Page 34 of Bad Witch

“It’s difficult to explain.” I’m never going to explain it to you, ever. Hell would freeze over first. I was risking a lot here, but something was driving me to keep going, to help Fender with this. I liked being around him, which was surprising, and I didn’t want this to end just yet. I didn’t want to drop this and go home and go back to the way it was between us before. This felt good, right. Fender was my friend. “Will you promise not to tell anyone?”

His expression grew almost fierce. “Tempest, you can trust me with anything. You want me to keep this between us, it stays between us. I promise.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem, peaches.”

I bit my lips together and tried to fight my smile. Yep, I liked that way too much. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and drew on my magic from deep inside me. It spread through my limbs like warm liquid rushing through veins and heated my bones. Whispers filled my head, distant at first, then a little louder, but still gentle. The warmth surrounded me more fiercely, loving and bright.

Sister.

B, we are here.

Sister, tell us what you need.

You have our strength.

You have our power, B.

The voices all came through at once, clear and strong but soothing. The Matildas were with me.

I need to find the source of an unknown magic. It is here, in the distance, can you feel it? I said back to them.

Yes, they all said in unison. What is this place?

That was Matilda the Hopeful. H was often suspicious.

We are with you, Matilda the Older spoke. Open the door, sister, and we will guide you.

I need your help, but the male you sense with me is of no danger, I said to them. He must not be harmed.

All males are dangerous. W had been coming through more clearly recently. It had been difficult for her right after she passed. You know this.

I loved hearing from her, but now was not the time. He is not. He is good. I need you to help me find the source of the magic, that is all, I said.

I don’t like this, O said.

Would you hags shut your gobs. That was Matilda the Marked. M never minced words. B came to us for help. Trust her and do as she asks.

Everyone shut up.

Yep, there was a reason I liked M.

Dig deep, sisters, she said, taking the lead, which was what usually happened.

I feel it. I feel the source. The voice in my head was a rushed whisper. Matilda the Strange had joined us. It didn’t happen often.

Join together, sisters, M said.

The merge happened inside me at once, pulling me in with it, until we snapped together, making us one, even while I retained control. Depending on the situation, though, and in cases of emergency, one of them could take over. It had only ever happened once before, when I was knocked unconscious during a particularly difficult rescue, and I’d rather it never happen again.

There was a pull in the center of my chest, and it grew rapidly. The power was so strong it stole my breath. My eyes snapped open, and I gasped. Fender was right there, so close, very close.

“Tempest?” he said, sounding concerned.

There was no way he could hear the voices of my sisters, it all happened inside me, but I’d seen W go into trances countless times in my life and I knew it could be alarming.

“I’m okay,” I said. “We need to move. I’ve found it, the source of the magic.” I didn’t say Brigid’s name out loud. I wasn’t sure what my sisters would think of this, of what I was doing. No, that was a lie, they wouldn’t like it, not one bit. So as soon as I had a good idea where we were going, I needed to cut them off before they figured it out for themselves.