Morana

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What a bunch of phonies, I thought as one after another of the different witches introduced themselves and complimented me, as if I was the only kid not on the naughty list and they were all Santa's elves. It was utterly ridiculous, but it also definitely was a better approach if they wanted my approval compared to last time.

It didn't matter though, it would never matter. They could spend the rest of their pathetic lives trying to win my approval, but they would never get it. From last time, I knew perfectly well how they treated Alejo and that was all I needed for me to know it was fruitless for them to try. Even if they completely changed how they treated him, they would never get it.

I played along though. It felt like the best approach. Better to let them think they were charming me. They would be easier to deal with if they had their guards down around me.

"I know how to make the most wonderful facial cream to keep your skin nice and smooth. We might not age like humans, but it's still important to take care of our beauty," some random witch, whose name I had forgotten before she had even finished saying it, told me.

"That sounds marvelous," I answered and wanted to puke over the excitement I made sure my tone of voice contained. At that moment, I was grateful for how everyone had always treated me in my life. It meant that I had learned how to be a people-pleaser, though it hadn't ever helped. It also meant it was fairly easy to see how all of what they said was just surface things meant to please me.

"I'll make a batch for you that you can have next time you come over," she smiled.

"That would be great!" came my reply. If any of them paid enough attention, they would have noticed that most of my answers were only a couple of words long.

Marianela came up and to my side. She definitely was the one of Alejo's sisters I had the best impression of, but my guard still went up even more as she approached. She seemed, by far, to be the most cunning of them all.

"You're having fun?" she said to me in a low voice. Then she lowered her voice even more and continued, "So much fun you seem to not have noticed who is missing."

My stomach made an uncomfortable flip.

"What secrets are you whispering about?" came Astria's voice next.

"Oh, I just had a bit of an embarrassing question," Marianela laughed.

"You embarrassed? That's something new," what's-her-name said.

"Well, Morana knows a lot about humans and the boy next door is rather cute."

The others started laughing and pressed Marianela on more information about the lie she had just told. My mind wasn't in the conversation though. I had turned around to look. Rick was there, definitely fulfilling the duty of a bodyguard. Alejo, though, was nowhere in sight.

"Where is he?" I asked in an urgent whisper to Rick.

He clenched his jaw and answered by nodding his head towards the kitchen. I immediately made to walk in that direction, but I was held back by an iron grip around my arm.

"So, do you have any flirting tips for me? You have to be popular with the boys," Marianela asked me.

I turned back, completely confused. "What?"

"Are you getting hungry and distracted by thoughts of food?" she laughed. "Don't worry, it's soon time for some."

Her words made me at first even more confused, but she gave me a piercing stare that somehow made me understand her words. She meant Alejo would soon be out and that I would do better to wait for that. Why she said any of this, though, was far beyond my comprehension. I had a feeling she had a clear motive behind it, but it definitely didn't align with what anyone else was thinking. But the motive mattered little. The fact that Alejo wasn't there had my anxiety rising by the second.

"Yeah," I answered her. "Yeah, getting a bit hungry. What did you say before?"

"I asked for any flirting tips," she repeated herself.

"You really are something going after a human boy," a random witch said.

"They are just so cute and clueless," Marianela explained, and they all laughed and I forced a laugh at the same time as I cast a look over my shoulder.

Alejo had come back. He stood at the entrance to the living room. His face was deadly pale and his eyes brimmed with worry and fear.

I cared little for anything else and didn't offer any explanation to the other witches as I rushed over to him.

"What happened?" I asked and placed a hand on his forehead. His skin was cold and covered in a layer of sweat.

"It's nothing. Go back and have fun," he answered and forced a smile that in no way made any of the fear in his eyes disappear.

"Tell me what happened," I repeated myself, but he just shook his head. "Alejo, I will not stop asking until you tell me."

He looked to the side and then down to the floor. "Honestly, Morana, nothing happened. You don't need to worry."

I turned to where he had looked and saw his mother standing there talking to someone. It didn't take much thinking to understand the basics. His mother had been displeased with him somehow and punished him for it.

My eyes narrowed. "Come on, we're leaving."

I tried to push him out. He reacted by looking back up at me and shaking his head. Then Marianela appeared next to us.

"What is happening? You aren't leaving, are you?" she asked me. Her voice spoke of disappointment, but her eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

"We are, yes. Alej... I'm not really feeling well, so I better get home." I had been on my way to say that Alejo wasn't feeling well, but if his mother had punished him for some random shit, then she would probably punish him again if I, the honorary guest, left because of him. The lie was obvious though by one look at Alejo, but I somewhat doubted any of them would even try to call me a liar.

"Oh no! That's too bad. But if you're unwell, then you really should go and get some rest," Marianela answered. "Don't be a stranger and pop by whenever you want."

"Yeah, okay," I waved it away and once again started pushing Alejo out. That time he let me.