Page 37 of Wicked Love
I wore my mother’s gold earrings, and the pendant that Jasper had brought back to me. Other than that, I was plain. Almost severe.
But the less attention I called to myself, the better, I felt.
I put the bag carefully in the car, and buckled it in.
“Much safer than when you brought me home,” Zelda said.
“You think this is home?” I asked.
“You think the crypt was home?” She gave a laugh that sounded a lot like a hoot. “Come on, girl. You’ve only lost your magic, not your wits.”
“Oh, Jasper didn’t steal that, too?” I teased.
“He’s stolen something,” she muttered.
I ignored her as I pulled up to the gate at Magnolia House. I’d asked Delphine if I could drive here, because I really wasn’t trying to trot all the way over with Zelda in my arms. She’d agreed, more out of curiosity, I thought. I didn’t care.
As I got out of the car, and moved around to take out Zelda, I could feel the eyes watching from the house. I went to the door, and Delphine herself opened it.
“Welcome,” she said. She narrowed her eyes as she looked me over, stopping at the beach bag. “Interesting choice of bag.”
“Yes, it is,” I said.
“Come in. We’re waiting for you.” She closed the door behind me, and then led me off to the right. Beyond the kitchen, there was a room that had been built onto the back of the house, and it was here that all the leaders of my coven were gathered.
Delphine walked in and I stopped, taking a deep breath. Then I followed her.
Delphine took a seat at the head of the ring of chairs. “You have asked to see us, Melasina Cormier. We are here. We will always be here for our members. So tell us, why have you called us?”
I looked around. It looked like all the librarians were here—my eyes narrowed as I saw Talia Dumond, the woman who had pursued my mother mercilessly. She’d visited our home, and I remembered her arguing with my mother. When my mother was exiled before the entire coven, Talia had stood watching, not saying a world, a smile upon her face.
Now she was blind. I hoped she choked on what I had to say.
Jasper was in the second row of chairs that lined the left and right of the room. He smiled at me, the white of his teeth gleaming momentarily. I felt heartened seeing him, even though I was probably shooting any hope of us in the foot. That was all right—well, it wasn’t, not really, but I had to do this.
A hooded figure sat next to him. I smiled briefly, and turned my attention back to Delphine.
“I know that the curse has affected all of us differently. But we all need to face our fears, and I have figured out that this is my greatest fear. I must accept who I am, and do so publicly.” I took another deep breath. “I am the daughter of Sariah Cormier. She was exiled for necromancy from this coven. I never saw any sign of such a practice during my life with her, but I cannot change the past. I’ve always been careful, ever since Talia Dumond insured my mother’s exile.”
A hiss of whispers followed my words. Talia herself stared straight ahead.
“Because I didn’t want to suffer the same fate. I felt that if I did everything right, I’d be seen for myself.” I sighed. “That hasn’t happened. I am, and will always be, Sariah Cormier’s daughter. She was a necromancer. A little over a month ago, I began to experience strange things. And three weeks ago, I woke up to scratches on my hands and dirt under my fingers.”
There was an audible gasp.
“Like mother, like daughter, indeed,” Talia spoke, her voice dripping with anger. “We’ve heard enough. I call for an exile of Melasina Cormier.”
“No,” another voice spoke up. It was Jasper. “Delphine, I ask that you listen to what Melasina has to say, and then that I be allowed to speak before you make a decision.”
“What is there to discuss?” Talia scoffed.
I was watching Jasper, and the hooded figure next to him stirred.
“She has admitted that she is continuing her mother’s evil ways. Let us be done,” Talia continued.
“Please,” I said. “I’ll accept your decision, but I want to be allowed to finish.”
The room went silent as all eyes turned to Delphine. “Melasina, you may continue. After you are done, we will hear you, Jasper Thibodeaux.”
