It seemed that most students listened to the headmaster, Antonio had told Katy and Deen that he had fielded a lot of questions from the Fire house, and expected more because the official version, mentioned almost nothing about what really happened. But many others sought out Deen and Katy, and they did not know how to answer the questions so they just pretended something came up and escaped.
On the Saturday of her detention she walked to Antonio’s office, and waited for him outside the door. She was worried, not about the detention, but Deen had told her there had been a lot of whispered conversations between the other girls and Russell. Randall and Rory had started to read the books Katy suggested to help bring them up to speed, so when Katy showed them some of the things, she and Deen could do they would be able to pick up on it a little quicker.
“Hey, Katy, okay I am just going to have you work on some potions. I have a few tests to do on the potion Tony and I are working on.” Antonio said as he unlocked his office.
Once they stepped into the office Katy found the courage to ask. “Professor,” right away he stopped and turned to face her, as she stopped calling him ‘Professor’ a while ago. “What is the official version? I know you and the other heads, and of course Headmaster O’Cuinn, are saying something, but nobody is even thinking about it around me, let alone talking about it anymore.” Katy knew because she had listened for the official version, so she would not have to ask.
Antonio sighed and sat down at his desk. He did not want to have this conversation. He knew it would just make her mad. “We are saying you tried to seek out your family, Riley took offense, and tried to show you that as a Fire you are inferior to the Airs. Then, as Riley told the Solomons that you wanted to be part of your family, Wesley and Richard Solomon showed their true colors. By poisoning Riley against you and then they tried to take your powers so you would be exiled from this world, instead it backfired and Wesley’s spell killed him.”
Katy sank into a chair, she could not believe the version they were telling people. It put not only her in a bad light, but also it made Riley sound weak minded. Thankfully, the good part of that story it still painted Richard and Wesley as the villains. “But…” Katy paused, she really did not know what to say about this, she did not like it at all. “I don’t know what to say. Why this version, why not tell the truth that Wesley tried to kill me. That Riley had tried to kill not only myself but Deen and Tony Why the sugarcoated version?”
“We wanted to try to play it down. So, that way you were not being constantly being asked what happened and how, I don’t know how the rest of the school would take it, to know that your shield is the reason that Wesley Solomon is dead.”
“You mean that you don’t know how students and their rich parents would take it knowing I killed someone!” Katy was mad, really mad. They sugarcoated everything so that way parents and student would not know the real truth. They did not want people to know that Wesley and Richard Solomon were about to kill an eleven-year-old child, who was their blood. “You know it is going to come out anyways!” Katy started to spark, and she did not want that. She had been focused on controlling her powers when she was angry and it did not always work, but she knew if she started sparking, she would focus on the eyes of the person, by doing that it allowed her focus on not exploding. Only other thing that worked was keeping her hands busy. She flicked her wand toward her bag and pulled out her cauldron and her potion ingredients and lined them up.
“That’s not true!” Antonio started to deny it.
“But it is! I know that now! You don’t want people knowing I did what I did! You don’t want people knowing just how truly horrible Richard Solomon is! Has he even been arrested? I don’t think so; he was at the custody hearing! Is he going to go to trial? Is he in jail now?”
“Yes… No… he was charged but is out on bail. Until his trial and that can take years to come to trail.”
“So he is free? I thought he was only there in an official type of capacity at the trial. Not that he was free. He is able to be a horrible influence on my half-brothers? He can try again to kill me? He can try to kill my family?” Katy was so mad she stopped what she what she started and decided she did not want to be here any longer. She turned and ran out the door. She ignored Antonio’s yells for her to come back. But she continued to run until she reached the border of the school, then, and only then did she stopped.
On the border of the school was a house. She had never seen it before, but then again in her runs of the grounds she never had gone this far before. She would have turned back around, but the door of the house opened.
“Who’s there?” A grey haired man walked out, he looked older than any other magical person she had met so far.
“Umm… just me, but I am sorry to disturb you, I was just umm… going.” Katy started to back away, something inside her told her he had a lot of power, or at least that he once did.
“Stop! I know you. You are the Solomon girl. The one that everybody is talking about.”
