When the Magic Stops

Controlling my Fire

Adrian was silent for a minute or so before saying, “Catrina, you’ve never had visions before.”

I’m pretty sure I rolled my eyes as I told him, “No s**t. I guess all witches develop their powers at different stages because my mother was having visions by the age of seven. Now would you please call the coven compound so I can tell my mother what I saw? Or am I going to have to wait until I can see again and bug Liam, who usually just wants to be left the f**k alone?” I didn’t hear anything from him for about another two minutes, then a phone was pressed against my ear, and I heard the sound of the other end ringing. It rang four times before it was answered by half-sibling number three.

“Silver Mist Coven, this is Liam.”

“Liam, it’s Catrina. I need to talk to Mom. I had a vision.” I winced as I spoke, my head pounding like a drum.

“God damn it, it’s always something, isn’t it? What is it this time?”

“Nancy burning down the world and you and Mom’s deaths. Get Mom.” I gritted my teeth, fairly certain that Liam thought I was kidding even if I wasn’t. It’s not like he’s ever seen me have any sort of premonition: this was my first time, and based on the bleeding eyes thing, I think I wasn’t ready for it.

“I repeat, it’s always something, isn’t it? Just f*****g wonderful.” I heard the hold music from the other end for about three minutes before Mom picked it up.

“High Priestess Agatha speaking.” I nearly cried in relief hearing her voice.

“Mom, it’s me. I had a vision. Adrian is with me right now but I can’t see anything because my eyes are full of blood. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do but you’re my High Priestess and my Mom, so we called you.”

“Catrina, honey, calm down. What did you see? I can’t help if I don’t know.”

“I was standing in what was left of the coven compound. The only thing left standing was the gate. Everything was burning, and there were piles of corpses everywhere. Yours and Liam’s were on top of the nearest pile. Nancy was sitting on your throne looking proud of all of the death and destruction around her, but there was a disconnected look in her eyes. Her left eye had a sliver of gold, so small I almost didn’t notice it. I’m scared, Mom. I don’t know how to stop this, or if I even can. I don’t even know why I saw it. I didn’t see my body but I saw you and Liam’s, and I don’t understand what I saw. I’ve never been a Clairvoyant before and this hurts.”

“Catrina, sweetheart, it’s going to be okay. I promise, we will figure this out. Now, do you want to come home and help with research, or do you want to stay with your father and let us handle it?”

“Can I come home? I’m the one that had the vision. Maybe I could have you take a look at it and see if I missed something that could help.”

“Of course you can come home, sweetie. I’ll have one of the warriors come get you in about three hours, okay? That way you have time to heal and time to pack your things.” I nodded, forgetting for a minute that she couldn’t see me through the phone.

“Okay, Mom. I’ll see you in a few hours.” I hung up the phone and handed it back to Adrian, still wincing from the throbbing headache I had. I vaguely remember hearing Adrian pocket the phone before speaking.

“Come on, kiddo. Let’s get you back inside. I’ll have one of the maids grab a cool rag for your eyes, and get you some headache meds.” He picked me up like I weighed next to nothing and started jogging back to the mansion.

“I’m getting picked up in three hours. My mother is sending one of the coven warriors for me. Can you help me get some of my stuff packed to take back to the compound with me?” I had to ask him, even though I knew he wasn’t going to be happy about me leaving.

“Munchkin, you just got here a few weeks ago. I get that you’re scared, but do you really have to go?” He sounded depressed at the idea of me leaving.

“What if I asked Dad to let you come with me? Would that help? That way you can still train me with my vampiric powers and I can still help figure out what to do about what I saw.” Adrian stayed quiet, so I decided to push my luck a little. ‘Adrian, I’m scared of what I saw and I need my big brothers and my mom. Imogen, I can do without, but I need you, Mom, and Liam right now.”

Adrian’s willpower crumbled. “Alright, we’ll ask Dad. If he says no, I’ll sneak out in the morning after he goes to sleep and meet you at the compound, okay? You’re my baby sister; if you need me there, I’m there. No questions asked.”

I smiled, happy I’d gotten through to my oldest sibling. Adrian always somehow knows what I need to hear. I did have another motive for asking him to come with me though. “Who knows, big brother? You may even find a mate at the compound. You haven’t met everyone there, after all.”

Adrian groaned. “I’m going to support my little sister while she finds her way around new freaky witch powers, not for dating prospects.” He practically growled that s**t at me.

“Adrian, quit the growling crap. You’re a vampire prince, not a werewolf. It’s not in the least bit scary anyway. Besides, who says you can’t support me and still date? I thought you were a fan of multitasking.” I smirked, knowing full well that I had him cornered, and he had walked into it face-first.

I felt the fabric of reality bend nearby, which meant that someone had shadowstepped to us. I wasn’t sure who it was until I heard their voice, and I can honestly say that they didn’t sound happy.

“Son, why are you carrying Catrina like she’s an invalid instead of training her with her elementalist abilities like I told you?!”