Fire and Magic (The Jadori Book 1)

Chapter 34: Am I the Only One Who Didn't Know?

"What? But why? How? Who would do that?"

"That woman in your memory."

I sat up. "Samantha? I don't understand. Why would she erase my memories? Why would she erase a memory of me breaking my arm?"

Ruby helped me up from the floor. "Because you're a Descendant. You heal faster than a Normal and that would draw too much attention. It makes sense that your mother would get Samantha to heal you and then move away, so no one at the new place or the old place would know you no longer had a broken arm."

I let that sink in. "But that means that Mum knows I'm a Descendant. Jeez. Am I the only one who didn't know?"

A feeling of betrayal settled over me. It was like my life was just one big lie. How did Mum know what I was? How did she find out? How did she react? I mean, what do you do when you find out your adopted daughter has magical abilities?

"Wait — she always told me that there was no such thing as magic."

My eyes stung with unshed tears. What the hell, Mum?

"She was probably trying to protect you. If you didn't know you could do magic when you were really young, you wouldn't have tried to do it in front of Normals. What would've happened if your friend had found out you were descended from magical beings from another realm?"

"She wouldn't have believed me."

"What if she did and she started telling everyone? What if she had some kind of proof? How would you talk your way out of that?"

"I don't know."

"Don't forget that we are keeping our existence secret to protect us all."

That made sense, but it didn't make me feel any better. My hands balled into fists and my breathing became shallow. Why didn't she tell me?

"I'm not a kid anymore. I wouldn't have told anybody. She could have told me."

"I'm not sure why she didn't tell you once you were old enough. You'd have to ask her. Maybe it was easier to keep things the way they were because your magic hadn't shown itself. Maybe she thought you wouldn't believe her because she wouldn't have any proof."

"I was seeing ghosts. That should have been proof enough."

"Some Normals can see ghosts too, so it wouldn't have been proof of the existence of magic."

"You mean I'm psychic as well?"

"Possibly. There's a thin line. It's hard to tell with a Descendant if it is magic or a psychic ability."

Great. Now I have to deal with being both.

"How common is it for a Descendant to have psychic abilities?"

"It is more common than it is for Normals. And some of us have extra magical abilities that aren't common to all Descendants." She let that sink in. "Then you have elemental magic as well. Earth, air, water, and fire. Some Descendants have an affinity with one or more of the elements and can wield them with greater power than other Descendants."

My mind was reeling. There was so much that I didn't know about this new world I'd stepped into. More like fallen into.

Ruby smiled. "I know it's a lot, but don't worry, my dear. We'll teach you what you need to know and work out which element is yours."

I don't think that would be a good idea till I have control.

She told me that most Descendants had the ability to manipulate the existing element, but some could actually create the element. Like making fire appear out of nothing.