Grandmother bowed her head as she spoke as if to lessen the blow from the words. “It has been fifteen years, Amelia. The last that was heard from him was when your mother left to search for him. He came to her in a dream. After that, she could not get him out of her mind, which is not like her at all. She almost went insane, so I let her go, promising to take care of you and that is what I have done,” she divulged as she dabbed away the tears with her handkerchief.
“So, they didn’t really die in a car accident, huh?” I concluded, nonchalantly.
“No, they did not,” she confirmed quietly. “Please do not be cross with me, Amelia. It was not safe to tell you until now.”
“I’m not,” I remarked, as a new dose of rage began to set in, not toward my grandmother, but toward the man that broke up my happy little family. “So, who is he?” I repeated again. “Please tell me, Grandmother,” I begged as respectfully as I could before she could say otherwise.
She slowly looked me in the eyes and confessed, “He is your uncle, Amelia and …” she paused, as if not knowing how to say it. “He is who we good witches call ‘the Darkness.’ ” My head started to spin with all of the new information, especially the fact that my uncle, if that’s what you would call him, is the big bad guy who is trying to get me and who tore apart my family.
“Why?” I shouted, standing up abruptly, causing my grandmother to jump.
“Why what, my dear?” she spoke as she fixed her ruffled dress.
“Why did he HATE us so much, and where does he have my mother?” I seethed as every inch of my body began to shake. I began to feel a warm tingling within my bones that I have never felt before.
“You have your magic now. You need to calm down before you do something you regret,” cautioned Grandmother, nervously.
“Please answer my question, Grandmother,” I insisted as my body shook.
“He was always a strange young man. He practiced the kind of magic that our kind has always been against. Nothing too bad though, at least not until the accident. The accident changed him. He let it fill his heart with hate. He is who he is now because he let it take over him. Do not let it do the same to you, Amelia. It starts small and then grows.”
I couldn’t seem to contain the rage inside me until suddenly I screamed as I subconsciously put my hands in front of me as an orange bolt of light burst from the palms of my hands, barely missing Grandmother and blasting a lamp near her, totally shattering it into pieces. Realizing what I almost accidentally did to my grandmother, I fell to my knees and began to sob.
Grandmother, still a bit shaken, rushed to my side to console me. “There, there, my sweet,” she said, as I once again laid my head on her shoulder as she stroked my hair and began to rock me gently.
“I’m sorry, Grandmother,” I squeaked out.
“Oh, do not worry about that old lamp. I did not really care for it anyway,” she assured me.
“No, I’m sorry I almost hit you with my magic,” I wailed sobbing harder.
“That is why we cannot let hate or bitterness of any kind inside my dear. It is just too powerful an emotion. When combined with magic, it can be deadly.”
I nodded as I truly understood for once what she meant. I wanted to find my mother and was still, quite honestly, mad at the man I discovered to be my uncle but I would not let bitterness and hate be my guide.
Grandmother continued to rock me until we were both too tired to stay awake anymore and both went to bed. Being totally exhausted from the day and with all the new information, I fell asleep quickly and peacefully, and for once I had no dreams.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
AMELIA
PROTOZOA
“Wake up, Amelia,” announced Luna, stirring me from a much needed rest as she gently nuzzled the side of my face.
I am going to have to get used to this, I concluded as I giggled and responded, “Good morning, Luna.”
“Did you sleep well?” she asked.
“For the first time in a long time, I can honestly say I did.”
“Good,” she remarked as she jumped off the bed to look out the window, as she always did. I had always believed it to be a cat thing, but she was clearly not just your ordinary, run of the mill cat.
“Luna, may I ask why you always look out the window?” I asked curiously.
“As I told you yesterday, my job has been and always will be to ensure your safety. So, to answer your question, I watch for intruders,” she explained without taking her eyes off the window.
“Intruders?” I repeated.
“Yes, you know creatures who aren’t supposed to be here like that black cat or the snake.”
“Or the raven?” I asked.
“Yes,” she confirmed turning to me. “See the raven again, Amelia?” she asked full of concern.
“No, but in that dream yesterday, they spoke of a bird.”
Luna sprang from the windowsill as she ran out of the room. “I must speak to your grandmother about this,” she shouted.
“I guess Grandmother hasn’t told her about it all,” I spoke out loud.
“Nope,” hollered Luna from the stairs.
I laughed for a moment thinking, Man, that cat can hear anything. Better watch what I say.
With Matthew not coming today, I was excited to start training. I rushed through my shower, got dressed, and ran down the stairs, nearly tripping along the way. I was on my way to the dining room, as usual, when I heard the doorbell ring. Who could that be? I wondered to myself, knowing Matthew wasn’t supposed to be here. I hope Grandmother removed the charm from the handle, I hoped as I reached for the door, rather hesitantly, and opened it.
“Matthew!” I exclaimed rather shocked. Although happy to see him, I was a little disappointed because I knew we couldn’t train in front of him.
“I can’t stay,” he informed me, frowning. “I’ve got to get back to Bella Mia.”
“Huh?” I said before he could finish. “What is Bella Mia?” I asked.
