Chapter 11
After showing Vanessa out I wander into the kitchen to get a closer look at Amelia's "groceries". "Can I help you unpack the groceries?" I ask sweetly.
"Oh these aren't groceries dear, but sure." Amelia knowingly smiles at me. Figuring the jig is up, I decide to just come out and ask.
"Are these ingredients for a particular spell?"
She once again smiles before responding, "no, just commonly used ones that we were beginning to run out of." Amelia continues to unpack everything neatly into a china cabinet I never noticed. Every item has a bin labeled on the shelves. On the top shelves are various dried up petals of various flowers, followed by herbs, a collection of animal parts and organs, and on the bottom shelf candles of different colors and sizes.
"What books do you refer to when performing spells?" I ask wondering how similar our collection might be.
"Most are from diaries kept by witches who are friends of my family as well as some that my family have acquired over the years. Perhaps one day you and I can swap recipes," Amelia said with a wink. "I would imagine the books you keep are filled with some great ones considering your family lineage."
"They are quite large and extensive, and some are in diary form too. But wait, how did you know I have spell books?" I look suspiciously at her. I begin to worry that she has entered into my alter. With all her power I could see her easily penetrating my defensive spells.
"Remember dear I can sense magic, even more so of the family I am watching over. I am aware of your alter, however I cannot, nor would I enter it without your permission. The charm you placed over it is extreme and I doubt anyone could penetrate it. Although I would have loved to watch your mother try." She giggles but I still detect a hint of sadness. Her smile barely reaches her eyes and I can tell she misses her too. I look into her eyes and Amelia opens her mouth as if she is about to say something. She immediately decides against it and continues to put items away. I sit on the stool continuing to take inventory. "You are more than welcome to take what you need, but please practice wisely."
"Always, and thank you." After Amelia finishes placing the last candle in its designated spot she closes the doors and the cabinet recedes within the wall. In seconds the cabinet is gone. "Well that explains why I never noticed it before." Amelia glances at me with a smile. "There is something you might be able to help me with. I have been asked to train a group new to the craft and I had planned to stick to the basics, but I wanted to make it entertaining for them as well. Any ideas?"
"My favorite game to play when practicing magic was Orb Ball," Amelia said with excitement.
"What's Orb Ball?" I ask.
"Have you never played?" she says with surprise.
"It's like paintball but with magical orbs instead."
"That sounds like it's also a lot more painful than paintball too."
"It can be if the wrong spell is used, but you begin with teaching them to make orbs of dirt, dust, or even clouds. All three are annoying to get hit with but not painful in the least. This will also teach them how to channel nature as well as to keep calm. Getting hit a few times with a ball of dust and you will eventually want to strike back with water or even fire. They must learn to remain calm and maintain focus just to pull either of the three things from the Earth or sky," Amelia explains.
"It sounds like a fun lesson and if I put them in a team together maybe I can help acclimate them even quicker into a coven. They are going to need more guidance than tutelage at some point. Thanks, Amelia, great idea!" I beam. I run upstairs to grab my cell and make some calls. After confirming a place and time for the game with Bash, I call my new friends to help put together a team. It was easy to get the three girls to agree, I then thought about Lance. Considering the way him and Bash feel about me maybe it was best to keep them apart. I decide to make Bash and I team captains and I will work with the newbies as we go against Bash, Hailey, Vanessa, and Jessenia. That would mean I would have an extra teammate but considering they are all new at this I am working with a severe handicap. I turn on my laptop and pull up a map of the park the game/lesson would be held. The goal will be to capture a flag strategically placed in the center of the park. Picking the perfect spot, I pull up my altar to perform my nightly incantations and begin pulling spells that will help my team draw energy and weapons from nature. After a full night of studying and preparation for tomorrow's lesson I am exhausted. I grab my pajamas and head into my bathroom to shower.
After drying my hair and wrapping it up, I hang my towel and put my clothes in the hamper. Looking at the hamper it dawns on me that it is always empty, as if Amelia did laundry on an hourly basis. Well that's not environmentally friendly not to mention cost effective. Shaking the random thought I go back into my room and feel a shift in the atmosphere. Someone has been in my room and the remnants of their magic left behind is strong.
