Cauldrons, Ice and Old Lace

Chapter 5

Author's Notes: Thyme, you're amazing. Thank you for making my story look pretty and cleaning up my oopsies . Kevin, you rock my world with laughter.

I had a reader ask me, “Third nipple why?!” Well, it’s a witchy of course *wink*. Hopefully this chapter will answer some of the questions I have been asked *smile*. Thank you for all your thoughts and reviews.

~~~~~~

Bella’s POV

After the flower faeries hopped back into the basket, I look into the mirror to see if it is safe for us to go venture out into the forest. I have been  feeling so much danger lately, especially after Grams passed away. Each day I have seen a new being inside the mirror. All of them have been really vile creatures, until I saw Jasper. I knew he was dangerous, deadly even, but for some reason I knew he was there to protect me. I don’t know how I knew, I just knew. I felt so protected when he was here just moments ago. When I look into the mirror all I can see are his amber eyes smiling back at me.  I hear all the little flower faeries giggling when they look into the mirror.

I look down at my flower friends.  “Okay, girlies! What is he, and why is he here now?”

They all erupt in giggles. The little pink rose who likes to be called Rosey covers her ears, Daffy covers her eyes and Tilly covers her mouth. I cannot help but laugh. “You are a bunch of silly monkeys! You know, I bet if I tickle you, you would tell me.”

They all shake their heads me and talk in childlike voices. “Nuh uh! You can’t make us talk.” I reach out to tickle them and they all scoot back.” Daffy sticks out her little green leaf tongue and blows a raspberry at me as she jumps up and down. “It’s a secret, but I can tell you his name.”

“I already know his name, silly”

They all call out, “Jasper Whitlock, Jasper Whitlock!”

I just shake my head at them. “Seriously, you’re no help whatsoever,” I sigh out breathlessly.

They all drop their leaf hands and pout. A little daisy pops out of the basket, and she flits through the air in front of me acting like she is dancing with a partner. “If we told you then it would take away all the fun,” she says in a humor filled voice.

“And why would that take away all the fun?”

“Because you know him?”

“That’s the silliest thing I have ever heard. I just met him today. How could I possibly know him?” I point my finger at her. “You  just like me to go crazy.”

She shakes her head no as she continues to dance with her invisible partner.  “I like to see you happy, and if I tell you, it would take away all the fun and most definitely the surprise.”

“Fine, can you at least give me a hint?”

Daisy starts to giggle. “Well of course, Honey! You met him once upon a dream.”

All the little flowers in the basket sigh happily, resting their little faces in their leaf hands. And they start to sway as Daisy starts to sing, “ La da da di da da I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream.”  The other flowers faeries start singing with her.

I cannot help but laugh. “I think Grams showed you the movie Sleeping Beauty one too many times, is what I think.”

They all sigh happily. “It’s so romantic,” they gush in unison.

“Apparently I’m getting no answers from you. So hop back in the basket.” Daisy flies back into the basket with her sisters. 

~~~~~~

Walking to the path behind my home I feel a light bounce in my step for the first time in a long time. The basket in my hand sways gently. I hear the little faeries laughing in glee and squealing, “Wheeeeeeeeeeeee!!!” I look down at the basket and they are all sitting down with their stemlike legs crossed and their leaflike hands raised in the air.

I lightly bite my lower lip trying not to laugh but I can’t help it, they are just so cute. I am glad my Grams sent them to me today. After Angela left I most likely would have just vegged out on the sofa feeling sorry for myself, knowing perfectly well Grams wants me to live and enjoy life.

Walking through the trees the setting sun is so beautiful as the colors glisten through the leaves. I feel a strong pull drawing me further into the forest. I look down at my friends. “Hold on tight; we're going to run.”

They all cheer, “Yay!” as they hold on tight to the basket. I close my eyes for just a moment. And I start to run. I love to run. When I was fully human I did not have a graceful bone in my body and would trip all over myself. Even now I'm not completely graceful, but when I run I feel like I am flying. I run slightly faster than a human pace so I always need to be careful no one is around. 

The flower faeries screech out in joy. The wind picks up around me, and I feel so free just being one with nature. The trees fly past me so fast. I have no destination whatsoever. When I find myself in a clearing with a small bubbling brook, I find the place so beautiful and secluded. I gasp at the familiarity of this place. I know this place but I have never been here before. I thought I knew these woods like the back of my hand.

Setting the basket down I see  all the faeries fly out. I love to watch them fly. They almost look like butterflies, how their petals move. I hear my little friends sing the song Light and Day by the music group Polyphonic Spree, as they fly and dance around me.  I find their choice of song amusing since it is now night, and the full moon is rising. I know that they are trying to make me smile and look at the bright side of things, rather than to fall into the darkness that would be so easy to do right now.

