A Witch's Way

Chapter 19

Serena's body felt as if she was floating. Maybe floating on her back, on a river somewhere. It's cool, it's calm, and she felt happy.

Happy. She hadn't felt that in a while, with everything going on. Serena let a smile onto her face, feeling the cool water rushing underneath her.

"Serena!"

She heard someone calling her from the shore. Serena wouldn't look over, keeping her head still and her eyes shut.

"Dearest, please look at me."

At the sound of Rosemary's voice, Serena almost looked over. She won't. She's gone, she's gone. She kept her mouth shut. She refused say anything, to look at anything. If it means staying happy and peaceful like this--

"Dearest. Please. You can't do this. You have to live," Rosemary's voice pleaded, echoing around Serena in the water.

"Live?" Serena repeated, and a harsh, croaky laugh came after the word. "I've lost everything, Rosemary. My mother, Jasper, you, the garden, the respect of Ian and Stella. Everything that meant something to me, it's all gone."

Serena felt the current start tugging her towards the shore. She shifted in the water, trying to direct herself toward the center of the river, or whatever she was floating on.

"Dearest. You haven't lost the respect of those around you. They still respect you. You haven't lost Jasper, either. Just ask Ian, and he'll tell you the same thing. I will return, just like other familiars do. I don't know how long it will take--but I'll come back to you, dearest."

Serena rolled over onto her stomach and watched the shore grow larger and larger with each passing second. Maybe she should try. Another part of her wanted to continue to float. "What about my garden?"

Rosemary laughed sweetly. "Your garden will grow back. Remember, nature finds a way--and you should too. You're an Earth Element, Serena. Find a way. If you look just a little to your left, you'll see where you were headed if not for the shore."

Serena turns her head to the left, and she feels her stomach drop. Just a few yards away laid a drop-off. She doesn't know where the drop off goes, or what's at the bottom--but it can't be pleasant.

Serena felt herself start to feel sad, wanting to be bogged down, but she moved her arms toward the shore. She didn't want this. Serena reached the shore and grabbed at the sand, dragging herself up onto the land. "Rosemary?"

A floating wisp was in front of Serena. She felt the warmth from there, and she instantly knew that it was Rosemary's spirit. Serena smiled, tears running down her cheeks. She cupped her hands around the wisp, and it hovered for a few seconds in her hands. 

"Wake up, dearest. They need you." The wisp spoke, and Serena nodded, dropping her hands as the wisp disappeared from view.

-------------------------------------

Serena felt air return to her lungs, and she heaved, water bubbling at her lips and in her mouth. Hands pulled her to her side, and she spat out water, gripping at the mud. Her mind spun, continuing to cough up water and spit on the ground. Where was she?

"She's alive!" Someone shouted, and cheering surrounded her. Serena raised her head, people blending in with the browns and blacks of the area. Where was she?

"Shh...rest, Serena. You need it," Melanie said. "Darwin! Helga! Get Serena to the infirmary."

Serena felt herself being tugged upward, and she slumped into the arms of the two holding her up. Sleep overtook Serena once again, the exhaustion too heavy to fight.