The Forgotten Twin

Skills

Liv

Before heading to work, I needed some time to myself to think. I needed to be closer to my Goddess to feel sane again. Just to feel like everything is still okay. It just needs to feel okay.

So I’m heading to the woods, not far from where I was at. No one comes here because it connects to a graveyard. But lucky for me it’s a perfect spot to be alone and practice my magic. Even on some occasion Mason and Connie comes out here with me and we just hangout and stuff. Sometimes Connie wants to do magic and I get a bit nervous. I’m afraid with all the pressure that I’ll look weak to her. That she’ll laugh at me and figure how useless of a friend I am. I didn’t want her laughing at me or even pity me for not being as skilled with magic like she was. I know Connie won’t make fun of me, I just, I don’t know. I just didn’t feel like I can really.

It’s just.. I know it wasn’t that I couldn’t do any magic. I can. After months at the orphanage Madam Grace took me under her guidance and showed me a few stuff to help me. I was afraid at first. Knowing I couldn’t do anything of the things she showed me. But then she explain to me how I am not a loss witch. I am not without magic, I was just debilitating from it. I didn’t understood her, if I couldn’t please my mother, my coven, or our Ancestors how can I please her. I knew I was just better off dead or mortal like.

She fought with me many times with the act. And soon I gave up, I give in and settle back to show her how weak I am. But then she showed me the truth. She showed me my true magic. And I was shock, I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t think I can practice magic anymore. I didn’t think I was capable of even being call a witch.

Madam Grace was an old witch, she grew up in the time where magic was hidden away. At least from the time where no one was a threat to anyone beside the witch hunters. Everyone kept to themselves then. There was no war among other witches nor other supernaturals. But there was time and time again a hunter was call and seek to hunt them. This would call all witches to run and find a new home. She’ve been alive for centuries.

She guided me through it all. Showed me to pace myself. If I strain too much the magic will not come forward. The elements won’t feel right with my requests. Once I knew my own strength, the right way. Then learning wouldn’t be all that hard. It all comes from within me, believing that I can do it even beyond my own space. Ma’am said it is not bad to try to challenge myself sometimes, just don’t over do it. If I push myself too much then it can be dangerous and I can kill myself from it. Other things can happen too but with the whole killing myself scared me enough to not push beyond my own comforted.

After I was adopted, I was worry to not have Madam Grace with me. But she explain how these humans will be kind and not treat me like mine parents had. She said I was safe, and she was right I was. My new parents now only ever show me love and support. I couldn’t of ask for anyone better than them. Then I started to worry what they would think about adopting a witch. I didn’t think Madam Grace told them.

Madam Grace explain that once I feel ready to show them who I was. I will be okay. She reassured me how these are people who would do anything to have a child. I try to believe her but it didn’t ease my nervous little heart. She then hands me one of her magic books to take with me. Told me to never stop practicing. She even gave me her number to call whenever I needed her. She said she can see change within me, that I was meant to be more than just an old witch like her. I don’t know what that’s suppose to mean but I just smile and gave her a big hug, never wanting to let her go.

“You are stronger, braver, wiser, and magnificent. You are one of the millions stars inside. You are the bittersweet and everyone shall kneel down and worship you. You are more than less.” These were one of her many wise words she likes to tell me. They usual make me feel like I can do anything even when I feel like I can’t. Whenever I feel like I need a word of encouragement from someone who just understands me at my lowest. I call Madam Grace. She always has the right words to say to me. Sometime I wish I can visit her but she was far away and I don’t know how I can explain to my parents why I want to go back there to see her. So I settle for just a phone call here and there.

I never told my parents about who I was and who I am now. A small bit inside of me still believes they may be frighten or worst disappoint in me. What if they regret for ever adopting me after they knew? What if they wish they knew sooner so they can give me back? What if, all of this was a mistake?

So to keep up this part of me, I come to the woods to practice. Other times when I can’t I try to be quiet as I can in my room and practice. I’m just glad they never found me in the middle of the night doing spells. Goddess know what they would do?

In the woods, under the Goddess’s watch I feel like I am at home. So full of love, hope and freedom. The many tress that spread through the woods are so beautiful. They hold so many stories and are sanctuary to many creatures. After walking a long walk I finally made it to my spot, it was a nice center in the woods where I can relax and do whatever I wanted.

