Chapter Text
Andrea Saltzman paced back and forth while trying to figure out a solution to her current dilemma. Her homework was done before she even left school, meaning she could enjoy the rest of her weekend. Keeping good grades was never a problem for Andrea—she could do the work in her sleep.
Andrea liked to party—well, more specifically, she liked to throw parties for the actual party animals to enjoy themselves. Throwing bomb high school parties got her quick and easy popularity.
Which brings her to her current problem.
Letting out a soft sigh, she closed her sketchbook deciding it was time she talked to her mom about tomorrow.
Her relationship with her mom was something she’d easily describe as pure and full of love. Andrea looked almost nothing like her mother—a fact that used to bother her when she was a young child.
There were days where she would come home crying because—well, she wanted her mothers luscious blonde hair, not the dark auburn color she had been cursed with. She had absolutely no idea where it came from anyway. No one—not her mom, aunt, or cousins had her hair color.
Thinking of her aunt caused a soft smile to tug at the corners of her lips. When she told her aunt that she absolutely hated her hair color she’d given her the saddest pout—one that rivaled Andrea’s puppy dog eyes. Her lips pointed downward in such a sad pout that Andrea practically wanted to forget all about her hair debacle and comfort her aunt.
“Well, I love your hair color…” her aunt had told her just before pulling her into one of her crushing hugs.
Not even a few months later, her mom had taken her to the park after school on a warm spring day. Lizzie sat on a bench, lips formed into a soft smile as she watched Andrea interact with the other kids. One of the kids—a small, scrawny girl with brown hair was crying because another kid pushed her.
The said bully was a chubby boy, probably a few years older than the girls, but that didn’t seem to bother Andrea who marched over to the boy and demanded he apologize for hitting her friend. The chubby boy of course laughed in her face, “You don’t tell me what to do!” He told her poking her chest with his pudgy fingers.
Lizzie was already on her way over to her daughter when a sickening crack filled the air. The boy didn’t look so scary—rolling around screaming on the ground. He gripped his left hand that Lizzie noticed somehow looked broken. But…Andrea never moved a muscle.
That’s how they learned she was a witch. The magic flowing freely through her veins was not only practically unlimited, but also very potent. Her aunt could tell just by touching her—siphoning from her to be exact.
“I’m not surprised considering…” Her aunt had said then, her bottom lip tugged between her teeth as she continued to gaze adoringly at her niece.
Considering what, though, is something she never found out. Her mom and aunt are twins—Gemini twins, and siphon witches. They’d found out that she can siphon, but also has an abundance of her own magic. Again, not surprising if her aunt had anything to say about it…
When Andrea was eight that’s when it was obvious she had one hell of a temper. Her aunt practically laughed in her twins face when she told her what she did.
In her defense, tearing up her bedroom seemed like a good idea for not getting ice cream after dinner.
“Now that—that’s definitely all you.” Her aunt practically died of laughter the next night during dinner. Andrea just laughed because her aunt was laughing, she had absolutely no idea what was going on. Her mom glared, trying her best to hide the small smirk that was threatening to turn into a full blown smile.
Andrea never heard anything about her father. Besides the hair and eyes she wasn’t sure just how much he contributed in her looks or personality.
So imagine her surprise when he came home one day, his army uniform crisp on display. His eyes weren’t exactly the same shade—neither was his hair color for that matter. It was just a tad bit lighter. But somehow, he was her dad and now he was home. Almost nine years after she was born…
They got on well enough. He tried to fit in with her hobbies but art wasn’t his strong suit. He could barely draw stick figures. He tried though, and that’s all that counts…
Andrea quickly grew used to her dad being around. Her aunt pretty much made it clear she didn’t like him. She told Andrea it was because he went into the army, leaving them behind.
“Honestly, Elizabeth, I’m outdone. This is a new low even for you!” Her aunt absolutely never used her mother’s full first name. Just how mad was she?
Andrea was sitting at the edge of the banister, with her hands gripping the railing, her small legs hanging over the side as she listened to her aunt and mom in the kitchen.
“He’s a nice guy! He agreed to—!” Andrea never heard what it is exactly that her dad agreed to. Maybe he agreed to leave the army and come home?
“No! You can’t possibly be trying to justify this right now!” Her aunt said incredulously. She’d never heard her aunt so upset.
“He’s a good guy, Josie. And now at least Andrea knows where she gets her hair color from.” Her mother said dismissively.
She heard her aunt scoff from all the way upstairs.
“It’s not even the same—!” Her aunt started but her mom was already out the kitchen door and at the bottom of the stairs, staring at her with a disapproving look.
“Andrea,” she started in a sing song voice. “What did I tell you about listening in on my private conversations?” Her voice held a softness that Andrea realized was only reserved for her.
“I’m sorry, mommy. I figured it must not be too private, if you’re shouting about it in the open.” Andrea told her mom before pulling her legs inside the railing to stand up. Her mom stood there—lips formed into a thin line, not sure what to say because she realized that Andrea has a point. Aunt Josie, on the other hand, let out a chuckle as she leaned on the kitchen door frame.
