The Prophecy

Chapter One

“Echo Delaney as I live and breathe!” Aunt Marg came and enveloped me in a hug so tight I lost my breath for a moment. Even her southern twang sounded elegant along with her slender body, full thick wavy auburn hair, and honey brown eyes she was absolutely gorgeous. “Now if you don’t look JUST like your momma did at 17 then I never! Annette was a looker and you inherited all her best features my dear you are a peach!.” I smiled for a moment, happy to be told I looked like my momma then almost immediately sadness washed over me and my smile fell from my lips to land on the floor at my feet. I opened my mouth to say some sort of thank you but she continued, “You may have gotten your mommas hair, height and freckles but my girl, those eyes… its like I’m talking to your daddy.” She pulled me close again and whispered “I’m so sorry my sweet girl, I’m sorry time got away from us and we never made it over to see you but I’ve loved you your whole life. Annette and Roger were like family and I know nothing in this world can take their place I just want you to know even under the circumstances we are so happy you’re here.” 

“Thank you Aunt Marg.” Was all I was able to mutter before Arther Whitten cam waltzing through the front door with an old book in his hands and a handsome man about 4 inches taller than him at his left side and another on his right almost just as tall. 

Arther reached up and slowly grabbed his spectacles off his face and gave me a crooked smile and said “Margret m’dear would you believe it, is that little Echo girl? How can it be she’s an adult! Look at her hair just like her momma.” He gestured to his left and said “Echo my sweet this is our oldest boy Waylon.” He had jet black hair like his dad, the sun was bright but if I wasn’t mistaken his eyes looked violet from where I stood. Tall and tan he was muscular and was chewing his bottom lip with a furrowed brow. He wore a black shirt with the sleeves cut off and jeans that looked like they’d seen better days but even in his disarray he was handsome. He raised his hand in a sort of half wave and looked out over our heads to the trees as if he was looking for some way to escape the awkward encounter. 

“And this strapping young lad is our youngest boy Callen.” Arthur continued gesturing to the man on his right. Callen had brown hair but as he made his way down the front steps towards me I noticed it looked auburn like his moms in the sunlight. His brown eyes shown golden like honeycomb and he grabbed me and drew me into a hug just like his mother did at my arrival a few moments ago. “Oh it’s so good to have you here, I mean I wish it wasn’t for the reasons it is, I just, I mean… ummm ha ha I’m sorry welcome to our home Echo.” He released me and stepped back and smiled as he let out a puff of frustration at his awkward words. He radiated kindness where his brother acted as though he wished he could be anywhere but here. He wore overalls and a button up shirt with short sleeves that showed his arms had seen more than a few days helping on the family farm. He was just as handsome as his oldest brother yet somehow they seemed like polar opposites. Just as I finished looking Callen up and down a third man came walking out onto the porch. 

“Is this her Momma?” He said as he brushed back his thick straw colored hair, his crystal blue eyes shown bright in the summer sun. “Do you always have to make a dramatic entrance Athen?” Scowled Waylon from the steps. I realized this must be the middle brother, he chuckled but ignored his older bothers snide remark and made his way down the steps with the same poise and grace as his mother. He stopped dead in front of me and put out a hand, “Echo Delaney I feel like we’ve known each other our entire lives its nice to finally meet you.” I took his hand and felt his strong grip and felt butterflies in the pit of my belly which was weird, was I actually attracted to all 3 brothers in some way? Never had I ever seen three more gorgeous men who were obviously nothing alike but I felt it was something more than that. I couldn’t bring myself to say anything, and I’m not the type to be at a loss for words this was all so much for me, so I just looked at each family member in turn and gave them a slight nod and half smile to acknowledge their warm, (if not extremely overwhelming) greetings. I never was one for pleasantries even under normal circumstances. 

It was Aunt Marg that finally broke the silence, wrapped her arm around my shoulders and steered me towards the door, “Well enough of all that now that you’ve met everyone lets get you settled in. Boys please grab her things from the car and bring them to the suite I’ve been fixing up on the 3rd floor. Echo my dear you must be famished after such a long drive, Arthur take care of the driver honey would you?” The three brothers made their way to the trunk of the car and began unloading my bags and Arthur touched his wife’s arm and smiled as he walked over to the driver who had brought me from my home in Tennessee to the Witten plantation in Georgia. If I thought the outside of the house was gorgeous I damn near lost my breath at the sight of the inside. Tasteful wallpaper covered massive entry way, dark wooden floors sprawling from my feet up the stairs the wound up 2 stories above our heads. Antiques, display cases filled with old artifacts and shelves upon shelves of books reached to the ceiling. To say it was grand would be an insult to its beauty. I was lead through the parlor, into a kitchen that seemed bigger than my entire house back home. Multiple stoves, farmhouse sinks, marble countertops cluttered with flour, butter, and canisters of ingredients sprawled out in front of me. A basket of freshly baked biscuits sat directly in front of us and the smell made my stomach suddenly growl as I realized I hadn’t eaten all day and it was nearly supper time. 

