Missed Opportunities

Neem was so tired of sitting through all the interviews her match mate had set up for her. Granted she had spent most of her time learning meditative practices and calming techniques to help keep her emotions in control. It had become slightly embarrassing every time she got excited and made things around her explode all because she said the wrong thing. Or when she would see someone, she liked and would make petal insects appear. Safe to say she has spent a lot of time at home, or with her friends. Fortunately, she made lasting friends when she was in school otherwise, she’d have no social life at all. It was hard to visit other places when you could accidentally blow it up, which meant not much of a dating life. She had met a few guys when she was younger and didn’t have access to her power. That had been one hundred and forty years ago, now she was approaching the witches’ maturing age, the age where all witches reached their full potential and begin to age. The weaker a witches power the faster the aging process. Not that Neem had to worry about it, her sire was a chaos witch, one who’s energies came from volcanic elements. Her mother had been an unidentifiable supernatural, no one really knew what clan she came from. And when her sire speaks of her, all that is said is she was a part of a coven who decided to live as nomads in the outer wheel in shifter city. He said he met her at the Annual Fiir festival, held by the Fiir pack as a celebration of mature shifters. Those who have earned their place and have contributed to the Wiere society is treated to a grand festival of games and competitions. Some of the Wiere only competitions are held to determine if any wolves could advance their place in the pack. She’d heard so many stories about the festival from Vengar, her quiet vampire friend. This year she’ll finally attend herself. Although her reason for going isn’t to enjoy the games and watch the competitors. She’ll be too focused on making sure she keeps her magic in check, if she fucks up even one time, she’ll be cuffed and removed from the premises so fast she won’t even get to see where they came from. Every witch must learn how to mask their scent on the fly, as well as crafting scent masking tonics, the plant used to create the tonic is a highly rare plant fertilized with star dust, every witch must grow at least 4 of these plants for lifetime use. Once versed in the craft, a witch’s final test is to wear their cloaking spells around the shifter community, and since the shifter fair often spills over into the public park it’s the perfect opportunity to administer the test. Especially since many of the more sensitive shifters who don’t interact with other star children will be there. The why is unknown to many of the people who live outside of Wiere territories, however everyone knows Wiere doesn’t mix outside of Wiere communities. So, if any star child not of the shifter clans is spotted using magic the penalty is swift and severe. At first, she thought it was a little speciest to keep them so separated, however more often than not she’s noticed its mainly witches who aren’t allowed around wierro form the wolf community. And she’s heard of Wolf wiere finding their mates in other star children like gargoyles and trolls. There have even been a few vampire-wolf mating’s, not many but enough to make note of.

“Neem Quasar” a young faun calls her names and waits patiently by the doors leading to the back office. Neem grabs her bag and stands to full height of five feet, following the receptionist. the waiting area is empty for the most part, mainly due to the fair starting in a few days, followed by the month-long holiday. As they walk down the hall Neem looks down at her grey sneakers, cursing under her breath for not changing into the black slingbacks she had packed in her bag when she left her apartment this morning. the faun tunrs to look at her and huffs impatiently at how slowly Neem was walking. then taking in her attire she rolls her eyes and opens the door to Neems advisor. The ride to the match mate’s office in capital city had taken her over 4 hours on the bus, her once steamed pantsuit is now full of wrinkles and her dark brown hair is frizzy and out of place from the once stylish low bun she had styled earlier. She was sure she had racoon eyes as well from dozing off on the bus. Neem had a nasty habit of rubbing her eyes when frustrated, she had only just arrived when she sat down for a few moments lost in thought; forgetting to run to the bathroom to fix her appearance before being called.

As she walks into the office, her advisor looks up and appearing bored, gestures to the seat in front of her desk. Perisam was the best mate match that pyrches had to offer. Pyrches was the land mass all-star children resided on, in one of the sub levels of the earth. thought they were many crust layers deep, they still had fresh air, rivers, running fresh waters, it was like a paradise for all-star children, and a safe haven from the surface-dwelling beings. Perisam was known for making matches work. it helped that her succubus powers facilitated in the first meet and greets, ensuring the night goes smoothly, and all nervous jitters are nonexistent. not all star children see a mate match, its mostly done by leadership roles, and since her father was the equivalent to the mayor of witch haven, he felt it best if he "assisted", in finding her the right male. To be clear, his assistance required her to only date the men he specifically had chosen for her.

“Well, I’d say I’m surprised at how you look, yet knowing what I know, this isn’t as bad as it could have been. You have two minutes for quickly change your shoes and clean your face, take your bun down, its mostly out now anyway.” Smiling sheepishly at her consultant Perisam, she quickly does as suggested. “So, the last one for a few months, who is it this time?” Neem asks as she puts her sneakers in a bag and place them in her purse, “ You know, it’s like you’re purposefully sabotaging these dates, and I’ve told you many times, stop calling them interviews, these are set up with your preferences in mind, you know all warlocks worry about is solidifying their power, your mothers lack of heritage puts a damper on how many even agree to these dates.” Neem rolls her eyes as Perisam continues her tirade, “Please you know I don’t care about any of that, I told you to widen the search to include other star children.” Neem catches Perisam’s scowl before she wipes off the mascara from her eyes. “That is not my area of familiarity, your father has specifically requested men of power, warlock power. He is concerned about what will happen if you mix your blood with another being that isn’t of the covens. This means you don’t have many options left.” Neem’s phone started to buzz and before she could grab it Perisam snatched her bag away. “You spend too much time with that Green witch Aster Urser, such a horrible influence on one of your powers, and hanging out with that vampire and gargoyle, it’s a wonder you have any dates at all!” Neem gets up and walks over to the mirror in Persam’s office, looking at her reflection. Wiping the rest of the smeared mascara off her eye she stares at her reflection. Her round light brown eyes with specks of yellow stare back at her. She has prominent cheek bones, thick low arched eyebrows, full bow shaped lips, her top lip slightly uneven. She had a beauty mark on the bottom of her right eye and dark lashes. Her body was pear shaped, she had a small stomach, and some considered slightly pudgy.  “Goddess Perisam, we aren’t living in the Dark ages anymore, ever since Faerie retreated into earth, we haven’t had to hide who we are, there’s no reason to keep all the star children separate anymore, hell we aren’t even in the same dimensions anymore. This is the problem with living for so long, you ancients have a hard time getting with the times.” “Yes well, the only reason your father hasn’t intervened is because he was made aware that vampire hanging around you was only there because of his Gargoyle guardian. Had he shown any interest in you I’m sure...” “I am a full adult witch Perisam my father has no say in my life choices, nor is he one to speak.” “Darling, that is exactly why he is so adamant about your match he doesn’t want you to experience what he has had to while with your mother.” “My mother was a nomad witch” “yes, but one who spent most of her life in shifter city.” Before Neem has a chance to speak the receptionist enters the room with a note that she passes to Perisam, then quickly exists casting a pitiful glance at Neem on her way out.

“Well, what’s the note say? Is it from the old geezer” Perisam looks up from reading the note and sighs heavily. “The date I had set up for you has been canceled. He had important business in Vampire headquarters and won’t be available until after the Holiday months.” “Lovely of him to tell you after I’ve traveled all the way here. Could have saved me the hours of travel.” Neem reaches for her bag and grabs her sneakers to change her foot ware once again. Her phone buzzes again in her bag. Opening the lock screen, she scrolls to read the messages from her friends.