Fated Truth (The True Witch Saga) (6 page)

“Then why didn’t you keep me, Uncle Dan? Why did you have t
o give me to them?” I fairly spat the last word.

“Ells
, you have to believe me. If I could have kept you with me, I would have. I wasn’t equipped to take care of a baby. I was only eighteen. The same age you are now. My father had just passed and I was struggling to take care of myself. So I called my married sister and her Preacher husband. They had a stable home. I thought it was the right choice. I was wrong on so many things. I will never forgive myself for the things they did to you growing up.”

“Dan
, it wasn’t your fault. I can see that now. I’m sorry I yelled at you.” I got up and hugged him into my arms. The tears I saw in his eyes tore at my heart. My uncle never cried.

“Ella, I promise I will make this right
, but first I think you should see the note that was left with you when you were placed in my life.” He got out of his seat and strolled over to the locked cabinet against the far wall of the dining room. He retrieved an old sealed envelope. “Here, Ella girl. I don’t know if this will help, but it’s yours. I think you are old enough to have it now. I haven’t ever opened it. It didn’t seem to be my place. I just wish my sister hadn’t thrown out the other thing that was left with you.”

He handed
me the fragile piece of my past. I gently opened the seal with trembling hands and pulled out a folded piece of paper and began to read.

My Dearest Arabella,

My darling girl, you have to know that if there was any other way I would have found it. I have to believe that I’m doing the right thing for you. For myself also. It might seem selfish to you that I chose to give you away, but one day you will understand. I hope that you will understand. I want so many happy and joyous things for you, my darling. I will always love you. I have loved you since you were first put into my arms. I will continue to do so until my last breath.

So many changes are going to be coming your way. I pray that you have the strength of your father to withstand them.  I’m a weak woman. Fo
r I fell in love where there was no love and there was nothing but trouble waiting for me in return. I was wrong about so many things so far, but never you. My life is yours. Always will be. When the changes start to happen. Keep an open mind. Don’t turn away and run. Open your arms, your heart, and yourself. Please heed my words. Your soul is bright. So full of light and happiness I can see that, even now when I look into your jade eyes.

Please find it in your heart to forgive me. There
is danger coming for me. Someday it will come for you also. You have to be careful with whom you trust. Keep your secrets close. I know that you don’t understand all that I have written. I’m sorry that I’m not there to prepare you for the trials ahead as a mother should. Again I hope that you find it in your heart to forgive me this also.

Just know that I love you. I have faith
in you. Have faith in yourself. I’m always with you. I pray one day, if I’m still on this plane of existence, that we will find one another again.

You have a brother. Gavin. Born
just four minutes before you, watch for him, for he will find you. You are twin souls. You are never far from another.

I have left a talisman with you
, tucked into your blanket. It will guide you. Keep you safe. Wear it always. Don’t forget that you are loved.

Blessed be my daughter.

Your loving mother,

Ezmera

I look
ed up at Dan with tears streaming down my face. I was reeling with confusion and sadness
. I have a brother? Dangers are coming for me? What the hell?
Thoughts and confusion swarmed my brain. I felt like I was suffocating, drowning in everything that had happened in the last twenty four hours. I must have been hyperventilating because Dan shoved my head between my knees and yelled for me to just breathe. I tried to take slow breaths and repeat to myself that I was strong. I can handle anything. Everything else would come in time. I didn’t need to know everything right that minute. After about ten minutes I got my breathing back under control and stopped freaking out. I sat up and had only one question on my mind.
Where was the talisman that my mother had left for me?

Dan got up and got
a glass of tap water for me to drink. He handed it to me as he sat himself in the chair close to mine. “Are you feeling any better, Ells? What was in the letter that had you so upset?”

“I really don’t want to talk about it right now
, Uncle Dan, if that’s okay?” I tried to smile at him to soften my words.

“Sure it’s okay
, sweetie.”

“But I
do have one question. You mentioned earlier that my mother threw something out when she took me in. The letter also mentions some kind of talisman that was left with me. Do you know where it is? Or what happened to it?”

Dan ran
a weary hand over his face. “Sweetie I really have no idea what Barbra did with it. It was beautiful though. It hung from a rope of silver. Had stones the color of your eyes and smaller moonstones mixed in with it.”

I just about f
ell out of my chair. That sounded just like the necklace that I had stashed under my pillow upstairs. I decided to keep quiet about having it. I really don’t know why, but it felt right, like it was a secret between me and my birth mom.

“Uncle Dan
, I’m going to head up to my room for a shower, if that is okay? I just need some time to process. Thanks for being honest with me. And everything that you did for me last night.”

“Ella girl, you know I would
do anything for you. You are my little blackbird. I love you to pieces, girl. You just go on and shower and I’ll be here when you are done. Don’t forget to call your little friend now. The loud one has been blowing up my landline all morning.” He chuckled as he left the table to start on the breakfast clean up. I felt even worse as I noticed that I never even touched anything on my plate.

The first thing I
did when I got to my room was retrieve my necklace from under my pillow. Jessa would just have to wait for me to call her. This was so much more important right now.
How could this be the same thing that my mother had left for me to wear? To protect and guide me?
I thought with confusion, which seemed to be the running theme that morning. I decided to start wearing it. I didn’t really believe anything about danger coming my way, but better to be safer than sorry in my book. I slipped the necklace around my neck and snapped the closure on the back. I looked at myself in the mirror and I was surprised to see that it still seemed to be sparkling from within when it touched any part of my skin.  I was going to take the letter’s warning to heart and wear it from then on. Besides, it felt like I had come home when I was in contact with it. I needed all the comfort I could get right then. So many changes, so much new information to process and still the cyclone in my brain swirled on and on.
I need a distraction,
I thought.

