“We don’t know how!” Marsh grinds out.
“Take a deep breath and center yourselves, feel where your magic resides in your chest. Pull it back in; it’s part of you, so it will only listen to you!” It doesn't really feel like the magic wants to listen to my silent plea, almost as though it’s having too much fun to be contained.
We both inhale and turn to face each other, clasping our hands together and locking eyes.Breathe Magpie. With me. In and out. Look at me. We can do this.
I feel my magic pulling back and wrapping around me like a straightjacket. It doesn’t want to be locked down again, fighting against being reeled in. Marsh, however, seems to have gotten a handle on his. I feel my magic pulse out again, stronger this time, knocking over both Marsh and Dean Foster.
My vision is starting to go black at the edges, and it feels like I’m no longer in control of my magic; as though it’s taking over me.
Maggie!I can hear the desperation and panic as my brother screams through our mental bond.
My eyes roll back suddenly and everything goes dark.
When I open my eyes, I can’t tell if I died or if this is some type of dream. I feel weightless, almost like I'm floating and disconnected from my body. It’s strange that I can’t feel my clothes touching my skin. The quiet is deafening. I'm lying in a bright, bare room; the floor, walls, and ceiling as far as I can see are white. It’s like I’m in some kind of void. Groaning, I pull myself up to stand. “Hello?” I croak out. “I’d like to wake up now!”
“Magnolia, my sweet girl.” My mom’s voice floats through the vast emptiness,Now I know this is some kind of fucked up dream. My mom has been dead for years so that can’t be her.
“It really is me, Magpie. Yes this is a dreamscape, but thanks to the fact that all of your magic has been released, I was able to come to you.” Her voice sounds much clearer and closer now.
I turn around. “Mom? How is this even possible?” She looks just as she did the day she died; her long red hair pulled back in a braid, and she’s wearing the same floral overalls and band tee. It’s like no time has passed. I remember Marsh and I walking her to the car that day, helping carry her boxes of tonics and thingsfor the shop. She kissed us both goodbye. Three hours later, two state troopers knocked on the door and shattered our whole world. Someone ran her off the road, most likely a drunk driver. Hit and run they said.
She cups my face and gives me a tearful smile. “I’m so sorry, my love. I never would have left you if I’d had the choice. You know I love you, Marshall, and Daddy so much. I wish I could have been there to watch you grow into this beautiful woman. As for your question, Magpie, it shouldn’t be possible, and we don’t have much time, so I need to explain something to you while I can.”
“What do you mean it shouldn’t be possible? This is just a dream. It’s not real; whatever magic knocked me out is just messing with me.” I would give anything for this to be real. It’s been seven years, and every day the memory of it still hurts as bad as the day she died.
“Like I said, Magpie, it is technically a dreamscape; however, your magic has reached its full potential so you pulled me to you. You and Marsh are stronger than your dad and I could have ever predicted. With me being a green witch and Daddy being an elemental, we figured you both would take after us. However, when a witch dies, you see every moment of your life, even before you were conceived. You see the choices that led to you being created. I found my biological family. I can’t tell you much since there’s not enough time, but you and Marsh are destined for greatness. Separately, you both will be stronger than anything that has ever been seen. Together? You’ll be unstoppable.”
“What does that even mean? Why do we need to be unstoppable? Life is boring in the supe community, and for witches it's worse. We can’t show our magic or anything.” Staring at her, I’m so confused about what she’s trying to say.Everything within the magical world has been passive, or so I thought.
“Sweetheart, this isn’t the only realm for supes; many supes fled our home when war broke out a century ago. There is a lot you don’t know about the magical community. We never thought it would matter since we weren’t raising you in it. Unfortunately, we failed you, sweetheart. You are about to be thrown into a completely new world, and I’m so sorry I couldn’t prepare you both for what is to come.”
Maggie! Wake up!Marsh’s voice echoes around me.
The dreamscape starts filling with fog, and immediately I feel like I’m being pulled away. “Mom!”
“I’m sorry, Maggie, it seems like we’re out of time. My death wasn’t an accident. Find the truth.” Her voice slowly drifts away, fading more with each word becoming more faint.
“Mom? No, don't leave me again! MOM!” I reach out, trying to hold onto her as she begins to fade.
“Remember, I will always love you!” It’s like a ghostly whisper drifting in the wind, and then I’m suddenly alone in the foggy dreamscape.
“Maggie? Sissy, wake up. Please!”Marsh? He hasn’t called me ‘sissy’ since we were little kids.
I take off running towards the sound of my brother's voice. It’s like I can feel a string pulling me towards him.
Come on, Mags, you can do it! I can feel you getting closer.
Marsh? Can you hear me?
Maggie! Oh thank fuck! You're so close!
I keep running and everything goes black, and then I feel myself fall back into my body. Once again I can feel the weight of my clothes on my skin. My eyes and limbs feel heavy compared to the weightlessness of the dreamscape. Someone, probably Marsh, is petting my hair.
Forcing my eyelids open, blinking to focus a couple of times, I see Marsh sitting next to me, looking very pale, which is a feat with our darker skin tone.
“Hey sis, if you wanted a nap there are easier ways to do that, you know.” He leans over to kiss my forehead and I can feel his tears hitting my hair.
“What happened? I remember that guy being an ass, then I pulled on my magic to show him he couldn’t bully me. I got so angry, then our magic connected, and I couldn’t pull mine back in. Then everything went black.”
