Thanks for the previous review! Really appreciated. Here is the next chapter, there will be more to come
Fiona: "You ready for bed?" she said as she walked into Amelias room before noticing that the girl was already lying under her duvet.
Amelia: "Night Mom" she smiled.
Fiona: "Goodnight" she answered and turned off the light switch with one swift flick of her wrist and shut the door behind her. The door had barely clicked when she heard the panicked voice coming from inside her daughters' room calling her name.
She opened the door back up and Amelia was sat bolt upright in the bed, her eyes wide.
Amelia: "Don't shut the door" she whimpered.
Fiona rolled her eyes as the realisation hit her: "Oh for goodness sake Amelia you are far too old for this nonsense now. The door is being closed and the hall light is going off. There's nothing there"
Amelias eyes brimmed as the fear flooded her body: "Mama, please. There's gonna be a storm"
Fiona pointed her finger: "No, absolutely not. You're almost a teenager, I can't believe your sister has even humoured you for this long. Go to sleep" she spoke firmly and the door clicked behind her.
Amelia pulled the covers tight up to her chin but she was still sitting bolt upright as the shadows danced around her room from the tree waving in the wind outside. She heard a clap of thunder in the distance and her body tensed up more. She lay down and pulled the covers tight over her head. She heard the wind howl outside as the storm arrived and she jumped at every little sound she heard it make. She had lay for at least an hour, her eyes wide open, absolutely zero chance of her going to sleep. The thunder clapped again but this time it rumbled through the house as it was right above her head. She couldn't stand it any longer as the tears now streamed down her face and she jumped out of bed, scurrying quietly down the hallway so her mother didn't hear her and flinging the door open to her sisters' room. Cordelia sat up in the bed, startled at the opening of her door but before she knew what was even happening her little sister was underneath the duvet beside her as she clung to her arm.
Cordelia: "Hey it's ok" she soothed as she felt the girl tremble against her.
Amelia looked up to her with her tear stained face: "Mom shut the door and turned off the light. She said it's nonsense" she cried.
Cordelia: "I'll speak to her tomorrow, you're ok now. Come on, lie down"
She lay onto her side and pulled the girl in tightly. She felt Amelia relax, feeling safe cocooned in her older sisters' arms. She mentally cursed Fiona, she made such a big thing out of knowing Amelia the best but she really didn't have a clue what was best for that kid. Cordelia stroked back Amelias blond hair off her fair skin and planted a soft kiss to her cheek as she heard her breathing slow, the girl ready to drift off into slumber now that she had relaxed. She was just about to close her own eyes when the sleepy voice of her sister made her focus her attention back.
Amelia: "Cordelia?" she murmured.
Cordelia: "Yeah, sweet girl?" she answered softly.
Amelia: "I wish you were my Mum" she sighed.
Cordelia stopped for a second, taken aback by the girls' words but pulled her arms around her that little bit tighter: "So do I baby girl, so do I"
In the morning Cordelia gently unwound her arms and left Amelia to sleep. She pulled on her white, silky robe and headed down to the kitchen. She flicked on the coffee maker and removed a cup from the rack.
Fiona: "Oh if you're making coffee I'll have one" she said taking a seat.
Cordelia turned and glared at her when she realised she had only just returned home from the night before. She said nothing as she poured her a coffee and placed it down in front of her. The younger blonde sat opposite and sipped on her coffee.
Cordelia: "For future reference, Amelias door is left open ajar and the hall light left on" she spoke before taking another sip from her cup.
Fiona let out an annoyed chuckle: "So she didn't stay in her bed all night then?"
Cordelia: "She was terrified by the time she ran through to me. She was sobbing her heart out and was physically shaking. No way in hell do you get to make those kinds of decisions just because you're back"
Fiona: "It's for her own good" she shrugged.
Cordelia: "Bullshit. I know what is best for her despite you totally making me thing otherwise last week. I've been the one that raised her while you went swanning off playing part time parent"
Fiona: "Oh please, I left her at an elite boarding school which should have shown some benefit by her age" she sneered.
Cordelia: "Do you know what she said to me last night? She said she wished I was her Mom. And do you know what, I wish I was too cause then I could have saved any heartache up till now and protect her from the damage you'll do in future"
She slammed down her mug and stormed out without so much as another word. Fiona sat in silence, she looked stung. That hurt her, but she was quick to shake off the tears that had started to fill her eyes and finished the last of her coffee.
Later on that day Amelia was sat at the kitchen table. She had a mathematics book in front of her because Cordelia made sure that she was given a normal education as well as a magical one. There was a pencil sitting on a blank notepad next to the book, and a mug of hot chocolate that had went cold sitting to the side of her.
Madison: "Why the long face kid? You're normally bouncing about being your irritating little self" she asked as she walked in, looking at Amelia who was sat resting her chin on her hand at the table.
Amelia didn't answer and continued to stare straight ahead. Madison waved a hand in front of her face and Amelia jumped, slightly startled.
Amelia: "What?" she asked.
Madison sat opposite her: "Right spill, what's wrong with you?"
Madison was different with Amelia. She had a soft spot for her, and she was the only one she showed genuine kindness and concern for. Amelia thought the world of her too, and whenever she'd had an argument with Cordelia or had something she needed to talk about she always went to Madison.
Amelia shook her head: "It's nothing, I'm ok" she sighed.
Madison: "You're lying. Come on you always talk to me, what's up kid?" she leant forward across the table to take the 12 year olds hand but she pulled it away before she could get to it.
Amelia: "Honestly I'm fine, stop worrying" she said faking a smile.
Fiona walked into the kitchen and poured a coffee: "You girls ok?"
