24 May 2028

Subject: 24 May 2028 Fri Mar 19, 2021 12:34 pm

"And you'll have the draft with me by tomorrow morning?" Victoria asked Maggie as they wrapped up their meeting that morning. They were almost done with the draft of the re-election media material they had been working on, so the ask wasn't too big, and Victoria wanted to ensure they were as ahead as they could be.

This re-election was not going to be an easy one for them, Jackson's numbers were already showing that they weren't anywhere near as popular as they had been last election, and the stress was weighing heavy on the whole office. It didn't help, of course, that the work she'd been doing to reunite families from the border orders that had been enforced was picking up attention from the democrats, and they were being encouraged by multiple members of that party. Not that it was going to stop them from doing it, Victoria could not quit on people that easily, and Jackson had silently agreed that they wouldn't stop doing it either.

Jackson...

Victoria glanced out of her office door across the open office space to the man's office. He'd been in a meeting all morning, unavailable to anyone who wanted to speak to him as he tried to talk Michael Bloomberg around to his side once more. They all knew that the outcome was not going to be favourable, and Victoria was already planning how to make that hurt go away. Pizza, that was the first thing on the agenda once the work day had finished, at Jackson's favourite restaurant that always made his face light up when they pulled in to the car park. Then home, to their small apartment, and the witch would ensure that the work day was forgotten, whether that meant setting the man in front of his gaming console, or something else.

The screen on the witch's phone lit up beside her, pulling her away from the plans of distraction she had been making. The beautiful picture of her nephew filled the screen, a picture of him when he was a little bit younger than he was now, adorable hunched over his book with a look of concentration on his features that she recognised well. Smiling as she pressed the accept button, Victoria brought her phone up to her ear as she stood up to go close the door to her office.

"How's my most handsome nephew today?" Victoria greeted Ivan with her usual enthusiasm that came when she was speaking to any child.

"You know I'm your only nephew, so that doesn't work, right?"

"It doesn't make it any less true, though, does it. You're my most handsome nephew." Victoria pointed out to the boy, earning a soft (probably embarrassed) laugh from the boy. "And, you didn't answer my question." She added, gently pushing him to answer her question.

"I'm alright,"

Ivan's reply was telling as he let out a little sigh as he said alright, showing that something was troubling him but that he wasn't ready to talk about it.

"How are you?"

"I'm doing well, thank you. Work is very busy at the moment, Jackson is running for re-election this year, so we're in early to start getting prepared for the run up to November. How's school going, you're nearly done with primary school, you're heading to Hogwarts in September. That's exciting, isn't it, are you ready to go?"

"I think so... I mean, dad says that I will be fine with all the studying that I need to do. But I'm just a little worried about all the magical stuff. Dad tells us about it, and he uses bits of magic around the house, but we don't really... I don't know, I think it's going to be a little bit weird to start with."

Victoria smiled to herself in that moment, knowing exactly what Ivan meant despite the fact he hadn't outwardly said it. "You'll be fine, Ive, you don't need to come from a home full of magic to do well. You might not know the name Hermione Granger-"

"Who doesn't know the name Hermione Granger?"

"Well, there you go, she was a No-Maj, and she became one of the greatest witch's in the world. So, you know, just because your home isn't filled with magic, it doesn't mean that you won't do well. Besides, you get the added bonus of having two professors around all the time at home, so you can ask them all the questions you need to."

"One."

Victoria paused at that correction, taking a moment to get herself adjusted to what had just been said. She hadn't spoken with Jake or Azalea in a while, due to her own time being filled with other things, but she was sure if anything had happened then she would have known about it. "What do you mean, sweetheart? You have your dad and Azalea..."

There was an awkward silence in return to that statement.

"It's okay to talk about it, Ivan." Victoria gently coaxed the boy who remained quiet for another couple of moments. A shaky breath came through the phone after what felt like an age.

"Azalea left."

"I'm sure that's not true, Ivan. Azalea likes spending time with you guys way too m-"

"Grayson -- that's dad's teacher friend -- said she was getting married when we saw him on Sunday. But that can't be right, because dad isn't getting married."

The news that Azalea was getting married without having informed her had been the baffling part of that sentence. Azalea had been with Josh for quite some time now, and the older witch had not mentioned an engagement, so Victoria was struggling to see how this could be true.

"Well, daddy and Azalea aren't together, Ivan. They're just friends."

"No, they aren't."

Victoria sat back stumped at that, frowning at the news.

"They kiss all the time, they're definitely together. And, Azalea stays over during the week, in dad's room. But she goes to see her family at the weekend.

"Is her other family more important than us? If Azalea is getting married, and it's not to dad, does that mean she won't come and see us anymore? She promised she wouldn't leave, but... Azalea didn't come to pick Adrienne and me up from school yesterday and today."

"Of course they're not more important than you, sweetheart. I'm sure... I'm sure there's an explanation to all of this."

"Why does everyone leave us, Auntie Vic? Did I do something wrong, is that why Azalea has left us?"

