“There, there,” she said, gently stroking my hair. “Look at how you’ve grown.”
I pulled away and blinked away my tears. Papa was right. She was lovely. “Is this real?” I said, my lip trembling.
“It’s as real as that crystal around your neck,” she said, seating herself beside me. The crystal wasn’t tucked into my dress, as it usually was, but glowing brighter than ever before.
“Now dry those tears. Tell me what’s wrong,” Mama said.
I rested my head on her shoulder. “Everything is wrong. They’re going to kill me because I’m a witch. You’re visiting because I’ll be with you soon, aren’t you?”
She patted my cheek and chuckled. “Silly girl. I’m visiting you because you’re in trouble and you won’t do anything about it.”
“There’s nothing I can do, Mama. Lana was right. Witches don’t belong with humans. Helping them only landed me a death sentence.”
Her eyes saddened. “Darling—”
I shook my head and stood. “You showed me your life with Papa. Sure, you were happy,” I said, smiling at the memory of their meeting, “but it ended much too soon. If that isn’t proof, I don’t know what is.”
“I chose my own path and I do not regret it,” Mama said. “You still have time to choose yours.”
“What is there left to choose? I chose to be a witch among humans and look where that led me. They think I poisoned the queen.”
She tilted her head. “You speak as if you aren’t one.”
“Aren’t what?”
“Human,” she said. “You forget you’re also human.”
I stared at my hands. “But my magic—”
Mama pressed my hand between hers. “You thought witches were horrid creatures before you realized you were one. And now that you’ve embraced your witch side, you speak as if you’re no longer human.”
My mouth opened, but no words came out. “Which one am I, then?” I finally said.
She laughed. “Darling, you don’t have to choose. You’re both.”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said, hanging my head. “They only see my magic.”
“Then show them everything else,” Mama said. She lifted my chin. “Show them how bold and clever and kind you are by getting yourself out and saving the queen.”
Tears pricked the back of my eyes again. “Lana said none of that matters if I’m a witch.”
Mama rolled her eyes. “My sister has very pointed opinions. She’s too blinded by her biases to see hope. That is largely my fault. But if anyone can change her mind, it’s you.”
“How?” I said. “I can’t do it alone.”
“I will always be with you, darling. I always have,” she said, pointing to my crystal. “Everything leaves a trace. Lana was right about that.”
Mama had been with me all along. I pressed the crystal to my chest, my vision blurred with tears. “Thank you, Mama. You’re all I have left.”
She shook her head and smiled. “Not just me,” she said. “Your friends and your sister are at the door.”
“What?”
Then, Mama and Lana’s cottage melted away to darkness. I reached out, but my arms only touched stone and straw.
I opened my eyes to the dingy surroundings of my cell and the sound of voices.
“You have ten minutes,” a guard said. “Scream if you’re in trouble.”
