“Mother,” I said, sighing as I got to my knees. “We have to move on from this.”
“You could've died! I don't know what I would've done if your team hadn't saved you.” Cupping my cheeks, she peered at me, allowing love to pour from her for the first time in many years.
“There are other Essex witches available to care for the line.” My blunt remark was met with a harsh frown.
“I don't care about the line, I care about you!”
It was a good job that she didn't know that I was technically already dead. I hadn't even had a chance to think about what would happen next, but my mother's grief would be spared. There was no need for her to know that the worst had happened, it would only cause her more angst.
“I've missed you,” I said quietly as she fell into my arms, holding me tightly against her.
Tears came to my eyes as my walls crumbled, taking down my fears and loneliness with them. The agents at Paranormal MI5 had always thought I was a tough nut with no soft inside. They were wrong, I did have a heart, it had just been hidden for a while.
“I've missed who we were when you were young,” my mother said, wiping the tears from her face. “You were so open and friendly with your quirky ways. I was so in awe of your strength and passion to protect the ley line. You make me so proud.”
Smiling as the pain in my heart released, I took her hands and squeezed them. “Thank you, Mum, I had no idea how much I needed to hear that.”
Laughing gently, my mother got to her feet, helping me up with her. Her smile extended to Dave as she took his hand in hers. “You're going to make a wonderful son-in-law. Oh, and you must come back to the team, it will never work without you.”
His grin radiated throughout the room, causing the sun to brighten through the window. My chest expanded as I inhaled a deep breath, the joy that coursed through me unfamiliar. So, this was what it felt like to love and be loved without fear? My books had shown me that trials made a person and brought people together, but I had struggled to implement it into my life. Now, it was time.
“And, of course,” my mum said excitedly, “you'll come back from your sabbatical now.”
My gaze dropped to the ground as my hands wrung together. “Mother... I...”
The hesitation in my voice made them both stare at me. They knew me well, which meant their suspicions were raised. For so long, I had been a warrior for the Paranormal MI5. I had trained to protect the ley line, to keep our history, ancestry and magic intact. It was time for a change.
“I want to leave...”
“You do?” Dave barked.
“Really?” my mother said quietly, her shoulders slumping.
A grin spread across my face as I glanced between the pair. It wasn't going to be easy with them watching out for me, but it would be worth it. It was time to be who I wanted to be... even if I wasn't completely sure who that was. But first...
“I need to visit the ancestors,” I told my mother. “Will you help me?”
Her worried expression eased as she nodded.
Letting go of Dave, she went over to the spell casting stone table and indicated that I join her. It made a change for her not to question me. She must have realised that I was strong enough to make my own choices.
“What will you do?” Dave asked me as we joined my mother.
Squeezing his hand, I tilted my head to the side. “I was thinking of trying my hand at books.”
“What, collecting them? I think you've got that down.”
“No, silly,” I replied, shoving him gently. “I'm going to write them!”
Both my mother and my boyfriend made me laugh as their eyebrows raised high on their foreheads. A gentle shake of the head from the pair of them made me pluck the herbs needed for the spell and hand them to my mother.
They would never truly understand me, I was too complex, but surely my passion for reading didn't have to stop there? I quite fancied the idea of publishing a book and meeting people like me.
“I think you'll make a great writer,” my mother said, indicating that I give her my hand. “Just don't write about our secrets!”
Her smile was joined with a wink as she cut my palm, dropping my blood onto the paste she had quickly mixed. The sizzle of melting salt was joined by her chanting. I didn't have time to think before thick green grass and a flowing meadow appeared in front of me.
“Welcome!” one of the ancestors greeted.
All four of them stood side by side, their long flowing white dresses fluttering gently in the breeze. Dave appeared beside me, his face contorted in confusion. Reaching for him, I steadied his wobble as he looked around us.
The sky was bright blue, the occasional fluffy white cloud passing by. Strong smells of flowers filled my senses as the lead witch stepped forward and got to one knee. The others followed, their heads bending in unison.
“Gemma Abbott, we thank you for restoring the ley line and saving the Earth from destruction.”
They all recited the words loudly, the sound of their voices vibrating through the fields and down into the valley. Other shadowy figures appeared behind them, all bending on one knee. My palms lined with sweat as I glanced at Dave. His eyes were wide, his eyebrows disappearing into his forehead.
“Erm,” I stuttered nervously. “You're welcome?”
A titter came from a couple of the witches as they all rose to their feet. The leader smiled broadly as she gestured around us, indicating the beauty of the ancestral realm.
“Because of you, we have a home.