“I am not a Solomon. My name is Katherine Lillian Fitz.” Though Katy loved and forgiven Riley she never wanted to be a Solomon.
“Just because your last name is different does not change your blood young witch. Of course, there is your mother’s side. Their blood is tainted, but… Never mind come in; have a cup of juice or tea with me. I don’t get many visitors.” He turned to go back in, he looked back at her. “I am not going to hurt you, and it looks as if you need to calm down you are giving off lots of sparks.”
Katy stopped and thought for a moment, and then followed him in. “Excuse me, but who are you?” Katy asked as she took a seat at his kitchen table. She looked around the small house, the kitchen and dining room where one, to the right was a small sitting room and off to the left was a small hallway, and Katy was sure the stairs led to the upstairs to his room. The largest room in the house was the kitchen.
“I am Robert Gentry; I am the keeper of the school’s brownies. You can call me Rob, everybody does. So, why don’t you tell me what is bothering you, Katherine?” He took a moment to start a pot of tea, and grabbed a pitcher of pineapple juice from the fridge and poured her a cup.
“Umm… the official version of what happened at the school last year.” Katy told him the truth she did not know why but she felt like she could trust him. There was something about him that was familiar.
“I knew they were leaving something out of that story. So, why don’t cha tell me what really happened last term? I won’t tell a soul. I will pledge the Warlock’s Oath if you don’t believe me.” He finished making his tea and sat down across from her.
Katy thought about it for a moment. “Richard and Wesley Solomon told Riley I was evil. I believed it as well, until I found Richard’s journal. Wesley and Richard wanted to kill me. They had Riley kidnap me, then they took me to the dungeon of death, or at least that was what I thought it was. Richard tried to kill me, but I bound him. Not like a normal bind. I had him a vortex of fire, it didn’t hurt him it just bound him. Then Wesley took the moment I put the bind up to start the death curse. I used everything in me to put up a shield. It wasn’t like my normal shield but the shield that formed was made of all five elements, the Fire enclosing the power of the winds of Air, the rumbling of the Earth, the sparks of the Spirit, and the waves of Water. It absorbed the death curse and something in me, something in the shield, knew that if Wesley lived there would be so much death and darkness in the world. So I sent it back to him.” Katy wasn’t sure why she told him that, the only person she had told was the headmaster and the Elders, and nobody but those in that dungeon knew exactly what she had done.
“It sound like you did what needed to be done. Nothing to be ashamed of, but of course they can’t go around telling the world that your power is beyond anything they have seen before. I am sure you know that your power is greater than a lot of full grown and trained witches and warlocks.”
“But why?” Katy was still confused about that, she knew she had more power than most, but she did not know why.
“That may not have an easy answer, but I am sure one day it shall be revealed. There was another witch, who once upon a time had a power such as yours. She chose darkness. I hope you will choose the light.”
Katy was not sure what he meant, so she just took the information in; someone once had power such as hers but abused it. Katy made a vow never to go down that road. But before she could respond, Rob stood and took their glasses and put them in the sink.
“Let’s get you back up to the castle. I am sure that people are looking for you, and I think we have let them worry enough.” Rob said and led her to the door of his house. “I won’t go back up with you, since I have a few chores to do around the grounds, but you know the way.”
“Can I come back sometime?” Katy did not know why but she felt a calming presence about him, and she wanted to be around that.
“Sure thing kid. Go on, before they start calling the Guardians.” He turned to go back into his house and Katy started back up to the school.
She went right to Antonio’s office and went inside and sat down. She said nothing; she just went about her work. She knew Antonio was looking for her, and possible some of the other professors. But she was still mad, so she focused on her work. After the normal time frame of a detention plus one hour, since she left for an hour, she got up and went back to her dorm room, and set to work on her homework.
Around dinner time, she chose to seek out Deen and go down to dinner, she was still upset but she knew that they had to say something. Katy walked around the dorm and did not find him, so she left to go down the dining hall to see if he was there, but nobody that she liked was there. She wondered where they were, so she wondered back up to Antonio’s office. There she found all the people she cared about in the room. Katy could hear Edgar as he yelled, from down the hall. “Hey what is going on here?” Katy asked as she walked into the room. She made a quick note that everybody was there.
