A Witch's World

7) Forever

Layla:

The woodland here in the Palace estate seemed almost a replica of the ones back at the Lake house, but coming to think of it, doesn't all woods and trees look the same? I mean what really does a woodland consist of? Trees, mud, rocks, the occasional flower, so why then did it feel like I was back in Florida rather then lying here looking up at the tops of the trees in Rhistenia?

We had stayed with Glenda for a couple of hours (once Matt decided it was alright to trust her) and we had talked, and laughed and sometimes cried together about the memories of my mother. She knew her almost as well as I did, but Mum had told her things that I had never known and probably would have never known. I suppose you share things with your friends that you wouldn't with your family. From Glenda's perspective she seemed almost a different person. Sure she was kind, strong, protective, but back when she wasn't constantly scared of the Deathstag she had also been carefree, relaxed. I didn't realise it at the time but there were moments when Mum would just sit and watch out the window, always looking over her shoulder when we went out, had an air of paranoia underlying her feelings, always very protective over me. Now I knew why. I know now why she didn't have many friends at home, I suppose she couldn't afford that luxury, couldn't afford to put anyone else at risk. Anyone who knew her was at risk, let alone being her friend. It must have been awfully lonely for her and I wish that I had known what I know now back then. I could tell her it was alright, that I was here and I understand. She couldn't even be her normal self with me, or at least not until I got my magic. I can't imagine having to hide something like that, never being able to use it, having to do things like a human would. I tried being human, it didn't work and I know how difficult it can be hiding your true nature. But Mum managed to hide it all from me on a daily basis. I'm not angry at her. At least not now anyway. I understand why she couldn't tell me, it was for my own safety, and hers. I know she would have had to tell me when I got my powers, but she thought that she would be around then, be alive. Still, somehow she found a way even when she was dead, no one (to my knowledge) has done what she does, contact me regularly in my dreams, breaking the veil between the living and the dead. She was still fighting even after death. And how could I ask any more from her?

"What are you thinking?" Matt murmured beside me, brushing my hair from my forehead.

"Just everything Glenda said," I sighed and flopped my head on his arm that lay under me.

We had created a blanket of soft grass for us to lie on here in the Palace woods. It truly was a beautiful setting and I could picture a miniature version of Matt playing here when he was a child. The whole place seemed to hum with energy and life, but that could just be the earth element in me. Ever since I took control of all four elements since the fight with the Deathstag, I had been feeling differently. Before when I just had Laire, my fire element, the world around me seemed as normal as it could, only fire effected me. It never burned me, and a flame could never leave a scratch on me, I guess because it was a part of me. Now that I have all four, it seems the same applies to them as well. I would never be able to drown in water (if I didn't want to) and I could control it and turn it into a form of energy, a form of power. Nature seemed so much more alive then it did before, like I could actually feel it if I touched the ground. I also found out recently that if I stayed on a patch of grass for a while, flowers would start to grow around me. Air wasn't much different, I always used to be able to fly, only this time I didn't have to say an incarnation, I didn't have to say a spell, the wind would just lift me in the air. I would always be able to fly. It seemed to me that all four elements were like a family that lived in me, though fire was and always would be the most prominent one. The elements in the outside world changed around me, could feel it with in my body and the two call out to each other. All four could be turned and transformed into a bundle of energy which could kill if I so wanted. But most of all, they all had one intention in mind, protect me. Sure I could call to each and every one of them, but sometimes they took it upon themselves to act for me if they felt I was in danger. I know, I'm talking as if they have thoughts and feelings, but it feels like they do. All of them have a bit of me inside of them, just like I have all of them inside of me. Though it's hard to know what's really going on inside my body, it's not like there was a hand book I could read.