Breaking the Compulsion

"Clark"

"Clark!"

I run down the stairs as I try to chase Clark who is leaving the house.

"Where are you going?”

He was about to open the door but I held his arm to stop him.

"There’s just some matters that I need to attend to."

"But you told me you're going help me break the compulsion and what about the missing white brooch?”

He turned to me and held both my shoulders.

"I will but not now Celine, there's an important matter that I need to take care of and about the white brooch I already told my mom about it, maybe we’ll try a locator spell to find it.”

He looked at me with those sincere eyes, assuring me that he will do the things he said.

“I will be back and I promise that as soon as I got home, we are going to break that compulsion and we’re going to find the brooch but for now I need you to stay here and wait for Chase”

“Don’t tell me Chase is going to babysit me”

He smiled at me then he took his phone from his pocket, looks like someone is calling him.

“He’s here to protect you while I’m away, so please be good to him, okay?

He tapped my shoulder and gazed at his phone again as he continued typing

"I'm sorry"

I said then sighed, I feel bad that all I bring him is problems.

"It's okay, it’s not your fault. Don't worry we're going to sort things out"

Clark gave me a smile with assurance then he left the house. I watch him ride his car until he’s out of my sight.

I'm sorry Clark but I'm tired of being useless from now on I'm going to do things on my own.

I dashed to my room to change my clothes and I didn’t forget to bring the dagger that they gave me for self-defense. I rushed out of the house before Chase arrived. Because Herone isn't answering his phone, I decided to go to school and look for him there. I wore my hoody jacket so I can hide from Brandon as well because last time I check we are not really on good terms and I don’t want to cause any scene again.

I walk in the hallway with my head down carefully scanning my surroundings. I keep contacting Herone while I'm roaming around here at school, but his phone is still off, which is quite annoying I halted when I saw my locker. I walked over to it and unlocked it. When I opened it, I saw a picture of the three of us, Jensen, mommy, and myself.

"Celestine Salvador"

I was frozen at my place when someone called my name. I kept my cool and shut my locker. I turn to face the girl who had called me. I scanned her, trying to remember if I'd met her before because she looks familiar; she's older than me, so she might be in a higher year.

"I’m right! It’s you!"

She clapped happily while I look around because Chase might already figure out that I’m missing and since he is smart, he’ll probably start searching here at school because I only have a few places to go. I was about to leave but she moved forward to block me.

“Wait”

What does this girl want?

“I’m sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Erin!”

She smiled and held out her hand but I ignored it so she lowered it as well.

"I'm Jensen's friend"

I gazed at her upon mentioning my brother’s name.

“I just want to ask how is he, is he okay because I haven’t talked to him since he left the town and he also deactivated his account so I don’t have any update on how he is”

She obviously fancies my brother.

“He’s fine, he deactivated his account because he wanted to focus on studying there”

I reason out but the truth is I was the one who deactivated all his accounts so people won't know where he is. Erin looks disappointed.

"Ohh, if that’s the case can I ask you for a favor?"

She opened her bag and took out an envelope from there and handed it to me.

“I don’t know his address there and I also tried to go to your house to give this to you but no one is there. Can you give this to him? It’s just really important”

She smiled shyly as I took the envelope from her.

“Thank you”

I looked at the envelope then gaze at her. I was about to leave but then I remember something.

“Erin, have you seen Herone Alegre?”

“I think he’s playing football at the field”

Upon hearing that, I immediately went to the field. I just realized that Chase might be looking for Herone too when he found out that I am missing.

When I arrived at the field, I saw Herone playing with his teammates. I didn’t waste any time so I run towards them even though they are playing.

"Celine??"

Herone was surprised to see me in front of him.

"Yep. The one and only"

I kick the ball away from him and drag him out of the field.

“What the hell is going on?”

He was so confused but he just signaled his friends that he’ll be leaving.

“What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be with Chase at Clark’s house? ----- Damn it you run away?”

He took his phone out of his bag but before he could open his phone, I had already taken it away from him.

"Yes, I left home and I'm here to ask you for help"

“Have you lost your mind? Clark was very clear to make you, stay at their house. If I help you both us will be in trouble. So it’s better for you to just go home”

He was about to hold me but I took a step back from him.

"Hear me out first, okay? "

I looked at him with a pleading eye.

"I'm not going help you, now let me get you home"

He quickly approached me and gripped my wrist tightly.

"If you won't help me, I might be forced to tell Clark that there’s something going on between you and Faira”

He suddenly loosens his grip on my wrist.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about”

Of course, he will deny it and as much as I don’t want to blackmail him like what I did to others but I’m kind of desperate right now.

