CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Emilia blinked repeatedly and stared down at her legs. They weren’t human legs anymore.
She’d shifted. And the shift was surprisingly swift and easy.
She had never allowed her animal to rise fully after she shifted that first time when she was twelve. That first shift had been sudden and terrifying. She hadn’t been in control at all. It just happened, and she was completely unprepared. She had been shocked, scared and confused but she had no one to turn to.
Her mother had seen her shift, but Gisele had been of no help at all. Gisele had gasped and made sounds of amazement and disbelief, but at no time did she do or say anything to calm and assure Emilia. When Emilia shifted back to human form about half a minute later, she had begged her mother not to tell anyone. She didn’t want to be labeled a freak and be ostracized.
“Yeah. People will talk, I guess,” Gisele had muttered, wrinkling her nose. She had been more concerned about her reputation than her daughter’s emotional and physical well-being.
For years, Emilia had tried to forget all about the incident. She didn’t want to shift into a unicorn again. She just wanted to live as a normal, ordinary human being.
But now, Gramma and Ne-ma needed her.
It wasn’t about her now. She had to shift for them. She had to push all her fears, doubts and insecurities aside and do what she could for Gramma.
And Emilia knew what she could do. She could heal people with her horn. She had healed that little boy with just the tip of her horn.
She had to shift fully and use all the power she had in her to purge the venom from Gramma’s body.
So instead of allowing her fear to cloud her mind, Emilia focused on Gramma and Ne-ma. She closed her eyes and let the love that she felt for them flow through her body.
They had done so much for her.
They had shown her what real love was, and she loved them back dearly.
She would do this for them.
Once Emilia let go of her fear and inhibitions, her animal rose and she could feel the strength and power of her unicorn flood her body and mind.
The shift happened so swiftly and smoothly, it took Emilia by surprise. She looked up and saw her silver horn spiraling from her forehead.
The world looked different. Everything seemed to be glowing and glittering, and she could see so many different colors blending together and moving all around her. She stared at Ne-ma and saw a riot of colors swirling and pulsating around her.
With a start, Emilia realized that she could see people’s emotions in color.
Ne-ma’s wet, red-rimmed eyes widened when she saw Emilia. “A unicorn,” Ne-ma whispered. Wonder and hope filled her eyes as she clasped her hands together. “A unicorn,” she repeated tearfully. “Glynda, wake up. You’ve always wanted to see a unicorn. She’s here! She’s right here, Glynda...”
Emilia stood beside Gramma and touched her silver horn to Gramma’s withered hand.
A bright light burst from her horn and Emilia could feel the energy and power coursing through her body. Her horn shone like a beacon, glowing brighter and brighter. The white light kept spreading outwards, illuminating their surroundings and bathing the whole courtyard in pure, clean light and energy.
Emilia stared at Gramma’s peaceful face and willed her to wake up. She longed to look into Gramma’s kind, loving eyes and hear her playful laughter.
She wanted to have Gramma and Ne-ma in her life for a long, long time. She had just found her family. She couldn’t bear to lose them now.