I Wonder
Agatha Harkness had always known the sound of her soulmate’s voice. Even before she was old enough to form complete sentences she had the voice that echoed in her head. She found comfort in how it was always there for her, always knew just what to say to make her feel better.
At the age of 4 she tried asking her mother all she was given was a harsh glare. “It is something a child as insufferable as you does not deserve.” Came her mother’s hateful remark before the woman turned her back to her.
‘Do not listen to her. You are young not insufferable. Questions are the only way a child as young as you can learn and grow.’ Echoed through her mind, filling the pit of disappointment in her chest caused by her mother’s distain for her. The reassurance gave her the confidence to give her questions to another member of the coven.
It was only a few hours later while helping collect vegetables from the garden she decided on wjich member of the coven to ask. Agatha had settled on Margaret, a green witch.
Margaret was a younger woman, only 19 at the time and she was very patient when young agatha uttered the question “What does it mean when you can hear someone talking to you but you don’t see anybody?”
She even smiled like she was happy to be asked while she responded with “That voice is very special. It means you have someone out there bound to you by fate. Not every witch is born hearing that voice, some of us have to wait for years before we even hear a peep from them.”
Agatha tilted her head slightly to the left, “So I’m special?”
“You’re lucky, it means they’re older than you. Though I’m sure they were probably waiting for you.” Her tone was teasing as she booped Agatha’s nose causing the her to giggle.
“Miss Margaret, may I ask you something?”
“You may ask me anything you like.”
“Why does mother look so mad when I ask her about the voice?” The question had been knawing at the girl from the moment she had first asked her mother about the “voice”.
Margaret took a moment to think of how to phrase a response before settling on “Your mother no longer hears that voice.” She had told the girl, looking deeply into her eyes.
“What does that mean?” Agatha questioned with furrowed brows.
“The voice that she used to hear was your father, Elijah. Before you were born he got very ill, Miss Judith tried to help him but there was nothing she could do.” The older woman tried to explain as simply as possible to ensure the child would understand.
Unfortunately, your mother was too weak to be at his side. We could not risk her getting sick as well and His voice and his life were both lost from your mother from the cough.”
“Oh…” Agatha’s eyes glistened as though she might cry, something Margaret was quick to put a stop to as she stroked her hair in comfort.
“You have your mother’s hair but every time i look at you I see your fathers face looking back. Elijah had such a bright smile and kind eyes, but there was always a curious glint to them. He had no magic which only made him love your mother’s power even more.” Margaret told her honestly, though this was in part to lighten the mood after such a serious topic.
“Now go inside and wash up for supper with the coven” she gave the girl a small pat on the back to nudge her away as she dropped the small half smile she had painted on.
No one liked to think of the death of their soulmate, even if it had yet to happen.
After supper Agatha worked up the courage to approach her mother again. “Mother…”
“What is it?” Evanora sneered
“One of the women of our coven told me I have father’s eyes, is that true?” She fiddled with her sleeve, not making eye contact out of fear of her mother’s reaction.
“Who told you such blasphemous things?” Agatha noticed her mother’s fist clenched at her sides causing Agatha to flinch involuntarily.
She could feel her heart racing as she answered “It was Miss Margaret, mother.”
“Margaret has no right telling you such things.” Her mother seethed before jabbing her in the chest with a finger “Elijah was all that was right in my life, I would have been with him in his last moments if not for you. You wretched child, you made me weak! I could feel you sap my energy from within!”
Agatha could feel her breath shortening and her eyes watering as her mother continued. “Everything that is wrong is because of you, you vile girl! I should have ended you before you were ever born! I only kept you because he wanted a child. With him gone I had no reason to keep you”
Then came the words that broke Agatha, “I should have killed you the moment you left my body!”
Agatha had rushed out of there and headed to her room. Jumping on her bed she buried her face in her pillow and cried until it felt like she had no tears left. Eventually her gasping brought on hiccups and her energy faded. With her eyes growing heavy she asked the one question she yearned most for the answer of ‘You will not leave me right?’
A simple ‘No’ was all that she got back but it brought her comfort
‘Good, I don’t want to end up like mother.’ She thought back ‘She’s mean, unlike miss Margaret’ With that final thought went Agatha’s straem of consciousness as she was swept off into a dream.