Crimson Moon Hideaway - Julia Mills Page 0,3
She made it through the Awakening with all her marbles and no sign of the crazies." The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. "Oh shit, I'm so sorry, Aunt Gwen, that was…"
"That was honest, and I expect nothing less from you. Go on now, Child. Get it out in the open, so we can figure out what it all means."
Swallowing hard, Ellie blew out the breath she’d been holding. “I really am sorry.”
"I know you are. Now…" Making a shooing motion with her free hand, Gwen smiled and winked. "…keep talkin'. You've got all the answers, or at the very least, the clues to get us to the answers."
Nodding, Ellie planned to do that, but first, she had to say her piece. "Celia's stronger than I am. She knows what to do and how to do it. She's made all the decisions since mom and dad… mom and dad…well, mom and dad…” Gulping at the air, she forced out the word. “Died.”
"Yes, you're right. Celia took over, just like a big sister should. Your momma would've done the same for me. And, you are right, your sister is formidable - a good Witch, with good control of her magic. I always knew she would be. But you…" Gwen pointed at Ellie's chest. "You've got the heart and soul of a true MacLeish Witch – one of the old ones, like your great-great-great grandma and grandpa who came over from the Isle of Skye."
Smiling, the expression softening her expression and her tone, Gwen went on, “You even got Granny Elsie’s eyes. Mark my words, no sooner will the clock chime midnight on your twenty-ninth year than you’ll be so much more than any of us ever knew was possible. You’ll be one of the great Witches of all time.”
Once again, shaking her head, sure her auntie was off her meds, or worse yet, they weren't working at all, Ellie flopped back in her chair and scoffed, "I appreciate your confidence, but…"
"But nothing, Little One." Gwen once again used the nickname Ellie worked so hard to leave in the past. The name her mom and dad called her for all of her life. "Your momma knew. So, did your daddy. Hell, Granny and Papa said it the moment they laid eyes on you. We all knew. You, Ellie Gwendolyn, hold the Heart of MacLeish, and I don’t mean just a damned fine necklace.”
Touching the ruby pendant laying warm against her chest, Ellie stared into her aunt's watery blue eyes. The older woman didn't look crazy. As a matter of fact, she seemed perfectly normal, as sane as the next person. It appeared that the madness or psychosis or whatever it was that had driven Gwen to attempt to take her own life was gone.
But was it? Was she cured? Had the doctors – both magical and human – found a way to counteract whatever had gone wrong? Fix what magic had broken? Or was she just spouting the same rhetoric all magical families told their young? Was she just trying to build Ellie up? Prepare the younger Witch for her Awakening while praying that her niece could handle the magic, she herself hadn’t been able to control?
Looking over her aunt's shoulder, watching the nurses, the powerful Mages entrusted with caring for those with magical maladies, Ellie's eyes slowly traveled back to Gwen's. Not at all surprised to find the older woman grinning a knowing smile, Ellie asked, "What exactly happened to you, Auntie?" Hurrying on when the older woman's brows furrowed and the telltale sparks of silver began to swirl in her eyes, she explained, "I mean, I've heard the stories. Mom told us that your magic came on too strong and too fast, and you weren't able to control it. She said that you were so scared of being eaten alive that you tried to hurt yourself, but what really happened? To you?"
"That's not what's important. It's a story for another time. One I will for sure tell you when the time is right," Gwen answered cryptically. "There's something you need to know today. To believe with all your heart and never doubt. And it's my job to show you."
Chapter Two
From one second to the next, the warmth of magic gently touched Ellie’s temples. Gwen was willing her thoughts, her memories into her niece’s mind.
The feeling of being wrapped in her favorite blanket straight out of the dryer enveloped Ellie, relaxed her, made her want to