“Then it shall be so.” Samantha stated, “And I shall accompany you.”
“But... I thought you were home now.” Jemma stuttered.
Samantha glanced about the dingy kitchen with a stony look, as though loving and hating everything she saw. “It’s hard to explain, Jemma.” She began, “But I feel more at home in Enchena than I have ever done here. I have been gone for so long and done so much, how can I return to a normal life? To do so, I would have to shun everything I have become, because people here would not understand.”
Samantha looked down at her own hands. “These hands have healed, and killed. I have brought as much destruction as hope. I have no place here, but there is still much to do in Enchena, perhaps I can help Lugal create a good and strong land. It won’t be easy, and there will be many challenges along the way.”
“Then I will come back with you.” Jemma felt torn, she finally had a chance to return home, but how could she when Enchena called so strongly.
“I am sorry, Jemma.” Samantha said quietly.
Gran looked at the flame-haired girl with understanding, “You are still part of this world, Jemma, and we are not. You must return home because you are all that your mother has, and it is not yet too late for you.”
“If that’s so important, I could always bring my mum. She’d… well, she’d probably hate it.”
Samantha chuckled at her comment.
Gran sighed, “You and your mother have to stay here. I have transferred the deeds of the house to you two.”
“You’ve what?” Jemma asked, trying to work out what she meant.
“Oh yes, I have negotiated a deal with the developers. After they finish the project next year, the house that sits in this plot will belong to you. You will be the new guardian of the portal.”
Jemma blanched, nobody had ever done as much for her, never. “You’re giving us a house? We won’t have to rent anymore?” That meant a huge financial burden off her mother’s shoulders, and the freedom to go to university when the time came…
“I think she’s happy.” Samantha murmured, “She’s quite hard to silence. Come on, we should go, I’m not sure how long I can hold the portal open.”
Jemma snapped out of her daze. “Will I see you again? Will I see Enchena again?”
“My dear, to be a lady of the Gardyn, you will always be part of Enchena.” Gran said, her grey eyes crinkling.
The old woman and Samantha moved to stand beside the portal, both smiling sadly.
“Lady Jemma, I’m honoured to have known you.” Samantha said with all honesty, then she and Gran stepped back through the portal.
The smoky visage faded completely and Jemma was left alone in an empty house. There was a feather-soft touch on her cheek, and she knew that it would not be the last she saw of Samantha, or Enchena.
Other books by K.S. Marsden:
Witch-Hunter:
The Shadow Rises
The Shadow Reigns
The Shadow Falls
Enchena:
The Lost Soul
The Oracle
The Northern Witch:
Winter Trials
Did you enjoy The Oracle? Why not try:
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At the dawn of time, the harmonious land of Pangaea was split asunder. Cracks rent the ground and the fabric of reality was torn in two. New, separate lands were created and the peoples that had once lived together found themselves alone in strange new worlds…
The only future that eighteen year old Merry Malone sees for herself is one involving music. She needs to win a music scholarship or all her dreams will come to nothing.
However, the discovery of a mysterious locket leads Merry to a faraway land, with strange customs and an even stranger people, the Mer. Music plays a magical role here and Merry finds herself warming to this alternate reality.
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Winter Trials (The Northern Witch #1)
By K.S. Marsden
With Midwinter just around the corner, Mark's Nanna decides that it is time he learnt more about his family heritage. Learning witchcraft shouldn't be too difficult, right?
Balancing school, magic, and the distractions of the gorgeous new guy, should make this a very interesting winter.
The Oracle Page 22