“Begin,” she shouted as the dummies began to thrust their hands in front of them and shoot red bolts of light out of their hands. Grandmother quickly placed her hands side by side in front of her as she shouted, “Protecccion,” and pulled her hands apart. Once again, a thin layer of magic crystallized before her, forming a shield and repelling all incoming rays. The shield held strong until the last red bolt had been snuffed out. “Halt”, she yelled, and the dummies grew still once again. With a flick of her hand, the shield was gone.
“Your turn, Amelia.”
I nervously smiled as I staggered forward. “Will it hurt if they hit me?” I probed.
“Not if you do not let them.” She winked.
“Can I practice without them shooting at me first?” I asked nervously.
“A witch has to think on her feet, Amelia.” She grinned.
“I suppose so,” Grandmother said, stepping back. She is getting more fun out of this than I am, I noticed. I tried to mimic exactly what she had done and hollered, “Protozoa” as I closed my eyes.
I opened my eyes to find nothing had happened, but Grandmother had burst into laughter. “It is ‘proteccion’ not ‘protozoa,’ Amelia,” she clarified, still chortling.
My cheeks instantly turned red as I frowned and tried to sound it out “Pro-tec-cion”.
“That is correct, dear,” she confirmed as she stopped laughing. “I apologize for laughing, Amelia. It has been a while since I have trained anyone.” I just nodded though my cheeks were still flushed. “Try again” she urged.
“Pro-tec-cion,” I hollered, once again closing my eyes as I tried to mimic her hand movements. Still nothing happened.
“Are you visualizing a wall in front of you, like a shield?” she remarked.
Well, no, I sulked. You didn’t tell me that. “No, Grandmother. Am I supposed to?”
“Yes. Magic is one percent verbal, but ninety nine percent mental. Try again, please,” she instructed.
This time I mentally pictured a thick wall forming in front of me and moved my hands as I did before and screamed with everything in me, “Proteccion!” At the exact moment, my hands began to tingle and a warm sensation once again began to radiate from them as the magic began to crystallize in front of me forming a wall just like Grandmother’s.
“Good job,” she cheered, clapping.
“Can I put my hands down?” I requested.
“Yes, but keep visualizing the wall, all right?” I nodded.
“Begin,” she commanded, as the dummies began to once again propel red bolts of light across the yard out of the palms of their hands. With the first hit, my wall shook, causing me to be a little afraid.
“No, Amelia. Believe in yourself and the wall will stand.”
Second hit, the wall shook again.
“Amelia.” she bellowed.
Third hit, my wall shattered into oblivion as the red bolt hit me in the stomach, sending me sailing backwards. It felt like a thousand needles sticking me at once, like I had fallen backward into a lake of ice.
“Halt!" Everything grew still. “Amelia, are you all right?” she cried, panicked, running to me helping me up.
I nodded. “Okay, now I’m mad,” I said. “Let’s do this.”
Grandmother smiled a big smile and said, “Begin!”
I would not let fear in this time. I was going to do this. With all my might I screamed “Proteccion!” again as I moved my hands the way I did before, but this time visualizing an even stronger wall. “They’re not hitting me this time,” I rejoiced scowling at them. A red bolt came sailing across the yard, but this time fizzled out when it hit my wall. A second and third did the same. “They’re not hitting me this time!” I repeated proudly.
“Keep it up, Amelia. I am going to turn up the heat,” she instructed me smiling as she waved her hand causing the dummies to blast me even harder. I was determined that not a single bolt was getting through, and it didn’t.
We practiced and practiced until nightfall and I was exhausted. “Halt!” she bellowed, and with a wave of her hand, the dummies disappeared.
“Whew,” I said as I allowed myself to quit thinking about the wall and it vanished.
