TUS NUA - ch 5

TUS NUA – ch 5

New Beginnings – Mia and Midnight

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The young women were enthralled with their little kittens but keen-eyed Annora, while still petting her kitten, broke the silence. “Mia, I think we’re all kind of getting used to seeing and hearing things we’ve never seen or heard before. But, let’s face it, I, like many if not all of us here grew up with all the fairy tales of witches being-bent-over, green-skinned, gray-haired hags with warts on their noses. So, seeing you and your family has totally bewildered us. While we’re taking all this in and trying to get used to it all, can you explain what happened to the Moretti family and how you can be so sure they’ll never look for us?”

Mia turned towards Finola and asked, “Aintin? Can you bring out your mirror, please?”

Finola rose from her chair, walked to her small closet, and pulled out her large scrying mirror which she placed it a few feet away from the end of the table. “Ladies, first I’ll ask you to go one at a time. Annora, how about your first. Is there anyone you’d like to see?”

Annora looked around the room, then back at Finola and answered, “I’d like to know how my little sister is doing. We never had the best home life, and I guess that’s how I got mixed up with Teddy. Is there a way you can let me know if she’s ok?”

Knowing that each young woman had hardly any possessions, Finola did something differently. “Come here, my stor. Oh, sorry, I forgot none of you speak Gaelic. Mo stor is the Gaelic term for my dear. Now, come, place your left hand on the glass, and think of your sister. What’s her name?”

“Sierra but I always called her CC”

Annora placed her left palm on the mirror; Finola placed her left palm on Annora’s and recited, “Mirror, my friend, we need your aid. We need to see before memories fade. CC Sutter is who we need to see. So, we wish it. So, mote it be.”

Finola gently pulled Annora’s hand away and everyone watched as a thin gray mist filled the frame. Slowly, the mist began to clear and Annora saw her sister sitting on the floor of a room, writing in a notebook. The girl looked around with eyes red and swollen from crying.

“Ms. Finola, can she hear me?”

“No, mo stor, but if she says anything, you’ll hear her. Where is she?”

“That’s my bedroom. I wish I could talk to her; I want ..”

She was interrupted by the sound of sobbing. “Annora, where are you? Oh, Rory, I miss you. Please come home. Dad’s gone and mom’s hardly ever home. I don’t know where else to look for you. Please, please come home.” Then sobbing broke out in what Julie knew has hysterical cries.

Julie rose and put her arms around Annora but looked at Finola who heard her heartfelt thought, “Aintin, is there any way we can bring this young girl here?”

Finola thought back, “Yes but I’ll want Alistar to help me.” Mentally hearing their conversation, he thought, “I’m one step ahead of you cousin. I’ll have her papers ready in a few minutes.”

Each young woman took her turn looking in the mirror while Evangeline took notes regarding the thoughts, wishes, and wants of each one.

Mia spoke to the group. “Now, that you’ve seen your loved ones, let me first finish with how we allowed Tony Moretti and his, uh, henchman to find us.”

As promised, between Julie and Mia, their explanation didn’t take long and many giggled while others laughed heartily at the spells Finola cast on the men. They felt no sorrow for the fate each faced and felt a huge relief knowing the Moretti’s wouldn’t look for them. They relaxed knowing that they were finally safe.

Ali Hale raised her hand and said, “I can’t help but wonder. If you’re all witches and Midnight brought us all kittens, does that mean that she’s also a witch?”

Loud and clear, Midnight screeched which had Mia laugh louder than even she expected.

“Oh, heavens no! She’s my familiar but she does have a huge streak of intuition and can usually anticipate what I might have in mind. Sometimes, even before I begin to act on my thoughts. Midnight’s a very special cat but she’s protective enough where she’s often screamed how she wished she wasn’t bound to a white witch whose vow is to harm none. For example.” She told them how Midnight acted with Tony and Monty and the young women gasped but then laughed.

Annora declared, “Oh, Midnight, you’re a girl after my own heart. I want my Boots to be just like you.” Boots stood on her hind legs and uttered, “Don’t worry, mo ghra, I will.”

Annora’s eyes widened, and she said to Finola, “Ms. Finola, she called me mogra. What’s that?”

Finola answered, “It’s Mo Ghra and it means, my love.”

Finola turned to Alistar and asked, “Are we ready, my dear cousin?”

“Without a doubt.”

Looking at Annora, Finola asked, “My dear girl, I realize that you’ve just gotten here and still have to get used to being in Ireland, but what would you think of bring CC here?”

Annora looked up into Finola’s eyes. “Can we do that? She’s only sixteen. She has no passport, and I have no idea what my parents did with her birth certificate. While I so love that idea, in my heart, I know it’s impossible.”

Alistar walked to Annora and gently put his arm around her. “We are a family of witches, remember? There is very little that’s impossible for us. How would you like to take a portal ride?”

Annora looked at Evangeline who easily read her mind and when she nodded, Annora wrapped her arms around Alistar’s neck while jumping up and down and almost screamed, “Oh, Mr. Alistar. Can we? If we can, when?”

Alistar smile and replied, “First of all, no need to call me Mr. Alistar is fine. Quickly run upstairs and wash those tears from your eyes. Once you come back down, we’ll go and get your sister.”

Annora couldn’t run fast enough.