A Witch's Last Hope Read online

  “Follow me,” I turn to conjure a portal before tossing over my shoulder, “No, I am not leading you to your death.”

  From the corner of my eye, I see her giggle then move toward me.

  We move through the portal and end up in my home. It isn’t much, but it is mine. The kitchen and potions room are just off the living room. A dining area I rarely use connects the three spaces before leading to the bathroom and four bedrooms. At this point, three of the rooms are permanently taken and one is a guest room. I don’t often have guests. Surprising myself with the fact that I can recall those details, but others are gone, I pause to take in my living room. I recall those details easily enough yet have no recollection of other memories. I just know for a fact they are gone.

  My face tells me I’ve aged. The fact that I’ve aged means I was reared somewhere, but I’ve got nothing. It’s like I’m looking for something, some connection, but nothing is falling in place. This all has to be connected in some way. I just need to find the connection.

  I watch as Tilda takes in the place I call home.

  “It’s very tidy and homey for one of your kind. Why am I here?” she asks after a few moments.

  “You asked me why I needed a conscience. I am providing your answer.” I slide the fabric of my cloak and part the fabric of my gown to expose the protrusion of my pelvis and belly. “This is one reason. If you open the first door on your left, then you will have the other.”

  The fairy looks practically comical as she looks from my face to my slightly rounded belly several times before her hand covers her mouth. Her head swivels from my face to the door I told her to check. After a moment of being frozen in shock, she’s in motion. Tilda quickly flits to the door then waves her hand. She gasps, and I know she is seeing Angelica. The little beauty that looks like a spitting image of me. The likeness is so clear and not a glamour. I had to believe her when she called me “mommy” and told me she was mine. She also told me she was excited to meet her baby brother.

  I will admit I screamed out in terror when I realized I was carrying a child. Somehow, I was fine with learning of Angelica’s existence.

  “You are a mother?” Tilda questions with a look of shock frozen on her features.

  “That’s what I’m being told.”

  “Told? Don’t you know?”

  “I’m guessing the fact that I just said someone told me this information should make it clear that I don’t have any clue how these babies came to be mine.”

  “How do you know the four-year-old’s name? Did you read her?”

  “No, I didn’t and she’s three not four. She told me her name as well as her aunt and Uncle Daddy told her that her mommy was soon to wake. They also told her they had to go and left her a note for me.”

  I hand her the note I woke up to receive.

  Abigail LaRue,

  Welcome back. We didn’t expect for you to be gone so long. I didn’t suspect that he’d ... his feelings would be what they are. If I’d known, I don’t think I could’ve gone through with this for him. Needless to say, this is where we are. We’ve been away too long, and threats have arisen. As such, we cannot be here when you awaken, for more reasons than what I’ve provided.

  The little Angel is your child and my brother’s. She is absolutely perfect and as you are, so is she. You have been asleep for some time. Almost four years. I did not know. There is so much I am learning. The child you carry is also his. I have to offer my apologies for this ... violation. He ... never shared it all with me.

  I have a great deal to comprehend, as I am sure you do. Find the fairy by the name of Tilda. She will be able to help you with all that is going on. More than I possibly could.

  Our paths may cross again.

  H.

  “It looks like you were dealt a hand with blank cards.” I snort and find it feels odd not to be angry with this woman who is making light of my situation. Judging by her initial reaction to me, she knows exactly who I am. “That answers one question. My second was why didn’t you read her?”

  I roll my eyes.

  “I don’t feel right doing that to a child of mine.” At the disbelieving look the little fairy is giving me, I amend my statement. “That and the fact that she seems to have some kind of built in block that is causing me to be unable to read her. It’s the same with you. It’s not something I’m too thrilled about either. The smile you’re wearing isn’t helping the situation either. I could turn you into a talking donkey.”

  “Ugh! You wouldn’t.”

  “Tutu and all, Dear Heart. I said I needed a conscience. What you did not hear from my lips is I need to be the butt of someone’s jokes or a reason to be laughed at. Prideful smirks, snide remarks and sarcasm appear to quicken my dark side to perk up and react. I’d like to keep the darkness to a minimum. I have a sneaking suspicion my child or children won’t react well to that side of me.”

  “What gives you that impression? Has your daughter become afraid of you because she saw you do something? Are you aunt and uncle cooking in a cauldron somewhere?”

  I give the fairy the death glare at that absurd suggestion, “No. I would never cook a magical being in such a manner. Roasting on an open fire while draining their secrets is always best. Why waist such beautiful trinkets in a dark and dank pot? Anyhoo, the child ...”

  “Your daughter, your child.”

  I turn and pause my thoughts to recall what I just said. After a moment, realization hits me.

  “Right. Yes. My child. She isn’t afraid of me. She absolutely adores me. I was left another note with a warning ...”

  “Mommy, you back. I’m so happy. Is my brother still baking?”

  The fairy’s face moves from one of glee to one of full-on shock and I have to suppress my laughter before answering Angelica.

  “Yes Angel. He will bake for a little while longer in mommy’s belly.”

