“Do you recognize this relic?” My father held the talisman in the air.
Cally studied it for a moment, squinting her eyes for a better look. “No.”
“Do you claim to have any knowledge of its magic being used in ways not in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth by the Council?”
“I . . .” Her lip began shaking. “I don’t know.”
“Have you used this talisman to cast?” My father’s voice deepened.
“No!” she cried. “I swear it!”
“Lies will not be tolerated in regard to the Council. I will ask you again.”
“Have you used or do you have knowledge of a witch or warlock using this talisman to go against the regulations of the Council?”
I’d never seen her this way, never so afraid, never so fearful of what may happen to her. Cally was always strong and brave, but now . . . my heart sank watching her put on trial this way. I hated it, I hated that it had come to this and that I was somehow in the middle of it.
“All right.” My father steadied himself. “I call to the floor the Haerewayh Coven, protectors of the Legacy Library and all the realms’ history.”
At the far corner of the room, a door opened. From it shone a bright light and in the middle of that light were four shadows, each one growing closer with every second. Abben, Halloway, Kianna, and . . . “Babbs?” I turned to Nicco. “Why is Babbs standing with the coven?”
“Beats me?” He shrugged. “She looks good, though. They all do.”
He was right. And that was obviously thanks to Babbs. I knew her style and design like the back of my hand, and here it was on full display, right in front of my father and every other member of the Council. They must have hated it. That’s my girl!
“This talisman . . .” Abben snapped her fingers, calling the small relic into her palm. “This talisman wields great power to those who hold it. It can call forth demons older than words. It can do many things. Recently, however, it was used for just one, something forbidden within every realm, something that can alter the truth.”
Abben began circling Cally, her words strong and studied, her movements calculated and free of hesitation. She was strong and studied, the most fearsome thing in the room. Probably the most fearsome thing in any room.
“There is one small caveat.” She stopped just behind Cally. “The magic, though powerful, can be reversed.”
And now, it was game on. The truth was, she was lying. The magic inside that thing was far too old and powerful to ever be reversed. But hopefully, no one else knew that. It was going to take Abben and my father to hopefully bluff enough to reveal the truth.
“A simple incantation from its sister relic, and the magic will subside, revealing its truth. However, it comes with a price.”
“What price is that?” Cally asked, her voice barely audible.
“I’m afraid I don’t know,” Abben answered. “The talisman will decide. I can assure you, though, that the cost will be higher than anything previously thought possible.”
“Wait.” My father stood. “Another chance. For good faith. Cally Whiterock, this is your chance to come clean, to tell the truth and save yourself from a fate worse than death.”
Cally stepped forward, her eyes locking tightly onto the female council member seated next to my father. The woman returned her look, locking eyes with Cally, with her daughter.
“Stop this!” She stood. “I cannot go on. I am Victoria Whiterock. It was I who took the talisman, I who used it to call forth the demons, and I who killed two innocent mortals. I did it for the love of a daughter, for the opportunity that was robbed of her by Ginni Black!”
“I have done nothing!” I leapt to my feet. “It wasn’t me who held your daughter back. It was you. She couldn’t leave you. She wouldn’t! Maybe if you hadn’t made her feel so guilty about having dreams . . . dreams you thought would prevent you from ascending the ranks.” I was so furious. I hated being accused of something I hadn’t done, and I especially hated being held responsible for another person’s choices. “You’re looking at me, but I won’t take the blame here. Your daughter’s broken dreams are on you!”
“I’ve always known you wanted a seat at the Council.” My father looked at Victoria. “But I’d have never suspected this. You’ve gone against the Council, used forbidden magic, and broken years of tradition. From this moment, you are stripped of your seat and will be given a trail.”
“You!” Victoria yelled. It took a second for me to realize she was talking to her daughter and not me, which was somehow even worse. “You did this! You had a simple task. Create an illusion that couldn’t be traced back! You’ve failed, again!”
