Page 40 of Dark Moon Secrets

He raised his beer, and everyone cheered.

I cheered, too, enjoying the vibe that was taking over.

I couldn’t believe it. He was already going against the witches’ creed, and it would only infuriate them if they found out. Of course, this is what he wanted. To make them angry enough, so they made the first move.

Our entire lives were about to change. And I was ready.

CHAPTER 16

Tanjie

A burst of light snapped from my fingers, pushing away the shadows of night in my temporary bedroom.

I did it.

But then the blue-tinged light faded along with my hope that I could ever manage to control the power in me.

I was once more left in darkness.

You should rest.

Maria’s voice was clear in my head. I should listen to her words, but I didn’t want to. Stubbornness burned through me.

I can rest later.

The need to know what I could do with this magic that was innate in me drove me to push myself beyond my limits. Luna had given me strict instructions to rest before she left me upstairs above the shop to go to her partner.

I broke the promise the moment she locked the door downstairs.

The bells on the door clanged loudly as I stood in the room near the potbelly stove. This was my chance to see what I really could do without her limiting me.

Luna kept at me all afternoon with what I should and shouldn’t do. If this magic was in me, surely I could coax it from me without her?

I snapped my fingers again. This time, no light rippled from my fingers. Not even a spark.

You’ll burn yourself out. Center yourself. The words Luna had spoken to me countless times when we were downstairs in the shop came to mind.

Inhaling slowly, I tried to complete the breathing exercise she’d taught me. I didn’t fully believe this would be enough.

I snapped again, my fingers sore from the motion.

This can’t be happening.

I held my fingers up to see if anything was wrong with them. Why wasn’t the magic flowing from them?

I had a vision of proving Luna wrong in the morning and showing her how good I was and that I could be independent. But that was fast turning out to be a fantasy.

A clear click sounded from my snap.

No magic rippled out.

I wriggled my fingers, moving them quickly as if that would help to bring the magic to the surface.

What had Luna told me to do?

Rest, you idiot.

I sighed heavily at the sound of Maria in my head. My arm dropped to my side. Perhaps I did need to do as I was told.

---