Darkness

All the magic is inside me again.

I can feel it everywhere. The magic is flowing through my veins. It's radiating through my pores and I feel this intense power take over me.

I feel more powerful than I ever did before. This can't be good. This is bad, this is really bad. I can't lose control again.

I rush downstairs back to the kitchen to try and find my phone. When I reach downstairs, there's a gust of wind and my mom appears.

She must have used teleportation to get back home from the academy.

She notices me and there's a worried experience plastered on her face.

"You look like you've seen a ghost Layla. Everything okay?" She asks.

"Mom. The box. It wasn't my fault. It happened so fast. The box.." I'm shaking and I feel my cheeks get wet from the tears already escaping through my eyes.

My mom rushes over to me and wraps her arms around me covering me in an embrace. She put her hand on the back of my head and gently rubs my head.

"shh, it's okay. Take a deep breath and try to explain to me exactly what happened okay?" She says trying to comfort me.

My eyes are burning from the salty tears and my head is spinning in panic but I try to calm down and explain everything to her.

I tell her about last night. I tell her about the mirror and the eyes and the forest and the girl who looked just like me. I tell her I couldn't control my body. I try to convince her it wasn't my fault. I tell her about the safe and the box unlocking when only she knew the combination and the spell to disarm the box. I tell her everything.

"Where's the box?" She asks, determination in her tone. "We have to put it back this instant." She says.

"All of it." I say sternly. "We're putting all the magic in the putting the box and locking it away."

"But, if we do that you won't have any powers anymore. You'll be... mortal." She says with worry in her tone.

"I don't care."

"Layla..." She tries to object.

"Mom, you don't understand. It's different this time. It's stronger. I can feel it." I explain to her.

She's standing with a shocked expression on her face. She looks like she zoned out completely and her mind is somewhere else.

She rushes upstairs to get the box and in a few seconds she's down again, the box in her hands.

As soon as she brings the box close to me, I focus on it and make the box explode into a million pieces.

"I'll find another box." My mom exclaims and she tries rush upstairs.

"'No." I say.

I feel different now. Calm.

"No? Layla, what are you talking about. We have to get you under control or..."

"I am under control mom." I cut her off before she can finish her sentence.

"I'm fine." I tell her.

"Are you okay Layla?" She looks worried.

"Seconds ago you wanted to get rid of the magic and now you're acting as calm as ever." She objects

"But I'm fine now. Everything is fine." I tell her and before she can object anymore, I head over to the kitchen counter and grab my phone.

"I have to text Kali." I tell her and escape to my room, leaving her downstairs with a confused, paranoid look on her face.

I get into my room and lock the door behind me.

I don't know what just happened, but I feel different about myself. I feel strong, confident, powerful.

I feel good in a way I've never felt before.

I don't know if it's because of the magic I just absorbed, but one second I was crying about how scared I was of it and now I feel safe with it inside me. I feel like the magic has to stay with me. I feel like I need to protect myself and the magic from anyone who tries to take it away from me.

Me : I have something to tell you.

Kali : What's that?

Me : Meet me at the ice cream shop in 10?

Kali : It's not 1p.m yet, but okay.

Me : See ya. xoxo

I put on my clothes and rush downstairs. My mom is still standing in the spot I left her.

What is wrong with her? I know I made her worry but I'm really okay now.

"Mom, you have to relax." I speak and she's startled by my voice.

"Are you going out?" She asks in a low tone.

"Yeah, Kali and I are getting icecream." I answer.

I walk over to her and hold her hands.

"Look at me mom. It's me. I'm fine."

"We can't just ignore everything that happened. The dream? Your eyes turning dark?" She explains

"Maybe it was just a sign that I needed my magic back." I say to her.

"The magic that you can't control." She objects.

"It's been years mom, plus I'm older now and you've put me through every control training I could ever need. I can do this. There's nothing to worry about."

I try to convince her.

"Layla. Do you need me to remind you that the dark magic you now possess is magnified? The older you get, the stronger your magic becomes. You've been able to keep it under control all this time because you weren't at full strength and you only had half of your powers. What if you lose control again?"

"I won't lose control. I've got this." I say to her and give her a kiss on the cheek before she can say anything else and make my way towards the front door.

"Layla?" She calls from behind me and I spin around in my tracks to hear what she has to say.

"When you get back, meet me in my room. There's something I want to tell you." She says seriously.

"Sure mom.." I nod and head out of the house.

I can't wait to see Kali. I'm going to tell him everything.