Arrow Inferno
Chapter 55: Stanley ‘STAN’ Norris vs. Ian ‘WILL’ Williams ~ Revelation!

***

"My daughter was supposed to have my gift." Ava began. "In my family, it's always the first daughters. We're good witches. As my daughter and the first child, Sharon was supposed to receive the gift but somehow, it rather passed onto Ian. It is usually dormant until the mother decides to practice with the child or dies. Ian's has remained dormant. Well, it pushes through once in a while but that's not a big deal. "How does it push through?"

"He has a way of questioning a person when he's very curious." Ava smiled. "It's very difficult to lie to Ian. Anyway, he doesn't know about this legacy in my family." "So you wanted to tell him because now that you're gone, it might manifest," Deloris said.

"Exactly. I'm told an uncle of mine received the gift some years ago but it never manifested even after his mother passed. So I decided to ignore Ian's. But that day...when I was going to have the surgery, I panicked. Usually, a carrier's emotions are heightened in spades upon the news of the death of the mother. The person usually reacts in a very nonsensically drastic manner which may result..."

"In very terrible outcomes, I know," Deloris muttered.

"Yes. At that point when I was being wheeled to the theater, I realized that I should have prepared him because he could be triggered by the news of my death and act crazy. Well, thankfully he didn't do anything stupid." She breathed a sigh of relief.

"How do you know? Were you there when he was given the news?"

"No, but...it doesn't look like he did anything stu..." Ava trailed off, looking unsure. "I really wanted to tell him about it just in case I didn't survive the surgery."

"What did you do?" Deloris asked softly.

"I cast a spell."

"Which one?" Deloris breathed.

"The Dumso spell," Ave whispered, almost as if she didn't want to mention that name.

"Christ!" Deloris swore. Spells like the Dumso were cast by only high-level warlocks and not mere witches because it was a very dangerous spell. Ava could remain on the plane she was on, permanently. "That spell is not to be trifled with." "I know." She groaned. "But I was desperate. I was already weak and couldn't talk much. So just before I was put under, I cast the spell so that if I had to die on that surgery table, I could have a moment to tell him before I moved on. Well, I did die at some point but thanks to the spell, I woke up to speak to him. Unfortunately, he was out on an assignment so I couldn't. And now thanks to that spell again, I'm unable to move on because I haven't told him." "Makes sense." Deloris nodded. "That was very brave and daring of you."

"Apart from wanting to prepare him for the shock of hearing the news, I wanted to tell him what to expect just in case. I don't want him questioning his sanity should it start to manifest. Maybe it won't at all. But just in case it does, a little heads-up won't be bad."

"I agree with you a hundred percent." Deloris got to her feet and went to stand by Will. "He's finally going to have that dream," she said as she placed her right palm on Will's forehead and closed her eyes. After a moment, she opened her left palm and said softly, "Take my hand."

"Who? Me?" Stan asked.

"Not you, Stan. Ava."

"Oh right. The warlock and the ghost," He said dryly but neither acknowledged him. "Could be a title of a book."

"Shut up, Stan." But the warlock couldn't hide her amused smile.

**

"Mum." Will grinned when his mother came out onto the porch just as he was climbing the stairs. "You look very well today." He sounded pleasantly surprised. She was in a dress that was a favourite of his. "You look beautiful." "Flattery," She chuckled. "Want anything?"

Will laughed. "No mum. You really do look beautiful."

"Thank you, my knight." Ava laughed softly. "I feel very good today. Come on, let's go for a stroll." She slipped an arm around his.

Will felt so happy as he strolled on the lawn with his mother. They hadn't been able to do that in a while. "I've missed these strolls." He said as he leaned down to press a kiss to his mother's hair. "Same here. Strolling with my handsome knight. I'm the luckiest mum ever."

"Now who's the flatterer?" Will laughed. "Who's that lady standing over there?" He pointed at a woman who was standing on the other side of the lawn. The lady noticed him and waved. Will waved back. "She doesn't look familiar." "She's a friend," Ava responded simply. "So, remember that story I told you about gifts and abilities?" Ava began.

"You mean how you said my interrogative skill was my gift?" Will chuckled. He didn't believe his mother's theory but to humour her, he'd never challenged her. As far as he knew, he'd simply excelled in that course and was only applying what he'd been taught efficiently.

"Uh-huh." Ava nodded. "You might actually have more gifts."

"Great. Please let one of them be the ability to see through dresses?" he said dryly, making his mother laugh.

"Get serious, Ian Williams. I have some abilities too. And you're a lot like me."

"You?"

"Yes." She nodded. "I've never told you or your sister but I'm a witch."

"Wow. Have a broomstick?" Will gushed comically.

"Ian, come on!" Ava stopped and turned to face her son. Then she held both of his hands. "Witches are real. And I am one. Not a bad one though."

"You can never be bad even if you're really a witch," he smiled.

"Thank you. And I'm serious about being one. All the firstborn daughters in our family have the gift. Shay didn't get it though. You rather did. And it might start manifesting at some point in your life."

"Really? How?" He didn't look like he was buying any of it.

"Have you experienced any heightened emotions of late?" Ava tilted her head and looked at her son. "Maybe a surge of inexplicable anger or sadness after hearing some bad news?" From the expression on her son's face, Ava knew she had her son's full attention.

Will frowned. "The day before I came home, I got so angry at something I heard." He couldn't remember what it was though.

"What did you do when you got angry?"

"I pulled a gun on Stan."

"God, Ian."

"I honestly don't know why I even got that mad. He shouldn't have knocked me out but that didn't warrant that kind of anger anyway."

"See what I mean? That anger was triggered by the bad news you got. And that was because of the power you have within you." She explained.

"Is it always going to be like that? Because I'd rather not have such a thing within me."

"That was because of the news you got. It will not happen that way again. But you might have the urge to do things that you wouldn't be able to do under normal circumstances. It usually feels like a rush of power." "What kind of things?"

"Magical things. I don't want you to be scared or think you're going crazy if it should happen. Because for you, it would be normal. Take what I'm saying very seriously okay?"

"Okay, mum."

"If it should happen, just keep calm and stay in control because you are supposed to control it and not the other way round. Use it for good. And use it to help people where necessary. But don't go telling people about it. They won't understand and would end up making you think you are going crazy. Just keep it to yourself. Okay?"

"Okay, mum."

"Sometimes, your emotions will be heightened. Just learn to control it. Can you do that for me?" "I will."

"Great. So... Stan huh?" She smiled. When her son blushed, Ava laughed. "You like him." It wasn't a question.