Ch-13 : (Awakening)

I had expected Edward to ignore Bella and me, but what I didn't anticipate was just how much it would hurt. He had been friendly towards me before, so the sudden coldness he radiated was like a punch to the gut. I was confused by my sense of loss. I missed our friendly conversations, even though they were few. I couldn't understand why I felt this way. However, for the story to progress as it should, Edward had to ignore Bella and, therefore, me.

Everyone and their mom had been at the hospital when I was finally released. Bella had gone to the waiting room to meet with Charlie while I had my "discussion" with Edward. Charlie had been apprehensive about me, and not having my parents' phone number so he could tell them I was hurt - just seemed to make him even more anxious.

"I already spoke to them on the phone," I reassured him, masking the truth that my parents weren't even alive here. It pained me to lie, but what else could I say? Oh, my parents live in a parallel universe! Good luck getting ahold of them! I'd be locked up in a mental institution.

The next day, I refused to stay home despite Bella literally begging me to. I knew the rumors were going wild, so I needed to do damage control. While Bella had already told them what had happened, I figured it was best to give a firsthand account, too. So, I shared one version with Brittany, Jerry, Emily, and Erica. For Jessica, I concocted a more dramatic version since I figured she would be spreading the tale throughout school in no time. I never mentioned Edward standing on the opposite side of the parking lot.

Why did he push Bella away and save me instead? Was it only because Bella was easier to get out of the way? That couldn't have been the case since she'd been standing behind me. So, did he do it to avoid dealing with her appetizing blood? Or was there something else entirely at play?

It was driving me insane.

During lunch, my frustration unintentionally surfaced as I repeatedly glanced back at Edward with a frown. My hands itched to sketch, to better understand my feelings, but I knew that lunch wasn't the right place for that. Even Brittany noticed something was wrong and asked if something had happened between Edward and me.

"Just a misunderstanding," I said, keeping it simple. "Give it a few weeks, and I'm sure we'll be on speaking terms again." Part of me wanted to laugh at the prediction. Based on the events in the book and some careful calculation on my part - he would begin talking to Bella again in about a month. Hopefully. Yet, the nagging worry persisted that Edward might deviate from the original story.

Life returned to a dull monotony in the "fictional" universe. I attended school with Bella and shared classes with Brittany, Jerry, and Erica. Emily's schedule didn't overlap with mine, but I was very happy that Erica was in my morning Biology class. She had a nice and gentle way of waking me up as we spoke before class started.

Alice Cullen became yet another source of intrigue. She bombarded me with questions about my art, clothing preferences, and assignments during the first few days after the accident. Although Alice became less intense afterward, she maintained these friendly conversations with me. Why the hell had she now begun talking to me? Nothing in this damned universe was making any sense to me anymore; everything was just becoming confusing. Despite my initial reluctance towards her, getting to know Alice through these conversations was pleasant.

She never invited me to sit with her siblings or Edward, though.

I began to suspect that Alice's interest in me was aimed at pissing him off. His glares at her during lunch when she waved at me only fueled my theory. Yet another mystery added to the growing pile. Her interest in me made me question my role here even more. And while Brittany found Alice's attention adorable, Bella seemed suspicious. She later voiced her skepticism in the secure confines of her room at the Swan residence with crossed arms and a furrowed brow.

"I don't understand them at all," Bella complained while pacing her room. "First, Edward acts like I offended him, but you were okay to talk to. Then he starts talking to me. Then he saves you from the accident-"

"Saved both of us," I corrected as I lay on my stomach on her bed, reading through the latest English homework.

Bella rolled her eyes at me but continued pacing.

"Then he doesn't answer any of our questions and goes back to ignoring us again!" Bella's voice rose slightly. "And to top it all off, his sister starts talking to you like you're her friend but does nothing else?" She forcefully sat on the bed, making my book and me jump slightly. "It's infuriating! It's not like we'll tell other people their secrets. They could tell us, right?" Then she looked at me, chocolate eyes big and questioning.

I sighed. None of this unfolded as it should have. Yet, Bella saw me as a confidante, a kindred soul in this mystery to which I already knew the answer. I couldn't tell her anything. "Maybe, maybe not," I mumbled, lowering my gaze from hers.

