Your eyes watered as you slowly shook your head. "I can't tell you." you sobbed. "I promised..."
"You promised what to who, Mat?" asked Natalie, calmly.
Natalie hated to press her grandson but it was necessary to test his loyalty to the safety of his family. "Mat..."
You began to sob. "Lying is forbidden in his house, grandma." you said, now shaking. "I... I can't break a promise either, what should I do?"
"Did you promise not to tell who asked you to keep this secret?" asked Natalie, trying another approach.
You paused, thinking back, then shook your head. "No, I didn't."
Natalie nodded then leaned in close. "Just between us." she said. "Who asked you to keep this secret?"
You swallowed hard then whispered, "Uncle John."
Natalie sighed. "Your uncle gave you his chaotic science?" she asked.
"Please don't ask me!" you begged, sobbing. "I told you who made me promise, I... I don't want to get anyone in trouble!"
"No one is in trouble, Mat." said Natalie, giggling. "You see, this was test."
You were surprised. "A... A test?" you asked. "Why?"
"Loyalty must be tested, Mat." said Natalie. "John passed his test by asking me, the witch council, and your mother before passing his knowledge on to you." she paused, giggling at your shocked expression. "Yes, your mom knows, but your two sisters don't."
"How was this a test for me?" you asked, curious.
Natalie smiled. "I took your book from its original hiding place inside the coffee table and planted it under the cushion of your favorite chair for you to find." she explained. "I had John make you promise not to tell anyone, especially not me, to test if you would honor your promise." she giggled. "You passed."
You sighed, relieved. "So, what happens now?" you asked.
"Well, first off, in case you had not yet noticed, I am a witch." replied Natalie. "So is your mother, your aunts, your girl cousins, and your sisters." she paused, smiling. "Only girls can work magic, boys in witch families can not unless they are transformed into a girl around the age of thirteen."
You shivered at the thought as, like your uncle John, you were a fan of science fiction. "I can think of a few unpleasant things they could do to me." you said. "I hope they don't though."
Natalie chuckled. "Your uncle John had the very same fears when he discovered our magic book."
You looked at Natalie, confused. "Magic book?" you asked.
Smiling, Natalie produced a book, just as thick as your own, and handed it to you. "Compare this to your own book, Mat." she told you. "Note that they are practically identical."
You opened the magic book and was immediately bombarded by an eerie light. Natalie knew what it was but said nothing as your chaotic science made you completely safe from its effects. As you flipped through the pages, your face turned a familiar ashen white.
"That was John's expression when he discovered magic." thought Natalie. "Only, Mat will have it much easier, he is not a twin to a witch."
"This... This is impossible!" you whispered, to Natalie's giggling. "My science is a technological version of magic itself!"
"Correct, Mat." said Natalie, producing a much smaller book. "Now, I need you to study this."
"What is it?" you asked.
"Pseudo magic is a science so advanced, it becomes magic." explained Natalie. "Your chaotic science is equal to magic, therefore, you are a pseudo witch."
After flipping through the pages of the smaller book, you turned to Natalie, serious. "These are the laws I am expected to follow as a young pseudo witch, right?"
Natalie nodded. "You are basically expected to follow the same laws as a witch as well as any rules your mother might impose upon your use of your science while in the house, at school, or where ever."
Just then, mom walked in with a warm smile on her face. "Well done, Mat." she said, giving you a warm hug. "I'm very proud of you for keeping your promise without directly lying."
"You knew about my studies all along?" you asked, looking somewhat downcast.
Mom giggled, releasing you. "Don't take it so hard, Mat." she said. "Even if John had not asked permission, I would have sensed that power within you the instants you began to harness it."
"I see." you said.
"I'm not going to take this science away form you, Mat." assured mom, kindly. "But I am going to enforce the same rules upon you as I do your sisters and I am going to expect you to follow them."
You slowly nodded. "Yes, mom." you said.
Mom smiled, rubbing her hand in your hair. "Relax!" she giggled. "Sarah and Julie don't know yet. I want to see their reactions to your power."
"So do I." replied Natalie, before she laughed. "When are you going to 'tell' Mat and Sarah that magic is real?"
"Just as soon as Julie brings Sarah back from ballet class.." she said. she then turned to you. "Want a few lessons?"
You quickly shook your head before smiling. "Only if Sarah asks me nicely." you replied. "Otherwise, no way."
Mom and Natalie slowly nodded at each other then smiled at you. "Deal." they said in unison.
You took a step back at that, not knowing what to expect. Minutes later, Julie returned with Sarah to find mom waiting for them in the living room with Natalie and Mat. "Please come sit down." said mom. "I have something very important to discuss with all of you."
Julie did well to hide her smile as she knew what she wanted to talk about, as it was your thirteenth birthday. Sarah had a small grin on her face and you suspected she already knew as you could sense a power emitting from her. Once your sisters had sat down, mom explained the family secret, that all of the girls in their family were witches and that boys do not have this power, unless they are transformed into girls. She told them that boys are usually more muscular and athletic, using their uncle John's Tia Chi and athletics as an example. Only, she made no mention of the fact that you were a pseudo witch.
"Do not be overzealous when you use your magic against Mat." warned mom. "I know from experience that doing so brings dire consequences..."
"Like what?" asked Julie, knowing well what but playing along.
"You will find out, if you go too far with Mat." said mom, serious. "Remember my warning."
How do your sisters react?
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