The Phoenix and the Witch

by H. M. Gooden

  She stopped talking and slowly approached Cat, holding out her arm, which looked like Evelyn's, but was still coated with light.

  "Cat, you discovered who you are first, a being of beauty and light. You've felt so alone and yet so grateful for your friends and family. Evelyn felt your struggles and wanted to ease them."

  She then turned to look at the others.

  "Vanessa, Mai, Zahara and Jake. You've all fought bravely, on the side of the light. You are glorious in your true forms and amazing in your abilities. Because of your efforts, a great evil is defeated. Carman will not return. The land can now begin to heal."

  Looking back to Cat, Evelyn smiled wistfully.

  "Things won't go back to the way they were before, not completely. They can't. But it won't be so different either. There'll always be more darkness to fight and we’ll need to be there for each other. Earth, wind, water and fire. The four elements together are powerful. I know that you'll prevail over all that is required of you, with or without me. I already know that I won't be able to stay with you, not now that I know my truth, but I'll never be far away."

  Cat felt her stomach twist, the knowledge that she was right sinking like burnt rocks in her stomach, heavy and aching. There was no way Evelyn could go back to being a high school student after this. Cat wasn't sure how she'd be able to make it to the end of grade twelve herself, but at least she was the same person. Evelyn was a freaking goddess, married to a god, a far cry from an 18-year-old high school student from Middle America.

  How the hell do you finish exams when you have that kind of power?

  "What about your mother? What do I tell her? How will she cope?"

  Cat thought of Marie-Jean and felt even worse. She'd already lost her husband. How would she be able to handle her daughter disappearing from her life? But Olokun/Evelyn merely smiled.

  "Don't worry, Cat. I'm still the Evelyn that you know, I've simply woken from a very long, very deep sleep. Everything must change, yes, but I'll come back with you to talk to my mom. She is my mother after all, and I love her the way I love all my children, the way she loves me. I couldn't hurt her like that."

  Cat smiled, slightly relieved to hear her speaking so much like her friend, no matter how sparkly she looked.

  "Does this mean that we're going to fly home next week as planned? Like normal people?"

  Bell-like laughter followed her question and Cat watched as Olukun dimmed her aura as though flicking a wall-switch, toning it down to almost normal levels. Evelyn's body returned back to the shape Cat had known over the previous three years.

  "Hey, we paid for the tickets. Of course we're taking the plane back!"

  Evelyn looked like herself again, except for the swirling rainbow coloured eyes twinkling back at Cat. Cat ran over and threw her arms around her best friend.

  "Evelyn, I love you so much! Don't leave me completely, okay? I had no idea that your power was still sleeping, or that it would be that big when it woke up, but holy hell!"

  Evelyn smiled at Cat, reaching up to pat her head like a beloved dog.

  "Silly. Of course I'll still be around for you! I had no idea either, it’s pretty incredible really. But it does explain a lot. All along, I kept having these crazy dreams about Africa, the ocean, and a really hot guy. Now I know why Robin's always been so damn cryptic. He didn't want to mess up my memories for me. He needed me to discover things on my own timeline, I guess. It also explains the depth of my feelings for him. I feel way less trashy about them now."

  Evelyn winked at Cat and they heard Vanessa laughing behind her, having come close enough now to hear what they were discussing.

  "Oh sweetie, you could never be trashy. Bossy, yes. But you have way too much self-confidence to be considered trashy. So, wow. You get to be a goddess? That's good, right? And here I've been feeling sorry for you the last few years, thinking you got the short end of the stick. Instead, you got yourself a whole new power stick of your own. Good job!"

  Vanessa was clearly impressed by Evelyn's new alter ego, but had no problem treating her exactly the same. Good ol' Vanessa. Never one to be in awe of those higher up the ladder. Cat noticed that she was holding her arm carefully and touched her sister, smoothing out the injury that she saw in her aura.

  "Thanks, Cat. Just a little trouble on the landing there due to turbulence."

  Vanessa smiled gratefully and moved the arm around, testing it.

