Fallen Love
Chapter 1

For some people, life is synonymous with adventure, with overcoming obstacles to go further into the future, to surpass oneself, to face up to life’s difficulties. Despite the words of those who bless the earth for what it brings, we can’t be totally happy … or not for long. That’s the question I’m constantly asking myself. Why do bad things happen to us at this particular time? I like to ask myself this kind of question, because at every moment of my life, this question comes to mind. Why now?

How do you explain the fact that at thirteen you suddenly lose both your parents, why at this precise moment when I was so happy?

The only thing I thank God for is the fact that I have my powers, but is that what’s causing me so much unhappiness? For several years, that’s what I asked myself, and I was right. Coming to terms with losing everything and finding myself on my own wasn’t easy, and adding to that my kidnapping just after the death of my parents, with the sole aim of obtaining my powers… it was a descent into hell. It was clear that my powers were the fruit of my misfortunes, so I stopped using them while waiting to die in my dungeon. My jailers wanted me to pronounce the formula to give up my powers, and I couldn’t bring myself to do it. They were my heritage, what I had left of my parents, and I was torn. Should I keep them or give them up?

It took me three years to finally find the answer. Believe me when I tell you that I asked myself a lot of questions and thought a lot, so I had a lot of time to brood in my prison. When I made the decision to keep them, leaving this place was a no-brainer. Unfortunately, I’d lost my magical bearings and didn’t know how to use my powers. The last straw for a sixteen-year-old witch.

Then a voice began to speak to me, to reassure me, to tell me that it was with me and would support me so that I wouldn’t give up. For a few months, I relearned the basics of magic thanks to her. Being at a distance, it wasn’t easy, but I hung in there. The girl helped me and accepted me, so I had to see her, thank her and once I was ready I escaped. My kidnappers didn’t see it coming. They must have been so sure that I wasn’t trying to leave, that they weren’t watching me as constantly as before, that this was my way out. My only thought was to meet my saviour, and I literally turned pale when I discovered that it was in fact a huge four-metre-long python, which happens to be my totem animal named Em. I’d forgotten that, from the age of sixteen onwards, we were bound together for the rest of our lives.

Every sorcerer or witch has a totem animal, which can vary according to the person, his or her powers, personality or power…. In any case, Mother Nature knows for sure which guide will remain in our lives. My python has healing powers and transmits this gift to me too, she can also create an unexpected change if necessary, allowing me to listen and see further than what I normally hear or listen to. This can be translated into healing and listening as a basic gift. Surprisingly, very few snakes are assigned as a bond, as far as I understand. When my parents were alive, Mom made me study all the totem animals, and I never thought I’d have a snake. My father had the bear, which represents strength, confidence and wisdom in the broadest sense. My mother had the wolf, a sign of freedom, intelligence and sociability. We never know which guide we’ll get.

Returning to my escape, Em took me to an old witch who would take care of me. That’s what Melinda Travis did, despite being elderly, she did everything she could for me. She fed me, housed me and taught me how to live in society – at least what she could – and she also taught me magic. I worked hard on my schooling, having fallen behind considerably due to my long absence. But I wasn’t to blame, I was alive and that was already a real miracle. Everyone thought I was dead, but I kept up my studies. I was able to graduate from high school at twenty and go on to university. Little by little, I regained a taste for hope, the hope of a new life, with a new family.

Unfortunately, my misfortune continued as Melinda died, along with her totem animal, a lynx named Chrystal. She died of natural causes, but it came as a shock to go on living without her. Life must have had a grudge against me to take away another person I’ve become attached to.

Fortunately, Em was always with me and cheered me up, without her I would have given up much sooner. Before Melinda died, she had one last thought for me. With no family left, she left me the only possessions she had, money and her house, which is in a magical portal in Seattle – well, in Seattle Park – not only did she leave me her inheritance, but also all her powers. I had to learn to control them, as some were new to me. I was able to enroll in college in Seattle once I’d worked my way back up and was able to afford a place for me and Em to live. It must be said, too, that lugging around a python is no mean feat. I still laugh when I think of my neighbors’ faces when I moved in, but I reassured them that it was a cushion. Em agreed to play the inanimate for the duration of my demonstration so that they would believe me, and when they did they changed their faces, their relieved faces etched in my memory.

Ah, bloody human, so naive, if they knew they could serve as dinner, they’d certainly never have told me to come and see them if I needed anything. But rest assured, today I’ve been living in my apartment for four years and the neighbors are still alive. I wouldn’t say the same about their rabbit and guinea pig, who have disappeared, but Em never reported it and they were free at home, so it was almost a gift. Anyway, I declare Em innocent on this one.

Here I am, in my last year of undergraduate studies at the age of twenty-four. To be honest, it was Em who chose what course I would take, and she thought psychology was the best choice. This course of study could bring me a lot of benefits, such as sharpening my gift for empathy, which I received from Melinda, and enabling me to sense emotions. In terms of social skills, I’m a student like any other. It took me a while, but I know how to fit in and make friends. Even if I only have one, a she-wolf named Lisa. Who would I be to endanger humans? No, out of the question. I met some supernatural beings after I got out of “Prison”, but as soon as they knew I was a witch, they all wanted to kill me and show me off as a trophy for slaughtering a witch, all except Lisa.

It was then that I realized that our species had changed. In the days when I was still with my parents, everything was normal, we weren’t hated and were even sought after for the healing and protection we provided. But that soon changed, as we’ve now become a nuisance to the magical community. You see, the witches all preferred to switch to the wicked side, and those who refused died. Melinda was so secluded in her hidden house that she had stayed quietly at home, albeit with some pretty hefty defensive barriers, in case anyone came to visit. That’s why Em took me there.

I guess you could say I’m starting a new life thanks to Melinda and I cherish this chance with all my heart, I’ll be grateful to her forever. So having my powers at their most powerful and totally under control was the least I could do to pay tribute to her.