Chapter Eighteen
Mara
“My Mara, no.” He brushes his thumb across my cheek.
“Even though I thought magic was, well…magical. I wished to be normal. Mom loved being a witch, and I loved watching her create fire with her hand. Lace wanted to be a part of our world, but she saw how hard it was on me. Mom would lecture us in her gentle way, telling us we had to embrace our gifts. She said that one day, I would love it and regret my disregard for my spells.” I sigh.
“She was right. Always. We came home from school and found her. I touched her and saw what Cameron’s dad did.
I didn’t recognize him, but that didn’t surprise me.
I didn’t pay attention to anyone around us.
That day, my spells burst inside me, and I knew I had to use them to protect Lace.
I couldn’t let anyone know that she was gone.
My fear was that they would separate Lace from me, and I wouldn’t let that happen.
We buried Mom in the yard she loved, and I shielded our house from prying eyes.
I did the spells as if I had been practicing like she wanted. ”
“Your magic knew you needed it,” he says.
“Yeah. I buried her that day, and my emotions. Grieving wasn’t an option.
She was my world, and it exploded. I spent my life afraid of someone finding out that she was gone, and that two young girls were living alone.
I would have quit school, but I knew she would have been mad.
Lace didn’t understand how I could be so cold.
She cried constantly. I explained every day why I was doing the things I was, yet she disagreed.
Mom wasn’t there to comfort her, and I didn’t know how anymore.
Every day, I had to gather my defenses and my spells before we left the house.
I prayed they wouldn’t fail me. Doing a protection spell on an object became natural and not forced.
I hadn’t done them again until after I met you.
No one knew the real me, and I couldn’t confide in anyone.
I didn’t sense any other witches at school, and we didn’t travel further than that.
“I don’t know where Cameron and his dad lived.
He didn’t attend our school. Perhaps they were visiting someone or just exploring the area.
Mom got careless, and he caught her using magic.
He was ill, and when she wouldn’t heal him, he killed her.
Healing someone bad was against everything my mom stood for.
She could tell it was his time. It is poetic that I killed his son.
I don’t feel any regret for taking his life.
I didn’t feel anything for him. In a twisted way, I got justice for her.
” I exhale roughly. “I hope she is at peace.”
“She would be proud,” he rumbles, and then hesitates.
“What?” I whisper.
“Is the owl your mom?” he asks.
“No. He’s my dad.” I smile slightly. “He was human when they met. Mom knew they were soul bonds, yet he knew nothing about magic. She couldn’t rush into their relationship, so she didn’t tell him for several months.
They dated like a normal human couple would.
She wanted to gain his trust, and as she said, make him fall madly in love with me.
” I brush my hair back and grasp a fistful.
“She was right. He fell fast for her and didn’t run away when she revealed her magic.
” I drop my hand. “Their romance was consuming, but Dad wasn’t ready to complete the bond.
He couldn’t hold back, though, and Mom got pregnant.
They agreed to have me before they joined their souls.
As time went on, I came into the world, and soon she was expecting Lace.
Mom didn’t care if Dad had magic; the life they were building was simple, and their love kept them devoted.
Once Lace was born, finalizing their connection was the last step.
Dad was nervous and not sure what would happen and what powers he would have, if any.
When the day they picked came, Dad was rushing to get home and got into an accident.
The roads were slick, and he skidded off the road.
He wrapped his car around a tree,” I whisper, and Rome grabs my hand.
“Mom felt something. She knew something was wrong. By the time she put us in the car and searched the roads she knew he would take, it was too late. He was close to death, and when she tried to heal him, it didn’t work.
Her spells urged her to find another way to keep him with her.
The magic was telling her that Dad had another purpose.
She did a spell that turned his soul into a bird, so he would always be with us, but in a different way. ”
“Did you always know about him?” he asks.
“No. I thought it was silly when the owl watched her in the backyard. Mom waited until we were a bit older. I was ten when she revealed the facts of the nice bird who stayed in the tree. It was hard to believe, yet I felt a weird connection to him. He’s similar to a familiar to me, yet I’ve never seen him do any magic.
Although I believe he did when we were young and trying to hide.
He’s been a comforting presence when our lives have been chaotic.
As I sat in the cage in the Games, I wished he were there, but I was also glad that he stayed with Lace.
I thought somehow that was extra protection for her.
Magic doesn’t solve every problem, but I needed him to stop the bad things happening to us.
When Mom died, I yelled at him. Why couldn’t she come back in another form?
Why was it final for her? Sometimes, I think he can talk to me because I hear responses in my head.
I’m not sure if it’s my imagination or wishful thinking.
He disappears at times, and I like to think he is getting messages to my mom somehow.
I speak to him in my mind; it makes me feel closer to Mom.
I would give anything to talk to her again. Is she okay? Happy? Is she proud?”
“You’ve been an amazing sister and have sacrificed your life in her memory. I know she is at peace.”
“I don’t see it as a sacrifice,” I say, shaking my head.
“I tried to follow in her footsteps, but I’m not sure I’ve succeeded.
She was loving and soft. Our lives were filled with laughter and fun.
I haven’t been fun since. Once we left the house, all the magic I did was shoved back inside.
I didn’t want to let it out again. Lace began to understand why I hid us and my spells.
She didn’t blame me, yet I didn’t confide in her how I felt. ”
“She loves you. I can see how much she admires you.”
“I have wondered if she wishes we were different. She wanted more magic and feels less because of her lack of it. I suppose I felt a little guilty for having it when she didn’t.
I’ve been distant and kept my emotions and the details of my captivity from her.
She is a wonderful sister and trusts me to know everything I do is for a good reason.
But I haven’t trusted myself.” I glide my fingers down his arm, and his tattoos brighten. “Until you,” I whisper.
“You’ve always had the power,” he says softly.
“Yes, yet I was afraid. You believe in me, and although I’ve known that Lace does, it’s different with you.
Doing magic with you makes me feel as if I’m home.
You didn’t question if I could do my spells, but encouraged me to reach for my potential.
” I press my hand to my chest. “The way you make me feel scares me because I wouldn’t survive if I lost you.
I’ve been sleeping for years, walking through life with no direction or happiness.
Every day became a chore to get through.
Hiding us was my only goal. I didn’t believe there was a happy ending for me.
When you walked into the store, my soul lit up.
I felt it reaching for you, and my spells wanted to join with you.
” I drop my hand to the bed, and he covers it with his.
“I didn’t want to admit that I was falling for you.
In a big way. The soul bond can’t force me to love you, yet that’s all I’ve wanted to do since we met.
It’s not a coincidence that we met right after Jerry touched me.
I wouldn’t have had the confidence to seek him out if you weren’t with me, encouraging me.