The Captive

Chapter 11: We're Really Leaving This Time

Vasilisa's POV

My mother became worried when I told her I was leaving.

That didn't mean she didn't help me pack.

She just kept muttering things to me about being safe and very careful.

I kept reassuring her that I would be, but that didn't stop her from repeating them over again. 

"Just be sure to go far out in the woods to relieve yourself." She would say.

And then she would add "Oh, and this is the one time I'll let you get away with not bathing..."

I would manage a sigh before she would say "Oh, and for goodness sakes, wear layers. It'll get cold at night."

She just had my best intentions at heart, but she was driving me bloody bonkers.

"Mother," I started.

She seemed to be too caught up in making sure I had enough dried meat for the journey.

"Mother." I reassessed.

She stopped and turned to me with an apologetic look.

She sat on the bed and patted the spot next to her. I sat and she ran her thumb over my cheek "You look so much like your father." She muttered reminiscently. "I worry about you, Vasilisa, my child. Your spirit is so much like his, but it will get you into trouble." She took a deep breath.

I opened my mouth, grasping at something to say to make her feel better. My mother was the most amazing woman in the world and she hadn't been dealt the best hand in life. I wished I could make up for it all, and I tried all the time to do so, but it never seemed like it was enough. It never seemed like I did her enough justice.

She seemed to see my inner turmoil and smiled sadly "Don't worry about me now, sweetheart. It's hardly your job. I'm the parent here. Now, have I ever told you the story of my Grandmother Korra?"

I frowned "No." She laughed "Oh, then this will be fun. You see, when she was still alive, and I was a young girl, I would visit her every Monday and Thursday. I loved my Gran, she was...well, eccentric. In fact, rumor had it that she was a witch."

I laughed "Now you're telling me we're witches?" She smiled and went on with her story "Well, one day I came to her to find her with candles lit all about and she was mixing herbs. I was so curious and slowly crept up behind her to see what she was doing. She knew I was there, though, and called for me to come to her. I did and you'll never guess it, she was lighting candles without flint! She wasn't touching them. She'd simply blow..." My mother demonstrated by softly blowing as if preparing to whistle and then carried on "And the wick would catch aflame."

"My Gran would snap and the flame would go out. I was convinced she was a witch like everyone said, but I wasn't scared. Gran would never cast curses on anyone who didn't deserve it." She added. I laughed.

Mom sat there in silence...and moments went by. I looked at her strangely "And?"

My mother raised her brows "And what?"

I scowled "And what happened then?"

My mother inhaled and started up as if being jolted "Oh! And then she taught me how to do it, and as it turned out, the rumors were true."

I stared at her. 

What the hell?

Has she been eating mushrooms?

"You're serious?" I asked incredulously.

She nodded and pursed her lips, then she perked and stood, scurrying out of the room. She came back in with a candle.