I pulled my backpack off and thrown it on the ground. Crashing down to my knees and flat on my ass. “Ugh finally, thank you for keeping me safe after all these years. Thank you Goddess for never giving up on me.”

Some chances I get to sit here looking up to the moon. And pray to the Goddess for all she has done for me. I wouldn’t be where I am now if it wasn’t for her. I was completely under her spell and I can’t be more indebted. “Please Goddess keep me under your watch and continue to guide me through the path you seek for me.” I spent the next few minutes sitting on the ground talking to the Goddess.

I open up my backpack and grabbed out all my supplies for today. I had a few candles, my spell book, note book, herbs and my cards for today. Before I begin, I closed my eyes and center myself. Mumbling under my breath to set a protection bubble around me, sheltering me from any distractions.

I start my lesson by shuffling the cards and placing them down nicely. No, they’re not fortune cards, that’s more of a special gift to foretell. These were more of my own learning cards. I’ll grab about three of them and practice whatever the cards tells me. This way I don’t get too comfortable with certain spells. It was so I can branch out and grew my limitations.

I pick three cards and move them away from the deck. I turn them over and see that I had chosen, a spell to conjure the wind, another to control light, and one to bring an afar object towards you.

I start with the easy one. I look around and search for my object. Finding a large branch on the ground. I stand up and place my hands out. Breathing in deep and exhaling. Straightening out my back I focus on my object and say the little words to myself. The branch slowly lifted in the air just slightly off the ground. “Okay slowly Liv, not to fast.”

I slowly move my hands to the left, checking my control. Once I feel my strength holding up, I flick my wrist. “Come to me.” I focus on my speed with the large object and it slowly made its way towards me. I pause half way making sure my strength wasn’t slipping.

“You got this Liv.” I whisper to myself.

Just a few more feet and I would be finish. As I keep my pace the branch was only about a foot away from me. I then turn my hand to the right and slowly breathe out as I lift my hands down to move the branch to make its final resting point. Hearing a light thump I was done. “Okay that wasn’t bad.” My head ringing in my ears as I relax.

Okay I guess I’ll skip electricity since i’m in the woods. I look back at my last cards that explains to me how to conjure wind forward. And again I inhale and exhale to prepare myself. I lay my hands to my side and closed my eyes. Focusing in what I wanted to do. I mumble the words to myself, over and over until I feel the slight wind break the air. I hear a crack and tighten my eyes shut, hoping it was working. I continue to mumble as I feel the wind picking up a bit. I swallow a lump in my throat once I feel the wind lifting my hair. I smile knowing I was doing it. A few seconds go by and the wind grew more and more. I try to control it by only surrounding me. The speed seem to be too much as I felt a drip on my nose.

“f**k it’s too much.”

I open my eyes and see the wind wasn’t around me, that instead there was a small tornado forming near me. “Just control it Liv!”

I try to gain control. I minimus the small tornado to stay in place. But then it grew and the wind was getting stronger than me. “Just a little more,” I push myself as I feel blood coming down my nose. “Almost.” And as my chest started to feel tight, I stop. And exhale in release as the tornado vanishes away.

I wipe my nose and see a good amount of blood on my hand. I grab a cloth from my bag and wipe it away. “Okay that wasn’t bad but it wasn’t suppose to turn into a tornado.” I felt proud and disappoint at myself. I had lost control of my magic and it started to control me.

“I have to be more careful.” I sigh to myself heavily.

It wasn’t the fact that my magic was getting hard. It was more of the magic getting stronger as it grows. I started to do more advance spells to prove that I can be strong and all powerful one day. But whenever I try, I go to far and get these nose bleeds. After that I try to relax and give my body a rest before I headed out to work. I sat down and practice a few more spells. Allowing the Goddess to chose whatever spell from my book. She took pity on me and allow me to work more on my mind and strength.

After a while I get a call. It was mom. I answer after the first few rings. “Hello?” Trying to hid my exhaustion.

“Hey dear, i’m just checking in on you. Are you at work yet?” Hearing mom’s cheery voice puts a smile on my face.

“Almost mom.” Of course I lied. I couldn’t tell her I was in the woods alone. Doing whatever I was doing.

