But after the testin the grove, I couldn’t be sure. Yet Heidi was wiser—she was part of the noble class. She and Selene often whispered and giggled like schoolgirls, and she knew how to handle herself around others in a way that seemed to de-escalate most situations.
Heidi was smart, and she hid it well.
Selene growled, but Heidi paid it no mind. “Why are you here?” Selene asked again.
“As I was saying before you interrupted with the ridiculous notion that you didn’t need any help, I’m here because news like this travels fast. You may not require my assistance, but Percy does,” Heidi answered.
“I do?” I asked, confused.
“I can protect my pet,” Selene answered, almost defensively, as she turned more fully towards Heidi.
“I do not doubt that physically, there are few who could provide better protection for our dear Percy, and politically—you have great power, more than most—but you are not a witch. We both understand the potential fallout of Percy’s newgift. Percy will need an ally such as myself to advocate on her behalf among the covens. The situation is complicated by Percy being of Flores—the only coven without land or any real leadership—who are so few in number that most of the kingdom have never met a Flores witch. Not to mention, Percy has been estranged from her coven since birth. You may not like to admit it, but Percy needs me. I can provide protection that you cannot,” Heidi stated, and my head swirled.
What had I done? What would this cold death that I wielded bring upon me?
The magic felt wrong to use—the inverse of everything I’d ever known. And through Selene’s fearful behaviour and Heidi’s words, I felt as if some terrible, impending doom had been cast upon me.
My arms shook against my own weight as I leaned more heavily against the arm of the sofa.
“Can someone please tell me why it feels like the world is ending?” I asked, frustrated.
“Seriously?” Heidi asked.
“By Poseidon, if I don’t get an answer soon, I’m going to—to—" I began, the frustration of having everything I had come to know come crashing down was overwhelming. I felt close to cracking. Alone. Cut off.
“To what? What is my little flower witch going to do?” Selene asked softly, her eyes dimming, losing their supernatural glow. Heidi’s words seemed to speak to the more rational part of her,and I watched as sense returned to her. I felt embarrassment wash over me, suddenly, unexpectedly.
“I’d put money on ‘cry’,” Heidi said quietly, mockingly.
“Shut up!” I said, my voice faltering. The heat behind my eyes, threatening tears, only mocked me further.
“Shh, pet, there is no need to be upset,” Selene soothed, placing her hand on my shoulder. My arms almost gave out, and Selene moved swiftly, gripping me under my arms and moving me to sit on the sofa.
“Someone, please explain what is happening. I’m clearly stupid. So explain it to me because I’m the only one that doesn’t seem to know what’s happening,” I begged, my body heavy, sinking into the sofa.
“You might be the most dangerous witch to ever exist,” Heidi said.
“What?” I asked, trying not to laugh. I was currently struggling to keep my own head raised; I wasn’t exactly the picture of strength and power.
“I know—surprised everyone,” she continued, unhindered.
“What?” I asked again, my heart beating faster in my chest. I wasn’t dangerous. I didn’t want to be dangerous.
“Your ability, pet. Death in such a form has not been produced by any sole witch or coven. Syngeneia, arguably, are the only others to possess such power, but even their magic has a limit, and a single witch could not perform such a feat as you have shown—certainly not a halfling. Such capabilities have only ever manifested through inter-coven magic. You have exhibited a completely novel ability. Novel magical abilities are extraordinarily rare. There have been no new abilities reported in the last two centuries. The nature of your ability places it inthe highest category of witchcraft—warfare,” Selene explained, and I could only blink in response. Me? Warfare?
“You’re a danger to the status quo now, Percy. Flores aren’t meant to have such power. They’ve always been secretive, and news of your magic will fuel distrust within the community,” Heidi continued.
“And others will seek to control such magic for themselves,” Selene added.
“Or destroy it,” Heidi continued, and I turned to see her give Selene a look of challenge. “Do not hide the truth from her, Selene. Percy’s head will very soon have a price placed upon it—if there is not a bounty already.”
“I will keep her safe,” Selene replied, an edge returning to her voice.
“Safe from whom? What bounty?” I asked, feeling dizzy, lying my head back against the sofa, picturing the ginger from my garden in my mind and how some ginger tea could help my nausea.
“Everyone will want something from you now, Percy, to use you or end you, and most concerningly, it will be difficult to distinguish between the two,” Heidi answered.
“You’re frightening her unnecessarily,” Selene warned with a growl. She stood in front of me, once again blocking me from view.
