Chapter 18

    The next morning they went to visit Isabela. As usually, they found her in the garden where she was tending flowers, weeding and plucking herbs. She looked like the Mother Nature leaning over her children, wearing floral summer dress and straw hat that protected her eyes from the harsh August sunlight.

    - Hello grandma! – They shouted in unison and run to her through the soft well-kept lawn full of wild flowers which were allowed to grow as they pleased.

    - Hello my children! – Her beaming smile was soothing and warmed their hearts. – I’m so glad that you’ve found a minute to come over to the old woman before a new school year will begin. Soon you won’t have time for me. Come on, let’s have some ice tea, and then we’ll prepare some delicious lunch.

   Her kitchen was extremely cozy. The functionality perfectly harmonized with the traditionalism. In the middle there stood a large oak table and chairs with comfortable seating upholstered in plush of ruby color. On the left there were beautifully carved oak furniture with glazed cabinets which were full of delicate porcelain. On the kitchen windowsill stood pots with fresh herbs, and over them hang braids of garlic and dried peppers. In the air they could smell a pleasant aroma of rosemary and cumin.

   On the fridge Jay noticed a big stoneware jar painted in merry blood-red poppies, in which Isabela used to have homemade cookies. With some fondness she remembered how they used to tiptoeing into the kitchen and sneaking cookies. ‘I’ll bet that even now it’s full of goodies,’ she thought smiling to herself. And she was right. Elder woman, with a twinkle in her eye, asked Carter to take the jar off the fridge, and then she put on a plate some aromatic chocolate shortbreads. They were fresh and chocolate chips hadn’t frozen yet.

    - Come on, tell me something! – She encouraged them. She always liked to listen to her grandchildren. They spoke with such enthusiasm and energy, expressing a whole range of emotions.

    - Mel and I have hired a small house. – Jay started. – Jess will stay together with Carter and Christian as they have one spare bedroom in their flat. We’ve decided to rent a house in the suburbs as the costs are close to those for a flat in the centre, and still it’ll be more peace and quiet. Mel will have a chance to focus on her paintings and photos, and I on training. – She stopped to have another cookie. – We arrange everything slowly, step by step, but we’ll run at full stream when we move there tomorrow.

    - Melanie is a good girl. – Isabela summed up. – You couldn’t find a better friend. And you boys? What’s up? – She smiled at her favorites, the youngest twins.

    - We rub our hands as well. – Added Mark with satisfaction. – We’ll have more room finally. – He winked at Daniel and got a blow from Jess, which led to a series of scrambles, jokes and teasing.

    Isabela was looking at her daughter’s children with joy. ‘You have to be proud of them, Isabo.’ She thought.

    While her brothers came out on the porch to peck each other and lead pointless squabbles about the league, Jay stayed in the kitchen to prepare the lunch together with their grandma. They talked freely about cooking, how to prepare sauces and which herbs should they add. They enjoyed each other’s company, and the invisible thread between them was shortening, bringing them together even more.

    - You have the power, Jaysabel. – These unexpected words made Jay stop in mid-motion over the grated cheese for spaghetti. – Your brothers have it too. If you’ll work on yourselves, you’ll be able to develop your skills to maximum – self-healing ability, when all you need to do is to focus on a wound and it will scar up in the blink of an eye. The ability to control the elements. You have the power to communicate with nature, with animals. All credit goes to the beast, which resides in all of us, and in the hunter it’s even stronger. It is thanks to the beast that hunters and shape-shifters get on well. – She tried the sauce, and continued in calm moralizing tone, as if she was teaching literature. – Of course, you have also werewolves and were-leopards’ blood in your veins, so your beast is even more active. But there’s also magic in you. Your brothers have to learn it. Incantations, the power of the amulets, herbs’ properties. But you have it in your blood. All you need to do is to open yourself for your gift so it can find you. So it could take possession of you.

    She spoke in a low voice, slowly, and her words found a way to the deepest and darkest corners of Jay’s soul. Her heart filled up with sadness and bitterness, as she knew it’s her destiny, before which there was no escape. And Isabela told her all this, so she could prepare herself for it.

    Her mind absorbed every information, every detail. She felt, that in fact she couldn’t wait the moment her destiny will fulfill. Inside she trembled in anticipation of the inevitable. She desired it and that scared her. And it filled her with peace at the same time.

    If Isabela had looked at her granddaughter then, and saw her look, she would know that she should have turned Jay round of this way. She should have rescued her before it would be too late.

   But when she finally looked at Jay she was smiling gently, and in her eyes there was nothing which could made her stood up from the joyful, prattling teenagers. Isabela had already noticed that special gleam in granddaughter’s eyes. She knew that Jay didn’t like to express, so she decided to draw her out.

    - Who is he? – She asked directly.

    - Who? – Jay not immediately read grandma’s intentions.

    - The boy, who crept into your thoughts and dreams. – She said.

    - No one’s there! – She replied firmly, though, she felt she’s treading on uncertain ground. Isabela knew too much.

    - Sweetheart, it’s visible in your eyes. – She said with smile.

    - What’s that?! – She snapped, though, she had no reason to be mad.

    - That you’ve been with a man. – She said jovially.

    - Grandma! – She felt, she’s blushing.

    - Jay! – She started in moralizing tone. – You come from family, which members are full of passion and inner fire. – Her voice was full of pride. – We often follow our heart, but, it happens that passion takes advantage of it. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t perceive it as something forbidden. – She looked at her with motherly concern. – Just be careful, so no one could hurt you.

