Chapter Three
A little sidebar story while I'm working on the Wildcat Fall novel.
.

Omnia bene sunt et mihi quiescere necesse est

Chapter Three

It took about three hours to learn how to control myself, and it was simple. I calmed myself enough to take deep breaths and exhale slowly. I had to feel myself relax, like when you’re up to bat and the pitcher seems twice as big, standing high on the mound, getting ready to throw directly at you. The Zone. You can’t hit the ball unless you’re in the zone. And once I found the zone, my power stopped pouring out. Mom made me focus repeatedly until I could repeat it. I felt proud to be in control of anything.

“I knew you could do it. Now you need to stay centered. You’re a smart girl.”

Girl! Jeez! Just remind me again that my fourteen years of life were fake. I’ve never been me, just some hiding spell. Damn, I really liked my boy self! “Mom, who are we hiding from?”

She frowned. “A long list. We’ll start with the bottom feeders - They call themselves Witch Hunters, ordinary humans whose families hunted us for generations. They believe we pose a danger to all humanity. They’re part of a crazed, misogynistic group that makes it their mission to burn us all alive. In their minds, we threaten them.”

“Do we?”

“Do we what?”

“You know, threaten them?”

Mom got this strange look in her eyes. “Yes, we do. And we hurt them very badly before we kill them. We are not kind.”

I stopped. This was serious stuff. “Are all witches women?”

Mom suddenly looked and shook her head. I could see her mind working. “No. Witches are not women. We are very different.”

“If witches are different, how come you got pregnant and I’m having my period?”

Mom laughed. “We embrace ourselves. Our power is a vital strength. And by getting pregnant, I have you.”

“Are there guy Witches?”

“There are Warlocks. However, that information remains between you and me. You are pure, a blending of Warlock and Witch.”

“Is that a big deal?”

“Let’s postpone that discussion for now. The metal that surrounds us keeps our conversations private.”

“So, you’re telling me secret stuff?”

“Yes. You need to understand that a Witch child is a rare phenomenon. You're special.”

“How come more Witch kids aren’t born?”

“Well, Warlocks are aloof and have little to do with Witches and covens. They do make sure there’s enough Witches.”

“Am I going to meet my father?”

My mom started laughing. She squeezed me tightly. “Don’t make wishes like that. A Warlock would just as soon eat you as hug you.”

“Seriously?”

“Not really. They’re just very old school and full of self-importance.”

“How’d you hook up?”

Mom looked at me and smiled. “He desired me, and that was it. Warlocks have a powerful presence and get what they want. He wanted sex and a one-night stand. And I got you.”

I looked at my mom for the first time since all the veils had been lifted. She’d always been my mom, but now I saw just how beautiful she really was. My mom was truly a MILF.

“Don’t say that.”

“What? I didn’t say anything.”

“You just called me a MILF. Mothers I’d like to –!”

“But I just thought it!”

Mom kissed me and whispered, “Same thing, sweetie.”

“You said you were shielded, too. You look different now, right?”

Mom twirled around. “Uh-huh. My shell made me look like the usual PTA mom. We didn’t want anyone looking twice at me, either.”

I grinned. “So, do I look like you?”

Mom smiled and waved her hand until a full-length mirror appeared in front of me. I took one look and started laughing. I looked like my mom, well, a lot younger, and I thought, maybe better.

Mom was smiling. “Don’t get too carried away. But you do have it.”

Staring at the mirror, I touched my hair and casually fluffed it up. Stupid as it sounds, I looked incredibly cute. “Uh, I would have never dated myself. This new me is too pretty. I wouldn’t date the guy I was.” I laughed and turned to my mom. “Hey, do I have a name?”

“Your family name is Pollyanna. You are named after my grandmother. We can call you Polly.”

“You mean like Polly the parrot?” I made a face. “How about Anna?”

Mom smiled. “Hello, Anna. Welcome to the world.”

I’d been so busy staring at myself, I didn’t notice that we’d stopped moving.

Mom smiled. “We’ve stopped for gas. Let’s test out your newfound control and use the bathroom in the restaurant. I’m sure that you’re ready to get something to eat. Are you hungry?”

I nodded. “Breakfast sounds good.” I looked at a watch on my wrist. I didn’t remember putting it on. “Lunch sounds even better.”

“Sure. Let’s see how you do. Remember, it’s all about control. Oh, and you’re going to need one of these. Put it in your pocket.”

Mom handed me another sanitary pad. Suddenly, I remembered that this wasn’t all fun and games.

The other woman opened the big gate at the back of the truck. I hopped down and turned to give my mom a hand. In the daylight, my mom looked like a movie star, with long, curly blonde hair, blue eyes, and a face that could stop traffic.

The other woman laughed. “Vivian, you’re too full of yourself. You need to mask all that beauty. C’mon, babes.”

Mom looked at the other woman and made a face. “Judith, it’s been so long. I was just tired of being drab.”

Judith shook her head. “Stealth, baby, stealth.” Then she took Mom in her arms and gave her a pretty intense kiss. Before they covered themselves in stealth mode, it was incredibly hot to see two gorgeous women kissing. I cleared my throat. “Uh, I’m standing here.”

Judith looked over at me. “Oh, honey. Forget all those society standards. We’re part of a different community and do what we want. Don’t you want to kiss the two of us?”

I was flummoxed. “Uh, yeah. But isn’t that my boy brain thinking?”

Judith moved over and kissed me softly on the lips. “No, honey. You really aren’t part of this society. We are different.” She laughed. “Ask your mom how old she is.”

I turned to look and saw Mom blush.

She smiled and gave me a motherly hug. “Remember how I told you that you’re named after my grandmother?”

I nodded.

“Well, that’s who we’re going to stay with in Chicago. She’s about a hundred and ninety years old.”

Shocked, I fumbled. “Oh, wow. Do witches live forever?”

“We can last a very long time. Our magic controls the aging process.”

A big Cadillac SUV pulled up next to our old moving van, and two women hopped out. Judith had arranged to swap vehicles. Now that I could control my powers, I’d ride up front. They popped the trunk and we transferred all our stuff to the back of the big vehicle.

I watched our yellow moving truck drive away. I kept repeating Omnia bene sunt et mihi quiescere necesse est.

I opened the back door of the SUV. Sitting on the seat was a beautiful, long-haired silver cat. It was looking at me.

As I stared, a sweet voice entered my mind. ‘Order me a protein to go, please.’ It seemed like the voice was smiling. ‘No, better make that two.’ As I looked, I realized that the cat was talking to me.

I turned and looked around. “Mom, whose cat is this?”

“Yours, honey. And I think she’s hungry.”

“Mom, the cat is talking inside my head. Now it wants me to ask if they have any grilled chicken breast to go, please.’

“She’s your Particular. She’s been waiting to meet you for fourteen years.”

I shook my head. I’d never heard of a Particular. Mom saw the confusion on my face.“Particulars are ancient spirits, thousands of years old. She’s been excited about meeting you. Oh, but be nice. She’s a Demon.”

‘Thank you, Anna. While you’re in the restaurant, I’m going to stretch my paws.’ I watched her transform into a wisp of smoke, then glide through the seats, the doors, and out into the sunshine.

This was getting weirder and weirder.

Omnia bene sunt et mihi quiescere necesse est.