And that silence that came after,
was enough as to be the answer.
"That silence…" she said slowly. "that's your way of saying yes?"
Ariel leaned against the wall casually, arms folded.
"You ask too many questions for somebody that just discovered magic yesterday."
Gabrielle stared at her angrily.
"So all those things… Joan getting hit, my hair changing colour, me waking up in Eadlin's room…"
"Yes." Ariel replied simply.
Gabrielle blinked.
"Yes what? I did them?"
"Yes, I... did them." Ariel replied laying emphasis on the I.
The room went quiet for like half a minute.
Breaking the silence.
"Ha" Gabrielle laughed once.
Nervously.
"What?"
"You don't grant wishes, Gaby." Ariel said. "I do."
Gabrielle's expression slowly dropped.
"No…no, that doesn't make sense."
"You think your tiny human brain can bend reality by itself?" Ariel scoffed and then rolled her eyes. "Please."
Gabrielle stood up immediately.
"Then why are things happening whenever I say things?!"
"Because I make them happen."
Gabrielle froze.
Ariel walked closer to her slowly.
"When you wished to wake up in Eadlin's room… I granted your request."
"When you wished for your best friend to fly thanks to a car…" Ariel continued carefully. "I made it happen and when you wished for Joan to wake up…Everything, I made it all happen"
"I answered again."
Gabrielle shook her head slowly.
"No…that's not possible. You weren't even there. "
Ariel scoffed and then said; "You know nothing."
The clothes still floated around the room folding themselves neatly. The mop moved on its own across the floor while plates arranged themselves inside the kitchen cabinet.
"You are not the wish granter." Ariel corrected. "You are the command."
Gabrielle stared at her like she was seeing her properly for the first time.
"Why would you even listen to those wishes? This wont be the first time wishes would be made."
For the first time since they met,
Ariel's expression changed to one which was softer and kind.
"Because your mother."
Gabrielle went still.
"Dont ever mention her to me." Gabrielle warned, her eyes watery and her fist folded together. Tight,
Ariel sighed then sat on the chair.
"The magical world has ranks, kingdoms, territories… and your mother ruled one of the strongest and that is where you come from."
Gabrielle looked confused.
"My mother is dead to me. I hate her"
Ariel shook her head slowly.
"Na….well you can hate her that is your problem" Ariel replied unconcerned. "But..." She said calling the word with emphasis to show she means it. "She was captured."
Gabrielle's lips parted slightly.
"There was a war." Ariel laughed while Gabrielle stared at her confused. "Sorry, I meant, there is a war. It is still ongoing."
"A bad one." She added with a serious tone.
As Ariel spoke, the lights flickered slightly.
"Some wanted your mother gone."
Gabrielle swallowed hard.
"And you?" Gabrielle asked.
"I was her assistant."
"Second in command."
Gabrielle stared at Ariel in disbelief.
"You're joking. Right?"
"I wish I was but at this point." Ariel said and then bowed her head.
Ariel stretched out her hand, a wand appeared in her hand. Very shiny, tiny and close to impossible not to stare at.
On seeing this, Gabrielle froze and her gaze was on it.
"They will come for you, you have to be ready." Ariel said, pronouncing each word one after the other as she stares into Gabrielle's eyes.
Gabrielle slowly sat down again.
"So… my mother is alive?"
"We don't know."
That answer hurt more.
Gabrielle looked down quietly.
"We don't have time for all this your sad life stuffs."
"It is a lot to take in, Okay???" Gabrielle fired back. "If I'm not the one granting wishes…" she looked back up. "Then what exactly am I?"
Ariel stared at her for a while before speaking.
"I don't know, that is what we will find out now, but from what I know so far, you are a force transfer."
Gabrielle blinked.
"A what?"
Ariel stood.
"You transfer force, consciousness and energy outside your body."
"That sounds fake."
"That's magic, it sounds fake on it own."
Gabrielle pressed her lips together.
Ariel walked behind her.
"Close your eyes."
"I am not doing anything weird." Gabrielle opposed
"You literally freed a prisoner spiritually two hours ago."
"…Fair point."
Gabrielle slowly closed her eyes.
"Now breathe."
Gabrielle obeyed quietly.
"Good." Ariel said softly. "Your body is not your limit, Gaby. Your mind isn't trapped inside it."
Gabrielle frowned slightly.
"I don't understand."
"You don't need to yet."
Ariel raised her wand slowly.
Thin silver lines glowed around it softly like threads of light.
"Why am I just knowing about all this?" Gabrielle asked.
"Your powers were placed on hold." Ariel responded but still focused on Gabrielle.
"That is for another day. Now, focus on leaving."
"What do you mean leaving?!"
"Trust me."
"That has never ended well in the movies I have seen."
Ariel rolled her eyes.
"Humans are dramatic."
The wand touched Gabrielle's forehead gently.
Immediately;
Gabrielle gasped, her mouth opened…..
