Revelations

7- After the Storm

7- After the Storm

Finally, good riddance to those drenched garments and hello warm, fluffy jumper and comfy jeans. It is still so surreal. I keep pinching myself thinking I would wake up in the old apartment to the smell of chocolate chip pancakes made by my dad. It's so strange it is as if he is still alive. Well Theron is but heck I didn't even know the guy he may as well be some stranger in the street, not a father.

I wish Andrew was here with me today, he wouldn't look down on me like I am burden. He would help me, help me understand who I am and what I am supposed to do. Yet, Alexei my so-called guardian couldn't care less; even Valentina could barely look at me. Vincent didn't even acknowledge me. The only person who actually didn't ignore me was Joseph, I guess it was because I saved his skin. I can't think of any other reason.

I pulled open the top draw of my jewellery box selecting a silver chain, opening it up I slid the chain through the middle of the ring tying it around my neck. I found it extremely irritating wearing rings, so this will have to do for the time being. I scraped my hair back up into a high ponytail and gave my glasses a quick clean and headed downstairs.

I am starving.

It's as if I haven't eaten in days which is unusual because I eat all the time, pretty much all I do is eat, sleep and eat and sleep some more. Well I used to, ah the good old days. I made my way down the staircase, which seemed to never end. I pretty much raided the kitchen in sight of any edible item, rustling up an omelette with toast. I savoured each and every bite. It had been a while since I had proper meal as take out seemed to be ordered in every day.

Breakfast. Lunch. Dinner.

The house is awfully quiet and no one is to be spotted. They're all probably wracking their brains over something important. I suppose I should be worried too, but the only thing that I can think about right now is if my mother is still alive. If my 'father' is alive then is my mother truly dead? Did she die in because of childbirth or is she still out there? I guess I should go and speak to Alexei maybe he'll be able to shed some light on my ever troubling thoughts. I went to his usual part of the house which he would retreat to, the ever cluttered library.

"Alexei, can I come in?" I asked knocking on the door.

"Come in! I have been expecting you, but not so soon what is it?" he said shaking his head, lifting up various pieces of paper off his chaotic desk covered in empty coffee cups and take out boxes. He had bags under his eyes. His hair was flopping all over the place and he had his sleeves rolled up to the elbow. He looked nothing like the Alexei I first met.

"It's nothing to do with what just happened, even though I should be concerned. But a question has been eating me up inside, what happened to my mum? What really happened is there a chance she is still alive?"

"Right." He took a deep breath and sighed. "I should've expected you to ask about this sooner or later. I best get it over and done with."

"That would be helpful."

"You must know how witches are burned at the stake, no?"

"Yeah, oh god you can't be serious." I started getting shaky. She couldn't have. No, no, no that's not possible.

"There are group of people still out there who hunt witches, they think Hecates are witches because the can perform what they call as magic or si̱mánei to you and me. The group call themselves the Guardians of the Pure, during the 90s they started up again and burned every woman they thought as being a witch. Unfortunately one of them was your mother, but she can control fire as you can so burning her would have no effect. So yes there is a chance she may be alive and if she is she is hiding and hiding very well."

"Will it ever be safe for her?"

"I really don't know, but right now we need to focus on the situation right now. The Nova are going to want to speak to you."

"I'm not going to be much help to them. I barely know anything, all my so-called power only ever comes when I get angry."

"I wouldn't doubt your power so much Joseph told me what you did. How you saved him it was very brave of you."

"He did? But I don't understand how I could do it, I just saw him getting hurt and yes my temper flared up but I starting speaking Greek and it just happened."

"That puzzles me too, I'll have a look in in one of the books there must be something. But in the meantime the best we can do is train you up before you go to the Nova. If you turn up not knowing a single thing or how to do anything, it will be on all our heads."

"That doesn't seem too bad, but I'm probably wrong."

"Maybe not, your schedule will be si̱mánei lessons with Joseph, history and customs lessons with Vincent and combat and weaponry lessons with Valentina."

"Really? Weaponry with Valentina?" I said a little shocked she didn't look like a fighter.

"I wouldn't underestimate Tina if I were you she is one of best fighters, I would say even better than the boys, but don't let them know that they'll have me for it."

"Er, okay."

I left the library and hurried up the twirling staircase. I felt a strange urge to draw. I hadn't drawn since before the fire in the apartment. I ransacked my bedroom drawers in search of paper and some pencils. I came up with a few coloured pencils, your basic blue, red, yellow and green. There was also a pad of paper which seemed unused, oh well finders keepers. I needed drawing space and I knew the perfect place.

The grand, old oak tree.

I leaned my back against the woody tree trunk and brought my knees up, so I could use them to lean on. What to draw? I lift my head up. My eyes immediately brought my attention to the stained glass windows. My hand gained a mind of its own gliding gracefully across the page. Lines of black, shades of oranges and bright yellows. Flames.

I looked down to an image of burning flames, they came alive. Alive, burning with a fiery passion right in front of me. I couldn't believe my eyes, the shards of grass burning to ash. I ripped the paper to shreds and the fire was extinguished.

I need to learn whatever this magic is. I need to learn how to control it and how to bloody well use it without killing myself! I don't care what I have to do I just want to make it stop happening all the time, the random fire fits and strange thoughts. I need to control these tormenting demons before I go insane!

Having a hard time there, sister dear? Oh silly girl the worst is yet to come.