by S. A. Carter
She sidles closer and I take her by the collar.
Chapter 25
We land back in the living room. Uncle Jo is asleep on the lounge, his arm covering his face. I decide not to wake him, knowing how exhausted he is.
Magi and I walk weakly into the kitchen. Aunt Lily turns from the sink, her eyes red and blotchy from crying. She chokes back a sob and pulls me into her arms.
‘We’re okay,’ I whisper into her neck.
She pulls away reluctantly and wipes her eyes. ‘I’m sorry. I was just so worried.’ She takes a deep breath. ‘Are you really alright?’ Her blue eyes illuminate her meaning. What she is really asking is, is it over?
I nod. ‘It’s over.’
She smiles faintly and touches my cheek. ‘Good.’ She nods her head with slight hesitation. ‘Good,’ she says again, as if to reassure herself.
She bends down and gives Magi a pat. ‘You hungry girl?’ Magi wags her tail. ‘Come on, I’ll get you something to eat, you look too skinny.’ She walks back to the fridge and starts rummaging around.
I know she needs time to calm her emotions, and to be honest, so do I. I send Magi a vision of my room and she glances back at me with understanding. As I turn the corner to ascend the stairs I hear a knock at the front door.
I quickly answer it before it wakes Uncle Jo. As I open it a bushel of blonde hair attacks me.
‘Hey, Phoebs.’ I hug her back.
She pulls away. ‘I was so worried, E.’
‘I know. It’s over now.’ I take in the large dried cut on her cheek that now looks swollen and painful. I grimace. ‘How are you doing?’
She follows my eyes and reaches her hand up to her face to touch the wound. ‘Pretty ugly huh? I figure that when it heals it will probably make me look fearsome, like some sort of superhero.’
I chuckle. ‘I can fix that for you.’
‘Good! That’s what I was hoping for.’ She enters the house and as I shut the door I see Uncle Jo standing in the entryway to the lounge room.
‘I’ll meet you upstairs, Phoebs,’ I say quietly.
‘Hi, Mr. Olsen,’ she says as she walks past. I notice she doesn’t make eye contact—probably unsure whether he is still angry at her or not.
‘Hi, Phoebe. Glad to see you are alright.’ He smiles faintly at her as she takes the stairs.
His eyes fall on me. I nod and follow him into the room.
He turns and gives me a big hug. ‘I’m so glad you are alright, Ellie,’ he whispers into the top of my head.
‘I’m glad you’re okay too,’ I respond, taking in his bandaged thigh and depleted aura.
He pulls himself away gently. ‘Tell me what happened?’
I spend the next few minutes telling him everything that occurred after he blacked out. When I am finished he shakes his head.
‘I can’t believe it. So that’s it! We just let him walk away and hope that the curse is broken?’ He runs his hand through his hair and hobbles towards the fireplace.
I take a few steps towards him. ‘I think it is broken, Uncle Jo. I mean, I saw the change happen. I saw how different he was after taking the vial.’
He turns to stare at me. ‘What do you think it was he saw?’ he asks.
I shrug. ‘I’m not sure, but he said he saw the truth. I can only imagine what that means.’
He gazes at me intently for a few seconds. I can see his mind racing.
‘We have to hope that this is done. I trust Isis,’ I say confidently.
He frowns slightly and then moves to face me. ‘What about the power? From what you said it sounds like there is another side of you trying to emerge when you use your magic. Do you think it’s Isis?’
I remember having to fight internally to regain my balance of power when fighting the Venator. I remember seeing myself through Magi’s eyes: suspended in mid-air, red eyes alight, hair swirling around my face, my body ignited with immense magic. A shiver runs through me.
‘I don’t know. Maybe the combined magic is so strong that there is a threat of losing myself in it. Or maybe it’s just me, having to battle my own demons to stay in control. I really don’t know for sure. All I know is, I have to stay grounded, I have to learn how to balance the energies out.’ I frown at the thought.
He nods slowly. ‘And what about Isis?’