The room distorted slightly and to Gabrielle, the walls stretched.
The lights flickered.
Her body suddenly felt…Light. It was like something inside her was pulling upward.
"Ariel" Gabrielle called out as her pupil rolled to the back….and then….
It was gone.
"Don't panic."
Gabrielle's fingers twitched.
Then slowly,
Her body stayed seated…
"Now, you are at the University cafeteria."
Gabrielle's eyes widened immediately then closed sharply...
Suddenly….
They opened again, now at the school cafeteria.
"Oh mann" Gabrielle called out surprised. "What the—"
She looked around her
"Oh my God."
"You left your body, just your mind did" Ariel said proudly.
Gabrielle stands at the empty cafeteria pancking.
"No no no no— put me back!"
"You're fine."
"How am I fine?!"
"You're actually doing very well for a first attempt."
"This is insane. How can I hear you here?"
"You still have a lot to learn." Ariel smiled slightly. "You're powerful."
Gabrielle looked around the room, everything felt strange.
Lighter.
Like gravity barely existed around her.
Then suddenly,
Whispers.
Very low.
Very distant.
Gabrielle froze.
"Did you hear that?"
Ariel's expression changed immediately.
"Hear what?"
The whispers grew louder.
Not understandable.
But there.
Like voices calling from very far away.
Gabrielle slowly turned toward the window.
Then—
A shadow moved outside.
Fast.
Gabrielle stepped back immediately.
"What was that?!"
Ariel grabbed her wrist quickly.
"Get back in your body."
"What?! Why?!"
"NOW."
The room suddenly shook slightly.
The light bulb burst.
Gabrielle screamed.
Then….
Knock knock.
Both Ariel and Gabrielle screamed.
"Gaby?"
Joan's voice.
Immediately everything stopped.
The whispers.
The shaking.
The darkness.
Gone.
Gabrielle gasped loudly and dropped back into her body instantly.
Her eyes snapped open.
She breathed heavily.
Ariel was staring at the door now.
Silent.
Knock knock.
"Gaby?" Joan called again. "Are you inside?"
Gabrielle looked at Ariel breathing hard.
"…What just happened?"
But Ariel didn't answer.
For the first time, Ariel looked scared.
Knock knock.
"Gaby?" Joan called again from outside.
Gabrielle quickly stood up.
Ariel grabbed her wrist immediately.
"Don't mention anything about magic."
Gabrielle frowned.
"You think I'm stupid?"
"Yes."
Gabrielle hissed under her breath and walked toward the door.
She opened it.
Joan stood there holding a small paper bag in one hand while the other rested carefully against the wall for support.
"You look terrible," Joan said immediately.
Gabrielle blinked.
"You almost died yesterday and somehow I'm the one looking terrible?"
"Yes." Joan replied casually and entered the house slowly. "At least I have an excuse."
Gabrielle shut the door behind her.
Joan looked around the house briefly.
Then,
her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Who is she?" Joan asked.
"I am her aunt."
"She is my neighbour."
They replied together.
They tried to explain speaking together but all that they could pass across in their message was nothing.
They paused in sync and stared at each other…..
They all bust into laughter.
"Hi, I am Ariel." She said and then stretched out her hand for a handshake.
"I thought you were going to use a fake name." Gabrielle said to Ariel forcing the words through her teeth.
"I am Joan. Nice to meet you." Joan replied and then shook her hand.
"I will be on my way. " Ariel said dragging Gabrielle along with her. They both smiled awkwardly as they stepped out.
Outside;
"You can just bring her back if I make that as my wish?" Gabrielle asked and shut the door behind her.
"I am afraid it doesn't work that way." Ariel replied sadly. "I have to go. They can find you through me so till then. "
The evening breeze hit softly against her face.
Ariel walked forward then stood near the gate staring into the distance.
Gabrielle walked toward her slowly.
"They can't track you directly yet."
"Yet?"
"They can track me."
Silence.
Gabrielle stared at her.
"What do you mean?"
Ariel looked away briefly before answering.
"I am magical. Fully magical." she said quietly. "You're still hidden between worlds. But me?" She laughed once without humour. "I shine like a light to them."
Gabrielle suddenly understood.
"That's why you want to leave."
Ariel didn't answer immediately.
"If they find me," Ariel continued softly, "they'll eventually find you then sacrifice you"
Gabrielle looked down quietly.
The air suddenly felt heavier.
"Who exactly are these people?"
Ariel folded her arms slowly.
"They are like the police" Ariel said.
Gabrielle frowned.
"What did she do?"
Ariel hesitated.
Then—
"Your birth broke the veil. Your mother was asked to fix it but she refused. She is quite stubborn and the only way to close it is to sacrifice you"
Gabrielle looked overwhelmed.
"So what do I do now?"
Ariel brought out her wand, it glowed and then a paper appeared in her hand.
"For now, this is your guide."
As the paper touched Gabrielle's hand, Ariel…..