Memories of the Deep

Messing with the wrong witch.

Mara enjoyed seeing Duke Arman having a hard time trying to impress her mother, she also loved how the youngest son was trying to get on her good side while also trying to show off. And she simply acted as if he was nothing special, making him furious.

As scheduled, she and her mother had began her training and she was already showing that she would once again become an excelent witch. Her mother soon took notice of how close Mara was with the element of water and how she loved anything related to the sea.

They lived in the south so there wasn't really a way for Mara to evolve, her mother though had already decided that they'd move out. Not only for Mara's sake but also to escape from that pesky Duke. His attention was annoying and other nobles began to notice his behavior, meaning it wouldn't be long before they realized why he was so focused on them.

Mara though knew better.

She knew that around this time, two more noble families would enter the scene. One of them being the right hand of the current emperor, Count Ermund. An ugly old man with a consant lust for power and dominance over others. 

After Mara had entered Duke Arman's household, she had met the duke who had acted as if he was a harmless old man.He also had his daughter pretend to like Mara, when in truth, she hated her more than anything because Mara had magic and she didn't.

Within a year after her mother had married Duke Arman, the Ermund family tried to keep an eye on them by asking the youngest son of the Duke to marry the only daughter of the Count. It was agreed but everything soon turned sour, all because of Mara. When she eventually turned the eldest son into an immortal being, the Count's family saw this as treachary and had the Duke executed. 

The youngest son didn't take kindly to that and began torturing Mara and her mother, blaming them for everything. The eldest son had revealed his true nature by then and had thrown Mara and her mother out of the estate. Count Ermund decided to take advantage of Mara, knowing that she was easy to manipulate, he convinced her to make him immortal too so that he could make sure no one would ever hurt them. Three days later, the eldest son of the duke's family had her mother killed in an "accident."

"I wonder... how long will they be able to restrain themselves." She murmured, she glanced out of the window and saw the same shadow she had seen the first day they had ment the duke.

That was Valerie, a spy who worked for one of the concubines of the emperor. She was a skilled thief and an excellent actress. She had been able to make Mara believe that she was someone that could be trusted, only to have her powers supressed once she eventually became fourty years old.

She decided to ignore her for now, Valerie wouldn't act yet, her goal for now was to watch and search for an opening. Mara had decided that she'd use Valerie to destroy the Duke. If the concubine that was currently after them realized that destroying the Duke and his family could get her what she wants, she would definetely do it, especially since we were talking about a minor noble.

"Mara! Can you please help me with the chores?"

"Yes, mom!"

Mara went inside the kitchen and helped her mother clean the kitchen table, wash the dishes and sweep the floor. After that, she dusted the living room and brought fresh flowers for the two vases they had. Her bed was already made and the windows were open, allowing fresh and clean air inside.

"Thank you, I'm really lucky to have such a sweet daughter."

"I'm lucky to have such a good mom!"

The two hugged and enjoyed each other's warm, only to have the moment ruined by a knock on the door. Mara and her mother seperated and went to the door, slightly annoyed that someone was coming to see them so early in the morning.

To Mara's surprise, it was Count Ermund's daughter, Lydia and she had soldiers and servants behind her, carrying a variety of stuff. She was wearing a large yellow dress with ribbons everywhere, on the front and back of the dress, the top half and the bottom half. The dress also had white lace at the end of the skirt and sleeves. Her jet black hair were tied back with a huge white ribbon and her smug look was already making Mara angry.

"Good morning, witches. I am Lydia Ermund and I am here to offer you the chance of a lifetime, you will be allowed to enter the House Ermund and-"

"We're not joining a noble household and we don't want to get involved in political and social matters of the royalty and the nobility. Please relay this message to his excellency, Count Ermund. Have a nice day, young lady."

And with that, Mara's  mother closed the door in Lydia's face... and Mara loved it!!!

"Mom, who is Count Ermund?"

"He's a very bad man, if you ever see this young lady or anyone who says the work or are from that house, don't talk to them. Okay?"

"Okay."

And then there someone was banging on the door, probably the soldiers. Mara looked at the door, then her mother. She went ahead and opened the door, causing the soldiers to look down at her with clear rage.

"How dare you act so rudely to lady Lydia! You should be glad that she decided to let you join house Ermund."

"I don't want to join house Ermund, please leave us alone." Mara answered with a "duh" expression before closing the door on their faces.

Her mother began laughing at Mara's actions and she hugged her daughter again, clearly enjoying the moment.

"That's exactly it! Oh, you little weasle, that was amazing!"

"Will they try to hurt us?"

"Mara, dear. Why do you think I undid all of the protective spells around our house?"

"I don't know... because you'll cast new ones?"

"No, because our house won't be here in two days. Since you have a connection with the sea, I've decided that we should move to the west. There you can evolve your magic and grow stronger."

"And what about you mom?"

"There is enough plantlife in the west, my magic won't receive any damage. So don't worry, okay?"

Mara nodded but decided to use Valerie now, since they'd be leaving so soon, she had to use her now.

"Mom, can I go pick more flowers? I want to make a flower crown and hang it over my bed!"

"Yes, of course. But don't go too far away, okay?"

"Okay, I promise!"

And with that Mara run off outside, she began collecting various flowers while being aware of Valerie watching her. She moved towards a bush that was close enough for her to be heard, she kept collecting flowers and eventually stopped, making a sad expression and looking at the flowers.

"I can't believe we're leaving. And all because of Duke Arman!" She said and decided to cry crocodile tears, she kept crying until suddenly she shot herself up, she pretended to be a kind, normal nine year old girl who planned to "fight" and become a strong witch so that she could protect her mother from the Duke. After that she collected all of her flowers and run back inside the house, smilling as she saw Valerie run off from her hiding spot.

That was too easy.

As soon as she was inside, she made the flower crown and placed it over her bed, with the remaining flowers she created a small bracelet and decided to give to her mother. So she went to the living room where her mother was using her magic to create copies of the vases with the flowers. She run over and her mother noticed her immediately.

"Mara! You're done already?"

"Yep! I finished the flower crown and had some extra flowers, so I made you this!" She said, handing over the bracelet, her mother smiled warmly and put it on.

"Thank you, sweetie. It's beautifull." She said, a tear rolling down her cheek.

"Mom?"

"I love you so much, my Mara." She said and patted her head lovingly.

"I love you too, mom!" She said with a bright smile. 

Mara was happy that she had all of her memories, even those that were so ubelievable painfull.... because now she could undo her past mistakes and correct things.

And as time slowly passed by, Mara became more determined to ensure that the past would not be repeated.