[Circle of Sirens] Missing

[bewitchinghaze]

 To say it had been a long day would be an understatement. Val has been hard at work in the back rooms of Avant Garden preparing spelled plants by the dozen all day. By the time she closes up for the day and finishes tidying, it's well past eight in the evening. Stretching out the kinks in her back, she gives a soft sigh as she hauls her phone out of her pocket and sends her sister a quick text:

[txt] Long ass day, unnie. Sales low again. On the way home now though. Chinese for dinner? xo

Finally satisfied that everything's in order, Val steps out and locks up. Turning around, she tuts at the fog that seems to have rolled into town despite the chill. Its thick as pea soup but she's never really needed her sight to make her way home anyway, not with the mixture of her sister's magic and her plants calling to her. But... Something seems odd. A soft melody slowly winds its way through the air and into her ears and something about it makes her want to hear more. To get closer.

Val steps into the fog, which, by all means, should be cold and clammy but somehow feels warm and soothing, and blinks in mild surprise as it seems to part to reveal a beautiful garden. Its absolutely gorgeous, full of plants she could never dream of working with and...

"Val! Over here!"

She turns her head as Grant's voice beckons her and she spots him, sitting on the porch of her cottage, waving her over. She bounds over happily and feels his arms wrap around her and his lips press against her own. "Welcome home," he murmurs with a grin that momentarily stuns her. "Riley's inside making dinner. She said to remind you to wash up before you go in."

It feels like her heart's going to burst, she's so happy right now. This is everything she could ever want and she's more than content to live like this forever. But then it starts to fade. Slowly, at first, she gets glimpses of a cave and her head feels... fuzzy, to say the least. Then the vision disintegrates faster and its all she can do not to yell at it to stay. Then it's gone and she's standing in a cave, blinking around at the walls as her mind wraps around her loss.

"Fuck."

Comments

[jiyunnies]

Riley accepts the hug gratefully before she passes Lou a cup of her amazing hot chocolate. The thought brings a smile to her face and she chuckles. "You're right. Val's experimenting with every pickle flavour and Les is in absolute heaven."

Sipping from her own cup, she turns and leans against the kitchen counter. "I probably shouldn't try another searching spell for another few hours, but I'd like to do one for Les. Without Val, my magic isn't as strong. Maybe I'll try to rest and try again? Does that sound alright?" She looks to Lou, more for someone else's permission to say it's OK for Riley to rest, because her own guilt will keep her awake.

[louise_abasi]

"They probably appreciate that we're not finding them right away", she plays along. "Les wants at least five more pickle flavors out of her before she's allowed to go home. Maybe he's been possessed by pickles."

It's a thin line, talking about possession, both for herself as for witches. "You didn't rest at all ever since discovering her gone? Riley."

Louise steers her out of the kitchen, into the living room. "If you think you'll sleep too long on the bed, take the couch. But no-one's going to prosper in any way from a sleep-deprived Jung. Understand me?"

[jiyunnies]

Riley let's herself be lead into the living room and drops down on the couch, suddenly feeling very heavy. She has to smile at Lou's fussing though, because she sounds just like Riley when she mother hens Val.

"Okay okay, I understand. I don't think I can really say no to an Abasi anyway," she says with a teasing tone. "Just...maybe a nap."

[louise_abasi]

"Don't get cheeky with me." She takes the chance to ignore the entire situation for a second with both hands. "There's just one Abasi you have to say yes to right now, think about where you'd be if you have the six of us to answer to."

Louise takes a pillow from the nearest chair and puts it under Riley's head. "Thirty minutes? I'll wake you, don't you worry."

[jiyunnies]

She laughs at that, happy to have something else distract her head for the moment. "That's true. I'm very grateful the whole clan isn't here." Riley nods at Lou's suggestion. "Thirty minutes, nothing longer, okay?" She closes her eyes for just a second and suddenly Riley falls into a deep sleep, the worry and exhaustion of the day finally catching up to her.

[louise_abasi]

"No longer", she repeats her promise, pushing a stray lock out of the younger woman's face.

If Louise is honest, she could do with some family support now. Someone she can be the smallest with.

After 31 minutes she gently wakes Riley. "Time's passed, sweetheart."