“I can’t tell which of you she got that from, but I’m so glad she did.” Her Aunt laughed again, ignoring her twins sigh and death glare.
“Dinner’s almost ready. Your dad should be home soon, Drea. Go get washed for dinner.”
—
Andrea shook her head as her mind floated back to the present. Reliving her childhood was something she did often. Her sixteenth birthday was tomorrow, a full moon, and Halloween. Her party “friends” have been very adamant that she just had to throw a Halloween party.
She rolled her eyes in annoyance thinking about how all of them had agreed to just come over on their own accord. Luckily, her mom was cool. She told her about how everyone was expecting her to go all out —Saltzman style.
“Well, I just remembered your dad and I are due for a date night. And if we do, my card will be on my dresser—in my locked bedroom.” Her mom smirked and turned back to whatever book she was reading. Andrea ran over to her mom and pulled her into a tight hug.
“Thank you!” She said into her moms shoulder.
“You can thank me by being responsible—like…you have been.” Lizzie smirked when she saw daughters wide eyes.
“You knew?!” The idea that her mom knew she’d thrown parties all through freshman year was mind blowing.
“I was a teenager once myself, Drea. And besides, you’re responsible. Just don’t tell your dad, though. I don’t think I want to deal with that headache.” Andrea laughed and threw her arms around her mom one last time before pulling her phone out to text everyone that the party was a go.
Besides being a witch, Andrea lived a pretty normal life. She went to a normal high school with normal friends. None of which knew she was a witch — her mom hardly used magic. She’d seen her use it once out of anger, and the quick slip up caused them to have take out for dinner that night.
She’d learned everything about magic and spells from her aunt Josie, who also spent time teaching at a boarding school in Virginia a few years ago. Andrea knew her powers were stronger than her aunt and cousins. She never met many other witches, just her family. So, she had no idea just how different she was—if she was at all.
Andrea just finished sending a text to all of her friends, giving them each things they were in charge of bringing to the party.
Coming from a completely different state, her freshman year was spent mostly with her trying to fit in. Luckily, her parties did the talking and while most of her friendships were shallow, it was all she needed to make it through her last few years in high school.
That is, if her mom wanted to stay here until she graduated. Knowing her mom, she probably was already looking for homes elsewhere. It’s been her life since she was about eight. They never stayed anywhere too long and this was the longest they’d settled down since her mom started on her moving spree years ago.
“Your aunt said she won’t be able to make it in tomorrow, but she will be here first thing next Friday.” Lizzie told her daughter who was busy typing away. She nodded her head in response without lifting her head up from her phone.
“Your granddad didn’t let us to have phones at school. The more I see you using it, the more I just want to stomp on it until I’m satisfied.” Her mom mumbled before taking a sip of her red wine.
“Yikes, your childhood makes me want to puke. I’m going to get ready. So, you know…” Andrea gave a quick tight lipped smile before turning away leaving Lizzie in her thoughts.
Lizzie didn’t often think of her past.
The way everything ended was just…horrible. Her chest tightened as she let her eyes fill with years of unshed tears. The decision to keep Andrea away from the supernatural world was hers — and hers alone. Which is why her mother has never met Andrea.
As far as her daughter knows, her grandmother is dead. Vampires don’t exist — well, in Lizzie’s made up bubble they don’t. And werewolves certainly don’t exist either. If she had it her way, witches wouldn’t even exist, but Andrea just had to go and burst that bubble Lizzie made for them by discovering her powers.
Lizzie knew it was wrong to raise her daughter away from all that. But in some way she’s so happy she did. The pain, heartbreak, and misery that all came with it wasn’t worth it. Andrea was good. The kind of good that would disappear if she were involved with supernaturals. Lizzie stands by her choice, after all, it happened before.
She watched it happen to someone she loved. The darkness consumed every good part of them, leaving a monster in its wake. Her daughter would not suffer the same fate. Lizzie made sure of that. If she had to drag them to a different state, or city every month, she would.
But even as the thought came to her mind, Lizzie knew that moving around a kid every month is no way to live. Andrea deserves to have a place she can call home. That’s why Lizzie made more of an effort to not move every year while Andrea was in high school. It was only four years and then her daughter would be off to college.
Some school that Lizzie would research — thoroughly, mind you. A good school in a town that she would make sure to live in…
Actually, no.
She shakes her head at the thought. A college town sounds like a nightmare to live in. Perhaps a half hour should be fine — scratch that, twenty minutes. That way Lizzie could make it in five using vamp speed should she need to.
Taking a sip of her wine she practically moaned at the taste. The blood always mixed well with this brand. Placing the glass back down, Lizzie closes her book and gently sat it down beside her. Her eyelids close with a content sigh.
Lizzie’s happy her daughter grew up away from all that.
She did the right thing, despite what Josie thinks. Her twin was wrong. Andrea’s better for it…