CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Exactly one week later, most of Salem's supernatural community had gathered in the Salem Common around a single tree. Annabella wore an elaborate blue dress with silver spirals scattered across the bottom. Her cloak matched the dress exactly. Jacob wore a black suit and tie. They stood at the center of the Common.

"We gather together to make right this terrible wrong we have done," Annabella said. "May another innocent drop of blood never be shed."

"We share this land. We will cause no unwarranted harm, and we call for peace between our people," Jacob added.

"We light candles for the fallen." Annabella passed out white candles to everyone present.

"We light candles for the risen," Jacob said, passing out black ones.

They nodded to Aideen. She closed her eyes and each candle lit one at a time until the entire circle was made of flames.

"We stand united in peace," Annabella said, "and plant this tree as a sign of life beginning anew."

"As the tree grows, so must we," Jacob added. He took Annabella's hand. Together, they blessed the tree.

Everyone placed the candles on the ground and allowed them to burn out while they mingled with each other. A sense of peace filled the Common, and Aideen was certain that any lingering souls had finally crossed over.

"Is that Alice?" Arnie asked Aideen as he motioned toward the young witch.

"Yeah, she opted to be resurrected," Aideen replied. "Annabella was so relieved."

"I didn't think she'd want anything to do with the witches after what happened."

"She trusts Annabella's leadership."

"Have they found a new High Priest yet?"

"Annabella asked Johnny to take on the role. He said he'd consider it. I think he'd be perfect."

"How's Courtney? She keeps avoiding me."

"Court's doing much better. She got her energy back. She's still really embarrassed about what happened, but Mom and I are trying to get it through her head that it's not her fault. How's Dawn?"

"She's doing well. She still wants me to stay with her."

"Are you going to?"

"I'm sort of still working that out."

Evan joined them. "Okay, the ritual is over... Where's this obligatory gathering that I'm supposed to attend?" He asked.

"Right over here," Aideen replied, leading him toward the other Silver Society members.

Melissa was entertaining everyone with the full rendition of the song she'd written about her complicated relationship with Arnie. Dylan accompanied her on his guitar, thoroughly enjoying himself as he played the bouncy pop song. 

"I go out every night now, and you know I'm not alone. We're rocking our lil' party 'cause neither one wants to go home. It's beautiful and strange, this thing we've got going on. I know the label's not quite there, but we keep flowing on," Melissa sang. "Who cares about a title? I've got him, he's all mine. So what if he won't claim me? It's our normal and it's fine! He's my non-boyfriend boyfriend, loyal to the very end, even if it's just pretend, my non-boyfriend boyfriend!"

The others began to laugh, and a few couldn't help but dance along to the music. Arnie smiled as he watched Melissa sing passionately, giving the performance everything she had.

"My baby, he gets me inside-out. He drives me crazy with his kisses, and he's all I think about. We're all hits and no misses... Whenever I need someone, he's the one I call. He always comes to save me. He'll never let me fall! I'm the only one he wants. That's good enough for me. Boyfriend and girlfriend are just words. I'm content to just be! Who cares about a title? I've got him, he's all mine. So what if he won't claim me? It's our normal and it's fine. He's my non-boyfriend boyfriend, loyal to the very end, even if it's just pretend, my non-boyfriend boyfriend!"

Dylan took an epic guitar solo as Melissa grabbed Arnie's hands and started to dance around with him. She continued dancing with him as she resumed singing, looking into his eyes as she sang, "Maybe we're not normal, but who says we want to be? The only thing that matters is I love him, he loves me! I'll stay by his side no matter what he faces, and when we're all alone, we'll cover all the bases!" Melissa winked at him suggestively, causing everyone to laugh.

"There's no other like him. He treats me like his Queen. I'll never doubt he loves me. What else can it mean? Who cares about a title? I've got him, he's all mine. So what if he won't claim me? It's our normal and it's fine. He's my non-boyfriend boyfriend, loyal to the very end, even if it's just pretend, my non-boyfriend boyfriend! Who cares about a title? I've got him, he's all mine. So what if he won't claim me? It's our normal and it's fine!"  She finished grandly.

"That is definitely going on our set list!" Dylan declared.

"I'm glad you guys appreciate my therapy jam," Melissa joked. She kissed Arnie before adding, "Thanks for the inspiration."

"I was told this was a mandatory meeting, not a concert," Evan said after a moment.

"Hi, Evan," Alex said. "I asked you to come here today because I want to know where you stand with us."

"Yeah, there's finally someone else who runs away," Jade added with a laugh.

"Are you going to run away again, Jade?" Alex asked cautiously. "I know that last week was very hard on you."

"No, I'm staying right here this time," Jade replied firmly. "I'm done running."

"You'd better be," Beth said seriously. "I will hold you down and sit on you if you try to run away again!"

"You better not cross her, Jade," Jesse joked. "She looks like she's serious."

"So, what about you, Evan? Are you going to stay with us?" Alex asked.

"Or does Beth have to sit on you?" Dylan joked.

Evan hesitated to answer. "Look, this isn't really my thing," he replied after a moment.

"Admit it, Evan," Aideen said. "You had fun last week with the zombies and the scary little girl and the warlock and me getting blown up and still coming back. Baddies Zero, Deenie One Million! You know you love it here."

"Alright, I admit it was fun, but-"

"No buts. Either you stay and get to spend time with me, or you leave and we all move on with our lives."

Evan shook his head. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'll stay. For now. I don't think I'm meant to leave yet."

"Well then," Alex said with a smile, "welcome to the Silver Society, Evan."

Aideen took Evan's hand and led him aside. Without warning, she kissed him fiercely, stunning him with the force of it. "Sorry," she said when she finally broke the kiss. "I've just been wanting to do that since the first time I saw you. Now that it's out of my system-"

Evan pulled Aideen into his arms, tilted her back, and kissed her so deeply it was like something out of an old film. When he released her, all she could think of to say was, "Wow."

"I've also wanted to do that for a while," he replied, walking away smoothly and rejoining the others.

Aideen was left standing in place with a smile on her face. When Arnie joined her, she said, "Oh, I think Evan's going to fit in just fine around here."

"Good to know," Arnie replied. "Judging from the look on your face, you're pretty happy about that."

"I'm definitely going to enjoy having him around," she confirmed. "So, is Alex rounding up the troops for pizza and ice cream? You know, our usual 'mission accomplished, yay for us still being alive' celebration?"

"Of course," Arnie replied. He was relieved by the return of their post-apocalyptic routine. Arnie suddenly realized that he had a lot of things to celebrate. Life, as it turned out, would go on after all.

Arnie and Aideen rejoined the others. Evan automatically wrapped an arm around Aideen's waist, pulling her closer to him. She didn't seem to mind.

As she watched the witches and vampires mingle stiffly but without any obvious hatred between them, Cassandra said, "I think the war is finally over. It's about time..."

"At least that's one less thing we have to worry about," Jesse agreed.

"Are we ready to go yet?" Randy asked. "I'm starving."

"And with those words, order has truly been restored," Cierra joked.

"Come on, Kids," Alex said. "We've definitely earned this one."

THE END.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks for reading! The journey continues in Mirror, Mirror, Book Six of The Silver Society.