Bella groaned. "You could tell me too, you know. This whole cryptic "I have to protect my secret" act is exhausting!" She even made air quotes.

I chuckled. "Thus is the pain of my existence. Woe is me that my secrets can never be revealed!" I threw my hand over my forehead for dramatic effect. Bella snorted and rolled her eyes.

Then she sighed again. "Honestly, though," she began, biting her lower lip before she continued. "There is a really good reason why you can't tell me anything, right?"

"Yes, Bella," I sighed as I turned a page. "I'm not entirely sure of the consequences, but I'd rather not find out."

Bella perked slightly. "So is it like a... magical reason?"

What the hell do I answer to that? "Yes," I lied, hating how it made my insides twist.

Bella brightened slightly. "Okay, I can work with that."

I wasn't sure / could, but I had to try.

We had just started a new month, but the afternoons and evenings were still dark. In the past few days, I had been lighting candles by the windowsill to create a cozy atmosphere, countering the tense and strained mood that seemed to be everywhere since last Tuesday. I was still unsure why Edward had pulled Bella away and stayed with me. During English, I hadn't even tried talking to

him - what was the point? He was going to ignore me anyway.

The questions were beginning to wear me down. I had trouble falling asleep at night, endlessly flipping through "the book" for answers. But the pages remained unyielding. Talking to Bella about it was out of the question, and so was discussing it with Brittany, despite her keen perception that something was wrong. I even tried sketching, but nothing looked right, or there was no image to draw from. Frustration had led to more than one occasion of pulling out strands of my hair.

Maybe burning the book and letting things unfold naturally would be easier.

I sighed and covered my eyes with my arm. Lying on the soft bed and staring at the ceiling, it had been some time since I moved, and the faint smell of lavender was beginning to fade. I could hear faint sounds from Bella's room, so she must be awake, too.

I felt weighed down by everything and couldn't bring myself to get up. All the unanswered questions and the speculations made me feel uneasy. Was there something else at play here? My nerves were fried, and my brain was tired of spiraling into despair. A part of me wished I could just extinguish the candles with my mind. After what felt like an eternity, I removed my arm from my eyes. The room was dark, which was strange because the candles had been burning just moments ago.

I shuffled over to the window and found that the candles were not melted but still a solid white. What the hell? My hands trembled as I picked one up. It was still warm. Carefully, I set it down again.

I lay down on the bed again, my body moving on autopilot. With my arm covering my eyes again, I thought of the exact opposite: lighting the candles with my mind. Something stirred in my stomach, but I ignored it. When I removed my arm, the room was bathed in an eerie, ethereal glow. I gasped as I saw the candles had reignited, dancing with flames anew. I flew out of bed. The candles shouldn't be burning as brightly as if they hadn't been out moments before. It defied rational explanation.

I screamed. My heart pounded rapidly inside my chest;

my ears rang, and my legs felt like jelly. My arm shot out and grabbed the corner of my desk to steady myself as my legs began to give out under me.

The noises from Bella's room stopped briefly before I heard her hurry out into the hallway. "What's going on?" She asked, forcefully swinging my door open. "Are you okay?" Her frantic gaze scanned my room for any danger.

Words escaped me. I could only point at the candles.

Bella looked puzzled. "Katherine, what happened?" She moved closer to me, gently putting her hands on my shoulders. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

I shook my head. "I..." I swallowed. "The candles..." How could I explain this? Had it even happened?

Bella's hands squeezed my shoulders. "You can tell me." Her expression was open yet concerned.

I took a deep breath to try and calm myself. It didn't work. "Watch," I whispered, still shaking.

Wide-eyed, I looked at the candles and thought about extinguishing them with my thoughts. I hadn't even finished the thought before they went out again. Then I thought the opposite. The candles ignited again. Both times, there was that pull to my stomach again.

A gasp escaped Bella's lips. "How... how are you doing that?" Her arms were stiff even though she still held onto my shoulders. Her eyes were wide, concern written clear as day in them.

