Page 51 of A Lesson in Deceit
I shook my head,coming back into the present and trying to remember what my mom was saying. Ah, right, she thought I was spending all my time with my boyfriend.
“I am not,” I answered, knowing my response was less than believable.
I tried not to at least. Now that his new dynamic with Grayson was on the table, I had a feeling it would be much harder not to, especially with how they worked so well as ateam. Fuck, I had to get my mind back to mom appropriate topics. Getting railed by my boyfriend and his best friend less than twenty-four hours ago was not something I wanted to subconsciously bring up.
I could smellthe food from upstairs while I lounged on my bed. Beau had his head resting on my pillow, his eyes closed as he snoozed. His body was as close to me as possible, radiating heat I didn’t think was possible, but I didn’t mind.
I stared up at the ceiling, putting everything I knew into perspective. My dad didn’t just fall out his window, he was pushed. He was pushed by someone with the powers to do so…and then some. There had to be something in his office that was left behind, like the glass piece I’d found outside. I started to think about the missing witches Corrin had mentioned and how that all fit in. From the outside, I would assume they were two completely different issues, but I’d read way too many books to think anything was simply just a coincidence. The real question was how the hell were they connected.
My phone vibrated causing Beau to jerk up, stunned out of his sleep. I laughed, turning my phone over.
CORRIN
My determination is my best attribute because I was able to extract some other powers from the glass piece. Yes, I might have burned myself again, but never fear, I am fine.
That doesn’t make me feel better.
CORRIN
Do you want to know what I found or not?
Of course I do.
CORRIN
So, there’s a ton of elemental magic in there, some green witch skills, slight healing. It’s like little bits of everything. Magic has a shape and form when you break it down on a molecular level and some of these are misshapen. Whoever’s magic this is, they’ve been harboring all these skills for a while, farming them.
Can anyone actually have multiple powers?
CORRIN
Yes and no. You can gain both your parent’s skills if you are born from two magic wielders. Or some witches can learn another skill if they are really that determined, but it doesn’t happen often. It’s usually easier when it’s a skill that molds well with the one you’ve already been born with. I couldn’t just decide to try out Ike’s metal magic on a whim.
I considered River’s powers and knew that most people heard him say telepathy and put him in the only mind reading category. He had developed his magic into so much more than that, but he didn’t like to use it all the time.
Another text came through.
CORRIN
Multiple powers of this magnitude isn’t normal unless you’re siphoning it.
Like stealing it?
CORRIN
Exactly.
Let me add that the only time that is possible is during one of the witches’ moon gatherings. You would have to know exactly what you’re doing to take powers and not have anyone really notice. Telekinesis and one of the elements was an original power from them, something they were born with, but that’s all. They are clearly a powerful enough witch to siphon for however long they’ve been doing it.
Witches’ moon gatherings? Like what your coven does?
She sent me a thumbs up.
CORRIN
I’m not saying it’s my coven specifically, but the witches that are missing are ours, so it just makes sense to assume.
How would my dad fit into any of this?
