On the Either Side of the Page

8. Evan

Faye. Her words seemed as if they were cut short and for some reason it felt unusual. However that might be, every time I'd talk to her, my mind would be at peace. Away from the world's swirling tensions and all the stress that my work provided. She became my safe haven. I didn't know much about her-nothing, to be more precise. But our conversations felt natural as if we had known each other for a long time. Last night when I was talking to her, a thought passed my mind: what did she look like? However, it didn't matter anymore than just a pure curiosity of mind. Beautiful or not; young or old, she still was my pen-friend.

After she thanked me, I was going to write her something when suddenly Amelia burst in to my room. It didn't surprise me much, as she was the one to discover how this weird diary worked. However, what she said afterward caught my ears.

"Land of the Abandoned wants to see you two," she said, pausing a second as I just hummed. "And within a fortnight."

At that moment, my eyes couldn't help but widen in shock. Amelia knew what she was saying and how much it could mean. Land of the Abandoned were known to keep their words and guard the oaths with their lives. There wasn't a single case amongst those witches over there, when they had extended their dates for anyone or anything. It just wasn't possible.

Land of the Abandoned, no wonder, was an amusing collection of all the charms and witchy stuff but what fascinated all was its nomadic stays. The women were nomadic, who had started the cult, and so it now flowed in their veins to not settle anywhere. The name of the land followed wherever they decided to stay.

However, they were furious to misuse of their elements. No one would dare set a foot in their collection without their permission, and here I was, holding this diary as my most important belonging.

It was morning and I had done filming a few shoots. The Artists' Fair that my mother had set her mind on still needed a lot assistance but her being here, I knew, it wouldn't take much longer. After all, she was the Lucia Gems. Gems was just a name that our company had left us with. Our company-The Gems. She kept a direct eye on my action, judging every step I'd take, through a screen carried in the hands of her P. A. So, I decided to not to disclose my finding-the diary-to her. Of course, I had no idea, if she knew of it already, but I could do nothing but to go on, ignoring the odds of being caught. It was my work, supposedly first priority. I was determined to not to make a mistake, so that I'd be allowed to leave for the company early and have a word with Amelia.

Hearsays were never my thing, so, it was best to confirm it from the person who had been there herself. Amelia.

But the stupid cover shoots seemed to never end! Argh!

Faye

"My mom?" I asked, my eyes widening in surprise.

Nobody, in all these years, had taken her name. All of a sudden when I heard from Nana about the one thing my happiness ever depended on, I just couldn't keep calm. I needed to know.

"Who?" I said, almost stammering.

"Relax, Faye," she said, pushing me down as slowly put a hand in her pocket and brought out a crumpled paper. She put it in front me and nodded.

" 'Land of the Abandoned'" I read as I unfolded it. Perplexed, I was, until she cleared it.

"Your mom was a witch of the Land of the Abandoned."

"No, no." I gasped. "But, father...?"

"Yes, that's the reason he is distant. He doesn't hate you, but he's afraid to be left alone again," she explained, but I furrowed my brows upon the last statement.

Nana continued, while Ivy was eating the cookies with much delight, munching. When I glanced at her, she just shoved one big piece into my mouth before saying, "Focus." She knew me!

"He thinks they took her away from you both..."

If not it, what was the real reason as to why she no longer was with us? I felt like asking, but instead chose silence as she continued in the way I wanted her to.

"But what's true cannot be untold or undone. She passed away after being under high temp for quite some hours," she said, and my heart clenched thinking about it. "But left you a note. You were a few months old and I still assisted her with some work, so I was the one to have it after she left."

"Land of the Abandoned? Me?" Where was the connection? Did she want me there or was I supposed to do something about it? I needed to know.

"The diary you have is undoubtedly charmed. And they're the charmers. You have to find them."

"But why, Nana?" Ivy queried, crunching a few more cookies.

"Because every bliss comes with a curse alongside," she replied and I became more desperate than ever. This was something my mother wanted me to know, to come and see. To find. But how?

"How, Nana? Ho-how we go?" seeing my miserable attempt to express my mind, she gently caressed my cheek. Her old, veiny and wrinkly skin giving me the warmth I never knew I needed so much, that I burst into tears. And she consoled me, while Ivy put an arm around my waist.

"My child," Nana said, slowly and peacefully in a warm tone. "You need to meet someone who connects the humans to the witches in those lands."

"I'd say the only one," Ivy interrupted but soon shut her mouth as Nana shot her a glare. I giggled a little. Nana did not like being cut off while she was speaking.

"Lady Amelia," Nana said and my jaw went wide. Amelia? Had I heard it right? Evander Gets' aunt? She was the one? But even is she was, how could we possibly meet her?

Nana laughed a bit, before speaking. "They're organising something like an Artists' Fair in over eight different countries; ours included. And all you guys need is a little big amount of money, now, don't you?"

We nodded immediately.

"Then let me get you girls to meet that kiddo, Evander," she declared. "Oh yeah, don't ponder over this house's condition. I don't live here."

I tilted my head, a little surprised.

"I just came from a long trip and didn't have any hotels booked when this brat said you were visiting me." She eyed Ivy with annoyance before Ivy burst out apologising.

"So? What do you girls think?"

"What's there to think about, Nana! We're on!" Ivy declared and I nodded while grinning ear to ear.

Was I really going to meet both Evander and know about my mother altogether? It was overwhelming but I could only hope for the best.

~~~~~~~~~
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