"I don't know," I trembled as I told her. My arms found their way around my stomach, trying to hold myself together. "I'm not going insane, am I? You saw that?" I was sure my eyes were still wide, betraying my fear.

Bella's expression changed from nervous to curious and concerned. She smiled a small smile before squeezing my shoulders again. "This is... unreal. But you're not insane. What do you think it means?" Then she pulled me in for a hug.

I let out a breath I didn't know I had been holding as I finally relaxed in her arms. It took me a while to hug her back, but slowly, I began to feel better. "I have no freaking

clue," I chuckled nervously as I finally found my voice again.

Bella just took my hand and guided me into her room, the only source of light coming from the screen saver on her ancient computer. She'd hung a few new posters since I was last in here. One of them was "The Cure". I almost smiled at that.

"Let's see if we can find anything online about... well, about whatever this is," Bella suggested, her fingers dancing across the keyboard. The aged computer whirred to life, its slow response time betraying its outdated nature.

I was still trying to make sense of what had just happened. Maybe I was losing my mind. Or perhaps it didn't happen at all. Did I leave my window open? Was there a gust of wind? Then how the hell do you explain them igniting again? My mind couldn't process what was happening, and I refused to believe the truth, staring me in the face - I seemed to possess an inexplicable power.

Unaware of my internal turmoil, Bella finally opened her internet browser, and I hovered over her shoulder. "I don't even know what to search for. Pyromancy? Magic? Witchcraft?" I shook my head and stretched my arms towards her window. "Sudden gusts of wind making candles go out and ignite again?"

Bella frowned, hesitantly typing. "Let's start with something broad, like 'unexplained powers' or 'sudden abilities.' We'll narrow it down from there."

I shook my head but allowed her to do the typing.

As the search results filled the screen, we scrolled through various articles and forum discussions. Most were speculative, bordering on the fantastical, but Bella's determination held strong. She clicked on a particularly promising link about mysterious abilities emerging in unsuspecting individuals. I admired her desire for the truth and willingness to accept this so quickly. Then again, this was Bella Swan - she had a knack for believing the unbelievable.

"Look at this," Bella murmured, eyes scanning the screen. "It says some people discover latent powers during intense emotion or stress. Maybe... maybe something

triggered this in you?"

I thought about it, remembering the moments leading up to extinguishing the candles. I'd been so focused on Edward's mysterious behavior and how nothing in that damned book was helping me understand. But I couldn't tell her that. "It was when I wished the candles out, but I thought it was just a silly thought. There wasn't any stress or emotion." I lied, even though I disliked it.

Bella tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Maybe it's not just about stress. Maybe it's about intent, about what you truly want to happen. Let's see if we can dig deeper."

We delved into various articles and anecdotes. We even stumbled upon forums where individuals shared somewhat similar experiences. Bella's eyes widened as we read about people discovering their abilities and finding ways to control them.

"There's a whole community of people who've been through something like this," Bella said, her voice tinged with excitement. "Maybe we can find someone to help or guide you through it."

I was still adjusting to the idea of this. "Are you sure they're not just making stuff up?" I wasn't even sure if / was just making this up.

Bella turned in her chair to look at me. "They might," she agreed. "But we'll never know if we don't reach out."

I sighed and gestured for her to begin typing. The fact that she was so calm about this was baffling, yet it was also entirely within her character. She wouldn't accept Edward as a vampire if it weren't.

She was about to open a new chat window when suddenly - a tapping sound echoed through the room, drawing our attention to Bella's window.

A raven perched on a small branch just outside the window, its feathers glistening black. In its beak, it held a small rolled-up piece of paper. We exchanged surprised glances as Bella cautiously approached the window. She opened it slightly, and with a gentle touch, she retrieved the paper. The raven cawed but continued to stay put.

Bella handed the note to me. Unrolling it, I read aloud,

"Katherine Amelia Henderson, you have been observed for some time. Your supernatural essence did not go unnoticed. I have been waiting for your powers to manifest before making contact."

Bella looked both curious and concerned. I continued reading, "I wish to speak with you, to guide you in the ways of witchcraft. Meet me at the heart of the woods, where magic intertwines with nature. Follow the path marked by ancient trees; you'll know the way. Do not be afraid; you are not alone in this journey."

