Chapter 25:

For months, we acted as if we were normal people. We just talked and hung out together. We did a little training, but it was just like we were normal teenagers. As November creeped towards us, there was a sense of increasing tension in the house. As our birthday inched closer, the sisters of the Woods came over and we acted like normal people. It was nice, but still felt weird.

Knock, Knock, Knock.

Slumping out of my bed, I opened the door to Sly. "You know what this week is?" he asked.

"It is our birthday week. We have less than a week to decide," I said blankly.

"Yeah, come on. Let us meet in our shack," Sly said, looking scared.

"Which shack? The kids' one or our family one?" I asked.

"Let us meet at the family one after we get done eating. Sounds like a plan, right?" he asked as he left with concern on his face.

"Yeah," I said, as he left me to my endeavors to get ready. Looking at myself in the mirror, I cried a little and saw floating golden lights.

Going down to eat, we all sat down to eat. Everyone is on edge. We ate in silence again, just like it was back when I first got here. But this time, I knew why we were so quiet, and the air was so tense. As we finished up our food, I did the dishes and was about to head outside with Sly. Kenny stopped us and said, "Eve, can I talk to you?"

"Uhm…" I said, looking at Sly.

"It is alright. I will meet you at the shack," Sly said, walking out.

"What can I help you with?" I asked Kenny as he led me to the family room.

"I wanted to talk to you about something. I know that you might get mad at it, but it needs to be said," he said.

"Okay, what is it?" I said with a cocked eyebrow.

"I know that lately you have not been yourself, and that is due to the Keuze. But I want you to stop getting so close to John. He is with you because you are special," he said, sounding sincere.

"Why does that even matter right now?" I asked, raising my voice.

"It matters because you are an incredibly beautiful and talented lady. I just want you to be safe with the right man by your side," he said, raising his voice.

"What do you mean by that?" I said, getting a little angrier. "It doesn't involve you. I have too much on my mind to deal with this."

"I just mean for you to be careful and don't trust John," he warned me.

I sighed, "Okay, this is enough. What I do with my life is my choice, not yours. So, you just need to mind your own business."

"You're right. I am sorry. Can we just forget what I just said?" he asked.

"Sure, now I need to leave and talk with Sly," I said, kind of angry with him and not going to forget what he told me.

"Okay. Bye, eve," he said as I left the room.

Racing outside the house and turning into an eagle to get there faster, I was a little too irritated at the fact that Kenny tried to control me. I flew by the shack and screeched in frustration.

Getting to the shack, I was welcomed with, "What is wrong with you? I heard a screech."

"Oh, people think that they can tell me whatever they are thinking because I am a girl," I complained.

"Who did that?" Sly asked.

"Kenny. He said something about not trusting John. But I am tired of being told what to do. Can't I live my own life?" I asked, flopping into a chair.

"You can, but right now your life is everyone's lives," he said, sitting down in a chair next to me.

"Yeah, but where does Kenny get off thinking he can tell me what to do?" I asked, slouching.

"I think Kenny likes you!" he exclaimed.

"Yeah, whatever. Can we talk about what we came here for? Please," I begged.

"I guess, but I like making fun of you," Sly said with a smirk.

"Well, aren't you the nicest big brother ever?"

"What else am I good for?"

"Okay, serious time now. What are you thinking about doing with the Keuze?" I asked.

"Okay, fine," Sly said in a very sarcastic voice. "I am not really sure what to do."

"That is exactly how I feel about it. There are only two choices. We go with the Goeds and the Lichts; but if we do that, then the Slechts and the Dunkels will get mad."

"Well, that won't be so bad. They never did anything that would help us in any way possible."

"That is not true. They are like lost kids who need a protector to save them. And if we do not help them there is going to be a war. So how are we going to get out of this war on the horizon?"

"What if we just choose both?" he suggested.

"You mean just agree with certain things and disagree with others?"

"Yeah."

"No, we can't do that…can we?" I asked.

"Why not?"

"Because they will think that we are just going to agree with everything that the Goeds and Lichts do and forget about the Dunkels and Slechts."

"Good point… How about we do a compromise or a treaty?"

"So, we come across the same problems. This is pointless. But I do like your idea of a treaty. Maybe we can do something like that but different."

"I feel like a little kid getting told that their project is good and bad at the same time," Sly said sarcastically.

After a few more minutes of sitting around and thinking, we could hear in the distance, "Sly! It is time for you football practice! `` It sounded like Dad.

"Oh man! I must go. We will talk about it later. Okay?"

"Fine. Bye. Have fun at your practice."

"Bye, Sis. Be good," he said as he ran away.

"I am going to take a nap and think about it," I yelled at him as he ran away. I walked back up to the house, and when I got there Sly, and the rest of the boys had left for practice. When I headed up to bed, Dad said something to me, but I was too irritated to stop to hear him; all I wanted was to sleep for a bit.

When I got up to my bed, I decided to pray. I usually never pray, but something told me to. "God, can you please help me with what my decision should be? I just pray that I could see Mom again and talk to her about this life. But thanks anyway. Amen."

