Page 5 of Locked
CHAPTERTWO
Zelle
long-hair-dont-careposted:
Hey guys, I'm back! Did you miss me?
Turns out, I made a huge mistake and was unfairly terrible to Mother. I really need to learn how to control my anger and not let it get the better of me.
As a result, she took away my wifi and sunroom privileges. Totally deserved, by the way.
I feel like I really made the wrong impression before when I was complaining and stuff. I can getreallycomplainy, you guys. I don't even know why. I have everything I need and I still complain. First world problems, right?
I don't even know what to say…
But it was totes my fault. Young witches, am I right? My temper's been really getting out of control lately, and Motherhadto do something. She can't have me ranting and raving all over the place. I deserved two weeks in the dark and away from you guys.
Absencetotallymakes the heart grow fonder, you know? I missed all of you like crazy and I'm happy to be back!
Oh my gosh, I almost forgot!L i K e!Mother brought me some new seedlings to grow and nurture, so that's going to be super fun!
Oh, and get this: They're Rapunzel! Like my name! :D :D :D Isn't that amazing?
It's not all bad up here in the Tower.
Basil's happy to be back in the sunroom. He's a grumpy-Gus, but he definitely missed you guys too!
And I know you all were hoping for some pictures, but that's still a no-go. But I mean… I can describe myself maybe? I have mirrors. Would anyone be interested in that at all?
~~monday morning~~
Mother arrived at seven in the morning. Very nearly on the dot.
She rang the bell, but I was already waiting for her, with a strand of hair poised over the ever-burning arcane fire in my entryway.
It burned in a bowl on a small table to the side of the door. The charred wood inside came from my birth parents' farm. I knew the story like the back of my hand, Mother had been telling me since I was a child.
Their farm was just outside Mother's home. It was now burned to ashes, unlike the wood in the bowl, which was charmed to burn forever.
When I heard the familiar chimes signal her arrival, I dropped the hair into flame. It burned up, leaving an acrid smell in the room.
The door opened and Mother was right there, waiting for me with open arms.
A slight woman, she had a hunch in her shoulders that gave away just how old she was. She had a head full of grayish-white hair and the tiniest, blackest eyes I had ever seen.
Her skin was once fair, I had no doubt, but time and weather had taken their toll, leaving age marks and wrinkles.
She gathered me close, pressing me against her chest and stroking my back. I had to arch terribly, hunching my back to get down to her level. She was at least a head shorter than I was. "There, there, dearheart…" she murmured, her hand coming up to stroke my hair. "Mother's here." She released me almost as quickly as she'd embraced me in the first place.
She glanced around the room. "It looks…tidyin here, Zelle…" Her arms dropped from around me, allowing me to straighten my back once more. If I didn't know better, I'd say she sounded disappointed. But I knew she was likely just surprised I'd managed to keep the place looking good even with limited use of my magic. "Youlook frightful, but I suppose that's to be expected… and you've not succeeded in making me feel sorry for you, dear. You know this was deserved."
I hadn't been trying to guilt her, but I lowered my eyes all the same, nodding earnestly. "Itwasdeserved, Mother… I am so very sorry and I will never ever do it again. I don't know what came over me... speaking out against you as I did…"
The words felt ashy in my mouth, no matter how sincerely I believed them.
"I've spoilt you,that'swhat came over you," she said sharply with a sniff. The shock of wispy white hair bounced atop her head as she moved. "It's my own fault that you've turned out this way." She shook her head, suddenly blinking back tears from her small, dark eyes. "But I've come back. I've returned to give you back what I took…" She waved her hand, and I heard the lock on the door to my sunroom fall with a clatter to the ground.
I wanted nothing more than to run there, run out and open my arms to accept the beautiful sun. My mouth practically watered for it. But I knew Mother would be upset if I ran off without speaking with her first. So, no matter how much I wanted to sunbathe, I knew that I should wait until Mother left.