Bella studied the note over my shoulder, her brows furrowing. "This is... strange. Someone's been watching you, Katherine, and claims to already know about... this." She gestured to me, and I knew she meant the whole candle situation.

I continued reading again. "It's signed by... someone named Latisha Gray." Was this Brittany's mom? Did Brittany know about this?

Having delivered its message, the raven cawed once more before taking flight, disappearing into the night.

"This is so bizarre," Bella murmured, her voice tinged with skepticism. "Are you sure we should go?" Her gaze flickered to the window as if expecting someone else to jump out at any moment.

What did this Latisha person want with me, and why? How had she been observing me? Had I not noticed someone watching? Maybe not, since I had been preoccupied with keeping this story together. Sitting here and dwelling deeper into my thoughts wouldn't get me anywhere, though. Meeting Latisha might provide the answers I sought.

Determination flew through me. "I want to meet this person. Maybe she can help me understand whatever's happening. Besides, we've been searching for answers, and however unlikely one seems to have found us now."

Though still cautious, Bella nodded slowly, her brow furrowing even more as she seemed to consider my words. "I'll come with you. Who knows what's lurking in these woods at night."

Under the veil of the midnight shadows, Bella and I snuck out to meet Latisha. Charlie snored soundly on his folding bed in the small living room as we went out the front door. The woods whispered with secrets as we followed the path marked by ancient trees. At first, I wasn't sure what that meant, but a part of me suddenly knew when and where to go. It was like being pulled by an invisible string. Eventually, we found ourselves in a moonlit clearing, face to face with a dark, coily-haired, and dark-skinned woman adorned in the most Pagan/Wiccan attire I had ever seen. Her light skirt was big and flowing, and her light blouse was extremely wide-sleeved. If she twirled, I was sure everything would flow and move in an almost ethereal way. She wore various jewelry, from small, intricate rings to large necklaces swung around her neck two/three times just to fit her properly.

Latisha greeted us warmly, "Katherine, Bella, I've been expecting you." She stood in the middle of a circle of large stones, bathed in the blue glow of the moon. They looked almost silver under the eerie light, and the air smelled fresh and of moss. In the distance, an owl let out a giant hoot, adding to the otherworldly nature of the place we now seemed to have entered. I was reminded of Stone Henge and the fictional Craig Na Dune. This stone circle was almost too perfect to have been created by nature. Had it been erected by witches?

I scolded myself for the thought. Whatever this actually was, I wanted answers. Logical ones.

Bella and I exchanged glances, perplexed by Latisha's calm assurance of our arrival. As eager as I was for my answers, I was also wary of being alone in the woods with some stranger.

Who might or might not be Brittany's mother.

I gulped. Bella's hand found mine and squeezed.

"Meeting with a stranger in the middle of the woods at night isn't a wise choice," Latisha acknowledged after laughing at our nervous responses. "Nevertheless," she continued, "You have nothing to fear from me," She stepped back, inviting us into the circle. "I'm merely here to guide and educate you in the ways of magic and witchcraft."

Bella and I shared a look. It was one thing for us to have

talked about it. Someone else saying the "W-word" out loud only made it feel more surreal. We both tentatively took the steps forward into the circle. I felt something happen the moment our feet touched the grass within it. My skin tingled, almost like every part of my body was waking up from having fallen asleep for too long. The light inside the circle felt brighter, and the noises of nature grew in volume. It was like an explosion of new stimuli.

"What's happening?" I hesitantly asked.

"Your body is getting used to the feel of magic. This place oozes with it," Latisha explained, gesturing to the stones. "Especially tonight. Imbolc or Candlemas - is a peculiar celebration," she continued. "It's a time of rebirth and self-discovery."

"Like my.... powers?" I asked hesitantly. It felt weird to say it out loud, to actually acknowledge this 180-degree turn from everything I knew about this universe. I had been contemplating the existence of witches in a world of vampires and werewolves, but never had I thought / would belong to that category!

Latisha nodded. "Especially like your powers. You connected with fire, right?"

Bella squeezed my hand again. How exactly did she know this? I was almost too afraid to ask.

