Chapter Text
You knew that you were different ever since before you could remember. Ordinary people didn’t see the world in the way that you did. They couldn’t see the threads of reality like you could. They didn’t feel that strange pull in the back of their heads all the time, as if they never were where they're truly supposed to be. And they most certainly could not talk to - and understand - animals.
You were quite certain that you were some sort of a witch ever since you learned the meaning of the word. It didn't mean that your life was magical or full of adventures, though. It just meant that you were incredibly lonely.
You learned fairly quickly that your unsettling way of seeing things, as well as the way you sometimes involuntarily chimed in animals’ conversations, weren’t exactly helping you to fit in with your peers. You couldn't help it. When you were younger, you tried to act like a normal person, to hide your abilities, but you pretty quickly accepted that this was simply who you were. You got used to spending your free time by yourself or with your animal friends. You always understood them better than you understood other humans, anyway.
Unfortunately, this included the only family member you had - your mother, Vivian. You never knew your father, you didn't even know his name, and your mom was estranged from her entire family since before you were born, so it was always just the two of you.
You loved your mother very much, of course, and you were certain that she loved you, too. You could see it in the way she was doing her best to give you the best life she could manage, in her worried eyes watching over you, in how she was trying to shield you from the world. It could be suffocating at times, but you knew it was coming from a place of love.
Still, your mom was not someone who could understand you. For whatever reason, she hated everything related to magic with a burning passion. In one of your earliest memories she caught you having a conversation with a bird sitting on the balcony of your apartment. You never forgot how furious it made her. It was one of the very few times she actually raised her voice at you.
You never made the mistake of using your Gift in front of her again. Just as you never asked why she hated her family and her hometown as much as she did.
Despite your mother's clear disdain, Scarlet Hollow always fascinated you. Even hearing the name of this place was making this unidentifiable pull on the back of your head so much stronger. You had a strong suspicion that if you only could visit it once, everything would suddenly make sense. Not that you could ever mention it to your mother, of course. You didn't want to even imagine her reaction if you as much as suggested visiting her estranged twin sister and her daughter.
You were thinking about your long-lost cousin sometimes. Your mother told you once that when she was leaving Scarlet Hollow, her sister just had a baby daughter. Her name was Tabitha and she had to be more or less a year older than you. That was about all you knew about this girl, but it was enough to make you wonder if the two of you could have become friends if you ever met each other. As much as you were used to your loneliness, it would be nice to have at least one actual friend. Not that your mom would ever want to return to Scarlet Hollow, even to visit. As far as you were aware, her hatred was extremely mutual, so you weren't exactly expecting your aunt and cousin to just randomly decide to show up at your doorstep one day. There was no way for you to get to know Tabitha at all.
Until there was. You knew it as soon as you saw her Facebook profile picture. Tabitha Scarlet. A pale teenage girl with long, blonde hair and gray, purple-ish eyes, just like yours. Her hometown was listed as Scarlet Hollow.
Your heart skipped a beat. The pull that you always felt in the back of your head started screaming at you with the intensity you never experienced before.
You knew that it wasn't really a choice. You didn't even have enough time to think about what you were doing before you sent the first message.
Hi, Tabitha 😊 I know it might look weird that I'm texting you like this, because we don’t know each other, but I just saw your Facebook profile, and I think we are cousins. My mom, Vivian, is from Scarlet Hollow, too, and I’m pretty sure she's your mom's twin sister. Let me know if you want to talk for a bit. No pressure, of course 😉
You sent the message before you could overthink it. You didn’t want to seem too pushy or desperate, but you were really hoping to get a response soon. You knew that it was entirely probable that the hatred between your mothers extended beyond just their generation. If aunt Pearlanne despised your mom as much as your mom despised her, it was entirely probable that Tabitha didn’t want to have anything to do with your side of the family at all. You were doing your best not to get your hopes up.
To your surprise, you got the response the same evening.
Hi. I guess we are. I’m honestly surprised to see you reaching out. For all I know, your mother doesn’t want to have anything to do with our side of the family, and the feeling’s mutual. Still, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to get to know each other, as long as our mothers don’t hear about it.
You found yourself grinning at the screen. Tabitha didn’t completely dismiss you. True, her answer was blunt, one could even say rude, but maybe that was for the best. Your cousin seemed to be as socially inept as you were, maybe even more so, and it was fine with you.
Your intuition was telling you that the two of you could make it work.