but since his farm was just a few hours away, and his power was growing by the year, eventually Fiona sensed his presence. Although she did get pleasure from making his life miserable, Fiona had more important things to worry about. It was not until 5 years later Grace and her mother walked through town, passing Fiona and her students. Fiona could feel a powerful energy, she leaned touched Grace's cheek, "what a darling little girl." She was about to open her hand and release a small amount of magic, but Grace's mother slapped her hand away.
"don't touch my daughter." she causally pulled Grace away from the strange woman in black.
"no need to be so rude about it." Fiona grabbed the woman's shoulder and released the small amount of magic.
In the next few days Grace's mother would come down with the flu. she would get progressively sicker over the next year, then 2 days after Grace's 6th birthday she passed away quietly in her sleep.
The sadness cut Jed to the core. He mourned for weeks, and in this time. 6 year old Grace started to further and further wander away. This was when she first met Misty. Misty may have been an immortal witch living in a swamp listing to 70's music on her record player- but she still knew a child in need when she saw one. "are you alone?" she asked the small girl.
Little Grace nodded.
"do you want something to eat?" she asked, unsure what else to possibly say.
she little girl nodded.
They ate crackers with berries and room temperature iced tea. "my daddy is sick." grace said.
"where do you live?" Misty asked since no one lived anywhere near her small swamp house.
Misty took the girl home. She might have been able to save Grace's mother if Jed had not "tried to" first. His wife's body was covered in ash. she was not moving but he was speaking to her as if she could still hear him.
His magic was pinning her soul to her decaying body; like a fly trapped in a spider web. When misty appeared with Grace he lost his focus. He was not even aware how long his daughter had been gone.
Misty knew she had to help somehow she saw a bible. she said to herself "help me." and watched as the book opened to the perfect passage;
"Corinthians 5:6-8 We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord." She put her arms around him, releasing his hold and freeing his wife's soul to pass on. "you need to have courage- for your daughter."
She could have moved in and taken his wife's place, but she could not stay in that house. already the darkness was too uncomfortable to be around. She visited Grace once a week to teach her enough so she could one day get a GED and move on with her life.
Grace helped out her father with the farm, caring for the every unusual animals. although the animals seemed happy and kind when she came to feed them, they always seemed to be in pain, but as a child she pushed the thought out of her mind. She was also interested in her father's magic. when performing spells or making potions he would go in to a trance allowing her to observe. But it only took one instance of carving in to his own flesh (to bleed in to a potion) for her to leave well enough alone.
He also taught her how to cook and clean, so she could take care of the house if anything was to happen to him. He made sure the house had no water or electricity, living completely off the land. As the sun set they would sit on the poach with tea and he would tell her stories to pass the time. Grace loved his stories if only because it was the one time he seemed.. human.
When she was younger he told her stories of her mother and the wonderful years they had together. If Grace was lucky he would even show her some of her mother's photos and charms. But as she got older, and he got sicker, his mind started to fill only with pain.
She was 14 when her father he broke his leg. A cow, the same cow that once gave magic life giving milk, was having trouble breathing. The animal was shaking so badly her legs could not hold her weight. He was administering some "medicine" when the animal collapsed completely. He forced the liquid down it's throat before pushing her off of his leg. He got back up and walked back to the house to set the bone using what materials he found lying around. He called to Grace for assistance. She screamed when she saw the horrible amount of blood; the bone had pierced the skin. she cut off the clothing around the injury then tried to use push the bone back in to place, securing it with cloth.
but he was not in pain; in fact he was moaning the way someone would when having sex. This extremely disturbing, but she had to finish the bandage. He started to speak of the witch known as "Fiona"- as if in a trance, he told the full story of his mother's death, his banishment and the kind of witch she possibly became. He described her in detail- as if to confirm the Grace already knew- she had seen Fiona before.
she went outside and cried until she threw up. she did not dare go back in. She hitch hiked to Misty's house and stayed with her until they could figure out what to do. Like an alcoholic damaging his liver; Jed was so addicted to dark magic, he was damaging his soul.
Grace would stay with her; they would find a way to get her a GED then get her as far away as possible.
she easily passed her GED test at age 15, then, with Misty considered her legal guardian she applied to colleges. She wrote her father one last letter to let him know she was ok. Misty put it on the poach the day after Grace left the state.
Now, years later she needed to be back.