The Witch's Brew

Chapter 9: Iris

I watched Silas flitter about the kitchen, cleaning up breakfast with our help. I wanted to say something, but I also didn’t want to make him feel uncomfortable. Was that the inner beast inside of him? The one who was addicted to blood? I sighed heavily, and my hand reached out for his.

“You don’t have to worry, Silas, we still care about you. I promise you that.”

He looked down at me. His pupils are still dilated widely. His smile didn’t reach his eyes. The enteral struggle is still fresh. He nodded and reached out for my hand. I happily took and squeezed his hand.

“Thanks, Iris, it’s always gonna be an uphill battle for me and my addiction.”

He sighed and leaned against the counter. Kai looked up at him as he put away the last dish. Silas looked down at his hands. His fingers flexed. His face set in a hard line. His lips pulled tight. What was going through his mind?

I leaned against his chest. Hoping that my feelings about him radiated from my body and into his. I rested my head on his chest. His toned arms wrap around me. I wrap my arms around his waist as we sway.

“Hey, it’s okay… was that the blood lust that took over briefly?”

Silas nods. “Yeah, I was afraid I would bite you…”

My facial features softened as my hands found his. I nuzzled into his chest. “I know and look, I’m okay, Kai is okay, and you’re okay. That’s what matters, right?” Silas nodded again, and I smiled bigger. “See, everything is okay. You mean too much to me to toss you aside because of an addiction.”

Kai stood off to the side awkwardly, but he smiled a lopsided grin. “Yeah, what Iris said. I know I’m still battling my internalized homophobia, but I wont leave your side either.”

I sighed in relief and plated the food. “Still hungry?”

They both smiled and nodded. We carried the plates over to the small table in the kitchen, and we dug into the food. We ate in silence, just enjoying each other’s company. We talk about nothing in particular, just whatever was on our minds.

We curled up on the couch in my living room, watching some sappy romance that Kai had begged to watch. Silas was in the middle, playing with my hair, and his other hand was rubbing Kai’s knee. I tried to pay attention to the movie, but my mind kept wandering to what I had found out the night before. I had magic abilities, but they were just for nullifying magic… and about how Manman Mwen knew, because apparently it’s genetic.

Silas looked over at me as his fingers tangled gently in my hair. I looked up at him, his dark eyes watched my face. His lips pulled into a small smile before he leaned and kissed my cheek.

“What’s the matter, Angel?”

“Just thinking about what I found out last night, and if I should confront Manman Mwen about it.”

Silas leaned back into the couch cushions while his fingers still traced idle patterns on Kai’s knee. Kai looked over at us; his jaw was set into a hard line. I knew Kai never liked Manman Mwen, but she was family, right? I didn’t have a choice but to at least respect her a little bit, right?

“You sure that’s a good idea? What if she doesn’t wanna come forward and tell the truth?” Kai asked as he squeezed my hand.

“I know that’s a possibility, but still I want to try. I want to hear it from her. I need to see if she will, for once, be the Manman she was supposed to be.”

Kai nodded, but the way his brows furrowed was a different story. It wasn’t something he actually agreed with. Silas stayed neutral. Kai looked up at Silas for his reaction. He needed to have his inner thoughts validated.

“I understand why you want to see your mother’s reaction. I get that I really do, but are you sure it’ll be the outcome you desire?”

I leaned back into the couch and crossed my arms. My brain was running a mile a minute with the options, the outcomes, and second-guessing my choice. However, I nodded my head.

“Yeah, I think it’s worth it,” I said with finality.

I made up my mind, and I was ready to test my theory and see if she could be the Manman I needed.

Silas sighed and nodded. “Okay, but if you need us there for moral support, we will. Or is it something you think you need to do on your own?”

“I think I need to do this on my own. Besides, I don’t think she’d take kindly to non-witches showing up at her home. She’s kind of an elitist and thinks any other species is beneath her.”

Silas looked over at Kai, and he squeezed his hand. “Okay, well, we still will be there in spirit, and if you need us after the visit, please let us know.”

I nodded and smiled at them. “Will do! I promise after I visit her, I’ll be back and will let you both know what happened.”

I was standing in front of my mother’s small shotgun house. The mint paint was new, and the small garden in front of the place was the same as I remembered from growing up, filled with herbs and vegetables. My hands were shaking with nerves. My palms slowly grew more sweaty. I took three deep breaths as I tried to calm my racing heart.

I opened the gate and walked through and up the small cobblestone pathway that led to the small porch. My heart was pounding in my chest. How long has it been since I’ve been home? Since I was eighteen… ten years… f**k has it really been that long? My hand trembled when I made a fist to knock on the lilac colored door. My body tensed when I heard the lock click and the creak of the hinges when Manman opened it.

When the door fully swung open, her eyes widened before returning to her fake, relaxed look. Her lips pulled back into a small, tight-lipped smile.

“Iris, dear, what are you doing here…” Her gaze flickered back towards Mon Papa, who was approaching the threshold.

Mon Papa’s gaze filtered toward me. His smile was more relaxed, and it made my heart flutter. Maybe he didn’t think I was the mistake like Manman thought I was. That thought was short-lived when he turned away from the door and walked back inside. I could hear my younger siblings talking about their powers and how my youngest sister, Bryony, just got engaged.

Mon Papa’s voice traveled through the small house. “Merveilleux! We’ll have to celebrate your engagement with the whole family!”

Bryony’s voice came through the threshold next. “Including, Iris?” Her voice came out forced, like saying my name was a curse.

Manman’s body stiffened, and she walked out onto the porch and shut the door behind her.

“We weren’t expecting you. Is there something you needed?” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“I wanted to ask about magic users who can use nullifying magic.”

Her icy gaze flickered towards the house’s door before it landed back onto me.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Iris.”

“You sure, Manman… because I witnessed what I could do last night at work… I nullified someone’s magic… So tell me the truth this time!” My voice rose higher and higher with each passing word.

Her eyes narrowed, and her fake facade melted away as quickly as it had come. She took a few steps back towards the front door.

“Manman, please just be honest… for once. Just tell me about the genetic lineage… What this means for me and why is it so feared…”

Manman looked back at me mid-turn for the door. Her eyes narrowed.

“I mean it, Iris, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

With that, she opens the door and walks through the threshold. She pauses before shutting the door.