Precious Anathema (12 page)

“
You have this gift my
sweet, you can call for me whenever you need me, and I know that
you will only use these gifts for good, I am not mad at you for
coming here, you are an amazing woman and I am glad that you know
our family now.” I grasped her hands as I felt her slip away from
me.

“
Mom, please just stay with
me, don’t leave me again please.” I held my breath as she answered
me.

“
Delilah, I have never left
you. I am with you every moment and I watch everything you do with
pride. All you have to do is close your eyes when you need me and I
am here, really here honey. You share all of the gifts that the
others possess plus a few more that you will discover when you need
them.” The image started to get hazier. “I love you baby duck and I
am always here.” As her image faded I screamed to her.

“
I love you
Mommy
, I will
always
love you!” I
opened my eyes and everyone was silent with tear streaked faces.
They could hear every word spoken to my mother. I let go of Freya’s
hands without looking at her, I couldn’t stop crying and before I
could wipe my face I had two Aunts, a cousin and a grandmother
holding me all at once, all crying, all loving.

“
Give me a fucking break,
could we all stop adoring the princess before I puke, so her mother
is dead who gives a shit?” I had no time to react, Eris let go of
us and jumped on Selene, the two were punching each other or it
looked that way. Selene kept screaming for the dike to stop which
only fueled Eris more, and to my surprise no one moved. No one
tried to break them up, no one moved in to help, no one stopped it.
Just stood and watched as Eris clobbered her over and over again.
She finally got off Selene and walked away with a smile, as she put
her arm around me and blew the strands of hair from her
face.

“
Watch this Ella, you asked
how to use your gifts?” She closed her eyes and I watched as Selene
sat up holding her face with a look of confusion all over
it.

“
What the hell happened to
me?” Carna and Kali began to laugh and Eris and I walked arm and
arm out of the music room, hearing Selene screaming from the floor.
“What the hell guys, what happened?” As we stood around the bar in
the kitchen she could still be heard. Carna looked at Eris and
shook her head.

“
I am not saying that was
ok, but it was a good example for Delilah.” Then she just winked at
Eris. I had learned so much from each of them, and shown that I can
handle it, of course I still had one witch to deal with, as she
walked into the kitchen she was holding the side of her face, she
slapped Eris in the shoulder and went to the freezer for some
ice.

“
I know it was because of
you that I can’t remember why I feel like I was run down by a
truck, but will you tell me why?” She shut the freezer door and
placed a large steak across her cheekbone. Eris just shook her head
and shrugged her shoulders.

“
I don’t know what you are
talking about Selene, maybe you should be a bit nicer and then
maybe you will remember that trucks hit you when you aren’t.”
Selene slumped in the stool next to me, and under her breath said
something nice, so nice in fact that I had to ask her to say it
again to make sure.

“
I said, whatever it was
that I said or did I am sorry ok?” I smiled more out of disbelief
than anything, I certainly wasn’t going to let me guard down with
her, and just as I had the thought Xander walked into the kitchen
and wrapped his arms around me, in front of everyone. I wanted to
crawl in a hole, but Kali laughed at my pink cheeks and reassured
me.

“
Honey, we all know so it’s
about time you two became affectionate in front of us.” She winked
as Israel took his son’s lead and walked up to my Aunt and pinched
her butt. At this point it was clear to me that Selene just needed
to get laid, as she groaned and stood up to walk out of the room.
Freya stopped her and made her march back in.

“
You young lady still have
to get into the circle with Ella.” I sat up straight, shaking my
head.

“
No she doesn’t I am sure
that we can just assume I have her gifts as well.” With that Selene
began to laugh.

“
No one has my gifts; I can
guarantee you that the princess certainly can’t do what I can do.”
Freya pointed to the middle of the room.

“
Then you have nothing to
be afraid of Selene, now let’s get into the circle.” I had no idea
what Selene’s gifts could be, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to know
either. We stood in the middle of the room with everyone around us,
I put my hands out and she just stood, glaring at me with her arms
held tight at her sides. I spoke before I even realized what I was
saying.

“
Stop being a bitch Selene
and do it!” I couldn’t take her anymore and the two of us were
going to have it out once and for all after this. Her glare
deepened but she moved her arms so that I could take her hands, as
soon as our fingers touched I heard a gasp and then Selene backed
away from me, it was really pissing me off.

“
Stop it Selene, it’s not a
big deal just give me your damn hands already!” Trouble with that
was it wasn’t just Selene that was in shock, I looked around the
room and everyone was staring at me.

“
What?!?” No one would
speak, just open mouths and big eyes. Selene ran out of the room,
leaving me standing there alone. I suddenly had an image in my
brain that she had done something horrible to my face and ran to
the large mirror in the dining room, followed by everyone. I turned
the corner and screamed.

“
NO
, no, no, no-no this is
not
ok, no no no!” I touched my face, it was me, but
it wasn’t me. My reflection was Selene. “What the hell is her gift
again?” I couldn’t remember and just started yelling as I pulled on
the thick black hair that swept over my shoulders.

“
She can take on the
appearance and even capture the personality of another person, and
apparently so can you honey.” I couldn’t stop staring at myself, if
this is how Selene saw herself she had no idea how beautiful she
really was, but I had to snap out of it and get out of this outfit
fast.

“
How long does it last, I
mean I am not stuck like this am I?” Kali walked over and took my
hand.

