The most important thing in life?

To become one with nature.

To indulge in the essence of our earth.

Earth is willing to supply us with so much, yet all we want it to destroy her.

Our mother.

Saria smiled as she brought the small joint to her lips. A long drag latter, her grin grew bigger, her body felt like it was floating as she waved her hands in the air.

Smooth, side to side. Her hips moving to the trap music playing in the background. Eyes closed, she pretended she was in the lands of her dreams. The cool water brushing past her ankles, digging her feet into the sand. Enjoying the moonlight castle before her. The paradise she always escaped to in the deepest corner of her mind was her resting place. She didn't know how she did it. How she ended up there. But it was the most peaceful place in the world.

Nobody, absolutely nobody could touch her there.

It was her sanctuary.

Her escape from reality----

"Saria!"

Her eyes flew open as her mother's voice shrilled in her ear.

"Oh shit...oh shit....oh shit...." She quickly grabbed the abalone shell on her desk to put out her joint. Hopping on her bed and over, she grabbed her spray.

Knowing nature enabled you to do things such as these. Things such as being able to conceal the smell of weed in the air before a very strict mother barged into the room because she refused you from getting a lock on your door.

Besides this no-mo'-weed spray was basically right on par with her rainbow weed. Happy customers all around. Happy customers gave more money.

"Saria!"

The 18 year old whirled around, a big smile plastered to her face. "Maman!" she sang a high falsetto as she turned and placed her abalone shell on her night stand. "You're not supposed to be home for another....eehh....3 hours."

"Headaches." Monica growled. The 5'11  dark skinned lady with the long dreadlock was Saria's mother. Monica Mazama. High cheekbones, long legs, deep set almond eyes and black pupils made this women a sight to see.

Which is why Saria didn't understand how after all these years, her mother was still single and wished to be so.

Saria frowned as she took a couple steps closer. "The tea didn't work?"

Monica waved her hand in dismissal. "It's not the regular headaches my child." she leaned her head against the doorframe that she was up against. "This mama's intuition."

And being a witch, meant mama's intuition never failed. Monica Mazama was what the neighborhood called a "white witch." She created potions and seemed to do magic right before their very eyes.

"Must be a Voodoo priestess."

"Related to those witches down in the Bayou."

Now Saria don't know a single thing about the Bayou or being for Louisanna. See Saria's mother immigrated here from somewhere in Africa while she was 3 months pregnant with her. 

And that was all Saria ever got from the lips of her mother about her past. She didn't have the country, she didn't have family members. All she knew is that her mother landed in Washington Dulles international airport and prayed that she would be lucky to get in contact with her cousin.

"The past is the past and it is thus for a reason."

In the infamous words of her mother.

But Monica Mazama made it. She survived. She provided a life for her daughter. And 18 years later she had a middle class income, bought her home and had a daughter that had just graduated a week ago and was on her way to Boston College at the end of summer.

Monica sighed and rubbed her temples. "Ma petit, I can't locate the source of the pain."

Saria smiled, swaying slightly, widening her eyes so as not to be a dead give away of her unbalanced mental state. "Oh maman,I'm sorry....maybe tea?"

Monica cocked her head. "Tea? I just------" she narrowed her eyes. "SARIA!"

"What?" Her teenage daughter asked innocently as she jumped on her bed. "Why are you----"

"I know you're not smoking anything in my house!"

"I'm not!"

"So what is that I smell?"

"You don't smell anything!"

"Exactly!"

"What?" Monica's small eyes widened. "Don't talk to me like one of your white friends!" she reached for Saria. "Come here! Come here---talking back to----" She chased Saria around her room. The teenage girl laughing from the weed as her mother grabbed her arm. "Who you talking to?"

Saria dipped out of the slap and instead hugged her mother tightly.

"Let me go! I said....Let me....ahhhh Saria....let me go..." she gave up as her daughter refused to budge. "I'm still going to slap you." Monica smiled, wrapping her arms around her daughter and falling into the embrace. "I'm so proud of you.....Boston College....." she chuckled, tears threatening to spill out of her eyes. "The daughter of Monica Mazama...mon dieu..."

