry if it wasn't that great <3

Question of the Chapter: Do you dress up for Halloween? If you do, what are you planning to be this year?

Word Count: 3,614