"Fire is one of the four original elements. The element you first connect with tells much about the witch you will become," Latisha began. "Some witches first connect with an affinity for something other than the elements, although rare." Her dark eyes were intense, almost like she was trying to figure me out. It reminded me of when Edward was trying to read my mind. But why would she look at me like that? What was her angle?

"Is Bella a witch?" I blurted out before I could stop myself. Bella's eyes widened as she turned to stare at me. I knew I should have asked something else, but once again, my big mouth acted before I could think.

Latisha just laughed. "No, I'm afraid not. Although some humans have a natural connection to magic or are blessed with certain... advantages," something about how she emphasized this made me think she knew about Bella's mental shield. "They can never manipulate magic.

Not like us witches."

Latisha continued to speak with gentle patience, breaking things down into digestible explanations. She told of how witches were born from ancestors entwined with fey and fairy relationships. My dad's Scottish roots strongly indicated where my powers might have come from. She briefly explained elemental affinities, magical illusions, glamour, protection, healing, time and space manipulation, and the witch calendar that guided their celebrations. Throughout it all, she never felt ingenuine or malicious. I still suspected her motives, but nothing she told me seemed dishonest.

While she spoke, she handed me a black, old, and worn enchanted book a witch's grimoire - which became mine to study, a guide to understanding and honing my powers.

"This is so surreal," I whispered in awe. This night had not been what I expected. Heck, this journey wasn't even what I had imagined.

Latisha nodded and replied, "We'll have to meet in this clearing every weekend for you to learn and practice your newfound skills. I would invite you to my home, but my daughter's powers haven't manifested yet." For the first time since meeting her, she looked nervous. "With your powers awakening, it might not be long before her's do too. After all, witches are stronger in covens."

I hesitated momentarily, clutching the black book tighter against my chest. Should I even ask? "Do you mean Brittany?"

Latisha giggled. "Yes. She's been speaking fondly of you at home."

I laughed nervously. Of course, this was Brittany's mother. How many people named "Gray" actually lived in Forks after all? I looked at the sky then, noticing that the moon hadn't really changed position since we arrived. "Why hasn't the moon moved?" I asked.

Latisha chuckled, her eyes gleaming with mystery. "Time manipulation is a delicate art. It's not that the moon has stayed in the same place; I merely made time slow down," she gestured around us. "The magic here is stronger tonight because of Candlemas. I don't need much to

perform complicated enchantments." She looked at us again. "But now I believe both of you must hurry to bed. You have school in the morning, and I wouldn't want to interfere with your academic performance."

With a serene smile, Latisha gracefully stepped away into the shadows, leaving Bella and me standing in the enchanted circle. The prickling on my skin became less intense, as did the sounds and sights inside the circle. The moon, seemingly frozen in the sky, resumed its journey across its nightly canvas as we walked home.

Bella and I exchanged glances on the way, still processing the magical encounter we'd just experienced. Latisha Gray, a witch, had entered our lives, bringing with her a new realm of possibilities and mysteries.

More stuff to change the story I was trying so hard to preserve.

NOTES:

This chapter had me absolutely terrified about everyone's reaction. It's where my story takes a turn - something I hadn't planned 13 years ago when I first began writing this. At first, the wolves of La Push were going to have a bigger role, but as I began to write again, I wondered more about the supernatural community - or lack thereof. This made me dwell on how I could incorporate it more and what I could add to this story. And thus - Katherine and Latisha became witches. I figured it made sense since so many other vampire- and werewolf works of fiction have a larger group of supernatural creatures. It seemed a shame that this one only had two.

I know this might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I hope you'll bear with me and read future chapters. Katherine - to me at least - isn't a damsel like Bella often seems to be - at least until she's turned into a vampire in Breaking Dawn. I want Katherine to be able to hold her own against enemies to come because we know that a story isn't complete - or enjoyable - unless we have a villain of some kind;)

So, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and that you're ready for the massive beast of a chapter that comes next. It's in the editing stages but still just a little over 5.000 words. I

know that turns off some people from reading, but there's so much happening that I don't feel like I can cut it in two or even shorten it very much.

Until next time!

XXX

Minnie