Madison: "Maybe you can get more out of her than I can" she sighed, defeated. She left the Mother and daughter alone but she quickly popped her arms around her in a brief hug before going.
Fiona: "What's wrong Amelia?" she asked with genuine concern and put a hand on the girls' shoulder once Madison had gone.
Amelia shrugged it off and stood up to walk away.
Fiona: "I pray you're not going to blank me like that because I'd hope by now you should know better" she warned.
Amelia turned and faced her mother, the fire was clear in the 12 year olds eyes.
Amelia: "I don't want to speak to you" she answered plainly, puffing out her chest trying to be brave but the truth was she was terrified of her mother.
Fiona: "Oh please, this isn't about last night is it?" she asked rolling her eyes.
Amelia: "I just said I don't want to speak to you" she spoke again firmly.
Fiona moved forward and Amelia felt the fear rise through her small body.
Fiona: "Watch that tone young lady" she said pointing her finger angrily just centimetres from her face.
"What's going on?" Cordelia asked as she walked in and stood next to her sister putting an arm around her as the girl melted into her embrace.
Fiona scoffed: "Oh is this how it's going to be from now on? Because you don't like me anymore and wish Delia was your Mummy?" she mocked and the girls' eyes filled with tears.
Amelia: "Delia wouldn't speak to me or treat me the way you do!" she yelled angrily and she sensed Fiona's shock at the girl finally speaking back.
Fiona: "I'd watch it now if I were you" she glared and Amelia moved closer into her sister.
Cordelia: "Amelia go upstairs and finish your Math please, I'll be up shortly to check on you" she instructed.
Cordelia watched as the girl disappeared then spun around angrily, the fire now in Cordelia's eyes.
Fiona: "You're being too soft on her, she'd never have spoken to me like that before. There needs to be more discipline" she said as she pulled out a cigarette and put it to her lips.
Cordelia: "Bullshit! She shouldn't be afraid to speak how she feels, like I did growing up! I'm giving her the freedom to express herself. If she says something out of turn she will be made to apologise if she doesn't do so herself. But am I hell going to have her be frightened off me. All you are doing right now is pushing that child further and further away from you"
Fiona: "Maybe it's for the best. You always said I was no good for her"
Cordelia sighed: "No I don't think you're any good for her, but she still loves you despite everything. And it would break her heart. You just need to try and soften up for Christ sake, try and teach that swinging brick in your chest to be more like a heart, because I am sick of seeing her hurt"
She walked away saying no more, leaving Fiona looking lost in her thoughts. She headed upstairs to check on Amelia but the girl was sitting at the top of the stairs.
Cordelia: "What have I told you about eavesdropping?" she sighed as she took her hand helping her to stand and took her to her bedroom.
Amelia: "Do it?" she smiled cheekily.
Cordelia couldn't help but chuckle: "No, and you know that" she spoke as they both sat on the end of Amelias bed.
Amelia: "I know you mean well but I don't want your sympathy Cordelia. I can see the way you look at me. I'm ok"
Cordelia: "I just remember how I felt"
Amelia: "But it's different, I have you" she reminded.
Cordelia smiled and pulled her sister in close: "I love you so much kid"
Amelia: "I love you too Delia"
Later on that evening Amelia was sat cross legged on her bed as she scribbled away on a blank piece of paper. You could vaguely see the outline of the petals as her hand moved furiously moving the pencil across the piece of paper. Ever since she had been a young child and could hold a pencil in her tiny hand she would draw as an escape. Majority of the time when you found Amelia with her drawing pad it meant something was on her mind. Fiona had always encouraged it as a child, mainly because it kept the girl out of her hair.
Amelia felt eyes on her so looked up to see Fiona leaning against the doorframe looking in on her, a cigarette between her fingers.
Amelia: "Can you not smoke in here please? I don't want your second-hand shit in my lungs" she hissed, but instantly was surprised at the way she'd just spoken to her mother. Perhaps she was getting a bit too brave, she needed to watch that. Everyone knew Fiona had a short fuse, even with her youngest daughter.
Fiona looked taken aback but nodded her head and walked off. Amelia heard her mother's heels clicking as she walked back towards the bedroom. The young blonde looked up as Fiona resumed her original position against the doorframe.
Fiona: "Are you going to speak to me?" she asked.
Amelia looked back down to the paper she was drawing on: "I don't particularly want to" she answered dryly.
Fiona: "Well I'm not going to make you, but I've obviously upset you" she said motioning to the paper and pencils on the girls' bed, knowing what her daughter is like.
Amelia: "Yes, you have"
Fiona: "Well then I want to sort it" she spoke softer this time and Amelia raised her head to look at her Mother. Fiona moved over and gently pushed the paper away to the side of the bed and sat down in front of Amelia. She tried to take Amelias hand but the girl snatched it back.
Fiona: "I was wrong ok, I shouldn't have done that last night" she said, and you could see the regret in her eyes.
Amelia: "You don't get it Mum. We live in a world where the monsters hiding under the bed are real, I can't just shake that off and forget about it. Let's be realistic, my powers are nowhere near up to scratch. I'd never stand a chance. Fair enough, a hall light and open door aren't going to prevent it but it puts me at ease, what's so wrong in that?"
Fiona: "Nothing baby, nothing. I'm sorry, I didn't think. You know what I'm like, please forgive me"
Amelia sighed, it was the same as always. Her Mum thought she could just saunter back in, apologize and everything would be ok again.
Fiona moved forward and pulled the girl into her arms, and she couldn't help but melt into her embrace. Despite everything she was still her mother and she hated arguing with her, so sometimes it was easier just to forgive her and get back to normal, for however long that may be.
So that's it! Thanks for reading! Please review!
