The sun peeks through the clouds clearing from the storm overnight, as I head down to the healing shop to get some answers. 

The streets are quiet today, except for the sound of birds busily going about their day, so it doesn't take long to walk to and cross to where the shop is. 

My hands tremble as I push the door to the shop open. Miriam comes floating in from the back.

"Ok lady, you have my attention." I pause crossing my arms. " Who are my biological parents?"

She walks to the front of the store and looks out on the sidewalk. "Not here." She changes the sign in the shop window to 'Closed'. "We can talk in the back room."

My stomach knots, and my heart beats faster, as I follow behind her heading towards the back. Once again she lugs the old wooden chest onto the table near her desk and asks me to sit down.

"Do you believe in magic?"

Cocking my head and raising my eyebrow. "Magic? As in casting spells and using wands?"

Her mouth twitches. "Well, we can do that. Most cultures call us witches."

I'm not sure what this has to do with me, but it won't hurt to give an answer. "There are plenty of things that seem unbelievable that have been proven true. I'm not so close-minded to think the only things that are real are what I can see."

She nods. "Magic and witches are real in this world. We just hide ourselves to avoid persecution."

The corners of my mouth turn. "You're telling me you are a witch."

Before I could question her further, she chants something, and I gasp as the bottle next to me begins rising off of the desk.

"Ok, so say that I believe you now...." 

Before I can finish she chants something else, and an open book on the next table closes, crosses the room and settles next to Miriam.

My world stops, and silence fills the space.  Even if I believe in psychic powers, I've never believed witches are real.

"What else can you do if you are a witch?"

She places her hand around a pendant she is wearing and starts mumbling words I can't make out. The blinds close, and items come out of the chest and settle on the table. 

I lean back in the chair. "Okay. You're a witch. What does this have to do with me?"

"The information I'm about to tell you can only be shared with your most trusted friends and family. If you ever discover that they have told this information to anyone, you must let me know."

My eyes narrow. "Why is that so important?"

"Because I will have to do a memory spell on anyone that they have told, including themselves, of course."

Of course, like I'd actually know that.

Shrugging, I answer the lady. "I can do that."

"Tallulah dear, you are from a long line of witches that became protectors over an object with great power. A revolt happened sixteen years ago that resulted in the death of all of the Protectors, and the Elders had to hide the item in question from the people who wanted it to use for their own gain."

I nod, my curiosity building. "How does that concern me?"

"Your mother Trinity and her husband, Ambrose Westlin, were killed during the Erbyn Revolt along with all of the other Protectors. Numerous members of the People's Army, our equivalent to the military, that rose up to defend the item and the potential livelihood and well-being of the islands we live on," she tells me.

My ears perk up. "Islands we live on? What island is it?"

She smiles. "Not an island you've heard of. The Avic Islands. The islands of Everling and Eldoris were created by a group of witches and Elementalists a little over 100 years ago to escape the last big persecution of witches in history. The islands are hidden from anyone without the knowledge of the islands and their inhabitants."

"Are there only witches on this island?"

She shakes her head. "No, there are humans without powers also. Most were close family and friends of the original witches that created the islands. But we are getting away from your story."

"Sorry."

"It's ok. Being curious about the place you were born is totally understandable, but I only have a limited amount of time. As I've said, your parents are Ambrose and Trinity Westlin. Your mother was a Healer and Protector, and your father was an air Elementalist."

My thoughts freeze. "A what?"

"An Elementalist is someone who can manipulate a certain part of the elements, either air, water, fire or earth. With practice, they can have advanced skills that aid in numerous things - like creation of an island for example, or maybe helping with the upcoming war."

My eyes widen and stomach drops to the floor. "Upcoming war? Where, on the islands or here?"

"On Everling. That is the name of the main island. Eldoris is the sister island primarily used for agriculture. There has been talk of a new rebellion rising up in hopes of getting their hands on the item. It has been in hiding for the last sixteen years, but the Elders feel like it would be foolish to think that the new rebellion would never find the location of the island. When they do find it, they will stop at nothing including total destruction to get their hands on this item."

"That's serious. How are the Elders planning on protecting it? Wait, who are the Elders?" I ask.

"The Elders are like the elected officials over the magical people on the islands. The Elders want to bring back the next generation of Protectors."

"The next generation? That's nice, and who might that be?" I ask.

"You are one."

My jaw drops, and I point to myself. "Me? You want me, little old me, with no powers and abilities to help stop a rebellion from completely destroying two islands to get to a special item? You're funny."

She looks straight at me; her gray eyes seeming familiar. "You're more powerful than you realize, my dear. Before your grandparent brought you over to the US, the Elders blocked your powers with a spell. Haven't you ever felt like something was missing from your being - your soul? Have you ever been attracted to something and have no idea why you are? Have you ever felt connected to another human being? Have you ever had anything strange - maybe slightly unbelievable - happen repeatedly?"

I've always felt different. My interest in plants and their effects on people - in their diet, baking, medicines and otherwise - borders on obsession. I'm always trying new recipes on my family—my reluctant Guinea pigs. Even though my dad's a doctor, I don't want to use medication, unless absolutely necessary. Natural healing seems like the better path to take with a person's health and well-being. I've even given Danny tea made from various items, and he was always amazed at how well they worked. My connection to Danny—even feeling his emotions and pain occasionally. About the strange dreams that plague me. Or the fact I stopped telling Danny a long time ago that I can see spirits.