Stretching out my arms I spin in circles then start to dance to the singing, and to the sounds of the bubbling brook. Kicking off my sandals I continue to dance, feeling the beauty of the earth underneath my bare feet. A tingling sensation ghosts through my body and soul as I feel the Goddess speaking to me through nature. I hear my little friends laughing as I dance freely. My black flowing skirt bounces against my legs, and  suddenly I realize how constricted I feel with so much clothing on. Quickly I disrobe and lay my clothing over a tree. I continue to dance swaying my hands and arms through the air.

I watch as the faeries weave together flowers. They fly past placing a wreath around my head. I laugh when I then hear the faeries say, “Reach  for the moon instead of the sun.” I love my silly little friends.

Turning around in mid spin I gasp when I see the moon reflecting in the water of the spring, and then I see my own reflection. I seem so ghostlike. I'm shocked to see Jasper standing directly behind me. I let out a gasp and turn around swiftly. I'm confused when I look behind me and he is not there. “What...?”

I look at my faerie friends in confusion. Sunny points to the water. “Turn around and keep watching.” I gaze into the water and I see Jasper join me again. This time I know he is not here but his presence is so strong. I can almost feel his breath on my neck, and for some reason his breath is  so cool. I don't understand why. In the water I watch as his hands caress my shoulders and arms. He gently wraps one arm around my waist as his other hand caresses my stomach and gently glides up to my left breast. For a moment I feel embarrassed. I have never been naked in front of a man before, let alone touched. I feel a blush rush to my cheeks.

I hear him whisper in my ear, “I love this.” Lovingly he caresses both of my nipples on my left breast with his cool fingertip. “It shows who you are, one of the  most powerful  and beautiful witches I know.” He kisses the curve of my neck softly, and I feel goose bumps prickle against my skin. “It’s the first thing I ever noticed about you, when I saw you dancing in the woods, and I knew instantly you were a witch. How I knew I don’t know, I just knew.  He nibbles on my ear sensually and breathes out softly.  “I love you so much, my dear sweet Annabel.”

I feel my breath catch in my throat as I spin around, hoping it is not a vision and he is really standing there with me. I feel so disappointed when I notice he is not with me, and even more disappointed that he called me by my aunt's name. Carefully I sit down at the the edge of the water, touching the brook with my finger, hoping for the visions to come back. I feel and see the faeries sit down on my head and shoulders.

“I don’t understand,” I breathe out in a whisper

“You will in time,” they chime in unison

I nod my head and continue to look at my reflection. I looke at my left breast again, and so many memories of my youth come back. I remember as a young girl being so self conscious.  I just never fit in with any of the other kids, except for Angela. I always did things so differently. I said things that made everyone look at me like I had grown a third head. The only ones in my life that treated me normally were my family and best friend. Even Angela does not know all my secrets, but she knows I dance to the beat of my own heart. I love that she never tried to change me. Gently I caress my breast. As a child I never told anyone about the deformity on my chest. I was always so embarrassed by it, and I thought there was something wrong with me. I never said anything to Grams about the small nipple that sat just above my other nipple. Until I was thirteen. I had looked in the mirror one day and I noticed it was getting bigger and more pronounced as my developing body changed.

I pondered in my head for days how I was going to ask Grams about it. I was so scared, and then I thought maybe something was wrong with me or maybe I had cancer or something.  Finally, when I got the nerve I talked with my Grams and asked her about it. Her laughs of joy confused me. That was the night she told me a little bit about her sister. I remember that day like it was yesterday.

~~~~~

Grams brought her hand to her mouth trying to hold back another chuckle. I was mad that she was laughing at me and was just going to run off.  She grasped my hand and said, “Bella, wait, I’m not laughing at you. I am just so happy you finally asked. I was wondering when you would.”

I looked at her in shock. “Really, you mean you knew?”

She nodded her head. “Of course, I do recall being there the day you were born. In fact I was going to talk to you about it in the next month if you had not asked me about it.”

I looked at her stunned. “Why?”

She patted the sofa next to her. “Come sit down.”

I crawled up on the sofa next to my Grams and laid my head on her shoulder as she wrapped her arms around me. “When your Aunty Annabel and I were both born, we had unusual marks on our bodies. Our mother told us they were the sign of a witch. It showed who we were. Each mark represented different spiritual gifts. You, my dear, share the same mark as your aunt. And she was a great and powerful witch.”

I grumbled softly, “I don’t feel powerful.”

She smiled down at me. “That’s good because when you let your power get to you then darkness can come in. Even if you are powerful, don’t let on to it. Stay humble. No matter the changes you go through in your life, you're still you, sweetie. And your gifts have not come to you full circle yet. When you turn 16 and 21 a great celebration will happen, and your world will be different. But for now we won't worry about that.” She had  softly brushed my hair with her fingertips. “Sometimes when you have too much at once, it can be overwhelming. So when you were born, the Goddess took some of your gifts just for safekeeping until you're old enough to handle them. Since birth you have always been able to see spirits and help spirits cross over into the light.”

I nodded my head in understanding. “When you turn 16 the celebration will be called The Transformation, and then when you're 21 it will be The Awakening. It is always good never to rush into things but to take your time and learn. If you have any questions I hope you know you can ask me and never be afraid. I may not always answer your question because it might not be the right time.”

I looked up her and smiled. “Thank you for making me feel better and explaining thing to me. I love you, Grams.”

She tweaked my nose playfully. “I love you too, pumpkin.”

“I do have one question.”

“What's that?”

“What kind of mark do you have, and what kind of gifts do you have?”

Grams chuckled softly. “That sounds like two questions. My birthmark is not nearly as secretive and cool as yours, but it is beautiful just the same. In fact it’s something you see everyday.”

“It is?”

She pointed to her forehead and I noticed the crescent moon that bows down just above the space between her eyesbrow. I gasped then touched her forehead. “I always thought that was an old tattoo or something.”

She smiled brightly. “It does kind of look like a fading tattoo. When I was younger it was a lot more enhanced. As for my spiritual gifts, I can only share one with you, and that was the one I was born with. I am clairvoyant. The other gifts I will share with you at another time, my dear. Because it’s not time yet.”

