Page 115 of The Witch and The Blood Oath

She had been gone since the day she killed my mother.

The Bloodblade’s power had not tainted this spell, nor had the Embracement of all those witches. The magic shining on me now was all Josephine’s. I recognized it as easily as I recognized the lingering scent of her Chanel perfume.

Though I hated myself for it, I burst into sobs, and not ones of anger or hurt, but sobs of pure, unadulterated grief.

“Why?” I asked her. “Why did you have to do all those terrible things and leave me? Why did you have to take Mom?”

“If you’re seeing this,” Josephine continued, “I must be dead. Such a pitiful thing. I was determined to outlive Gloria, the old bat.”

I hiccupped a laugh and remembered this was a recording. If Josephine had seen me sob like a young witchling, she would’ve mocked me ruthlessly, until I had laughed so hard, I would’ve forgotten the reason for my tears.

“I digress,” Josephine said and waved her arm in such an utterly Josephine way. “This is not some sentimental call from the beyond to tell you I love you and hold you dear, even in Summerland. I trust you are smart enough to know that already.”

My Goddess, this hurts.

“Though you’re a mere witchling of only eight years,” Josephine continued, “I must tell you. I mustwarnyou. You’re the future Coven Mother, dearest.”

Shock washed over me. I had thought this would be something recorded in response to what had happened leading up to the Blood Moon, but this was from much longer ago.

No wonder Josephine is still looking at me with love.

“Your mother is dallying in something dangerous,” Josephine said. Her words pulled me from the clutches of grief.“I told Sybil not to mess with the chimera, but she didn’t listen. She never does, you know.”

The last bit was said affectionately, not with the bitter hate that had coated Josephine’s last words.

Of course Josephine knew about my mother’s dealings with the chimera.

They had once been inseparable.

“But this goes beyond your mother,” Josephine said. “This goes beyond even the High Witch. Cordelia's solution will not work. It has always been a mere bandage, but…dearest, there is a change in the air. In the new roots springing from the earth. The sorceress cannot wake, and shecannotinhabit the chimera…I can’t say too much. Even in the comfort of my own wards, I fear the High Witch hears me.”

Josephine took a steadying breath. “I am sorry to pass my burdens on to you, but I trust your mother and I have made you strong enough to shoulder them. The High Witch Cordeliacannothave the chimera and neither can the sorceress. You must protect her just as your mother has. Where my spirit still thrives, I’ve left you the information you need. Wield it carefully.”

Mom really did protect the chimera.

Josephine’s eyes turned glossy.

“You are the best of us, dearest.” She swallowed. “Because of that, I entrust to you my most guarded secrets. There is a newly born witch of my blood. She is a Reid—shocking, I know—but she will surpass even me in power. Her earth magic…her power will be essential in stopping the sorceress. You must protect this Reid witch, dearest, at all costs, until she is strong enough to stop the Reawakening.”

“Sorceress?” I whispered in confusion. “Cadence is supposed to stop asorceress?”

What in Hecate's name was a sorceress?

Josephine’s projection flickered, and she cursed.

“My music box is nearly full,” Josephine said. She reached out, as if to touch me, then remembered herself and sighed. “I promised not to blubber sentiments, but, dearest, you are the thing I love most. Now, make me proud and figure out your earth magic. Goodb—”

Josephine’s winked out of existence, and I sank to the floor.

That message had been old. It had been made when she still loved me.

I had almost forgotten what it felt like, to be loved by Josephine.

I had forgotten how she could always make me feel ten-feet-tall and invincible. Experiencing her love was a rush. It was a high greater than any power or spell.

I rushed to the music box and pricked my finger again. And again. And again.

Nothing happened.

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