Old deal

"Say something, Amy." My eyes darted back to the only person I know in this world. She's my only family and I'm her only relative. I consider her as my mothee since she's raised me, alone. I always believe and follow what I am told to do, afraid that she might leave me if I misbehave. All those years, I've been a good niece. But now, all my efforts are thrown outside the window.

Aunt Marissa is sending me away, into a place called Sussex. And she had just told me we're not blood related, that she's not my real aunt, that she owed big time to someone in the past and as her way of repaying, she'd accepted the deal-raise me as her niece. The deal will be nulled only when I reached my eighteenth birthday. And that is two days from now.

"I can't say no about this, can't I?"I whispered.

"It's been decided even before I carried you in my arms seventeen years ago, Amy. I can't keep your forever, this is the reason why I put some distance between us. But know that I cared for you like my real family."

I know she really cared for me. She's raised me well. "Thank you for everything, aunt Marissa."

She sat beside me and brushed my hair with her hand. I do want to stay but I also knew that I don't fit in in her world. So, it's better this way. A change of place and new faces of people might give me a chance to fit in.

"I didn't regret raising you. And I'm sorry. This envelope contains everything you'll need. Please Amy, take care of yourself." She handed me a medium sized yellow envelope with my name scribbled on top of it.

"Who's there in Sussex?" I asked as I looked at her glassy eyes. She smiled and said, "someone better than me. She's the closest person to your mother. And the only person you can trust in that place."

"What's her name?"

"Aleria. Sometimes, she's called the 'messenger' or 'wanderer'."

Weird names, I thought.

"How did you know her?"

"She saved me in the past. But let's not talk about me. Are you really okay, Amy?" I knew what she meant.

I sighed and hold the envelope tightly. "Like you've said, I don't have a say on this. And probably this place is the right one for me."

Aunt Marissa hugged me. She could feel my fears. "You'll be alright. Aleria is going to be there too."

Like I said, I don't have a say on this matter so I accepted it all. But I do have questions in the back of my mind.

"This old deal between you and Aleria, did it happen in Sussex?"

Aunt Marissa sighed and shook his head. "No. And I can't tell you. I've promised that I would carry this secret until my last breath."

And she had called the old deal a secret.

"A secret?" Was she referring-

Right before a realization hit me. Aunt Marissa is already nodding her head. "Yes, Amy. No one, except you, me and Aleria, has to know about this. Do you understand me?"

I nod.

"You have to swear it," she firmly said, he hand gripped mine.

"I swear."