Read Alpha Asher by Jane Doe Chapter 139 – “Spirits from the other side…
…hear my words, hear my cry…
Only one of you we do seek…
…a mother of two, whose secrets still sleep…
We ask you to cross the great divide…
…to share the truth you chose to hide.”
I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath until I felt Asher’s eyes on my face. Still, I couldn’t exhale. There was this part of me that was terrified I’d be disappointed, that the worst would happen, and she wouldn’t come.
Through all the fights I loved the mother I knew, but I wished she were here to tell me this herself.
Cordelia repeated her chant a second time, and then a third. The air around us was thick and heavy, like a tangible substance that weighed us down. I watched as Breyona wiped the sweat from her forehead with the sleeve of her hoodie. She pointed at it and grimaced, regret in her eyes. Asher was stoic, his face a mask that revealed nothing. Even Rowena looked a bit flustered and was using her hand to fan her face.
Just when I thought she’d say it a fourth time and s**k the rest of the oxygen from the room, something happened.
They were too light to be shadows. More like whisps of smoke that rolled across the floor, gathering within the ring of candles at the center of our circle. They coalesced, swirling like smoke under glass.
First, the figure of a woman formed.
As the smoke faded, absorbed into the corporeal being standing feet in front of us, I found myself looking into the eyes of my mother.
She looked different than what I remembered, but it had been an entire year since I last saw her. We had fought tirelessly over Tyler, but she hadn’t argued with me when I told her I wanted to live with grandma-she hadn’t said much of anything.
softly at the ends. Sean had told me what she looked like when he went to identify the body,
she was actually here-alive and safe. It was the translucence to her body that sent me hurtling through space, crashing towards earth as I remembered she wasn’t
be as indestructible as Asher’s, but something inside of me broke when my mom got down on her knees and said, “…you make such a beautiful
witness less and less as I aged. There was no anger in her eyes, no guilt or disappointment. They shimmered with happiness,
the words out. The knot in my
served as a reminder that we were on borrowed time. I
here to ask you some questions …” I took a few seconds to find my voice, oblivious to the tears that trailed down my cheeks. Mom’s lips fell and she reached for me, stopping at the barrier of candles that separated us. “…there isn’t much time, but
everything we had missed together. The conversations and secrets, even the arguments
not alone, she never was.” Even though I had promised myself I wouldn’t take my eyes off her, that I’d memorize every detail of what she looked like, I couldn’t help it when my
that showed exactly what he felt for me. She could see it; I know she could. It was one of
smile was knowing and gave me a look I had never seen before-one that said,
“Likewise.” He nodded stiffly.
know how to remove this binding spell you had put on me.” I wiped away the tears that fell, blinking past
were showing signs of magic when you started walking…all you wanted to do was explore, but soon things started happening. Car keys would disappear, and eventually so would your toys. They’d always turn up
now it’s putting me in danger. I need to be able to defend myself, because even though
is the blood of the witch who bound your magic. The witch is with me on the other side…” My heart dropped, then soared fast enough to leave me lightheaded and fumbling over her words. “…but
exhaled; the rush of relief was so strong I had nearly mistaken it for adrenaline. “Where can we find
Mom’s eyes twinkled mischievously, “…she has a son and
possible.” I started to shake
smart for her own good, following those instincts of hers that never once led her astray. I lost track of the number of birthdays and Christmases she ruined by guessing her gift before we had the chance to pick it up
rose bushes and saplings that were far beyond repair, only
is a witch…” I
liked the woman? No one’s baking is that good. No one.” Mom chuckled, and I memorized the outline of her smile before it fell into something softer. “I needed to keep you away from magic, Lola… which also meant keeping you away from her. There’s not enough time in
throat tightened, my voice came out strong and confident. Perhaps it was because I believed what I was saying, or because I wanted my mom to know that she didn’t have to ask for
to take and had been all this
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