Romani Magic (Shifter Blood: Romani Curse Book 3)

by Frances Trilone

  I sat up, feeling annoyed. “Crap like that doesn’t matter to me. I thought you knew me better than that.”

  “I know you don’t care, but everyone else will, including your friends. Us pretending to date won’t work. You’ve been here for two weeks, and we haven’t been seen together.”

  “That doesn’t matter. I’ve spent a lot of time studying by myself, in the library, in the garden, at the gazebo, and sometimes I get back late. We can say we’ve been secretly dating since we met in Woodlake.”

  “What about the fact you told Rosella and Orla to pick a date for you?”

  “I can say you wanted to keep our relationship a secret, but now you’ve changed your mind.”

  Garrett stared at me, saying nothing.

  “It’s a win-win situation, and you know it. After the Mabon Ball, we can break up amicably and remain friends. You can introduce me to your dad, and I don’t have to worry about some warlock kissing me good night. You can even help me with learning spells and controlling my powers.” I gave Garrett my best pitiful face. “Please, cutie pie.”

  “Fine, but don’t call me cutie pie. That just sounds weird, and you need to tell Rosella and Orla you have a date. But don’t tell them it’s me. We must do this the right way.” He sighed. “You’re right about my dad though. He is expecting me to bring a witch.”

  “See. It’s perfect.”

  “Get some sleep. We’ll work out the details tonight,” Garrett said.

  I smiled, lay back down, and closed my eyes. In less than twelve hours, I’d gained my powers and found a date for the Lughnasadh Feast.

  Everything was working out much better than I’d expected.

  Chapter 14

  “I can’t believe you’ve had a boyfriend this whole time and haven’t told us.” Orla scooped scrambled eggs onto her plate and grabbed several strips of bacon.

  Ever since yesterday afternoon, when I’d told Orla and Rosella that I had a date, they hadn’t let the subject drop. I’d wolfed down my dinner last night because once everyone in Hale House had learned the truth, they’d bombarded me with questions.

  “What’s his name?” Cindy took a sip from her coffee mug as she studied me.

  “I promised I wouldn’t say. He’s already nervous about revealing our relationship. I don’t want anyone harassing him. Besides, you’ll see who he is at the feast this weekend.” I ate the fruit on my plate, wanting to get away from the dining room before any more girls showed up.

  “I don’t like this,” Rosella said. “What if he backs out at the last minute? You can’t go to this picnic alone. It’ll ruin your reputation.”

  “She’s right,” Cindy said. “I haven’t seen you hang out with anyone since you got here, except the High Council witches and us. I hope you’re not lying about this because—”

  “Sienna’s not lying.” Orla touched my hand and smiled. “I think it’s sweet he’s nervous, and I can’t wait to meet him.”

  “He’s very cute too.” I stood and thought of Garrett. He’d laugh at me for saying he’s cute. “I’d better go before I’m late for my training with Calandra.”

  “Are you sure you’re not meeting your boyfriend?” Rosella’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe I should come with you.”

  “We’re not seeing each other until Saturday, but if you don’t believe me, then come. I’m sure Calandra would love for you to join us.” With a smirk at Rosella, I picked up Marie’s grimoire from the table and walked out of the dining room.

  Calandra had left me a note this morning, telling me to bring Marie’s grimoire to the First Altar and providing directions on how to get there. Before breakfast, Orla had told me a witch always invokes the elements after gaining her powers, so I was nervous for this morning’s training.

  “Sienna, I’m glad I caught you,” Julius said as I closed Hale House’s front door. Dressed in black pants and a fitted blue polo shirt, he looked immaculate as always. “I’ve been out of town for a few days and just got back this morning. Ava told me the good news about your powers. I was hoping to catch you before you met Calandra. May I walk with you?”

  I nodded, smiling at how Julius was always such a gentleman. Had Cyprian been like that? “I’m meeting Calandra at the First Altar.”

