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Thessa’s mood withered at the thought.
Leora must’ve sensed it because she said, “I’m with you, Tess. We’re doing this together, remember?”
Thessa nodded, afraid to look at Leora—afraid she’ll see her uncertainty. So as they headed back to the townhouses, Thessa looked at the shops, their displays, then the bay, and all the trees instead.
9
LECTURE NOTES FROM SPELLCASTING AND CURATION:
Spells performed without care are ineffective. A witch must believe in the words delivered.
Thessa stared over the basin, watching the water ripple as she blew out her breath.
She would not retch. She would not.
Any moment now, the goddess would present her gift.
There was a light knock at the door. “Tess, are you alright?”
Thessa’s knuckles were white from clenching the sides of the washroom table. She released her grip and masked her tone. “Yes, be right out.”
Get on with it.
Ivy and Beatrix had swarmed her and Leora with birthday wishes when they’d returned. Thessa took the opportunity to slip into the washroom, letting Leora fill them in.
Smiling blankly, attempting to hide her disarray, Thessa opened the door.
Ivy and Beatrix were enthralled by Leora’s shift. Their excitement was thick in the air while Leora beamed as bright as ever.
Beatrix was commenting, “This is amazing.”
“I know.” Leora placed a hand over her heart before outstretching the other. “Tess, come, I’d like to say a prayer to the goddess. I want to thank her, but I want to pray for you too, for your gift.”
Thessa gestured to decline, but Leora gave her adon’t be stubbornlook.
“Let’s pray then,” Thessa said with reluctance, and stepped over to the Celestials.
They formed a circle and interlaced their fingers before Leora started. “We join hands to thank the goddess for her offering. Her endless offerings. For our blood, and for our magic. The essence of her being is forever mine, and forever ours.” Leora looked them all in the eyes, landing on Thessa’s gaze last. “Now we ask the goddess to guide our sister to her destiny. May the strength of our stars light her path into eternity.” Nodding in conclusion, Leora asked, “Vy, will you send the prayer up for us?”
“Of course.”
The witches released their grasp, but Thessa watched Ivy closely. She held a white-tipped finger out, twirling it in tight circles. Her magic escaped in a tiny wisp, now spinning in the space between them. Thessa noted Leora’s whirling finger beside her waist, as if studying Ivy’s movements.
Ivy kept her finger working until the Celestial energy froze between them. But it wasn’t frozen at all, rather buzzing with momentum while condensing into the tiniest sphere of starlight. Then, she flicked her finger to the sky, and the Celestial Messenger shot through the roof, as if it were air itself.
Leora’s prayer would reach the stars soon, and maybe the goddess herself. For what it’d be worth, Thessa was not certain.
Ivy broke up the silence. “Shall we eat while we wait for Thessa’s kick in the leg?”
Thessa grinned, the humor easing her nervousness. “I’m in.”
“I could eat,” Beatrix added.
Leora patted her stomach. “Oh, I’m so hungry after all this.”
The smellof sweet spices swept through the dining room.
Thessa was relieved to be away from the kitchens today, the midday meal was cauldron boiled apples and oats—incredibly crusty and a nightmare to clean.