Marsh sighs and leans back. “That’s basically what happened; apparently our magic has fully matured. According to Dean Foster, the timing is pretty unpredictable, and it can happen from your eighteenth birthday to a year later depending on your power level. Oh, and that guy's name is Tyler by the way.”
“No one got hurt, right?” I don’t think I could live with myself if I hurt someone, even if it was an accident.
He lets out a little chuckle, knowing instinctively how I feel. “No, thankfully everyone who was nearby is fine. This apparently happens a lot, so they have wards in place to protect everyone in case someone loses control.”
Letting out a sigh of relief, I push myself up in the bed to sit up and finally take in my surroundings. “Where are we?” It reminds me of a doctor's office with the bed I’m on against one wall, and a single chair where Marsh is. There are cabinets with a sink behind him, the room is painted a light blue, and the big wooden door in front of the bed has a narrow window.
“Med clinic. Most of the magic you released hit me, and thankfully since we are twins our magic is mirrored, so I just felt like I got a power boost. However, since it didn’t go back to you, your magic was drained. The healer said you would be fine after a nap and some food, just don’t scare me like that again. Nowthen, I’m going to let them know you're awake.” He squeezes my hand as he stands and pulls the door open, calling to someone outside the room.
I’ll wait until we get back to the room to give Marsh the news about Mom and what she said.
He comes back over to me, followed by someone whom I assume is the healer. She is a tiny woman, even smaller than my five-foot-three self, and her silver hair is pulled back into a low bun with little bits hanging around her face. Age lines around her light grey eyes and mouth show that she laughs a lot.
When we make eye contact she smiles at me. “Hello Magnolia, I’m Esther. I am the healer that worked on you when they brought you here. When your full power came in, you and your brother mixed your powers, which isn’t normal for anyone other than mates. My best guess is that since you two are twins, your magic is mirrored.” She pauses to make sure I’m following along.
When she sees that I am, she continues. “I scanned you and Marshall both to get a baseline. All human boy/girl twins are fraternal. However, since you are witches, my theory is that you seem to be what is referred to as mirror twins. From what I can gather, your magic will be almost exactly the same. Everything about you both, down to your DNA, seems to be a complete mirror. If you were the same gender, you would be identical in every way.”
Damn, I wasn’t expecting that. I knew we were closer than any other twins we’ve ever met, but I didn't think we were some kind of special magical twins.
She walks toward me to sit on the foot of my bed. “Thankfully, since your magics are compatible, Marshall took in most of the magic you expelled. While that event left you drained, the rest of the excess magic was sent to the wards around the island. Once we got you to the clinic I was able to pullthe surplus magic from him and guide it back to you. So with that, how are you both feeling?”
Taking a moment to take stock of how I’m actually doing, I can feel the hum of my magic under my skin. It’s more intense than ever, like a windmill after a tornado I feel more powerful than I ever could have pictured. I can also feel my bond with Marshall, like a string I can pull on to make me feel more grounded.
“I honestly feel amazing, stronger. I can feel my magic better than I ever have. I can also feel my brother, like our connection is ingrained into our being.” Marshall squeezes my hand in an agreement. It’s like I can feel his emotions too, almost a whisper. I know what he's feeling but it’s not as concrete as my own feelings.
She nods along as I explain. “That’s good to hear. I’m relieved that you're feeling better, so I’m okay with you going back to your dorm, so long as Marshall keeps an eye on you, and with the condition that you come to me ifeitherof you feel that something is wrong. Deal?”
“Deal!” we say together.
“That settles that, so I’ll let you both get out of here.” She shakes both of our hands then walks out the door.
While Marsh is helping me get my shoes on since I’m still feeling a little shaky, I wonder if we can still talk telepathically or if it was just when our magic was blending.
I focus on trying to push my thoughts out to him.
Marshall?
“Ouch! Geez, you don’t have to yell in my skull, you know.” He winces as he grabs his head.
“Oh, sorry. We need to talk when we get back to the dorm. Something happened when I was out.” I try to talk softly so we aren’t overheard.
“What could possibly have happened while you were unconscious?” He’s still kneeling in front of me looking puzzled.
“I saw Mom.”
I never thought I’d see my brother rendered completely speechless.
After dropping that revelation on my brother, he all but drags me to our dorm. At one point he basically carries me through the courtyard, which means I don’t have to face all the stares from everyone we pass; though I’m sure by now, anyone who wasn’t in the dining hall has heard about what happened. As soon as we step foot into our dorm my dexcom starts beeping.
“Uhhhh, where is my phone?” Patting my pockets, I’m worried when I don’t feel it. He rolls his eyes and reaches into his pocket, handing me my phone so I can check my sugar. Sixty with double arrows down. Fan-freaking-tastic. Not. Walking to our kitchenette, I grab an applesauce pouch from the fridge and sit at the bar. Marsh walks around so he’s facing me across the island.
After opening my snack and gulping most of it, I ask, “While I explain everything, do you want to make us some dinner since I never got to eat mine earlier? I’m surprised my blood sugar isn’t dangerously low since I boloused earlier and didn’t eat.”
“Yeah, well, I got some honey packs from the dining hall and kept feeding it to you every like five minutes while you were unconscious. Does steak alfredo sound good? I even got thebalsamic glaze you like when I did our delivery order.” When I nod, he starts pulling out everything he needs to cook our dinner. “The deal was that I would cook since you burn water, and you explain. So hop to it." He points the tongs at me and clicks them together. I finish off my pouch, and toss it in the trash can.
“To start with, after I blacked out, I came to what I thought was just a vivid dream at first . I was like floating in a white nothingness. Like I can’t even call it a room, there were no discernable walls or ceiling, just an endless void. I stood up and I heard her from behind me.”
I’m starting to get choked up over the fact I actually talked to our mother, and I have to wipe away the stray tears. “She said…. She said I pulled her there. That our magic was stronger than anything that’s ever been seen before. That she loved us and daddy. She said when a witch dies you get to see every moment of your life, not just the moments you were alive, but what led to your being born.”
