4. Amma

Chapter 4

Amma

A mma had just closed her eyes when she was awakened to the smell of thick smoke and raised, worried voices in the hall. She punched her pillow and turned over. One of her cousins must be playing a prank. Maybe if she ignored it, she wouldn't have to participate. She was drifting back to sleep when someone screamed in terror and she jumped to her feet, threw on a robe, and opened her door. The hallway was filled with women and girls in half dress, screaming and trying to talk over each other. Someone fell and Amma grabbed her before she was trampled.

Amma stuck her index finger and thumb in her mouth and sharply whistled. The hallway went silent as everyone turned toward her. "I can't believe I have to say this, but we are not helpless. Stop screaming like you're in a horror movie and ask for information. Mama," she looked over their heads to Lily, "What's going on?"

"There's an angry mob outside our gates," Lily answered. "We hadn't expected them for a while longer, but I think our celebration caused them to move tonight."

"What are you talking about?" Jo demanded. "Who are they?"

"Charlotte and I thought it would be better if we kept the information to ourselves. You girls didn't need to worry."

"Who are they?" Jo yelled.

"There's no need to yell, Jo." Lilly frowned. "The people outside are part of an ancient society that has hunted our family for generations, even back on the riverbanks of Africa."

"What?" It was Amma's turn to raise her voice. "Why haven't we heard about this? We could have prepared."

"We're not going to fight." Lily held her head up for quiet when the noise level rose. "There is a reason. Our magic will never be accepted here. Even if we defeat those hunting us today, more will rise."

"We're going to allow these people to run us away? It is our job to protect Iba, our home." Amma didn't understand. As a family, they were strong.

"As much as I want to stay here, it is time for us to look forward to protecting future generations."

"Auntie," Jo shouted over the other voices. "Have you lost your mind? Is a spaceship going to show up and take us away? Or are we all going to drink some kool aid?"

"You don't need to be sarcastic," Lily reprimanded her. "You will get all the answers you need once you leave here. I don't have time to explain. I need you all to return to your rooms and get dressed in proper hiking attire. Don't take too long. Once you return, I will give you your survival packs and you must escape into the woods. The wards on our estate are holding, but they may not last too much longer."

"But we just renewed our magic," Dhakiya said. "What happened?"

Lily frowned. "Strong magic and betrayal. Now, no more questions. Go get dressed and return as quickly as possible."

Amma rushed back to her room and pulled on a pair of rarely used cargo pants, thick socks, running shoes, and a tee shirt. She glanced toward the window, but she didn't see Mike or Sam. There wasn't time to look for them, and she prayed they would get to the forest without being hurt. She would look for them once she was sure the rest of her family were safe. Amma returned to the hallway to see everyone dressed in almost the same attire as she was, except for Rachel, who refused to wear pants. She had at least put on a pair of hiking shoes under her skirt.

"Auntie, why don't we fight?" Jo asked. "Between us, we will be able to hold them back."

"Sometimes we have to know when to fight and when to run," Lily answered. "The mob outside our gates are only a small part of the group coming after us. This world is not ready for us, and sadly it never will be. Our seers have seen a future in a place where we are accepted for who we are, and we can live freely."

"Mom," Amma started.

"There is no more time," Lily cut her off. "Rachel, you are to look after your sister Grace."

"I can take care of myself," Grace said.

"I am not arguing with you on this," Lily said. She turned and opened a cabinet. "You will find everything you need inside your survival packs."

"Are we just supposed to run into the woods and wait?" Dhakiya asked.

Lily nodded. "Tonight, yes. Find somewhere safe and hunker down. When it's time, you will know what to do."

"Mom, you sound like Auntie Charlotte," Amma said. "Where is she?"

"Feeding her magic into the wards," Lily answered. "Line up and let's get moving. Those who do not live here, I have smaller bags for you. Be careful and trust only each other. Our family will recover from this."

As the eldest, Amma stood back and watched as each of the others took a bag, received a hug, and whispers from Lily. When most of the girls stepped back, they had tears in their eyes.

"What do you think this is all about?" Jo whispered to Amma. "A test?"

