Hidden Close (Jr. Year)

Chapter 25

Part 25 Of The First Draft

Whatever I saw didn't make sense. When I attempted to find the specter I saw, I was led to the room where my parents were staying. The door had been left open. When I peered in the bedroom, I saw my dad talking to what sounded like my mom, but when I saw who my dad was talking to, I gasped. The shadowy figure stood there, and I realized that it was mimicking my mother’s voice. I wanted to cry out, but I found myself unable to. After observing a moment longer, I realized that my mother had now replaced the dark apparition. My dad noticed me, and asked me,

“Oh, what is it, Mindi?”

I shook my head, and explained,

“It’s nothing, dad. I was just making sure you are okay. I love you.”

I left quickly, searching for Grace, but alas, it was still too early. I went back, and spent my last hours before breakfast alone, thinking. Almost as if my mother could read my mind, she came to me before seven, wondering,

“What did you see earlier? Why were you so shocked to see me?”

Was this truly my mother? Her face seemed pale and her expression was blank. I locked my eyes on hers, and challenged the creature that mocked me,

“Where is my mother? What did you do with her?”

She did not seek to fight me physically nor verbally. The creature explained, its voice full of sorrow,

“Do not seek to reject my appearance. Mindi, what I appear as should not matter. I am your mother and I did give birth to you. My image as both lamia and human are not disputable. What makes me so unsightly now is that my ties to this world are but weak. My heart remains outside. Each day when you are away at school I spend time outside. Now, that is no longer safe. Should I be locked away any longer, I may fade from this world and become the image of what you saw earlier tonight. I had summoned you to see me so that you may make haste to defeat my former friend, Calita. Should you hesistate any longer, I will have no choice but to leave this world.”

This is my mom and I know it. Her story is not a lie.

“What happened, mom? Are you the same as me or more like Carlita?”

My mother coughed, and sat down next to me. She explained,

“I am like both of you. I died some time ago. I feed off of the living to maintain the image of a human. Your father has always known about this. He only plays dumb. He is very smart, a male witch or wizard in his former life. Please, Mindi, my beloved daughter. Make haste to defeat Carlita and restore the balance between the worlds. You are my....our only hope.”

Suddenly, she embraced me, and I watched her take the form of my human mother once more. She kissed my forehead, and I confessed to her as I buried my face in her chest,

“You’ll always be my mom. Serah Jacobson, my splendid mother who has done nothing but love me for the girl that I am.”

Tears that stained her face came down as she countered me with,

“Don’t let me die in your heart for I wish to forever remain there as you will always stay in mine.”

She vanished, just like that. Am I dreaming? No....she must have retreated as I was lost in my own mind. I could hear Grace in the kitchen, and I watched as Renee went into there to join her. Did anyone around here notice me and my mom? This insanity. Perry came down and greeted me,

“Happy Sunday, beautiful. My mother has something special planned for this morning. Maybe it'll be just what the doctor ordered.”

I smiled and hugged him tight. I told him,

“Promise me Perry that there will be some type of coffee involved. It can even be black coffee for all I care.”

Perry laughed and responded with much zeal,

“Coming right up!”

Perry left my side and I quickly made my way to the bathroom, where I splashed some water on my face hoping to get rid of the way I feel. Right now, my heart was plummeting, my focus turning towards one of both desperation and hope. I can’t kill Carlita....there’s no way I can. I’m not willing to set foot down the same murderous path that she walks upon. How can I save us all without the demise of Carlita? She's not the type of woman to stop merely because you ask her to. Yet, that doesn’t matter. I must meet with her, and if Carlita attacks me, I will fight back. If she pushes me, I must not let up. I must show her my strength if I am to influence her actions.

After splashing a lot of water on my face, I felt better. When I got out to the dining room table I grabbed up the coffee Perry must have made  for me. Cappuccino. How nice. I sat down and gratefully sipped at the cappuccino, savoring each taste. When breakfast was served, I was impressed. Grace had made waffles with strawberries and whipped cream for us. There's nothing quite like the taste of Belgium waffles in the morning. Everyone was here, and it was like we were one strange family assembled together to share in both great food and love. Becky and Perry sat at either side of me, and I felt so loved. My mother, who looked human once more, even joined in the meal. There is one other thing that stood out to me about this fine morning meal. Brad and Lana were sitting together and holding hands underneath the table. All is right. I'm sleep deprived and half out of my mind but at this moment I feel like I could lose it all and as long as I have the people around me right now, all would still be okay. Next weekend I will make my move. I cannot let my family and friends suffer any longer in Carlita's evil embrace. I am sure that both Becky and Lana will fight with me, that I am sure. Besides, I can't tell anyone else. They'd freak out, even Perry. These people have given me the world. It's about time I paid them back.