Forbidden Attraction

Chapter 2: Bloodlines and Magic

I'm running through the quiet streets of Ravenwood, Saturday night vibes, and my playlist is lit - Brazilian phonk and funk got me moving. I haven't been sleeping well ever since I had entered the Library of Lost Souls. Whatever happened that must've been a sign or a warning. And the way I escaped that suffocating room is what I'll use to find out more about this mysterious school. But how do I go back there without being trapped inside again? Maybe this time I will not make it out alive.

I stop at a street corner, grab my blackberry smoothie from my backpack, and take a sip. That's when I see it... a shadow in the distance. Even though it's scary and creepy, it might hold the answers I need about this spooky town.As I get closer, the shadow takes shape, and an old lady comes into view.

She's sitting on a wooden stool, looking like she's been waiting for me. I slow down, curious, and she motions for me to come closer. I hesitate, but my feet seem to move on their own. She starts talking, and I'm drawn in. As she's speaking, I study her face, and a weird sense of familiarity hits me. She looks... like Grandma, but... how are they related? And then it hits me - she drops a bombshell:

"Your grandmother attended Ravenswood High." What. The. Heck? Mom never told me that!

And if that's not enough, she starts going on about these "true powers" I supposedly have. What is she talking about? I'm just a normal girl, right? I listen, trying to process, and that's when Mom comes running,

"Lilly, my dear, who are you talking to?" I turn to her, smiling,

"Mom, meet Mrs Megara, the storyteller."

Mrs Megara's eyes twinkle, and she says,

"You are the only one who can see me." I feel a shiver run down my spine. Mom's eyes widen, and she faints. I'm frozen, unsure what to do. But then, a weird feeling takes over - like magic, but I don't know what it is. I reach out, and somehow, I wake Mom up.

Mrs Megara's voice is like a whisper,

"That's your real power, your witch powers." And just like that, she's gone. Vanished. I'm left standing there, Mom looking at me like she's seeing me for the first time.

As Mom and I head back home, I try to process what just went down.

"So... wassup?" I ask, trying to sound casual, but my curiosity's killing me.

Mom knows me too well, though. She sees the questions written all over my face and starts talking before I can even ask.

"Yes, Lilly, your grandmother was, is, a witch. Our family's been cursed with magic for generations - good and bad. But you're one of the good ones."

My mind's blown. "What!? I'm a witch!? How come you never told me?"

Mom's expression turns serious. "I didn't want to destroy you, Lilly. I wanted to protect you, give you a normal life. You're my precious child, my one and only daughter amongst four boys."

I shake my head, still trying to wrap my brain around this. "But... how would it destroy me?"

"We didn't leave Paris for fun, Lilly. We came to Ravenswood because we have unfinished business. Your dad's assets were stolen by Lloyd Ledger, Ravenwood's biggest Mafia boss. Your dad wants revenge. And your grandmother... she had unfinished business with her cousin, a witch who's not exactly... good."

I'm reeling. My family's a bunch of witches? What's next?

Just as I'm about to lose it, my phone buzzes. Seraya's texting me again. "Please answer me, Lilly! Will you make it to Expresso Restaurant tomorrow?" I agree, still frowning. I don't trust her, but... ugh, I'll deal with it tomorrow.

I glance at Mom, who's watching me with a mix of concern and guilt. I want to ask her more questions, but my mind's already spinning. We walk the rest of the way home in silence, the only sound being the distant hum of crickets and the soft crunch of gravel under our feet.

As we step into the house, Mom heads straight for the kitchen. "Want some tea, Lilly?" she asks, her voice a bit too bright.

I nod, dropping my backpack onto the floor. "Yeah, sure."

The kitchen's warm and cozy, the scent of vanilla and cinnamon wafting from the candles on the counter. Mom busies herself making the tea, her hands shaking slightly as she pours the hot water into our mugs.

I take a sip, feeling the warmth spread through my chest. "Mom..."

She looks up, her eyes wary. "Yeah, kiddo?"

I hesitate, unsure how to phrase the questions swirling in my head. But Mom's always been able to read me.

"What does it mean?" I ask finally. "Being a witch, I mean. What can I do?"

Mom's expression turns serious, and I know I'm about to get some answers.

"Darling, being a witch is more than just magic," she says, her voice low and urgent. "It's about being a hero to thousands, protecting those you love, and fulfilling a promise made by your great, great, great grandmother - to create a legacy of good witches and protect Ravenswood. And you're the only one who can fulfill that wish."

My eyes widen as I process the weight of her words. Not only am I a witch, but I've got a massive responsibility on my shoulders? "Why can't you fulfill the wish, Mom?" I ask, feeling a mix of frustration and desperation.

Mom's face falls, and I see a glimmer of sadness in her eyes. "Amara, your grandmother's cousin, stole my powers and cursed me. I'm powerless, Lilly. But you're different. You're more powerful than any of us, including Amara herself."

I shake my head, trying to wrap my brain around this. Me? Powerful? I can barely control my emotions, let alone magic. "But how am I supposed to fulfill this wish when I don't even know how to use my powers?" I ask, my voice rising in panic.

Mom's expression turns stern, and she grips my hand tightly. "You'll learn, Lilly. You have to. The fate of Ravenswood depends on it."