Page 27 of Witch's Betrayal
12
DEJA
Ahalf-hour later, I opened the door to my apartment above the tea shop and looked around at everything longingly.
I walked through and tried to mentally catalog everything, deciding what I should sell or keep. The guys' house was big enough to fit all of my furniture if I wanted to bring everything with me, but I didn't see the need. I pieced my apartment together slowly over time. Before my shop made any money, I slept on blankets on the floor. As my business became established and grew, I slowly added more.
But that stage of my life already felt like so long ago, I realized as I ran an affectionate finger along the back of my thrift store IKEA couch. I didn't need to bring this all with me because I was starting a new chapter in this lifetime. My goal was no longer to make it through another day with a few dollars in my bank account. With my newfound powers and my memories of my past lives to guide me, my purpose became much bigger.
I was created to rebel, to push back against those who sought to control. To instill burning curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge to the human race, and use the power granted by Lord Lucifer to achieve that goal. I was meant to educate the ignorant and deflate massively oversized egos.
And I didn't need my ragtag, mismatched furniture to accomplish that. Just some clean clothes, toiletries, and my stash of tea.
I threw my essentials in a weekender bag and took another look around my place. My eyes rested on my tiny herb garden in the window and those plants pulled to me. That tall, bushy Thai basil plant was my first manifestation of earth magic. After a neighborhood squirrel chewed it down to a two-inch stem, I grew it back to its full glory before I even knew what earth magic was.
I shifted my bag on my shoulder as I hesitated by the door. I'd have to bring those plants with me. One of the guys could help me take them back to the house another day.
Just as I turned to leave, a shock of white hair flashed in my peripheral vision and I stopped dead in my tracks.
"Diana!" I gasped.
My grandmother stood squarely blocking my doorway, arms folded and face tense. More recently she began to look a lot less like the sweet mother figure I'd been missing, and more like, well, a crabby old witch.
"Back at your own place, I see," she said casually, although her tone was cold. "Or are you leaving again?"
"Yes, leaving," I answered just as coldly. She didn't need to know I'd be moving out for good. "Did you need something?"
She lifted her chin at me defiantly. "There's an emergency coven meeting in the woods. Laurel asked me to fetch you."
My heart dropped into my stomach but I kept my expression the same. "Emergency meeting about what?"
"I guess we'll find that out when we go." She jerked her head to the exit. "Let's go."
"Seriously, now?" I demanded. "I'm kind of in the middle of something."
"Yes Deja, now." Her patronizing tone sent my blood simmering. She spoke to me like I was a misbehaving toddler.
I stood my ground, tightening my grip on my back as I began reaching out for Ash with my aura. Diana would likely be able to see it reaching out for communication, so I focused hard on using its invisible shadow side.
"Why did Laurel send you for me?" I asked, stalling for time. "You're not even part of the coven."
She huffed out a sigh, clearly at the end of her rope with me. "Because I'm the only one who knows where you live and Laurel is my good friend." She fixated a narrow-eyed gaze at me. "Really Deja, have I done something to warrant this attitude of yours?"
"Myattitude?" I repeated, incredulous. "How aboutyoushowing up to my place unannounced and trying to dictate my time? Scheduling lessons without consulting me? Demanding I come to emergency meetings with no notice? I'm adult, Diana. I have a life and a business. I won't just come when you tell me to jump."
Her face softened and I saw the grandmother I recognized once again, the one who opened the witching world to me and taught me the basics of my powers.
"I'm sorry, dear. I just--" She ran a hand down her face and her large amber eyes watered. "You remind me of your mother so much. I just worry about you." A shuddering sigh escaped her. "I panic and have these moments of needing to know desperately where you are and who you're with. I couldn't bear it if I lost you to the same type of evil I lost Deidre."
Torn, I bit my lip. She was referring to my guys. Damn, why did I have to tell her I hung out with demons back then? It was so profoundly naive of me, but I didn't know any better.
And as she cried softly there on my doorstep, I didn't know how to tell her that it most likely wasn't demons that killed my mom, but another witch.
Slowly, I reached out and patted her back and shoulder. She turned and enveloped me in a tight hug.
"Come on, Gran," I muttered. "Let's see what this meeting is about."
"Ah, yes." She wiped her eyes and smiled sheepishly. "Forgive me, dear. I'll try to be better about respecting your space."