My defenses automatically go into action and I close my eyes attempting to figure out where the magic is focused on the most. Taking slow, thoughtful steps I follow the magic right to the front of my closet. The force is the strongest as I open my closet door. Someone has attempted to penetrate my altar. I can only gather the essence of the individual, which could only mean he or she used astral projection to travel in and out of my room. Closing my eyes I work to absorb the remaining flecks of magic. Using a recognition spell I try to put the pieces together to form a face. The form appearing before me was blurry and far away. I could tell it was a woman with long blonde hair. Taking another deep breath I try clearing the picture in my mind. Almost instantly the figure disappears and I am left with a feeling of emptiness. What a strange reaction, I think to myself. I sit at the edge of the bed trying to once again pull up the figure. Having no luck, I crawl under the covers and close my eyes. Grams always said dreams were a doorway to the mind. Let's hope my dreams had the key to unlocking the identity of my mystery visitor.
Running through the field I giggle while trying to catch up to her. She looks like an angel with her long brown hair shining in the sunlight. I am gaining on her and knew she was going to let me win. Mere feet away I yell, "I'm going to get you mommy, just you wait." Her laughter is unlike anyone else's, and her smile can turn the darkest day bright. Finally close enough to reach, I grab onto her dress and we both come tumbling down. Adding to our amusement she begins tickling me. "Ha, ha, mommy, ha, ha, I can't breathe, ha, ha," I say jokingly. She scoops me into her arms and hugs me like it is going to be the last time.
"Sweetheart always remember to enjoy life, but never put your guard down. The one's closest to you will support and guide you, if you allow them. How it saddens me that I will miss my little lady growing up and become the Queen the world needs." I look into her sad eyes and her smile that barely reaches her cheek. "Do not worry, my love. We will be together again."
"What do you mean mommy? You will forever reign and I will always be your little Princess." Why this happy moment seems to be turning into a final goodbye, I did not understand, but the look on my mother's face shows she is tired of fighting. Holding hands we slowly stand up and face the cliff. Suddenly the trees to our left rustle, which is strange because the wind is still as a statue. My mother protectively stands in front of me facing the trees. A bright red light grows from the center and just as it appears all consuming a figure manifests. Peering through the gap between my mother's body and her arm, I can see a gorgeous man with shoulder length wavy hair and muscles for days. "Stand back!" my mother shouts. The man simply smiles and tilts his head to get a better look at me.
"You know it is time."
"I'm not ready, she's still too small. I have to explain more things to her, teach her. I can't leave her yet." My mother's pleading increases the fear in my heart. I once saw my mother protect herself from an intruder using a bright light. I never understood where it came from, but I was holding on to her hand tightly, trying to force her
with my mind to do it again.
"You can come willingly or with a fight, but either way you know how this will end." My mother turns toward me and kneels down once more.
"Sweetheart I need for you to be strong and brave. I have to go away?for a while." My eyes widen in horror. "Remember all that I have taught you and mind your grandmother. She will teach you so many important lessons, but you have to remain open to it and obey her rules." My mother faces the man who has a look of indifference and is tapping his foot showing a lack of concern. "There is one more thing you must promise me." I stare into my mother's eyes praying she will fight back and not leave me. "You must never come looking for me." I open my mouth in shock but nod in agreement.
Abruptly I wake up completely drenched in sweat. I can't believe how real that dream felt. Sitting up I replay the scene in my mind. A light bulb went off in my head. The reason it seemed so real was because it wasn't a dream but a memory. OMG, I think to myself, I remember that day like it was yesterday. It was the day my mother went missing. I was there when she left, which means Grams or my mother must have blocked my memory to keep me from searching for her. This realization left me hurt and confused. Why didn't she want me to find her? And where has she been all these years? "My mother is still alive, I am sure of it," I whisper to myself. Slowly getting out of bed I walk over to my window and look out at the quiet street. I glance at the clock, it is 8:00am on Saturday. Since I am as prepared as I can be for tonight's lesson, I decide to start my search. "I'm sorry mom, but I have to break my promise."