A Witch's Trial (Witch's Path Series: Book 3) Read Online Free
Author: N. E. Conneely
stern word with him. Until then, I would let it be.
I pushed the worries and questions out of my head, emptying my mind and falling into a light trance. It felt good to be at peace, removed from the worry and frustration that had been dogging me for so long. The peaceful feeling lasted until my body started protesting.
My butt went numb, and I sat up to stretch. When I leaned back, the tree wasn't there. I opened my eyes to see the garden fading away, replaced by a campfire in a small clearing in the woods. This wasn't the first time I'd seen this clearing, but if the last meeting was any indication, I'd get cryptic answers and more questions before we were done here.
The fire and clearing were solidly in existence, at least in this dream of mine, when Sylvia walked out of the woods.
I stood up and dusted off my pants. "I'd greet you, but if memory serves, you don't like to use names."
"They have power."
"That they do. Are you going to tell me how you keep invading my dreams?" This was the second time, and it was irritating enough that Elron and I shared dreams; I didn't want to be having late-night meetings with his not-dead wife.
"Not now. I am short on time, and for the time being, it is a useful way to communicate." She folded her arms across her chest and leaned back while looking me up and down. "You've been hurting him, and the death of the werewolf was a substantial blow."
I nodded. She didn't have to name him; I knew she was talking about Gremory.
"That death bought you time. Use it wisely." Sylvia turned and marched back into the woods before the last word fell from her lips.
I woke up, tucked in bed at Mom's house, with predawn light coming in through the window.
*******
Breakfast was a quiet affair. We finished our food and were lingering at the table when Mom set down her glass and looked at me. "Michelle, can we go over some of the details of the wedding?"
"Oh, sure." I couldn't hide the hesitation in my voice.
"We'll have the ceremony and reception at Greg's house. It will be a reasonably small gathering," Mom said. "If you could come up here the night before, we can drive over together for the rehearsal. Dress is Sunday best."
I must have looked scared because Dad reached over and patted my hand. "It's going to be fine. We're going to have a lovely ceremony no matter what. You'll have a good time, and we'll still be here for you."
"What time should I be here?" I didn't know what to say to the rest of the plans, but I did need to know my scheduled arrival time.
"Could you be here around four?" Mom asked.
"Sure." Maybe with other witches around, I could finally find out what clan Dad was from. The thought perked me up.
"Michelle," Dad said, "will you be staying here today?"
I shook my head. "No, I've wallowed long enough. There's a pile of disenchanting waiting for me, and the world doesn't stop spinning because I had a bad day." I stood up, then started stacking dishes.
"You can come back anytime," Mom said.
Leaning over, I wrapped my arms around her. "I know, Mom. Thank you."
"Go pack your things. We can clean up."
I did as I was told. By the time I made it back downstairs, the kitchen was clean and they were ready to leave for work. I got hugs from both of them, Mom's with a worried smile and Dad's with an extra squeeze.
"I'll hunt around for relevant books. Be careful," Dad said.
"Thank you, and I will."
"Please be careful, and come back if being at the lodge is too hard."
"Yes, Mom. I'll call you." I rushed out the door before the situation could drag out.
Sometimes it was hard to tell if this family thing was going to work out. Dad and I spent most of our time pretending to have a relationship we didn't have, and Mom looked sad when the two of us failed to be convincing. Then Dad stood up for me, or backed Mom, and I could see it—family. Those moments of harmony gave me hope. Maybe we weren't pretending as much as we thought; maybe that's
I pushed the worries and questions out of my head, emptying my mind and falling into a light trance. It felt good to be at peace, removed from the worry and frustration that had been dogging me for so long. The peaceful feeling lasted until my body started protesting.
My butt went numb, and I sat up to stretch. When I leaned back, the tree wasn't there. I opened my eyes to see the garden fading away, replaced by a campfire in a small clearing in the woods. This wasn't the first time I'd seen this clearing, but if the last meeting was any indication, I'd get cryptic answers and more questions before we were done here.
The fire and clearing were solidly in existence, at least in this dream of mine, when Sylvia walked out of the woods.
I stood up and dusted off my pants. "I'd greet you, but if memory serves, you don't like to use names."
"They have power."
"That they do. Are you going to tell me how you keep invading my dreams?" This was the second time, and it was irritating enough that Elron and I shared dreams; I didn't want to be having late-night meetings with his not-dead wife.
"Not now. I am short on time, and for the time being, it is a useful way to communicate." She folded her arms across her chest and leaned back while looking me up and down. "You've been hurting him, and the death of the werewolf was a substantial blow."
I nodded. She didn't have to name him; I knew she was talking about Gremory.
"That death bought you time. Use it wisely." Sylvia turned and marched back into the woods before the last word fell from her lips.
I woke up, tucked in bed at Mom's house, with predawn light coming in through the window.
*******
Breakfast was a quiet affair. We finished our food and were lingering at the table when Mom set down her glass and looked at me. "Michelle, can we go over some of the details of the wedding?"
"Oh, sure." I couldn't hide the hesitation in my voice.
"We'll have the ceremony and reception at Greg's house. It will be a reasonably small gathering," Mom said. "If you could come up here the night before, we can drive over together for the rehearsal. Dress is Sunday best."
I must have looked scared because Dad reached over and patted my hand. "It's going to be fine. We're going to have a lovely ceremony no matter what. You'll have a good time, and we'll still be here for you."
"What time should I be here?" I didn't know what to say to the rest of the plans, but I did need to know my scheduled arrival time.
"Could you be here around four?" Mom asked.
"Sure." Maybe with other witches around, I could finally find out what clan Dad was from. The thought perked me up.
"Michelle," Dad said, "will you be staying here today?"
I shook my head. "No, I've wallowed long enough. There's a pile of disenchanting waiting for me, and the world doesn't stop spinning because I had a bad day." I stood up, then started stacking dishes.
"You can come back anytime," Mom said.
Leaning over, I wrapped my arms around her. "I know, Mom. Thank you."
"Go pack your things. We can clean up."
I did as I was told. By the time I made it back downstairs, the kitchen was clean and they were ready to leave for work. I got hugs from both of them, Mom's with a worried smile and Dad's with an extra squeeze.
"I'll hunt around for relevant books. Be careful," Dad said.
"Thank you, and I will."
"Please be careful, and come back if being at the lodge is too hard."
"Yes, Mom. I'll call you." I rushed out the door before the situation could drag out.
Sometimes it was hard to tell if this family thing was going to work out. Dad and I spent most of our time pretending to have a relationship we didn't have, and Mom looked sad when the two of us failed to be convincing. Then Dad stood up for me, or backed Mom, and I could see it—family. Those moments of harmony gave me hope. Maybe we weren't pretending as much as we thought; maybe that's
Readers choose
Max Brand
Alex Kava
Becky Flade
Jim LaMarche
Jill McCorkle
L.E. Waters
Luca Pesaro
Alaric Longward
Manda Collins
John Galligan