Chapter 3: Emmy

It’s been almost five months since I left. Now I’m finally ready to go home. I’m nervous to go back. It took a bit longer to get myself together and to get a hold of the dark magic, and the monster that’s always threatening to come out.

My dad and I both think I’m ready to go back and rejoin my team. I never thought I’d feel ready to go back to them, but I am. I just hope they aren’t too mad at me. I hope that they can forgive me and try to understand why I had to leave. They say time heals all wounds, so I can only hope my team's wounds have healed along with my own.

My dad, Luna, and I arrive at the manor. It’s about the time the team should be eating dinner after training all day providing that they have kept the same schedule since I left. I knock on the door, and the maid that answers the door looks at me like I’m a ghost, like she can’t believe that I’m really in front of her. After the maid takes a moment to gather herself, she lets us into the manor. Luna is happy to be home, and so am I. I look back at my dad, and he gives me a reassuring smile.

We followed the maid to the dining hall. I can feel my nerves start to go crazy. My heart feels like it’s going to jump out of my chest. Luna darts into the dining room before I can get the courage to walk into the room.

I hear Brie shout Luna’s name and soon everyone is talking over the other person. Well, the cats out of the bag thanks to Luna. I walk into the dining hall, and everyone stops talking to stare at me. The silence is overwhelming, so I take the chance to read everyone's minds

I look at Avery first. She’s finally home! I told them she would come back.

Next is Ryan. Shit, she really came back, guess she didn’t join the Enchantress after all.

How could he even think that? I knew Ryan wasn’t my biggest fan, but damn he really thought I’d do that to them? Okay, he’s not going to forgive me so easily, but I expected that.

Alice is glaring at me. Well look who finally decided she was worthy to join us.

I swallow hard. Okay, I kind of thought Alice would be on my side, but I guess not. Great one more person to add to the list of people who hate me.

Bex and Brie have the same thought. Mom and dad will be happy that Emmy is home.

Okay, they weren’t totally against me, but they weren’t for me either. I guess that’s better than them hating me. Last, I look at Carter, and I almost wish I hadn’t. He looks pissed and I don’t think I want to read his mind, but I do.

So, my girlfriend finally comes home. What a way to let us know you were okay Emmy. How can you just waltz in here like you did nothing wrong? You shattered my heart, you're gonna have to beg for it back. Prove to me you won’t hurt me again. Damn it! I totally want to kiss her and do some dirty things to her as well.

I try not to blush at the last part. Carter was pissed, but he still wanted me so that was good, right? I guess I would have to break the ice.

“Hey guys,” I say causally

They all stare at me like they are waiting for me to explain myself. No one says a word, they just keep looking at me waiting for me to speak. Half of them look like they want to kick my ass while the other half looks confused but happy. Okay not how I saw this going. Worst fear meet reality.

“I’m sorry. I really am. I had to leave. You wouldn’t believe what the dark magic did to me. I would have ended up killing you guys. I would have killed my dad if he didn’t fight me with his own dark magic. I was a monster, and it took me a while to get things under control. I’m better now,” I blurt out like a crazy person.

“Well good for you, Emmy,” Ryan sneers.

“What, you want a round of applause or something?” Alice is being her normal sarcastic self. “So glad you worked your shit out,” Alice adds.

“I don’t expect you guys to be happy for me. I just need you to understand. That’s all I’m asking for, is that you guys try to understand. I had to leave. I would have hurt you guys because I was so unstable. I’m sorry.”

“You couldn’t text us or let us know you were okay?” Carter asks, throwing his hands in the air. “You just disappeared and left us some stupid note. You really thought that was going to be enough? We’ve been worried sick about you for months. You left us in the dark. You left me in the dark, damn it, Emmy I’m your damn soulmate.” Carter’s anger is rolling off of him and I don't think I’ve ever seen him so angry before.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t contact you. It was just too dangerous. I couldn’t trust myself. I couldn't trust the monster within me at that point in time.” I close my eyes trying to keep control over the situation. It seems to be escalating quickly. This was so much harder than I thought it would be. I knew they would be mad, but I didn’t see this. I take a deep breath and reopen my eyes with confidence. I'd find a way to get them to understand.

“You don’t understand—”

“No, we don’t understand, so why don’t you help us out here,” Alice cuts me off.

“None of you have dark magic, so you don’t know what it does to you. How it can make you unstable and unpredictable. It messes with your mind. For the first week I was a literal monster, you have no idea. The dark magic took over my mind, and my body was transformed, it wasn’t pretty. You don’t even want to know that side of me.”

My voice has risen above a normal tone. I was trying not to yell at them because I knew they had a right to be mad at me, but I didn’t think it would be this bad. I thought that they would understand on some level, but they don’t. This was so frustrating that I was either going to scream, cry, or both.

“So, what you have a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde complex or something?” Bex asks. At least someone was trying to understand.

“Something like that. It’s stronger in me because one blood line is light, and the other is dark. It’s harder to control or learn to control. It’s hard to explain.”

Why are my words failing me? Thank the stars above for Bex, and him being such a damn bookworm. Right at this moment his analogy was the best way to explain the situation, and what had been going on with me, hell it’s still going on within me. I just happen to be better at controlling it.

