Devils Roses 04 - Witch

Ophelia.”
    “Vic and Helen are my parents.”
    She smiled a sweet old lady smile, “Of course you would believe that. Anyway your real parents are very powerful people. Your father wanted a son, for a very long time. Purposefully your mother only ever gave birth to girls. They were, well…”
    “Slaughtered Miss Ophelia. My sisters and I feels it every time he takes another one. The light leaves the earth for a day when the magic is taken into the dark. Don’t be sugar coating none of this Miss Lydia. None of it.”
    Ophelia shook her head, “I don’t get it. I don’t have sisters who are dead. Just Abbey. My parents are boring people. You have the wrong person.”
    “No sweetie, the people who’ve raised you were not your real parents. They too believed you were theirs but you were put there.”
    The words stung. She felt the truth in them somehow, but she pushed it away. She shook her head, as if it stopped the words from sinking in. “No, no, no, no.”
    ‘She tells the truth sister.’
    She looked up suddenly to see the six balls of light separate and fill the room with light. They became the ghostly figures they had been before. They each looked identical to her but with blue lights instead of eyes.
    “How?” Lydia gasped, looking around the room.
    Ophelia couldn’t help but be thankful that someone besides her could see the ghostly women.
    “Ophelia have they been with you long?”
    She shook her head, watching the six mirror images, “They came the other day.”
    Lydia shook her head, “What’s special about this week? Hmmm it’s only June. You’re birthday will be in July.”
    Ophelia frowned, “My birthday is September 21st.”
    Lydia shook her head, “No we know you were born in July.” She counted the six floating balls, “July 7th if I’m not mistaken."
    Her eyes grew frightened for a second, as she looked at the ghostly maid who scowled.
    “She be the seventh daughter of the seventh daughter born on the seventh day of the seven month? That be great. Just great. Just dandy.” The maid vanished.
    Ophelia frowned, “Why does she hate me?”
    Lydia laughed, “She doesn’t sweetie. She just fears what’s next. You are the prophecy I’m afraid.”
    Ophelia shook her head, “This day is just getting better by the second. What prophecy? You people have me confused. I'm telling you. I'm not the girl.”
    Lydia looked up as a redhead walked into the room with a very tall young man and a pretty blonde girl. The blonde looked haunted.
    “The prophecy of the end of days. You've heard of Armageddon?” The redhead spoke with a bite in her tone.
    Ophelia felt her breath quicken, “You people speak in riddles, just answer a question.”
    The blonde laughed bitterly, “It gets so much worse. I still don’t get straight answers and I’ve been here years. I’m Aimee and while this seems like some kind of odd dinner theatre production, it isn’t.” She put a hand out and forced a smile across her lips.
    Ophelia took the girl’s hand and attempted a smile, “Ophelia. It does seem like a play or a movie.”
    “This is Lorri and Lucas.”
    Ophelia smiled and tried not to point out that they were standing amongst her pretend ghosts. They didn’t seem to see them hovering there, looking spooky.
    “Do you ever have dreams that seem like they’re trying to tell you something?”
    She shook her head, “No.”
    The ghost maid came toward her, “Does some peoples act like they don’t sees you?”
    Ophelia blushed as she looked at Jake and nodded her head, “Sometimes. My aunt. She swore up and down she couldn’t see me.”
    Annabelle threw her arms in the air, “The witches who saved her put a curse on her. Baby girl you are trouble. You Roses is biting off too much this time.” She was gone again before Ophelia could ask her any questions.
    She looked at the people left in the room and scowled, “Is anyone going to tell me what’s really going on?” She wanted to know where her sister was. Not to mention where she was. She looked back at Jake and sighed.
    “Ophelia dear, we are telling you the truth. You are more special than you know. Come sit by me.” Lydia patted the couch and smiled as if she were her grandmother and about to offer her a cookie.

Chapter Twelve
    Sam

    Her red hair stood out against the brunettes. He watched her smile and laugh through the small window of the tiny Greek kitchen. It was just like the other times. He watched her laugh and smile or read.