The Skye Trilogy: Isle of Skye, Isle of Night, and Isle of Dawn. * Bonus: Scrumptious Skye Confections Cookbook* (68 page)

Chapter Nineteen

I strode purposefully to my grandmother's office. I had a few things I needed to say to her and my mother. I prayed Cecily was with her so I could get everything off my chest.

Luck was on my side when I flung open Winifred’s office door and spied them both conversing quietly at the desk.

“Willa,” my mother said brightly. “I’m so glad you came here. We have a few things to discuss. First of all I want to apologize for casting the sleep spell without your permission. It was wrong of me to do that but…”

I cut her off. “It was wrong and completely unnecessary.”

“I was worried about you.” she said. “Your aura was pulsating dangerously. I realize that I acted without thinking but when you see your child…”

“Stop right there.” I commanded her. “I’m not a child. I’m twenty-six years old, and I can perform magic that you couldn’t possibly begin to understand. You had no right to do what you did, and furthermore you broke your promise to me.”

Cecily stepped back and almost gasped when she saw my expression. “You’re so angry with me.” she whispered

“You’re damn right I am.” I said. “I love you mom but don’t ever try to control me again.”

“I’m sorry Willa.” my mother started to sob. “Please forgive me.”

I watched her run out of the room completely emotionless. I never wanted to hurt my mother deliberately, but I was sick and tired of people trying to tell me what to do. Something had changed inside of me after I had killed all those Rau and saw Mathias being taken away from me. I realized I did act like a petulant child most of the time. I acted without thinking on more occasions than I care to admit.

Those days were over. I was in charge now and God help anyone who stood in my way.

I stared at my grandmother until she finally looked away. “I want Mathias to be released immediately. It is vital for the island to have him running the helm right now. I also need his input on my research and I can’t do that with him locked in a cell.”

“Do you love him?” she asked me. I almost laughed. If she thought for one minute that I had come in here to pour out my feelings, she had another thing coming. The time to ask me that was a few days ago when she could have lifted my mother’s spell and tried to have an adult conversation with me.

“If you do not release him on your orders, I will issue my own.” I said ignoring her.

“Your own orders Willa?” she said in amusement. “How do you plan to do that?”

“I am not only a Gypsy Princess. I am also the granddaughter of the Fae Queen. I’m sure Sidra will agree with me that releasing Mathias is important.”

“You’re threatening me with Sidra?” she fumed. “After everything we have been through together? You come in here and treat me like I’m a stranger. A servant you can command?”

“I learned from the best.” I answered

“Mathias will be released when I deem it safe to do so. Until then, I forbid you to see him or talk to him.”

I laughed. “You can’t forbid me to do anything and you know it. I dare you to try Granny.”

“Why are acting like this?” she asked pleadingly. “Willa, please talk to me. Tell me how you are feeling.”

“How am I feeling?” I asked. “I’m feeling hurt and angry. I’m angry that my mother is still treating me like a child. I’m hurt that you didn’t stop her. I’m mad that you didn’t even once talk to me about what to do with Mathias. Instead of keeping it between us, you made this whole thing out to be some circus side show. I’m hurt that people are looking at me with fear and like I am one step away from the loony bin.”

“I don’t know what happened the other night.” I continued. “I knew what I had to do and I willed it to happen. Was it pretty intense? Yes, but it was also strangely familiar. I felt like all these powers had been waiting for me finally to use them and use them I did.”

“The sheer scope of what you did was truly amazing.” Winifred said. “I still have no idea what you are Willa but I just realized that I don’t care. You’re my granddaughter, and I love you. I’m sorry. I did overreact in regards to Mathias, but I was in shock. I have known him since I was a young woman. He and Robert are the two men, besides my husband, that I trust with my life.”

“Then why? Why did you do this to him?” I asked. “You know how proud he is. You know how he has spent his entire life trying to live up to impossibly high standards.”

Winifred looked away but not before I saw tears in her eyes. I stared in amazement. “I didn’t know you could cry.”

“Oh for goodness sake.” she said in a huff. “Of course I can cry.”

She got up from her desk and walked towards me. “I still stand by my initial judgment regarding Mathias but I will make sure it is expedited swiftly.”

“Thank you.” I said. “I’m sorry I threatened you with Sidra. I would never do that to you.”

“Pulling the ‘My other grandmother is a Queen card’ was rather dirty.” she remarked

“A girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do.”

“I hope one day you will confide in me,” she said

“I do too.” I had said sadly before I left. I wished I could confide in my grandmother, as well as my mother but after everything that happened I was weary. Maybe Mathias was right. Maybe our relationship would never be accepted, and we would have to leave.

I don’t think I would mind that too much right now.

I realized when I left her office I had no idea where it was I was rushing off too. I had no ambition to do any research right now. I had no desire to go and play with my new ovens.  The only thing I wanted to do was to crawl into bed with my dogs.

The spell that had been cast over the island, plunging into perpetual darkness was still active. I had asked Polly about it earlier, and she had told me that my mother and grandmother had been working hard to reverse it but with no luck.

I welcomed the dark shroud that hung over the island. I would much rather be depressed and miserable in the dark than try to be happy and normal in the light. When I spotted one of the Guardians, I hitched a ride into town with him. I wanted to survey the area. I needed to see, with my own eyes, that things were back to normal.