“I guess Bex’s analogy is the best way to explain it. It’s a constant war inside of myself, every minute of every day. Some days it’s easier, other days it’s not. I was afraid I’d hurt you guys or worse kill one of you. I could have while I was unstable. Like I said my dad only stopped me with his own dark magic. Your light magic wouldn’t have done anything. Avery and Carter, you two are human, you would have been defenseless against me.”

“So now you’re all cured? No more crazy Emmy and her split personality?” Ryan asks with snort.

“I’m not cured. There is no cure. I have control over it, that's why I came back to you guys. To the team.”

“Oh, now you’re a part of the team? How convenient.” Alice rolls her eyes.

Now I know why my dad hated it when I rolled my eyes at him.

“I’m sorry. There was no other way. I’m so sorry.” I say from my heart. I never wanted to cause them this much pain.

They have no idea how powerful I am. In a second, I pause time. Yes, that’s right I can pause time thanks to finally mastering my dark magic. I need to think. I need to prove to them that I had to leave. Maybe then they would see there was no other way. They don’t know what it did to me to leave them, but I know I hurt them.

How can I prove to them I had to leave? I sigh. I don’t know what to do, but I couldn't keep time frozen forever. I wave my hand, and time was unfrozen. They all stare at me and blink their eyes confused at the weird feeling over taking them now that time is running again. I got used to it a while ago along with time travel. There’s so much I can do, and they have no damn idea.

Vivian bursts through the door.

“Emmy Rose Caine, I know you did not just stop time in my manor.” Vivian’s tone is harsh, but then she smiles and hugs me. “I’m glad you’re home.” She lets me go, and then looks serious again. “I’m serious Emmy, no stopping time in my manor. I still run this coven. I can deal with the mind reading and other things, but I will not tolerate stopping time, or time travel, unless it’s necessary.”

“Got it, Grandma.” I look past Vivian, and at my team. They all look dumbfounded at Vivian's words.

Yeah, that was probably the face I made too when my dad first told me about time travel and controlling time. Vivian hugs me one more time before she leaves me with the team again who are staring at me like I’m a circus freak. Okay maybe I was, but still, they didn’t have to look at me like that.

“Uh care to explain Vivian’s words.” Brie asks. It’s the first time she spoke since I walked into the dining room

“Well, now that my dark magic has awoken, and I can control it, I can travel in time and control time if I want to. I can teleport too. There’s a lot I can do that I couldn’t before,” I say causally.

I don’t want to make it seem like a big deal even if it was. Only a handful of witches and warlocks could do what I could. There might even be things that I could do that they couldn't. So far that hasn't been the case, but my dad insists that it’s possible.

“So, you’re home for good now?” Avery asks with a smile on her face. At least someone was on my side and didn’t totally hate me.

“Yes. I hope you guys can forgive me. I’m really sorry about leaving. I just…I had to. Maybe you don’t understand but trust me it was for the best. I’m back and I don’t plan on leaving again. I’m in control of my dark magic. I can be a part of the team without risking hurting or killing one of you. I don’t expect you to throw me a welcome home party. You guys are right to be pissed at me. I left in a hurry and maybe there was a better way, but it’s done and over with now, so can we move on from this?”

There is a pause, and everyone nods their heads. I feel relief wash over me. Even Ryan is willing to give me a second chance. I really hope they can forgive me, and we all could move on from this. I could only hope that their anger would fade over time, and that they would trust me again. I couldn't really blame them for being mad at me. Hell, I was mad at myself, but at some point, we all needed to move on and work together.

I eat some dinner with my dad and Vivian. After dinner I go back up to the room I share with the girls. It’s exactly the same. I’m glad to see that something didn’t change. I shower quickly and then take time to talk with Avery and Brie for a while in our little sitting area with couches and an entertainment center.

Brie seems to warm up to me and is soon joined by Avery with being happy that I was back. I know I shouldn’t read their minds, but I had to be sure, and I’m glad that did. I wouldn’t always read their minds. It was something I could turn on and off when I wanted to.

Alice is still giving me the cold shoulder. I know Alice would get over it eventually, but she always tends to be a hot head. She always comes around in the end, it just takes her some time. I’m okay with giving her time and anyone else who needs it. I knew I had hurt them by leaving. I hated leaving them, but I had no choice.

I still wasn’t sure where Carter and I stood, or if we could move past this in our relationship. Carter promised we would talk tomorrow. He said he needed time to think and all I could do was give it to him.

After talking with Brie and Avery for a bit we all crash in our beds. It feels good to be back in my bed. Coming home was much harder than I thought it would be. I wasn’t expecting a huge party when I came back, but I wasn’t fully prepared for the death stares, cold shoulders, and the looks of utter betrayal on their faces. I was going to do everything in my power to make them understand that I had to leave, that it was for the best. I would make them see that it had to happen. Somehow, someway they would see that I didn’t do it on purpose, that I wasn’t being a coward. They had no idea how dangerous I was, and still am, however the main difference was I could control myself. I could keep the monster at bay, or my Mr. Hyde side as Bexton put it. Leave it to Bex to compare me to a fictional character that is totally related to me in more ways than one.