Redemption

Chapter Sixteen: The Memory

I grabbed a tissue from one of the end tables, and brought it to Fletcher, ignoring the cross look Micah gave me.

"Thank you, sweetheart," he said, sniffling as he took the tissue. I sat down next to him on the plaid couch.

We sat in silence for a while, each of us focused on our own thoughts. It was so strange to hear about the mother I didn't even know existed. She was only seventeen when she and Fletcher met- the same age I was now. Even back then she had a lot of power; I felt inadequate by comparison.

I had only summoned my magic twice, and both times were unintentional. How was I supposed to live up to my mother's legacy when I couldn't call my powers on a whim? How was I suppose to battle the evil king if I was this incompetent? I wished Brianne was here now to show me the ropes, evil or not. 

"What happened to my mother, Fletcher?" I asked. "If she was such a force of good when the two of you met, how did she end up becoming one of the most notorious witches in history?"

Fletcher sighed. "There's no way of knowing for sure. It could have been something she was suppressing for years, or it could be that your father, Samuel, who swayed her to the dark side."

I didn't miss the hint of jealousy that colored Fletcher's voice as he said my biological father's name. 

"You said that my mother had the ability to move objects with her mind. Is that something all witches can do?"

"Only a select few have powers like that. Those individuals are the most powerful because they have the ability to access sources of magic that most witches cannot. This is why the Malin covet the skills of witches like Brianne so much. They're rare to come by," he explained.

"Unfortunately, these are also the witches most likely to turn to the darkness. The amount of power they can access often goes to their heads. If that happens, there's a possibility that the darkness will root itself inside of them and take control. I suspect that's what happened with your mother."

"These witches can be easily swayed to the wrong side?" I asked in concern.

"Yes, and a great number of them choose the easier side, the one that has no consequences. King Casimir has been targeting these individuals specifically, to try to lure them into the darkness with promises of worry-free magic, and supremacy.

"Once the witch turns, he makes them swear loyalty to him- by force or coercion- and initiates them into his personal guard, so they can do his bidding for him. That's why the Malin are continuously getting more powerful, and as a result, more dangerous."

"So, the Malin are after me because they want to take my powers and force me to work for the King?"

"In part," Fletcher muttered.

A contrite look crossed his face. His eyes fell to his hands, avoiding my gaze. I glanced over to Micah and saw him picking at a spot on his blue jeans, also evading my eyes.

"What aren't you two telling me?"

Fletcher looked up at Micah, the two communicating non-verbally. Deciding there would be no point in hiding it, Micah sighed.

"I've mentioned the prophecy in passing, Alexis, but I haven't told you everything.

"It is said that Dareene's prophecy also preditcted that the blood running through the redeemer's veins will become tainted with dark magic. The lure of this power would tempt them, possibly swaying them to the dark side."

I felt my eyes widen.

"Dareene saw two different futures for this witch. The first path was one where the witch was able to resist the temptations of the dark magic, and succeeded in defeating the King. Kapanathy was restored to its former glory, and witches were able to use magic without fear. Of course, this is the ideal route," Micah said.