  "So what does this mean for us now?" Mai asked cautiously, but with just as much curiosity. "Did we win? Is it over? And now what?"

  Evelyn shrugged. "It's over. I blew that witch back to wherever the darkness goes when the light arrives. She won't be back, but there'll always be other bad guys to fight. The never-ending battle of good versus evil, right? I think for now we do a little sight seeing, let our parents know we're okay, and just take some time off. Sound like a plan to everyone?"

  Cat looked at the others, surprised by the suggestion but agreeable to it. And just like that, they'd come through the darkness in the eye of the storm once again and found a safe harbour. Cat looked around her at what had been a menacing landscape only five minutes before and smiled. It had turned out to be a beautiful day after all.

  "Sure. I'm interested in looking at a few castles in the area. I hear good things about Aberfeldy, about twenty minutes from Ballantrae. I think it's the Menzies castle? I hear Bonnie Prince Charlie spent the night there before escaping the Highlands to the Isle of Skye dressed as a woman."

  Vanessa laughed. "Trust you to pull that trivia out of your butt, Cat. Sure, why not? I'm down with that, but let's get some food first. All this being awesome makes me want to eat."

  With good-natured ribbing about the bloopers from the fight and a lot of relieved laughter, they headed back down a rocky path that was now quaint instead of frightening. It had ended up being a beautiful, sunny spring day after all.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  The last week of the exchange program flew by on wings of gold. The days had taken on a quality of lightness that Cat couldn't remember feeling in a very long time. For the first time in over a year, she felt relaxed and calm. There was no feeling of something lurking on the horizon, no dreams of impending doom or evil that was chasing her. She slept deeply, occasionally flying through the night as a phoenix, spreading her wings in joy, but no other dreams, and no premonitions. Vanessa also felt the same lightness and Cat knew she was using every opportunity to take off into the sky, flying as free as a bird in every sense.

  Cat watched the others with quiet happiness as well. She got to know Zahara even better and felt the last puzzle piece click and lock into place. Zahara was one of them now, and even though she was new in their lives, they all knew that they were connected forever. Cat was so grateful she'd only been knocked out during the fight with Carman and not killed, as she'd thought when she'd first seen her lying on the ground. She wasn't sure if she'd have ever gotten over her loss.

  Mai and Jake cuddled at every opportunity and Cat knew it wouldn't be long until they were a permanent thing. She wasn't sure what exactly that would mean for a couple of dragons without any family members nearby. Would they get married? It felt weird to even think about it, since Cat felt way too young to even consider the possibility for herself, but maybe they would. Hopefully it would be an elopement, because Cat really didn't want to have to squeeze into a bridesmaid dress and wear a pair of heels if she didn't have to.

  But Cat mostly watched Evelyn. She was exactly the same as she'd always been, yet bigger somehow, larger than life in both her spirit and her aura. She talked the same, walked the same, and looked the same. Except for those times when Cat would glance at her aura and see the immensity of the opalescence and the rainbow eyes that weren't obvious without aura vision. Unless she was upset, then the others could see it too. Cat knew that Evelyn had also been sneaking out at night since they'd defeated Carman. As a moon or dream goddess, it made sense that night was her time. It also completely explained why she
was such a grumpy jerk in the morning most days, especially now that she wasn't sleeping much at night.

  Evelyn had so far only hinted at the nights she been spending with Robin. Cat hadn't wanted to pry, but it sounded like they'd been reunited both in love and in their souls. None of the other girls had spoken with Robin since defeating Carman, so they hadn't seen his new, more mature form yet. Cat wasn't sure she wanted to. She already missed the mischievous little boy that she'd come to know. She thought seeing him as an adult would be too sad for her handle, after everything else they'd been through together.

  And then there was the travel itself. Scotland was a beautiful country, even if it was still cold in the spring. The girls took their touring seriously, managing to go to Stirling, where they found the cheesiest Braveheart stature carved out of a tree with a chainsaw, which impressed Zahara most of all. They climbed Ben Nevis, which allowed Vanessa to ride the winds gloriously while Zahara bounded around in fox form, chasing small rodents in the rough scrub and heather that coated the rocky outcropping. For Mai and Jake, they'd visited the islands of Skye and Tiree.