Saria looked up into her mother's tired eyes. "Maman, merci-----"

They both turned to the doorbell, chiming throughout the house. Mother and daughter gave matching glances of confusion.

"You waiting for somebody?"

Saria shook her head. "No, I was going to do some home visits later...."

Monica shook her head. "No....."

They stared at each other as the doorbell rang once more.

Saria knew her mother did not like guests or visitors. Might be why she chose this house further into the forested area of their neighborhood. It was a cute little cottage in the middle of the city that actually managed to be tucked away.

"One with nature." Monica grinned, as she'd planted flowers and trees and fruits that sold like crazy at the farmer's market.

But Saria knew her mother had secrets. She'd always known that. Her mother liked their solitude, their privacy which in turn was more reasons for the neighbors to call her a white witch. She lived and breathed the stereotype. Dark lady, long black hair, except for the auburn strand in front that matched her daughter's coily auburn hair. Always wore black. Could cure almost any ailment with natural plants found in her garden. Was a foreigner with an accent. If Americans did nothing else, it was to trust foreigners with accents for any supernatural reason.

If she fit the role of african vodoo princess....then she was african vodoo princess.

"Oh child we coming from a family of average witches." Her mother would say. "Nothing spectacular about us. We weren't the smartest, nor where we the prettiest." she would shrug. "We were just the most desperate."

And then she would stop. Nonsense she would call it. And then tuck Saria into bed with a sad smile. "But this is a gift, many will not understand. We must survive."

Saria knew that. Besides it wasn't like her mother could fly on brooms or have real magic. No, her mother was a potions master. She knew every single plant and herb from homicidal to aphrodisiacal. She really was in tune with nature.

Saria could understand to a certain extent. Her friends said she had a green thumb, but really not to the extent of her mother. She only knew what most witches knew, but she could really grow some good weed, strangely enough. Like good, good. Good enough to add to the income of their living. Although her mother frowned upon it, they agreed it enabled them to live how they did. Between her mother's herbal medicine and her weed for different moods. Saria and Monica Mazama had a pretty good thing going on.

Plus they were always careful.

Pus Saria had this thing were she could look people in the eyes and make them believe almost everything she said.

She would never admit that it worked on her mother, because it did. She didn't know when she'd actually realized that was a thing she could do.

Maybe when she was five years old and she'd broken the cookie jar.

"I didn't do it."

"Than who did Saria!" Monica yelled in frustration.

Her five year old daughter stared her deep in her eyes. "The cat. Tiger did it. He did, I promise." 

And her mother had stared at her and it was as if something clicked. "I guess it was Tiger...stupid cat."

She didn't mind lying to her friends and acquaintances, but for her mother, she thought twice. In fact she'd only used it a few times. Once when she fell off the tree at 12, next when she denied being in the car at 16  after a car accident with her ex-boyfriend and then last year denying she didn't have sex with Aaron Gordensey.

"Never have sex, no sex....soul ties, don't do it.....just don't....you'll never forget it, but they well."

But she was right. Because Aaron broke up with her just two days ago.

"Well we're going to college now Saria....maybe we should use this summer to....i don't know....see other people..."

She was fine to seeing other people. She could see other people. She didn't need him. Not him. Not Aaron Gordensey who was literally the biggest deal in high school and who she had managed to date for half of junior and all senior year. Who begged her to go down on him and give herself to him. which she did, despite her better judgement. Besides she loved him. They were the it couple.

She, Saria Mazama had practically been the most popular girl in school and she had no idea how she'd done it.

Well she did.

From her mama herself.

Fake it till you make it.

Somehow Saria had managed to do just so and had snagged the hottest boy in highschool without even trying. Well the hottest boy  who just now had recently dumped her.

"Should you get the door----or should I?"

"I can't believe you're high."

"Maman come on." Saria called out. "It's summer and you said I could get high at least once a week to test the merchandise."