“Okay good. Well I know you are working late and your dad and I will be asleep. So please be safe. We love you Elizabeth.” She always ends our calls with a, ‘we love you Elizabeth’. Hearing that makes me really believe its real.

“I love you too.” We blow a kiss throw the phone and then hang up. I look at the what time and notice I had to clock in 25 minutes.

“f**k I can’t be late again.” I hurry and rush everything into my bag. Removing the barrier spell and running out the woods.

After a jog I made it down the block that lead to a small shopping center. Just a few local stores here and there. I stop my jog once I got close and speed walk inside. Today I was working the back of the bookstore sorting out the new arrivals. For the end of the week days I really enjoy these easy task. Gives me time to ease my mind away from school.

“Hey Liv, you closing?” A coworker ask me as I walk into the back of the store where only employees enter.

“Yeah, just clocking in right now.” We shared a smile and I head to my locker after clocking in.

I put my backpack inside and grab my brush to fix my hair. I had a mirror hanging inside so I can check to make sure I didn’t look a mess. After that I grab a water bottle that I left there and chug it, my throat was dry after my long jog. Sometimes on hot days like these I knew I must smell walking to work. So I always keep some items in my locker to refresh myself.

After I refresh myself I grabbed my work shirt and put it on. Removing the top I had on and leaving myself with an undershirt to have underneath my work shirt. Since I was working stocks today, I just had to put the black shirt instead of the blue one. Easy for the staff to tell us apart. I close my locker and wave hi to a few employees. I walk my way to the stock room where we keep boxes of new arrivals from this mornings trucks. There was two other employees there working hard.

“Hey guys, is this all from today.” One employee nod a yes.

“Who’s closing with me tonight?” I asked them.

And then an elder lady who only looks 30 years old smiles and say. “Me dear, just us two tonight.” She was my favorite coworker. Sweetest as can be too.

“Alright, good.” I chuckle a smile at her. She was that one worker who’s nice to everyone. She was like the mom at work.

I spent my first hour in back helping her out before the other employees had to leave and clock out for the day.

“Okay well I’ll grab these on the left and start placing them out.” I told her. She nods and goes to start placing boxes from the right. She places them on a wheel tray and headed out the floor. It helped her back and got more boxes out for the day. I just took one box at a time so I cam enjoy my work day in a calm pace.

Working at the bookstore was pretty damn peaceful. Another home for me here.

About 4 and half boxes later and it’s almost dark outside. I was surprise at how much I had already gotten done. But I knew even after todays shift there still be boxes left for the morning crew.

I was beyond tired now and decided to take my break. I looked around for the lady so we can take one together. She works so hard, I know sometimes she forgets to sit down for a few minutes. I walked around a few corners to find her in the magazine section. “Hey did you take your break yet?” She looked up to me since she was kneel down stacking the bottom shelves.

“No, not yet. You?” I shake my head no.

“You want to come drink a coffee with me at the cafe. My treat.” I rise my eyebrows to get her to come rest.

“In that case, I’ll buy us a muffins.” She smiles and got up.

We walk our way to the cafe and order. “What kind of muffin would you like?” She asked me.

I look to see what we had left. “I’ll grab the banana bread, thank you.”

“You got it doll.” She went on to order.

“I’ll wait while you grab a seat.” She told me as she pointed to an empty spot. I nod my head yes and started walking.

After about 15 minutes of chatting we throw away our trash and thank the girls at the cafe for our items. As we walk our way out the cafe space we heard some girls laughing as they enter the store. We both look over to see them and my eyes widen at shock to who I saw.

The lady tap my arm and squeeze it. She noticed the girl as well. “Liv you never told me you had a sister?” Her question muffle in my ear.

“You two look exactly alike beside the hair and nose.”

I was frozen in my spot. I couldn’t believe it. Never would I thought I would ever see her again.

She looked up and over to us. Making the same reaction as we did. Her mouth hang open in shock. Like she seen a ghosted. I turn away and walked fast. I didn’t want to see.. I didn’t even want to talk to her. She shouldn’t be here? Why is she here? The coven isn’t anywhere near here? Why Goddess is Mery here, why? Oh God, did they still wanted to kill me?