The Void: Azalea's Purpose

The Beginning

 “Do I have to repeat it again?” I asked my father as he plucked fresh tomatoes from the vines. “Azalea, you must learn to control your power, in order to control it you need to practice. I know it is daunting, but it must be done.” I stiffened as he handed me the family spell book. “Fine, but I don’t see how growing more tomatoes are going to help us.” “You’ll see when we are done” He grinned as he waited for my spell. “Entu ere utwu orha” I said as I watched the yellow flowers grow on the bush followed by beautiful red tomatoes. “There! See, that wasn’t so hard.” Says the guy who didn’t have to do it six times today alone! “I can hear you.” My father said as he walked away. It would be so nice to have that gift! I often dreamt about what my gift would be. Usually by 22, you find out exactly what your extra gift will be. Rarely, if you weren’t adept in your magic, you would have no gift. Gifts usually couldn’t be replicated by spells either, and if they could they were comparably weak. My father was able to read minds, but he had to focus on a specific person and choose to hear them. Being able to choose who you hear definitely seemed like a blessing to me. Others had gifts like teleportation, healing, or element manipulation. There were so many amazing gifts I couldn’t wait to see what I could do.  

“Your day dreaming again Aza. You will get your gift when the time is right for you.” I sighed as I walked away, “I wish you wouldn’t do that.” “I know” He smirked as he walked away. When I followed him, I saw a plethora of jars on the counter. “What is this for?” He grinned excitedly as he said, “We are caning tomatoes today, the old-fashioned way!” I groaned as I prepared for the chore ahead of me. We sat down next to each other and began the long process of canning tomatoes. As I worked, I thought of my mother and if this was something she would do when she was younger. My father eyed me when I thought of her and said, “You know I would tell you if I knew anything. I’m sorry Aza but I don’t.” He wasn’t lying. He knew nothing of my mother. He just remembered having me and making a life for us. He had tried to regain his memory, but was unable to uncover a single thing about her. He couldn’t even tell me what she looked like or who her family was. It had always seemed strange to me since any supernatural creature mated for life. How could he not remember the love of his life? I looked at my father and noticed the defeated look on his face. He had listened to every word I thought to myself. “Why do you listen if you know you'll hear things you don’t like?” He gave me a weak smile and said, “With you I can’t help it, I always want to be sure you are happy. I don’t want you to struggle. Why do you think you had such an awesome childhood?” He jived as I laughed. I truly did have an amazing time growing up with him as my father, he had always done his best to keep me smiling and happy. I looked at my father, my loving father who remained loving no matter what happened, and I wondered why he never had a bad day. He had remained a dutifully doting father my entire life and I wondered how he could live that way when many couldn’t go on after they lost a mate. What had happened to him? 

Raf

As I looked at Azalea’s face, I felt overwhelming love for her, but this time I also felt a slight sting in my chest. Something about her at this moment hurt my heart and I had no idea why. I had raised her with all the love I had to give, making sure she never wanted for anything. Well, almost anything. The only thing I couldn’t give her was a mother. I suppose I could have tried to find someone to fill that void for her, but for supernatural people there’s no real point to it. Once you have been mated, you can’t feel anything for anyone else. If they die you spend your life alone. It’s part of why we all fight so hard to keep our mates safe. No one could make us feel the way they could ever again. So why didn’t I keep mine safe? Where is she? I wondered why I had zero memories of my mate. I didn’t have anything I could tell Azalea; all I know about her is the way our bond felt. I can still feel it from time to time, like a phantom pain in my heart. It was as though my heart raced as waves of a love so strong, I believed it could break me, came. Usually at that point I stop trying to remember, I am scared if I do, I will die. I told Azalea I have been trying to figure out why I couldn’t remember her mother, and at first it was true. I sought answers as desperately as she now seeks them. Until I finally found a witch powerful enough to tell them to me. The answer wasn’t something I had expected, or that I ever expect to tell her. Her safety and care are all that has ever mattered to me and all that ever will.