Power can make people do and say horrible things. Everyone knows that. But in no world, realm, or existence could I imagine my father saying such things to me. I couldn’t imagine what kind of person could do that and just how much it would hurt to hear it. I looked at Cally, tears streaming down her face. It hadn’t been her behind all of this, and now I understood things a little better. I understood her anger, or at least I thought I did.
22
“Hello, everyone.” I took the runway. “And thank you for coming. Almost since the moment I signed on for this show, my world has been turned upside down in more ways than I could ever explain, and what you are about to see is the result of that. My collection is called Vanguard. By blending old-world influences with modern-day thought, it is my representation of true magic. I hope you enjoy!”
My heart raced faster than it ever had as I stepped behind the screen. This meant everything to me. It was at once my future and my past, and I was showing it to the world. Babbs wrapped her hands around my waist, squeezing me tightly and releasing a gleeful shriek. We’d worked nonstop to get everything ready in the last few minutes, sewing, stitching, and tucking every seam until we were left with nothing but perfection. At least, in our eyes.
“I’m so proud of you,” Pascal said. “You really did make it happen. And these models. I mean . . . it’s just perfect.”
“Thank you,” I said as the music began playing and the lights went low.
Seconds later, my first look hit the runway. A gold and black form-fitting baroque gown turned the corner. Flowing from its underskirt was red and white checked jersey knit cotton, something completely unexpected and out of the box. I’d never been more proud as I studied the eyes of the onlookers, each one fixated on the garment I’d brought to life. That, however, wasn’t the best part.
“I can’t believe you pulled this off.” Pascal placed his hand on my shoulder. “So many young witches, most of whom have never been outside the magical realm, each one walking the runway. It’s a stroke of genius.”
“He’s right.” I turned to see my dad standing behind me. “You’re changing things, Ginni, and for the better. My daughter, the revolutionary.” His eyes quickly filled with tears. “Times are changing, and the only way to survive is to change with them. I see that now. We all do.” My father took my hand and walked to the edge of the stage. In the audience sat the magical council, each member dressed like a mortal, each one watching my garments flutter past them. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of you and how proud your mother would be.” The tears ran down his face as he pressed my head into his shoulder and squeezed me tightly.
Maybe I’d just been too busy, or maybe his outlook changed more rapidly than I’d thought, but my father’s words surprised me. I hadn’t expected this. I knew he loved me, sure. I knew he would never try and hold me back, to keep me from my dream. But for him to come here, for him to actually say the things he had, I really didn’t have the words to say how happy it made me.
“Dad. Look!” I said, pointing to the screen at the rear of the runway. “There she is!”
Cally Whiterock gave her best model pose, then, like a storm ready to strike, she stepped out, her feet stomping the ground as though she were walking into her future. Long gold silk flowed from her, tightening just at her waist and s
naking up the rest of her body. Tight cords of black piping crisscrossed down her exposed back. It was gorgeous, sexy, and just revealing enough to be shown in a magazine. And better than that, she looked damn good wearing it, as though she were finally somewhere she belonged.
It’s funny, really, how once the truth comes out and you understand why people do and say the things they do, well, the past just kind of melts away . . . doesn’t it?
“Work it, girl!” I yelled, laughter billowing out from deep within me.
“Oh, she’s workin’ it, all right!” Babbs said. “Another few steps and that dress will owe her a paycheck!”
Not one to toot my own horn, but things went pretty well for me that night, and now they were getting even better . . .
“What’s this?” I asked, stepping out of the arena.
The show had ended only minutes before, and I’d stepped out for some air, only to be completely taken aback by what I saw.
“Dinner,” Nicco answered. He looked so good, so ruggedly handsome. I knew as soon as our eyes met that there was no way I could say no. Not when a black velvet blazer wrapped him the way it did, not when those dimples caught the moonlight the way they were doing then. “I figured it was time to celebrate. Besides, it just occurred to me that we’ve never been on a date.”
“All right.” I smiled, placing my hand into his as he helped me into the limousine. “I can go for that.”
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The End
THE END
Witches & Stitches Page 13
