Wicked

Chapter Twenty

I woke up the next morning, feeling like utter death. I winced at the few sun rays that found a way past the dark drapes. My brain felt like a dry sponge. It must have been due to the alcohol I had drunk last night. I wasn't drunk last night but had drunk enough to cause my brain pain. I clutched my head, wishing the dull pain would subside. Usually, a shower helps, so I found myself reaching for my towel and heading to the shower.

The shower helped a little, but then I smelled Gran's breakfast. Food, that was what I really wanted. Quickly, I changed into some clean clothes and practically ran downstairs. In the dining room, I found Gran setting a piping hot plate, full of food. How does she always know when to make food?

"Good morning, Little Bird." She motioned for me to sit. I did what she told me to, watching her pour us each a cup of tea. It was mint tea, which was one of my favorites. Gingerly, I sipped at it, steam hitting my face.

"Morning, Gran." Despite getting home later than me, Gran was up and even glowy. How did she do it? She seemed to have so much available time, but she was always working? It was maybe ten o'clock and she was showered, dressed, makeup is done, and breakfast made. 

"I called your mother and told her what happened last night." We shared a look of disappointment. "She isn't coming home early, but she talked to Dara. It is my understanding that Dara is to not leave her room, not even for school. Your mother wants you to grab a weeks worth of homework from her teachers, I guess it's going to be at the front desk." Gran was shaking her head. Clearly, she didn't think this was the right decision. 

I didn't either. I knew Dara and this was only going to make her sneakier in order to cause chaos. 

"So, we just isolate her from everyone? Even people that are good for her and hope that by making her even lonelier than she already is, it's going to what? Scare her into acting right?" Gran knew I wasn't critiquing her, but my mom's way of parenting. 

"I tried to reason with your mother, but she can be--

"Just as difficult. Yeah, I wonder where Dara gets her stubbornness from." I finished her sentence, causing us both to laugh.

"Well, don't look at me. I don't know where your mother got her stubbornness from." She joked. If there was anyone more stubborn than my mom, it was Gran. The difference was that Gran was logical where my mom wasn't. "Anyways, how was your night? Did you have fun?" Flashbacks of my night haunted me as I remembered what all happened. Oh, God I still needed to talk to Addison and Daniel.

"It went well until towards the end." I went back in forth between telling her or not. She tilted her head, waiting for me to explain. "A couple girls from school tried to tell me something, but it doesn't make any sense. What they're saying isn't logical." I was lost in thought, going over and over what I had seen. It sure looked like Ivelyn create the flame. Yet, I knew I couldn't trust my own eyes. These eyes had seen Erik turn into a Crow -- that wasn't logical. Although, these eyes had also seen Levi, a dead guy, and I believed he was real, didn't I?

"Little Bird, part of growing up is realizing that nothing is logical. You have to trust your heart and lead with that." Her eyes urged me to listen. I could tell she wanted to say more. She didn't, and I think it was because of my mom's threat. 

"I'm trying," I confessed. It was hard to believe the things you saw. I wanted things to be easy, concise, and consistent. There was nothing consistent with the things I saw. Especially, if what Ivelyn was saying was true -- that we were all Witches. 

No.

It can't be true.

"When the time is right, you'll know the truth." She smiled warmly at me, which helped. Plus, knowing that my Gran had faith in me really helped.