"She is not dead and you will not have Adolpha!"
My dad rarely yelled, but towards that woman he was extremely aggressive.
Although I did not know her, I could immediately tell I didn't like her.
She was an old, tall woman wearing a long, black dress. Her slightly cross-eyed, black glistering eyes were constantly moving around as if she was examining her surroundings non stop! She was bone-thin and the tight dress revealed her body and skeletal structure... She also wore a black floppy hat that was so big, it could be used as an umbrella when it rained... since it stretched beyond her shoulders and hips.
"Dear. Calm down." In contrast with her overall strange appearance, her voice was exceptionally clear, speaking with a soft british accent. I reckoned she could easily be a podcast host about soft Jazz music.
Even my father seemed to calm down for a second before noticing me, in my PJs, walking towards them.
"Adolph-"
"Good morning! Oh you didn't tell me she had developed into such an exceptional young lady!" The strange lady interrupted my father!
"Who are y-" I tried to ask.
"Oh dear the fight must have been bloody hard yesterday! You are covered in scratches!" She interrupted me too.
Just one more time lady and my fist is gonna end up in your face!
"Who are you?" I tried asking again.
"Nobody" Dad said. "It's time to go Vanessa."
"Oh well. I tried. You do have my number Dave. When you stop chasing after ghosts you should contact me" The old lady softly whispered to me. "I will make it worth your valuable time."
She closed the door behind her and my Dad puffed angerly "UGH! I CANNOT STAND HER!"
"Dad? Who was that?"
"Freaking Vanessa Wodin. Your Mom's second cousin" dad sighed.
"Her GIFT is to know when another Wiccan has awakened. She wanted you to be her apprentice..."
"Ey that's awesome! Maybe I can get a handle of those powers!" I walked towards the kitchen counter and took a cookie from our cookie jar. I started munching on it and continued " If Daemons start attacking me like yesterday I'll definitely need that."
"Yeah, except she was badmouthing your mom... Saying she is awful for abandoning us... and that she must be dead! And... And that she is a bad person overall...I just... I wouldn't want you learning anything from her!"
"Isth okhay thath" I said while I was stuffing my mouth.
"Stop eating and talking at the same time!" Dad was funny when he got angry sometimes.
I looked at dad and swallowed.
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The strange lady with the big hat walked inside the stone circle.
Nine black, stone pillars rose above the beautiful grass field in that part of Scotland. In the middle was a big crystal throne. The lone man sitting there in the dark signed for the lady to come closer.
"I just saw them your excellency. I moved here through my hat. She is 15 and awakened lord."
"Is she as we have hoped?" His voice was harsh and metallic.
"Better. But I am afraid she will not be keen to our plans" The thin woman bowed before the crystal throne and the man sitting on it.
"It matters not. She must become your apprentice before Yule comes. Make her understand that it's for the best."
The woman twitched "The father opposes her involvement".
"Then remove him and any obstacle that comes in your way."
The black throne, shone in the moonlight as they spoke.
"Yes Master."
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Riding a bicycle through the mud of Hillsborough Meadow, a day after it rained and with scratches all over me... well, it was not ideal.
But since a freaking before-picture of a demonic-beef-patty and a Daemon ex-friend/crush attacked us yesterday and our car is up for repair, this is the only way we have of getting to the Great tree.
It was still the middle of the day so the sun was shining brightly and my skin felt like a porkchop on the skillet.
Still the thought of finally gaining a clue to my mother's whereabouts... it was all worth it. Even the great fight with Mark II the Wiccan exterminator was worth a chance of meeting with mom.
A chance at a normal- well, almost normal- family.
Snowball was inside the bicycle basket licking his paws and meowing every time we run over a pebble and his peaceful ride was disturbed.
Dad used his own bicycle. A black and white mountain bike he found on ebay once for "JUST 500$, WHAT A STEAL"! Man can he be a dork sometimes.
He looked so peaceful, riding, the wind brushing the hair off his face...
About 30 minutes later we reached the hill of the Great tree. The tree was so tall, it's shade covered a radius of 300 yards.
It was an old oak tree, so old in fact that no one had any idea when it was planted. Scientists claimed once it was older than 5 thousand years old! But I don't know... How can a tree be this old?
After one more minute or so we reached it's base. The old trunk was thicker than a house. It was so big you could walk for minutes if you wanted to circle it. It also looked and felt different than other trees.
"Alright... now I wonder where we should start looking for clues!" Dad said... he probably tried to hide how enthusiastic he was. Searching for clues. Searching for mom.
I looked up towards the thick leafage of the Great tree.
"I don't know. You know her, where would she hide something so important?"
"Honestly, she wouldn't. She didn't like nature, if it was up to her she would probably hide the clues in a mall."
"Ahaha, really?" I thought of how little I knew about her... How much I am going to discover!
But then I noticed something in the foilage. Something small connected to one of the thicker branches. I tried to concentrate but it was too small to see!
"I can see something!" I said loudly.
"Where?" Dad asked enthusiastically!
Then the more I concentrated, the more my eyes burned, and the more the picture cleared.
I activated my.... GIFT?
I saw better than ever a small socket inside the branch, the inside of which had an insignia.
The insignia of the Wodin family.