As I sat silently gawking at all the splendor the men came into the kitchen from a door on the opposite side of where we entered. “Athen sweet pea you really have out done yourself sugar, these biscuits smell like heaven what are we having for dinner.” Aunt marg reached down and picked up one of her sons creations and took a deep breath to take in all the buttery goodness we all could smell plain as day. 

“Well momma in honor of our new arrival I whipped us up some real southern cookin’.” He walked around the massive island that stood directly in the center of the seemly professional kitchen and gestured to the many spots on the biggest stove, “we have us here some good ole fashions grits, fried green beans and bacon, homestyle mashed potatoes,” he lifted up a sheet on tin foil and smelled the contents before continuing on, “I’ve been working on my special fried chicken since this morning and smells like it fell from heaven if I do say so myself.” He quickly glanced in my direction and shot me a wink, I felt my cheeks flush scarlet and I looked down at my feet. Athen continued, “Of course grandmamas biscuits there on the counter and my peach cobbler is about 5 minutes from being ready to come out of the oven.” I was in shock, so this blond adonis was tall, handsome, and could cook like a trained chef? 

‘Son that’s just fine, I can’t wait to see what Echo thinks of your cookin’, she’s probably starving after her long drive. Callen will you ask Ms. Loretta to set the table please?” Arthur placed his book on the counter and walked over to a cabinet and began taking out stacks of plates and Waylon came over to help his father by setting glass water goblets next to them. Aunt Marg lead me out of the kitchen through yet another door to our right and we were in a cozy country dining room. A large table covered in a lace cloth with seats for up to 12 sat before us and suddenly I hear a loud voice of an elderly woman coming from behind us. “WAYLON WHITTEN get your goddamn hands out of that jar! I know for a fact your momma and I didn’t raise you that way we are about to have us some supper! I swear child you may be 21 and a grown witch in your own right but do NOT think for one second you’re too big for me to send your butt flying through that door now grab these plates and help me set this table,” A plump motherly looking woman came into the dining room just then and laid plates, glasses, and silverware on the table in front of the chairs I assume we would all be seated at momentarily. My mouth fell open as I watched her use her powers to send the cutlery and dishes flying through the air, gently sitting in their rightful place without even making a sound as they hit the table. I couldn’t even move a damn rock the size of a golf ball at will let alone 6 table settings. “Close your mouth young lady you’ll catch a fly in that thing,” Ms Loretta said with a smile. She walked over and quickly enveloped me into a warm brief hug and held my cheeks in her hands to look me right in the face with her chocolate colored eyes. “You’re an air witch.” Was all the words I could muster still reeling from the impressive display of magic I’d just witnessed. “Well nothing gets past you sweet girl.” She said still holding my face, her eyes softened as she looked me up and down, I saw tears welling up as she spoke once more, “Margret, my word… if its not like Annette is standing right here like 21 years haven’t passed then I just don’t know.” 

“You knew my mama?” I said surprised since my mother had never mentioned this woman before that I could remember. 

“Girl did I know your mama?” She threw her head back and laughed, “I started working here when little Margret was barely 5 years old, she and your mama were joined at the hip. I watched these girl come into their powers, fall in love with your daddies, marry and start families. I stayed on after the place was passed down from Margrets parents to their baby girl and helped raise and train these hellions here.” She jerked a thumb at the table where Waylon, Athen, and Callen sat with smiles on their faces. “Your momma always had a way with nature and my gardens not been the same since she and your daddy moved all that ways away. Maybe now that you’re here you’ll be able to help me get it back to its’ former glory child.” She dropped my face and continued to set the table, delicious dished flying through the air and I muttered, “I don’t think I’m an earth witch like my momma… I can’t even keep a damn cactus alive let alone a whole damn garden.” 

Everyone turned to look at me but it was Callen that spoke first, “well if you’re not an  earth witch what is your specialty? You’re 17 you’ve had your powers for a year you must have an affinity for something already.” I felt my face flush red as I said “I, uh… well.. I don’t really know.” Aunt marg lead me to a seat and said “what do you mean you don’t know love?” I felt all their eyes on me and continued to blush from embarrassment and replied, “well I seem to have trouble controlling my emotions, at least that’s what my momma always said. I’m equally bad at all 4 forms of elemental magic, I’m scared I won’t have a specialty at by my next birthday…” 

“Nonsense child.” Ms Loretta interrupted thankfully, I could see the pity on everyones faces as I explained just how ordinary I was. 

Callen continued, “well don’t worry Echo, our momma is a masterful fire witch, so is Athen here. Ms. Loretta is the best Air witch I’ve ever seen, I’m an earth witch and dad and Waylon have mastered both fire and water between all of us we will help you find your way.” My eyes shot over to Arthur and his oldest boy, I’d never actually met someone who had mastered more than one element. It wasn’t crazy uncommon but I’d been sheltered enough that besides my mothers customers and a few friends of my fathers I hadn’t met too many witches to compare to the group that sat before me that I now shared a home with. But it didn’t keep me from feeling like the loser of the group.