~~~~~

I am drawn out of my thoughts when I hear movement in the distance that sounds like a large bird. Instantly an uneasy sensation chills throughout my body. The little flower faeries stiffen on my head and shoulders, and I hear them gasp. Then I hear Tilly whisper, “Bella, we need to go, it’s not safe.”

When I stand up, I contemplate putting my clothes back on, and then I decide against it. It is easier this way. I take off running, feeling the wind against my bare skin. The energy from the earth pulls into me and I feel light and free. I keep my senses open for any and all danger. I feel relieved when I see my friends fly back into the spiritual veil that shields humans from seeing them. I know they are still nearby if I need them. I can still hear the sound of large swooping wings.  When I look up through the trees, I can only see the shadows of what looks like a massive creature in the moonlight.

With each step I take I feel the change turning inside me. My heart begins to race. Stretching out my hands, I feel a warm glow of protective haze cover my whole body. I cannot see him but I can feel and sense Arsen's presence. He is always there when I need him the most. I love feeling my archangel's protection wash over me.

Leaning my head back, I feel a very familiar cold chill run down spine. A smile spreads across my face. Stretching my arms out in front of me, my transformation overtakes me. Swiftly I noticed the black fur that graces my arms, and my hands are turning into small paws. I cry out in spiritual release when I shift. I feel so at ease. Leaping into the air, everything shimmers around me before my four small paws land on the ground beneath me.  I take off running swiftly in and out of the trees.

I remember back to my sixteenth birthday. I understand now why Grams hid so much from me. I don’t think she was trying to be secretive. It was just things I did not need to know yet. I strongly feel that if she thought I had any idea what would happen, I might have chosen not to go on this path. I know now that I have a destiny to fulfill. I just do not know exactly what it is. I know when the time is right I will understand.

The first time I shifted in Arsen’s arms I was so scared. I had no idea what had happened. I remember looking up at him and a small meow escaped my lips. He laughed joyously. “Oh Miss Swan, you never cease to amaze me. Of all the creatures you could choose to transform into, you choose a black cat. Your humor astounds me. A witch and her black cat.” He scratches behind my ears and under my chin. “You have always been a sassy one. You have one of the strongest spirits I know, and you have never let anyone influence you. That is one of the things I enjoy about walking by your side. There is so much for you to learn. You can choose any form you wish that will help you at that moment of time to get out of a sticky situation. Or you can also just enjoy it and run free. The more you use this gift, the more comfortable it will become, and you will never age, unless you no longer choose to use your gift.

Drawing out my thoughts I continue to run. Looking up with my catlike vision everything is more clear. I can still see the creature soaring over the trees. Suddenly I feel the urgency to turn onto a new path where wildflowers bloom. I know instantly that Arsen is guiding me to safety.

Overhead I hear another set of wings. I look up and feel so much relief when I see Sasteia, my guardian Dragon. She is so massive, yet she flies with such grace. Swiftly she makes her way through the night sky. I'm stunned when I feel someone running beside me.  I hiss slightly when I feel something pick me up. I relax instantly when I hear the being speak. His voice sounds like wooden wind chimes.

“I’ve got you, Bella. You're safe.”

I feel a warm calm fall upon me as he holds me close to his hard, cold chest.

Return to Cauldrons, Ice and Old Lace