Carly awoke to the sounds of whispering coming from another part of the house. At first she was unsure where she was, then a sense of loss filled her heart. Mom! she screamed in her head. There was no reply but the whispers from the other room ceased. Maybelle peeked around the door, " Ah, you're awake. There is much to tell you, but first, may I offer you something to eat or some tea?"
" What happened to my mom? I need to go find her." she got up and tried to leave the room. Maybelle put a hand on her arm to stop her. When Carly spun around to snap at her she saw the look in Matbelle's eyes.
" No. You're wrong. She can't be gone."
" I'm sorry, Carly. Let me introduce you to some friends of mine." With that she led Carly to the other room. Sitting around a large oak table were what could only be described as creatures. There was a cougar the size of a large man, a buck with antlers that looked to be four feet across, a small man with skin the color and texture of tree bark, and a woman with the wings of an eagle.
" Carly, this is the Council of the Wise. They are here to help you now."
" Wh... Help me? What do you mean? Where's my mom? Didn't anyone check on her? You said you would find out if she was okay!" Carly whirled around to face Maybelle with anger and hurt in her eyes.
"Carly."
She turned at the sound of her name, it was the cougar-man.
" My name is Kiev. I need to show you something. Please sit." He said.
Carly reluctantly sat in one of the chairs at the old table. She was still confused but her mom had mentioned something about a council awhile back. They had just kept their magic hidden for so long that she had nearly forgotten. She watched as Kiev raised his arms and began to chant in an ancient language. His golden eyes grew dark and distant as his magic flowed from him. In the center of the table a picture formed. It was her house, or what was left of it anyway. Where the cabin once stood, there was a charred clearing. The only thing left standing was a few stones from the chimney.
Carly began to scream. " Mom! Oh my God! He killed her! I knew I should've stayed and helped!"
Maybelle put her arm around Carly to try to calm her down. " Carly, honey, it wasn't him. He didn't kill her, it was someone else. Please let them finish showing you."
Her screams turned to sobs while she sat as if in a trance and listened to Kiev's deep resonating voice. "We explored the area this morning. Your father had no magic in him, correct?" Carly nodded. " This destruction was caused by magic. No, not your mother's magic either. Everyone's magic is different, unique to the person, let's say. I knew your mother. This wasn't her doing. The beast who did this..... we thought he was dead. He is not, and now we think he is after you."
" Me? I am just a girl. What would he want with me? I don't understand!"
" Carly, you are not just a girl. You are very special, and we've been waiting for you to be old enough. Your mom left us before you were born because she wanted to keep you safe. We knew that there would be a new queen to rule all our kind. A new queen that would be just and fair. When your mother became pregnant with you, the goddess Morrigan came to her. She told her that she was carring the new queen. One who would help us return to peace and regain our freedom. Your mother knew then that she had to hide, had to keep you safe."
Carly stared at him in disbelief. " Wait. You're telling me that I am the new queen? That's, that's just crazy. I can't be. I'm only a teenager and I don't really know how to use my magic. How am I supposed to rule anyone? You're wrong. You have to be."
" No, I'm not wrong, Carly. You will be our new queen and you will stay with Maybelle, she will teach you what you need to know." Kiev looked at her with kindness in his eyes, " I'm so sorry about your mother. She will be missed greatly. She was a wonderful woman. You will be safe here, please, stay. I know you have a lot to think about so we will get out of your way now. Matbelle knows how to contact us if you have any questions."
With that, they all rose and left the room. Carly laid her head on the table and began to cry.
