Deviation

Chapter 2: Color-Blinded

On her stroll near the trees, Rosa repeated Delia's words in her mind and started to really consider each word she said. What was the reason for this sudden interest in helping? And why would she instantly agree to host a stranger in the safety of her home? Does she not realize that Rosa is also a witch, daughter of a powerful one? 

These questions popped up in her head as she knew damn well that she might not trust Delia at all. Surely, her welcoming does not stem from the kindness in her heart.

Given the expressions on Delia's face earlier that day, Rosa knew that there was a piece of information hidden from her.

Perhaps to preserve monopoly of dominance? Or perhaps because Delia knew her mother Dolores somehow?

They studied at the same academy, so, they may have certainly crossed paths. And they had issues with each other that dated since their school days.

Even though the poor frog was shocked by Kamal's chivalry. She approached him with prudence when she saw him gulp down the last drops of gin.

"I miss you Diana. They will rue the day they took you away from my arms", Kamal cried at the bottom of a willow tree with an empty bottle at the edge of his fingers.

"Hi Kamal, are you alright? This is Rosa"

"Rosa, what are you doing here? Leave .... Now!!"

She wanted him to show her friend Blossom around, the way he showed her. Simply seeing her crushed, Blossom tapped her on the back: "sweetie, do not pay him attention. He is simply weeping a lost memory. Grief is difficult, I would know."

Reassured, Rosa assumed: "you are right, he has his own darkness to deal with. Please, let me help you alleviate the state of unhappiness you are stuck in."

It is best to avoid disclosing any information until she can figure out how to undo the curse for both and her friend.

Blossom lives in a place she calls Bubblegum Land, with her rabbit family. They raised her to always search for rainbows and happy thoughts. I recall that she has her father's dark brown eyes and was taught to always seek righteousness.

Sparks flew whenever she turned her head around as she exudes beauty and charm. She once told me about her dream of a perfect lifestyle: being married to a rich Jewish husband and living in a vast gorgeous castle surrounded by a clean cut green lawn.

She used to be ambitious, arrogant, and hungry for fame, like any 19-year-old girl with a family of thieves. Sadly, her fairytale vanished when they stole some elixirs from Dolores with the purpose of selling them in the black market. To this day, Rosa still feels betrayed by her childhood friend.

One day, Dolores lured them in a vault to trap them far away from the stash of potions she used. Dolores built the vault, long ago, as refuge for witches and few pets from the horror of the civil war. The vault was an iron gate that led to an underground cave formerly used by the witches

This is why, to punish Blossom's family for stealing, Dolores bound their souls to the soul of the rabbit that was stuck in the vault. In consequence, they all turned into bunnies until Blossom proves their redemption someday.

However, underneath Blossom's pretentious emotions, there was an agonizing sadness. Curiosity was high regarding the sudden deaths that occurred in her bloodline. Rosa never knew this ugly truth about her friend's family. What good wealth does if there is no one to enjoy it with?

"Ever since that fateful tragedy, I knew I can only turn to you to lift the burden off my back", Blossom told Rosa after a string of flashbacks.

"Perhaps, the change of location will declutter your head to search for antidotes to the curse that haunts your family", Rosa thought as she loves to practice magic. Empowered by confusion, the young rabbit joined her childhood mate into the woods where Delia came to see them.

Delia is the one to cast the cloaking spell on the forest, so, it is obvious that she gets notified of every newcomer.

"how wonderful! You brought your little friend with you. It is always a pleasure to expand the community", Delia faked a grin while greeting Blossom.

"This is my friend Blossom", Rosa told the old witch and before she turned, she added: "we stumbled upon your son earlier. He was weeping over a former friend, or lover".

"Did he, by chance, tell you what her name is?"

"He was shouting the name Diana over and over again. Who is she?", Rosa's concerns arose.

Delia had to think of something to stop these girls' curiosities: "I am anguished to see him suffer due to her disappearance. She .... was an unfortunate bump in the road, a reckless absent-minded swamp witch – always showing how out of place she is with her weird costumes, and how disdainful the rules set by the coven are. Frankly, I am glad she walked out of our lives. Now the stages of grief can purge his pain."

As they nodded, Delia showed them to the door. Blossom started to have faith again, maybe Delia can help her out. She felt at ease. No one could break the chains of her happiness.

Is it Rosa's naivety that made her follow Kamal in the first place and drag her friend with her or is it her eagerness to chase down the truth? By mere thoughtlessness, Blossom tried to be brave by going alone to Delia's house and asked her for a spell to retain her in a constant state of bliss no matter what the conditions are.

Delia wore her sneaky mask, laughed maliciously, and said, "Do you know what you are asking for, my dear? Every magic has its price".

The spell was casted in a gloomy moment. I still do not understand what Blossom thought she could accomplish from this magic. It is never wise to repress agony. I prefer to bask in every ounce of pain than to be void of emotions. I would rather reveal my sorrow than to fake a smile.

When Rosa followed her and realized she drank a potion, her fury spoke: "you, naive creature, you ignore the importance of magic. Why did you not come to me for this? The way magic works is that you get something in exchange for you giving something up. This is always the case to maintain balance in nature".

"I do not care, spare me your pity", Blossom uttered as she distanced herself from view. "I can clearly see colors for the first time".

Later that day, Rosa told me everything. I am aware of how Delia's malicious mindset works. I incessantly tried to break Kamal and the rest from her suffocating grasp, but, their consciousness was inaccessible.

Thankfully for my psychic abilities and my unshaken intuition, I realized Delia intends to build an army of blind followers and cut any power out of her reach. 

We were perfectly taught to watch our thoughts for they may become actions, watch our actions for they may become attitude; watch our attitude for it may become a personality and that will enormously affect our fate. But what if our actions blind us?

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Author's Note:

Hope you enjoy chapter 2 !!

This picture is what I imagine when someone's vision is fixated on only one thing.

    Mike