  “Let me get us a ride.” He pulled out his cell phone as we walked along the sidewalk toward the main road. After texting someone, he returned his phone to his pocket. “How do you feel?”

  “I feel the same. Should I feel different?”

  “Some witches do. I heard what happened with the vases. Have you tried using your telekinetic powers again?”

  “Yes. I tried to move several things in my room this morning, but nothing happened.” I sighed, glancing at Castor House as we walked by, wondering if Garrett was awake. I didn’t like the idea of waiting until Saturday to see him, especially when I could use his help in understanding how my telekinetic powers worked.

  “That’s because you’re trying too hard.” Julius stopped walking and turned to face one of the houses. “You see that open window on the second floor? I want you to close it.”

  I looked up at the window with the curtain blowing in the breeze and closed my eyes, willing it to close.

  “Sienna, open your eyes. What exactly has Calandra been teaching you?” Julius chuckled.

  “I just got my powers yesterday.” I hugged Marie’s grimoire and sighed. “It’s not like I knew I’d be telekinetic.”

  “My apologies. I didn’t mean to laugh at you, but powerful witches should always keep their eyes open. Can you explain to me what you were doing when you closed them?”

  “I was willing the window to close.”

  “That’s your problem. Do it again, but this time, keep your eyes open, look at it, and command it to close.”

  “Okay.” I stared at the window again. “Close.”

  The window slammed shut.

  Squealing, I jumped up and down, then flung myself into Julius’ arms. “I can’t believe it worked. Did you see that?”

  “Yes.” Laughing, Julius released me. “You’re a natural. For future reference, you don’t have to say the command aloud. You can, of course, but you don’t have to. Just think it or say it in your mind. Should we try something else?”

  “I’d like to, but I can’t be late to meet Calandra. What if we got together tonight and you could teach me a few things?” I looked at the closed window, bouncing from foot to foot. Julius made training easy. I should have taken him up on the offer for help a long time ago.

  “Unfortunately, I have plans, but how about we meet later this week?”

  “Sounds good,” I replied.

  “Rumor has it several witches are going out dancing downtown tonight. I hope you’re not joining them.”

  “I haven’t heard anything. But no, I wouldn’t go. I’m still a marked witch.”

  “Yes, I’d forgotten about the Rocklin wolves,” he said as we continued walking and stopped on the side of the street that led to the coven’s main gates. “Our ride should be here shortly.”

  I shifted my weight to one side. “Thanks for showing me how to use my telekinetic powers. Calandra told me she’d test me today.”

  “Anytime. Just make sure you practice with different objects, so you get used to it.” Julius ran a hand through his blond hair and glanced down the street. “This might sound silly, but I was worried about you.”

  “Why?”

  He lowered his voice. “You must promise not to tell anyone what I’m about to say. It must stay between us. The High Council must never know I told you. Can I trust you?”

  “Yes.” I crossed my fingers and held them up. “I promise.”

  “A witch has gone missing.”

  “You mean the girl who ran away with her boyfriend? Isn’t she in Ireland?”

  “No. They found her,” he replied with a shake of his head. “A different girl disappeared from her bedroom last week. She didn’t have any family or a boyfriend, and her room had been tur
ned upside down.”

  “I don’t understand. I’ve not heard anyone talking about a missing witch. How come no one knows about this?”

  “The coven leaders didn’t realize other covens had witches missing until this last girl disappeared. She’d belonged to another coven, so they contacted them to see if she was there, and the dots started to connect.”

  “How many?”

  “Eleven witches. They found four of them dead with their throats ripped apart, but the other seven are still missing. The High Council believes either a wolf or a tatcho vampire’s behind this. Calandra told us about the vampires showing up in Woodlake. Now that you have your powers, you have to be careful. That’s why I’m worried and don’t want you leaving the coven.”

  “I’ll be careful,” I said.

