Chapter Twenty Five
There are things that you will experience over the months preluding your ascension. You will begin to feel things, see things. You are becoming who you were meant to be. There are no spells to learn, though Donna may ask that you study certain herbal combinations to help keep you safe until you receive your power. The power is in you. YOU, my child, are the magic.
Because your Light is so bright, you will notice the people around you may begin to change. They will become drawn to you, almost pulled to you in a way that you haven’t experienced before. It’s as if you are a warm fire in frigid cold weather. They need you to be comforted. Your proximity is mollifying for both humans and magical forces. However, be careful of those who seek your presence at all times. Your power is euphoric to them; it intoxicates them and makes them stronger and more powerful. It will become a source of sustenance for them, and they will stop at nothing to feed their need. If they pull too much from you, it can kill you. Until you ascend and can defend yourself, stay away from all sources of magic- Light, Dark or other. They can, and will, take your life. And if you lose your power, you will die.
I wish there was someone there for you to help you through your transition, but other than Chris and Donna, I trust no one. Neither should you. While I would prefer you pledge your allegiance to the Light, be careful of them. There may be radical followers that feel you are a threat to them and their way of life. They may wish to do you harm. Keep your eyes and ears open for any sign of danger. You will know when it is near; the Dark Hunter in you will sense it. Though powers of the Light and Dark will not be able to sense your power, there is a way that your secret will become unveiled. If they touch you, they will know what you are. They will feel your power. They may not know exactly what you are, but they will know you are something special. My sweet child, take heed of this warning. Do not let any strange persons make physical contact with you. Once they touch your skin, you will be exposed and your life will be in jeopardy.
My dear Gabriella, I must go now. My heart aches with great regret, though I do not regret creating you. You will be my greatest victory, and my love and devotion will live on in you. You will achieve so many wonderful things. You will bring peace and prosperity to our people. You will help spread the Light.
Your father and I are so proud of you and the person you will become. He loves you so much already. He would even sing to my belly every night. He said music was the language of the soul, and any message could be conveyed through song. His wish for you was that you would grow to be immensely happy, and find love even in adversity, like we had. You are so special to us. We will love you forever, in this world and the next.
Natalia
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I close the book, and will myself to hold in the tears that are beginning to pool in my tired eyes. I told myself I could do this; I could finally end my mother’s journal and move forward. I had been holding onto the last pages for so long, fearing that her memory would die once I was finished reading. She has given me so much to think about, so much to ponder and yet, all I feel is longing for her warmth and embrace. I wish I could’ve known my parents. I wish I could have felt their love, could have seen their undying devotion for each other. I can only imagine how gloriously beautiful they were. Even their beauty shines through on the pages of the aged journal.
My father loved music, just like I do. He sang to me when I was still in my mother’s womb. I wish I could have heard his voice, wish I could have curled up in his lap and let him sing me a lullaby as a little girl. Wish he could have been there to hold me when I experienced my first heartbreak or take me to my first Father-Daughter dance. I’ll never have that. I’ll never know him. Never have I felt so alone, so incredibly abandoned. For the first time ever, I truly feel like an orphan.
I blink away the tears and then look over at the clock, realizing the late hour. Since it is Spring Break, I’ve taken on some extra hours at the mall to distract my mind and heart from missing Dorian so much. Plus I’ve wanted to stay away from my parents, our argument still fresh in my head. I love them; they have been so good to me. But every bit of knowledge I gain about who and what I am pushes me farther away from them. There’s no way they could possibly understand the confusion I am dealing with, and while it isn’t their fault in any way, I can’t help but feel like an outsider. Or better yet, an inherited obligation.
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“So what’s been up, Gabs?” Jared says settling into our booth at our favorite restaurant. He mindlessly flips through the menu though we always order the same thing: Italian Nachos and deep-dish meat lover’s pizza.