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I saw a saleswoman standing near another car I found I liked and watched as the whole process replayed only this time more along the reality of what life should be rather than some mans idea of what someone like me should have.
I headed over to the woman as though I hadn't seen the man.
“You do realize he's going to be awfully upset if he discovers you came to me just to avoid him,” the saleslady said as I approached.
“Do I look like I really care? I hate being patronized just because of how I look,” I said.
“With your powers as a witch I doubt anyone could patronize you. I take it there's a car your interested in,” she asked.
“A couple actually,” I said.
“I'm surprised you'd come to me rather than letting him fawn over you, though I'm not complaining, just surprised. Usually when a witch realizes I have magic they want nothing to do with me,” she said.
“Let me guess they're afraid you'll take their magic away from them. I just found out I'm a witch and for some reason could really care less about someone else thinking they can do something that isn't kosher about my magic,” I said.
“You talk like you might just be the one everyone thinks is just a myth,” she said.
“And just who might that be?” I asked.
“The White Rose. A magical creature with the ability to control the magic of all magical creatures,” she said.
“Really is such a thing possible?” I asked.
“Personal experience says no, but there are stories that date back longer than anyone knows that say yes,” she said.
“You used to be a witch. Strange your witchcraft is still there I can feel it,” I said.
“It may be, but I can't feel it or even see it any longer,” she said.
“Your magic now is a blood magic, a magic of life, or of death,” I said.
“How can you know that? No witch can feel the magic of... I was changed because I couldn't feel the magic until it was to late,” she said.
“I'm not your everyday witch, the blood magic calls to me, but then so does my own magic,” I said.
She showed me the cars I said I was interested in, letting me know which she thought to be the better choice for gas mileage, maintenance, and all around fun to drive. I chose the one she said would be the most fun to drive and got a look of amusement when I said I would be paying cash.
“Sam, were the hell have you been? I expected you here an hour ago,” Kathy asked when I walked in the house.
“I didn't want to be dependent on you for a ride,” I said.
“You didn't want to... what is that supposed to mean?” she asked.
“It means I bought a car, so I can get around when I'm here. If you want you can use it when I have to go back, as long as you take care of it and get the oil changed on schedule. All you need to do is keep the maintenance up and fill it with gas,” I said.
“We've never needed two cars. We live close enough to the campus Brent rides his bike or walks to school leaving me the car,” she said.
“And you need to work to pay the bills, or you won't be living this close for long. Now I have a car so I can get around and you don't have to miss work to take your little sister around everywhere,” I said.
“I appreciate the thought, but I still don't understand. Surely it would have cost less to take taxis wherever you want to go,” she said.
“This time yes it probably would, but now I have a car so the next time I come home I won't need to take taxis to get around either,” I said.
“Does that mean you plan on coming home a little more often? I know dad will be glad to hear that,” she said.
“It doesn't mean anything Kathy. I love my work and while I've avoided coming home, I have thought of you Sarah and dad every day since I left. Even Jeff is always in my thoughts,” I said.
“But not mom?” she asked.
“It doesn't feel like she's my mom. I know she's my mother, but I just don't feel she's my mom,” I said.
“Well show me what all you got after I left,” she said.
I started taking everything out of the bags and boxes and got a look that said that wasn't what she meant. She didn't want to see everything hanging on hangers she wanted to see how it looked on me. I took all the packages in the room she was letting me use and told her if she wanted to see she would have to come help me in and out of the different dresses.
With each dress she stared and commented how she wished she could wear dresses like that. I matched the shoes I bought with the dresses and got even more comments that said she was jealous of my new wardrobe.
“You know sis when I have to go back I can't take any of this with me. It would be a shame for it to hang in the closet the whole time until I get back again,” I said.
“Sam I doubt most of these would fit me. You're almost twice as big in the bust as I am, and half as big in the waist, and you're shorter than me too,” she said.
“I thought you were a seamstress? I'll bet it wouldn't be anything for you to alter any of these to fit you, besides we do wear the same size shoes so if nothing else you could always wear my shoes,” I said.
So many laughs until I put on the last dress I bought and started turning so she could see the way it fit.
“I hope you'll wear that one tonight. I love that rose on the skirt,” she said.
“It's kind of short don't you think?” I asked.
“What? No, I think it's perfect for going out. Sam we're going to a night club and there will be men everywhere looking to get lucky. You wear that dress and there won't be a single man there looking at anything but you, and you won't have to pay for anything all night long,” she said.
“I'm sure they'll all want to buy me cokes since I'll be damned if I'm going to get drunk,” I said.
“You won't share a glass of wine with dinner?” she asked.
“Wine with dinner is one thing, I'm talking about at the night club,” I said.
All we were waiting for now was Brent to get home from school and hopefully he wouldn't be much longer since dinner reservations were for seven o'clock and if you weren't there on time chances of getting a table at this restaurant were none.
“Kathy I'm home. Whose car is that out there in the driveway? Is one of your girlfriends here?” Brent asked heading for the kitchen looking for Kathy.
I walked out of the room and Brent stopped in his tracks.
“Hello, I thought I'd met all Kathy's friends,” he said.
“Let me guess Brent you thought you'd met all her sisters too,” I said.
“Her sis...” he stuttered.
“I'm Sam. You know I was best man at your wedding,” I said giving him a wink.
“Sam...” he stuttered still at a loss for words.
“Brent do you remember the big fight my family had during our reception?” Kathy asked.
“Sam you look... I'm totally confused now,” Brent said.
“It's okay Brent, other than Kathy you're the first to see the real me is all,” I said.
“You look a lot like Sarah. I just never expected something like this, with you being in the special forces and all,” he said.
“What a girl shouldn't be able to do what a man can?” I asked.
“I didn't say that. It's just you're so beautiful and... I'm just having trouble picturing you in battle gear with camouflage paint on your face,” he said.
“Believe me Brent the camouflage face make-up is easier to do than the make-up I'm wearing now,” I said.
“Brent you need to go change or we'll be late for our dinner reservations,” Kathy said.
“We wouldn't want that. After all we've only been planning this dinner for two years,” Brent said.
He disappeared into the bedroom across from the one I was using.
“Dad said the rest of the family would meet us there. I reminded them that being late could cost us our reservations,” Kathy said loud enough Brent could hear through th
e closed door.
“The spells protecting she will retain, all others least for another day, when again the Rose is hidden away, until the day the blossom opens wide. Her spells protection are honored by all, and the White Rose clan is again made whole. To any who stand or deny her claim, her mercy is there her wrath to relieve. Let not the Rose continue to fight within itself. Her time for now is short to see, but when she is ready her compassion the world will see,” I said not think, or even aware I said anything.
“Sam?” Kathy asked with a very worried look.
“Is something wrong Kathy?” I asked.
“What you just said, do you have any idea what it means?” she asked.
“I don't even know what you're talking about, I didn't say anything until you said my name,” I replied.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
“She will protect the world from herself while at the same time uniting the White Rose protecting witch from vampire and vampire from witch. Until she has come into her full power.”