But I don't care to share those thoughts, so I answer in quick succession, "Yes, yes, yes, and yes."

"Well, if you agree to come with me to train to be a Protector, your powers will be unlocked and you will fully discover your true potential. Let me show you what is in this chest, see if that piques your interest."

Miriam puts numerous items on the table together. One looks like a map of something, two necklaces, a dagger, and some envelopes. Miriam spreads the map out across the desk. She proceeds to show me my home country, the place where I was born. The islands look impressive for islands that were created. There are two mountain ranges, a lake, a large, dense forest, rivers and numerous other land features. She shows me where the main capital of Akiva on the island of Everling is located. Apparently that is where the Protectors are going to live and train after spending some time in the States.

The dagger apparently belonged to my father. Of the necklaces, one necklace belonged to my father and one necklace belonged to my mother. My mother's necklace is a stunning ice blue crystal set in silver, and my father's necklace has a Celtic type of symbol pendant. Drawn to those pieces like a magnet, I pick up the jewelry.

"Those are for you, Tallulah," she says bringing me out of my daze by the use of my name.

I stare at the items on the table. "Really?"

"Yes, they belonged to your mother and father. Whether you decide to go with me or not, they will always belong to you. But if you do choose to go with me and your powers are unlocked, you can see what seems like a little charm can actually do."

My eyes never lift from the items on the table. "It can do something?"

"It can do more than be put around your neck and look pretty. But you can't know all of the secrets until you decide whether you want to be a Protector or not. There are some things that are way too important to divulge to just anybody but the ones with the best interest of Everling at heart."

She brings over some envelopes for me to look at. One is addressed to Tallulah Leia Westlin James, one to Tallulah, one to Tally and the other blank.

"You may read them."

"Why the differences in the names?" I question.

"One is from the Elders, and they wanted it to look more official, I guess—old codgers."

"Old codgers?"

Miriam chuckles. "Well, I guess I shouldn't talk bad about them, I am an Elder too, but some are just too stuffy. The ones addressed to Tallulah and Tally are from your parents. They never did agree on which suited you better," she says with a faraway look in her eyes.

Taking the letters, I retreat to a seat in the corner. With a pounding heart and shaky hands, I open the first letter. It is simply an invitation from the Elders to train to be a Protector.

My hands are almost too shaky to open the letter addressed to Tallulah.

Tallulah - my sweet child

If you are reading this, I'm sorry we've had to leave you behind. Everything the people here have built for the last 100 years is in jeopardy. The actions of Frank Stormer and his rebellion could be the breakdown in the way of life on the islands.

The crystal had to be protected - even with my life. My biggest regret is leaving you behind.

Sobs rack my body as I continue reading her letter. She tells me as much as she can and tells me there is information within her grimoire that will help me, if I decide to be a Protector.

I don't even notice the box of Kleenex next to me until I refold the letter. After calming myself, I pick up the next letter.

Taking a deep breath, I open the letter address to Tally and read:

Tally - my angel

The day you were born was the happiest day of my life. You were so perfect - a living being created from the love your mom and I had for each other. The saddest day of my life is writing this letter knowing it is probably my last words to you.

This morning we ran through the field of wildflowers behind our cottage. Your brown hair flying wildly in the wind as your gray eyes sparkled with that hint of green that showed you were truly happy. I wish to see that in the future, but I'm afraid my time is coming to an end. My hope is that I will always be with the Ancient Ones looking down over you.

By the time I get done reading the letters, I'm heartbroken. My parents did love me very much and never wanted to part with me. But they either part with me or I would have died with them. Of course during the Erbyn Revolt, the children were moved from one house to another before the first house was burned down by the rebellion. The Elders made it look like numerous people including children died in that fire, and I wasn't about to ask how they pulled that off.

I open the last envelope and look through the few enclosed pictures. Putting all but a picture of my parents together with me, I stand up and go over to where Miriam is sitting - her eyes glistening also.

"My father says that I should have cousins. Are they alive? Are they here in the States?" I ask.

Clearing her throat, she answers; her voice thick with emotions, "Yes they are. One is actually living south of Tampa and the other somewhere outside of Dallas. You will meet them if you all accept my invitation."

Holding my breath, I ask, "How many Protectors died in the Erbyn Revolt?"

"All five."

"That must mean there are four more people here in the States whose parents were also Protectors and had to give them up, too?"

"That is correct. I see that it is getting late. Take the envelopes and the necklaces and go home. Make your decision on whether to come with me to train. You have some time to decide, but not forever. Go ahead tell that friend of yours."

"Who?"

She grins. "The hot-headed one that came charging into my shop last weekend."

"Was it a he with blond hair, a blue baseball cap and was about this tall?" I question while I raise up on my tiptoes to try and reach Danny's height.

"Mmhmmm."

"What did he do?" I brace myself for her answer.

"I could feel the protectiveness coming off of him, so I just let him say his piece and he left. No harm done."

"Good."

"Go home now before it gets dark. Come see me soon."

"I will."

All the way home I am thinking of everything that Miriam has told me. Still I'm overwhelmed, but I got some answers. I will discuss some things with my family and Danny, especially a potential new life. I need to decide whether I want to journey into that life. Maybe Everling is where I belong.

__________________________________

[A/N]: The last great persecution of witches is a fictitious event that happened in 1918.