"I wish I could say yes," Amma answered. "But the smoke has been getting thicker, and I can sense the intruders. Almost like my magic is shrinking away from them."

"I feel the same thing, but no one has ever talked about this feeling," Jo said. "I don't like it. Why are they attacking now? We have lived here for generations in peace."

"I have no idea." Amma moved up as the line shortened. "I just wish they had given us a little more time to sleep before interrupting."

"Isn't that funny?" Jo nervously giggled. "We are under attack, and all we can think about is sleep."

"Because they're not really a threat. If my mom would allow us to fight back, this would be over in seconds."

"You will not fight!" Lily snapped. "You are to run, hide, and survive. No heroics," she said as she glared at Jo. "You hear me?"

"I don't understand it, but I will follow orders," Jo said. "Promise."

Amma was pulled into her mom's arms. "Daughter," Lily whispered. "I need you to be strong and be the rock for the family. Your generation will need to lead."

"Mama, you are speaking like you're not coming with us." Amma tightened her hold. "Please tell me you are going to follow."

"I will do everything in my power to follow. The seers foresaw this moment, but not every detail." Lily pulled back and handed her a backpack. "I love you, and no matter what happens, I am always a call away."

"I love you always." Amma swung the pack onto her back. "And I will see you later." Amma grabbed the banister as a loud boom rent the air and the house rocked.

"Everyone run!" Lily screamed. "Run!"

Amma stayed on the heels of her younger siblings and cousins as they raced downstairs and out of the house. Outside, the air was even heavier with smoke. Orange sparks flew up around the borders of the house making the gothic beauty seem like a hulking beast. An undistinguishable chant filled the air and sent shivers of ice down Amma's spine. She wondered how many in the crowd lived and worked in town. How many had made small talk with her and her family daily. How had her family not seen that they were living next to a town full of people who wanted to hunt them down and kill them?

The backyard was a chaotic mess. Over fifty women and girls fled the burning house and temporary housing, rushing towards the woods. Many were still in the nightgowns they had been sleeping in. It broke Amma's heart to see mothers tightly gripping young babies as they held the hands of toddlers. Tears threatened to spill. How could anyone justify hunting children? Yes, some had already come into their powers, but they were still children who should never know the sense of doom and desperation heavy in the air.

She turned back toward the house and glared at the flickering glow. Not only were the assholes hunting them, but they were burning down their home. The one place where her family felt safe and loved. Amma swore to return and rain down the powers of her ancestors upon their heads.

She straightened her shoulders and turned away. She had been given an order from her mother and she would follow it. She watched the last of her cousins disappear into the forest before she stopped next to the family willow tree. It had roots all the way back to the shores of Africa and had listened to generations tell of their hopes and dreams. Amma laid her hands on the trunk and sent some of her magic into the protection around it. She somehow knew this was the last time she would see her family home, but she hoped something survived the mob. One day, it would become a home to her family again.

The second she was in the woods, the sounds of her family home being invaded faded away. She couldn't even hear the others running for their lives, and they couldn't be more than a half mile ahead. All she could do was send a prayer into the universe to keep her family safe until they were all together again, especially the younger witches who were not in complete control of their magic. They were being forced to grow up in one night. Amma kept a constant pace until her legs started to burn and her breath huffed out too fast. She lurched to a stop and leaned against a tree with her head bent down. Every breath was like a burning fire and her eyes watered. Amma wanted to sit down and sleep for days, but stopping would mean being caught. Stories from her childhood of how her ancestors had been treated kept her from giving up. There was no way she was going to be tortured or disabled or killed because others didn't understand who she was.

Amma grabbed a water bottle from the pocket on the side of her backpack and downed over half. It did nothing to help clear the cotton from her mouth and throat. She shoved the bottle back in her pack and pushed away from the tree. She had a few more hours of walking ahead of her before she could find a place to rest and plan her next moves. The forest was big enough for her to keep moving for months without being caught, if she played her cards right. Hunters would be looking for them next to waterways, caves, and well-traveled trails. She started walking. Amma had almost given up hope of finding a place to hide when she came across an ancient tree with roots she could make into a kind of dugout. She quickly scanned the area and found nothing larger than a few beetles scurrying about their business. After checking for anything that would poke her, she tucked her blanket in before using some downed branches to cover the top of space, then added leaves and smaller sticks until it looked like just more underbrush in the forest.

