Page 247 of Sigils & Spells

“Thank you. Now, what in heaven's name is going on?”

Before I could get a word out, Diana launched into the laundry list of treatment the others had been inflicting on me for weeks on end. Months at this point. Her voice vibrated with anger as she got to that morning’s shenanigans that almost left me drowned in the washing pool.

“And then you saw her room. Someone ran enough water in there to flood the entire place while they knew she would be somewhere else taking care of her chores.”

The High Priestess listened to everything Diana had to say and then turned to me. “Child, why did you not come to me and say something?”

My chin wobbled slightly as I looked at her. “I didn't want to be a complainer. If I tattled, then I figured it would only make things worse. They all hate me now. I've always been different, but before, they didn't blame me for anything bad, just being different. Now? They think I killed Evie. They all believe that it was my runaway magic that got her killed. They all want me to leave, and I'm not sure they're wrong.” My voice cracked, but I didn't cry.

She pressed her lips together and twined her fingers together in her lap. Diana sat silently and waited for a response. The longer the silence carried on, the more worried I became.

“I am going to take care of this once and for all. There will be no more attacks on your person or your character. You will be eighteen before long. We will begin making plans for you to start doing the errands outside of the compound. I'd like for you to get a controlled taste of the outside world before you decide if you want to leave here. I want you to know, though, that I would like for you to stay. I believe this is where you belong.”

A tiny spark of hope flared within me. Whatever had been calling to me from the outside still beckoned me, and she offered me a chance to find out what it might be.

“Thank you.”

“Before we do that, I have one requirement. You will be excused from chores from this day onward because I want you to begin practicing your magic daily. If we are going to send you out into the world, you must be able to control it. We can have no accidents. We cannot bring that sort of scrutiny upon the goddess's temple.”

“My magic? Now I am supposed to practice it?”

For the last few years, they asked me over and over again to suppress it, ignore it, and pretend it didn't exist. All of a sudden I now needed to use it, practice with it and learn to control it? The prospect terrified me.

“Who will work with me? How will I learn what I need to learn after trying to keep it hidden for so long?”

“To being with I will have Priestess Francesca work with you. If that pairing proves insufficient, then you will work directly with me.”

Priestess Francesca held the accolade of being the most powerful magic wielder in the complex, aside from the High Priestess herself. Her skills were vast, and it was rumored she descended from the moon goddess herself, although nobody had confirmed the story. We weren't exactly friendly, as I didn't see her very often, but thus far she hadn't been outwardly mean to me.

The very thought of learning magic directly from the High Priestess herself gave me oodles of nerves.

“Thank you. When should I meet with her?”

“We will have a meeting this evening at dinner, where I will address the others and put an end to the behaviors you have been enduring. You may begin your lessons with her tomorrow after breakfast. Sleep well and eat healthy. You will need your strength.”

“Yes, ma'am. I will. And thank you again.”

The three of us stood. “I'd like a word with Diana. You may retire to your room for the afternoon.”

Just like that, I was dismissed. During the walk back to my room, I met every glance and challenged every sneer. While the announcement tonight wouldn't do anything to change the feelings of those around me, I knew it would change their behavior. Nobody who lived in the complex would dare defy the High Priestess outright. To dismiss her instructions could lead to banishment.

You could see the surprise on some of their faces, to see me standing up to them when I'd been avoiding them and ignoring them for so long.

“What did you do? Did you have to go tattle to the High Priestess because you didn't get your way?” Sienna's voice grated on my nerves with every syllable.

Stopping, I turned to face her and put my hands on my hips. “You know what, Sienna? I've had just about enough of your bullshit. I don't care what you think of me or how you feel about me. Just stay out of my way.”

Not waiting for a response, I turned and continued on my way, trying to drown out the words she flung at my back.

“You won't be here much longer. Just you wait!”

Anything she said after that I didn't hear because I'd reached the living quarters and I shut the door behind me to block her out. She may very well have been right, but not for the reasons, she thought.

The very idea of having a chance to move out into the real world and see what it had to offer gave me the first feelings of happiness I'd had since I saw Evie last. Every corner of this place reminded me of her.

At night, I sometimes swore that I could hear her laugh echoing down the empty hallways.

Sometimes, when I looked in the mirror, I could see her reflection hovering behind me.

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