I prickle slightly in defence. ‘What about her?’
He opens his palms out to me. ‘Well, what about the light. I mean, that’s what all this was about, right?’
He has a right to know but I’m not sure whether I am ready to reveal all that Isis showed me about the future. I’m not sure he would understand. I also remember telling him that I wouldn’t keep anything from him.
He moves closer. ‘What is it, Ellie?’
I hesitate for only a moment before I realise that I can’t do this alone. I need him by my side.
I sigh. ‘Remember when we were in Egypt and I had to do the last journey alone?’
He nods.
‘Well, Isis showed me the light. She revealed what the light represents and what it all means.’ His frown deepens. ‘When I drank her life-force it strengthened the bond between us from this world to the next. It was necessary to ensure that our bloodline continued and that the New Coming, and Isis herself, would live again.’
He shakes his head. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘Do you remember when Ama found the lost scripture which read, “She who is Mother, who is of pure blood, shall be the bearer of humanity. She will forge a new world and upon it she will bring forth the Light”?’
He nods. ‘Yes. That was when I was able to decipher that Isis would merge with you. At least…that’s what I thought would happen.’ Confusion crosses is face.
‘Think about it, Uncle Jo. Pure blood, Mother, bearer of humanity, bring forth the light.’
I wait for him to piece it all together. It only takes a moment.
His head shoots up. ‘Are you saying that you are the bearer?’
I nod, feeling his emotions heighten.
‘You are chosen to bring forth the light! Oh my God, Ellie! And you agreed?’ His voice is filled with fear and frustration.
‘Yes, I agreed,’ I answer simply.
His voice rises. ‘How could you? Do you know what this could mean?’ He groans and I see his fists clench at his sides.
‘Uncle Jo, please don’t be upset.’ I catch a glimpse of Magi out of the corner of my eye. She is sitting on the threshold to the room watching us closely. ‘I saw the truth in what Isis showed me. I believe in the power of it. I also know Mum died trying to protect me for something more important, and I think this was it.’
‘You haven’t thought this through. My God! You’re only sixteen, Ellie. You can’t have a child. Let alone bring a child into the world with the resurrected soul of Isis in it. Bloody hell!’ He kicks the coffee table. Books and photos crash to the floor.
Aunt Lily runs in. ‘What is going on?’ She looks between us. ‘Jo?’
He hobbles over to the couch and sits down, putting his head in his hands.
‘Ellie?’ she asks me when he doesn’t respond.
‘It won’t be like that, Uncle Jo. I don’t know exactly how it will happen, but it won’t be anytime soon. In the vision I was older. And I saw the merging of two strong bloodlines. That is the only way it can be done.’ I look off into the distance, remembering the vision clearly.
My heart flutters at the thought.
His shoulders sag and he looks at me with sadness.
I kneel down in front of him. ‘I know what you must be thinking. I know this is all a lot to take in. But right now I need you to trust me. Everything we have just been through, seeing Mum, her helping us, it can’t have been for nothing.’
Pain flickers across his face before he abruptly gets up and hobbles into the kitchen.
I stand up and watch him leave with a heavy heart.
‘I think I better get up to Phoebe,’ I say quietly. I glance at Aunt L
ily briefly before heading upstairs. Magi is right behind me.
What a mess. There is nothing else I can do. It is already done. He will just have to find a way to accept it.
I enter my room and find Phoebe sitting on the chair by the window. Ama is sitting across from her with her hands in her lap. They both look at me as I enter, Phoebe unaware that Ama is in the room.
‘Phoebs, just don’t freak out okay?’ I say.
‘Freak out about what?’ she asks.
‘At what you are about to see. I’m too tired to keep secrets right now.’
She frowns and tentatively says, ‘Alright.’ Her back straightens slightly in response, and her eyes wander around the room in question.
Ama is walking towards me and we embrace. She kisses my head and I feel better having just taken in the feel of her. My body relaxes.
‘Are you alright?’ she asks sincerely.