Deen ran up to her and hugged her. “We were looking for you!”
“I came back and served my detention and then I went back up to the dorms to work on homework. I know I got mad, but I was sure you would have known I came back up this way because I left the completed potions on your desk.” Katy explained.
“You didn’t think to leave a note? You just left! I waited for an half an hour before starting the search; I thought you would come back on your own! Where did you go?” Antonio was mad and Katy knew she should have said something but she was mad as well.
“Why should I have said anything? Why should I have even served this detention when Christina ‘my parents are super rich’ Lee only had to write lines? Why don’t I have the right to be mad about the ‘official version’?” Katy had to let it all out, and she knew she should stop but something inside her broke. “I have to know that the people I go to school with think I am some nut job; that Riley is weak, that Richard Solomon is out there. Who knows what he is planning? I don’t. None of you do. He is evil and you all are still hiding something from me. I know you are. I am not bloody stupid!” Katy turned and marched right back of the office. “Don’t bother coming after me!” She yelled back at them. And she marched herself right out of the school and out to Rob’s house and knocked on the door.
“Back so soon?” Rob asked as he answered the door. “Oh, young witch you might want to calm down.” He said noticed her powers sparked like mad.
“Sorry, ugh… how can they make me so mad?” Katy started to pace in front of the house. “No, matter what they always tend to rub me wrong! And then they act like I don’t have a right to be mad. It is like they don’t see me. Like they don’t hear me. Like I am invisible. They don’t seem to think I can see they are hiding things from me. I can see signs of it everywhere. The closed minds, the folders with my name on it, and the meetings with Headmaster O’Cuinn, they don’t see me. They didn’t even tell me before the trial that I was related to Headmaster O’Cuinn, or Assistant Headmistress Notte-Preto. I had to find out at the trial that they are my uncle and aunt on my mother’s side. Yet, they don’t want me, they don’t see me. They act like they forget that I was the one to live though what happened. That I have to live with the fact that my mom was killed, that I have to live with the fact my father wants to kill me!” Katy paced, she hoped it would calm her down.
“Your mother was killed?” Rob asked as he sat down on the front steps.
“Yeah, I didn’t tell them I know. I know they know; I am not stupid. But I don’t remember much about it, I remember a figure coming at us, and then a huge explosion, the next thing I remember a person from social services was talking to me in a hospital room. I was told my mom was dead and I was going to the local orphanage. I stayed there for a few weeks then I was moved into a foster home. They use you as slave labor, so I ran away.” Katy collapsed to the ground and put her head in her hands, she cried for her mother. She never got to bury her, she never got to say her goodbyes, and she was all she had for six years.
“Why didn’t you tell them you know all of this?” Rob asked.
“Because I didn’t do anything, I got so scared I froze. Last year I dealt with Riley coming after me, I dealt with the Solomons. I dealt with my own father trying to kill me. I used a lot of power; I didn’t know I had the power I used, to kill Wesley Solomon. So why couldn’t I save my mother? Why couldn’t I tap into that power when my mother needed me? Why out of all the people I have helped, why couldn’t I help her? She meant more to me than anything and I couldn’t help her!” Katy just cried into her hands, she had nothing left inside. She just told this stranger some of her darkest secrets.
“Look you were six, most of the things that show up before you are nine are so small you think they are tricks of the light, if you are not raised in the know about magic. Your mother probably stopped using magic so that your father and his siblings could not find you. If she was killed, then there has to be an explanation.” Though something flitted across his mind, it was so fast Katy was sure she imaged the hate he felt when he spoke of her mother. “I don’t know much, but I know that all those around you are not in your life by chance. Ask those you love, young witch. Remember those that are here for you now, the past is the past, at least in your case.
Forget the past, move forward into the future with your new family.” With that Rob went back into his house and closed the door and left Katy alone to figure out his words.