  The fairy releases a relieved sigh and I smile to myself. Yes, I still found things like that funny. Lifting Angelica into my arms, I allowed her to kiss my cheek. The feeling those little actions conjured scared and excited me. I enjoyed every one that she’s given me over the last few days.

  She is a powerful little witch. She’d sent me a note while I was on my journey to find Tilda. I felt something float to my pocket as I neared a bridge. When I reached in, it was a drawing of our home, the trees outside it, her and her brother along with me.

  The big smile plastered on my face scared away the trolls and crows who guarded the bridge. I was given a free pass that day.

  “

  Chapter 5

  The Beginning

  Abigail

  The fairy and I walk out the front door together as we look at the expanse of land that is my own. The cherry blossoms were blooming but there was a slight chill in the air.

  “This isn’t the norm here. The spring brings beauty and the power of renewal.”

  The fairy trembled and rubbed her arms before offering her own brand of weather report.

  “It’s colder than Harry’s balls out here. No, Hermione’s tits.”

  “When?”

  “Kind of famous witch and wizard from J.K. Rowling’s fictional novels.”

  “I don’t read anything but spell books.”

  “All right, Bellatrix, moving on.”

  Their adventure begins with a message in a bottle that leads them on a journey neither will ever forget.

  Abigail stood on the balcony and quietly contemplated her next move. To anyone on the outside looking in, she appeared to be studying

  It’s amazing how many people, both magyckal and nuturale, quickly associate the title “witch” with a negative association. Has no one ever heard of Glenda “the good witch”?

  Helena & Dontavious Denienne (Princes and Prince of Denienne Isle)

  Angels sitting around having meetings about the state of their charges and the insanity they tend to get into; what they have to bail them out. They have frustrated moments and make hilarious s
tatements about the mishaps and antics most have to be rescued from. They speak of wanting to complain but know it’s fruitless and a pointless endeavor. They agree to “suffer” in silence while continuing to share in the laughs with one another.

  The light of the room shifts from the natural golden glow everyone had grown accustom to. It was now layers upon layers of color. Calling it a cascade reflecting a rainbow would be a disservice to the beauty of this shift. The colors were much more vivid and vivacious than the simplicity of the primary colors found in a rainbow.

  What was seen in the sky was lovers of yellow, pink, and orange. Salmon tones bled into peach or orange. It was lovely to see and some of the most amazing sights one could be fortunate enough to see.

  The magnificence doesn’t stop at the skyline. The array of colors that surrounding then was more spectacular than any of them had ever seen. Who knew such elegance existed?

  The various arrangements found in this seeming garden appeared just as enamored as the individuals awe-stricken by the breathtaking view. Is it possible for te plants to taken with natural and unnatural things?

  It’s not something that would be easily accepted. It would be something most would have to work to believe.

  “This is the place called Floralville,”

  The mark on her arm was a puzzle box with a ying-yang symbol that had an eye to the left of it.

  When the tattoos shift, it looks like a sun with a witch’s conical hat on top. all in the center of a diamond.

  Branch and elf – Brelfanch

  “A Brelfranch?”

  “You’re reading tit wrong. It’s spoken with a different sound ending the word. It’s more of a ‘k’ sound than a combined ‘ch’ sound.”

  :All right. What’s the thing you just said?”

  “It’s a cross between a branch and an elf. They connect with the life force of trees and have the powers of the fae elves.”

  “Hold it! Those bastards actually bred with trees to procreate?”

  Her eyebrows shot into the stratosphere of her forehead at the conclusion that had been drawn after hearing about the Brelfranch. Most cringed at the mere thought of what abilities that combination of powers could wrought.

  “There’s a stretch I hadn’t expected.

  Chapter ??

  The Truth

  Stephanos

  “You didn’t but I did. If you recall when we were younglings, you and brother would regularly tease me about one thing. It was the one thing neither of you could understand about me. Mother would repeatedly say ...”

  “I recall her words as clearly as if

  Chapter ??

  Unsure

  Abigail

  I

  t looks like you were dealt a hand with blank cards.” I snort and find it feels odd not to be angry with this woman who is making light of my situation. Judging by her initial reaction to me, she knows exactly who I am. “That answers one question. My second was why didn’t you read her.”

  I roll my eyes.

  “I don’t feel right doing that to a child of mine.” At the disbelieving look the little fairy is giving me, I amended my statement. “That and the fact that she seems to have some kind of built in block that is causing me to be able to read her. It’s the same with you. It’s not something I’m too thrilled about either. The smile you’re wearing isn’t helping the situation either. I could turn you into a talking donkey.”

  “Ugh! You wouldn’t.”

  “Tutu and all, Dear Heart. I said I needed a conscience. What you did not hear from my lips is to be the butt of someone’s jokes or a reason to be laughed at. Prideful smirks, snide remarks and sarcasm appear to quicken my dark side to perk up and react. I’d like to keep the darkness to a minimum. I have a sneaking suspicion my child or children won’t react well to that side of me.”

  “What gives you that impression? Has your daughter become afraid of you because she saw you do something? Are you aunt and uncle cooking in a cauldron somewhere?”