Monica pointed her finger at her. "Don't test me Saria."

"I love you." Saria whispered as she hugged herself, pretending she was hugging her mother. "You're the best and you'll let me get away with it because you know I'm leaving for Boston college and you're so proud of me , besides I haven't given you cause to worry anytime in the past 5 years and you're so eternally grateful for your dear daughter's----"

The doorbell interrupted her rambling.

Monica frowned. "Wait here." she whispered as she twirled. Her dreadlocks flew behind her as she marched down stairs. 

"Mewwwoaahh." Tiger mewed softly as he slithered by Saria's leg. Tiger was neither striped nor big. He was a skinny black cat with one hazel eye and the other eye sewed shut because it was missing.

Saria named him Tiger, when she'd found the stray kitten clawing at the door for food amidst the pouring rain. Nonetheless it was love at first sight for those two. She refused to part from him and Tiger never left her side.

"I don't know..." Saria whispered picking him up. He playfully pulled at her coily auburn hair.

"You dyed your hair?"

"No."

"So why your hair that color?"

"I don't know."

"Actually Malcom X's hair was red too actually, looked like this."

"Maybe you got some Irish in you."

"How an African got Irish in them?"

"Maybe you mixed."

"I don't think I am."

"Well, you are a much darker than any mixed person I've ever met....but your hair is so soft...plus you got them hazel eyes"

"Thanks....i guess..."

"Like an African Naomi Campbell..."

"uuhhhh..."

"but like with dark red hair..."

"Uhm..."

"And hazel eyes....."

Ignoring her mother's advice Saria along with her pet cat in her arms, followed a couple steps behind her mother.

"Yes?" Monica asked through the door.

"Madame Monica Mazama?"

"Who would like to know?" Monica crossed her arms over her chest as she stared at the peephole.

A tall brown skinned women with a tight bun, red lips and an all back, grey-collared petticoat dress stood in front of her door. She narrowed her eyes in confusion.

The lady leaned into the door. "It's Madame Silva." The person responded looking carefully down the road and to the other side of the house.

" I don't know a madame Silva." Monica responded. "If it is for a request or appointment with me, please submit through my website or DM me in instagram @whitewitchofAfrica"

Saria rolled her eyes as she came down the stairs.

"Well I'm sorry Madame Mazama as this is with utmost importance....seeing as you disregarded my previous three letters in an effort to contact you and your daughter. Seems I was left with no choice but to arrive in person."

The lady's voice somehow seemed to ring into the house so that Saria could her loud and clear.

The teen shook her head in confusion and stared at her mother. How was this lady doing it? Was she a witch? Was there another witch in this neighborhood that she hadn't been aware of? As far as she was concerned, her mother and her were the only ones.

"Well I do apologize Madame Silva, as I stated otherwise I don't know a madame Silva, nor have we---"

Mother and daughter both gasped as the lady from the other side of the door simply appeared in their house, smoothing down her grey dress.

"What the fuck?" Saria whispered mouth open as she held Tiger in her arms.

Monica quickly put her hand out, a vine from her plants slowly growing up for protection.

"Oh that won't be necessary Madame Mazama." The intruder waved her hand and the vine miraculously went back to how it was before.

Saria turned to the plant in confusion and then to her mother.

The lady in grey walked forward with a briefcase that simply seemed to materialize out of thin air. "Ahh, you must be Saria..." The lady bowed and extended a letter that formed in her hand with a swirl. "It seems, Saria that you've been ignoring our requests to reach out----"

"How dare you intrude on our home!" Monica bellowed, the house shaking.

Saria turned in surprise to her otherwise calm mother. "Maman..." What was going on here? Her mother was extremely upset and this women knew her name.

"Monica Mazama daughter of Leon Mazama of the Myene tribe, be silent!"

For the first time in her life, Saria witnessed her mother do just so as the older lady stepped forward. She screamed of obedience and structure. Her dress was held tight around her neck. Her elegance shown through the way she paced around the room. Neck high, shoulders back, eyes  looking down at every picture, every detail of that house she'd just intruded upon.

