Choices, Love, and Magic (Complete)

chapter 21

The first person to see me was a young blond curly-haired girl taking water from a well. She looked about 11 years old as her dark green eyes widened at seeing a stranger walking toward her. She darted to the village and into a house before I could get a word in.

Perfect.

Barely a moment later, the girl appeared again in the doorway. This time, though, a woman followed her out. The two were obviously family, so I figured the woman was probably her mother. I waved timidly at the pair and smiled gently. The woman said something to her daughter, telling her to stay put most likely, and walked to me, stopping a few feet away.

We examined each other for a moment. She shared her daughter eyes, but her hair was straight, and a medium blond instead of the girl's sun-bleached color.

"What are you?" the woman demanded guardedly. I restrained myself from attacking her out of annoyance as I replied,"I'm an Empowered One. I'm guessing you're the same?" She nodded and her cold expression melted slowly into a guarded smile. She gestured with her hand that I should follow her, and I complied as she walked toward the village, where a small crowd of people had gathered at the edge to observe the stranger from the fields. I smiled hopefully at them, praying that I would be welcomed.

"We have a guest," the woman announced to the large group of villagers. She then turned to me and inquired,"What's your name?"

I paused for a moment, contemplating, before informing them,"My name is Kathy. But I still don't know what your name is."

"Oh!" the woman exclaimed,"I'm sorry, my name is Miranda." I smiled in assurance before the villagers started bombarding me with questions. I answered all of them smoothly from a fabricated story. These people would never know who I really was. Not if I could help it.

The questioning went on for a while, but everyone still had things to do. The crowd dispersed and I ended up following Miranda to her chores, helping when I could and staying out of the way otherwise. She was a pleasant person to be around, and I knew I'd like her. As we chatted, I felt a growing certainty that I would enjoy this place. It was nice. It was homey. And I could be a new person here.

I spent the next few days settling into the life of Kathy.

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I stayed in that community for a couple weeks.

The village, called Adiron, became my home. Miranda and her daughter, Clarissa, became my family. I was happy, and at peace as I aided the little village in running smoothly. I did my part, and I had a home. That was the way it worked, and it worked just fine for me.

But all good things must come to an end.

I knew that I was about to lose my new life when I saw the familiar wolves crossing the field I was working in. I was lingering after everyone else left for supper. I ran after them as soon as I recognized the wolves.

I was barely inside the house I shared with Miranda and Clarissa before spinning and dead-bolting it behind me. The other ladies of the house jerked their heads up in surprise as I stood, panting, by the door. Their question was clear in their eyes as their hands froze above the delicious-looking food that was meant for supper. I was sorry I wouldn't get to eat it with these two wonderful people. But tonight was the night I'd been dreading.

Slowing my breathing, I informed my new family,"There are some people out there that I'd hoped to never see again. I'm so sorry to have brought this trouble to you, and I'm also sorry that it is without warning." I looked deep into Miranda's eyes, pleading silently for understanding as I begged,"I have to leave. I can't go back to them."