Page 54 of Autumn Secrets
“We understand that, Aurora.”
“How exactly is a guardian selected? I mean, what if the family lineage ends?”
“It won’t happen. You were chosen from the moment you were born.”
“But how is that possible?”
“It’s called Divine interference. We don’t know exactly how, but if we look back through your generations, the firstborn is always a girl, and the light bearers are always female. That’s all I can tell you. But it is more important that you understand what is happening to youright now.”
I shook my head and sighed. “So, I don’t have a choice in the matter?”
“Well, I guess that is one way of looking at it,” Mr Peters said awkwardly.
I turned to Mum. “What areyouthen?”
“Well, I’m not a guardian, if that’s what you’re asking,” she replied nervously.
“No, that’s apparently my job.” I stared at the three of them. “Sorry, I just can’t believe you kept something like this from me my entire life!”
“We were only trying to protect you,” Mrs Peters said gently.
“By keeping me in the dark? I don’t understand how that helped me?”
“I know it must seem like that—” Mum gave me a nervous look.
“It sure does,” I snapped. “Especially after this weekend. It would have been nice to know I wasn’t going crazy.”
“Aurora,” Mrs Peters said gently. “Helena has acted out of love for you; please don’t be mad at her. She put a protection spell on you when you were little to shield you from all of this.”
“Oh yes, that’s another question! What is this spell you’re all talking about?” I turned my gaze towards Mr and Mrs Peters. “And how do you two fit into all of this?”
Mr and Mrs Peters looked at one another.
“Well, I was the one who came up with the spell,” Mrs Peters said.
“And I was the one who cast it,” Mr Peters said.
I shook my head. “You know how crazy all of this sounds, right?”
“We do. That’s why you need to listen carefully to what we are trying to tell you.”
“It’s a little late, don’t you think? I mean, how little was I when you decided…” I had trouble finishing the sentence, feeling like I was about to deliver a bad joke “…to cast a protection spell on me?”
“You had just turned five,” Mum whispered.
“Five?! Why did you do it? Was I in danger?”
Mum shook her head. “No, you weren’t in danger. I just didn’t want this for you. I wanted you to have a normal childhood.”
I studied Mum as she knotted her hands in her lap. “And that’s the only reason?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
She wasn’t telling me the whole truth; I could sense it. I would definitely have to talk to her alone later. I focused on Mr and Mrs Peters again.“Okay, and you two?”
Mr Peters cleared his throat. “We’re light bearers too, and our biggest strength happens to be spells and magic.”
“Magic,” I squeaked. This was already getting too complicated for me to listen to.