Amma tossed her backpack into her shelter before draining the last of her water. She would refill her bottle in the morning. Until then she could get any moisture she needed from scavenging food.

"Time to start surviving," Amma whispered.

You left us . Mike dropped from the tree and angrily chattered at Amma.

We had to hurry to find you. Sam joined his brother. Why did you run from home?

"I'm sorry I didn't have time to warn you." She knelt to stroke their backs. "There are bad people trying to hurt my family and we had to scatter to get away."

I can bite them . Mike puffed out his fur.

"Thank you for the offer, but my mom said to run." Amma stood. "I need to use the bathroom and gather something to eat."

I have nuts. Sam wriggled closer.

Amma gave him a pat on the head. "I think I'll get my own dinner. I don't want to take from you guys. Stay near camp so nothing harms you."

We will watch your stuff. Mike flicked his tail.

"I know you will." Amma walked behind a large tree and quickly did her business before ranging out to see if she could find anything to eat. She returned to her camp with a handful of mushrooms, edible flowers, and grubs. Some of her cousins refused to eat bugs, but she knew they were just another form of protein. Some of them were tasty, especially when roasted with a hint of salt.

Your stuff is safe, Sam announced as he ran over to her.

"Thank you." Amma sat and started snacking on the grubs as she picked through her survival pack. Her mother and auntie had packed the bags, but never told anyone what was in them. Not that any of her sisters or cousins cared; their family hadn't been hunted in over a century. How unprepared they were. She pulled out a red drawstring bag and smiled. It was the kind of thing her mother would give to each girl on her birthday. She opened it, fished out a piece of paper, and instantly recognized her mother's handwriting.

"My precious oldest daughter. There is so much I still need to teach you before you are ready to face the world. Instead, evil has come knocking on our door and forced us to part ways. I don't know if I will ever see you again on this side of the veil, but if I don't, you will be the leader of our family. Where you are going is a haven my sisters and I found years ago when we were still children. We never really explored the world as much as we should have, but we practiced our magic there. Please, find your sisters and cousins. They will be spread out because we cannot control the portals. Boil up a location portion and use the herbs inside this pouch. Remember, no matter what happens, I love you."

Amma wiped the tears as they ran down her face. She knew when the older generation passed, she would become high priestess of her family branch. If it was time for her to take over, she was ready. But she hadn't expected it to happen for years to come, and when it did, it was supposed to be celebrated in a huge family gathering. She would find her sisters and cousins, and they would start a new life wherever their mothers led them. Amma started a small fire and placed her travel cauldron with water over it. Once it was boiling, she added the herbs.

"What was lost now is found.

My magic circles round.

If you are near or far.

I call to you.

I call to you.

Come and meet me here."

The water bubbled and popped green, purple, blue, and finally yellow while white smoke rose lazily into the air. Amma had practiced opening portals when she was younger, but they had only led to the opposite side of the yard or to her room. It had been fun practice that had done nothing to prepare her for what she was seeing. Everything within the portal was bathed in blue light from the large moon she could barely make out between the leaves of the unfamiliar trees. The leaves moved in a wind that she couldn't feel and she wondered if maybe she had done something wrong. Was her mother really expecting her to go to another world? Something so foreign?

Where is that? Mike asked.

"Where my mother wanted me to go," Amma answered.

What if something bad happens? Sam asked.

"I'm sure my mom wouldn't send me and the others to somewhere dangerous." Amma said, more to reassure herself than the squirrels. She quickly put her tools away and kicked dirt over the fire. While she knew if the fire at her home remained unchecked, it would undoubtedly burn down most of the forest, Amma didn't want to be the cause of any damage. Swinging her pack on her back and squaring her shoulders, Amma prepared to enter the unknown.

"Up." Mike and Sam scampered up her body to sit on her shoulders. "Deep breath." She closed her eyes and jumped.