  “I know you’re close to Rosella and Orla. But you can’t tell them either. I just wanted you to know what’s happening and why it’s important that you learn to invoke the five elements and kill this beast. This army you’re supposed to lead one day sounds like something we need.”

  “I won’t tell anyone.” Not wanting to think about this army that everyone believed I was going to lead, I looked away. I had no desire to kill the beast, particularly if there was any possibility it was a wolf.

  “There’s our ride.” Julius waved to the golf cart in the distance. “I hope I didn’t frighten you. The High Council will get to the bottom of whatever’s going on and stop whoever’s doing this. You have nothing to worry about.”

  I nodded as the golf cart stopped beside us, and we climbed in. If the High Council had a plan, then Julius was right. They’d work together to stop whatever was happening and find the other missing witches.

  Chapter 15

  “This time, try lifting both together.” Calandra pointed to the bowls she’d placed on the First Altar’s table.

  I stared at the two small wooden bowls, commanding them to move at the same time. One bowl lifted in the air while the other bowl wobbled in place and then fell to the ground. “I can’t.”

  For the past hour, Calandra had tested my telekinetic powers by having me do things like move a rock, pluck a leaf off a tree, and lift a branch from the ground. Then she’d given me more challenging tasks, like focusing on several items at once. With each attempt, I became more and more tired.

  “Good. I was afraid we’d be here for another hour.”

  “Why is it good that I’m getting worse at this, not better?” I stared at her in confusion.

  “You’re not getting worse at it. You’re just tired from all this testing. Witches normally drain their new powers within fifteen minutes of testing. Yours took longer than expected.”

  “Then we’re done for today?” I yawned, already looking forward to taking a nap even though it was only late morning. I could always practice moving more than one item later this afternoon.

  “No. You still need to invoke the elements, but first, let’s take a break. Where did you put Marie’s grimoire?”

  “Just over there.” I walked out of the pentacle and picked up Marie’s grimoire from a large boulder.

  “Bring it here please.” Calandra opened her bag and removed a vial, which she placed on the altar. Then she pulled out a knife. “Find the page with the pentacle and lay the book down.”

  I did as instructed, and watched as she emptied the vial into one of the wooden bowls. “Is that blood?”

  “Yes. I had the Romani Elders overnight Nells’ blood. It’s possible Marie used it for the protection spell.”

  “Did they say how she’s doing?” I missed Mom more than ever.

  “I spoke to Nells too. She’s doing well. I told her you were good; that you were learning how to cast spells and making friends.”

  It made me happy to hear that Mom was well. I just wished I could talk to her, but the Romani Elders wouldn’t allow it. One day, things would be different though. They’d need a favor from the witches, and I’d ask to tag along. They might have banished me from the Romani community, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t go to Woodlake. Of course, that’s assuming I was a strong witch who could handle the Norwood pack and any Rocklin wolves that might be hunting me.

  Calandra dipped her index finger into the bowl and traced the pentacle. She repeated this three times, and each time, the blood seeped into the pages.

  “What’s supposed to happen?” I asked.

  “The pentacle disappears, and anything ever written in the grimoire reappears.” She handed me the knife. “Let’s try your blood one more time. The protection spell may require that you have your powers.”

  “Is this magical like the one Julius had?” I examined the knife, loving the etched raven on the blade. “Except his had a dragon.”

  “Yes. They gift every High Council witch with a magical knife at their induction ceremony.”

  “Do I put my blood in a bowl?” I asked as I cut my hand.

  “No.” She shook her head. “Your blood is fresh. Just press it onto the page like you did last time.”

  I laid down the knife and pressed my hand to the pentacle. As before, nothing happened.

  “It was worth a try.” Calandra wiped the blade of her knife and put it away.

  I watched the cut mark on my hand disappear. “Marie and Cyprian both had magical knives, right?”

  “Yes, and you’re not the first witch to ask about their parents’ magical knives. When a witch is no longer on the High Council, the magic disappears including the symbol etched on the blade. Their knives become regular ones.” Calandra finished putting the rest of her stuff into her bag.

