Page 57 of Rogue Witch

I jump to my feet and Stony stands. “What kind of bullshit is this?” I snap.

To my shock, compassion appears in Raith’s eyes. “We had a visit from the goddess Eldione. She recognized him and he disappeared before we could react.” Raith motions with his head toward the fireplace where a small fire burns. “He was sitting right there on the couch opposite Olympia and I.”

I glance at the sofa and back. “You’re lying.”

He keeps his gaze locked with mine. “Why would I? Seton is a graduate of The Academy. I promise you, we do not consider this a positive development.”

I shake my head. “I don’t believe you.”

But I see the truth in his eyes.

***

Caleb wants to walk me to my dorm room. Thankfully, Raith tells him I was safe on campus, especially with Stony at my side. I’m a little surprised Raith didn’t insist I get locked in my room again, but I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

The campus is a ghost town. Stony and I pass only two students, each accompanied by a teacher. I’m grateful. I’m not in the mood for small talk.

We reach the room and I close and lock the door. Stony snorts in delight and trots to the bed. She jumps onto the mattress and plops down on the blanket she slept on before we were taken.

I cast out my senses in an effort to determine if anyone has been in my room. I detect no disturbance. We’ve been gone for two days. Two days. I still can’t believe it. Just as I can’t believe that Seton is an Atlantean demigod. I want to hate Raith, but what are the chances he’s lying—or wrong?

Gods do visit Margiddians—and humans—all the time. They even have relationships with us. Seton simply decided he liked me well enough to look after me. What other motive could he have for befriending me? He never tried to get me into bed. He was my friend. He taught me magic, stuck up for me.

With a sigh, I cross to the bed and sink to my knees between the bed and the desk. I listen for sounds of life outside my room, detect nothing, then murmur, “Book.”

The book hidden beneath the floorboard materializes in my hand. I remain still for a moment while listening for sounds of approaching feet, but all remains quiet. Maybe my tiny spell didn’t attract attention. I rise and sit on the bed. Stony snorts.

“I know,” I reply. “But it’s early for bed. I don’t want to wake at two in the morning.” I’m exhausted but don’t think I can sleep.

I’ll need some time to get through the spells in Grams’ spell book. I remove my cell phone from the charger, unlock the device with my thumbprint, and go to the last picture I took: the first page of the spell book deciphered by my magic.

I remember the first two lines by heart.

The power in The Shadows is unmistakable.

There is no doubt they are the key I have been searching for these last ten years.

My chest tightens. I still can’t believe Grams began using Shadow magic three years before she kicked me out. I have no doubt that is at least part of the reason she kicked me out. How could she betray us like that...betray me? I can’t blame Blade for leading the investigation into her death. She broke our most sacred law: do not practice Shadow magic.

“Listen to this,” I say to Stony, and read the next line in the book, “I know God will forgive me—though everyone else will condemn me, and some would kill me if they knew the truth. I pray He is still able to help me.”

“Some Margiddians would kill her,” Stony snorts.

“Yeah, but I’m talking about the part where she says she hopes God can still help her. What do you make of that?”

“Weird.”

“The Shadows are not as difficult to control as I’d expected. That frightens me,” I read, then add, “That frightens me.”

Memory rises of me commanding the Reaping Shadows to halt. Despite what Raith said, I know they obeyed. I resist the urge to touch the place on my chest were the Shadows entered my body and read.

In the end, though, does fear matter? Once I control them, nothing else will matter.

Denique in occursum mihi Fatum meum.

“At last, I meet my destiny,” I murmur.

Yeah, and that’s what got her killed.