Mum continued to be silent.
“Quatura control the elements, so do I, my daughter Grace, who you've already met, as well as the rest of my family and other families in town.”
Grace? Her daughter? They looked nothing alike...but Blair did. It made sense.
“Many other Quatura from Canada have settled here in Blairville to become part of our ancient Circle and use their skills to contribute to a safer society.”
Quatura? That sounded like a pest controller for plants.
It was getting more and more chaotic in my head.
“I don’t quite understand... What do you mean by elements...and what do I have to do with all of that?”
“You control an element because you were born a daughter of a Quatura.” She said now, sounding more certain than before.
My confusion grew like the plant back there.
I was supposed to control an element? I was supposed to be the daughter of a...
I looked up at Mum. This time, she looked at me.
“What does it all mean?” I asked in a shock of realization. “Mum, what does she mean?”
She looked at me pityingly, her mouth closed, tears in her eyes. And in that moment, all I knew was that she was scared and that I needed to end that fear.
I had enough and rose up. Everything was spinning.
“Listen. Whatever that pocket spell was there...”
“What you saw is real, Bayla.”
All right, if she insisted. I was too disturbed to be able to assess what was real and what wasn’t, so I left it at that.
“Anyway, my mum and I have nothing to do with it!”
“Your mum wouldn’t have come back if that was the case.”
“Mum came back because she’s ill, and her doctor lives here.”
I startled myself at my words and that I had just shared Mum’s secret with someone who was a complete stranger to me. Someone who was a potential danger.
I wanted to apologize to her with a look, but Mum just looked at the floor.
“Thankfully, that’s not the case,” it came from Amara.
“Yes, it is, Mum...” I looked at her. “Tell your friend that’s the only reason we’re here. Tell her to leave, and that this is all a huge mistake.”
I searched in vain for her gaze.
“Bayla, I know this is all a bit much at first, it’s the way a lot of young Quatura feel who didn’t grow up with a supporting Circle.”
I could no longer focus on Amara. My gaze continued to be on Mum.
“Mum...” I looked at her pleadingly. “Tell me that’s why you’re here.”
Silence.
“Please tell me she’s wrong.”
Why the fuck didn’t she answer!
With tear-filled eyes, I looked at her. That pain, that twinge in my heart, grew stronger, and suddenly, I felt alone. Abandoned and betrayed. On top of that, there was the feeling of being paralyzed inside.
“I’m sorry, Bayla...”
I just looked at Mum. With an empty look. As empty as I felt right now. And at the same time, I was so close to fainting.
Mum started to move.
I felt her arms around me.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
But I couldn’t. I didn’t want to, anymore.
I pushed her away.
“Bay...”