I rang Jessa and s
he answered on the first ring. “Where in Hades have you been, woman? I have been worried sick. I called your house, but your mom started squawking out scriptures at me. Have I told you lately that she is cray, cray?” When Jessa was excited she rambled. Case in point.

“Jessa
, I’m fine. I had to call my Uncle to come and pick me up last night because the bitch kicked me out and told me I wasn’t hers.”

“Wait! What
, do you mean she disowned you or something?”

“No. She told me that she never gave birth to me and she was damn glad for it because I have a terrible soul. Can you believe that shit? It
seems that Sabrina called my house before we got there last night and decided to spew a bunch of bullshit to my mother about me fucking someone in the Caf yesterday during lunch. Of course she believed Sabrina over me. Her highness is never wrong. Not ever when it comes to my mother.”

“Who did you fuck and where was I with my camera?”

I chuckled. Jessa had a way of wanting to make me laugh when I’m getting myself worked up. “You know damn well I didn’t
do
anyone. I’m still the only eighteen year old virgin you know. Don’t worry, but that’s not even the half of it. The crazy heifer kicked me out and burned all my shit in the back yard. My Uncle Dan had to come and get me. I’m at his place right now.”

“She burned your stuff? Even all of the things people have given you and the stuff you bought yourself?”

“Yes, everything. It was like she was trying to wipe a bad memory from her frontal lobe.”

“Crazy bitch!”

“Yeah, that just about sums it up.” I decided to not tell Jessa about the letter from my birth mother or the necklace that found me. She would just trip out. I was doing that enough for the both of us.

“Girl this calls for
some major shopping therapy! Do you still have your psycho mom’s credit card she gave you for emergencies?”

“
Yessss. Why?”

“I say we spend so much on that bitch that it basically implodes. That cow owes you at least that. Besides she did give it to you. It’s not like you are stealing. And this
is an emergency if I have ever heard of one.”

“You know? I think you’
re right. Let’s hit the mall this afternoon. Can you pick me up in a couple from my uncle’s house?”

“Hells yeah! Wench! Let’s
do this shit!”

I chuckle
d at her enthusiasm of spending money that’s not ours. “Okay I’ll text you the directions in a bit. See you in a couple, chica. Lovin’ you right now, girly!”

“
Awww. I know I’m the shiznit, laters!”

After I quit the call
, I headed down stairs to let Dan in on our plan to do some shopping. I found him in his office checking his email while he was also on the phone. Multitasking with the best of them. I knocked on the door jamb to get his attention.

“Hey Dan
, is it cool if Jessa picks me up in a bit so we can head to the mall to replace some of my things?”

“Sure
, sweetie. Hang on for just a sec.”

He told
whoever he was talking on the phone that he would call him back in a few. He hung up the phone and gave me his full attention. “Ella girl, do you need money? I have some in savings I can dip into.”

“No
, Uncle Dan. I’m going to put the credit card that Barbra and Henry gave me for emergencies to good use. I called the card company while I was upstairs and it’s still active. The available balance on it should be more than enough to replace everything she destroyed. It seems fitting that she replaces what she took and destroyed. Don’t you think?” I ask with a grin.

Uncle Dan gave a great belly laugh at that
. “Hell yeah! Ella, girl. That’s a great idea if I do say so myself. Well if you do need anything, even if it’s just a hug, you let me know. You hear me? I’m good for it. I love you, girl. Always have.”

I reach
ed up to the neckline of my shirt to make sure the necklace or talisman was still hidden from view. I felt kind of bad for not telling him that I had found it, but I still wanted to keep it between me and my birth mom for awhile.

“I know
, Dan. I love you too. I’m going to throw myself together before Jessa gets here. Do you, by chance, still have any of my old clothes here from the summers I spent with you?”

“I was thinking about that earlier. I found a box of things
in the closet and I set it on the kitchen counter. Take whatever you need out of there. It’s yours after all.”

“Thanks again. You are the best
, Uncle Dan!”

I lean
ed in and hugged him tight. This was home I realized, having someone that loved you no matter what. No matter what the situation. They were always there for you. They always had your back in good times and bad. I was lucky to have him.

I left the office so my uncle could
get back to his calls and emails. I went into the kitchen and grabbed the old box of my things. When I got to my room I sat it on my bed and started to rummage through it. There wasn’t much that would still fit, but I did find an old pair of cut off jean shorts that I used to keep to go fishing in. They might be a little short, but they would have to do though. I also came across one of my old Nike tees. Not the most fashionable outfit, but beggars couldn’t be choosers.

Right as
I was heading for the bathroom to shower, my phone rang. It was probably Devon to call and bitch at me for not calling him yet. I was sure by now that he’d heard everything from Jessa. He most likely would be tagging along with us to the mall to be my fashion consultant. The boy could dress.

“Hello?”
I answered.

“Hey
, pretty eyes. How are you this AM? Better than last night I hope.”

“Who
is this?” I asked, even though I knew who it was. Jaxx was the only person that had ever called me pretty eyes. He’d also seen me at one of my lowest points last night. I got butterflies in my tummy from the sound of his voice over the phone. All dark and smooth.