When he dropped me off by the docks I slowly made my way up and down the streets. I nodded greetings to many familiar faces, but I didn’t take the time to stop and talk. Even though, there were many people out and about, solemnness emanated from everyone. The attack had made us all realize how vulnerable we were.

I stopped outside the bakery and was about to leave when I noticed the kitchen light was on in the building. I teleported in the back and surprised the heck out of my grandfather.

“Pops, what are you doing here?” I asked

“I wanted to see the bakery.” he answered. “It’s been a long time since I walked these floors. I’m glad you kept the marble workstation.”

I ran my hands over the long, smooth surface. I remembered the connection I had felt months ago when I had first seen the building.

“I couldn’t get rid of it. It’s much too beautiful.” I said

My phone rang, and I quickly glanced at the number. I put Milton right to voicemail. He probably wanted to do some brainstorming, and I wasn’t in the mood right now.

“I realize that I haven’t been back that long Willa.” he said. “I was hoping though, when all this is over, you’ll let me come in from time to time.”

“Absolutely,” I said with a smile. “Although I’m not sure I can afford the salary of a master pastry chef.”

“Oh, I’ll work for cookies.” he answered. “Have you figured out the paintings yet?”

“No.” I replied softly. “I’ve been a bit preoccupied.”

He nodded. “I have a feeling when you set your mind to it, you will figure it out.”

“Do you think it’s over?” he asked after a minute

“No.” I said honestly

“I don’t either,” he agreed. “In fact, I almost think it was like sending a sacrificial lamb to her slaughter.”

“Maybe,” I said surprised. “It was a good plan. He took Sabine out of the equation so now he won’t have to split up my powers with her.”

“Exactly.” he replied. “I also think he wanted to test you. He wanted to see just how powerful you were.”

“That’s an interesting observation Pops.” I murmured

We had chatted for a few more minutes before I teleported back to my house. I went through the motions of feeding the dogs and taking them outside. I briefly considered making something to eat, but the thought of food turned my stomach. Instead, I ushered my two buddies downstairs and crawled into bed.

Mathias?

Hi. How has your day been?

I laughed. 
Pretty craptastic. How was yours?

Oh, it’s been a fun filled day in jail. I actually read an amazing book about the Peacekeeper Wyatt Earp

I knew you had a thing for cowboys

Every man is fascinated by cowboys and the old west

I was mean to my mother today.
I said after a moment of silence

Why?

I don’t know. I was angry with her for putting that spell on me. I’m sick to death of her always thinking of me as a child she needs to protect

She will always want to protect you Willa. It doesn’t matter if you’re six, twenty-six, or two hundred and six. A parent will always want to protect, heal and shelter their child

I get that; I really do, but that was the wrong time. I also, sort of, threatened my grandmother

Mathias sighed.
Why would you do that?

I ordered her to release you at once, and she refused. I told her I would go to Sidra if I had too

I’m sure that went over well with Winifred

She also asked if I loved you

After a short pause Mathias swore.
What did you say?

I completely ignored her. I came to the conclusion today that you might be right

I’m sorry can you repeat that?

When this is over, we may have to leave. Judging from the reactions of everyone, you may be correct in your analysis.

How bitter did that sound coming out of your mouth?

Like a lemon gone sour

A few hours later I woke up feeling refreshed. I glanced at the clock and saw that it was dinnertime. My stomach growled, and I smiled. I was back to feeling normal. I decided the best thing to do was to make up with my mother. I did feel awful that I made her cry. I wish I could tell her why I was so crazy, but I couldn’t.

Polly and I teleported back over to the castle, and I left her in the living room having cocktails with the family. I went upstairs and knocked on my parent’s door.  When my father answered the door, his face broke out into a sad smile.

“I was wondering if I could join you guys for dinner.” I asked nervously

“That would be nice.” Cormac answered. “Your mother is in our room. I’m afraid she may not be up for a family meal tonight.”

“I know dad,” I said. “I’ll talk to her.”

I walked to my parents’ bedroom door and pushed it open. When I saw my mom sitting in a chair staring out the window, my heart broke. I had done this to her, and I felt like dog shit.

“Mom?”
I asked as I walked in hesitantly. I saw her shoulders stiffen when she heard my voice. Finally, she looked at me.

“Willa, I’m sorry.” she said. “I did treat you like a child. I also broke my promise to you. It will never happen again.”

I sank down on the floor by her feet. “Mom, I’m the one who’s sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I do understand that being a mother is something you never outgrow, even if your child does. Sometimes I just need you to trust me and trust that when I tell you I’m fine, I really am. I don’t need you to fix things for me. I need to learn to do that on my own.”

“For twenty-five years I have hovered over you. You’re the most precious thing in the world to me. Since we’ve been here though, I feel you slipping away from me. Your father says that this is what empty nesters must feel like when their children go off to college. I have watched you grow so much in the last few months that it honestly scares me.”

“Great.” I said. “Someone else that is afraid of me.”

“When we first came to the island I was happy. I felt like I was finally home, and I could share things with you that I couldn’t before. But you pulled away from me. That night, when you came back from London, was the first time in weeks that you had genuinely reached for me. Again though, you pulled back, and I accepted it and vowed to be there for when you needed me again.”

“The second time was that night you had your vision. I held you so tight and rejoiced. She needs me, I thought, she does need me. When your father suggested we go, I was elated. I thought it would be like old times but again you surprised me. You chose to be an adult and make the responsible decision. I felt like a fool. All I could think of was myself, and all you could think of was saving everyone.”