  I give the fairy the death glare at that absurd suggestion, “No. I would never cook a magical being in such a manner. Roasting on an open fire while draining their secrets is always best. Why waist such beautiful trinkets in a dark and dank pot? Anywho, the child ...”

  “Your daughter, your child.”

  I turn and pause my thoughts to recall what I just said. After a moment, realization hits me.

  “Right. Yes. My child. She isn’t afraid of me. She absolutely adores me. I was left another note with a warning ...”

  “Mommy, you back. I’m so happy. Is my brother still baking?”

  The fairy’s face moves from one of glee to one of full-on shock and I have to suppress my laughter before answering Angelica.

  “Yes Angel. He will bake for a little while longer in mommy’s belly.”

  The fairy releases a relieved sigh and I smile to myself. Yes, I still found things like that funny. Lifting Angelica into my arms, I allowed her to kiss my cheek. The feeling those little actions conjured scared and excited me. I enjoyed every one that she’s given me over the last few days.

  She is a powerful little witch. She’d sent me a note while I was on my journey to find Tilda. I felt something float to my pocket as I neared a bridge. When I reached in, it was a drawing of our home, the trees outside it, her and her brother along with me.

  The big smile plastered on my face scared away the trolls and crows who guarded the bridge. I was given a free pass that day.

  “

  The fairy and I walk out the front door together as we look at the expanse of land that is my own. The cherry blossoms were blooming but there was a slight chill in the air.

  “This isn’t the norm here. The spring brings beauty and the power of renewal.”

  The fairy trembled and rubbed her arms before offering her own brand of weather report.

  “It’s colder than Harry’s balls out here. Wait ... No, that’s not right. Hermione’s tits. That one is much better.”

  “When?”

  “Kind of famous witch and wizard from J.K. Rowling’s fictional novels.”

  “I don’t read anything but spell books.”

  “All right, Bellatrix, moving on.”

  Abigail stood on the balcony and quietly contemplated her next move. To anyone on the outside looking in, she appeared to be studying

  It’s amazing how many people, both magical and human, quickly associate the title “witch” with a negative association. Has no one ever heard of Glenda “the good witch?”

  Their adventure begins with a message in a bottle that leads them on a journey neither will ever forget.

  Eyes. Eyes so green they practically glowed in the dark stared at me as he watched my every move. I knew those eyes took in my every action, my every motion. I could clearly see the second he sensed my excitement at my proximity. His jewel green eye color shifted then bled to an almost metallic green with gold tones to it. The power in felt in is simple gaze made me want to tremble in response to it. It was the most profound thing I’d ever experienced as well as the most frightening.

  “You’re not one of the norms.”

  “How would you know?”

  “I know because I’m supposed to know. I’d remember you if you were a normative in these parts. Your witching hand can be deciphered from miles away, even if it has been a while since you practiced anything. I’m feeling a vibe of a powerful spell. It was one that came when you didn’t expect and from one you were coming to trust.”

  Chapter ??

  Unsure

  Abigail

  Y

  ou didn’t want to see me?” she asked.

  Her face fell at the prospect of it being the truth. Still, she stared at him as he tried to look everywhere but at her. Had her memories of this man been wrong? They couldn’t be. The feelings relayed were too real, too strong, and too ... passionate. There had been something between them. Time couldn’t take away all of that, could it? There was a reality to what she’d s
een. Those weren’t just dreams they were recollections. She knew this in the very marrow of her bones. She knew what they’d shared. Too many practically tangible emotions and sensations were bound to those interchanges to not be a reality. Abigail could feel it.

  There was something else she could feel.

  Magyck.

  If she could feel it, then it meant she was closer to controlling it. Magic wafted off him in waves. It also came from somewhere else. Somewhere hidden. She knew it was because her sense of it was muted. It was practically muffled. It was like trying to find the hidden scent beneath the perfume just sprayed or a scent from a scented candle that was just lit. It was faint, but she could still feel it. Something about the way he stood told her she was right.

  “That’s not what was meant by my words. I am happy to see you. If there is anything suspicious in my tone, it’s the surprise to see you here, in my chambers. As you can tell, I am dressing. How ...?”

  His question is immediately forgotten as a draw closer to him. When he’d lifted his arm, she caught sight of something that caused her to gasp. There it was. Seeing it brought tears to her eyes. It effectively distracted her as well. She’d known his continuous speaking was supposed to do that as well, but it hadn’t. Prior to catching a glimpse of something that confirmed none of it had been a dream called her off her quest to find the hidden magic.

  “It is real,” she said in a barely whispered voice. “I thought I was losing what was lift of my sanity.”

  The prince stared at her as if she had lost hold of her faculties until she reached out for him. The instant she did, her mark on her forearm shifted then began to glow that golden orange tone she recognized as a sign of her power and abilities renewed. When she looked down at his arm, the prince’s mark had shifted as well.

  “What ...”

  The fairy appeared. This time it wasn’t in her diminutive form. No, she was tall, petite, and stunning. Most of the fae creatures tended to be jaw-droppingly gorgeous. In this form, she did not have her wings.

  “Tilda, what are you doing here and how are you this big?” she asked her now friend.