Planning for Battle

   James was on the phone immediately. I tried to understand what he was saying but I didn’t dare leave Edith-Lynn’s bedside or try to take her downstairs. She was asleep finnaly. I heard Aphrodite say she will be here tomorrow then his brother say he will be here in five days. Finally he came to Edith-Lynn’s room.

 

“I have called ten of my old friends and people that owe me a favor, they all will be here in the week and Patrick will try to get others on the way. It will take him a little longer.”

 

“James what is going on are we fighting or just protecting Edith-Lynn?” He looked out the window SHE had came through.

 

“Maredith we will fight to protect our daughter and we may have to fight over our dead friends but SHE will never touch our child!” his face was struck with anger and fear.

 

“James I don’t have any training in battle I accidentally threw her tonight, I don’t even know I had that power.” And then he did something very unexpected. He laughed.

 

“James why are you laughing did I do something funny.” He stopped abruptly and looked down, Edith-Lynn was waking up.

 

                               *          

For the last five days I have cooked more than I ever had and that is saying a lot. We had twelve guests and still had beds free, surprise. James’ brother Patrick has sent two young male witches from Switzerland.

 

Our twelve guests were from all over. Aphrodite, Josh (vampire) and Anna (Muse) were from the US. Mary, John, Logan, Kay (all vampires) were from Europe. Our two witches who were from Switzerland were named Tarragon and Kegan. And finally the triplets, Jen, Ben, and Ken shape shifters from China.

 

  Today they all had a meeting about what we had to do before SHE came. James was the first one to speak.

 

“We have no clue who Agitha is bringing or what she is thinking of doing to us but we all have to be on our toes for now. We also have to train Maredith and help her learn all of her talents.” Everyone looks at me like I was a child.

 

“James how are we going to know when Agitha will attack?” Tarragon asked in a low voice.

 

“I have a pretty good time frame in mind,” Aphrodite spoke louder, “I had a vision when James called me. She is going to wait for the Blue Moon so she will be strong.”

 

At that second I had a vision, I was little maybe three and I look up to the sky and a blue moon rests in the middle of the my view. Then I turn to a noise, a door opening and there is my mother with a necklace. It has a Blue Moon on the chain.

 

“This will protect you when the time comes.” Then she is gone and I’m in Agithas arms screaming.

 

Then I feel James holding me and Edith-Lynn is crying. “Maredith, Maredith, open your eyes.”

 

“James” was all I could say in a weak voice.  Everyone’s eyes were on me. I felt like I was in fourth grade again reading my report on the French Revolution.

 

“James I think she had a premonition.” The only word I had heard from Began since she arrived. Everyone’s stared even more.

 

“Maredith what happened.”  James asked                    

 

“It was me and my mom when I was little, she gave me a necklace. It was a blue moon.” I could only say that. At that moment James face when even more white.

 

“Wait Maredtih was the moon crest shaped?” Aphrodite asked.

 

“I think so. James what does that mean.” James still wouldn’t talk.

 

“The crest Blue Moon is a symbol for one of the most powerful family’s known to the world.” Ben spoke up and everyone looked at him.

 

“Maredith what was your mothers name?”

 

“Well her maiden name was Je`anna Hanning.” At that moment everyone’s jaws dropped.

 

“Oh my God!” The words escaped from James lips before he caught them.

 

“What is going on, I want answers!” I yelled. Aphrodite looked at me with helpless eyes.

 

“Maredith will you please come with me to the library.” Aphrodite stood up and walked toward the door. I stood with everyone’s eyes on my back.

 

Up in the library Aphrodite had pulled a huge book from the top shelf.

 

“Maredith if I’m correct your mother was the daughter of the most powerful witches ever known to the world.” She searched through the aged book finally stopping at a faded picture of a man no older then James.

 

“If I’m correct this is your mother’s father and I hope when you touch it something will come to you.” Her face looked hopeful but her eyes looked fearful.

 

“But what would that mean if he is my grandfather?” I asked very fearful.

 

“Well if that is so, then you have a lot more power than you think.” She flipped to the back of the book.

 

 It read: The Hanning family formed at the dawn of time and ruled the magical world until Frank the fifths last daughter and heir Je’anna disappeared suddenly. The last living heir for the Hanning line is Je’anna’s daughter Maredith Lynn James and another that died at birth. The daughter of Je’nett had also disappeared the same time as her mother and father. The ancient prophesy foretells the seventh generation of Hanning will rise to rule the magical world with a power so great that generations after will know her name.