    - Don’t be afraid. – She calmed grandma down, though she felt a strange chill. – Mum was still a teenager when she met father. – She decided to take on the other side.

    - She was. – Isabela agreed. – It was love at first sight. Although, John was seven years older, and your mother was only sixteen, she didn’t want to listen. She smiled at her memories. – Good for her! She allowed desire to take control over her. And then, a bond between them appeared. And deep, strong feeling. – She sighed with regret. – What a shame it didn’t survive.

    Jay pondered on her grandma’s words. Their mother, as a young girl, fell head over heels in love with their father. And her love was reciprocated. But she made a huge mistake telling her husband the truth. John continued faithfully at her side until Isabo revealed who she really was. That distanced them from each other. It killed their love. Jay never asked father if he stopped loving mother. She didn’t want to know.

    One was sure. She won’t allow feelings to take advantage of her common sense. That’s why she will stay away from Bryan Weakfield, when she’ll be back in Missoula. Something told her, that passion, which appeared between them, could turn into something much, much deeper. Durable. But not indestructible. She didn’t regret the night she’d spent with Bryan, but she preferred to nip everything in the bud, she wanted to save him and herself disappointment and pain. 

***

    They stayed much longer than they’d planned. I the afternoon Isabela gave them one more lesson about magic, focusing on simple, most useful spells and amulets. Then they were allowed to practice a bit. Apparently Carter and Michael were pretty good at it. Later on they prepared some dinner and ate on the back porch.

    When in the evening they were saying goodbye to Isabela, Jay was already much calmer. The conversation with grandma was good for her and assured her, that whenever she’ll need help, the old lady will be there.

    - Take care of each other! –They heard once again in last few days.

    - We’ll be okay, granny! – Jess assured her. – We’re not the first students who leave home town, besides, - he continued sending her one of his famous charming smiles, - Carter and Christian live in Missoula since two years. They are still fine and they for sure will keep an eye on us. Better together. – He winked and kissed her on surprisingly smooth cheek.

    - I know, - she said with a voice full of emotions, - but you’re my grandchildren and I worry about you. I just can’t help it.

    - We’ll come over when we arrive for a weekend. – Christian promised. – And we won’t allow anyone to hurt us, in any way. – He ended, kissing her on the forehead.

    Carter kissed grandma as well and followed Christian and Jess to the car.

    - We’ll be back! – Mark said playfully and winked at Isabela. As a reward she ruffled his hair and smiled tenderly at her beloved scamp.

    - I count on it! – She said with a menacing tone of voice. – Just try to avoid me and you’ll regret that! – She wagged her finger at Mark, Michael and Daniel.

    When they stayed alone, Jay hugged her grandma absorbing her placidity and invincible force. After their mother’s death, she was often looking for consolation and understanding with Isabela. And she never left empty-handed.

    - Thank you, grandma. – She whispered, still hugging the old lady. – For everything.

    - But I’ve done nothing. – She snorted.

    - You’re pointing us the way, and that’s an invaluable aid.

    - Always at your service. – She said satisfied, but a shadow appeared in her eyes. – But the way you’ve chosen and you’re going to follow, is not an easy one. – She stopped for a moment and mused over her grandchildren’s fate. Her voice was full of sorrow when she continued. – There’re many challenges, difficult decisions, and pain awaiting for you. And no matter how much I’d like to protect you, I can’t change what was written in stars.

    - You’ve seen something? – Jay grabbed grandma’s arm and forced her to look her in the eyes. – Say what you saw!

    - Nothing, that you don’t want, will happen. – She said calmly putting her warm palm on Jay’s cheek. – Remember this. It regards also your animal nature.

    - What do you mean? – Asked Jay.

    - In every human being there’s a beast, which is trying to break free. Your destiny involves trusting your instinct, the inner voice, entrusting your gift. This also means letting the beast to take the floor. But you can’t allow it to take control over you. You need to curb it, learn to live in peace and harmony with it, just as with your gift.

    - You’re talking in riddles. – Jay was losing patience.

    - All you need is to think a little about my words, and I’m sure you’ll understand everything. – She said with conviction. – In the end, you’re descendants of the Sandovals, the kin of hunters, and the Callahans, the kin of bards and sorcerers. This obliges.

    - Thanks one more time. – Calmed down by Isabela’s last words, Jay hugged and kissed her and run towards brothers.

    While her brothers kept chatting and laughing, Jay remained silent. Even though Isabela assured her that it is she who creates her own future, Jay couldn’t stop analyzing her grandmother’s words. Especially the part about inner beast was bothering her. She knew that two of her ancestors were shape-shifters, but they all thought that hunters and witches blood was much stronger and took complete control over their powers. But now it seemed that their beasts might be strong enough to free themselves.

    They stopped in front of their house, got out of the cars and went inside. They immediately headed upstairs as the whole day with their grandmother really robbed them of their energy.

    - You’re okay? – Christian stopped her before she could enter her bedroom and closed the door.

    - Yeah, I’m fine. – She assured him.

    - You’re sure? – He watched her face carefully, looked deeply into her eyes.

    - I’m okay. – Jay looked away quickly. – Night, handsome! – She closed the door before he could answer.

    ‘He’s too observant! He can’t find out!’ She thought, building thicker walls around her mind.