Casters

Chapter 4

"Aunt Annalise! Charlotte does not know about her powers..."

She then looked at her aunts and Matilda, who were sitting in silence. "Is there something we should know?" she asked, breaking the silence.

"I see, thank you." Aunt Annalise looked at Matilda. Her sister smiled and asked the same thing Charlotte did.

"Nothing really, I just examined your facial structures. You both look like your parents. We miss them dearly." Annalise sighed, "and you, Charlotte... you have your mother's eyes." She teared up.

Charlotte felt numb. She couldn't remember what her parents looked like. After the fire, she could remember her family memories, but couldn't remember how her parents look. It felt like her brain filtered her memories from all pain. Matilda was two years old back then when the incident happened.

"Yeah, if only I remembered to blow the fire out, the incident wouldn't have happened." Charlotte sighed. She remembered how turning on a stove and lighting a candle scares her.

"Grace..." Annalise whispered, looking at Charlotte, "she really does not remember?"

Charlotte got confused, "excuse me? Remember what exactly?" Aunt Grace shook her head, nothing dear. Your Aunt Annalise feels like you do not remember your parents' faces."

Aunt Grace stood up and encouraged Charlotte to unpack their bags with Matilda while she and Annalise cook their lunch.

As the sisters left, Grace threw a thousand daggers at Annalise with her stare. "Do not ever... mention this incident again to Charlotte."

"Ventus mutationis, make a good weather for the girls up there to enjoy their view," Annalise whispered before proceeding to help with the preparations for their dinner.

---

"I could not believe you'd let Charlotte grow up like a normal person!" Annalise whispered.

"Hush, sister! She could hear you. You know how much Lily would want Charlotte and Matilda to live a normal life." Grace lied, "now, continue beating that egg while I chop these into strips, will you."

"Yes, but she is turning 18 next week. Her powers will claim her even if she won't know it. If she couldn't control it, what do you think would happen if the curse gets-" she was cut off by Grace's stare.

"The curse will be handled..." Grace whispered sadly. She knew what was coming. And that's why we're here... for the family to guide her.

"You are an empath, yet you couldn't guide your niece through it?" She challenged. Grace has always kept her empath senses a secret from her nieces until Matilda found out.

"How could Matilda possibly know hers first before Charlotte did?" Annalise wondered. She was surprised when Matilda sent telepathic messages, especially a message that stated Charlotte not knowing her powers.

"Well, I never knew Matilda was an earth elemental caster. She was the one growing that beautiful garden in the pictures we sent you. When she tried to erase my memories of me catching her for the first time with her powers, I suddenly knew what kind of a caster she is." Grace smiled. Annalise loved this one.

Annalise is married to their Uncle Raven, who was Grace's brother. Charlotte's mother was Raven and Grace's sister. The Alarie family is descended from the light-bearing casters. It was rare for the family to be claimed by the earth and air elements. Usually, empath descendants would consist of readers, light-bearers, light elemental, dark elemental, water elemental, and mind-readers. Readers are of different types; they call themselves a different name than most casters know them as. Clairvoyant readers are dominant in their sense of seeing. Clairsentients have a stronger and clearer sense of feelings and intuitions. Clairaudients could hear the unheard and while those who have clairalience could smell psychic information. There are different Clairs out there than you could ever imagine. Annalise was an air caster, but she only married to this family. She was an Evergreen, a family who descended from the earth casters. The earth casters consist of earth elemental casters, fire, air, water, blood, and lightning. Despite having blood as an element, it is rare for the descendants to receive them. It is said that the goddess who has gifted this element to the casters only chooses who deserves the element.

"She's 13, right? A few more years left; the earth will finally claim our little Matilda," she sighed in relief, "but what about Charlotte?" She asked worriedly. "At least, tell me there's a plan?"

"There is one, and I have already have discussed this with Raven. Since Blake is our light caster, we concluded Charlotte would be the dark caster." Grace replied. Annalise looked at her confused.

"I do not think you remember; mother Christen said that on the 18th year of the moon caster, the moon shall claim what was hers. Once that happens, Gideon will rise again."

"You really believe that Charlotte will be claimed by the moon?" Grace shook her head, "Annalise, she is the descendant of the Golden Sun, the family of oracles. She will take mother's place as the oracle and light-bearer with the element of darkness. Annalise, no one has ever been claimed by the moon."

Annalise thought about what she said and was surprised by the revelation. "Oh my. There is none!"

"What are the chances that out of millions of casters, Charlotte would be the one? If so, then she would be the first caster to ever be handling the powers of the moon." Grace asked. Annalise said, "you know very well why. The night of the incident was the proof why, and mother Christen has revealed that prophecy.

"But okay, I trust you. I have a niece who will turn 18 next week after Charlotte. Perhaps, we should try approaching her. Maybe my niece, Sheena, and her could get along." Annalise sighed. "Well, what if Sheena is the chosen one?" Grace wondered.

Annalise stopped stirring and was taken aback. "No, it can't be. Sheena is an Evergreen. The curse started in the light-bearers." Grace laughed. "I was only joking."

"Not a good one, Grace. I almost died thinking the whole generation of casters is cursed." She said while preparing the dining table. Grace laughed at this. "We shall see on their birthdays. Now, go call them. We would not want our food to turn cold."

Annalise went to the stairs and called, "Ladies, dinner is ready!"

"Coming!" Charlotte called out.

