One Last Time

6. Magic

Taya ran onto the street and looked around. She saw him standing on the sidewalk. She caught up to him and smacked him hard on the shoulder. "Ow, what was that for?" He asked, rubbing his shoulder ruefully. 

"For abandoning me at the diner." She retorted. 

Matt grimaced but said nothing as they walked down several streets. They went into so many smaller alleys, that at one point Taya couldn't remember the way they came and was sure that they were lost. But they soon came upon a lake that was so beautiful that Taya had to blink many times to make sure that it was real.

The lake was a deep blue, like her eyes. The trees surrounding it were green and lush. There was a tiny waterfall cascading onto the rocks. Taya was mesmerized. Matt cleared his throat and she looked at him, "Where is the proof?" She asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest. 

He nodded and pushed up his sleeves. He walked to the edge of the pool and raised his arms, his eyes shut tightly in concentration. Taya watched in confusion, she couldn't see anything. 

As if spurred by that thought, the water rose up high, like a pillar. Pebbles and weeds suspended midair. Taya's jaw dropped. It was an astonishing sight. The swirling water glittered, now swaying side to side. Fish leaped out from nowhere, like a part of a synchronized dance. Tiny jewels dropped onto the ground, winking up at her. Taya gasped, "Magic." She muttered. Never had she thought, that the fairy tales she had read, would come to life. 

The pillar of water suddenly crashed down. Matt sat down, panting as though he had run a race. She squatted next to him and said, "Wow, that was amazing. I am sorry I didn't believe you. It was a pretty hard thing to digest though. Are you okay?" 

He ran his hand through his hair, "Yeah, I just haven't practiced for a while. Don't doubt me again." He chuckled. 

"I thought you were going to turn into a mermaid or something." Taya giggled.

 Matt looked at her, "Actually I can do that but there has been an unnatural force that has stopped everyone's ability to 'Change'. We are investigating. Don't ask anything about this. I don't have answers right now." 

"Oh, okay." She said. She got up and reached  down for him. He glanced up at her but stood up on his own, ignoring her outstretched hand. She tried to not look offended, so she she turned, letting her hand drop to her side. 

"I have more questions-"

 "Sure you do." Matt grinned. 

Taya rolled her eyes and continued, "Will you answer them?" He sighed and nodded. 

"What about my cancer?" 

Matt walked forward and bit his lip mulling over the question. "Cancer doesn't affect us Sotíras. It will go away on its own."

 Taya interrupted in a flat tone, "Us? In case you forgot, I am not one of you."

Matt scoffed, "You think you survived this long without any sort of treatment because of your strong-will or something like that? You thought wrong then. You know Daphne, the receptionist. She is a Sotíra too. She looked at your blood test results and immediately notified us. You are one of us Taya, whether you like it or not." 

Taya blanched but kept walking. Matt gently steered her back to the cottage since she didn't seem to be paying attention. She had lived her life as a regular human, she had never gotten a chance to grow up a Sotíra. She wasn't even sure she wanted this life. Matt opened the door and she snapped back to reality. "We reached so soon?" She asked. 

Matt looked at her quizzically, "We took almost forty minutes."

Taya didn't bother replying. She sat down on the bed and put her head in her hands. She mumbled something that Matt didn't hear.

 "What did you say?" 

She looked up, "So that means my parents were Sotíras too. Why did they not let me grow up with all of you? Why hide me from this whole other world? Or did my real parents leave me and the ones I remember were adoptive ones?"  

Matt bit the inside of his cheek, he hadn't thought of that. "Hey, hey. I am sure whoever you remember  were your real parents. All I know is that your parents left us long back. We don't track ex-Sotíras. But, we learned about you, very recently. They had kept you very well hidden. I don't know them. Maybe someone else might." He looked uncomfortable, "I am sorry." He added. 

Taya shook her head, "Can I go back to my place?" Matt placed his hand on her back, "Sorry, it might not be safe for you to stay alone now that you know the truth." 

She drew in a rattling breath, "Can I atleast get my stuff?" Before he could reply, the door opened and a boy slightly younger than Matt stepped in. 

He looked troubled, "Matt, come here."

Matt walked up to him and they had a whispered discussion. "Mierda." Shit. Matt shouted. "Ay Dios mio." He rubbed his face tiredly. He turned towards Taya. 

She held up a hand to stop him, " I don't want to hear anything. Just take me back home." 

Matt looked sick. "I am so sorry, love. I can't." She didn't even notice the use of the endearment.

 "Why? Why?" She asked heatedly. 

"Shhh, I need to tell you something. There was an attack. A demon attack. It hasn't happened in centuries. The attack destroyed a lot of property." He didn't elaborate, he knew she she would pick up the hint.  

"I don't care if my house is in rubble, I still want to go there." She glared at him.

 He sighed resignedly. "Okay, c'mon."

******

They reached a place where jeeps and cars were kept. They got into a small jeep with an open roof. Taya sat on the soft leather seat and asked him, "How long will it take? Are we going by car?"

 Matt shook his head, "We are going to the airport. It will take eight hours by plane." 

On the way to the airport, Taya appreciated the beauty around her. She let down her hair and cranked down the windows. Matt glanced at her and smiled.

 An hour and a half later they reached the airport and got on a flight. It wasn't a busy airport, so they got seats immediately.

Taya slept through the entire flight. By the time they reached, night had fallen. The stars had come out and were twinkling. Matt hailed a cab and asked the driver to go to a hotel nearby. "Wait. Why aren't we going home?" Taya inquired. 

Matt looked at her pointedly, "You really think its safe to go out at night?" Taya muttered something about how he would not be safe if he stayed with her. Matt chuckled dryly.

 They went to a hotel and booked two rooms and Taya went to hers without saying goodnight.