Page 83 of Devil's Deal

“Well? What is it about my magic?”

Wiosna tsks with disapproval. “Always so impatient. Drink something and eat, girl. You need to keep up your strength.”

I bristle at being told what to do. That’s the downside of having Wiosna around. I got used to being the mistress of my life after she died, and now she’s back, treating me the way she did when I was fifteen.

“I’m not hungry.”

Indeed, I don’t think I ate anything today. I’m still strong and full of energy after last night even though I haven’t slept a wink and worked from dawn till dusk.

“I know you’re not,” she snaps. “You’re not hungry, sleepy, tired, or anything mortals tend to be. But you have to take care of your needs anyway. What do you think will happen once his blood wears off? Do you really want to find out?”

I shiver, remembering the weakness that overwhelmed me in the river when I burned through Woland’s magic. No, Wiosna is right. I’d rather keep my strength, so I go out to the well and bring the bucket up to get some cheese and cold cuts I got from clients today. I empty the bucket and lower it again to get water.

After I have a simple supper and brew melissa tea to help me calm down so I can sleep later, Wiosna is finally satisfied.

“Drink your tea while it’s hot,” she says, and for once, I obey without a grumble. “Now settle down and listen. And remember not to scream. Your neighbors will hear.”

I frown. “Why would I scream? Is it bad?”

Wiosna cackles, her laughter pure malice and glee. I sigh wistfully. It’s been years since I heard it last.

“Oh, it’s bad. You’ll hate me, which is why I never told you. I won’t even make my excuses, because you won’t see reason until you calm down. So just remember to keep it quiet.”

Foreboding pools in my stomach, anger already crackling in my veins. I force myself to keep sitting and stare into the embers in my hearth, wishing I could look at Wiosna while she delivers the bad news.

“Fine. Tell me now.”

“Put your cup away first.”

I growl in irritation but do as she says, emptying the table of everything while I’m at it.

“At this point I think nothing you say will be worse than the way you’re trying to prepare me for it,” I mutter, sitting back down with a huff. “Anything else?”

“I sealed your magic when you were a baby.”

I blink, not sure if I understand her correctly. Wiosna’s revelation seems underwhelming after all the hoops she just had me jump through. But maybe that’s because I don’t know what it means.

“Sealed my magic?” I ask. “How?”

“There is a spell. Marika, my teacher, taught it to me. It’s something whisperers do from time to time if they dabble in witchcraft. So it stays hidden.”

I ponder this. Yes, I see how such a spell might come in handy. Especially for those whisperers who must endure the trial by Kupala fire every year.

“So… You put the spell on me. When I was a baby.”

I still fail to understand the importance of this. Unless…

“Is this why my magic doesn’t work?” I ask, an edge of betrayal creeping into my voice. “When you taught me spells and they backfired, you always said I just needed time. That my magic had to mature.”

“Well, of course. I believed it back then, otherwise I wouldn’t have taught you. I was confident you could break the seal. The spell that locks down magic is reversible. Most of the time. Almost always.”

She falters, sounding chagrined. I clench my fists, grudgingly grateful that she made me put my cup away. I kind of want to smash something.

“So you can’t reverse it?” I ask, straining to keep my voice calm.

“Of course not. I’m dead, girl. The fact I can see you and be heard is only thanks to… Ah, blast it.”

“Thanks to whom?”

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