Dahlia felt things were starting to calm down once more in her life. Vincent was happy and healthy, she was taking care of her tasks with the council, and her shop was starting to be placed back into a much more busy schedule. It was a good time of year for her considering it was Prom season. The pink haired witch couldn't help to sing while letting her pet rat scrurry about the shop, gathering little items for her as it returned to her. She was singing as she was sewing together a bunch of petticoats for a more formal ball gown dress. There was going to be a cage too,but this was going to create most of the volume. She was stilling happily set up, her own dress looking to be made by her hand before her pet rat came running up to her in a panic. She picked the little felow up and looked worried before her cousin Andre nearly broke the doors to the shop down. Brown eyes were wide as she just stared in shock.
"You're worse than a bloody bull! What on earth is the matter that you had to go and scare my widdle Crumpet."

She was cooing at the rodent then,but this was mostly ignored as Andre looked angry and a bit shocked himself. He pushed his hair back from his face, listening to make sure Vincent wasn't there as his words left in a rush.
"My pack beta is an idiot and seems to be headed here to talk."
Dahlia could only blink as of annoyed at this before sighing. So much for a peaceful day. She placed Crumpet in his cage before starting to clean her shop up. Andre could tell this annoyed her to no end but he still wasn't too fond of the beta.
"Go upstairs and make some tea for us. I'm not sure what sort of event this will turn into but Dahlia skips tea time for no one, not even betas."
She was sewing a few more stitches onto the petticoat before realizing Andre was staring at her a bit disbelieving. This was a beta, hunter, coming to talk to her. Any time that boy appeared before her it always involved Vincent. sure Andre knew to keep space now, but he was still over protective and if that wolf was planning something stupid, he was going to try to stop it.
"oh stop planning how to maim the boy and go make some tea! You're worse than small children I swear Andie!"
She kicked her office door open then, just waiting as if she had known all along that the boy would be showing up, and hopefully soon,

Jack knew that Hunter was planning on asking for Dahlias blessing just as she requested. He had bought a nice size ring and had it in his pocket. Jack had gone along because he wanted to make sure that Hunter would be safe. He knew that Andre had probably gone ahead and told Dahlia that Hunter was on his way.

Hunter walked down the street and took a deep breath. 'How is she going to react to ke wanting to marry Vincent.' He thought.

He then opened the door and walked in with Jack behind him and saw Dahlia. He looked nervous but he did promise her that he woukd ask her permission before going to Vincent and that is what he would do.

Dahlia watched both Hunter and Jack enter her domain, eyes looking a little displeased. She rose to her feet then to greet them a bit more properly, but all the witch did was stop before them with arms folded across her chest.
"to what pleasure do I owe a visit from both the alpha and beta of this town? Come now, in my office, I was just bout to hae tea."

She sounded like her usual sell, but one could see in her mad grin that she wasn't pleased with this meeting at all. She led them into her office where Andre finally was, putting down a tray as dahlia always did for her teas. She sat in her chair and gestured for the duo to sit, Andre just leaning his back against the bookshelf while glaring daggers at Hunter. The pink haired witch was pouring herself and her guests cups of tea before taking her's and adding milk and sugar.
"Why is it you come to see little me on this fine day? I do have work to do after all."
She gestured with a silver tea spoon to t he pile of petticoats and teal silk that was drowning a mannequin.. It was the ball gown she needed to finish so she hoped this meeting was quick and not something to do with her brother.

Hunter and Jack both gave the witch a smile at her greeting, but it was clear she wasn't happy that they were here. "Im merely tagging along." Jack said and they followed her into her office. Jack wasnt surprised to find Andre was already there and he was glaring daggers at Hunter. Although Jack kept out of this vendetta with Andre and Hunter, he wouldnt stand by if Andre decided tp attack Hunter over this.

Hunter gave a deep breath before beginning."Im sorry for bothering you but I wanted to do this right so I ask for your blessing....I wanted Vincents hand in marriage." He said.

Dahlia listened to them, sipping calmly at her cup of tea as if she wasn't annoyed that she had three werewolves in her office when she should be sewing and singing like a song bird. Andre was biting back the growl in his throat as he noticed how nervous the gets looked, as if he was scared Dahlia would maim him. Both Ashwoods gave a look of shock as they froze at the request, dahlia nearly dropping her cup and saucer in her stunned state.
"You can't be serious, you're still just a child!"

