You’re not that old.”
“ Oh, don’t try to sugar-coat it. I know how old I am.”
“ It’s good to hear you again, Aunt Kim.”
“ You too, hon.”
“ Thanks ... I hope we can see each other sometime. I’ll call you again when I get a chance, but I should probably go. Bye.”
“ Bye ...”
Mom hung up the phone and moisture fell gently down her cheeks. I immediately pulled her into my arms and he ld her as she shook with tears — sobbing over the fresh wound of remembering her dad’s and Salem’s death. Even though he wasn’t really dead.
Chapter Six
Willow woke me the next morning, kneading on the blanket , her paws directly over my bladder. I gently pushed her off, ran to the restroom, and relieved myself. I was glad to have the white feline back in my life, but I didn’t miss being woken up by being kneaded like a slab of dough, or finding her asleep on my face. Quickly, I brushed my teeth and hair and went out to fix breakfast. Mom’s bed was empty, and the picture frame was still resting face-down on her nightstand. With a sigh, I summoned a small portion of fried eggs and sausage and ate it. It was Monday, and that meant school, which I was dreading going back to now that I had this magical life that I yearned to dedicate my time to rather than math, science, and whatever else.
Right as I was finishing my final sau sage link, the door opened and Mom stepped in. She looked tired but had a faint smile on her lips.
“ Morning,” I mumbled with my mouth half-full.
“ Good morning,” she replied and took my plate and set it in the tiny sink. “I already had breakfast, before you ask. Jason stopped by a couple hours ago and we went out to eat.”
I looked at her in surprise. “He came here?”
“ Well, I met him outside,” she clarified. “Do you need someone to take you to school, or ...?
“ I’ll walk. Or call Serena. Or just not go altogether.”
My mother scowled. “I’m not going to let you end up like I did, Madison. I have regretted dropping out of high school for ... a long time, and I don’t want the same thing happening to my daughter.”
“ There’s no reason for me to go to school! None of what I learn there is ever going to help me in the future, with being a witch, or ... anything! I’m not like normal teenagers. I won’t grow up to be a normal adult!”
For a split second, she looked like she might agree, but instead shook her head. “In the end, you’ll be grateful that you went, whether you do anything with the diploma or not.”
Groaning, I g ot up and gathered my backpack — which was light and comfortable since I left all of my books in my locker the last time I went to school. I reluctantly hugged my mom goodbye and stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind me. Calling Serena wasn’t an option anymore; by the time she arrived, we’d both end up being late. The lobby area was empty when I entered it, and I suddenly felt overwhelmed by the fact that Mathias wouldn’t be able to join me at school, despite his vow to protect and guide me no matter where I was. Leaving Haven felt unsafe, knowing that there were dark witches likely searching for me. I had been going to school with one of them — had been friends with one — and he nearly killed me. How could my mom think it was a good idea to go to school anymore, knowing that the Nefastus could show up at any time to whisk me away?
Once I finally made it to school, I was almost ten minutes late for my first class. The day dragged on slowly, starting with math. I could hardly pay attention to a single word that fell out of the teacher’s mouth. My mind was constantly thinking about the Clan — what I could be doing with them, what I could be learning that would actually impact my future as a witch, and who I could be meeting. Instead, I was stuck in a classroom with the heat blowing down my neck and the constant drawl of Mrs. Portland as she explained how to solve linear equations.
“ Oh, don’t try to sugar-coat it. I know how old I am.”
“ It’s good to hear you again, Aunt Kim.”
“ You too, hon.”
“ Thanks ... I hope we can see each other sometime. I’ll call you again when I get a chance, but I should probably go. Bye.”
“ Bye ...”
Mom hung up the phone and moisture fell gently down her cheeks. I immediately pulled her into my arms and he ld her as she shook with tears — sobbing over the fresh wound of remembering her dad’s and Salem’s death. Even though he wasn’t really dead.
Chapter Six
Willow woke me the next morning, kneading on the blanket , her paws directly over my bladder. I gently pushed her off, ran to the restroom, and relieved myself. I was glad to have the white feline back in my life, but I didn’t miss being woken up by being kneaded like a slab of dough, or finding her asleep on my face. Quickly, I brushed my teeth and hair and went out to fix breakfast. Mom’s bed was empty, and the picture frame was still resting face-down on her nightstand. With a sigh, I summoned a small portion of fried eggs and sausage and ate it. It was Monday, and that meant school, which I was dreading going back to now that I had this magical life that I yearned to dedicate my time to rather than math, science, and whatever else.
Right as I was finishing my final sau sage link, the door opened and Mom stepped in. She looked tired but had a faint smile on her lips.
“ Morning,” I mumbled with my mouth half-full.
“ Good morning,” she replied and took my plate and set it in the tiny sink. “I already had breakfast, before you ask. Jason stopped by a couple hours ago and we went out to eat.”
I looked at her in surprise. “He came here?”
“ Well, I met him outside,” she clarified. “Do you need someone to take you to school, or ...?
“ I’ll walk. Or call Serena. Or just not go altogether.”
My mother scowled. “I’m not going to let you end up like I did, Madison. I have regretted dropping out of high school for ... a long time, and I don’t want the same thing happening to my daughter.”
“ There’s no reason for me to go to school! None of what I learn there is ever going to help me in the future, with being a witch, or ... anything! I’m not like normal teenagers. I won’t grow up to be a normal adult!”
For a split second, she looked like she might agree, but instead shook her head. “In the end, you’ll be grateful that you went, whether you do anything with the diploma or not.”
Groaning, I g ot up and gathered my backpack — which was light and comfortable since I left all of my books in my locker the last time I went to school. I reluctantly hugged my mom goodbye and stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind me. Calling Serena wasn’t an option anymore; by the time she arrived, we’d both end up being late. The lobby area was empty when I entered it, and I suddenly felt overwhelmed by the fact that Mathias wouldn’t be able to join me at school, despite his vow to protect and guide me no matter where I was. Leaving Haven felt unsafe, knowing that there were dark witches likely searching for me. I had been going to school with one of them — had been friends with one — and he nearly killed me. How could my mom think it was a good idea to go to school anymore, knowing that the Nefastus could show up at any time to whisk me away?
Once I finally made it to school, I was almost ten minutes late for my first class. The day dragged on slowly, starting with math. I could hardly pay attention to a single word that fell out of the teacher’s mouth. My mind was constantly thinking about the Clan — what I could be doing with them, what I could be learning that would actually impact my future as a witch, and who I could be meeting. Instead, I was stuck in a classroom with the heat blowing down my neck and the constant drawl of Mrs. Portland as she explained how to solve linear equations.
Similar Books
