SHE FOLLOWED ME HOME ch 9

SHE FOLLOWED ME HOME – ch 9

Mo deas

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Brian looked from his wife to his daughter, then back to his wife and asked, “How will that affect her?”

Morena replied, “Not sure yet although she is beginning to show signs of being more of my family than yours. She’s part elf, part witch, part Fey. Mia will surely be an interesting creature to watch as she grows.”

“True, but just what will she grow into?”

Liz laughed, “Oh, Brian, stop worrying. She’s only eight. She’ll grow and mature like any normal human with the difference being that she’ll have magical powers. What will be more interesting to watch will be which powers will become more dominant.”

Mia turned to her aunt and sounded worried as she asked, “Oh, Aunt Liz, what if all those powers grow equally? Will I be a freak of nature?”

Mickey laughed and almost spit out his mouthful of cocoa. “Mia, sweet cousin, we’re already freaks of nature. You just might be a bit freakier, that’s all.” Mia gave his shoulder a gentle punch and laughed as she responded, “Thanks a bunch, you brat!”

Mo deas nuzzled in Mia’s arm in a comforting gesture and purred softly.

Before anyone could answer, Mia stood, walked to the door, opened it, and invited her great Aunt Finola to join them.

“Ah, mo neacht mhilis (my sweet niece). I’m sorry to intrude but I felt a strong apprehension and it worried me. What’s wrong, Mia? Or should I just tell you what I think is bothering you?”

“Please, Aintin (Auntie), I’m so confused.”

Finola sat near the hearth with the adults. While Morena poured another glass of Hennessey, Mia said, “Aintin, yes, I’m worried.”

As Mo deas relaxed when Mia sat near her great aunt, the cat hopped off Mia’s lap and walked to her water bowl.

“Aintin, mom says I’m part elf, part witch, part Fey. I can fly and tonight, I started reciting a few spells. What’s next? I don’t even know what a Fey is? What if all these things inside me start fighting each other?”

The other adults looked at Finola hoping she could supply the answers even if they didn’t know.

Finola put her arms around Mia and hugged her tightly. She leaned her head of soft graying hair on top of Mia’s golden curls. Morena stretched out her hand with the Hennessey she just poured.

Accepting the liquid spirit with her right hand, Finola smoothed Mia’s hair with her left, then said, “Oh, mo stor (my dear), you needn’t worry. Our family is comprised of witches and elves and we’re all part of Clan Fey. From what you’re just told me, you’ll have a bit of witch and elf in you. Fey is just the clan you belong to. I guess in simpler terms, you can be a Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, and so on but you’re all part of the Girl Scouts. Your last name is Diehl but that doesn’t make you any less than the Byrne family. Does that help a bit?”

Mia leaned against her great aunt, sighed, and said, “Oh, Aintin, thank you. I was really

beginning to be so afraid.”

“No, need, Mo stor, and when you’re ready, you can zip to my little cottage, and I can explain much more. But for now, you need to enjoy your new home. I know you’ve all got a busy day ahead. Morena? Thank you for the Hennessey.”

She stood, handed the empty glass to Mia’s mother, and said, “Good night, my loves. Until …. Well, until I’m needed again. I’ve business of my own tomorrow. I’ll see you soon.”

She quietly closed the door behind her and, while Morena and Brian looked through the window, Finola took two steps to the side, and in a wink of an eye, she was gone. Morena mumbled, “Where did she go? She didn’t just vaporize, did she?”

Mia lowered her head almost as if she were embarrassed by what she somehow knew. “Mom, she stepped on a Ley line.”

“She stepped on a what? And how do you know that? And ley lines aren’t magical.” Brian turned to his wife and asked, “Are they?”

Since Mia understood that her parents were now as fascinated by her abilities as she was, she almost giggled.

“Dad, no, not all ley lines are magical. From what my intuition tells me, some were spelled centuries ago to make traveling faster in times of danger. We need to find a library tomorrow. I need to learn more.”

Brian and Ian made arrangements to drive to town and look into the matter of a generator, while Liz and Morena sat at the kitchen table making a list of things they needed to do: register their children for school, find the supermarket, locate the library, visit the medical clinic and check out the herb shop.

“Well, Morena, “ Liz said as she stood, “We’ll be saying our good nights, now. What time would you like to head out? Since Ian has volunteered to use our car, I guess that means you’re stuck driving.”

Morena said it would be fine and looked forward to learning the roads.

Mia blurted out that she knew the way and could give them the proper directions to anywhere they needed to go.

Once Mia and her parents were alone, Mo deas leapt into Mia’s lap and stared intently into her eyes.

“Yes, I know, Mo deas. I agree. It’s time.”

Before climbing the stairs to her bedroom, Mia looked at her parents and asked, “So, mom, dad, who will be the one to travel back to America and arrange for our permanent move here? We all know we’re not going to leave Ireland.”

They looked quizzically at Mia, but she was already making her way up the stairs to her room.