"Can I ask... what happened?"
"He wasn't the only one who died. Over a couple of years ago, there was a war here in Silver City. A freaking big one that involved werewolves, humans, vampires, and... witches."
"Even vampires? No one told me there were vampires..."
I can't believe it. It was already complicated for me to accept that this city is split between two species, werewolves and humans, with me belonging to neither, but now, even vampires? What kind of crazy world am I waking up into? I feel like a single drop of water lost in an ocean. My lost memories are not getting me anywhere, I'm learning everything, but there is this sort of common knowledge that was left behind, telling me what is normal and what is not. I know what humans, werewolves, and vampires are, everyone does. I'm aware that at least two of those shouldn't even be able to get along.
"Well, they didn't belong to Silver City. They just tried to overpower us. Humans and werewolves united together against the vampires."
"What about the witches, then? Were they on... the vampire's side, then?"
Damn it, do I belong to the bad side? I'm already friends with a werewolf and a human, why do I have to be a witch if our kinds are enemies? Is that why everyone fears me? If witches killed people in that war, why do they even bother keeping me alive at all?
Benjamin seems to slightly regret bringing up this topic. He scratches his chin, which has some hair growing back on it, looking a bit unsure.
"Yes and no... There were only two witches. One on our side, one on the other. They both died in that war, that's why you're the only living witch we know of in Silver City at the moment."
"Oh..."
Well, that doesn't make things much better... I didn't imagine witches would fight against each other. I had actually somewhat decided that, even if those witches were on the vampire's side, I would stay on the human and werewolf one, but I guess that solves the problem... It doesn't help me with who I am or why I'm locked up here, though.
"So that's how you guys all knew I was a witch?" I ask.
"Yes and no. See, we have never seen a Fire Witch, but we know they exist. You were able to survive in a fire that would have killed a human or a werewolf ten times over. And those marks..."
He points at my bandages, the ones that the earlier struggle kind of unraveled. It revealed my remaining markings, a bit red and darker than before. I wrap it back quickly, as I don't like to have them exposed.
"What about them."
"We suspect it's a witch's markings. When witches use their powers too much, those marks appear on their bodies as a sign that they are overdoing it."
"What? Really?"
He nods.
So my scars are some sort of spell? This is insane... I look down. I still remember the charcoal look of my legs weeks ago, the first time I saw them. No sane doctor thought I could heal from that, those were the highest-degree burns possible. The flesh was supposedly dead, yet it started healing and regrowing by itself. Is that how they came to the conclusion that I was a witch? This healing ability of mine is certainly not normal... even I can tell this much.
Benjamin is still smoking his cigarette, looking pretty calm. I'm not calm! I can't believe no one told me my markings were a symbol of witchcraft! I thought my ability to make fire was all they had as proof to say I'm a witch, I didn't even suspect they had more clues than that... or that there had even been other witches before me.
"So, those two witches... They had them too?"
"We never witnessed them getting as bad as yours, but yes. It can affect your internal organs too, so be careful with fire, little witch."
"You said they weren't Fire Witches," I say, ignoring his warning. "What were they?"
"One was a Water Witch, the other one was an Earth Witch. Very different from you, Mara, but the same markings and the same ability to play with their element. We all witnessed it. The two witches we knew about were already frighteningly powerful with just water and earth, so now that we have a young chick like you playing with fire, we are all kind of on our toes, waiting to see what is going to happen next."
So that's why... I mean, it doesn't explain everything, but at least I know why they are all so afraid. I'm not the first one, there were precedents. Those other witches were here before me and left quite an impression on the people of Silver City. This would explain a lot. I'm not just confined in my room, I'm under tight observation. The thermometer, the fact that I can't go out, my doctors, my psychiatrist, everyone watching my every move and trying to understand what happened. It's not just because I'm a freak, it's because of fear. Fear of what I can do... I glance down at my hands. I know this is dangerous, I get it. Even I have trouble controlling myself sometimes.
However, wouldn't it have just been easier to tell me all of this? I'm not an idiot! Why do I have to bump into Bonnie's twin to finally get some answers I've been asking for all this time?!
"Why did no one tell me this earlier?!" I exclaim, furious.
I'm getting so mad about all this. At the very least, Bonnie should have told me! She sees me every day, why couldn't she give me that little bit of information right away? She knows how much I'm struggling with my lost memories! I bite my thumb, angry. This is ridiculous! This is about me, yet no one is giving me the slightest clue!
Benjamin sighs, pulling on his cigarette before answering me.
"This isn't just to annoy you, little witch. It's not just Bonnie and our family, almost every human or werewolf living here in Silver City lost a friend or a family member in that war. It was a horrible fight, okay? Some people are still dealing with its consequences, like how my sister is still unable to talk about it. The ones who started it and caused the most damage were the witches. We just don't know how to deal with all of this, with you. It's not that simple."
