A Witch's World

1) New Beginnings

Layla:

I crouched down slowly and proceeded to sit cross legged by the tree, the tree that had come to mean so much to me in the past year. The wind played with my loose blonde hair as it swayed in the gentle wind. All was silent except for my slow breaths and the movements of the tree's in this wood, a few birds made their presence known to me a few metres away. The smell of bark and soil filled my nostrils as I inhaled. Summer was always beautiful at the Jonson family lake house.

I wiped a stray tear from my cheek with the back of my hand as I laid a single Orange Blossom, the meaning of which I was told by Matt was purity, by the base of the small apple tree.

This particular apple tree was special, well special for me, you see I created it. With my own hands, I grew this tree from the earth in a matter of minutes. Of course I had help...my magic to be precise, being a witch does have its perks. After I grew it, Matt, my gorgeous and incredible boyfriend, christened it the Layla Tree, I know, how original. But it's become more then that now. We buried my best friend Grace here, right at the heart of it. 

I sighed.

Grace. I miss her so much it hurts.

She was taken from me when saving my life all because of the...Deathstag. The most powerful group of dark magicians in the world, who suck the soul and magic out of our kind. Well, that's what they used to do. A year ago today I destroyed them, because I was, I am, the...chosen one. Which, I know sounds so corny and ridiculous, believe me that's what me and Matt used to think too, that this whole 'chosen one' business was nothing but a myth. Well, turns out it wasn't and it was...me. I managed to have control of all four elements...and then some more, and obliterated the whole of the Deathstag. Thankfully Matt and Grace were safe, but the energy it took from me, almost killed me. I was so close to death, I could see the other side, could easily have passed over. If it wasn't for Matt and Grace.

Grace gave me too much of her own energy...and suffered the consequences. So now I'm alive and she's well...not.

After that day we brought her here, to Matt's family lake house and buried her body under the tree I created, that way, some part of me will always be with her.

Matt contacted his family for the first time in months since he ran away from the Royal Kingdom. Of course every single magical being knew of the Deathstag's destruction (don't ask me how - I mean the Deathstag lair was underground) and were still celebrating, in fact they even named that day 'Novum Principio' translated as New Beginning in Latin. From now on, every year, our kind will celebrate that day, coincidentally today, and remember those that have been taken from us by the Deathstag.

Although not all of us feel like celebrating. Don't get me wrong, the destruction of the Deathstag has been my ultimate aim ever since they first attacked me, but I will always think of that day as the day Grace died.

She is now almost famous among our kind, 'the one who saved the saviour'. Not that any of the human race know this, in fact none of them even knows Grace existed. Some high ranking magicians who work for the Royal family modified the memories of those who knew Grace, to them, she was never even born. It was the easiest thing to do apparently. But she will never be forgotten among us magical beings, and certainly not by me.

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and closed my eyes briefly. Looking up at the small tree I could see the start of the apples that would form on it's branches. They were going to be do delicious when Autumn comes.

The sunlight seeped through the leaves and basked me in it's warmth. I breathed in the smell of Summer.

"You would have loved this Grace." I sighed. "You know it's been a year to this very day that it all...happened? Course you do... How are you holding up? Are you with Mum up in Heaven...or the Holding? Don't suppose you are, I know humans and magicians have different lives after death. But I hope you're okay and that...you're safe and happy." I smiled sadly and rested my hands on my lap.