I Wish... (19 page)

“I’m- I’m really sorry. I didn’t realize you couldn’t help it.” And I was sorry. Not just for insulting her, but for what had to be an incredible curse to live with.

Olivia smirked, “Don’t worry about me. I get by ok.”

Elizabeth clapped her hands together. “Now that that’s sorted out, Olivia, I’m going to need you to mentor Jane. Teach her what to expect from our town’s customs and traditions. She’s clearly not prepared to deal with our lifestyle right now and the poor dear is going to get herself into trouble if she keeps waltzing into Cora Spencer’s house.”

“You were in the Spencer house? And survived?” Olivia whistled. “You’re braver than I would have guessed. And stupider. If Lydia leaves a piece of you, Cora will finish it off. The Spencers and the Madisons have been feuding forever.”

Elizabeth patted Olivia’s shoulder. “Now you see why I need you on this job. The poor girl doesn’t have enough sense to keep herself alive.”

Olivia shook her head and hooked her thumbs through her belt loops. “I’ll do what I can, but I’m not sure what I can do about her death wish.”

Elizabeth started to speak, but the doorbell echoed through the house. “Oh, the Hunter is here. Jane, can you wait with the other ladies? Olivia, you can go too if you want. I’ll be right there.”

Elizabeth jogged off, but Olivia and I strolled at a more sedate pace to join the other members of the Coven. They greeted Olivia enthusiastically and I’ll admit that it hurt my feelings a little bit since most of them stared me down like an unsavory transient who had wandered into the room.
Don’t worry. I didn't forget that I'm the outsider.

Elizabeth entered the room with a tall, delicate looking girl trailing behind her. The girl had long blond hair and milky white skin. Her eyes were cast downward even as Elizabeth introduced her to the rest of us.

“This is a Hunter named Hilary. She will use her power today to tell us how much magic potential Jane has. Hilary?”

“Yes, Mother?” She asked.

“Will sensing Jane’s magic potential show you what sort of power she has?” The tone of the question made me think that this was, in part at least, a ritual call and response.

Hilary shook her head, eyes still on the ground. “No Mother. I can only tell how strong her power is, not any specifics.”

Elizabeth addressed the rest of us, “Does anyone have any questions before we begin?”

Nobody spoke up and a few women shook their heads. Elizabeth motioned for me to join them where they stood, just inside of the room.

I shuffled across the floor, I kept my eyes down, unwilling to risk making accidental eye contact with Cora or one of her minions. Although my logical mind understood that this was all part of a long standing tradition, I still resented having to submit to this in front of these nosy old bats. Because Cora Spencer wanted to prove that even if she’s not the one in charge, she can still beat me with centuries of ceremony and smother me under the weight of generations of witches I didn’t even know existed a few months ago.

Hilary didn’t wait for my reluctant approach. She stepped forward to meet me and put her hands lightly on my temples and forced me to look into her face. We locked eyes. I don’t know what she saw, but I saw her eyes widen and noticed her nostrils flaring and forehead wrinkling before she dropped her hands and stepped away.

“Well?” Elizabeth asked. “Does Jane have enough magic potential to become the Madison Family’s next Matriarch?”

Hilary, who was still staring at me, jumped when Elizabeth spoke to her. One last wondering glance at me and she focused on the floor again. “Yes, Mother. Her potential is the strongest I’ve ever sensed. By a lot. I’m not sure her magic has a limit. Whatever it is that she does, she has the capability to have total mastery of it.”

I looked over my shoulder at Ramona who sat there looking smug. Cora alternated between glaring daggers at her and I. Ramona didn’t seem to mind though. She leaned back into her seat, crossed her legs gracefully, and started swinging her foot. All the while her smug expression had devolved into a self-satisfied smirk.

Why not be pleased? I’m a tool. Her tool. And she just found out that I’m more useful than she’d hoped and now everyone else knows it too.

I ground my teeth together, suddenly furious. Who were these women to play with my life as if it were no more important to them than a game piece? A pawn to be played strategically until it was eventually captured and too bad if it wasn’t something I wanted.

“Can I go now?” I bit out. “I don’t feel very well.”

