Chapter 9

Gift

Amon and Nagira had gone to the apartment while Robin remained with the Condesa. Although, Amon had not disagreed on her going with the Condesa… he wasn't completely sure if it was good idea to let Robin go alone. The Condesa was a kind trustworthy person but she was eccentric. However he knew that he couldn't always be overshadowing her and protecting her every step. Although Robin was still naïve, he knew she could handle difficult situations on her. Still nothing that he thought of as his brother talked to him could relieve the tension he felt inside.

The Condesa had taken Robin to the room where she was going to give her present. This room was decorated differently from the all the other rooms in palacio. Robin couldn't recall ever coming into this room before. She found something extremely peculiar with the room. All the paintings were of women dress in beautiful gowns all them had similar facial features. The only difference was that all the paintings were done during periods. The room was a circular in design with a large white brick fireplace in the center of the room.

"Robin, I want to talk to you since I know your time with me is running short. You soon will be returning to Japan but before you do that I have to give you something before you go." The Condesa walked to the fire place and pushed a brick making the bricks that formed the fire place come apart. The top half of the fireplace moved up into the ceiling leaving an open area to the ceiling. The bottom half of the fireplace stayed in place strangely forming a large circular fire pit. The flames from the fireplace had begun rise feverishly.

"Condesa, be careful what are y…?" asked worriedly Robin.

"My child, stay calm. I'm going to explain now." She went to Robin and grabbed her hands to get her to get up from her chair and follow her closer to the raging fire pit. Robin got up followed behind the Condesa.

Robin I don't know if you have been able to see the records I keep in my library regarding my family's record keeping the history. Unlike other witch families in my family only the women only inherited the witch gene. Strange yes but its always been that way. From ancient times long before witches were hunted we always kept records of our discoveries from the craft. Once the burnings began we started to perform a special ceremony that the next generation witch will inherit all the knowledge carried and learned from the prior witch bestowing upon it a vast knowledge beyond what the craft secrets could even give her. The women you see in various paintings around this room are of all my foremothers. That framed blank canvas will have my image there once my time has arrived.

Confused Robin started to "But I don't under…" But was interrupted by the Condesa.

Raising her hand patiently letting Robin know to let her finish "Now this brings me to what I would like to give you to. Robin you are a blessed child your parents left something within you that's great. I am a woman with no heir to claim my heritage to carry it on to the next. I have decided that you will be my heir. To inherit everything I own and the secrets of the Romero Witch Clan. Please do not try to decline the gift I want to bestow upon you and your future heirs."

Suddenly the old woman stood up oddly straight as her blue eyes began to glow. The wind began to blow her long straight hair wildly. As she began to speak it wasn't just her voice it was the voices of all the painting in the room which now seemed to have come alive. They all spoke in unison, "Child of Maria, Mother Eve, I am the last of the Coven Romero, our family craft was foresight… We knew of your coming long before those that caused your existence were born… our suffering was nothing for we knew that final redemption would come through you. Now as a gift we offer to you the knowledge that own family has carried through the ages.

A thick smoke swirled around the fireplace as a strange light was appearing almost as if it was cutting through it. Robin was feeling uneasy as this was happening she wasn't sure what was the purpose of all this although the Condesa had already explained it. The portraits seemed to all have come alive. Robin wondered what was going to happen. Unable to move or speak the only thought that came to her mind was, "Amon" she said softly to herself.

Amon and Nagira were sitting out in the terrace area having a nightcap while they talked and admired the general splendor of the gardens below. However, Nagira had been doing mostly all the talking since they had sat at the terrace when he stopped suddenly breaking Amon's meditative state.

"Amon, have you listened to anything I have said? You leave a guy do all the talking just so you can avoid interactions with people. I can't believe Robin would be with a guy like you." Nagira said tartly.

Ignoring Nagira's comments Amon responds, "I just don't understand the delay. Why were we excluded?"

Nagira didn't quite understand what Amon had meant "What?" Suddenly realizing what was Amon thinking about, "Ah, it just probably girls talk. How are things since you and Robin been a couple? It's probably something about that. Anyway there is something I have to tell you which is why I came here to Italy."

Finally Nagira said something that caught Amon's full attention he asked. "What is it, Nagira?"

"Well, this is going to come as a shock to you and I know it was for me" with a wave of a finger Nagira was able to move the large tree pot from one side of the terrace to the other. Amon was speechless to what he had just seen. "This strange power started to happen a few weeks ago at least that's when I notice it. Honestly I didn't know what to make of it. Besides, I didn't let my girlfriend to know keeping it a secret from her. Until a few nights ago, I was met with one of my informants when a huge AC unit was thrown down from the roof almost landing on top of me. Suddenly somehow this power went on auto and stopped the dam thing from landing on me."

"Nagira, but…" Not letting Amon finish speaking kept on talking almost rambling. He was finally with someone he trusted, who understood the gravity of the situation.

"Since then I felt fear that word might get out that I had some weird power. So in order to avoid my girl any trouble I left without saying a word to her. I figured if any where I should go was to you and try to sort this out."

"Who is your girlfriend? You've never been a man of have a serious relationship." Amon said as the charm that hung from his chain began to glow…

Nagira noticed the charm glowing "Hey Amon look your charm is glowing right through your shirt. What the heck does it mean?"

Amon looking at down at the charm and seeing for himself that it was glowing, "Robin!! Let's go find her" as he got up and ran out the room.

Amon and Nagira had checked every room in the house but one. This room was always locked but through the cracks of the door a bright light was escaping. They heard the wind blowing in the room moving things around. Amon opened the door to find Robin enraptured in a cloud of smoke. A mystical being was beginning to appear. His feet were suddenly rooted to the floor. Amon looked toward Nagira and he too was unable to move. He discovered that both Nagira and his voice were gone. No matter how much they tried to speak no sound would come from their mouths. Amon felt helpless for the first time in a very long time.