But nothing looked the same. Everything was in dull gray tones. Even Emma when I looked at her. Narrowing my eyes, she looked blurry like when I saw humans needing glasses in movies or TV. She looked not fully there.
“Finally, you have arrived, child,” a male voice said from my left.
I let out a yelp and spun to face whoever.
There standing in all the gray was something so ridiculous that I thought I might seriously have fucking cracked. “This keyis like drugs, right? Using it takes you on a trip like humans and mushrooms?”
“I do not know why humans ingesting vegetables would be drugs in your mind, but I assure you this is real, Bevin. Settle your mind and I will explain as much as I can,” he said.
The bright pink flamingo.
Not animal.
Lawn ornament.
Complete with sunglasses.
Whatthe actualfuck?
He chuckled, so I must have said that out loud. “Clearly, I chose wrong picking a form that wouldn’t startle you. Though you’re not scared, so I guess that worked.” He frowned. “You liked these as a child. I sought to soothe you since this is all too much for one young mind to bear alone.”
I frowned too, a memory just on the edge of my mind, but I focused on what he said instead. “You know me?”
“Yes, I did, but I am limited in what I can tell you,” he said sadly. “I have faith you will be smart enough to put it together over time. For now, know I am allowed to… Guide you as best as I can.”
I bobbed my head, not willing to spend time arguing. “What is this place?”
“Good, good, always focused and quick on your feet,” he praised. “This is the spirit realm. Yes, I am a spirit, the same spirits who become familiars.”
So treat him with the knowledge or depth of intelligence of one. I glanced down at the key. “And I can access this place because I’m a goddess witch?”
“Yes,” he hedged. “In terms of what you know, yes, but thinking of it that way is a bastardization of the truth.”
“And you’re here to correct that?” I asked—hoped really. “Others have relatives guide them and help. I’m—you have no idea how hard it’s been and—”
“I do,” he said gently. “And as you know, help isn’t always helpful, Bevin. How many families have led them on the wrong paths? Jealousy eats them up that they weren’t chosen instead? No matter how the path is laid out, no one has an easy road when given such gifts.”
I swallowed loudly, realizing he wasn’t someone to vent to then and not to waste time doing so. “What should I know first? Why did the door appear today?”
“Good,” he praised again. “Because you needed to escape.”
“I’ve needed that before,” I snapped.
“Yes, but now you could safely and understand this gift without risking yourself,” he said gently. He waited until I nodded.
It was really hard to take him seriously as a fucking lawn ornament, his wings up in a fixed position. This was too ridiculous for words.
“You cannot stay in the spirit realm for very long which is why—what would you have done as a child?” he whispered.
I swallowed loudly and nodded again. I would have hidden here forever, especially in my grief and fear after I’d lost Grandfather. Then I flinched. “Did Grandfather receive the dream and know about me?”
“Yes, but we have limited time today. I will tell you more about that another day.” He gestured towards where Emma was when I opened my mouth to object.
I gasped as I saw her freaking out, Taylor yelling at her while Mrs. Reid and Mrs. Oliveria were using magic to try and find me. I pulled out my phone to text her and was a bit surprised when I saw I had enough of a signal to get her a message.
“Yes, the spirit realm is parallel to the real world. It’s simply not able to be accessed by just anyone,” the spirit said, not making me ask. “If you marked a tree, they could see it, but not you.”
“So it’s an escape for people like me,” I clarified.