  While tempted to try it, the others passed on surfing given the grey coldness of the water in March. Mai and Jake went for a moonlight swim without them later that night, which was perfectly acceptable to all parties. Apparently, the phoenix inside Cat no longer appreciated cool temperatures and she spent the evening sitting next to a roaring fire with the Scottish version of a hot toddy with Evelyn, Vanessa, and Zahara instead. The Scottish weren't nearly as strict on drinking age, so they even were allowed a wee dram of whisky in it, which warmed them nicely and loosened their sense of humour just enough for a rollicking great night.

  When they arrived back in Edinburgh after the short but wonderful opportunity to be tourists, Cat felt maudlin and dejected. The trip had been intense, scary, amazing, and full of changes, but now it was over. She knew that when they got back to the States, things would be different out of necessity. At the bare minimum, Vanessa, Mai and Jake would go back to San Francisco to work, and Zahara would wave goodbye to them at the airport. Of course, they'd try to get together whenever possible and Zahara assured them they could travel through to her parents garden whenever they needed or wanted to see her, but it wouldn't be the same.

  Cat felt adrift. She had a best friend, but felt she might lose her, since she was now a goddess and everything. Cat had other friends, but they'd be far away, and they weren't Evelyn. And she had no idea what she was going to do in a few months when she graduated. What could she do as a phoenix that saw auras that would help her pay the bills but give her flexibility? She liked the idea of medicine, but had ruled it out due to the lack of flexibility. She'd enjoyed their Scottish elective and learning more about history, but what kind of job prospects would she have outside a university setting? How would she excuse her frequent trips to fight evil? Real life was about to return and with it came some hard choices.

  The day before Cat and Evelyn's flight left, Zahara took them to say goodbye to her parents and to visit the garden one last time. Zahara's mother filled them full of pakoras and curry before giving them all tearful hugs.

  "You make sure that you all visit soon. You're always welcome in our house," Mrs. Khan said, then sniffed and stepped back from the tight embrace in which she'd captured a slightly uncomfortable Cat.

  Cat smiled in response. "I promise. You're the best cook and mom I've met," she said, then added, "outside of my mom, of course."

  Mrs. Khan gave a small nod of acknowledgment and sniffed again.

  "We'll try to visit soon. It's been a great experience and we'll miss this place." Vanessa said, giving Mrs. Khan a tight hug.

  Zahara's mother smiled through a fresh crop of tears.

  "Go then. The garden's waiting. Visit soon and often. May Allah protect you on your travels."

  As Vanessa, Mai, and Jake hadn't flown to Scotland on a plane, Zahara had offered to send them back through the Summerland passage, which they'd gladly accepted. A chance to avoid the long and painful experience of transatlantic flight was more than worth a little bit of time shifting.

  The garden was lush and green and every bit as beautiful as it had been on the other occasions that Cat been there. But this time, they felt the change in the air and knew the fairy glade was waiting for them. The air had the familiar insect-like fairies buzzing through it, with the soft golden warmth of summer in the air. Cat looked around, feeling peaceful again. When she saw who Evelyn had been spending her time with, her heart skipped a beat.

  Damn!

  Gone was the cute little scamp that had frustrated them all with his cryptic messages. Robin had transformed into a very attractive twenty-something that could have been featured in any magazine or movie in any country in the world. Definitely hot. He smiled at the girls and Cat was relieved to see that he hadn't lost his sense of mischief. His eyes still sparkled, but Cat could now see a happiness that had been missing from them the last time she'd seen him. He came over and gave them all hugs, causing the girls to giggle a bit and Jake to stiffen slightly in a manly, uncomfortable way before relaxing.

  "I am happy to see you all again. I had no doubts that you would defeat Carman, but I am glad to see you came out of it so well. As I'm sure you are aware by now, I am most pleased at finding my love again. It has been an epoch since I lost her."