Her steel black eyes turned to focus on Saria. "Yes....unmistakably so..." she whispered doing a once over on the teenage girl. "How you managed to hide her for so long is beyond me."

"You will never take my daughter." Monica whispered her fingers twitching by her side. The plants outside growing in earnest to come to her aide.

The intruder walked around the living room, eyeing the mother and daughter from the corner of her eyes. "Had you not ignored my previous letters and requests Monica Mazama, daughter of Leon Mazama of the Myene tribe, then this would not come as a surprise for you."

Her eyes settled on Saria who moved back in fear. "Tomorrow is your daughter's first day of university and yet we have failed to receive a letter of confirmation as to her attendance."

Saria blinked in confusion. "Wait.....what....."

"Because she will not be attending your institution." Monica spoke up. "She has been accepted to Boston College and thus will attend there in the fall."

Madame Silva simply circled Saria.

"Can you....can you not.....like.....like do that...." Saria asked as she  turned with the lady.

"Saria go upstairs------"

The lady snapped her fingers and Monica froze, her mouth still open in warning. "Your mother has been holding a lot of secrets from you." Madame Silve spoke.

Saria looked in confusion as she stared from her mother's frozen status to the beautiful elderly black lady before her. "What---what did you----what did you do?"

"Hmmmm...." Madam Silva sniffed. "A witch? A simple witch is what your mother would have you believe you are." she scoffed as if in disgust.

Saria frowned, her hazel eyes darkening. "Do not talk of my-----"

"Oh, enough with the theatrics..." Madame Silva twirled her hand to stop Saria from reacting. The teenage girl touched her neck in shock as to why she couldn't speak.

"I wish I could sit and chit-chat for tea but I simply can't." she instructed procuring a ticket from, inside her brown breast, pocket. "All creatures of fairy blood must attend Le Cielo Universtity. It's detrimental to your survival" She handed the letter to Saria. "Due to your mother's stubbornness, I believe you haven't gotten a chance to read this letter I sent her about twice  a week for the past three months."

Saria's eyes widened in confusion.

"It's for your own protection."

"daughter----" Monica sprung forth, unfrozen from her place. She turned frantically to Saria who was already reading the letter.

Saria shook her head as she looked up. "I don't understand....is this my Hogwarts letter? Like what is this...."

"Nothing!" Monica yelled grabbing the letter and ripping it into shreds. "It's----"

They all watched as the ripped pieces simply pieced itself back together in Saria's hand.

Saria's eyebrow raised, wondering if she was too high for whatever was going on. A paper was ripped and just simply came together as if called to each other like destiny. That was a magic trick she could use

Saria Mazama

Witch/fairy

1st year Le Cielo Kai University

Paternity: Unknown

"Half witch half----fairy....." Saria looked up to her mother in confusion.

Monica clasped her hear in panic.

"I know your mother has been trying to shield you from all the evil of life." Madame Silva started. "But this has nothing to do with what happened or what could have happened. Truth of the matter is Saria, you're a fairy....." Madame Silva looked her straight in the eyes. "And you're in danger."

Saria blinked a couple times, trying to process what exactly was going on. "....uhmm....what?"

"What your mother has failed to mention to you...as is blatantly apparent by the shock on your face Ms. Mazama, is that you're not just a mere witch." She stated. "You're a half-breed. Half fairy/half witch. As for you parentage we're not sure. But as long as there is fairy blood in you, you're in danger."

"I'm in what now?" Saria asked as her mother lowered her head in shame.

"Danger." Madame Silva responded. "Anybody with a trace of fairy blood is asked to report to Le Cielo Kai University for defensive training and education."

Saria blinked at Madame Silva blankly.

"I know it's more than you can process right now. But I don't have the time nor the place. Your mother----" she turned and pointed to Monica. "Has proceeded to burn or annihilate any forms of communication I have attempted to send your way---but this is of outmost importance."

Saria slowly turned to her mother as she held the summon to the university.

