The Protectors: New Generation Book 1

5 - Details of the Past - Tallulah POV

The sun peeks through the clouds clearing from the storm overnight, as I head down to the healing shop to get some answers. 

The streets are quiet today, except for the sound of birds busily going about their day, so it doesn't take long to walk to and cross to where the shop is. 

My hands tremble as I push the door to the shop open. Miriam comes floating in from the back.

"Ok lady, you have my attention." I pause crossing my arms. " Who are my biological parents?"

She walks to the front of the store and looks out on the sidewalk. "Not here." She changes the sign in the shop window to 'Closed'. "We can talk in the back room."

My stomach knots, and my heart beats faster, as I follow behind her heading towards the back. Once again she lugs the old wooden chest onto the table near her desk and asks me to sit down.

"Do you believe in magic?"

Cocking my head and raising my eyebrow. "Magic? As in casting spells and using wands?"

Her mouth twitches. "Well, we can do that. Most cultures call us witches."

I'm not sure what this has to do with me, but it won't hurt to give an answer. "There are plenty of things that seem unbelievable that have been proven true. I'm not so close-minded to think the only things that are real are what I can see."

She nods. "Magic and witches are real in this world. We just hide ourselves to avoid persecution."

The corners of my mouth turn. "You're telling me you are a witch."

Before I could question her further, she chants something, and I gasp as the bottle next to me begins rising off of the desk.

"Ok, so say that I believe you now...." 

Before I can finish she chants something else, and an open book on the next table closes, crosses the room and settles next to Miriam.

My world stops, and silence fills the space.  Even if I believe in psychic powers, I've never believed witches are real.

"What else can you do if you are a witch?"

She places her hand around a pendant she is wearing and starts mumbling words I can't make out. The blinds close, and items come out of the chest and settle on the table. 

I lean back in the chair. "Okay. You're a witch. What does this have to do with me?"

"The information I'm about to tell you can only be shared with your most trusted friends and family. If you ever discover that they have told this information to anyone, you must let me know."

My eyes narrow. "Why is that so important?"

"Because I will have to do a memory spell on anyone that they have told, including themselves, of course."

Of course, like I'd actually know that.

Shrugging, I answer the lady. "I can do that."

"Tallulah dear, you are from a long line of witches that became protectors over an object with great power. A revolt happened sixteen years ago that resulted in the death of all of the Protectors, and the Elders had to hide the item in question from the people who wanted it to use for their own gain."

I nod, my curiosity building. "How does that concern me?"

"Your mother Trinity and her husband, Ambrose Westlin, were killed during the Erbyn Revolt along with all of the other Protectors. Numerous members of the People's Army, our equivalent to the military, that rose up to defend the item and the potential livelihood and well-being of the islands we live on," she tells me.