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I expected a gasp of surprise, to be set free and apologized to, but suddenly, the bonds tightened again, and she pressed the knife hard against my throat. A trickle of blood trailed across my neck and to the floor as I gasped for breath.
“The boy,” she growled. “I really should kill you.”
“Wait,” I gasped. “Please.”
“You shouldn’t have the power to travel into dreams. How did you do it? Who put you up to this? Are you here to kill me?”
“If I were,” I panted, “I’d be doing a bad job.”
She slammed my head against the floor. “Enough cheek. How did you get here? What do you want?”
“Help. I need help. Learning my powers,” I croaked.
“You don’t have any powers that you haven’t stolen, monster.”
Monster? Harsh.
“Let me up. I’ll explain. You’re misunderstanding.” I struggled underneath her, which only caused more blood to pour from where the knife dug into me. But I wasn’t about to sit there and let her kill me.
“I know better than to let you go. I should have listened to my parents. Who knows what damage you’ve already done?” She was addressing me but talking to herself since I had no idea what she was talking about. “I should kill you.”
The lack of oxygen was making me dizzy, and my thoughts drifted away from me like fog. “Don’t kill me. You’ll kill them.”
“Who?” But I couldn’t respond, black spots started dancing in front of my eyes. “Tell me!” she screamed, but my sight was swallowed by black, and I was gone.
...
I came to and found that I’d been seated in a wooden chair. Rope now restrained me across my chest and legs, and my hands were tied behind the back of the chair. My head lolled heavily, and I gave a small tug at the bonds to test them.
Shitting hell.
They were tight and cutting into my skin, but I knew in a few moments, I’d have more energy to get out.
My birth mother was sitting quietly in front of me on the floral-patterned sofa. I stared into her hazel eyes. She looked angry … and sad.
I didn’t say anything. What could you say to a woman who hadn’t wanted you and thought you were so bad that she tried to kill you? We stared at each other, silent.
“I see a lot of myself in you,” she whispered. I said nothing, suspicious of the change of heart. “Your height must be from your father, though.”
I wondered about him then. If he would greet me with the same venom. If he even knew he was a witch since he had been given up to adoption too. I wished I were talking to him instead. We would have had a lot in common.
“I wondered what you’d look like.” She looked at me like she wanted me to understand. “You don’t know how hard it was for me when I found out you were a boy. I couldn’t kill you, so I gave you away. Placed a block on your magic and on finding your blood family. How did you do it? Why did you come and cause me all this pain?”
Cause her pain?
I couldn’t hold my tongue any longer. “Cause you pain? Do you know what my life has been like? Do you even care?”
She opened her mouth and shut it again quickly. Her face crumpled, and she sniffled. “I don’t know your name.”
“It’s Charles. Charlie,” I whispered.
“Charlie,” she breathed. “It’s fitting. I didn’t dare name you. Not even in my head.” She took a deep breath to compose herself. “I’m Elizabeth.” She tilted her head. “Why are you here?”
“I recently learned I’m a witch, and I need to learn about my magic.”
She sat back and rolled her eyes like I was being stupid. “You’re not a witch.”
“I beg your pardon,” I asked incredulously.
