MIDNIGHT MAGIC - ch 1

MIDNIGHT MAGIC – ch 1

Julie

(*)(*)(*)

Midnight trotted after Mia as she left school.

“Mia, mo chroi (my heart), I don’t understand why you won’t drive to school. You have a great car, and your parents always encourage you to use it. So, why are we walking?”

Mia laughed at her cat and answered, “Mo eolach (my familiar), ever since my parents gifted me with the car for my 16th birthday, I promised myself to use it only when necessary and not allow myself to become lazy, but then as my familiar, you should know that. I know you enjoy riding in the car but if we get lazy, we’ll get fat and unhealthy. I won’t do that to either of us. That’s why.”

“Okay, Mia, but what if it starts to rain? Then what? We get wet? And what if you’re needed at home?”

The seventeen-year-old replied, “Then we jump on a ley line. We’d be home in seconds. Now, let’s just enjoy the walk. It’s so peaceful knowing that we won’t be running into Tim Dwyer.” Her eyes quickly turned from anger at the memory of his cruelty to sadness when she finished, “But I do miss running into Francis.”

“You know, Mia, I try not to think too often about that horrible Tim but when I do, it angers me thinking of what he tried to do to you and our family. I’m really so glad he’s gone. And yet, I can’t help but wonder if your spells are still holding.”

Mia squatted to gently pet her cat. “Midnight, mo ghra (my love), those spells are permanent. The only way to break them is for me to break them and trust me, I won’t. Hey, I have an idea, jump on my shoulder. Let’s ride a line.”

“Yahoo!! Makes my day, mo chroi (my heart). And besides, you really are needed at home.”

Mia stopped quickly, looked down at Midnight and said anxiously, “Why? What’s wrong? What’s happened?”

Midnight purred, “Nothing too major, but you have a visitor and your help is needed.” Although Mia was a witch, she only used her magic when she felt it necessary.

Mia picked up Midnight and jumped on the ley line that would take her home.

Seconds later, they were just a few steps away from Mia’s front door when she saw a familiar face sitting on her front porch. Midnight jumped off Mia’s shoulder and ran to the young woman sitting on the porch.

“Julie! OMG, what a surprise! When did you get here? Why didn’t you tell me that you were coming? Did Charlene come with you? How long can you stay?”

Then she took a better look at her friend. “Julie! OMG, what the heck happened? Were you in an accident?” Julie stood and Mia’s face dropped in surprise. She asked, “Who’s the father, is he here with you, and when are you due? And why are you all bruised?”

Julie walked to her friend, put her arms around Mia’s neck and began to sob.

“Oh, Mia, it all just went so wrong! I didn’t know where else to go. Charlene’s in college, my parents, well, they were so angry with me that they suggested I find my own apartment, and Tony? Well, he’s another story all together.”

“Okay, first things first. Let’s get your luggage inside. Then we’ll go visit my mom at the clinic and have you checked out. We want to make sure the baby is ok.”

Julie need the bathroom and Mia made her phone call. “Mom, remember Julie from New York” Well, she’s here, alone, and pregnant. Can I bring her to your clinic to make sure the baby’s ok?”

Midnight purred softly, “Mia, is she ok? I mean emotionally.”

Mia briefly looked at Julie. “Jules, Midnight wants to know if you’re ok, emotionally. We know mom will take good care of you and the baby physically, but I can sense you’re a bundle of mixed emotions. Scared about the baby and then, just outright fear. Do you want to talk about it? Or maybe wait until we get back home?”

Julie put her hands over her face for a few seconds, the sighed deeply. “I met Tony at a party last year. We seemed to hit it off perfectly. He walked me home and asked me for a date. I just couldn’t say no. He was, IS so handsome. Tall, black wavy hair, soft brown eyes, or at least when he’s smiling, they’re soft. After that first date, we were inseparable. Then one night, he decided we should take our relationship to the next level. I’ll admit I was hesitant but, naturally, Tony being Tony with his charming soft voice” (she said that sarcastically) “convinced me.”

After another deep sigh, she continued. “Mia, it only took once. I should have known better. I wasn’t on contraceptives. I never thought about it. I thought I had plenty of time. He promised we’d be fine. We weren’t. When I told him I was pregnant, he told me to ‘get rid of it’. I was horrified. I told him no, and that’s when he hit me. I ran but he ran faster – all apologies with ‘I’m sorry, Julie. You just caught me off guard. We’ll get married. Everything’ll be okay. You’ll see.’ Two weeks later, he put a ring on my finger, and we set the date. Then last night, he’d been out supposedly celebrating with his friends and came home drunk. He said it was my fault I’d gotten pregnant and, WHAMO! He hit me again, and again, and again. When he finally fell asleep, I quietly packed only what I could carry, grabbed my bank card, the cash I had stashed and ran. I took a cab to the airport, hit the ATM, and took out as much money as the machine allowed and, well, here I am! And yes, I’m afraid for the baby and terrified for me. What if he finds me?”