The Original Family

Binding

I stood in the closet, holding my breath, waiting for Esther to leave the room. She'd been in there most of the night, so I was likely going to be stuck in here awhile.

I can't believe she would kill her own children, all to restore the balance of nature. A mother's love should go beyond that.

Suddenly, the closet opens and I'm looking straight into the face of the Original witch herself.

"I thought I sensed someone in here," she said coolly. "I assume you heard Elena and I talking."

"How could you kill your own children?" I ask, stepping out of the closet, a hint of anger coming into my voice.

"I upset the balance of nature," she answers. "And I was sent back here correct it. But the real question is, why are you hiding in my closet?"

I racked in my brain for a good enough lie that even a thousand-year-old witch would buy.

"I was looking for the bathroom..."I trail off, trying to sound as convincing as possible. It was a lame excuse, I know, but I honestly couldn't think of anything else.

"Mary Elizabeth," Esther says, looking through me. "I know you were spying. You cannot breathe a word of this to your father or the rest of my children. Otherwise, there will be consequences."

"Are you threatening me?"

Esther gave me a knowing look.

"Go ahead, kill me," I shrug. "Make my father even more suspicious. I'd love to see how you play off my death as a 'oh, she left town' excuse."

I turn to leave, I'd had enough of her.

"You'll die eventually if everything goes according to plan," she calls after me right before I reach the doors.

"Excuse me?" I whirl around and face her once more.

"If an Original dies, so does their entire blood line," Esther answers, walking towards me. "When Elijah dies, you'll be the first one to go because you're the first one he turned."

My heart fell, fearing the end of my father's life, and possibly mine, if Esther's plan came through.

"Then I'll make sure your plan fails," I said determinedly, throwing open the doors and storming back into the hallway. I heard the doors shut close behind me a few seconds later.

" Mary Elizabeth?" my father's voice says behind me.

I turn to face him.

"Father," I smile, trying to hide my worrying. "That was a wonderful speech you gave to start off the evening."

"I see you did not attend the waltz," Elijah notes. "Where were you?"

"Talking to Esther," I reply, partly telling the truth. "She said she wanted to have the pleasure of getting to know her one and only grandchild."

"Tell the truth," he says sternly, seeing through me like always.

I was speechless. I didn't know what to tell my father. I obviously couldn't tell him the truth.

"Did you hear someone call my name?" I ask. "I'll be right back."

I turn and walk quickly away from my father.

"Mary Elizabeth!" he hollers behind me. I ignore him and continue down the hall towards the staircase.

God, it was so hard keeping something from my father. Especially something as bad as this. Our impending death could be upon us and I couldn't warn him. This secret was killing me. He'd find out soon enough.