Now, 32-hours after leaving my home, I stand before a castle and a witch is walking towards us.

As Damiana approaches the two young women step in behind her. One is a tall redhead and the other a tiny petite blond. They stare at me while Damiana stares at grandmother.

Nodding her head Damiana says, “Hello Gloria, my daughter.”

My grandmother snaps back, “It’s Glore; I am no longer Gloria. That woman is long gone.”

With a sneer Damiana replies, “As you wish… Glore.”

Nodding her head to my mother, “Maggie, it is good to meet you once again.”

My mother’s face reflects total shock and confusion, “You aren’t the grandmother I remember. I don’t understand.”

Damiana smiles secretly, “All in due time. All will be explained.”

Then it is my turn. I am literally shaking and holding my breath wondering what this woman will say.

Damiana slowly looks me over, “Hello great-granddaughter; I greet you as one with the same blood.” Looking at the three of us, Damiana pronounces, “May you all be welcome.”

Damiana turns, walking back through the large double doors, with the two young women following.

Grandmother says nothing, just starts for the interior. Mother and I follow looking wide-eyed as we enter through a gate and large double doors. Globes hang everywhere, giving the open courtyard a wonderland atmosphere. Dark, a dark wonderland feeling. They glow unlike electric bulbs. I hear the gate shut, and a bar falls into place, securing the doors from those on the outside.

Not creepy at all.

Several doors lead off of the courtyard. Damiana heads to the farthest doorway where the two women have rushed ahead and open for her.

The interior is ostentatious. Gold glittered off of many surfaces; furniture, light fixtures, picture frames. Crystals hanging from lights add a shifting shimmer through the room. This room seems to be a reception area? Not sure. But it is large, gold and glittery. At the far end stands a domineering stone staircase.

The stairs look like they might morph into a monster that will eat you rather than let you walk up them. The center stairs led to a landing where two staircases lead off to eitherside and end with thier own landings overlooking the reception room. Stained glass windows line the wall and give the staircase its own eyes. I imagine the stairs case is a lion’s head with glitering eyes waiting for the unsuspecting to chomp down upon.

For a castle that looks small on the outside we are walking a lot. Daminia lead up the right stircase and down a long coridor with paintings and vases set into cubbies. The stone walls are apinted along its edges with gold-leaf vines. They make the hallway feel like it is moving. At the end of this corridor is a door leading us onto the last set of stairs spiraling upwards.

Must be heading to the tower.

We enter a large, round room. It smells musky, some are similiar to the herbs my family grow at our store. Taking a quick peek around the room, I view massive bookcases. Mixed with the books are glass jars containing nothing that I can easily identify. It's then I notice the man stepping out of the shadows behind Damiana. He walks up to her side and places a hand on her shoulder as she sits there looking at the three of us from behind her hulking desk. The two unknown young women are still with us and standing back by the door we entered through.

This is an imposing setting. Crystals, stones, scrying material, and tarrot cards lay scattered across her desk. I know whathese items are because of our store but never learned to use them. Grandmother told me it is all fake and to let our customers believe differently.

If Damiana has these items on her desk then grandmother must have lied to me.

I shoot an angry look at grandmother. She doesn’t notice. She is standing there, looking off into space and ignoring everything around her.

This is too much, and I just want to sit down. I am tired, thirsty angery and scared. I turn my attention to the man standing next to Damiana and notice that he is handsome. Tall with black hair, dark-brown eyes and a small smile plays on his face. I guess his age at 35, but looking into his eyes; I realize they look ancient. I look towards Damiana as she speaks.

“I will keep this short. First, my daughter… GLORE,” she pronounces my grandmother’s name with an edge to her voice, “is awaiting her punishment for abandoning us.”

Glaring at my grandmother Damiana continues, “Your actions were inappropriate; you endangered your daughter and then your granddaughter. You have purposely stifled their powers. Now it is time to face the consequences of your actions. You shall start on your threefold path.”

Damiana makes a gesture and I hear the doors open behind us. A woman in her 60s walks in. She may look plain, but she radiates authority in a flowing robe embroidered with vines, flowers and leaves. Damiana continues speaking, “Glore, you leave for the Wicca enclave. There you will train as a cleric or priestess. May this start you on the path to reason. You may go now.”