 

“Oh my God, does this mean?” I said that then I looked at Aphrodite.

 

“Yes you are the last known living Hanning heir and you have more power than everyone in this house put together. You also had a twin who perished at birth.” The voice came from the back of the room. Aphrodite and I both turned. There was James standing at the door threshold.

 

“James what does this all mean?” I had no clue what was in store.

 

“It means we have a lot of training to do before SHE arrives.” James voice was low and sounded sad.

 

“James what do you mean training, this is happening so fast I cant process this all.”  I said.

 

“Love you have time to think this over but for now we need to go talk to everyone about the information we just found.” As he finished his words Jen and Ben came running in.

 

“James your brother has just arrived.” They said in sync.

 

“He is just on time.” Aphrodite said.

 

“Why don’t we go talk to my brother for now love?” 

 

Downstairs everyone was gathered in the kitchen talking softly to one and other. Patrick was standing in the foyer talking to Anna and Edith-Lynn.

 

“Why isn’t it my brother and his beautiful bride.” Patrick announces when we walked in.

 

“Yes brother, this is Maredith and I see you met Edith-Lynn already.” James had walked over to Edith-Lynn while I lingered at the door.

 

“Mommy, mommy!” Edith-Lynn called when she looked at me.

 

“Love come over and meet my brother.” I had never met his brother before. Patrick stood almost six feet tall and had long black hair like James. As I walked over there something hit me, I had forgotten to call Elise.

 

“Hello Patrick it is nice to finally meet you.” I hugged him then walked over to where James was standing and pulled him over to Patrick.

 

“It is very nice to meet the woman my brother wouldn’t shut up about all summer.” He smiled at James and punched him in the arm.

 

“Well at least I had a girl to think about, unlike Patrick I can keep a girl.” James put his arms around my waist

 

“I can keep a girl I just don’t want to. There are too many woman in the world to just have one.” Patrick and James started to sound like ten year olds

 

“James do you know where I put my phone?” I asked to stop the fighting. James walked over to the table and picked up a box.

 

“Here love.” He handed me the box.

 

“Um this isn’t a phone.” He laughed and opened the box. Inside was my phone, keys and purse.

 

“Thank you honey, I’m going to run into town for a minute.” I kissed him and walked to the front door.

 

“Maredith wait for me.” A small voice came from behind me. It was Kay following me.

 

“Um do you want to come along?” I asked knowing the answer.

 

“Yeah, I have not seen people then the ones in this house for days.” She walked with me to my car.

 

“So what does a muse do? Like power wise.” She turned to me.

 

“Well I can feel emotions around me and tamper with them but only slightly.” Anna looked tortured. “The only bad thing is I can’t control what I feel. Usually the strongest emotion around me is what I feel.” As we passed a funeral home she looked as if she was on the brink of tears.

 

“Anna are you all right?” I asked. She turned to look out my window.

 

“It just funerals make my feeling go wild, with the love, hate, and sorrow there its just hard to pass by.” We finally got passed the funeral home and she looked a little better.

 

“Well I’m sorry.” I said as I looked down the road. Anna looked where we were and guessed what I was doing.

 

“So who are we going to see?” She looked around trying to figure things out.

 

“My best friend lives down the road. She has no clue where I have been for about a week and she is worried out of her mind about me and James.” I started to dial Elise’s number. She picked up after the first ring.

 

“Samantha Himes you better have a good explanation for not returning any of my calls for a week!” she wasn’t very happy with me.

 

“Well that’s why I’m calling I am about two minutes from your house and I brought a friend of James and mine to help explain.” I could tell she was a bit shocked from me even calling.

 

As I pulled up in her driveway, Elise rushed out the door almost falling over her baby sister’s bike. She looked like she had not slept in days. I loved Elise and her ways. She was beautiful. She had long black hair like methat she always wore flowing down her back, but her eyes were the brightest green I have ever seen.

 

“Sam you need to explain your self right now before I have a heart attack.” She came over and hugged me as she talked.

 

“Well for one, James and I are engaged.” As I said that she looked as if she might die from laughter.  “And two we have a daughter who is about a month old.” This time Elise looked completely shocked.

