Read Online covencraft 04 - dry spells by margarita gakis - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: margarita gakis
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Jade to undertake some kind of errand. To fetch an item.”
“What kind of item?” asked Hannah.
“I don’t know. But it’s currently held by the Gorgon, Medusa.”
Hannah exhaled sharply. “That’s… quite an errand. Why?”
“I don’t know.” Paris rubbed at his eyes. He was tired. It had been a long night and he should be asleep.
“And Jade? What does Jade say about this?”
“She’s been having migraines,” he replied, not sure why he answered with that detail. He’d filled Hannah in on Jade’s past - on how she’d formerly been a member of the Coven, Josef’s niece. He’d explained as best he could about Lily and how Jade had split from her, how they were two separate people. “She had one tonight, while my mother was speaking to her. We don’t… Dr. Gellar can’t say…” He swallowed. Jade’s migraines were very much on his mind. “Her physiology is not meant for as much magic as she has and with Lily returning…” He trailed off. “Dr. Gellar is concerned there is permanent damage.”
“What does Jade think of your mother’s request?”
“I don’t know. Her migraine worsened quite quickly and I put her to sleep. I’m hoping to speak with her tomorrow. Without my mother present.”
“What do you think of your mother’s request?”
“I… don’t know that either.” His eyes darted to the closed door of the study, picturing his mother somewhere behind it. “She’s exactly as she was and yet, at the same time, not at all how I remember her. She was always driven, but to see her so focused on something that I would have considered anathema to her nature - an errand on behalf of a demon…. It’s unsettling. I feel responsible.”
“Why?”
Because she’s my mother, because somehow she belongs to me and I to her, because I’m Coven Leader, because I feel that Jade’s well-being rests with me and I’m doing a horrible job.
As if reading his mind, Hannah continued, “You are not responsible for your mother’s actions. You are your own person.”
“Am I? I’m the product of my upbringing, which rested solely with my mother. A year ago, I would have blindly credited her with much of my success as Coven Leader.”
“Absolutely not. Your success is your own.”
“I’m not so sure. She raised me to be the leader I am.”
“Perhaps. But you make your own choices.”
“I’m not sure what choices to make now.”
Hannah took a moment before speaking. “I’m not sure there is any advice I can give you that would help.”
“I have to talk to Jade,” Paris said, thinking out loud.
“Yes.”
He breathed deep. “Again, I apologize for waking you, I…” he didn’t know how to finish his sentence. Thank you seemed so inadequate.
“Please let me know if you would like me to make arrangements to come back to the Coven.”
Paris opened his mouth to protest that her returning wouldn’t be necessary, but he couldn’t force the words out. “I will.” While he didn’t necessarily feel better about his mother returning from the dead, he didn’t feel quite so fraught after speaking with Hannah. He would speak with Jade, discover her feelings on the matter and then proceed from there.
#
Waking up from a migraine felt like dreaming: being underwater and fighting her way to the surface of the lake, being unable to breathe and not knowing which way was up. Jade jerked awake, feeling a surge of adrenaline course through her, making her heart pound and her breath catch. She expected a fight, fear putting her on edge. All that happened was she woke up, in her bed, in her room. Alone.
It took a moment for her to remember why she’d been asleep in the first place: her migraine. She remembered pain and the cool press of Paris’ fingers against her face and then, nothing. As her mind caught up to being awake, she flipped back the covers and slipped out of bed. A quick glance at the clock had her confused. The time read eight, but she couldn’t make that fit
“What kind of item?” asked Hannah.
“I don’t know. But it’s currently held by the Gorgon, Medusa.”
Hannah exhaled sharply. “That’s… quite an errand. Why?”
“I don’t know.” Paris rubbed at his eyes. He was tired. It had been a long night and he should be asleep.
“And Jade? What does Jade say about this?”
“She’s been having migraines,” he replied, not sure why he answered with that detail. He’d filled Hannah in on Jade’s past - on how she’d formerly been a member of the Coven, Josef’s niece. He’d explained as best he could about Lily and how Jade had split from her, how they were two separate people. “She had one tonight, while my mother was speaking to her. We don’t… Dr. Gellar can’t say…” He swallowed. Jade’s migraines were very much on his mind. “Her physiology is not meant for as much magic as she has and with Lily returning…” He trailed off. “Dr. Gellar is concerned there is permanent damage.”
“What does Jade think of your mother’s request?”
“I don’t know. Her migraine worsened quite quickly and I put her to sleep. I’m hoping to speak with her tomorrow. Without my mother present.”
“What do you think of your mother’s request?”
“I… don’t know that either.” His eyes darted to the closed door of the study, picturing his mother somewhere behind it. “She’s exactly as she was and yet, at the same time, not at all how I remember her. She was always driven, but to see her so focused on something that I would have considered anathema to her nature - an errand on behalf of a demon…. It’s unsettling. I feel responsible.”
“Why?”
Because she’s my mother, because somehow she belongs to me and I to her, because I’m Coven Leader, because I feel that Jade’s well-being rests with me and I’m doing a horrible job.
As if reading his mind, Hannah continued, “You are not responsible for your mother’s actions. You are your own person.”
“Am I? I’m the product of my upbringing, which rested solely with my mother. A year ago, I would have blindly credited her with much of my success as Coven Leader.”
“Absolutely not. Your success is your own.”
“I’m not so sure. She raised me to be the leader I am.”
“Perhaps. But you make your own choices.”
“I’m not sure what choices to make now.”
Hannah took a moment before speaking. “I’m not sure there is any advice I can give you that would help.”
“I have to talk to Jade,” Paris said, thinking out loud.
“Yes.”
He breathed deep. “Again, I apologize for waking you, I…” he didn’t know how to finish his sentence. Thank you seemed so inadequate.
“Please let me know if you would like me to make arrangements to come back to the Coven.”
Paris opened his mouth to protest that her returning wouldn’t be necessary, but he couldn’t force the words out. “I will.” While he didn’t necessarily feel better about his mother returning from the dead, he didn’t feel quite so fraught after speaking with Hannah. He would speak with Jade, discover her feelings on the matter and then proceed from there.
#
Waking up from a migraine felt like dreaming: being underwater and fighting her way to the surface of the lake, being unable to breathe and not knowing which way was up. Jade jerked awake, feeling a surge of adrenaline course through her, making her heart pound and her breath catch. She expected a fight, fear putting her on edge. All that happened was she woke up, in her bed, in her room. Alone.
It took a moment for her to remember why she’d been asleep in the first place: her migraine. She remembered pain and the cool press of Paris’ fingers against her face and then, nothing. As her mind caught up to being awake, she flipped back the covers and slipped out of bed. A quick glance at the clock had her confused. The time read eight, but she couldn’t make that fit
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