"Protecting fairy blood is my destiny. Down to the very last drop. You need to be kept safe from those who hunt you."

Saria blinked rapidly and grabbed her head. "Oh fuck, the rainbow weed is better than I thought."

Madame Silva groaned. "Your plane ticket is here." A ticket appeared in her hand. "And you fly tomorrow. We need to get you into safe hands as soon as possible, classes will start the day after."

Saria shook her head in disbelief. "What? What? Like I don't know what's going on.....maman..." She turned to the most reliable person in her life.

"Get out!" Monica Mazuma stormed, her dreadlocks waving in the air. "Get out!"

"What has a witch to an elf?" Madame Silva stormed, her dark eyes blazing as she put her hand out.

Monica's entire spell seemed to sizzle out as she stared at the powerful women before her. "Fairy blood needs to be protected Madame Mazama....unfortunately you daughter is no longer safe in your care alone. She must learn her powers and fight for the cause."

Monica inhaled sharply.

"Unless her death is worth less than your pride."

Saria blinked at the spot the older woman had just stood. She turned to her mother who was staring at the front door as if in a trance. "What the hell was that?" Saria asked trying to break the mood, to ask the questions without pulling back the veil.

Monica slowly lowered her eyes.

"A fairy?" Saria exclaimed. "As if that fucking exits....right mom....fucking crazy old ladies....did you know there was another witch....like I didn't even sense her presence, how did she do that? I need the herb, oh my god when she ended up on the other side of the door like bitch....she just.....oh maman did you sense.....did you sense how strong she was....what was her name? But fairy really? She could have done much better than that! She seemed to know so much about you----how can she...." Saria turned to her mother still seemingly frozen in place. "Maman..."

Monica turned around slowly, her eyes dark. "I heard they were just rumors." she whispered to herself.

"Rumors for what?" Saria shouted. "Is this true? This half fairy bullshit? Is this true? How could that even be true?"

Monica waved her daughter's questions away.

"ANSWER ME!" Saria shouted.

"NO!" Monica exclaimed, her dreadlocks moving wild around her as the house shook. "We're leaving." she exclaimed as she walked past her daughter. "We're going somewhere safe." she stated.

"So I am in danger?" Saria replied. "Because I'm apparently....." she stretched her arms out. "Half fairy according to this woman who just appeared and disappeared."

"I'll keep you safe..." Monica whispered as she scrambled to the kitchen.

Saria watched her mother's frantic actions. "Fairies don't exist right mother....I mean you told me....all there is on this earth are humans and witches. Everything else is fairy tales."

Monica grabbed a couple potions but slowed down.

"So what was the spell for that lady to just pop up in our house, the letters..."

"Exctoinvisibilia----" Monica whispered, vanished and appeared right in front of her daughter. "Now we take a summer trip----"

"You're lying to me." Saria whispered. "You don't do magic unless there's a customer. So that means you just panicked. That means you're worried. That means----" she pointed to her mom. "You're lying..." Her heart raced as her mother grabbed her face.

"You're my daughter." Monica whispered harshly. "All I've done is protect you. All I will do is protect you. Now we run."

"From what?" Saria asked.

"From everyone." Monica replied seriously and turned around.

Saria looked down at the letter she was still clutching.

What great pleasure it is to welcome the incoming class of 2023 to Le Cielo Kai University. I know it's been a troubling year for all fairies. But I promise you the past is behind us and the future is before us. As I stated previously, your experience in high school is nothing to that of University. It is in this time period that you will perfect your gift and find your partners. Although security will be enforced this year given the series of events, we look forward to welcoming the much anticipated beginning class. And we are more than honored to be graced with the presence of Prince Easton, our future King who is sure to walk in the footsteps of his father. Remember do not be late! And we welcome you with the warmest embrace.

Headmistress, Silva

Saria blinked, nothing in the letter made sense at all. "Fairy....fairy like fairy fairy....." she whispered turning to her mother who was mixing something frantically in the kitchen.

