Chapter 7: Family Matters
"Pheobe, what are we doing up here?" Piper asked as she and Pheobe walked into the attic.
"We are here to convince Varali that what we are saying is true," she replied, opening the Book of Shadows.
"So what? You're going to cast a spell on her to make her more receptive?"
"No. We are going to conjure Mother Nature. Varali has to believe something if it's told to her by her own mother, right?" Pheobe said.
"Yea, but Varali thinks her mother is dead," Piper said, staring at her sister incredulously.
"Right. So if we show her that she's not, maybe it will spark her interest."
"Or maybe it will piss her the hell off!"
"Piper!"
"Oh, don't you Piper me. Pheobe, we could be playing with fire here."
"Or we could be doing this girl a favor. Now, the spell needs five lit white candles on the floor in the shape of a pentagram. Do you think you can do that while I get the crystals to build a protection shield around her?" Pheobe asked, eyeing Piper.
Piper rolled her eyes. "I guess, but if this girl comes in here and kills us all, I'm never speaking to you again."
"Oh Piper, stop worrying, it'll give you wrinkles." With that, Pheobe began to set up the scene for the upcoming spell.
A few moments later, Paige entered the attic with a not so happy looking Varali in tow.
"Oh good, you're here," Pheobe said, making her way back to the book. "Now we can get started."
"Wait, get started doing what?" Varali said. She turned to Paige. "I told you if anything happens…"
"Yeah, I know. You're going to kick my ass. I got it." Paige walked over to Pheobe. "Please tell me you are not planning on doing something stupid. The last thing I need is for Lara Croft over there to beat the crap out of me."
"Diddo," Piper said.
"Guys, relax," Pheobe said. "Varali, can you come over here?"
Varali walked over to where the sisters were standing. "What's that thing?" she asked as she neared the book.
"It's our book of magic. It's called the Book of Shadows," Pheobe explained. "It holds all kinds of spells and vanquishes in it."
"Spells and vanquishes?"
"Yeah, spells to do all kind of things and vanquishes to kill demons."
"Kill demons? Riiiight."
Piper gave Pheobe a look.
"Anyway, what do you want? Why did she come get me?" Varali asked.
"Well, because we wanted to show you something. Something that will hopefully open you up to a whole new world."
"And what's that?" Varali asked, attitude in her voice.
"I'm glad you asked," Pheobe said, taking her by the shoulders and walking her to a place a few feet away from the crystals. "Stand right here." She walked back to the book and her sisters. "Alright, ready?"
Piper and Paige nodded. Together the sisters chanted:
"Powers of the witches rise, course unseen across the skies. Come to us we call you near, come to us and settle here."
Confused took over when nothing happened.
"Why didn't that work?" Pheobe said, scanning the book. "I did everything it said."
Paige leaned towards the book. "Not everything." She pointed. "Look, it says right here we need something of nature."
"Ooh."
"Hey, why don't you let me go get that for you," Varali said.
"Oh, no," Piper intervened. "Paige can get it."
Paige walked to the window and leaned out. "Branch," she said and watched as a branch from the nearest tree appeared in her hand. "Got it," she said, turning back towards her sisters.
"Great. Go put it in the middle of the pentagram," Pheobe instructed.
Once Paige completed the task, she walked back over to the book. Varali blew out a sigh of frustration.
"Okay, let's try this again," Pheobe said. Again, the sisters chanted.
"Powers of the witches rise, course unseen across the skies. Come to us we call you near, come to us and settle here."
This time, the girls watched as the whirl of wind entered the room. Varali breathing quickened and her eyes went wide.
"What are you doing?" she asked frantically. "Stop this, now!" She looked back and forth between the sisters and the mini hurricane going on in front of here. "STOP IT!" Varali turned and started to run from the room. Pheobe's voice stopped her.
"Varali, wait! Look!" Varali turned around slowly and found herself staring at the back of something incredibly. The whirl of wind was shifting itself into the shape of a woman. Varali watched as the wind changed completely, leaving an elegant looking woman in its path. Her long, curly dark hair fell down her back as she stood there staring at the sisters, oblivious to the person behind her.
"Can I help you?" asked Mother Nature.
"Well," Paige said, "maybe not us. But we were hoping you could help someone else." When Mother Nature gave her a confused look, Paige motioned over the woman's shoulder.
Varali's eyes bulged out of her head when the woman turned her way. Facing her was a woman who looked a lot like Varali, herself. The woman even had emerald green eyes like Varali. The woman stared at her with the same amazement. Only, her amazement was more "family reunion" than "what the hell".
"Varali," the woman said, on the verge of tears.
Varali could only stare. Who was this woman and why did she look so familiar? Then it hit here. The pictures. Pictures that her father showed her everyday as she grew up. She'd come to love the face in the photos, always smiling and laughing. Now, she was staring at that face again only this time, it was living and moving.
"M-mom?" Varali said with a shaky voice.
"Oh, yes," her mother said, making her way over to Varali to give her a hug. She stopped in her tracks.
"No, you can't go outside of the crystals," Pheobe said, making her way around the book. "They're there to protect you."
"Thanks," Mother Nature replied, "but I have my own protection." With that, she held up an amulet that was around her neck and stepped out of the pentagram. She turned back to Varali and pulled her into a warming hug.
"But, how?" was all Varali could get out.
"Oh sweetie, there's so much that needs to be explained to you," her mother said.
"Dad told me you were dead."
"I know. I'll explain that later. I don't have much time here when someone conjures me. When I come on my own, I can stay as long as I want."
"But, I'm so confused," Varali said.
"I know, Moon, but my time is running out." Her mother took her hands. "Whenever you need me, just think of me and I'll be there."
"Moon?"
"That's what you name means. You dad never told you that?" Varali shook her head. "There's so much you need to learn, but at another time."
As her mother touched her cheek, Varali watched her fade away. She wanted to reach out and grab her, make her stay. Tears came to her eyes when she hear a soft "I love you" in her ear and her mother disappeared completely. Varali nearly flew ten feet in the air when Pheobe placed a hand on her shoulder.
"How…did you do that?" Varali asked, turning in her direction.
"Magic," Pheobe said. "Something you possess."
Varali was silent, thinking about what just occurred. She wanted to cry. She wanted to run out of that house and forget everything, but she knew there was no way she could do that. Pheobe noticed her distressed look.
"Sweetie, are you okay?"
Something clicked in Varali's mind.
"Her amulet," she whispered.
"Yeah, she uses it for protection," Pheobe said softly.
"No," Varali said. She lifted the side of her shirt slightly. "It's my birthmark."
Pheobe leaned forward to get a better look. Sure enough Varali's birthmark was identical to her mother's protection amulet. Piper and Paige had also joined to take a look.
"Whoa," Piper said. There was silence around the room.
"Can I go home now?" Varali asked, sounding somewhat like a small child. Piper saw her "bad girl" image disappear and leave behind a very scared young lady.
"Yea," she said. "Paige will orb you."
"No, I think I'll take a cab," Varali said.
"I'll go call it for you," said Paige, making her way out of the attic.
"Thanks," Varali said. She hugged herself as Pheobe and Piper led her out of the attic as well.