  “Do you think I have healing powers like Cyprian?” That had been my first thought when I woke up this morning. Everyone said I’d inherited Marie’s telekinetic powers, but no one had mentioned Cyprian’s healing ones. “Or do you only inherit one power from your parents?”

  “Some witches have several, but one is always dominant and appears first. Cyprian’s healing powers were useful, and you can spend time at the Healing Place to test your abilities. For now, focus on your telekinetic powers, as they’ll prove more useful in a battle.” She looked at me. “Is there any chance you’ve had visions like Marie?”

  “No.”

  “If you do, let me know,” she replied. “It’s also forbidden to heal the wolf shapeshifters.”

  I didn’t dare look at her as I thought about how I’d already healed Kaleb. “Why?”

  “The why isn’t important. You just need to know it’s a rule, and there are severe consequences if you break it,” she said. “Have you been practicing how to block your mind?”

  “Yes, but it’s not exactly easy to test.” I finally looked at her. “It’s not like I want to ask Grace to read my mind or have you touch me to see my past.”

  “You don’t have a choice. You must test your blocking skills. If you ask Grace and you’re unable to block her, she won’t push further and read your mind. She’s true to our values and respects privacy.” Calandra bent down to straighten the stones that formed the pentacle. “I know you have secrets, Sienna. Things you don’t want me to know, and I’ve respected that by not touching you. But if you don’t ask Grace, I will brush against you without you knowing and test your blocking skills. And unlike Grace, I won’t hold back.”

  I tried not to glare at her. At least she’d given me an option and hadn’t demanded she test me right now. “I’ll talk to Grace tomorrow.”

  “Very well, let’s get started. I want you to invoke the fire element and light one of these tiki torches.” She stepped outside the pentacle. “Have you memorized the invocation spells?”

  “Yes. But I thought I had an affinity for air. Shouldn’t I invoke that first?”

  “Fire’s the hardest. If you can invoke fire, then I’m not worried about the rest. That’s why I’ve stress tested your powers and drained your energy. We don’t want you catching the trees on fire.” She placed her hands on her hips. “Show me you know what you’re doing.”

 
I rolled my eyes at her and turned to face the lower right-hand point of the star. This time, I kept my eyes open, remembering what Julius had said about powerful witches never closing them. “Hail to the Guardians of the South, of the power of fire, I call upon thee. Come this way, I summon thee. As I will it, so shall it be.”

  Nothing happened, which honestly didn’t surprise me.

  “Try earth next, and then water.”

  I did as she said, facing the correct positions on the pentacle and reciting the invocations from the books. Again, nothing happened. “Should I try spirit?”

  “No. Spirit comes last; after you’ve invoked the rest.” She stepped farther back and glanced at the ground. “Try air.”

  “This is pointless,” I muttered. I was no Raven of Five. Maybe stress testing my telekinetic powers had been a mistake. Releasing a deep breath, I turned to face the upper-left point of the star, deciding to combine two invocations I’d memorized. “Hail to the Guardians of the East, I summon forth the powers of air. Come this way, I call upon thee. Be the air that is my breath. As I will it, so shall it be.”

  As I stared straight ahead, a slight breeze ruffled my hair. That was it? I’d invoked air, and all I’d got was a breeze. What good was that?

  “Not bad for your first time,” Calandra said.

  I brushed a leaf from my face. Make that a slight breeze and one leaf. “See, I told you I’m not this Lost Raven.”

  “Sienna, look at me.”

  I turned around, and my mouth fell open as leaves hurtled toward me, swirling around like a tornado. Laughing, I held out my arms.

  Calandra entered the circle. She looked as happy as I felt. Her black hair whipped around, covering her face as the wind picked up speed.

  “What do I do now?” I asked, lowering my arms as the leaves danced around us.

  “You send it back. Do you know how?”