  He smiled lovingly at Evelyn and Cat felt her cheeks warm slightly at the heat she saw behind the love. It was the same heat she felt between Mai and Jake and reinforced her belief that true love was a real thing, worth waiting to find. But something Robin had said triggered a question.

  "Robin, what do you mean, it's been an epoch? How did Evelyn, or Olokun I guess..."

  Cat trailed off, unsure what to call her friend. She looked at Evelyn, who nodded.

  "I'm fine with either, Cat. I'll always be Evelyn to my mom anyway, so it doesn't matter to me what you call me. Whatever you feel more comfortable using."

  Cat smiled, then continued with her question. "Thanks. What happened to Evelyn that she didn't know who she was? How come she spent the last 18 years as a regular person?"

  Robin looked at her dolefully. "It is a long and difficult story, little one. As it so often goes with the gods, we had a small falling out and lost each other. I am a god of the earth. Traditionally I spend my time in this area of the world, which is where my responsibilities lie. I am tasked with keeping the magic of the British Isles alive and well. If I falter in my duties, magic would truly be lost and humans with it. For even though they don't often acknowledge it, or even know it’s there most of the time, magic is what makes life worth living. The love we feel for our land, our families, the joy we take in a beautiful morning, all the things that give life meaning are a type of magic."

  Cat thought about his words. She'd always felt magic around her on her runs, but had thought it was just her being fanciful. Now that she knew that magic was real, she'd start looking at those moments differently.

  "Things were very different in past times, when the gods were plentiful and capricious," Robin continued, bringing Cat back to the present. "Not all of them wanted to keep humans around and sometimes they would cause trouble for those of us who were friendly to them."

  Robin stopped talking, staring at Evelyn with a look of wonder for a moment, before Vanessa interrupted his narrative.

  "So what happened to Evelyn then? If you guys were in love and happy, how'd she lose her memory and end up in Valleyview?"

  Robin rubbed his eyes, suddenly looking tired.

  "It was partly due to time and distance, partly because the beliefs of people were changing. You see, the world is large, and Evelyn was tasked with a different land. Her job was to keep the spirit of her people strong through some truly rough times. Slavery, abuse, and murder. Olokun came to them in their dreams to soothe them and give them strength. When they arrived in Haiti, they brought her with them, then they took her further, to the Americas. She travelled the world as a mother pro
tecting her babies, but after time away from their homeland passed, the people began to forget. Few remembered the old gods and soon a new one took their place. Christianity promised a better life after death, which was a powerful talisman to people who had suffered for so long, giving more hope than she could at night in their dreams."

  Cat looked at Evelyn who was nodding sadly by this time.

  "All true. My people became scattered and forgetful. I drifted off into the waters of their dreams, becoming formless and forgetful with time. And for a long while I knew nothing, but my mother comes from a long line of powerful seers and she's the reason I made it back. Cat, do you remember how she knew you were in the hospital? When you were sleeping?"

  Cat recalled her ordeal following her car accident and smiled.

  "She sounded like she was talking to herself, but yeah. She's pretty cool."

  Evelyn smiled proudly. "She's very cool. She somehow reached out to me in my slumber, dreaming me back to life. Together with my father, she brought me back into this world, raising me and loving me, guiding me with stumbling, weak powers I'm sure she despaired would ever fully develop."

  Cat thought about what Evelyn was saying and found it both incredible and beautiful. She could tell from the faces of the others that they agreed. A thought crossed her mind.

  "Does this mean your mom knows who and what you were all along?"

  "I'm not sure. But if she did, she's never said anything. Like Robin, she'd have known it was important for me to wake up in my own time. She certainly encouraged me to be independent often enough."

  Evelyn smiled wryly and Cat thought of all the shift work and dinners alone that Evelyn had eaten through the years.

  "Now we’re here, aware of ourselves and of how much bigger and deeper the world is," said Evelyn. "We all have gifts and responsibilities and we'll all continue to fight in our own way."