Throwing herself at the comfortable chair, Roxy closed her eyes, hoping to get some rest.
Yet again, she had forgotten… she was like a sleep specter.
She was like a nightmare dreamcatcher, Morphea tormented, one could say she had oneirophobia and that had left her unable to sleep for years.
Sweating profusely, Roxy gripped the armrest with full force.
It was like she had seen ghost in her sleep.
It was until her mother called her that she could get a grip on herself.
With a composed mind, Roxy reached for her phone with a purposed mind to respond to her mother's call.
"I need you back here within 24 hours" Adina commanded.
"That is impossible mum" Roxy stated.
"If you need your life back Roxy, then you will hurry back here"
"My job is at stake…
"Oh, cut that crap already! You are just trying to keep yourself busy Roxy, you know you don't need that job" Adina said angrily.
"I need to leave a good impression no matter what" Roxy tried to explain.
"If you do not get back to this place within 24 hours, I will forget that I gave birth to a lady named Priya and…
"Roxy! mum! Roxy Manchester, to everyone including you!" she corrected aggressively.
With a deep and heavy sigh, Adina pressed the phone against her ear.
She understood Roxy's actions clearly and all reasons attached were vivid to her.
"Just come back home already" Adina said softly.
"I'll try" Roxy said and hung up.
She felt a bit mitigated by her mother, but she knew she had to do what was right, for her life and her future.
But the only obstacle was Miles.
George town, Washington D.C, United States.
"You managed to make it back, i thought your job was at stake?" Adina teased.
"True mum, but I managed everything"
"That's why you are Adina Manchester's daughter" Adina expressed proudly with a smile.
Roxy shrugged her shoulders indifferently.
"So, what's the emergency?"
Adina sighed, leaning against the recliner.
"Aradia is willing to help" she informed with her eyes closed.
"Aradia? As in the Italian witch?" Roxy asked in shock.
"Yes, Aradia…
"She is not even real mum! You know, the truth won't hurt right? I know you visited one of those many hoodlums you call priest… even after I warned you"
"No! Aradia is alive and she is waiting for you"
"Me? Seriously? What does she have to offer me, huh?" Roxy inquired curiously.
One part of her mind totally disagreed with her mother, but the other part believed her…slightly.
She had to admit, there was absolutely no way Aradia could be real, she was nothing but a mythical figure, no history or death recorded.
"All you need to do I call on her Roxy and…
"Enough already! If this is the way to get my life back, then I would love to remain like this forever"
"No! All you just need to do is speak Aradia, daughter of light and moon, walk with me. Teach me truth, protect me from harm"
"I think I have had enough mum. "
It was as good as unbelievable to have heard her own mother speak like that.
Yes, she was trying to help, but there was no way Aradia could be her last option.
Her last option could never be a witch who has no historical record.
She was not going to listen to the so-called daughter of lucifer and goddess whatever.
As the cool breeze blew swiftly into the room, through the window, Roxy could not stop thinking about her mother and the chants.
"Could those words really summon Aradia?" she asked herself
No, there was no way Adina could have been serious… absolutely not!
Roxy closed her eyes, lost in thoughts and confusion, in a world where darkness glowed.
A figure appeared slowly, on her forehead was a crescent, her long wavy hair glowed and behind her was the moon.
"I have come as you have sought, I am the…
"I know it's you Aradia, what do you want?"
"I will not seek your fear mortal, I will only fulfill what I am destined to" Aradia stated.
"What exactly do you want?"
"You have nothing to offer mortal, you should learn to ask your questions with a little bit of sanity"
"I thought you are here to help" Roxy mentioned with a frown.
"Yes mortal, but your question…
"How can you help me? Is that it?"
"You have brought upon yourself what it is that attacks you. According to an oath of love, you are to have no peace till you fulfill. "
"What do you mean?" Roxy asked inquisitively.
An oath of love, seriously?
"Are you feeling well Aradia, cause it seems you have maybe hit… before
Roxy could get a chance to complete her statement, she found herself unable to speak.
"Many will come, but few will stay.
Ill and sick, far, and wide, gather to find immortality.
Little and old, a world unseen.
Edgar is not left behind, the blind man without a stick.
Seated behind the goddess's tree, listening to lucifer's sweet voice."
"What in the world is that supposed to mean, now?" Roxy yelled in her mind.
"Time will tell Roxy, time is dangerous, but you must make a choice before time turns" her voice echoed as her presence slowly retracted.
Her heart pounded in fear and confusion fused her mind.
She could not place it, what it was that was going on.
It was bizarre and absurd, she knew. But Aradia did not seem like an illusion, did the chant really work?
Her thoughts were interrupted by Adina's presence.
"What happened Roxy, I heard you calling my name"
"No, you must have heard it wrong, I didn't call out to you mum. I was not even able to speak. " she muttered slowly as her eyes scrutinized her mum.
She was all sweaty and she was also panting heavily.
"I didn't call out to you mum. " Roxy explained again with a puzzled look.
Things were starting to feel awkwardly eerie.
First, the chants, then the so-called Italian witch Aradia, and her mum?
"Oh well, old age, I guess" Aradia managed to blurt with a smile. "I hope you get the message Roxy, Aradia never lie. "
Roxy's eyes widened.
"You heard?"
"No, I heard nothing, but I know she was here. " Adina said softly, shutting the door behind her.
Roxy toggled backwards in confusion and frustration; she could not believe that she might have seen Aradia.
But some things were not clear to her.
What Aradia said did not make any sense, except the part that she had brought upon herself what she had to face, but at some point, it also made no sense, because she could not have cursed herself knowingly.