She didn't respond immediately.
I could see the anger in her face, but beneath it was something else.
Fear.
My mother was afraid. That realization hurt more than I expected.
She looked at me again, and this time, there was no accusation in her eyes. There was only a terrible certainty.
I watched my mother carefully as she studied me. After a moment, she finally spoke. "I can see it."
I looked at her blankly because I already knew what she was going to say.
"The magic." She stepped closer, her eyes remaining fixed on me. "It's draining you. The darkness is all over you, Helen. It has already spread too far."
I looked away. Somehow, hearing it from someone who understood these things made it different. I had known I was dying. I had known the end was approaching. But hearing my mothe