“
It lasts only as long as
you let it, now take a deep breath and close your eyes.” I did as
she told me, and when I heard Freya shout out “Hell Yeah!” I knew
my red mop had come back to me. Selene had run upstairs, I knew I
had to go see her and talk to her. This had to stop; I couldn’t
take the animosity between us anymore. I kissed Xander, letting the
room fill with light making me blush a whole new shade of
embarrassing and as I made my out of the room I thought I saw
Israel glare at us, shaking off the paranoia I continued on my way
upstairs to make amends. I had no idea what I would say as I
approached her door, but I took a deep breath and knocked anyway.
She didn’t come to the door, just let out a grunt and I walked
inside. She glanced up and then put her head back down on her
pillow, this was the first time I had been in her room and it was
elegant with a strong stench of arrogance dripping from the velvet
drapes.

“
Look, I think we should
talk, or fight or scream or something. I don’t want
this
to keep going.” I
sat at the foot of her bed and she picked her chin up, I could see
that she had been crying which almost made me dizzy with how real
this all was to her.

“
What is
this
exactly Delilah?” I
wasn’t sure how to answer her; I certainly didn’t know what it was
and hoped she did.

“
I am new here Selene; you
are going to have to tell me what
it
is.” She took a deep breath but
wouldn’t turn to look at me as she spoke.

“
You don’t get it do you?
You have no idea what Eris and I have been through, yeah my Mom and
Aunt seem great now but when we were younger they were horrible,
vindictive sluts and conquered every man they were near. Some were
lucky to be single, others had wives and families of their own at
home. We were moved from one town to another, the women would form
angry mobs knocking at our door.” She wiped her face and sat up to
look me in the eye. “I had to pay my dues to earn my place, so did
Eris and what did you do?” I was shocked; she didn’t hate me at
all.

“
Selene I swear I didn’t
know, I have no intention of taking anyone’s place.” She rolled her
eyes at me.

“
Don’t you get it you
Bitch, you already have. You are the family’s new toy, and since
your mother left because her sisters kept fucking her boyfriends
and ultimately your Dad while Freya stuck up for them makes it that
much worse. They all feel guilty and nothing more.” My Dad, she
said my Dad, forgetting the man whore issue that could be discussed
later I had to know, how did Selene know anything about my
Dad?

“
Do you know who he is
Selene?” She stood up and lit a cigarette.

“
Know who?” blowing smoke
in my face.

“
My Dad, do you know who he
is?” She started to laugh and then stopped.

“
You are kidding right?” I
stood up and took the cigarette out of her hand.

“
No, I am not. Do you know
him or not?” My whole life had been a lie, why should I think my
mother had told me the truth about him?

“
Of course I know him, I
can show him to you if you promise not to tell anyone.” I almost
cried as I grabbed her in only the second most awkward hug of my
life.

“
Selene, you just made my
whole life.” She pushed me away and her face became
cold.

“
I will get the pictures
and sneak them into the basement later tonight, no one will look
there, but you have to promise to keep it a secret Ella.
No
one
and I mean no one can
know
I am doing this.” I nodded and
pinky swore, knowing I would tell Xander but that would be ok. I
left the room feeling like a million dollar witch, made my way out
of the estate and across the garden to tell Xander the great
news.

*

“
I saw it in your eyes
Xander, this is not a fling and you know it.” I leaned against the
counter in the kitchen and shrugged my shoulders as I stared at the
floor to avoid his gaze. “You know that it can’t be more than that
son, listen to me I know this is a burden only you have had to
carry, but it means our freedom from this prison and you can’t let
some screw mess that up!” I raised my eyes slowly, knowing that my
reaction would give me away I took a breath and counted to
ten.

“
She’s just a screw Dad
don’t worry, I keep the dagger close and I will know when to use
it.” Clutching the counter behind me I leaned against I prayed I
was lying, I was still unsure myself of what would happen when the
moment came. I loved her, but I wanted to be free and the closer it
came the more I wanted it. Not trusting myself I had locked away my
dagger for now, maybe Dad could screw one of them without feeling
sorry but I couldn’t. The sky went dark outside the kitchen window
and when I saw it I pushed past my father and ran like hell through
the field. I had just given myself away and I didn’t
care.

*

The smell of the roses and lilies
swept through the air and I was transformed to a secret, sensual
place as I closed my eyes to take it all in around me. The air was
crisp, the sun hot on my face and the dark cloud that suddenly
blocked the light made me grumpy as I was forced out of my daydream
and opened my eyes. Before me was a large black bird, three times
the size of myself, I looked up it’s surface and screamed as I came
face to face with Cora. I turned to run, but she swung her wing,
knocking me to the ground. Lying in the tall grass she moved the
ground as she stepped closer to me, I closed my eyes to make peace
with life as I felt breath on the side of my face.

“
You will not destroy me
little girl.” A voice so soft and sweet in my ear, I couldn’t
believe such a monster could have that inside them. I felt the wind
pick up and opened my eyes to see her fly away with a great scream
following behind her. I didn’t dare move, had she killed me so
quickly I didn’t know I was dead yet? Why would she trap me and
then let me go like that? I put my hands over my face as I began to
cry, I could hear Xander screaming as he ran to me, and the next
voice I heard was almost as shocking as Cora’s had been. Selene had
seen the whole thing and screamed as she made her way to
me.

“
Ella, oh what the hell was
that thing, are you ok?” I sat up with Xander’s help as Selene put
her hand on my back to comfort me, I could tell this was not
something she was used to as her face distorted and her hand went
limp, allowing Xander to take over the part of comforting me. I
looked up at both of them and began to explain.

“
That was Cora, and she
spoke to me. We have to get Freya right now.” I shook off the fear
and we ran into the house, As Xander went back to his to get his
father, I couldn’t help but look at Selene with suspicion, this
whole afternoon had messed with my head and she was at the top of
the list with a question mark. Running through the house, screaming
for my Grandmother I wasn’t sure what we could do, what she could
do and I had never felt so scared. She came running from a study on
the second floor and I ran to her with my arms out.