"No, Ivan, you haven't done anything wrong at all. You're perfect. I'm sure that this is all just a misunderstanding and Azalea is just having some time with her family. She hasn't told me that she'd getting married, and I'm her best friend. Would you get married to someone without telling your best friend about it?" Victoria reassured, using the boy's logical skills to good use in that moment.

"Well... no, I would tell my best friend, because they would have to be there."

"So, do you think that maybe you misheard what Grayson said?"

"Maybe... But why didn't Azalea pick us up?"

"That is a good question, but I'm sure your dad will be able to tell you why. Azalea loves you very, very much, and she wouldn't miss picking you up unless she had a very good reason, okay?"

"Okay."

Victoria diverted the younger Newbury away from the issue of Azalea for the next ten minutes by refocusing his energies towards his studies, and what else he'd been up to. Their conversation was briefly interrupted by Adrienne who had muscled her way in to the call by sitting on Ivan until he gave her the phone. The small argument between the siblings, and the rustlings from the phone had brought a soft laugh from the witch's lips. By the time the two children had run out of conversation -- or rather by the time Jake had insisted they get off of the phone because Victoria had work to do -- the witch's own mind was racing.

Bidding the family goodbye, Victoria had hung up and moved instantly to the WhatsApp chat with Azalea.

May 24, 2028, 11:24am (CDT)
Heyyy! How's my bestie? I'm so sorry that I haven't messaged you in so long, I am having a crazy time at work. Jackson is up for re-election so I'm sure you can imagine the long hours we've been pulling to try to get him to keep his position here in Milwaukee. I hear there's some news in your life that you haven't told me... Congratulations are in order! Tell me about it, how did Josh propose? I want all the details! Vic xxxx

Victoria had put her phone down beside her laptop, pretending to ignore it but watching it out of the corner of her eye. The distraction was complete for the next twenty minutes, until finally the phone lit up with Azalea's reply.

May 24, 2028 11:57am (CDT)
Hello Victoria, I am glad to hear all is well. I have an announcement. Joshua and I are engaged. Thank you for your congratulations as we embark on this new chapter of our lives.

The alarm bells rang immediately in the witch's head. Azalea's texts never sounded so formal, and the whole formation of the message was just off.

May 24, 2028 12:01pm (CDT)
Are you free to call? Vic xxx

May 24, 2028 12:04pm (CDT)
My apologies but I have an appointment pre-scheduled shortly. Perhaps another time?

Victoria's stomach turned sharply as she looked at the reply. There was absolutely no way on this earth Azalea would have spoken like that, even less so that she would refuse a call from Victoria unless she was absolutely indisposed. Victoria thumbed back a message quickly.

May 24, 2028 12:07pm (CDT)
No worries at all. Just remember I'm always here for you! Keep safe, I'll talk to you soon. Vic xxx

The witch was out of her desk in the next moment, and across the hall to Jackson's office. The phone in his hand had just moved back to it's holder and he looked thoroughly disgruntled. The witch didn't have time, though, instead turning the phone to Jackson.

"Please tell me that I'm not going crazy. That's not Azalea." The witch insisted. Jackson took the phone and looked at the messages for no longer than it would have taken him to read through them.

"Of course that's not, you two have your crazy long para-"

Victoria had taken the phone back from him, closed the chat and pulled up Jake's number in the next moment, the phone rang sharply in to her ear as she paced back and forth.

"Jake. Somethings wrong with Azalea."

"I know."

"Where is she?"

"That I don't know."

"Is she okay?"

Silence.

"Jake!"

"I don't know, Victoria. I think so, but I don't know."

"What are we going to do?"

"I've left a message with Jacques Clement..."

"Jake, come on, you can't do this to her again."

Silence.

"I don't know what else to do."

"Do you know who Josh is?"

"Of course I do."

Victoria waited.

"You don't know..."

"I only knew his name was Josh, and that Azalea liked him enough to be with him. That he has a son named Ethan who Azalea is obviously smitten with because she loves all children."

"Joshua Murray, he's some pureblood big shot. I didn't realise that Azalea was so..."

"She's not." Victoria replied impatiently. "She's replying to my texts, but it's like somebody's taken over her, Jake. We need to see if she's safe."

"I'm trying, Vic."

"That's not good enough." Victoria replied, hanging up on her brother without another word. Jackson's eyes held the look of confusion in them that usually happened when she spoke too quickly about new laws coming in to place. "Azalea's in trouble. I don't know what kind of trouble, but we need to help her." The witch paused. "You know the guy she came here with before Christmas. Jacques... did you get his number?"

Jackson shook his head.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, the witch left the man's office and retreated to her own, trying to work out a plan of action to help Azalea.

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Subject: Re: 24 May 2028 Fri Mar 19, 2021 2:03 pm

It had been five days now.

Five days since Josh Murray had pronounced them engaged and her free from her work to look to all the wedding details.

A wedding which he had decided would take place on her birthday.

For five days now, people had been coming and going through the manor home, showing her samples of things and models of structures, for her to unseeingly point to one, only to move on to the next. Everyone was allowed to come and go.

Except for her.

