Little Witch Lost

The ride home from school felt like a long one when her mother had picked her up early, but refused to say why she had done so; she asked all the usual questions when that happened, such as if someone died or was hurt, were they going somewhere special, or did she do something that warranted her leaving school early. Her mother wouldn't say anything, she just kept her eyes on the road, but Betty could see tears streaming down her mother's face and this made her a bit more concerned about what was going on because she had never seen her mother cry in all her years of living. She once again started asking her mother what was going on, but her mother just sat there not saying anything which was starting to make Betty panic more, but she held it together, not wanting to add to her mother's apparent stress. When they finally made it home, she noticed a car she had never seen before was parked next to their house; her dad's car was also in the driveway, which made her panic because he never took off work unless it was important. Sitting on the couch was a woman she had never seen alongside a man she also didn't recognize; the woman was holding a notebook while the man was holding some strange-looking device that made her a bit nervous. "Hello Betty, my name is Margret Bloom and this is my partner, Ben Fields" "It's nice to meet you, I guess" "Betty Ann Green, show some respect to these people" Betty's mother scolded her. "It's quite alright Nancy" Mrs Bloom remarked. "Have you told her about why we are here Nancy?" Dr Fields asked. "I couldn't bring myself to do it" "She needs to be aware and receptive for the process to work" "I know, just give me a few minutes to talk with her" Betty's mother led her into her bedroom and closed the door wanting to explain to her all about who she really was in private; her mother was one of the most powerful witches in the country, but when she met Betty's father he convinced her to give up her magic to be with him in the human world and she agreed. Her mother had thought her magical past was behind her, but here it was back to claim her once again, and this time it was taking her daughter as well; Betty had always thought there was something strange about her mother, but she just figured it was a mom thing. Although her mother refused to talk about her past anytime she tried to bring it up, every school project involving family history her mother would tell her to just use her father's side of the family and would get angry when she asked about her side. Once she was done giving her history she moved on to why the people downstairs were here and what it had to do with her when she opened her hand and said a few strange words and a bird appeared in her hand. Betty laughed thinking her mother was playing a joke on her, but then her mother said a few more words while pointing at Betty, and she floated off the chair she was sitting on; the laugh died in her throat when she was floating midair unsure how she was doing it. "What is happening?" "I tried to tell you" "I thought you were just crazy" "Not crazy, just powerful" "Why didn't you tell me about this?" "Your father made me promise never to tell you" "Why does he hate magic so much?" "I don't think he does, I think he has just been raised a certain way" Betty thought about all those documentaries about witches and the people who hunted them; she thought about what she learned in school about those crazy trials and the horrible things that were done to innocent people who had nothing to do with witches and who died because of a false accusation. The first time she had to do a family history project, she asked her father about his family and he told her all about his family history, his family were some of the people on the comity to prosecute witches or people they believed to be witches. Thinking back, whenever she would go to him for information about his family, he had a look of admiration in his eyes when he talked about his ancestors who he believed hunted and prosecuted those believed to be witches. Her mother explained how she and her father met and how she hid who she was for the first few years they were together, but eventually, she had to tell him when she became pregnant; after that, he made her mother promise to give up magic and raise their child as a normal human. "Why did you agree to it?" "I was in love, I wanted to please your father" "You gave up your whole identity for someone who hates your kind" "He doesn't hate them, he just doesn't know them" "And now you expect me to get to know them" "Yes, that is why those people are here, to test you for powers" "What happens if I do have powers?" "Then you will have to go and start your training at the academy" "What, I can't do that, I have a life here, all my friends are here, can they make me go?" "I'm afraid they can sweetheart, all magical creatures must attend when they become of age" She wanted to argue with her mother some more, but her mother gave her a look that told her the argument was over and there was nothing else she could say; she was resigned to the idea of switching schools, she followed her mother back downstairs and sat in one of the living room chairs. Dr Fields turned on his device and touched it to Betty's forehead, watching as it lit up like a Christmas tree and made crazy sounds. Just as soon as it started, it was over; she could hear the people on the couch talking, though she couldn't see their mouths moving. Her mother let out a loud gasp when Dr Field announced that Betty had magical powers and would need to go with them right away, so she could start her training; her father, who had been sitting in the chair close to the kitchen, finally spoke up. "She is not going anywhere, we put that magic nonsense behind us and are normal people now." "There is nothing normal about your daughter or your wife for that matter, now the girl must come with us, it's the law" Dr Fields told him. "Not where I am from, so leave before I make you leave" "I would like to see you try" Mrs Bloom said with a laugh. Her father got up from his chair and started walking toward the couch, which made Mrs Bloom stand up, her hands quickly turned into claws and her teeth began to elongate in her mouth; her mother stood up and got in between them to try and stop her husband from doing something that could get him killed. When everyone had finally calmed down, Betty's mother spoke up and announced that Betty was going to be going to the academy; her father tried to say something, but he was told that one way or another she would have to go, and it was better to get it over with now. He looked like he wanted to say something, but she gave him the same look she gave Betty when she was done arguing about something, he looked resigned and just sat back in his chair while she talked to the two on the couch. "Look you two, I am trusting you with my daughter, if anything happens to her, I will reign down magic so fierce there will be nothing left but ash when I am done" "We know Nancy, I will personally keep an eye on her, you have my word that nothing will happen to her" Mrs Bloom looked a little sad. "I do wish you could be coming with us Nancy, we could use a good magical defense teacher at the school" Dr Fields told her. "You know I gave that up, I want to live a magic-free life for now" she hugged her old friend. The next thing Betty knew she was hugging her mother and father while saying goodbye, her mother promised to come and visit her once she had a chance, to which her father made a face, and she also promised she could come back on breaks and holidays, which made Betty feel a lot better. Her father told her if she didn't like it there she could always come home, this made her mother give him another warning look, so he just hugged his daughter again and told her he loved her; the hug felt like it went on forever, but eventually, her mother had to pry him off her. She asked about how they were going to get her stuff to school and Mrs Bloom told her that she could shrink everything down and carry it with her in a mini box, or she could wait until she got to her room and she would show her how to call the items to her.