Free Family Magic by Patti Larsen Page A

scooted her further into my lap, pushing
the remains of the ruined pink horror away. I held her tight and
opened up my power to her, only a bit, as I spoke, happy and
surprised when my stomach stayed quiet.
    “You are the most wonderful, sweet and
perfect kid ever,” I said. “I’m sorry you had to hear me lose my
temper with Mom and Dad. Sometimes when I get mad I say stuff that
isn’t quite the way I mean it.”
    “You didn’t mean it?” She snuffled.
    “Not that way,” I said. “I didn’t mean
monster as in demon. I meant monster as in me turning into a bad
person because I’m being forced into something I don’t want, that I
never wanted.” Part of me whispered a denial but I shoved it aside
to deal with later. “It has nothing to do with you or Mom or Dad.
Just me. Okay?”
    “How come, Syd?” Meira asked.
    “I wish I knew,” I said. “I don’t want to be
a witch. Is that really a bad thing?”
    She thought about it for a second. “I guess
not.”
    “But?” I poked her. She managed a little
giggle before getting serious again.
    “Well, it’s just…
you are a witch,
Syd. How can you not want to be what you are? And how can you stop
being it, either?”
    Meira's sharp perception scared me sometimes.
I let her go and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead, closing off
with some relief.
    “That’s my problem to figure out, Meems, not
yours. But,” I stroked her hair back from her horns, “I want you to
remember no matter what happens, no matter where I go or what I’m
doing or who I become, I love you and I always will. Okay?”
    Meira threw her arms around my neck, kissing
me on the cheek.
    “I love you too, Syd,” she said.
    She sat back and made a face. She fished
around under her and pulled out a pink crystal. We both
laughed.
    “Guess I have some explaining to do in the
morning,” I squinted up at the ceiling. “I could always blame it on
Sass.”
    Meira winked and waggled her fingers. I tried
not to squirm as I felt her power gather like a web around her,
tickling me. She was very careful, most of the magic shielded, as
she sent out the force in delicate fingers, reassembled the
chandelier before our very eyes. I watched as sparkling shards and
glittering stars repaired themselves, wires twisting back into
shape. The whole thing, now reattached to the chunk of plaster,
rose toward the ceiling, settling into place. The seam faded and
finally disappeared altogether. I knew if I turned on the light, it
would be as though the whole thing never happened, right down to
the last speck of dust.
    Better her do it than me. My luck I’d slip or
screw up and the whole ceiling would come down and the roof with
it.
    “Thanks, Meira,” I said.
    “Anytime,” she grinned. She settled on my
pillow and yawed. I lay down beside her, poking her to bring out a
giggle.
    “Don’t you have a bed?” I said.
    “I like this one,” her eyes drifted
closed.
    “Meira…”
    A silent plea lived in her gaze. I
relented.
    “’Night, Meems.”
    She yawned again. “’Night, Syd. Love
you.”
    I stroked her cheek and watched her breathing
settle. In a short time, she was fast asleep. If only I could be so
lucky.
    I closed my eyes and willed the most eventful
day of my life to finally end. I heard a soft step at the door and
felt my mother’s presence. I faked sleep, not wanting to get into
anything with her in the state I was in. She hesitated at the door
before entering. I felt her come to the side of the bed, smelled
her perfume as her power settled like a warm blanket around us. She
softly kissed first Meira and, after a moment’s pause, me. Her lips
were soft and warm and her breath sweet with wine.
    “I love you,” she whispered. And then, she
was gone.
    I almost sat up but I didn’t want to wake
Meira. I bit back a wave of sadness and squeezed my eyes shut
against threatening tears. The little girl Meira had awakened in me
wanted to run after my Mommy and have her hold me forever. I
struggled,