“You did great for your first day,” cheered Grandmother hugging me tighter than she ever had before. “I am so proud. Your mother would be, too. Let us go in for dinner,” she suggested. I just nodded, too tired to talk as we walked into the house, side by side. Just as we were about to close the door, Grandmother flicked her hand toward the gate as it unlocked and opened itself again. “For Matthew, tomorrow,” she explained. I would enjoy seeing Matthew, but it saddened me that I would have to wait until he left to practice.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
AMELIA
THICK AS THIEVES
The evening passed, as all evenings do, and before I knew it, it was once again morning. This morning didn’t feel like any other morning, it felt different. I felt different. I felt empowered. I felt like I could I do anything. At the beginning of this week, I was just ordinary Amelia, but now I felt special.
“Good morning, Luna,” I exclaimed, jumping out of bed.
She yawned and stretched and noted, “Well, you’re in a good mood.”
“Yes, I am. I’ve never felt like this before. It’s like the magic changed me.”
“No, Amelia. Although you didn’t get your powers until your birthday, you have always been special in my eyes. You just needed to believe in yourself the way your grandmother and I do.” I picked her up and hugged her. “Not … so … tight,” she said.
“Sorry. That was just sweet.”
“It’s true,” she affirmed as she nuzzled me with her face. “Come on, enough of this mushy stuff,” said Luna. “That boy will be here soon, you know,” she snarled.
I ran my hand across her fur. “Oh, come on, Luna. When are you going to give him a chance?” I snickered.
“When he stops being so mushy. Ick,” she replied.
“Oh, but I like it,” I said with a cheesy grin as I playfully snatched her up again. “And I just ‘wuv’ this kitty cat,” I joked as a dramatically rubbed my face against hers.
“Amelia,” she retorted, irritated, as she tried to get away.
“But you’re just the cutest little thing,” I teased, trying to keep my composure before I busted out laughing and put her down. She scowled at me. “I’m sorry,” I said playfully as I grinned.
“That’s all right. I know you were just kidding. I’m just not one for all that mushy nonsense,” she answered.
“I know you are a cat, but haven’t you ever been in love before?” I asked. She bowed her head as if an overwhelming feeling of grief had overtaken her.
“Once, and he betrayed me. Never again,” she scowled.
“What happened?” I asked, genuinely concerned.
“It was a long time ago. The story will bore you,” she remarked as if to shield herself from the conversation.
“No, it won’t. I promise. Please, Luna.”
“All right, if you insist.” She paused and took a breath. “I was a much younger cat then. I have been around this family for quite some time. I was your grandmother’s cat and then your mother’s and now yours. I don’t know how the magic chooses us, but it does. When I was kitten, I just felt compelled to be around Matilda. My mother knew it would happen. She said I was never a normal cat really. I wanted to be with humans too much.” She looked away as if lost in her memories for a moment. “Well, one day, when your grandmother was quite young and was playing outside, she came upon a rattlesnake. I didn’t think twice and leapt upon the snake before it could bite her. It bit me multiple times before I eventually killed it. I almost died. Your grandmother never left my side and was able to nurse me back to health. After that, I never left her side, and when she gained her powers, we realized we were able to communicate as most magical creatures and their humans can and became great friends. I stayed with her through it all, including her courtship and wedding to you
r grandfather, and then the birth of your mother.” She cleared her throat. “Well, I don’t know if you know this, but your mother was courted by your dad’s brother first.”
“What?” I asked shocked. “I thought she loved my father.”
“Oh, she did, Amelia. Believe me, she did. Things were different back then, though. Your father was the younger of the two and their family believed his older brother deserved the chance at marriage first.”
“So, it was an arranged marriage? How old were they?” I asked in amazement.
“They were fifteen,” she said.
“Wow,” I exclaimed at the idea that I was only a year older than them.
“That was common practice in 1692, Amelia.”
“Sixteen ninety what?” I repeated in amazement. “That would make them … wow,” I said.
“Amelia, witches, remember? The magic allows you to live a long time.”
“A long, long time,” I said.
