Page 82 of Scarred

“But Papa was there,” Julian said with the innocence of a protected child. “Uncle Suni is here too. They will protect me.”

Mia scooted back from the table. “Come here, baby girl.” Julian let go of her father’s hand and walked to her mother’s side. “I know your father, uncles, aunties, grandmother, and grandfather, will make sure you are always safe, but I give you boundaries to keep you safer.”

“But Mama,” Julian said. Her smile had a gap, and Amma snickered at the missing tooth. “No one can beat Papa.”

“No one can, you are right, but you weren’t with Papa the whole time,” Mia reminded her. “Since you didn’t listen, you must stay home tomorrow until the second sun is high in the sky. I expect your furs to be cleaned and the bathroom shining.”

“Can I have a spanking instead?” Julian asked.

Amma couldn’t hold back her laughter. She had never heard a child ask for a spanking, and the way Julian said it, she asked a lot. “I’m sorry,” Amma coughed out. She covered her mouth when Mia glared at her. “I just – she’s just cute.”

“Hi,” Julian said, and turned her gap-toothed grin on Amma. “You look like my mommy.”

“I am your cousin,” Amma said. “Your grandmother was my mother’s sister. We all look a little like each other. You remind me of my younger sister, Joy. So bubbly.”

“Is she here?” Julian asked. “I want to meet her.”

“I hope so,” Amma answered. “Our home back on Earth was not safe when we left.”

“Julian,” Mia turned her baby’s attention back to her. “You are not going to get a spanking because I want you to think about what you did wrong, and your papa wouldn’t stand to see you cry.”

Julian’s smile dropped. “I am sorry. Remember when we found Papa all hurt on the ground?”

“Yes,” Mia answered. “You saved him.”

“Yes, I did,” Julian nodded. “I feel the same about the two warriors outside. They need my help.”

“What warriors?” Mia glanced at Amma. “Was someone hurt?”

“No mama, they’re not from our village,” Julian said. “They came with Cousin Amma.”

“Is she talking about Jabari and Kofi?” Amma asked. “How did she even know where to find them?”

“From what I can understand, Julian can feel their pain,” Mia answered. “I need to talk to another healer, because I don’t really know how to help my daughter control her magic.”

“I hope we find one. Maybe we should ask some of the healers who have passed on?”

“I never thought of that, I will.”

“As for the brothers, they’re not physically hurt. There is something blocking their ability to speak. When I touch their spirits I can talk to them, but that can’t be the long-term solution.”

“Julian has healed both physical and mental wounds,” Mia said.

Amma’s jaw dropped. “Amazing. I wonder if there’s something in this world that amplifies our powers. Shelly hasn’t been formally trained either, and yet she was able to control just as many animals as I was.”

“This will draw the attention of the High Coven,” Mia said. “We need to find a way to shield them.”

Amma nodded. “It may be too late. The ones who descended on Jo’s village have now seen three witches not from their world. If they were able to get word back to the coven, they will be on high alert.”

“How are we going to protect our sisters and cousins who are still lost out in the forest?” Mia asked.

“I don’t know. My younger sister is out there, and she’s only seventeen. She is a sea witch, so she will have more protection than many of the others.”

“A sea witch?” Mia lifted an eyebrow. “I have only heard of them. Never met one.”

“I think she’s the first in a long time. You should see her work her magic, it’s beautiful.”

“I hope to one day.”

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