After my prayer, I went to bed with a golden light ray flowing into my room. As I slept, I felt as if I was awake. I was having probably the best dream I had ever seen before. It had Mom and I standing in a golden room with a golden gate behind Mom.

"Mom?" I asked.

"Yes, my little Belle, it is me," she replied in her sweet voice.

"How can you be here?" I questioned.

"I can't tell you. Just know that this is like a spell," she said as if she was hiding something.

"Oh, Mom, you would find a way to do something like this," I said, running up to her to give her the biggest hug.

"Of course, my dear. You are my life," she said, enjoying the moment. Then a sound of someone clearing their throat, she quickly got us back on topic, "Now, we don't have much time; what are your questions?"

"Oh right. Why didn't you tell me about Dad and Sly?"

"It was for the best. I did not want you to think that I wanted to do this to you or Sylvester. You are the link that has to stay in the dark, or bad things will occur," she said with tears in her eyes.

"I hate being the missing link to this crazy life. Next question, do you miss being a witch?" I asked her.

"Sometimes. I do wish I could have stayed with my Sisters and be a family with Brian. But thinking about it, I also really enjoyed things that were in Kansas. I did a lot of things with my powers that you didn't know about," she said, rubbing my shoulders. "I really don't know, my darling Belle. I have no idea what I would really want but I have been told by the Godens that I have done the right thing."

"Who are the Godens?" I asked.

"Don't worry about that. Let us get back on topic," Mom said as she cleared her throat.

"Okay, what do I do with the Keuze coming up?"

"That I can't tell you. I know the fate of your choice. I want to tell you but the past witch and the Godens told me that telling you the future is against the rules."

"Man," I said, defeated. "Is this a game to everyone?"

"Sort of, but what I can tell you is that you are going to make the right decision. You just have to believe in yourself, my darling Belle Eve," she said with a smile.

"Fine, I guess that makes sense. But still, I wish you could tell me."

"I wish I could, but the rules are strict," I was incredibly sad about that fact, but Mom added, "But what I can tell you is that just be yourself and trust the little girl inside you. That little girl always knew what was best and how to fix problems bigger than herself," she said, remembering the past.

"I guess you are right. I always picked the things or problems that were bigger than me… Mom, do you wish things were different?"

"Of course, I do. But this is how things were meant to be. Life was and is meant to be crazy and out of control. But you, as a witch and a beast, are supposed to make this better and safer for both humans and the supernatural."

"Really, witches and beasts are supposed to work together?"

"I didn't say that I just mean that we are all working for the same goals in life," she said with a smile.

"Yeah, but I think that we are supposed to be together because we are of the same world."

"Maybe they can. All it takes is a strong-willed, determined girl. Isn't that right, my darling Belle?" she said, still smiling.

"Yeah, you're right." It took a little, but what Mom was saying finally clicked in my brain. Witches and beasts alike were supposed to work together and not let their personal lives be affected by the simple rules of the past when they were divided. They are alike and are supposed to be one, not two separate entities.

"Belle, dearie, are you all, right?" Mom asked.

"Oh, thank you, Mom. Thank you." I ran up and gave her a big hug.

"So, it finally clicked."

Loud booming sounds of commotions, a voice came over and said, "How dare you, you did this! Ellen!"

Mom smirked as she said, "I have done a bad thing, but at least you finally got it. Now I must go. I am in trouble, so sleep well, my darling, little Belle."

"Wait, Mom. I have one more question!" I yelled out.

"I am sorry, I have to go," she said as a dark golden light seemed to swallow Mom up.

I woke up and screamed. Within a second, Dad was in my room and by my side, "Are you all right, Eve?" he asked, rubbing my back.

I fell into his arms and cried, "I… I saw… I saw Mom. I… I miss… I miss her."

"Oh, Eve, everything is okay now. I am here with you," he said, consoling me.

"I know, Dad… And thank you," I said as the tears flowed out.

"Well, what did you and your mom talk about?"

"Well… She helped me figure out what to do with the Keuze," I said as my voice kept getting higher pitched.

"That is good. Are you going to tell me what you are going to do?"

"No… I cannot tell you. But she said, to believe in the little girl in me," I said.

"Come on, you are not going to tell your dear old dad?" Dad jokes.

"No, I wish I could tell you. But I cannot even tell Sly," I whined.

"It is okay, Eve," he said, rubbing my back.

"I miss her," I said, digging deeper into his arm.

"It is okay," he said, pulling me away. "You have to be strong. Try to be like your mom and find a way to tell us," he said.

"Okay. I can be like Mom," I whined.

"Okay, my darling, little Belle. You stay here and recover. When you are ready you can try to tell us," he said, leaving.

I ended up falling back onto my bed and cried a little longer. "I miss you, Mom!" I yelled and cried into my pillow.

I ended up falling back asleep and the golden light was there forcing me to stay asleep. I heard that voice again that said, "We are not going to fall for that again!"