Ramona spoke up behind me, shocked at my audacity. “Absolutely not. Come and sit down.”

Elizabeth looked at me for a long moment before she said, “No, Ramona, we’ve got much to discuss with the introduction of this new information. Hilary, you’re dismissed. Jane, you can go too, but I want Olivia to walk you home.”

I thought briefly about arguing, but decided that it really wasn’t that bad of a deal. I didn’t dislike Olivia, but I didn’t trust her friendship with Lydia either.

I followed Olivia out of the room and even before we’d left earshot, the women began arguing. Planning out how best to use me, I was sure. I rolled my eyes and left the house hot on Olivia’s heels.

Olivia and I walked almost half a block before she spoke to me. “So what did you think of the Coven? That is the first time you’ve met them all, right?”

I nodded. “And if I’m lucky it’ll be the last time I have to do that.”

She shot me an amused look. “Ok, crazy lady. You clearly don’t understand how those women work if you think that after hearing that you’re the most powerful witch who ever lived, they won’t come up with a million reasons why you should form alliances with them.”

“Oh my God,” I muttered, “isn’t anybody in this town sincere?”

She smiled. “This town depends on dishonesty and behind the scenes power plays to survive. If anyone ever had the power to make everyone be truthful I think things would limp along for a week tops.” She caught my sour look. “Don’t worry though, you get used to it after a while.”

I groaned. “No, thanks. If I ever get that comfortable with being manipulated why don’t you just go ahead and shoot me?”

Olivia giggled. “I don’t think you’d need me to finish you off. If you aren’t careful who you trust someone else is likely to do the job.”

I knew she was just joking, but I had to ask, “Don’t you ever get tired of living this way? Every aspect of your life is under the Coven’s control, including who you marry someday.”

Her face turned stony and her body stiffened. “I won’t be getting married.”

I misinterpreted what she meant. “They told you that you can’t even get married? That’s ridiculous. I hope you told them to go to hell.”

“No,” she snapped. “Nobody told me I couldn’t get married. But nobody is going to want to marry a woman they can’t have sex with.”

“Why wouldn’t they- Oh.” I remember the blackened spot on Elizabeth’s cheek. “Because of your Talent?”

Olivia nodded, all traces of humor gone now. “What you saw with Mother was just a quick peck on the cheek. Sustained contact can kill people and the effects seem to be strongest when I touch someone with my hands.”

I frowned at the sidewalk, angry with myself. I couldn’t think of anything to say that could possibly make the moment a little lighter.

She shrugged. “It’s actually really lucky that I have Mother. Not only can I touch her, but since she’ll never die, it doesn’t matter that I can’t have kids. In another Family I would have been killed years ago so that Natalie could be the new First Daughter.”

“Are you serious?” My discomfort was replaced with shock. “Families really kill their own kids?”

“Yup. It’s not really common. Usually they’ll let a kid grow up and have their own daughter. That’s what happened in your case, right? Your mom’s power isn’t very strong so the title will jump right over her if your Mother dies?”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“A few years ago, in a Family with serious aspirations to joining the Coven, there was a car accident that killed a woman, her mother, and her daughter. The woman’s sister became the new First Daughter because their mother was an only child. Nobody could prove the Mother had anything to do with the accident, but it’s not like anybody really tried.”

“Really? And you’re sure it was the Mother who planned it?” My voice sounded strangled in my ears. I cleared my throat.

“Positive. The sad part is that they aren’t even close to breaking into the Coven. They have a lot of hopes, but no strength to back it up. I think they are maybe eighth in line.”

“That’s my house, up there.” I pointed.

“Give me your phone.” She programmed her number into my phone, fingers flying as fast as Elizabeth’s had earlier. “I know we haven’t talked much, but if Mother wants us to be friends, that’s what we’re going to do. Call me if you need anything. We’ll plan to start doing things together.”

“You don’t actually have to do this, you know.” I told her. “If she asks, I’ll tell your Mother that we’ve been hanging out.”

“Look, you really do seem like a nice person. I don’t mind doing this. Lydia will probably have a kitten if she finds out, but I really don’t care what Lydia Spencer thinks about anything. Believe me, if there were more options in this town, I’m not sure anyone would talk to her. You may not have noticed, but she’s a bit of a bitch.”

