Page 58 of Blood Secret

“I don’t think he should,” Maeve announced. “Sister, maybe it’s time for us to loosen our laws a bit when it comes to situations such as these. It was Beatrice’s decision to cast her curse over Ralf and his progeny, and we’ve been tasked with upholding the laws she put in place. But that was five hundred years ago. Times have changed.”

“I agree,” Esme added. She wasn’t the type to step up on her own, but she was more than happy to second someone else’s bravery. “We’ve done the best we can, and our witches have benefitted from Nightwarden protection. But we cannot punish those who have nothing to do with the original reason for the curse. Neither Vale nor Janna had anything to do with what happened back then. It was Ralf’s crime.”

Serena was smart enough to know when it was a waste of breath to argue. “This is something we can discuss at further length in private,” she announced. “For now, suffice it to say that I don’t agree—but am willing to step back and accept the advice of others.”

“You mean… we’re free?” Janna whispered.

“You are,” Serena confirmed. “And you’re welcome to leave at the earliest convenience.”

She was a rather sore loser, but as long as she let us go I didn’t care. And I knew well enough not to push my luck.

“Come on,” I said, still a little stunned by the way things had gone. It seemed too good to be true.

“I’ll go with you.” Isobel led us out of the chamber and down the tunnel leading away from it.

She moved quickly, like she understood the urgency of getting out of there before anyone changed their mind.

Janna followed without saying a word as Isobel led us to the mouth of the cave, which led out to the woods.

“Wait a moment.” She turned to us before we could leave and looked at Janna. “You need Ra-Protection.”

“Oh. Right.” She let go of my hand and stood with her arms at her sides. “What should I do?”

“Nothing,” Isobel smiled. “It’s up to me. Just stay still.” She held her hands over Janna’s shoulders—hovering without touching—and chanted the ancient words which would provide protection from the sun’s rays.

The ritual didn’t last long, but the way the two women looked at each other when it was complete made me think something indescribable had passed between them.

They would never have a typical mother/daughter relationship. This was as close as they would ever come.

“Thank you,” Janna murmured with a shy smile.

“You’re welcome.” She cleared her throat. “Come. I’ll take you back to your apartment.” She took our hands and ported us before I could say a word.

In the blink of an eye, we were back in Brooklyn.

“Why couldn’t you do that from the chambers?” I asked, blinking against the abrupt change in light.

The tunnel had been dark, while sunlight streamed through the apartment windows. Another hot day.

“I’m not a member of the High Council. I can’t port there, or from inside The Fold.” Her attention fell on the stack of sketches next to the easel. “Is this your work?”

Janna hesitated, looking at me before replying. “Yes. Some of my more recent work.” She was used to mother figures disapproving of her and waited for more of the same.

Only she didn’t get it. “You’re so talented,” Isobel murmured, flipping through the sketches. “You are truly gifted. I’m humbled by this. I could never create anything this remarkable.”

“…really?” Janna joined her, watching her mother’s face as she examined the work more closely. She was so eager for approval, as much as she pretended not to be.

“Really. I would love to see more of your work someday. If you would allow me.”

“I—I don’t see why you shouldn’t,” Janna sputtered. “I don’t know how my new life will affect what I do. I don’t know where we’ll go or any of that. But I would love for you to see more of what I do.”

Isobel looked around again. “As much as I respect you for working hard and living within your means, perhaps I could help you find something more comfortable.”

Janna bristled. “I like this apartment.”

“You were ready to leave it last night,” I reminded her.

She shot me a dirty look.

---