Page 61 of Bewicched

“Not just you. Cassandras or precognates do too,” I explained.

“I mean, don’t get me wrong,” Sam said, “everyone and their unclehastried to kill me. I just didn’t realize it was a fated thing.”

“It’s not,” Clive said before I could respond. “You’re not going anywhere. You two will be the ones who break those old patterns.”

“Yes,” Declan murmured, which was nice.

“Remember too that times were very different when the Corey family last produced a necromancer before Martha, or a Cassandra like you,” Clive added.

“He’s right,” Dave said. “Even a hundred years ago, talking to ghosts or knowing the future would be considered signs of demonic possession. Some of your predecessors were probably killed by ministers and neighbors for assumed sins.”

“Sadly, that is pure truth,” I agreed. “And if their neighbors didn’t get them, they got themselves. Most of the Cassandras before me went crazy and took their own lives.”

“No,” Mom stated, shooting to her feet. “You’re not like all of those others. Your fae blood makes you stronger, gives you gifts they didn’t have.”

Sam rose a moment later, taking my mother’s hand again. “Can I ask a favor of you, Ms. Corey?”

“Sybil, dear,” she said, absently patting Sam’s hand, her worried gaze still on me. “I’m your Aunt Sybil.”

“Can you tell me other stories of my mother, please?”

Mom’s attention returned to Sam. “Of course, dear.”

“You could show her the gallery while you discuss Bridget,” I suggested.

“If you wouldn’t mind,” Sam added.

I think it was obvious to my mother that she was being handled, but she seemed to accept that she needed to settle, and a gallery tour discussing Bridget was as good a way as any to do that. “It’s right through here,” she said, opening the door between the studio and the gallery.

“Holy crap!” Sam said in awe.

Once the door closed, we all seemed to relax. Mom’s agitation was getting to all of us. Well, maybe not the vampire, who looked entirely at ease. Or the demon, for that matter. Fine, Declan and I relaxed.

“So,” Dave said, “we all got that her mom chose a fae father for the sea wicche over here because she’d be stronger, right?”

“Yes, indeed,” Clive agreed.

“We don’t know that for sure,” I countered.››

The vampire and the demon remained silent, letting me maintain my illusions, if I wanted them.

Declan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “Arwyn, we may not know for sure, but he’s right. It was pretty clear she was terrified you’d be like all the other Cassandras and so made sure you had fae blood to make you stronger. If you think about it, it’s a huge gift.”

“But how did she know?” Dave said, lost in thought.

“Thatisthe question,” Clive said. “If Miss Corey is the first Cassandra in hundreds of years, how did her mother know she’d bear one and would therefore need a fae father for her child?”

“She didn’t. That’s crazy.” Except I wasn’t sure it was.

The vampire nodded easily. “Of course.”

We sat in an uncomfortable silence and then Dave turned to Declan. “So what’s your story?”

Declan held out his hand to shake. “Declan,” he said.

Dave shook it. “Werewolf.”

Declan nodded. “Demon,” he countered.

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