“Amelia, that is what Uncle Bart’s flower shop is called. I would think you would know that because you have lived here longer than I have,” he said, confused.
“I’ve never really been outside of the gates of the Manor,” I admitted, looking down at my shoes, overcome with embarrassment.
“What?” he said, but paused for a second to think. “Well, we will just have to remedy that, won’t we?” he proclaimed as he gently lifted my chin to face him, making me smile. “Now that I see you’re okay, I can get through my work day. Uncle Bart told me I was no use to him in my previous condition, so he sent me over here to check on you. Not that I wouldn’t have anyway.” he added with a wink, making me grin again. “By the way, have you listened to track 11 yet?”
I just shook my head. Haven’t had time, I thought.
“Still trying to figure it out, I guess.” he muttered, a little disappointed. I just agreed to make him happy. It’s not like I could tell him what actually happened. “You’ll get it,” he assured me, perking up.
“And they say girls are emotional,” joked Luna, trotting up beside me.
“Shhh,” I whispered, as if Matthew could understand her.
“Well, I’ve got to go,” he grumbled kissing my forehead, as I had become accustomed to him doing, and left. I waited until his taillights could no longer be seen before closing the door and almost running to the dining room.
Grandmother had made the biggest breakfast I had ever seen this morning. “Wow,” I exclaimed to Luna. “It’s a little bit of everything. I’m not going to be able to eat all this.” I laughed.
“You do not have to, my dear,” Grandmother reassured me, walking in with a pitcher of orange juice. “I am sorry. I got carried away,” she confessed as she put the pitcher on the table and sat down. “I just feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders after our chat last night,” she divulged as she dramatically took in a breath of air and smiled. “I am also ecstatic to start training you, Amelia.” I took a bite
of the delectable meal as I tried to fight off a recurring thought that kept plaguing me. “Do you not like your meal?” Grandmother asked.
“It’s delicious,” I said, feigning a smile. It really was, but I just couldn’t shake the question in my head and finally spit it out. “Grandmother, how did Cassius enter my dream?” I blurted out in a rush without any other explanation.
She sat down her teacup. “What, dear?” she asked, obviously confused.
“How did Cassius enter my dream?” I repeated the words slower this time. “I mean, I believed only blood kin or true lovers could communicate that way?”
“What are you talking about, dear?” she asked, concerned.
“I figured I already told you but I guess I didn’t,” I concluded, almost talking to myself.
“What is it, Amelia?” she retorted, concern turning to frustration.
“Well, the other night, on the eve of my birthday, I had a dream … I tried to contact Mother, even though you warned me not to,” I confessed, pausing.
“Amelia!” she scolded, disappointed with a hint of frustration. “What happened child?” she asked.
“Well, I called out for Mother, but she didn’t come. That’s when this man appeared. He said his name was Cassius.”
Grandmother gasped, “Oh my. What did he say to you?” she uttered in almost a whisper.
“He tried to get me join their side. He asked all these different things to try to persuade me to join.”
“Like what, Amelia?” she said, trying to calm herself for my sake.
“If I wanted revenge on the bullies, if I wanted to be beautiful, and finally, if I wanted money and a lot of it.”
She didn’t seem surprised by his questions. “That sounds like him,” she whispered. “Did he change in appearance?” she asked, as if confirming it was him.
“Yes. At first he was what I guess you could call handsome to some, but then he turned kind of creepy when I wouldn’t join.”
“That is definitely Cassius. If he is involved, you are in more danger than I realized. I do not know why I did not think about him.” She paused. “After all, he is the Darkness’ right hand man.” She sat and pondered for a minute. “I wish you would have told me sooner, Amelia,” she commenting, looking at me. “It makes sense now that your mother would send you that glimpse of the future,” she said, almost to herself. “Luna,” she yelled, even though Luna was already in the room.
“Yes?” she answered.
“I need you to contact any other animal alliances you have in the area. Have them be on their guard and tell their families to be also. Something is coming. I do not know when, but it is coming. Diana’s vision she sent to Amelia confirmed it.”
“Diana,” I reiterated, not recognizing the name.
“It is your mother’s name, Amelia,” Grandmother remarked, relatively irritated because she was interrupted.
“Oh,” I responded, feeling a little silly that I didn’t know that.
“Yes, Matilda. I’ll get right on it,” said Luna, racing out of the room.
Grandmother quickly rose from her chair. “Come, Amelia. We must hurry and begin training. If the stone in the vision is the one that I fear it is then you must be prepared.”
“What about the dishes?” I asked subconsciously, knowing they weren’t of importance at the moment. Without a second glance and flip of her hand the dishes were clean and went sailing back into the kitchen.
Wow! I thought as I heard the cupboards open and close on their own as the clinking of china could be heard as the dishes put themselves in their rightful place.
“I normally do it myself, but time is of the essence,” she said as if defending her use of magic.
“Grandmother, you didn’t answer my question though,” I reminded her running, trying to keep up with her as we sped to the front of the house.
“I am sorry, Amelia. What was it again?” she asked, keeping up the pace.
“How did Cassius enter my dream?” I repeated.
