Hail to the Queen (Witch For Hire 2)

“No. You just …” I pause. “I think you just spoke a prophecy.”

“What? No. I’ve never done that.” Felicite shakes her head.

“Yes, I’m pretty sure you just did. The sight runs in the family.”

“I don’t want this, Lou.” The fear in her wide eyes guts me.

“I’m sorry, Fel. It seems like the time of what we want is behind us. Now we’re all doing what we must.”

She grabs my hand. “Don’t tell anyone. Not until we’re positive that’s what it was?”

“You know I can’t withhold something this important indefinitely, right?”

She closes her eyes and nods. “I know.”

“It won’t be tonight. We’ve got enough on our plates, but make your peace with it?”

She gives a bitter laugh.

“One prediction does not a Seer make.”

“No,” I agree. “However, it does show your inclination for it.”

“I’m going to say what we’re both thinking. It feels like we’ve all gotten a power upgrade along with you after this bonding.”

“Or maybe it’s the family coming together. Strength in numbers?” I suggest.

“It’d be in accordance with the old teachings,” Fel agrees. Silence settles between us. The sound of a car pulling up front reaches my ears.

“They came.”

“Who?” Fel asks.

“Aimee and Vit.”

“You can hear that?” she asks.

I push aside the embarrassment. This is who I am now. Shame isn’t going to change my reality. I nod. “I can hear a lot better than I used to.”

“And it doesn’t frighten you?”

“I’m adapting. I spend half my time with people whose senses are far more superior to my own. It keeps me from being completely blind.” I wasted enough time running. It only prolonged the inevitable. “Come on, let’s greet them.”

***

I look around the table at the relaxed faces of my kin and clear my throat.

“I invited everyone here because I wanted to have fellowship, and work magic. Familial magic. The kind we’ve long neglected.”

“Everyone has to be welcome to do that,” Vit snaps.

“At this table, everyone is. We’re all equals here.” I keep my voice even and remind myself that hurt people, hurt other people. It’s a cycle.

“You expect us to believe that, after everything that happened with our mother?” Aimee scoffs.

“Yes. If you want it. I can’t force anyone to do anything. If you don’t want to be here, I won’t hold you. What I’m offering is a chance for a new start. You aren’t your mother. No one is holding you accountable for her actions. Both of you were trapped by her way of thinking, and self-imposed shunning. I don’t want you to remain trapped in the shadows. I want to free you. Which is why today we’ll be creating a family altar and casting a circle.”

Aimee and Vit look at one another. “Is this a joke?” Aimee asks.