My grandmother doesn’t look at us. She leaves with her head held high. I know my mouth has dropped open. Shutting my mouth, I continue looking at the woman holding our fates in her hands.

How can my grandmother leave like that?

Damiana’s look at my mother is softer. “Maddie, I know you don’t recognize me, but I was with you when you visited so many years ago. Your mother insisted that you not know my true identity.” Without looking contrite, Damiana continues. “Your mother kept you from your heritage and blocked your magic. You should have manifested at 16.”

With an actual smile, but not exactly one that went up and into the eyes, Damiana announces, “I have a surprise for you, Maddie.” Nodding her head, the doors once again swing open.

I hear my mother’s gasp as she looks at the man gliding into the room. Falling to her knees on the stone floor, tears run down her checks as a man approaches and kneels next to my mother. Wrapping her into his embrace I see him whispering into my mother’s ear. He stands helping my mother to her feet.

Damiana spoke again, “Gwen; this is your father. He and your mother have not looked upon the other in 17 years.”

This is my father?

My mother looks at me, “I’m sorry I could never explain. I remember little but the love we shared.” Gazing up at the man, they softly kissed.

What the hell is going on?

I gain a great-grandmother and a father in less than an hour. I am confused and yet distant at the same time.

Making a small noise, Damiana continues, “You will leave and start training with the druids. They will help you learn to use your powers as they finally awaken. Alizon will lead you to their area.”

My mother asks, “What of my daughter, what of Gwen?” Concern is written across her face as she looks between Alizon and myself.

Damiana advises Maddie, “You will see her, but she is 18 and her powers were stunted by Glore. Gwen needs to start her own training. All three of you are staying here in our village of Cavecroft.” You can see the distaste at speaking her own daughter’s name.

Damiana finishes her sentencing with, “You have no choice. You are witches and under my authority. We will train your powers. Now go with Alizon and enjoy each other’s company.”

My mother rushes to my side and hugs me, “Gwen. I love you. This is where we need to be, I will see you soon.” Smiling shyly, my mother turns, placing her hand into Alizon’s and they happily walk out.

Again... What the hell?

How can she leave me to fend for myself? How can she blissfully leave me in an unknown environment? My anger and fear warred with my feeling of being outside of what was happening to me.

Damiana is observing me. With a quirk to her mouth, she asks, “Penny for your thoughts?”

I finally let out some frustration, “What the hell? How can you send my mother away? Hell, why did she leave me so easily?”

The unknown man next to Damiana snarls at me, “You will not speak to the head of this order in that manner! Your youth and ignorance will not protect you from your own bad manners.”

My anger doesn’t subside, but I change my tone. “Ms. Damiana, um, great-grandmother? I am very confused on my family situation.”

The man nods his head. He doesn’t look happy with me, but he backs off.

With a nod my great-grandmother continues, “Damiana is fine. I don’t expect you to call me great grandmother. Too much of a mouth full and you don’t know me.” Looking behind me, Damiana calls out, “Circe and Jadis, step forward and stand next to Gwen. One on each side,” she instructs, pointing to where she wants them.

Damiana pours a red liquid into a chalice. She then spoons in dried ingredients. I notice the other two women looking slightly confused.

Ha, finally, I am not the only one confused!

Damiana and the unknown man bring the chalice to the red-head is on my right. Damiana picks up a knife, grabs her hand and slices the girl's wrist. She lets a few drops of blood fall into the chalice the man is holding. Moving to the petite blond woman on my left, Damiana cuts her and lets the blood drip down. Now Damiana lifts my hand and I watch in fascination as my great-grandmother slices my skin. It isn’t deep. She is quick, but I am disturbed. After a few drops of my blood fall into the chalice, Damiana mixes the contents and hands the chalice to the red-head.

Damiana intones, “Drink and be one, drink and be connected, drink and be sisters.” Red does as instructed. Then it is the blonde’s turn. She takes the chalice as Damiana intones the same blessing. She drinks and hands me the chalice.

I listen to Damiana speak the words and know they want me to drink, but there was blood.

Yuck!

Looking into Damiana’s and then the man’s eyes I know they will broker no arguments.

Closing my eyes, I lift the chalice and try taking a tiny sip. A large hand grabs mine and the chalice, holding it to my lips and tipping it further up, making me drink. My eyes fly open to find the unknown man forcing the contents down my throat. When finished, I started feeling light-headed.