It hadn't been clear the fist day when Azalea had asked to go out shopping. She had just been told that whatever she needed would come to her. The next day, when she had asked to go out for some fresh air, she had been escorted to the Solarium with its large windows and plants. When she had complained of menstrual pains and the need to see a mediwitch, one had readily been sent to her room, already on staff in case she was ever needed.

On Sunday evening, it became abundantly clear that she was being held this grand house.

That evening, when Josh had joined her in their bedroom, she had confronted him, or tried to.

"Why can't I leave this place?"

His quizzical look had almost fooled her. Almost.

"Why would you want to? Everything you need is here."

"No, its not."

Was it her imagination or did the witch see a flash of angry in his eyes. It was gone before she could fully register it though.

"Then whatever it is, we will bring it here."

"Josh, I want to work, what about my kids?" she asked, trying to plead with the man to see sense. "I can't just stay holed up here forever."

The blond had merely raised another eyebrow, as if to say "try me".

***

On Monday morning, Azalea woke up to a barrage of text messages, all along the same lines. Grayson, Amanda, Artemis, all were sending her various degrees of congratulations. It was Cieran's text however, that clarified everyone else's.

Her university fellow's congrats included a screenshot of an online article stating in bold letters "AMERICAN WITCH SNAGS A PRINCE".

The witch dropped her phone and rushed into the bathroom, emptying the non-existent contents of her stomach in painful, draining fits.

News of her engagement had somehow reached the papers. Had Josh informed them?

Had Jake seen it? Had the children?

It took a good twenty minutes to clean herself up and then change into something presentable. But cone she had, the brunette made her way downstairs to the library. As always, the week's relevant newspapers were fanned out on a side table. Picking one up at random, she saw herself in the headlines, smiling back at her. The headline wasn't the same as Cieran's but it meant the same thing.

Panic gripping her heart, she picked up the next newspaper, and the next, and the next. They all had similar headlines. And that same photo staring back at her. Most of the columns denoted the Murray family history with barely a paragraph about her except that she was from an exceptional lineage.

The witch wasnt sure when the words blurred in front of her vision, or when everything went dark.

***

"A-Azalea."

The voice sounded far away, and she didn't feel like responding. She was whereon nice and soft and comfortable. She didn't care how she had gotten there, just that she wanted to stay oblivious.

"A-Azalea, pen your eyes."

As if on cue, her brown eyes fluttered open, blank and unseeing, not even blinking as the harsh sunlight fell on her face.

"Are you alright?"

The words didn't warrant a response, they weren't an instruction to be followed.

"Sit up."

She did as she was told, sitting up in bed and looking blankly ahead, awaiting the next order.

"Look who's come to see you."

The witch didnt look, not until she felt a soft tug at her sleeve.

"Maman."

And the world came hurtling back.

***

By Wednesday, Azalea had settled into a state of resigned agreeableness. Ethan's company was the only thing that kept her sane and the toddler was more than happy to accompany her everywhere. After losing so much time with her, the little Murray was more than happy to be the center of her universe now. And he was, even if that was because her universe had now shrunk drastically beyond her control.

Messages continued to pore into her inbox, sending congratulations, asking how the preparation was going, expressing wishes for wedding invites. The witch scrolled through them numbly, not wanting to respond to anyone until...

Heyyy! How's my bestie? I'm so sorry that I haven't messaged you in so long, I am having a crazy time at work. Jackson is up for re-election so I'm sure you can imagine the long hours we've been pulling to try to get him to keep his position here in Milwaukee. I hear there's some news in your life that you haven't told me... Congratulations are in order! Tell me about it, how did Josh propose? I want all the details! Vic xxxx

Frantically swiping at her phone, Azalea called up the reply window to her whatsapp, thumbing the keyboard roughly as she typed:

"Vic, help! I didn't say yes and he's keeping me here Agilent my will. I'm worries what might happen to us if I stay here too long.

The witch hit send, only to be met by the spinning disc that was the international symbol of "loading".When the message finally appeared, it had changed completely.

Hello Victoria, I am glad to hear all is well. I have an announcement. Joshua and I are engaged. Thank you for your congratulations as we embark on this new chapter of our lives.

Azalea's insides turned cold as she gazed at the text that was supposedly from her. That was not what she had typed.

The witch tried again, thumbing out words like "My texts are not coming as written" and "Something is really wrong, I think josh meddled with my phone". But every time she hit sent, the message would disappear. After half a dozen fruitless attempts, the witch threw her phone aside, watching her denial of taking a call automatically refute Victoria.

The crumbling facade that this was anything but a hostage situation lost its final facade.

She was a prisoner here, with no way of going out or communicating with the outside world.

This was now war.

Retreating into the bedroom she was allotted, Azalea sat down on the floor, crossed legged in pose and lost in concentration. Should a servant pass by, they would simply assume she was meditating.

The brunette whoever was summoning up all her mental faculties, focused on only one task. And her reward manifested half an hour later, a small dark tendril emoting from her pale orange sleeve.

"Leafy, can you find Jake," she asked wordlessly, communicating with the vine through her mind. The tendril rustled back confidently.

And slinked silently off, out the large glass window, a small scrap of paper clutches to itself. The paper containing only one word.

"Help."

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