“Hold on, I’m sorry, let me get this straight. You are saying those folk in there,” I point to the cottage, “are not my family? That I’m what, adopted?” My blood pressure rises. “That’s absurd, so what if I don’t look like them, but to say I am not even related. Can you hear yourself? Do you know what you sound like?”
Myles grabs me by my arms, squeezing a little tighter than usual. “They are not your family.”
I push him off me and start backing away. “Don’t you dare imply that woman in there is not my mum because some book says so. It’s outrageous.” Pointing my finger into his chest, I yell, “It’s not a magical symbol, it’s a stupid scar from being a stupid child.” I glower at him; Myles furrows his brows.
“You need to go.”
“Andi, no, I…” Myles reaches for my arm, but I pull away. I storm off into the cottage, as tears build in my eyes.
I slam the door behind me. Elana and Mum are reading in the corner, Wyatt scoffing on leftovers at the table. Mum lifts her head from her book. “Is everything ok?”
“Fine.” I stomp towards my room, anger making me pause. I shout, “Myles has it in his head that you guys are not my family because of this stupid scar on my back. That I’m from some royal family.”
Mum chuckles. “That’s ridiculous, Andi. You fell. Remember?”
“I know.” I throw my hands up in the air. “Misneach, who does he think he is?” I reply. Storming to my room, falling onto my bed, I crawl under my blanket and cry myself to sleep.
For once, I don’t dream of the man and the smoke-filled room; instead, Myles’ words thrum in my head, playing in time with the witch’s words. ‘Suppression spell,’ ‘Royal family of Linorah,’ ‘Same markings.’ Repeating vigorously. A slow, steady drumming, growing in crescendo.
The sun has not yet risen, but I am wide awake. Unable to drown out their words. Bouncing off the bed, I cast off my necklace, studying it. It is beautiful, the black gemstone encircling the white, suspended on a silver chain.
The necklace feels heavy in my hand. I toss it onto the bed, pulling on a dress and grabbing my boots.I take another glance back at the pendant shining in the moonlight and run out of the house.
I need air, space.
I need to get far away from here.
Chapter Six
Andi
The moon stands alone in the cloudy night sky. Even with the wind, the air is still pleasantly warm. I grip hold of my hair and slap the loose strands away from my face. Leaning over the garden wall, I gulp in deep breaths, trying to slow down my heart. I pause, grounding myself scratch the rough stone beneath my fingers, the warm breeze blowing in my face, and the crickets chirping in the bushes.
I don’t know where to go. Myles is in town, and as much as my heart yearns for him, I can’t see him. Not while my blood still boils. Misty’s saddle will take too long to put on by myself, and I don’t want to risk anyone hearing.
Apprehensively, I glance up at the woods.
I know those woods like the back of my hand; no one would find me if I didn’t want them to. No one except Wyatt, that is. Urging my feet forward, I blow out a deep breath before hurrying into the woods I have been evading for so long.
A jittery feeling overwhelms me, but I push aside the urge to run back to the safety of my home and continue into the woods that are filled with memories. The forest aroma fills my senses, the earthy fragrance takes me back to a familiar time, a safe time, a happy time. I can almost taste it.
The sun peeks its head over the horizon as the wilderness wakes up in vibrant colours. I skid to a stop, staring at the lake stretching out before me. The same lake where Dad taught us allto swim, where he took us to fish, the place he knew we would disappear to when we needed to escape.
I haven’t found the courage to come out this far since he died. I fall to the ground and sob as the memories I tried so hard to suppress, flood me.
Hours pass as I stare out at the lake, getting lost in a trance, watching the ducks on the still waters creating gentle ripples as they dive for fish. The wind gently ruffles the leaves of the surrounding trees.Closing my eyes, breathing in the calmness, a warm sensation creeps up my spine. I open my eyes to find a white fire shimmering on my hands, my eyes blink repeatedly, and I wonder if I’m seeing things. But the flame never leaves.
I curl my fingers around, admiring its radiance. The white flickering orb spirals between my fingers. I squeeze the fire into my shaking fist and watch as the flame snakes up my arm, leaving a glittering trail of spins and corkscrews.My heart pounds in my ears, and I force deep breathes into my lungs to calm my shaking body.
The flame disappears into the palm of my hand. I gasp as it’s replaced by a purple ombre flower, which blossoms in my hand. I set its silky petals on the ground and watch in awe as the wilderness changes and grows at my touch.
Trees sprout branches and luscious green leaves. Smaller trees mature and thicken as if they have aged ten years in seconds. Bushes around me bloom with fresh fruit, bursting from every stem.I pick a strawberry and bite into it. Its sweet juices delight my taste buds. I can’t recall when I tasted such delicious fruit. Not since that day when our garden surprisingly bloomed, crammed with enormous produce, the ones we desperately needed to sell…The last time I removed my necklace.
Pushing myself off the ground, I will the white embers to appear on my hands again. My heart flutters as it answers mycall, sparkling in my hand once more. Marvelling at this new gift, I wonder why something so beautiful needed to be hidden.I’m captivated by its beauty as it spins around my arm. I throw my hand and watch as the fire lashes out like a rope, lassoing around tree branches, burning through the wood.I flinch as the fire burns away a circle on the grass, devouring everything in its path in a matter of seconds.
My hands tighten into balls in front of me, my nails digging into my palms. I stare at my hands in disbelief. This power… it’s like nothing I could ever imagine. My skin buzzes with anticipation, needing to see more. To know what else I can do, how far this magic can go.
I call on the flames again and a small ball of fire appears, the size as a rose bud, it wriggles on my open palm and I throw the little fireball up in the air and it explodes into fireworks. White glistening stars radiating a rainbow of colours in the sun’s reflection. The fire sparkles and dances across the blue sky until it flickers and ebbs into nothing. Returning to me, it curls into a ball in the palm of my hand. Twigs snap from behind me, the iridescent flame escapes my hands, and a figure dives to the ground, just as the fire crashes into a tree.
