“We did. There were three. Ikilled one.” I tried not to react to the look of shock that quickly passed overher face. She didn’t think I was capable of killing a vampire? Or she thoughtit was dangerous for me?
Sylvia nodded. “And are you okaywith that? I mean, it must have been scary.”
I nodded. “It was, but it was them or me, so I’mfine with defending my life and protecting my family.”
Sylvia smiled. That seemed to bethe right thing to say. “Good. Now, when I remove this spell that has beenencasing your energy, you will have full use of your witch powers. You willneed to train with me in order to learn how to use them. Your lineage is strongand with proper practice, you could become a High Priestess like me. I have spokento the rest of my coven. Even though this is unusual, we would like to inviteyou to join our coven, when you are ready and if you want to. We understand youwill be a part of Kai’s pack and consider yourself a werewolf but if you wouldalso consider, we would like you to inherit your place as a witch in ourcoven.”
I wanted to, badly, but I knewKai wasn’t exactly comfortable with my witch blood. I had always been an avidfantasy reader. One book series I liked was about a witch clan. They haddifferent colored candles for different spells. I ached to know if this wastrue now that I knew witches were real.
“I will talk to Kai and think aboutit,” I told her honestly.
She nodded. “You know me simplyas Sylvia. You can do me little harm without knowing my full Given name.”
“Given name?” I inquired.
Sylvia nodded. “When I releaseyour powers I will name you. Your full magical Given name must be kept betweenthe two of us. It’s a name given by Spirit through me and will enhance yourpowers. If someone were to know this full name, they could also hold greatpower over you.”
I swallowed hard. I guess I hadto trust that Sylvia wouldn’t try to hold great power over me. As if she knewwhat I was thinking, she smiled.
“The person who names you cannever use your full name for bad intentions. Are you ready?”
I nodded.
Sylvia threw her hands up to thesky. “I call on my great ancestors, my coven, the Great Spirit. Gods andGoddesses and all those who come in the white Light. I claim Aurora MaidenWhitefeather as a magic wielder. With intent to protect her, Aurora’s witchpowers were hidden.” A wind picked up and tossed Sylvia’s hair in the breeze.Her eyes turned white. “I release her powers now! Break down all barriers,Great Spirit, and let her fully walk in her life path. I claim her powers forthe Light!” She placed her hands on my head.
It felt like a lightning bolt hadstruck me. I was knocked forward on the blanket and my eyes began to water. Electricityran down my spine. My nerves were on fire. White mist flowed out from my pores;it was everywhere. It climbed across the grass, up the trees. Sylvia watched infascination.
“My stars. I haven’t seen thismuch magic come from any one person in my entire magical life.”
I was panting, my palms out flaton the grass.
‘What’s wrong? I’m coming,’ Kai sent.
I couldn’t let him see me likethis. He would kill Sylvia for hurting me.
‘No. I’m fine. Stay where you are,’ I told him. I couldfeel his hurt through the pack bond. He didn’t reply.
Sylvia bent down to my level.“Just breathe. I’m so sorry, I didn’t know it would be like this. You have beenstoring so much magic, it all just… exploded when I released it.”
I breathed in and out, slowly. Ifelt less dizzy now and sat up. “Why do I have so much magic? I’m a half breed.Shouldn’t I be half as powerful?” I queried between ragged breaths.
Sylvia chewed on her nail, deepin thought. “I don’t think you were born this powerful. I don’t remember thismuch magic in you when you were a baby. Now that my memories have been givenback to me, I have spent a lot of time thinking.”
“So what is this?” I gestured tothe mist surrounding us.
“We have never seen a witch whois turned into a werewolf. Yes, we are immune to werewolf and vampire bites. Wejust die but we don’tchange. Because your mother had you turned humanbefore the first full moon of your life and because she had your witch powershidden, you were simply a human. Then Kaichangedyou.Changedwolves, as you know, have a very different power structure than wolf-born. Ithink when Kaichangedyou, it ignited and enhanced your witch powers,only we couldn’t see it because they were still hidden but never truly wentaway.”
I put my head in my hands. “I’msuch a freak.” I pulled my long hair into a high ponytail just to busy myshaking hands.
“You’re not a freak. You’respecial.” Sylvia smiled.
Same thing I thought, but she was trying to benice so I returned her smile.
“The fact that you can see themist, which is what magic looks like, tells me you are already a very strong witch.That day in Kai’s study when you saw the mist, I was a bit in shock, really.Only very trained witches canseemagic. Most witches just smell orsense it half the time. That will give you an advantage in defending yourselfagainst magic users.”
“Great,” I said sarcastically. Ihad been wanting to ask her something since my conversation with the Shaman.“Sylvia, why do witches do business with vampires if they are so bad?”
She smoothed her long auburn hairover one shoulder. “There are white witches, like me, and dark witches. White witchesdo spells to help people, this sometimes requires vampire blood. In return, wehelp the vampires with simple spells. Spells to increase their strength, toheal their human blood slaves, to find a lost object. Dark witches do very badthings in return for blood payment. But witches are neutral, we serve all. Wedo business with humans, vampires and werewolves. That’s our place.”