Annalise went back to the dining room, "they're coming. I shall wake Mother up."

Annalise went to the living room and kneeled down beside Mother Christen. "Surgit," she blew. Christen never liked waking up to them trying to wake her up. She has always told Annalise to blow her a wake-up spell, instead.

"It is always better than people being so loud," she would say.

Annalise smiled at this memory. Mother smiled at her and signaled for her help to stand up. "Thank you, Anna."

Ever since Annalise's parents died, Christen has always taken good care of her. Her sisters and brothers already had families of their own, and so has she.

---

After saying their grace, Matilda asked her Grandma Christen, "have you been outside of Roussillon?"

Her grandma slowly nodded and smiled. "I have been to many places, different countries of Europe. I've also been to Gatlin when I visited Lily once. Yet, after all the beautiful places and faces I have seen, Roussillon will always feel like home."

Matilda dropped her spoon as soon as her grandma stopped talking.

"What is it, dear?" Aunt Grace asked.

"Blake..." Matilda whispered.

"You'll be fine, Matilda," Charlotte reassured. Matilda shook her head. "Blake and Uncle Raven are here."

Grace and Annalise looked at each other. Grace dashed to opened the door and was greeted by Blake with a warm smile.

"Who said you'll be having dinner with my sisters without me?

"Blake! You are finally home," Aunt Grace hugged him, "where's your Uncle Raven? I miss my brother so much." Blake smiled and said, "he's out in the field. He told me to go ahead."

"Alright, come in and greet your grown-up sisters!" Grace exclaimed.

Blake dropped his smile and stared at Grace. "They are here? I- I forgot they are here."

What if they do not see me as their brother anymore? I do regret leaving them behind after the incident. Blake let out a sigh of disbelief. "Stop thinking that. They were very excited to reunite with you before leaving Gatlin."

"You are very fond of reading my thoughts, Aunt Grace," he laughed, "Perhaps, I could show off my new light combo spells."

Aunt Grace stopped him before entering, "I have to tell you something." "What is it?"

"Charlotte does not know about her powers, nor the curse. Most especially, she does not know what happened to your family during that night." Aunt Grace sighed. Blake arched his eyebrows. "What do you mean she does not know? You raised her to forget her history?"

"I had to protect her, Blake. You left us there alone in Gatlin." Grace answered back. He turned his back in anger and faced her again after composing his thoughts, "how is she supposed to control the curse?"

"She will learn, Blake."

"Raven!" exclaimed Grace, lessening the tension of the conversation. "I miss you!"

Raven hugged Grace and said, "It seems that I've been growing out more white hairs than you are." They both laughed at this.

"Now, Grace. I could not say you made the right choice. I figured Charlotte will feel betrayed after everything you have hidden from her."

Grace agreed on this one. She looked at Blake with a worrying look. "Your Uncle and I have discussed this. We will share this plan with you, soon."

Blake nodded and asked, "what about Matilda? Do not get me wrong, I love them both and will protect them equally, but Matilda has always been the sister I will die for first."

"Matilda knew about her powers. She even tried to use her memory charm on me." Grace laughed.

Blake was relieved by this. If Matilda was hidden from the truth, the situation would be twice harder to deal with. "What caster is she?" "Earth elemental," Grace answered. "She is also gifted of the vision and tongue to speak with creatures."

"We have a clairvoyant in the family?" Blake asked, surprised, "but how?"

"We are a family of empaths and light-bearers; she is an earth elemental," Uncle Raven explained, "she could see these creatures, even speak with them. It seems that my niece has literally always been so down-to-earth." He joked.

"You and your jokes, Raven. Clairvoyants do not only see these creatures; they also connect with the spiritual realm. Matilda has not told me anything yet; if that time comes, then we could conclude that she is a clairvoyant." Grace continued, "anyway, let's go inside. Our dinner is turning cold."

---

Blake entered the room and he dropped his gaze upon Charlotte and Matilda. He went to their seats and looked at them in the eyes.

"You both really looked like mother and father." He whispered. Charlotte jumped from her chair and gave Blake a hug.

"I missed you, Blake! It's been hard without a brother who looks after you."

Blake has always protected Charlotte when she was little; from bullies down the street until when the incident had happened. He was sure to look after Matilda and Charlotte.

"I'm sorry Cee. I had to leave for myself and you knew that, right?" Blake asked while Charlotte nodded. Blake then looked at Matilda, who was quiet the whole time, unsure of what to say.

"M, you probably do not remember me. I'm Blake," He whispered as he reached out for her to come, "I remember I would always fight Ma and Pa if they try to take you away from me."

Matilda smiled at this. She felt Blake was genuine with his words and gave him the tightest hug she could make.

"Let's eat now, shall we? Uncle Raven and I are both tired from work there at the town." Blake said. Matilda's face brightened up as she heard this, "you work there? Could you and Uncle possibly bring us there someday?" Blake smiled at this thought.

"Of course! I will be very happy to bring you there this weekend. It's my day off." He replied. Matilda celebrated this and ate her dinner happily.

Charlotte stood up and gave her Uncle Raven a hug. He used to take care of Charlotte when she was little while her parents are away working and Blake would be in school.

"You've grown so much, Charlotte," he smiled, "I brought you a gift."

It was a bracelet.

It had black tourmaline crystals and the design was the sun itself.

I knew the sun was a family thing. Charlotte smiled. "Thank you, uncle."

"Let's celebrate!"