“May I continue?” she insisted, somewhat annoyed by the interruption. I just nodded. “So, anyway, in those days a couple was not allowed to be alone together until marriage, so they had to take your father with them as a chaperone. The three were thick as thieves, you might say,” she said with a hollow laugh.
“So, how did my mother end up with my father?” I probed.
She cleared her throat again. “Amelia.”
“Sorry,” I responded.
“Well, your grandmother never was one for old fashioned customs and told your mother to not rush into anything, no matter what their family had to say, and get to know both your father and his brother, your uncle. She did just that. She gave the relationship with your uncle all she had to give, but to be quite honest, she didn’t love him the way she did your father. Then, the accident happened. It was an awful time in history to be considered different. You could get burned at the stake for association alone.
Your father’s mother was very sick. She always tried to hide her magic out of fear, as any witch would have, but one day it couldn’t be helped. She was walking home with a bucket of water. She tripped and used her magic, without thinking, to keep it from spilling and a neighbor boy saw it. Needless to say, he told everyone. One night while they were sleeping, the town set fire to their house. Your father woke up because he smelled the smoke and woke everyone else up. His father was carrying his wife who was too weak to walk due to her health and the smoke. All of a sudden, a beam fell and your uncle pushed your father out of the way, pinning your uncle underneath it in the process. Your father rushed to help him, as did their father, after he got his wife outside. They got him out, but it burned the entire right side of his face in the process.” I gasped. “He was never the same after that. I think he blamed your father for it because he believed it would not have happened if he had not pushed him out of the way.”
“My father could have died if he didn’t!” I shouted.
“I know, Amelia,” she countered as she continued. “Your uncle’s sixteenth birthday came around, as did your mother’s, and then shortly after, your father’s. Your mother and father always tried to help others with their magic. Your uncle, however, was so consumed by hate and bitterness that he let it devour him to his very soul. Though his family and your mother’s had moved far away from Massachusetts, he assumed all non-magical people were the same as the ones that had burned his family’s home. He began doing dark magic against all he met. He was feared by all. Your mother, even though not liking what she saw, tried her best to help him, but he pushed her away, claiming she thought he was ugly due to the deformed side of his face. I promise you, Amelia, she never let that thought cross her mind. I should know, we talked,” she took a breath. “One night, your mother woke up screaming after having a vision of what she believed was to come.”
“What did she say?” I asked.
“I won’t divulge all the details, but it was a vision of your uncle becoming the Darkness and showed many of the horrible things he would do. She tried to shake it off, but talked to your grandmother, who knew she had received her gift and advised her that she ought to listen to the warning. Shortly after, she dissolved any relationship with your uncle and primarily courted your father, in your grandmother’s presence of course. Once again, your mother awoke from a vision, but this time of your father and all the good he would do. She told me that’s when she knew for sure he was the one for her. The two had a short engagement and were quickly married, and the rest is history.”
“What about your spurned love?” I probed.
“Oh yes, that,” she remarked, as if she meant to leave that out. “Oh, did I forget that part? I guess that is a story for another time?” she added, as she jumped down from the bed and trotted out of the room.
“Luna,” I said as I playfully threw a pillow at her.
“Another time,” she repeated.
“You better,” I proclaimed, as I accepted the fact she wasn’t going to tell me at the moment and hurried off to get dressed.
CHAPTER TWENTY
MATTHEW
CALL ME MR. FIX IT
The drive to Amelia’s house seemed to take forever. I just couldn’t wait to see her after not spending the day with her yesterday. I hope she feels the same way for me, I pondered to myself. Finally, I arrived at the Manor and, to my surprise, both Amelia and Ms. Matilda were dressed and waiting outside, ready to get the day started. Amelia waved at me and I waved back, almost running over Luna in the process.
Meooww! she growled as she ran to get out of the way.
“Sorry about that,” I hollered as I jumped out of the truck and slammed the door a little too hard, making me blush with embarrassment.
“Good morning, Matthew,” said Ms. Matilda.
