Page 28 of Stalked

I shook my head. “I’m hurt, yes, but not in the way you think. I’m feeling a little lost at the moment, and I’m going to do something you don’t want me to do.”

She set her cup of coffee down, eyes still on me. Her voice cracked. “You’re going to see your mom?”

I nodded once.

“I need you to call the hospital and tell them I’m coming.”

There was no hesitation in her response. She quickly nodded a yes because she knew it was the right thing to do.

“Mercy, your mom didn’t know what she was getting herself into when she began taking your powers away. She told me a little over a year ago that the time was coming when Caleb would come for you and that we needed to protect you from him. Not that he’d hurt you or anything like that, but she feared the life he’d drag you into. That’s what the phone call was about the other day. She knew he was close to finding you and wanted me to let you talk to her before he did.” Lily stood up and walked over to me, placing her hand over her heart, tears glistening in her eyes. “Oh, Mercy, I wanted to tell you. I was going to tell you.”

“You’ve known my entire life, Lily. Why wait until two weeks before I’m twenty-one?”

“It wasn’t my place to tell you. It was your mother’s. Joel and I realized we would have to eventually?—you know?—after your mom was arrested. A witch shouldn’t do their Awakening alone. It’s not like you can avoid it. We were just waiting for the right time to tell you.”

It all sounded so comical to me.

“Is there a right time to tell me we’re real witches?” I asked.

“I guess not.”

“Is Caleb dangerous?” I asked her.

“Honestly, I don’t know. After you died, Caleb and the rest of your coven created the jet stones by enchanting them with magic to keep the future of witches safe. They had just enough to pass down to each first-born female in each of the five bloodlines. The Chosen Ones proved to us their loyalty, but the way your mom described some of the visions of your past life, with what she saw Caleb do, she said he would only bring you darkness.” She rubbed her eyes. “Is it absolutely necessary for you to go see her?”

“Caleb told me my powers are going to kill her when I go through my Awakening if I don’t take them back,” I explained.

Lily’s mouth gaped open. She didn’t know.

I told her what I had to do and everything Caleb had shared with me about myself last night. Lily only sat there in complete silence.

“This is why she tried to kill me before I turned eighteen and left for college. She knew I would be out of reach and my powers would become too strong for her to hold on to during my eventual Awakening. She didn’t want to give them up, so killing me was the only way to assure my powers would stay inside her.”

Lily looked panicked. “The visions your mom had of your former life were terrifying to her. She’d cry day and night every time she caught a glimpse of your previous life. There were days during the pregnancy when she would close her eyes and see them, but she wasn’t sleeping. Visions flashed in her mind constantly. She said you were always on the run, fighting evil beings that threatened the witches in your village. Your magic was so dark, she feared bringing you into this world. Caleb and his family used dark magic, and you were always with him. She was afraid you would use that type of magic in this life. She told me she would find a way to take your powers away so you could live a normal, innocent life. I didn’t know what your powers would do to her or that they would cause her to hurt her own daughter.”

I threw my hands in the air. “I don’t have a choice here, Lily. From what Caleb explained, my Awakening will bring my powers back into my body, but I don’t want them to kill my mom in the process. I have to take them back or ask her to give them up.”

Lily sucked on her bottom lip before saying, “Okay, I’ll go with you, then.”

I shook my head. “No. I need to do this alone.” I waited to hear her argue with me, but she stayed silent, her eyes filled with understanding and sadness. “That hospital barrier will protect me, right?”

She nodded slowly.

“Then, I’ll be okay.”

I heard her breath hitch, and the color drained from her face. “Please call me when you’re heading back.”

It was nice not to argue with her as I had with Caleb. I grabbed my purse, turned back to Lily, and asked her, “Why don’t you use elemental magic anymore?” Looking around the room, I noted the décor and the little altar she created in the family room. “It’s no secret you’ve embraced it.”

“The spells I do now don’t involve anyone but myself,” she said. “They don’t create the kind of power the elements would bring. Besides, even then, my powers don’t even come close to the amount of strength inside you.” She walked up to me and placed her hand on mine. I welcomed her touch with a slight squeeze. “You’re special, Mercy. Joel and I will be here to help you in any way we can.”

I flashed her a smile and released her hand. “I’ll be back by six, then.”

_______________

I ARRIVED ATthe hospital ninety minutes later and checked in at the front desk.

Glancing down the hall, I noticed steel bars on the windows of each room. One guard standing near the front desk had a long pipe device attached to his belt. It looked like a stun gun, but longer and thinner.

---