"Call Beatrice!" Monica shouted from the kitchen. "Tell her we need to crash at her place for a couple days....tell her to look up some flight tickets. She'll know what I mean."

Saria stared at her mother's panic and slowly put down her cat. "Maman....."

"Not now. Call!" Monica demanded as she whirled past her. "Get Beatrice on the phone, tell her that----"

Saria held up the letter. "Maman..." She whispered softly her hazel eyes seemingly turning in circles. "Tell me the truth..."

Monica tried to resist, but her daughter's eyes pulled her in. She gasped as she grimaced against the pull. "What......what?"

"Am I.....half fairy?"

A loud groan emitted from her mouth as she tried to resist but found she could not. Not under her daughter's light. Not under the apparent hold, she never thought she'd find herself in.

"Maybe...." Monica groaned reluctantly.

"Maybe...." Saria choked in disbelief.

"It was a fling...." Monica admitted. "I was working for the Fairy Queen under an urgent matter....I didn't even know his name...."

"This?" Saria gasped. "This is how you want to introduce me to a potential father----"

"It was a mistake!"

"You lied to me!" Saria exclaimed. "You're a liar!" she cried out in disbelief. "I have to find out from a freaking random ass lady----

"Saria do not curse in my house!"

Her daughter turned and rushed upstairs, her cat right at her heels.

"Saria......Saria!"

She slammed her bedroom door and sat on her bed in disbelief. No her mother was not a liar. Her mother wanted what was best for her. Her mother cared about her. There had to be a misunderstanding....there had to be......but yet that lady had came with so much conviction. 

It was weird being a witch. Something she'd came to terms with much earlier on. But this....the fact that there was more....the fact that she was a possible Tinkerbelle?

She loved fairies as a kid. Always pretending she had wings and coulf flies and cast actual magic spells.

Her mother had been adamant that the only magic in this world was witches interacting with nature. No fairies, no monsters no creatures of any kind.

And she'd believed her.

Blindly in fact,

So blind.

How was this possible?

Even after her high, sleep evaded her as she stared at the letter in her hand. Her mother refused to come up and Saria refused to go done.

It's as if her entire life collapsed in between a couple sentences.

She was not who she thought she was.

Her mother had lied to her.

Her life was in danger.

Groaning, Saria flopped back in her bed with the letter in her hand. What the actual fuck?

**

After the high was gone. 

After the smoke had cleared.

Only then was Saria able to fully feel the weight of the intruder's words.

"You lied to me." She whispered to her mom as she descended the steps. "Like completely----"

"I didn't lie...completely...."Monica defended herself. "He was a guy on the castle grounds that I should not have become intimate with and is all. Yes....there was a high possibility he was a fairy----"

"Are you really trying to excuse yourself right now?" Her daughter whispered in disbelief.

"I'm just------Saria......"

"My life is in danger according to what she said, and you still....still won't fucking----"

"Don't use that tone of voice with me?"

"You're a liar!"

"Saria!"

"This is a big deal!"

"Saria!"

"NO!"

"Saria!" Her mother rushed to the stairs and grabbed her arm.

"NO!" She yelled a light flashing as she all of a sudden found herself in her paradise. She blinked in confusion and stared at her hands. The waterfalls behind her, the feel of the sand beneath her toes. She looked around at the serenity surrounding her. She dropped to the ground and hugged herself.

What was actually going on?

Monica stared in horror at the disappearance of her daughter right before her eyes. She knew her to zone off into her own little world that she called her paradise whenever she felt overwhelmed but to disappear, to completely vanish.....that was new.

She pulled her hand back and looked around her now empty cottage. "Saria?" she whispered in panic. "Saria..."

"I'm upstairs."

Monica rushed up to her daughter's room and yanked the door open. Saria was sitting on her bed, hugging her knees. "Saria...."

Her daughter shook her head, her two braids on the side hitting her cheeks. "Who am I? How much truth was in what that lady just told us?"

Monica hesitated at the door. "Saria..."

Her daughter shook her head. "No maman....tell me."