Andre finally snarled and stood behind Dahlia, his body looking tense as he growled out his words.
"No way in hell...you can't have Vincent like that! He's an Ashwood for god's sake!"
The wolf looked ready to jump the table at the nerve of the beta before Dahlia lifted a hand to stop him, the ex hunter instantly stilling. Her face looked grim as she put her cup down properly.
"explain why now, of all the times. I'm seeing you didn't understand when I said distant future, I meant at least a decade from now."

Hunter was more worried about how Dahlia would react because she was more unpredictable than Andre. Hunter bite his lip at both their reactions. Jack immediately stood up once Andre did and narrowed his eyes some at the wolf before it was Dahlia who stopped him.

"What does Vincent being a Ashwood have to do with anything?" Jack asked Andre.

Hunter looked straight to Dahlia at her question."We wouldn't get married right away....I just feel that its right, weve been dating for almost a year now and in all honesty....Vincents been thinking about me purposing." He admitted.

Instinctually at the sight of his alpha getting ticked Andre backed off a little, but he kept his ground firm as this didn't involve Jack at all. dahlia could only sigh at the question jack asked as she turned to push Andre to go rest against the book shelf again.
"traditionally before anyone can marry into or out of the Ashwood line, there's a trial the one proposing usually goes through. Our parents went through it as would I have if I actually got myself a hunk of man. But that's besides the point. The trial is usually picked by the eldest Ashwood in immediate family. It's just to prove you're worthy and determined to keep up with us."

One could tell she wasn't big on the little history lesson on her family, but Andre couldn't help to pipe up with a growl in his throat.
"If you fail the trial, it means you never see Vincent again, and you have no idea how happy that would make-ow! The hell Dahlia?!"
She had gotten up and given him a firm smack in the back of his head. The pink haired witch was going to have none of this banter as she placed her hands on her desk. She looked over Hunter for a moment with steely eyes, not backing away until she had her plan in motion.
"unlike my deranged darling of a cousin, I will not go by the tradition, not entirely. You can have my blessing if you survive the trial of my choosing. If you fail, I won't disband you from seeing Vincent, but I'll curse whatever you plan to use to propose so as to let this thought rest away until I feel you are both ready. Pass and I will no longer fight this, are we clear?"

A trial? Hunter had no idea that he would have to actually go through a trial if he wanted to marry Vincent. The witch was worth it of course. Jack looked down to Hunter and it was clear that he didnt want Hunterto try this but he would put it aside and let Hunter do this if f he felt it was right.

Hunter sigh at what Andre was going to say and had to mufflr a giggle when Dahlia smacked him upside the head. He did listen intentky to what she said next. "Thats fine....I want to tryly." he said.

Dahlia was glaring over at her cousin for a moment before she heard hunter agree to the trial. Her expression went from serious to mad glee then, her grin unnatural and not belonging on her face for the time being. She stood up then, shaping her fingers. Her dragon, Casey, appeared before them all, looking a little annoyed.
"What could you possibly need? You've already maimed me this week..."
Dahlia rolled her eyes at this. She really needed to find herself some new company and not these annoying know it alls. She gestured to hunter then, the blond dragon looking confused.
"He needs to prove his worth and that he is fit to marry Vivi baby. I want you to prove he has the heart and mind to keep my brother safe but loved."
Casey had a grin on its face then, looking to hunter as if hungry now. This was a chance to mess with some heads and it liked this.
"Oh but of course, this will be so much fun torturing your love. We can start when you're ready beta boy."
Dahlia could tell exactly what tactic it was going to use for the trial, knowing that the dragon loved to rip emotions out of others, but this time, if he behaved right, the boy that was for a moment Casey's entertainment would get to keep the love of his life.

Jack felt something coming and blinked when another being appeared. Hunter had a idea who the stranger was and looked from the dragon to Dahlia. He had no idea what was in store for him during this trail. Hunter stood up then and loojed at everyone.

"Im ready." He said.

Jack looked alittle uneasy about the whole thing, but he kept quiet and waited to see what would happen next.