Katy did not know what his words meant, but she did something she had only seen Deen do once, she talked to the powers that be, the ones that controlled her fate, her life, and her soul. “I don’t know who you are, those powers that be, but my best friend says you are in charge of our fates. I know I have trust issues, and I don’t open up, but I am thankful you gave me Deen; he is somebody I can talk to. But powers, I feel there are two parts of me. It is like I am two different people. One being this person who has no issue doing what needs to be done, older than I really am, the other part, the true me, the young child, that is scared of this all that wants nothing more than to be a child, it is like I am two people trying to live in one body. What does my family really see when they look at me? Can they see the true me, the real me? Can they hear me scream for their love, their support, and most of all, do they hear me scream for their help to deal with what you, the powers that know best, have thrown at me? Or do they see my mask? Do they see this mask that I have created to do what is needed to protect my heart? I can’t lose them. I have these nightmares so real. Don’t take them please? Can you hear me? Can they even see me? Why do I feel so alone? Is this your doing? Am I meant to be alone? Can they hear my screams for help? Can you? This is only the beginning, isn’t it? Tell me please, why the pain? Tell me why I can’t be a normal witchy child? Tell me why I can’t play, have fun? Worry about nothing more than my grades? Why must I worry about my brothers, of my nightmares coming true? Why do I have to worry about the world? Do you hear me? Do you see the pain in my soul? Why can’t I have the chance to live a normal life? I don’t want to be this powerful. I don’t want this! I can’t take this! Why can’t I be normal? Tell me what do you want from me? What do you want me to do? I can’t go on like this. Tell me why I can’t forget this pain? What do you want from me, oh powers that be? Tell me how to act, tell me how to be, tell me what it is you want me to do! PLEASE? CAN YOU HEAR ME? DO YOU SEE ME? THIS IS MY LIFE! WHY CAN’T I BE NORMAL? DO YOU EVEN SEE THE PAIN? DO YOU SEE ME? THE REAL ME? DO YOU HEAR ME?” Katy yelled out at nothing, she let everything out, she stopped and sank back to the ground, she was drained, and she was sure that this was only the beginning of her confusion and pain. Katy did not know how long she sat there on the snow covered ground, but once she start to get cold, she got up and walked back to the school and up to her dorm. She took a shower and crawled into bed.
But sleep would not come easy to her; she was haunted by the memories that were brought up today. She tried to see past the shadow that came at them, but could not make out anything more then she had when it happened.
The white being visited her again, but this time showed her a different vision.
Katy’s eyes were red with power; she was smiling; those she loved at her side. Those she needed at her side. She saw a world where only magical beings lived. The streets she knew of New York had changed, nature, though dark, had taken over. She looked and saw a sadness in the eyes of her loved ones. But they were alive, and they were with her, but it was as if by force. They did not really want this world. But they were alive and the war, that must have taken place, over. She stood next to the white being, the white being smiled at her, her voice echoing throughout her mind.
“See you can have all you desire in life. Power is how to get it. You should join me. It is in my power to give you this. Your loved ones whole and in your power.”
“No…”
“Solomon dead, you alive, you would have your brothers to yourself. You wouldn’t have to worry about the influence of Richard and Cora Solomon. You could raise them.”
“But…”
“No buts, Katherine Lillian. This could all be yours. Everything. The worlds of magic could all be in your grasp if you just give into your powers. Stop worrying about good or evil. There is no Darkness, there is no Goodness. Just Power. Power is the key to all. The key to your existence. To the world’s.”
“No…” Katy’s heart knew the path to this was dark, and part of her wanted it so much. She did not want to care about the Earth, she did not want to care about the non-magical beings, she just wanted to let go and be selfish. But something held her back.
“No choice is needed now.”
“NO!” Katy yelled at the being that stood beside her and sat up in her bed with a start.
No, she really had not thought of giving into Darkness. No she was not evil. She would never turn to Darkness; she could not be that selfish. But another part of her, one buried deep wondered, was it possible? Could Darkness really win her over? Her heart’s desire was for her family to be alive and with her for all her life, and the White Being was offering that desire to her on a silver plate. The White Being showed her the future that could be with her in power. But the sadness and pain in her family’s eyes, she could not ignore. But they were alive. Katy wondered to herself; “am I strong enough to resist?”
She took a deep breath and turned over, and put the nightmare from her mind. But it worried her that she did not know the answer to her question.
Kris Charles - Author 