Longing for You, стр. 49
Katie heard tension in Alexis’s voice. Okay, something was goingon.
Alexis looked around her, presumably checking if they had privacy.“I need to talk about today, about every day. I’m struggling—”
Katie cupped her cheek. “Hey, what’s wrong? Did something happen?”Katie expected Alexis’s annoyance to subside, but it didn’t.
“I need to talk to you,” Alexis said softly.
Katie felt Alexis was retreating into her stoic self again. Shethought they had gotten past this. “What’s wrong? Something’s changed,” Katiesaid.
Alexis had spent every night with her this week, but as each daypassed, the open Alexis from their time away from London had started to slowlyfade, each day becoming a little more distant. She had thought it was justbecause Alexis’s mind was back on her clan duties rather than spending all hertime helping her feel better. But there was more to this.
“Later,” Alexis said.
“No, talk to me now. I’m worried, Alex.”
“I have duties I need to attend to. Later this evening.”
Then she walked off, leaving Katie wondering what was going on.Katie started to get a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Was Alexis pulling away from her again?
* * *
Amelia’s car pulled up outside The Portal bookshop. Amelia was tohave her first lesson with Magda after closing time.
Wilder opened the car door, and Amelia got out. She walked throughthe shop door and only saw Piper.
“Hi, Piper. Is Magda ready for me?”
Piper smiled. She seemed a lot warmer now that Byron wasn’t withher.
“She’s waiting for you downstairs, Amelia.” Piper pointed to adoor in the corner, beside the till.
“Thanks.”
When Wilder tried to follow, Piper said, “No, not you.”
“I go where Amelia goes,” Wilder said firmly.
“Only witches are welcome in our most private space,” Piperreplied.
Amelia noticed Piper didn’t seem to care much for anyone whowasn’t a witch. She said to Wilder, “I’ll be fine. You stay up here withPiper.”
Wilder looked torn. “If Byron finds out I—”
“I will take the blame. Don’t worry,” Amelia said.
“Just shout if you need me.”
Amelia smiled and went through the door and down the stairs. Shearrived in a large open room. It was plain with little furniture, apart fromwhat looked like a ritual table with incense and sacred statues and otheritems, where Magda was currently kneeling.
Symbols were carved into the stone on the otherwise bare walls,and in the middle of the floor was a large circle. Symbols similar to the oneson the wall were all around the circle.
“Welcome, Amelia,” Magda said without turning around.
“Hi, I’m not late, am I?”
Magda bowed her head and stood. She walked over to Amelia with herhands outstretched. “Not at all. Welcome, sister.”
Amelia took the offered hug and felt a warmth from her newteacher. Magda took her jacket and hung it on the back of the door.
“Did you find out about yourself in the New Forest?”
“Yes,” Amelia said, “it was hard to hear, but I’m glad I knowsomething about my mother and what happened the night she had to give me up.”
“I knew Sybil would help you. Apart from Sybil, after the attack,the cunning folk that were left fled to London and joined my coven. Did youfind anything else?” Magda asked.
Amelia wasn’t sure what she meant at first, but then it came toher. “Oh, the voices?”
“The voices of our ancestors, yes. What did you hear?” Magdaguided her over to just outside the circle.
“Voices all at once, loud and confusing, then…” How to explain thevery private lovemaking that opened her heart and mind to the powers beyond?
“Your vampire helped you let go?” Magda smiled and Amelia feltheat in her cheeks.
“Um…”
“Don’t be embarrassed,” Magda said.
“After that, the voices started to become less clear.”
“Come in the circle and let me explain.”
Amelia followed her and sat on the ground. The circle had the sameburr or buzz on her nerves and skin as the one in the forest. “This feels likethe circle the cunning folk made in the forest.”
“Yes, and I will teach you the basics of our craft and how to casta circle, but for now I want you to concentrate on hearing our ancestors. Getcomfortable,” Magda said.
Amelia shifted around until she was in a meditative pose and triedto relax as best she could.
“Our ancestors, their spirits, their voices are where our powercomes from. Every witch who has lived is a part of how and why we can use magicand manipulate reality. For now we are on this side, but one day we will be onthe other.”
“The Grand Duchess and my mother?” Amelia asked.
“Yes, both powerful witches, and they are with us always.”
“Why did my mind open when I was, you know, with Byron?” Ameliafelt heat building in her cheeks.
“That celebration of love, of passion, leaves you as open andvulnerable as you can possibly be. You let go of worldly concerns, worries,problems, and the voices of our ancestors are tuned in and turned up, like aradio. Every witch has a different method of tuning in, whatever they mostidentify with or find important. So how do you think you can get in tune withthat experience?”
Amelia knew immediately. “I didn’t know who I truly was until Imet Byron. She gave me the freedom and security to become the Amelia I alwayswanted to be.”
Magda smiled. “Then you focus on Byron and your love. Take my handsand close your eyes.”
Amelia held Magda’s hands and closed her eyes as directed. Sheheard Magda gasp at her touch, and she opened her eyes quickly. “What’s wrong?”
Magda stared at her silently. “Do you feel quite well?”
“Yes, why? In fact I’ve been full of more energy since we camehome,” Amelia said.
“Good, good. Now close your eyes.”
Amelia did as she was asked. There was something Magda was keepingfrom her, she knew it. It was a strange question to ask out of nowhere.
Magda continued, “Now think about Byron, picture her, and feel thelove filling up your body.”
She started to feel the love and warmth spread around her body,then envelop it.
“Take deep breaths and concentrate on the garbled voices,” Magdasaid.
The voices were loud, shouting over each other, but with each breaththey quietened, slowed, and started to become an individual voice.
We will help you, Amelia.