Chapter 3 The Dark Secret

Year June 2020

Place : London UK

It’s morning, 7 am. Since it’s summer the sun is already up. Chloe and Devina are in the kitchen preparing coffee and breakfast. They have just put the scrambled eggs on the plate when they heard Sophie’s voice.

“Good Morning Mom and Devina.  Hope you have a good sleep.”

“Good morning dear” both Chloe and Devina greeted Sophie in unison

“Sophie baby. I have made your favorite breakfast today. Scrambled egg, toast, and Milk” Chloe said putting the plate on the breakfast counter.

“Wow, Mom. You are the best” Says Sophie kissing her mom Chloe on the cheeks.

All of them were laughing and smiling when Alice entered the kitchen.

“Sorry, all. I am a bit late.”

Devina looked at the clock on the wall and says “You are 5 minutes late.”

Alice looked at Devina and Chole apologetically and says “I am really sorry. The laundry load was a bit more and the floors were quite dirty so I have to mop it twice.”

Chloe looked at Alice and shouted “How dare you to back answer us? Never mind. You are not getting a lunch allowance today. There is some cereal from yesterday. You can eat it before I change my mind.”

“Ok. I am sorry.” Alice said with her head down and headed to another side of the kitchen to grab cereal.

As all of them were in the kitchen, Devina spotted a frog on the kitchen window. Chole was busy scolding Alice, Devina quickly grabbed the frog and put it into her apron’s pocket.

Chloe packed Sophie’s lunch and was putting it in her school bag when Sandra entered the kitchen. Sophie looked at Sandra and greeted her “Good Morning Grand Ma. It’s a beautiful day. Isn’t it.”

Sandra smiled at Sophie and greeted her back. Sandra then looked at Alice who was eating cereal quietly at the corner of the kitchen. Sandra goes near Alice and greets her morning. Alice smiles and greets her back. Sandra asked Alice “Morning Alice dear. Hope you have a good sleep. And all chores are done?” “yup GrandMa,” Alice says nervously.

Sandra gives her an evil grin and says "Good"

Sandra escapes everyone’s gaze and slipped a candy bar into Alice’s uniform pocket. She whispers to Alice “This is our secret.” And smiles.

Devina and Chloe look at Alice angrily. Devina speaks "Mom the girls are getting late for school.”

Both the girls look at the clock and quickly leaves for school- Sophie in her car with chauffer and Alice on her scooter.

As soon as the girls left for school Devina looked at Sandra and says “I don’t understand Mom why are you so kind to Alice?” within the blink of seconds Sandra pushes Devina with her power and Devina hit the kitchen breakfast counter, the frog jumps out of Devina’s pocket and goes out of the window.

Sandra looked at Devina angrily and says “How many times I have to tell you to mend your witchy ways? We have to behave like humans.”

Devina says in low voice “But no one saw that.”

“Really? I saw it” Sandra says looked at Devina.

Chloe who was quiet till now spoke “How does it matter. It is us in this house. Our husbands are away on  business trip.”

Sandra turns to Chloe and puts her hands on her waist as she spoke "Really? What about Alice and Sophie? Did you all forget Alice is a magical girl?"

Chloe being a bit unconvinced answered "Really Mom? We have not seen Alice doing any sort of extraordinary magic except she changes weather as we checked last."

Sandra looks at Chloe and says angrily "Alice is not 17 yet. Fate told she will possess her power with time."

"what if she doesn’t have any?" Devina asked

"Devina is right. Alice might not possess any special power. Also, she is a girl. The fate sisters mentioned that the heir of the Celestial kingdom will change the destiny. Alice is just an ordinary useless girl." Chloe said supporting Devina's statement               

Sandra grabbed both her daughter in laws neck in each of her hands and says “She is the princess of the celestial kingdom. She has hidden powers. This is my last warning to you both to mend your witchy ways. Did you forget who we are? We are witches. Before I introduce you to the wealthy husband of mine you were just foolish witches.”

Chloe and Devina apologize and says “We know Sandra. We are sorry.”

Sandra leaves their neck and then says “ Remember what happened 15 years back. I have to leave the Emerald kingdom and come into this human world. I have to cast spell on Derrick and get married to him to survive in this human world. I convinced Derrick that his wife is an alcoholic and thus gained custody of his sons Marc and Harry. I made both that stupid sons of his fall in love with you two and get married and you both are just useless. You haven’t done anything”

Both Devina and Chloe looked down. Sandra comes near Chloe and held her chin with her claws and says “ I told you to mate with the human husband of yours on full moon night but you never listened. The result is your daughter Sophie is just a normal human and not a witch like us.”

"But Sandra...It happened in the moment" Chloe said justifying herself

"We are not here to love or make the moment. We are here to gain mortality, power, and youth. Remember Alice is key for us in order to gain power and fulfill all our wishes. We need her for our benefit. I don't care how you treat her. I don't give a damn if she is doing all chores of the house but make sure don't do anything stupid that will make her run away from us."

 Both Chloe and Devina said yes in unison.