Page 11 of Spirit Witch

Not to mention speaking in tongues in my sleep while floating over my bed like the freaking creepy chick from the Exorcist franchise.But whatever.It was just another day in the non-fairytale that was my life.

I scanned the page before me and frowned.

What the heck?

“Translation of an excerpt from the diary of a 17thCentury Hungarian Somnior Coven Witch,” I muttered.

“Somnior Coven?You mean spirit witches, don’t you?But they’re extinct,” Maia said, interrupting me.

Didn’t matter, my eyes widened as I continued to read from the page aloud.

“I frequented the dream realm nightly for a time span of three moon cycles, learning with each progression what I needed to fulfill my role in the coven.The prophecy remains unfulfilled, and he who is to save us has not yet come forth.In that other realm, my shape was transformed.I was no longer simply human, but different, more, and more beautiful there than whilst I walked the earthly plane.The power of my ancestors filled me, their spirits infusing me with olde magick.In that place, I was able to take many shapes and speak many tongues, and I hoped to bring that knowledge back with me.There was something lacking that forbade it.A key ingredient missing, just out of reach, and I must hasten to my coven for aid.If I should fail, the Somnior Coven will dwindle to nothing.Balance must be met, else all shall be lost.”

My heart hammered inside my chest as I tried to make sense of what I’d read.Four centuries ago, but aside from some archaic language, this could have been written by me.At least some of it could.

“That’s the only excerpt I could find given the short amount of time I had to look, but Enid, I think this is a clue into what you are,” Enok told me eagerly.

“You think she’s a spirit witch?”Maia gasped.

“She can’t be.My Dad taught me about them.He said they were a fairytale.A sort of mix of what normals believed about us.Just lore and myth,” Tana added.

“What did he say about them?”I couldn’t help myself.I had to ask.

“He said spirit witches were a rumor, something used to scare children.He said they walked the line between worlds.There were some when he was a kid who claimed they were spirit witches, and they scammed people conducting séances, and claiming they could communicate with the dead.Scam artists.”

“I heard similar,” Jade added quietly.“One of my aunts told me spirit witches were descended from faeries and could perform otherworldly magic.Part of that was also talking to and seeing spirits.My aunt said spirit witches and wizards died out because of their blood.Faeries still have a very hard time reproducing.That’s why they live so long.”

I closed my eyes, trying to take both accounts into consideration.

Was I descended from scam artists?

Or faeries?

I had no idea, but neither prospect was very appealing.Faeries did not like witches.In fact, they sort of hated everyone except for other faeries.I felt the bed dip and opened my eyes to find Maia gazing at me with concern.

“It doesn’t matter, Enid.You’re not a spirit witch.I mean, both accounts are just silly.Don’t you think?”

The others looked at me like I was one of those butterflies pinned to a board, wings spread, and helpless to do anything but allow them to look.If I was what Enok believed, a spirit witch, then I was the last of my kind.It explained the lack of elemental powers, and the strange ability I’d been keeping secret ever since I’d arrived at Westwood.

“Um, guys.I have something to tell you.”

CHAPTER5

I should have thought harderbefore I opened my fat mouth last night.Ever since, my roommates had been giving me a wide berth.Except for Enok.He could not stop asking questions.

“So, what you are saying is despite the wards and protection spells on the school, some fades are still able to get through?”

I looked at him wearily, noting it was almost time for my next round of testing in Assembly Hall G with Stolbright and the rest of our merry band of undeclareds.I heaved a sigh and gathered my small bag and a bottle of water.I was still really thirsty.

“Yes, Enok.I told you three times already.”

“And have you tried, er, talking to them?”

“No.Some don’t remember language, making communication pretty damn hard.I have to run—”

“All right, but if you don’t mind, I am going to reach out to a Lorekeeper I’ve been keeping in touch with ever since I took over the archives here.I want to ask him what he knows,” Enok said, and I could tell he was waiting for me to give him permission.

I nodded my head, trusting the mage to do what he thought was best.Once upon a time, I fancied myself in serious like with the curly-haired former professor’s assistant.The moment it was clear Enok was all about Maia, my affection turned into a sisterly sort, and now I viewed him as I would a real brother if I had one.In other words, the guy was a total pain in my ass.

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