Grandmother stopped and turned to look at me. “It is a very vile thing that you must do to enter another witch family’s dream,” she explained, looking almost nauseated at the idea of what she was about to say. “You must taste the blood of a member of the witch family whose dream you want to enter.”
“He drank my mother’s blood!!” I shrieked. “Like Dracula!” I had read Dracula quite a few times, but had never envisioned anyone actually drinking the blood of another.
“No, not as dramatic as that,” affirmed Grandmother. “A small cut will do,” she looked repulsed as she spoke that.
“I think I’m going to be sick,” I said as I put my hand to my stomach subconsciously. Suddenly, the same warm tingly feeling that I felt the other night before I blew up the lamp began to enter my fingertips as a small yellow light became brighter and brighter as it radiated from my hand and went into my stomach causing me to no longer feel nauseous. I gasped. “What was that?” I asked, shocked.
Grandmother gasped as well, putting a hand to her mouth. “I have never seen a healing power that well developed at such a young age.”
“A what?” I said in utter confusion.
“You have found your gift, child. Or it found you, I should say,” she proclaimed, hugging me.
“My what?” I said still confused.
Grandmother chuckled. “I am sorry, Amelia. I guess I need to explain. Every witch has their own particular special power. Mine, if you have not guessed, is the ability to ‘influence people’ shall we say.” I snickered thinking of all the times Matthew has seemed to have been persuaded to do things her way.
“Makes sense,” I said, laughing.
“Well, yours is a special one. Only one witch every so many hundred years seems to acquire the ability to heal, but I have never seen a power that strong already,” she acknowledged as a look of concern once again came over her face. “If the Darkness finds out about this …” she paused as if in deep reflection. “Come, Amelia. You are an even greater witch than was ever prophesied about. We must begin training.”
“I was what?” I shouted, stopping her from opening the front door.
“Your mother had a vision when she was just a child that she would have a baby that had greater powers than any witch ever born. That is why we moved here after your parents were wed, Amelia, because it was quiet and laid back. We knew when the time came and she had a child that it would be safe here. She said when she had you, though you looked as any other baby would, she knew that you were the one. That is why your father left. They did not want the Darkness to get his hands on you. Who knows what he would have done? You really are special,” she said, taking my hands in hers as she shook them a little as if to get the point across.
Letting go of her hands, I asked, “What about the other night with the lamp? I assumed that was my power.”
“No, no child. Every witch can do that. It is more of a defensive mechanism when we are angry or feel the need to protect ourselves or others. Our kind does not use magic out of anger, though.”
Oh, okay, I deduced. I guess that makes sense.
“Now Amelia, we really must get going. We need to do this outside so as not to destroy anything in the house,” she laughed as if to lighten the mood. As I was about to open the door, she stopped me, “One last thing. The house has a magical enchantment on it so creatures of the darkness cannot hear anything, but do not speak of any of this when you are outside. You never know who is listening.” I just nodded. Even though I was a little freaked out, I was also excited to get started.
As we walked out the door and down the steps, Grandmother stuck one hand out in front of her and flicked it as a gust of strong wind came from nowhere, blowing the gate at the entrance of the driveway closed and locking it.
“Wow,” I exclaimed again.
She smiled but spoke nothing. She stuck both of her hands over her head and clapped as a sound as loud as a roll of thunder could be heard and a rainbow of colors shot everywhere a
s a thin layer almost like plastic crystallized and then disappeared. She put one finger to her mouth before I could say anything as she pointed to a huge rock at the corner of the yard and shouted, “You.” It began to shake as it launched itself into the air, breaking into a million pieces, and forming what looked like a huge lid. “Pond,” she commanded, throwing her hand in the direction of the pond as it shot itself over our heads, gently landing and covering the entire perimeter of the pond. “Now we can talk,” she announced. I just stood in utter amazement of all that had just transpired. “I guess I will start by explaining all that I did. The wind, I admit, was me showing off a little, as was the rock. We did not really need to lock the gate, but I imagined it would amuse you. The clap that I did covered the entire yard with a new layer of protection, which is much needed while we train,” she informed me, pausing to turn and face the pond where the huge looking lid that was once the rock lay. With a wave of her hand, it disappeared as a smile spread across her face. “Yes, I know I am still showing off a tad,” she chuckled. “I do not use my magic that often unless I need it, so it feels good to unwind for a moment.” I had never really seen this side of my grandmother. It was nice to see her relaxed for once.
“Before we begin, Amelia, I need you to understand that until you get stronger with your magic, you do not need to practice alone. It takes a lot of concentration to perform the protection spell that masks our magical DNA from the Darkness, so it is always best that young witches train with an Elder Witch. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Grandmother.”
“Okay good. Now that we have an understanding, let the training begin. Let us begin with defensive spells.” With a wave of her hand, practice dummies made out of wood and straw appeared out of nowhere and took their places across the yard. “You over there, move over a hair,” she demanded, pointing to one on the end. “That is good. Thank you,” she confirmed as it bowed its head. “Now, Amelia, you stand back a moment and watch first. A trained witch does not have to speak much, but for your sake, I will until you get stronger and do not need to.” I nodded my head as I stepped back to watch.
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