The Dark Witch's Daughter

Chapter 8

"Anna Bennett, please step forward."

I could see a crowd of first year witches crowded around a stunning mystical lake. The silver full moon reflected off of the water and lit up the whole place beautifully. I could hear frogs croaking as they hopped across the lake from one lily pad to another.

A tall unfriendly looking woman stood at the edge of the lake. This must be the Witch ceremony Silus had told me about. Judging by the way everyone was dressed this had to be the early 1800s. I watched the crowd of witches part and Anna Bennett stepped forward.

The plain dress and bonnet she wore couldn't downplay her beauty. She looked about my age. Her long brown curls spilled out of her bonnet. The moon illuminated off her big aqua eyes. The expression on her face let me know she had waited all year for this day.

"Palms out, Ms. Bennett." The professor ordered. My mother obediently held her hands out as instructed. The lake began to stir. Small waves began to appear in the water almost as if something was about to emerge. Anna closed her eyes and tilted her face toward the moon.

The wind began to whip through her silky hair as she waited for nature's response. The tiniest flick of fire illuminated from her palms. It went out just as quick as it appeared like someone blowing out a candle.

The sky went dark. The moon no longer shedding it's beautiful light on the witches. The wind fell silent and the water grew still. In the darkness I could see Anna's eyes snap open in disbelief. The crowd of first year witches began to murmur amongst themselves.

"What's going on?" I heard one of them call out from the crowd. The fear in the witch's voice was evident. The professor was silent for a moment before her eyes grew wide with realization.

"Nature has rejected you, Ms. Bennett! How can this be? We must speak with your father at once!" She exclaimed grabbing my mother by the arm and dragging her towards the school.

I awoke shaking in a violent sweat. Had I really just seen a part of my mother's life? Or had I just dreamed it since we had spoke of it earlier?

My pillow suddenly caught aflame then went out like nothing happened. I jumped out of my bed.

The pillow lay in its same position with no sign of ever being burnt. Did I just hallucinate that? I felt as if I was going crazy. I carefully lifted the pillow and peered down at my mother's necklace. It was glowing bright against the dark room.

It seared my skin as I tried to pick it up. I jerked back examining my burnt hand. A pink welt was swelling on my hand. Well I couldn't have hallucinated that I thought as I replaced the pillow back over it.

Was the amulet giving me these dreams or flashbacks of my mother? I was almost sure it had to be. I grabbed the book from the headmaster's office. I noticed Chloe had left a plate of food on my nightstand. My stomach growled in response to the heaping plate of chicken and vegetables.

I ate quickly before changing into my pajamas. I needed to see Silus. Maybe he could answer my questions about the dreams I'd been having. I crept down the hall quietly. It was completely empty. Most students were probably in bed or outside.

When I reached his office I was about to knock but the voices inside stopped me. I strained to listen to the conversation.

"How could you allow Amelia to lift that charm off of that girl, Silus? What if Hades himself is her father and that charm is the only thing keeping him from coming here?" Evelyn's shrill voice wasn't hard to pick up. Her voice only grew louder the more angry she became.

"I highly doubt that's the case, Evie." Silus argued.

"I completed the potion but I haven't given it to her yet. I was going to wait until morning. The poor dear has been through enough today." Amelia's sweet melodic voice drifted through the door.

"The poor dear? Do you hear your self you crazy wood fairy?! We literally have another Anna Bennett here all over again! If you lift that charm the devil himself could burst through the ground and kill us all!" Evelyn shrieked.

"That's enough! I welcome your input but I'm still the headmaster here." Silus snapped.

"That's the problem, Silus. I wanted to get rid of the problem from the very beginning. Oh but no you had to play the hero as always. You said once you dropped her off at the orphanage we would never hear of this again!" She replied venomously.

I couldn't believe my ears. What did she mean? Was Silus really the one who left me as an infant?

"I was wrong but this isn't a bad thing. She could be a really powerful witch."

"Right just like Ian Black can be a really amazing vampire. That's really been working out well hasn't it," Evelyn spewed.

"Maybe if we had professors encouraging kids like them instead of convincing them they will turn out like their parents..." That was the first time I'd heard a hint of anger in Amelia's honey-like voice.

"Oh shut it, Amelia! Your little gothic half-breed hears your encouragement all day but still walks around like a corpse." Evelyn shot back. I realized she was referring to Chloe.

"If you can't talk like you have any sense then you can leave my office." Silus interrupted calmy.

"Well if you didn't put the amulet in the basket when you left her, then who did?" Evelyn asked, clearly ignoring his threat.

"Well I'm afraid you're not going to like that answer." Silus sighed, almost as if preparing for another one of her outbursts.

"Well lets hear it?" I could hear her foot tapping impatiently.

"The dark witch must have done it after I left."

"But she was killed immediately after giving birth!"

"That's what I thought too but I'm starting to believe that she may still be alive."