 

“But you have not even looked pregnant and your mom would kill you and why are you here with this girl and who is this girl.” She was talking a mile a minute.

 

“Slow down Elise and I’ll explain everything.” Anna was standing behind me trying to use me as a shield from Elise’s fluctuating emotion.

 

“Well I’m sorry I’m just so confused.” Elise got into my car and we started to drive.

 

By the time we got back to James’s house Elise understood most of the situation, even about my parents and I. Edith-Lynn liked Elise because she had long blond hair and Elise let her play with it.

 

“Elise can I braid your hair?” Edith-Lynn asked but had already started.

 

“Well I guess so.” She answered laughing. Elise was very surprised by everything going on between Agitha and me. James tried his best not to intrude while Elise and I talked in the library about my history and about how I was suppose to be very powerful.

 

“Well how do you know that you are meant to do this all?” Elise asked still astonished by everything that was being told to her.

 

“We don’t and that’s what scares me the most.” James had appeared from the shadows. “Maredith is my life and if she was to fail in this up-coming battle with HER then I don’t know what I will do.” James face was stone but I could feel he was scared for my life.

 

“James don’t get worked up we have another month until a Blue Moon.” I walked over to him and hugged him. It was the first time we had touched since Agitha had tried to take our daughter.

 

“Maredith I love you.” James said and he kissed me. I could feel Elise’s eyes on my back so I pulled away after a moment.

 

 Elise had turned bright red by the time I had turned around. She had excused her self and I heard her say something to Logan about not disturbing us.

 

“James you shouldn’t worry about me I will be fine.” I said but it wasn’t enough for James. So he argued back.

 

“Maredith neither you or I know that and I’m so afraid that I will lose you and I am so scared.” He was trembling and the look in his eyes made me cringe.

 

“Oh James I am not trying to make you feel this way but I just can’t hold my self back or we will never be able to beat Agitha.” I rested my head on his chest.

 

“Okay Maredith but I want to help you, and we should rejoin everybody before they become worried.” I could tell that James still wanted to talk but we could talk tonight.

 

 

 

                      *

 

  When we got downstairs everyone was talking about how we were going to train me and trying to decide how long we have until the next Blue Moon.

 

Aphrodite spoke up first, “By my calculations we have about two months and five days until the next Blue Moon, give or take a day.” Everyone was looking around for someone else to talk.

 

Logan was the next to speak. I have only heard him talk a few times but I have only had one-word conversations. “Well I have a question what is up with the Blue Moon, like is it going to help us all or just that demon?”

 

 John, who I had never heard talk before, stood up to speak. “When I was human I studied the Blue Moon and I believe that it gives all creatures a power boost.” Kegan spoke softly to Tarragon then they both stood.

 

Tarragon spook, “We all now know what the Blue Moon will do for us but since this talk of Maredith being very strong started my partner has been asking if she could help with training Maredith.” Everyone’s eyes were on me.

 

“Well I would say yes but how could you help me?”  Kegan rose to her full six feet and spoke in a aged voice.

 

“I have trained many young witches in my hundreds of years, including your mother.” A gasp escaped my lips.

 

“My mother. Really?” That was all I could say.

 

She looked at her partner and then reached for her bag sitting on the chair. Edith-Lynn stared as Kegan pulled out a picture album and flipped through it. “See your mother looked just like you.”

 

There in her hand was the only picture I have seen of my mother at my age.

 

“Wow I can’t believe you taught my mother. How good was she?” the question just slipped out.

 

“Your mother was the best I had ever taught. She caught on so fast I could have sworn she had learned it all before.” Kegan laughed. James stepped forward and took the album from Kegan to look at the picture.

 

“Kegan this picture looks torn in half.” James announced as he pulled the picture out of its slot. He handed the picture to me.

 

The edge of the picture looked like it had been torn. Kegan looked at the page and looked concerned.

 

“I believe the other half had your mother’s partner, at the time, on it.” She looked through her album.

 

“Wait you mean boyfriend?” Elise asked in a confused tone. This made everyone laugh.

 

“Yes dear, I guess that’s what you call a trouble making boy who took her to the movies twice.” Kegan stopped flipping through the book on a page with my Mother and Agitha standing hand in hand both, only seven or eight. Mother was wearing the Blue Moon necklace I dreamed about.