Chapter 10: The coven (1)

The day went by slower than Aurora would've liked. She spent the entire day in the garden patiently waiting for night to draw in so that she might sneak out of the home. After dinner, Aurora went straight to bed, turning down Regina's invitation to have a late girls' night where they would sit in a room and talk about random things.

Aurora noticed how Minnie was keeping an eye on her more than usual. Minnie came into the garden numerous times to check on her and Aurora found this odd considering how much Minnie hated to get dirty in the garden.

Aurora closed her bedroom door after freshening up in night clothes. She had a feeling Minnie would come to check up on her before she went to bed and she was right. The expected knock from Minnie came right one cue.

Minnie opened the door before Aurora had given her permission to enter the bedroom.

'Privacy is overrated right?' Aurora silently thought whilst sitting on her bed. Normally, Minne would've waited for Aurora's call to open the door. What exactly was Minnie hoping to walk in and see by doing this?

"I came to tell you good night Aurora. It's been so long since I've come here to do so. These old knees are keeping me back from walking the steps to your room," Minnie chuckled. The wrinkles showing her age were becoming more prominent.

"It stopped when I was thirteen. Regina and I told you we were big girls and so we didn't need your goodbye night kisses," Aurora replied, playing with a finger out of nervousness. She always knew when Minnie thought she was doing something wrong. She had years of practice reading Minnie's actions.

"I remember now. You two really are big girls now and will go on to do your own things but you still need to listen to your grandmother when she tells you something right?"

"Always," Aurora replied with a smile.

Minnie ran her hands through Aurora's beautiful white hair then said, "Get some sleep Aurora so that you can wait up early in the morning and have breakfast together. I don't like it when we don't eat as a family."

"I will."

Minnie walked back to the door but before she left she turned and told Aurora, "If you feel anything strange is happening around you, come and tell me because I'm the only one who can protect you."

Aurora wanted to ask her to protect her from what but instead she just smiled and watched Minnie close the door. She sat in silence not going to bed and just waiting on the perfect opportunity to leave.

One hour had passed by and the busy house had become silent as the family all retired for the night and the servants went to their quarters. Aurora had already slipped into the dress she used to appear less of someone who came from a well-off family and more of a common worker.

She couldn't use the stairs to leave the home just in case one of the maids who reported back to either Minnie or Rachel was walking around. Instead, she would have to leave through her window. Aurora pushed open her double-door window and peeked down at the ground. Her room was on the second floor thankfully but it would still be painful if she accidentally slipped and fell.

"You got this Aurora. Just like before," she cheered herself up climbing into the open space of the window. She pushed her foot out reaching for the small ledge where she would have to stand on to slide across to a large pillar with vines growing around it. "Careful. Ugh," she quickly covered her mouth when her foot almost slipped. "That was too close," she muttered.

She regained composure for one second and tried again. Placing both feet on the ledge and pulling herself up by grabbing the window plane. "This will be over soon," she whispered carefully, leaning back against the wall and stepping across to the pillar she needed to climb down. "Got it," she said, grabbing ahold of one of the big vines which had wrapped itself around the pillar.

The hardest part of reaching the pillar was over now and all needed to do now was climb down. Thankfully, she had always been good at climbing because of the amount of time she spent in the garden. She reached the ground in no time and ran off into the night before any of the guards could see her.

Aurora climbed the big gates of her family home and followed the road she used before to go to the town secretly. This road allowed her to get to the town faster than if she used a carriage because of the many shortcuts it offered.

Reaching the well-lit part of the town, she didn't have time to enjoy the places she always wanted to visit. With one goal for the night being to get more information on werewolves, Aurora remained focused and went to the darker side of town where more shady things happened. She wore a cloth to cover her hair and kept her eyes low so no one would take interest in her rare appearance.

Aurora ignored the stares from dangerous people and took in the things many people were selling now that it was night. There were many animals she couldn't believe people had killed just for the fur. Women scantily clad more than ever welcoming men towards them. Aurora picked up her pace hurrying off to her destination where banned books would be sold.

"The coven?" She questioned reading the sign on a new place she hadn't seen before when she last visited. She was curious about what it might have to offer and with the cold nipping at her skin, Aurora decided to take a look inside.

A doorbell loudly rang as she pushed the door open and went inside.

"Who's there?" The loud voice of a woman angrily called to the person who stepped into her store.

"My name is Anna," Aurora replied using a fake name.

"Sisters, wake up. We have a guest."