Leave {z.m.}

Twelve

"Gemma? My cousin's-" 

"Yes," I stopped her from speaking. 

"Gemma might possibly be your cousin's great-grandmother's grandmother. In 1838, Gemma would have been seventeen years old. What is your cousin's name if I may ask?" 

"Oh, um Cecilia," she replied in confusion.

"Alright, so Cecilia is a descendant of Gemma. Gemma may or may not be alive; no one has record of where she might have run off to."

Adelaide scrutinized me as my eyes traveled over to meet her cynical face. "Are you high or something?" 

"You have been with me this entire time. Do you actually believe that I would have had the time to engage in any inappropriate behavior involving the usage of substances such as drugs?"

"Maybe?" 

"Well, I am sorry to inform you that you are wrong." 

"I'm doubtful that you're actually sorry." 

"You caught me there, I am not." 

Adelaide dramatically rolled her eyes at me," Okay, tell me the story."

 "I was trying to until you decided to make such a crude comment." 

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry. I'll be quiet now."

"Thank goodness for that." 

Adelaide smacked my forearm and I resisted the smile that was to appear upon my lips. 

"I shall start from the beginning I suppose." 

She nodded in response and I cleared my throat.

"It was 1837 and Gemma had just turned sixteen years old. Her mother, Anne, had been trying to force a wedding upon young Gemma. Gemma, of course, felt that she was much too young for such a commitment. Her mother reminded her that the family was poor and Gemma would have a better life if she married someone in a much better situation, financially speaking."

I paused to check if Adelaide was still paying attention. 

"And?" She waited for me to continue once more. 

"Gemma refused to listen to Anne. She had no desire to marry at the time; she was much more focused on gaining her full powers. She was a sorceress like her grandmother. Her parents had no idea; her grandmother knew that she would become a sorceress ever since Gemma was born. Her grandmother, Marie, kept it a secret from everyone in order for Gemma to remain safe. Although it was many years after the horrific Salem Witch Trials in America, the people of England and America alike despised the topic of magic."

"So, are sorceresses and witches the same?" Adelaide questioned curiously. 

"No, but they are similar. Yes, both possess magical abilities, but sorceresses tend to be more uncontrollable and most go rogue and practice dark magic. The magic would consume them and they would forget what life was like for them before their minds and souls were taken over." 

"But Gemma's grandmother doesn't sound evil or anything," Adelaide pointed out.

"You are right; she was stronger than most were at that time. She could control her powers and set boundaries within herself. It was very difficult though and it required a lot of dedication..."

"...Sorceresses gain their complete powers once they become of age. The age was different in every family that contained them. For Gemma's family tree, the age was seventeen. She could not wait to receive her full power and Marie constantly warned her of what she could become if she did not learn to hold back. She taught Gemma for many years how to constrict herself..."