“Morning. Are y’all ready?” I asked.
“Since the gardens are finished, things will be a little different today, my dear,” said Ms. Matilda. I simply nodded, hoping that wouldn’t mean my sweet Amelia would be staying indoors, but, unfortunately, it did. “I have a list of things that need fixing that do not require the two of us, if that is all right,” she smiled.
“All right,” I said. “Whatever you need done. Just call me Mr. Fix It,” I proclaimed, feigning a smile. I noticed Amelia wasn’t upset with the situation, which was not the reaction I was hoping for. I could just hear Jason saying, “Wanted her to pine for you, did you?” “Shut up!” I said.
“I beg your pardon,” snapped Ms. Matilda.
Crap, I thought. “Oh, I’m sorry, Ms. Amelia, I mean Matilda. That wasn’t directed at anyone. I was just talking to myself, I mean … oh … umm.” Both Amelia and Ms. Matilda began to laugh.
“That is all right, my lad. Let us account it to being a slip of the tongue. Now, if you will excuse me I am going to head inside so you and Amelia can talk. She brought that gift you gave her outside. She would like you to show her how to use it again, I think.”
“Grandmother!” exclaimed Amelia, sounding embarrassed.
“There is no use hiding these things,” she said with a wink. “Come, Luna, let us leave these love birds alone for a moment.”
Meow, retorted Luna, almost growling.
“Wow, your cat really seems to hate me.”
“She doesn’t hate you. She just doesn’t trust you yet.”
“Huh,” I remarked. I was still getting adjusted to the weird things that came out of Amelia’s mouth, but I felt like it made me love her more because she wasn’t afraid to be herself around me.
After making sure Ms. Matilda was far enough inside and the door was firmly shut, Amelia ran toward me threw her arms around me and planted a big wet kiss on my mouth. “Watermelon,” I said.
She giggled. “You can taste that?”
“Yep.”
“Grandmother got it for me. It’s watermelon flavored lip gloss. Te-he,” she giggled again.
“I wouldn’t mind tasting it again,” I confessed, making her blush as I wrapped one hand around her waist and pulled her to me kissing her again be
fore letting go.
“Why’d you stop?” she asked almost pouting. I never cared for it when other girls did it, but I have to admit, she made it look cute.
“I’m sorry. I just feel weird kissing, knowing your grandmother is probably inside waiting on you,” I explained as I caressed her face.
“No, she’s not,” Amelia clarified perking up. “She told me she would be in the sitting room and for me to tell you the plan for the afternoon,” she informed me grinning.
“What plan?” I asked.
“Well, Grandmother would like you to replace all the stepping stones on the walkway today, and she noted that would take you until lunch since the walkway is so long.”
“Okay,” I responded, not understanding her enthusiasm.
“At lunch, Grandmother has prepared a picnic for us that I have been permitted to eat in the gardens with you.” She paused. “Just the two of us.”
I don’t know why, but the sound of that made me nervous. Not that I didn’t want to be alone with Amelia, I just didn’t know if Ms. Matilda would approve of any, shall we say, kissing that might take place. “What’s wrong?” Amelia asked, gazing into my eyes. “I figured that would make you happy,” she added, frowning as she looked away.
“It does.” I took her face in my hand and turned it back to face me. “It just surprised me is all,” I clarified smiling. “Now, how about that mp3 player,” I asked, changing the subject.
“Well, actually, I didn’t bring it outside with me. I was hoping we could listen together at the picnic,” she replied. “Grandmother was just trying to break the ice.”
“Never met a grandmother who would aide in her sixteen year old granddaughter’s affairs like that,” I laughed. “Pretty cool lady.”
“Yes, she is,” Amelia agreed. “I have to go inside and do my chores and schoolwork, but I look forward to lunchtime,” she spoke ecstatically.
“I’ll be counting the minutes,” I said. Cheesy, I thought, laughing.
“What’s so funny?” she asked.
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