I nod. ‘Yes.’
She takes my face into her delicate hands and peers into my eyes. ‘I’m proud of you.’
I smile. ‘Thanks, Ama.’
Ama looks back at Phoebe, who is sitting there gobsmacked. She chuckles. ‘Looks like the cat is out of the bag.’
‘She can see you?’ I ask Ama surprised. I look at Phoebe, who nods slowly. Magi grunts and pads towards the foot of the bed where she curls up into a large, black, furry ball. I sigh. ‘Well I better get used to explaining all this I suppose.’
Ama takes my hand. ‘I know you can’t really talk right now, but when you can, summon me and we can nut it all out alright?’
‘That would be great, Ama, thanks.’
Ama is the only one who could potentially understand what I am feeling, and what my future holds. I vow to summon her really soon.
She kisses me on the cheek and is gone.
I walk towards Phoebe and pull my chair closer to hers. ‘Let me see that cut.’
As I am inspecting the damage she says, ‘I assume that clone was a deceased member of your family?’
I smile. ‘Yep. Ama is my great grandmother actually.’
She snorts. ‘Well of course she is.’
I sit back. ‘I know you must have a lot of questions, Phoebs, but I’m just really tired right now. Do you mind if I answer them another time?’
She squints her eyes and pauses for a second. ‘Fine! But I have to know what’s going on, otherwise how am I going to help you?’
I laugh softly. ‘Help me?’
‘Yes, help you. I have skills you know.’
‘Of course you do.’ I hold my palm up in a scout’s honour sign. ‘Okay, when I am ready, we will talk about some things.’
She raises one eyebrow sassily. ‘Haven’t lost your sarcasm I see. Good. Now please fix my face.’
I smile and place my hand over her cheek. She closes her eyes and I cast the healing spell. When I am done I pull my hand away and see that the skin has immediately healed, but there is the faintest trace of a scar left behind.
‘How do I look?’ she asks.
I gesture for her to look in the mirror. She gets up and peers at her reflection. ‘Not bad, not bad at all. You know, you could make millions in beauty treatments.’
‘Good point, hadn’t thought of that. Although being found out, gagged and chained like an animal for the rest of my life doesn’t exactly appeal to me.’
She waves her hand around. ‘Minor details.’
Smiling I say, ‘That scar may or may not disappear entirely. We’ll have to see what it does over time.’
‘That’s fine. Thank you for healing me.’ She pauses, looking down at her hands before continuing, ‘It was all a bit scary you know. Everything happened so fast, I just didn’t see it coming. I’m sorry that…that I got taken.’
I look at her cherub like features and soften. ‘None of this was your fault. If anything, I should be the one to apologise to you. I never meant for you to be in harm’s way. I’m the one who’s sorry, Phoebs.’ She nods her head. ‘Wait a minute! How are you even here right now? Won’t your mum be freaking out?’
She smiles faintly. ‘Mum called Dad when I didn’t come home and he flew back straight away. In a way, it has brought the family closer together. I think they may be trying to work things out.’ She shrugs shyly.
‘That’s great! I’m really happy for you.’
She smiles. ‘Me too. Anyway, Dad offered to bring me over and I came straight away. He’s waiting in the car.’ Her expression quickly turns serious. ‘Did you kill him?’ she asks bluntly.
My eyes flick to the window quickly before falling back to my lap. ‘No.’ I shake my head.
Her shoulders slump. ‘So, it’s not over? He’s still out there?’
‘No. It’s over. I can guarantee you that. I don’t think we will be bothered with Venators anymore.’
‘How can you be sure? You don’t even know how many of them are out there. What if they come back?’
‘I don’t have all the answers, Phoebs. And right now I am too tired to even think about it.’
Her eyes rest on mine for a moment before she nods and stands up. ‘Righto. Well I am outta here. You need sleep and I need food. How about I ring you later?’
I stand and smile lightly at her. ‘Sounds good.’
