“Why are we back here?” I said, sharper than I had intended.
Kai led me to a rock. “Mara, take a seat. I have something to tell you. It might be difficult for you to hear this, but you need to know I will be here for
you.”
“What is it? Did something happen to Meg? Is it Gram?” I sat down.
Kai settled next to me. Tears glistened in his eyes as he took my hand.
My heart fell.
“Mara, your family is fine, but it has been decided that you can't go back home.”
Fighting back my urge to rage, kick, and fight, I closed my eyes. Calmly, I
released his hand. “Why won't you let me go home?”
“It isn't safe there for you anymore,” Kai informed me. “This is your new home. I promise you will be happy here."
“Who do I need to talk to, to change this decision? Who made this ridiculous
choice?” I demanded. To my surprise, my emotion was more controlled than
ever before.
“The decision was made. It is final. You will just have to deal with it,” Kai
said sharply.
My thoughts began racing. “Can I, at least, talk to Blaze about this?”
“Mara, you are here to stay. Your family is there, and they don't need you.
Try to enjoy life with us and forget them. Period.” Kai wrapped his arm around
my shoulder.
Defiantly, I stood up and faced him. “I'll not stay here against my will. I'll go
home to my family. Despite what you think, they need me, and I absolutely need
them.”
Proud of myself for keeping my cool. I stormed away from him and headed
towards the elemental's home. No one controlled my destiny, but me.
When I reentered the tree, I discovered the Water elementals were not there. I was confused by the empty room. I went to the circle of chairs and sat on the
rock in the middle.
“Danu,” I appealed, “if you are listening, I need your help. It’s important for
me to be with my family. How can I honor my commitment to protect the magic
from here? Please, I beg you. If you are listening, I must return home.”
The tears forming in my eyes dried as the air around me began to swirl, and a
lavender light surrounded me. The light was blindingly bright, but as it softened,
I was stunned to be faced by a shimmery image. The vision before me was a stunning woman, wearing a flowing gown. Her long, silvery hair was wavy, and
the sides were braided, exposing her delicate facial features. She held a small, brown cat in her arms. It purred as she carefully stroked the long fur of her content pet.
“Mara, you are home with me,” the silky voice said, “but you are correct.
You are needed in the human realm more than here. You were given a huge
shock, but you were able to handle your anger. Instead of lashing out, you chose
to seek help.”
“So, this was another test?” I asked, trying to hold back my tears.
“Dear Mara, every day is a test. A test of your strength, a test of your emotions, and a test of your commitment to the promise you made. You have pleased me greatly and, my sweet child, I see great things to come for you.”
With those words, she disappeared.
