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This was not making sense, and Thessa was losing her grip. She sank down and sat on the cool substrate. “Just tell me who you are. Your name. I cast this spell to find my true mother,” her voice shook. “And why do you keep talking about the moon?”
“Enough. We don’t have the time for all this. I am your mother. I am the mother of thousands. The mother of theforgotten. The mother whose children were taken, murdered, tortured, and banished.” The voice continued, urgently. “My bloodline has been shunned for two centuries, executed cowardly. What you see is not the darkness to fear, witchling. You cannot escape this.”
She blinked, unsure what any of it meant.
“Our time is ending.” The thunderous voice faded. “I’m sorry, there’s nothing left to hold me here.”
Thessa gasped. Air shot in her lungs at the same time her eyes popped open.
Perched over her like a crow, Leora screeched, “Tess!”
Thessa rubbed her temples. “Woah.”
Leora wore the face of utter concern as she helped her upto sit. “I almost lost my mind waiting for you to wake up. Are you okay? What happened?”
Thessa babbled while Leora fetched her a cup of water. “I have no idea what just happened. When did you get back? How long was I out for?”
Kneeling beside her, Leora passed her the glass. “Here, drink.” Resting her hand atop Thessa’s shoulder, Leora said, “I got back a few minutes ago. I ended up not going. I had a bad feeling about leaving, and now I know why.”
Thessa looked down at her wrapped hand, then back to Leora. “Thank you.”
“When I found you in the circle, I knew what you did. You know better than to perform spellwork alone, especially a spell like this.” Leora’s worry shifted to an impressed look. “I can’t believe it worked, how’d you do that alone?”
“Ivy must’ve been right.” Thessa scanned the room before continuing, “This room is possessed.”
Leora laughed, “Is it?” Her face shifted back to a serious one. “Do you want to talk about what happened?”
Mustering an unfamiliar strength, the witch who’d held in too much, for too long, started to speak. Thessa’s words poured out. They were muddled, and there were many, but they came to the surface. She had no home, no family, no love, and now no certainty or purpose.
But there was Leora, the witch full of light and hope despite the darkness she’d been served, listening to her every jumbled word.
7
LECTURE NOTES FROM IMMORTAL GENETICS:
Magic remains unexpressed and dormant until a witch’s eighteenth birthday—their Summoning Day. A goddess-chosen object will act as a conduit between the physical and non-physical world, unlocking your power upon contact.
The chatter of witches sounded over the clinking of cutlery. The dining room smelled of cauldron-fried hog belly and something sweet.
The aroma woke Thessa and Leora from their slumber not too long ago. Thessa was on the other side of the kitchen today—her one day off each week, Saturdays.
The shared dining rooms between the two townhouses were filled with witches in the midst of their morning meals. Leora was beside Thessa; Ivy and Beatrix found their seats across from them. She waved to Rhetter and Noam seated at the far end, before pouring herself some tea.
The two long tables were filled with pitchers of sagewater, woven baskets of bread, several sizzling plates of meat, and heaps of fresh berries scattered about.
Her evening with Leora had been late, so late they’d missed dinner and were stuck with the bread and cheese Thessa had scrounged up from the kitchen. So there they were, eating pig like pigs, with berry juice lining their lips.
Ivy and Beatrix were discussing their evening out, but Thessa’s mind moved elsewhere. She couldn’t stop hearing the voice from the spell.
Leora gave her a look, as if reading her mind. “You okay?”
The witches quieted around her.
Thessa asked, “Do any of you know about the Shadow Moon?”
Ivy eyed Beatrix before answering, “We’re Celestials, we study every moon.”
Beatrix started, “The Shadow Moon is the darkest of all full moons. It rises once every few months. Its purpose is to cloak the realm in darkness, so it can be born anew.”