We walk downstairs and as I open the front door I see that her Dad is sitting in the car, reading a magazine. He waves at me. I wave back.
‘What will you tell your family about all this?’ I ask.
‘No offense, E, but we always thought you guys were a bit strange anyway. I don’t think they’ll be too surprised. But don’t worry, I won’t divulge all the info. Just the part about you having witchy powers and access to some pretty powerful healing herbs,’ she says as she touches the scar on her cheek.
The light breeze hits her as she takes a step outside and her blonde curls bounce around her face.
As she walks towards the car she spins around and yells, ‘By the way, I like the new look!’ I see her wink and then she hops into the car and drives away.
I touch my face gently, tracing the lines of my improved features.
I go to close the door and out of the corner of my eye I see movement on the ground. A small envelope has been wedged underneath the doormat.
Curious as to who would have left it, I gently pick it up, closing the door shut behind me. I make myself comfortable on the lounge and peel open the envelope. There is a letter inside. My eyes widen in surprise as I look upon the cultivated way in which the letter was written. I curl my legs underneath me and begin to read.
Elena,
This must seem strange, me writing you a letter, but I felt that it was the only way I could explain things properly.
First of all, I wanted to say that I am sorry. Sorry for what I have put you and your family through, and sorry for what my family have done to yours over the centuries. Nothing I say or do can make up for the loss I know, but believe me when I say that my apology is sincere.
I don’t know what you did to me back in the grove, but I feel…different. I’ve been able to see the truth, and I think I understand what it is you need to do. I cannot make you see me as anything more than the enemy right now, but I am letting you know that I am going to try and change that.
I have told my people that you are dead. They have taken me at my word. I do not believe that they will bother you again. Although I would ask that you remain cautious nonetheless, as we are not the only organisation in the world threatened by power such as yours.
For now that is all I can say. I cannot change what I have done, but I am determined to make sure, that from today, my path leads in a very different direction to the one I started on.
You will not see me for a while, but I will see you again, Elena. I hope that when we do meet in the future, you can see me for the man I truly am.
Take care
Julian
Stunned doesn’t even begin to explain how I feel.
Julian? The Venator’s name is Julian?
I don’t know if I can believe what he has said. My mind struggles to comprehend it all. How can I believe him when my whole life I have been taught to fear and protect myself from his kind?
Yet…my heart is feeling something else. Despite everything that’s happened, I do believe his words.
‘Hey, Miss Cole, do you want to get something to eat? You must be starved.’ Uncle Jo’s voice knocks me from my thoughts.
‘Huh? Oh, yeah, sure.’ Do I tell him about the letter?
‘What’s that you’ve got there?’ he asks curiously.
I look at him and notice the wariness in his eyes. I decide that now is not the right time. Besides, he still looks upset from earlier.
‘Oh…nothing, just a letter Phoebs gave me that’s all.’ I quickly place the envelope in my back pocket and make my way towards him.
He puts his arm around my shoulders as we head into the kitchen. ‘I have a great idea for the rest of the day.’
‘Oh yeah?’ I say skeptically.
‘Do you think it’s possible, that just for today, we could pretend to be a normal family?’ he asks.
I think about all that’s transpired over the last week, knowing that it is only the beginning of what’s to come.
There is no going back.
I nod lightly. ‘We could try.’
Acknowledgements
As always, my family are my biggest supporters, without them I wouldn’t have found the courage to finally write this book and I thank them with all my heart.
My children, you are all a blessing to me and I couldn’t be prouder of the people you are. Thank you for your inspiration and patience. I love you all so much.
Shawn, tireless supporter, patient sounding board and enthusiastic groupie, your love and support has meant so much, thank you.
The amazing group of women who make up my family: my mum and my sisters. What a blessing it is to have you all as my wingmen. I am so grateful to you for your support, encouragement, love and enthusiasm, thank you.
And lastly, to my remaining family and friends, thank you for allowing me to share my imagination with you. The light always seems brighter when you have a global network of good people around you.