"I saw you kissing each other at the back of the coffee shop where you are working”

I was looking for Faira that night and someone told me that she went to a coffee shop where Herone is working and there I accidentally saw the two of them. I never thought I’ll be using this against him but between him and Chase, Herone is easier to be swayed. Faira has been open about her relationships so maybe there is a reason why they are both hiding this from us.

"Clark will not believe you, especially that you don’t have any evidence"

"I agree, but I believe Tita Anna would react differently and she wouldn’t need any evidence"

Tita Anna is strict; she has a high standard on whom Faira should date so we always keep it from her whenever Faira is dating someone.

He let go of me and scoffed in disbelief.

"I thought we were friends"

He looked betrayed and it makes me feel guilty. I really feel sorry but, I have to make a move. I can’t just always depend on Clark and do nothing when he is away while my mother is out there

"We are, that is why I'm keeping it as a secret but if you defy me, I will expose it."

"Tell me what you need"

He said in defeat and I smile victoriously. Before I explained to him everything, I told him to leave the school first because someone might see us so we immediately went to his car.

"Is this how a Celestine Salvador threatens people? No wonder they are afraid of you"

Herone said as he started the engine. I don't know if it is a good thing but I'll take it as a compliment.

“Call Chase”, I handed him back his phone and he frown.

“Tell him that I got bored so I ask you to pick me up. Tell him to stop looking for me”

He sighed and took his phone. It took him only a few minutes to contact Chase.

“Hey bro…… Yeah sorry about that, I was busy playing earlier…. Ohh Celine?”

He gave me a quick glance before returning his gaze to the road since he was driving.

“She’s with me… She asked me to

"She's with me now. She called me earlier, she said she was bored so we went out."

He glanced at me again.

“He is asking where we are” He mouthed.

"Don't tell him! Just lie!"

I mouthed while crossing my hands.

"She didn't want to tell you, because she’s afraid that you might scold her for leaving abruptly. Don't worry I'll take care of her I'll take her home before Clark comes home.

I was just looking at Herone as he listens to whatever Chase is saying then he hung up.

“What did he say?”

"He's damn furious and he has a lot more to say so I just hung up. I’ll just make an excuse later. You do know that I’m in trouble now, right? Where are we going by the way??"

I swallowed hard. I just hope Chase will buy our excuses.

“I need a witch”

He suddenly stopped the car.

"Are you kidding me?? Your cousins are witches why are we going through all this trouble?"

I rolled my eyes; does he think I’ll do this if my cousins are available? They’re busy it's like there are so many things going on with the coven.

“I need a witch ASAP and my cousins are obviously unavailable right now, so can you please continue driving?”

I motioned the road and he started driving again. I believe he has connections and for sure he knows some witch here at Madiville. While driving, Herone and I are still arguing because he is not convinced that whatever we are going to do is safe but I tried my best to persuade him to help me break this compulsion and I promise not to die because I still need to save my mother.

The car stopped in front of an apartment then we both got out of the car. Herone went in first then I followed him, he halted in front of room 305. He knocked twice then the door was opened by a girl who has the same height as me and she has a boy cut.

"Herone?", her eyes widen upon seeing him.

"Talia"

He greeted her back then the girl glanced at me.

"This is Celine my friend", Herone said and Talia smiled at me.

She let us in, her apartment is quite big. It has another room and a kitchen as well. We all sat on the sofa and that’s when Herone told Talia that we needed her help.

"I was compelled and I need you to break that compulsion"

Talia looked at me like she was examining me.

"What did that vampire compelled you to do?"

"He compelled me to forget but I need to remember those memories because that might help me to find my mother"

"Her mother was abducted by a vampire and a hunter and it’s been months since that happened, until now we don’t have any update. Please just help me with this one" Herone added and he looked at her with pleading eyes.

Talia agreed in the end and she gave me a heads up that breaking the compulsion may be painful but I’m more determined to break the compulsion.

She stood up and prepare the things she needed. She came back from the other room with some things on her hand. She drew a circle on the wooden floor using white ashes, I think then she asked me to enter the circle and sit in the middle. I did what she said then she lit up some candles around me.

“Are you really sure about this? I might also see things in your head in the process”

I glanced at her because I was taken aback by what she said. She didn’t mention this before.

“What?”

“I told you there are risks, its fine if you don’t want to continue”

I contemplated for a bit then I shut my eyes tightly

“Let’s just get this over with,” I said as I sigh.

"Okay fine, let's begin," she said then I felt her hands on both of my temples. She started speaking in a different language. I don’t know if it's Latin or----

"AAAAAHHHHHH!!!"

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