She spoke the line in such a deadpan voice that it took me a minute to realize she was kidding. I laughed at the incredible understatement.

“So call me, ok? I mean it.” She said.

I nodded my agreement. “Ok,” I smiled. “I’ll do that.”

I let myself into the house and went directly to my room. I hoped that Krista might be home, but she wasn’t so I laid back on my bed with my hands folded over my stomach. I traced the patterns of the shadows with my eyes and thought about everything I’d learned that day. I was the most powerful witch in a town full of witches. Lucky for me or else my own Family might try to kill me. And what about Olivia? I’d really gotten to know a new side of her personality. I was a little embarrassed by how happy I about the prospect of being friends with her. I was still grinning when I fell asleep a few minutes later.

Despite my nap on Sunday afternoon, I couldn’t sleep that night. Every time I managed to fall asleep, I’d jerk awake, my heart pounding. I have no memories of my morning classes on Monday. I spent most of the morning struggling to stay awake. I was like a zombie as I got my tray of food and sat at my usual table at lunch.

If I hadn't been so exhausted, I might have noticed sooner that something was off. I didn't even look up with Lydia joined us, sitting on the far side of Zane who was sitting beside me. I didn't think she'd try anything at school. For the moment, I was safe, sandwiched between Evan and Zane.

I was marginally aware of conversation happening around me. Evan attempted to engage me a couple of times, but I told him I wasn't feeling well and he quit bothering me. I was nearly in another doze when I saw Lydia lean in and give Zane a kiss. Not a sisterly kiss on the cheek either.

When they finished, I leaned over and whispered, "Great pick. Nobody will ever guess your secret now."

Zane looked startled. "What are you talking about? I don't understand what you mean."

Now I felt confused. "You know, about what you told me at James' party the other night? How many secrets do you have anyway?" I laughed.

He shook his head. "I think that you're confused. James? James Middleton? He's never had a party that I'm aware of. I've been to a couple of his older brother's parties, but none lately and I don't think you've been to one when I have."

I looked around the table and realized that James wasn't sitting with us. "Where's James?" I asked, a sinking feeling in my stomach.

Lydia overheard us and laughed "James Middleton? He sits over there." She gestured at a table across the cafeteria where a group of Second Daughters and kids from weak Families hung out. James sat on the end of the table. People surrounded him, but he wasn't talking to any of them and nobody talked to him either. He wasn't wearing his usual flamboyant clothes. His face was cleanly shaven and his hair combed. I was looking at a guy who was trying his hardest not to make waves. That was as far from James' personality as it as possible to be.

I looked at Lydia. "Didn't you guys used to date?"

Her nose wrinkled. "Ewwww... never. Anyway, I've been dating Zane for ages. Even if James wasn't totally awful, I haven't been available."

Mattie nodded in agreement. "None of us would ever date James. Maybe a Second Daughter, but I've never seen him go out with anyone."

I protested. "But he's from a good Family. His mother is Tatiana Middleton so you know he's from a good bloodline."

Lydia grinned at me. "If you want him, he's all yours. I don't think you'll have to fight any of us for him."

Mattie said. "There are lots of guys from good Families. Why would any of us want to be with someone like James?"

Everyone at the table was looking at me funny.

"Do you feel ok, Thistle?" Natalie asked me.

Olivia added, "You look terrible."

I stood up so abruptly that my chair clattered to its side on the floor. "Actually, I think I'm going to be sick."

I covered my mouth with my hand and dashed out of the cafeteria in a blind panic.
What have I done?

I saw Krista in the hall in front of me talking to some of her friends. I didn't even bother to find my manners. I just rushed between Krista and one of the girls beside her and grabbed her arm and dragged her away from them. She shrugged at them and let me yank her away.

She looked concerned. "Thistle, what's wrong?"

I looked around to make sure nobody was watching us and then pulled her into an empty classroom. "My wish worked. James isn't an arrogant jerk anymore. He's actually so introverted and unsocial that he has no friends and the First Daughters I eat with laughed at the idea of dating him."

She crossed her arms. "Good. I think it serves him right. He's been awful to people for so long he really deserves this."