Dahlia guided all of them out her office. With the. Help of Casey and Andre, they moved a large carpet on the floor and revealed a cellar door of sorts. Dahlia opened. It and in jumped Casey with a giggle. It had no stairs, just a bleak drop for now. She looked up to Hunter then, face trying to seem as if it didn't care.
"Casey already has your trail set up, just jump in. Don't worry, actually stairs. Will appear when it's over with and that mirror will allow us to see how you're doing. Good luck."
She was reference the. Massive full body mirror on the wall, the image of what was going to appear not there just yet. Andre had pulled s chair up to watch it before dahlia stepped away herself to let the boy jump.

What would be waiting at the bottom though wasn't was the wolf expected at all. There was a single candle in the Darkred and it was needed to go deeper. Crying could be heard coming from behind a stone door, but with how urgent it sounded, it was something held here unwillingly. It was Vincent, his ankle tethered to the wall while his arms were full of. Scratches most likely caused cry himself. What on earth was the dragon doing with all this?

Hunter watched Casey uncover a trap door and jumped in. He peered.over the side as if expecting something to jump out at him. He merely walked down the stairs and used his vision to look around the room. He heard a distant cry coming from a stone door and thought it sounded like Vincent.He pushed the door to the side and saw the witch was shackled to the wall and had scratchs over his arms.

"Vincent!!" He exclaimed and ran towards the witch.

As soon as Hunter jumped through, Dahlia sealed up the door. She turned to the mirror and soon it could be seen where Hunter was with what looked to be Vincent. She turned to jack and gestured to gab s chair, sitting down next her cousin as she did so.
"Dont worry about anything you see, that isn't even Vincent in there. I have to make sure no matter what or how much her loves him, Hunter will stop and protect Vincent from himself."
She was just staring at the mirror then, making sure to keep an eye while Casey played and knew the plan well.

The Vincent chained to the wall looked up at hearing Hunter, eyes looking scared and happy as he tried to rise to his feet. His thoughts were "blocked", but in fact it was just a puppet that' Casey was controlling, the thing looking and feeling like the real thing.it reached a hand out, trying to get some help up before the dragon's chuckle could be heard throughout the walls. The Vincent lookalike in the room looked scared for a moment at the sound, making strange growling noises before a distorted "hunter" left it. Casey didn't step out from where ever it was hiding as it spoke.
"I can bet you're wondering exactly this trial is now that you've found your lovely Vincent down here right? Oh this is gonna be so fun to watch!"

It was hard to believe that they would put Vincent down there like this. He looked aroubd the room once the dragobs voice erupted but he didnt show himself. "Can you just show ypurself so we can get this started." He said. He didnt want to stand there and listen tp the dragon as he talked, he wanted to start and get this over with.

Jack was sitting, watching the mirror and wondered what wpuld happen. He was half expecting the dragon to show hinself and attack

Dahlia couldn't help to steal glances over at Jack to see how he thought of all this, her eyes always going to focus back in the mirror.

Casey could only laugh when being asked to show itself to get the trial over with. It did ended up stepping out of the shadows then, dressed all in white as its means to poke fun at purity and innocence.
"Oh but it's already begun Hunter! You won't be fighting me at all, but I will...help you if you need it. You're going to be stopping him, as its not your sweet little lover anymore."
A mad smirk spread over Casey's face then as "Vincent" make an unruly screeching noise, crumbling as he fell to his knees. Something seemed horribly wrong with him as the scars he gained from being possessed glowed some and emerald eyes turned pure black. A snarl graced "Vincent" then as he gained claws made of shadow and tried to attack Hunter before even tapping into magic.
"You see Hunter, Dahlia knows you'll protect Vincent so long as he can return to normal. But what if he became corrupted by his element? Darkness is something quite powerful and evil. I accelerated that process a little bit in him as you can see. You have to stop him, how you do it though will depend on you getting some boring blessing or a curse. Try talking to him, i heard that's how you got him to fight back last time, I'll be right here if you need me."

The possessed vincent was spitting out words that made no sense, at least not to those who spoke english. Magic was clearly starting to be used as it proceeded to knock out the little light in the room. It may have been vincent's body, but it was no longer sweet and caring like the witch was. He had turned into a creature of pure hatred.