Gabriella’s POV
I met with my daughter during her break, and she was overjoyed to see me. She rushed to hug me, exclaiming, “Mom, you’re finally awake!”
“My beautiful daughter,” I exclaimed, lifting her in my arms and twirling her around.
“Tell me, how are you? I’m sorry I made you so worried.”
“I’m fine now, Mom. You’re here.”
“Alright, tell me everything I’ve missed during these five days.”
“We didn’t do much, and Dad is terrible at reading bedtime stories,” she said, and we both burst into laughter.
“Does that mean I’m still the best?”
“Yes, Mom, you’re the best. Oh, and I drew something that I’d love to show you,” she said with a bright smile. My mind, however, was still occupied by her strange behavior. She seemed so different now, and I was sure she had no awareness of the recent events.
“Sure, my love, show it to me. I’d love to see it,” I replied.
“Okay, let me get it from my backpack.” She left happily, while I pondered her odd transformation.
In a matter of minutes, she returned with a drawing. “I hope you like it,” she said as she handed it to me. I unfolded the paper and was met with a beautiful scene a drawing of Nicklaus, me, and her, portrayed as a happy family. A warmth filled my heart, but I also recalled the strange dream I had where I saw a similar portrait. I wondered if this could become reality, but honestly, I was content with just having my daughter and Nick in my life.
As I admired the drawing, I thought about my best friend, my sister, and the rumors about her. I hoped she was well and happy with Steve. There were things I needed to sort out, questions to answer, but for now, I wanted to savor this moment of togetherness.
“I love it, my dear. You’re an amazing artist,” I praised her.
“I’m glad you love it, Mom. I’ll see you when I get home. Break time is over,” she said, and we exchanged a hug before she headed back to class.
I watched her walk away, and Leah, my inner voice, spoke up. “You seem much better now.”
“Yes, I do.”
“I sensed your happiness. You were asleep for so long, but it seems you loved the dream you had. At least there are no more nightmares.”
“You’re right, Leah. I was happy. Although it was just a dream, I wish it could come true in reality,” I replied with a smile.
Leah fell silent as I walked back home, my thoughts drifting to Margaret. However, she wasn’t in her room, nor in her spell-casting space. I inquired from one of the witch apprentices, who informed me that she had gone to the woods to gather herbs.
Thanking them, I decided to venture into the woods to find her myself without involving Nick. After about half an hour, I spotted her.
“Found you,” I exclaimed, panting slightly from my haste.
“You’re awake, that’s good. So, did you enjoy your dream?” she asked, and her question confirmed my suspicion that it was her spell that had caused the dream.
“How did you manage to create such a vivid dream? It felt so real,” I asked.
“You’ve misunderstood. I didn’t create the dream; you did. I simply cast a spell that allowed you to rest and experience your desired scenario,” she explained.
“I see. Thank you. Just please, don’t do it again. I thought I had shifted into a werewolf in the dream, and I hoped it would continue when I woke up. But it was all just a deception.”
“I apologize. Since you’re here, let’s gather some herbs together. You can also tell me about your dream,” she suggested with a smile. I agreed and also mentioned my concerns about my daughter’s behavior.
“I believe my daughter is somehow affected by dark forces,” I shared, causing Margaret to pause her work and give me her full attention.
“That’s highly unlikely. Our protective barriers are strong, and there are no signs of such forces in our town. If any dark energy had breached the barrier, it should have been detected by me or the other witches,” she assured me. Her confidence was reassuring, but it left me even more puzzled about the strange changes in my daughter.
“But there could be more powerful forces beyond our understanding,” she added, and my anxiety deepened.
“What do you mean?” I asked, my concern growing.
“There are forces that exist beyond our realm, beyond what we can perceive. If you were to encounter one, it could take residence within you, making your body its vessel. Once marked, the host becomes a threat and must be eliminated,” she explained. I shivered, feeling an unsettling chill crawl down my spine. Could this be a possibility? Could Estella have unwittingly become a host to such a force?
“Why do I suddenly feel uneasy?” I muttered to myself. Was it possible that my daughter was now a vessel for some malevolent entity? But that was just a story, wasn’t it?
Margaret noticed my distress and responded, “Don’t tell me you’re taking my grandmother’s old folktales seriously?”
I quickly laughed off my concern, wanting to dismiss the dark thoughts taking hold of my mind. “Of course not. Folktales are just that-stories with wild fantasies that can’t possibly happen in reality.”
“That’s the spirit,” Margaret replied with a grin. “Now, let’s focus on what we’re here for. These herbs are for various spells and potions.”
I nodded, eager to change the subject and regain my composure. I desperately needed to believe that Estella was safe and unaffected by any supernatural forces. There was no way my daughter could be hosting something so sinister. It was all just an old tale, a product of imagination and superstition. My daughter was not a host to any dark entity, and I refused to let fear control my thoughts.