44. Anita
Anita
Mother Knows Best
The laughter follows me everywhere. I can’t escape the jokes and mocking. I used to be loved, respected, and feared. Now I hear whispers of ‘blue-haired babies’ or ‘let me love you’ in mocking tones.
How could she do this to me? Over a stupid goblin. I don’t get it. Each time someone laughs, I add them to my list.
I’ll get them all back.
I haven’t had any flare-ups of the curse today or yesterday, and I’m not sure if I should be relieved or terrified.
My phone rings as I sit in my room, hiding from the school.
“Hello, Mother,” I greet as warm as I can manage.
“What happened?” Her tone is empty. Controlled.
“Adora cursed me.” I let my head hang in shame.
“How? She barely has any magic.” A beat of silence before Mother snarls. “I signed her up for Advanced Curses to watch her fail — not to curse you.”
“Well, she learned something. The hexbreaker said she couldn’t break it unless it was active.”
“Explain.” She doesn’t scream. That makes it worse.
“One second, I was standing there, correcting her behavior, and the next thing I know I am… I am…” I can’t bring myself to say it.
“Declaring your love to a fucking chainborn,” Mother growls, and the sobs overtake me again.
“I was just trying to help her, Mother. I don’t understand,” I cry. “I don’t understand why she did this.”
“Get your shit together,” Mother snaps. “Save the tears for people who believe them.”
I swallow them down. She’s right.
“I’ve already made an appointment with the dean for tomorrow. He’ll make Adora lift the curse. Then we’ll deal with her.”
“Can’t we just take her now?” I ask.
“Not until she undoes that ridiculous curse. If she dies while you have it on, you’ll have to break it with whatever crazed rules she built into it.”
“We can make her break the spell while we break her,” I suggest hopefully.
“Your viciousness will come in handy, child,” Mother says, suddenly warm. “But you need to rein it in. We may have underestimated Adora.”
“How is that possible?” I ask.
“I don’t know. Your father said she’s dating a goblin.” Her voice twists with disgust. “How did a child I raised turn out so wrong?”
“She must have been corrupted before you brought her home,” I offer. “I’d never—”
“Stop kissing ass,” she cuts me off. “You said she was dating that soccer guy, and now a goblin. All on her own?”
“She was trying. I don’t think they actually dated. He doesn’t touch witches.”
“Is that the one you liked?” she asks. “Do you think you can get him under your control?”
“No. I’ve tried for over a year to get something on him. He’s too fast.”
“What about the goblin? They’re dumb.”
“I don’t want to have to touch a gross goblin,” I argue. But maybe making him crawl would be satisfying. Adora thinks they’re people. Maybe I’ll remind her what they’re really for. Put her favorite back in chains.
“I saw a video of you kissing one’s feet!” she screams at me, knocking me out of my daydream. “Fix it. I don’t care what it takes. Goblin. Shifter. Even that shadow witch you hate. Seduce them. Curse them. Ruin them. But make Adora regret ever crossing this family.”
“Yes, Mother.”