Page 10 of Heart of a Witch
I’d suspected so for a couple of days but wanted to believe otherwise. Every animal I’d found so far to use for the ritual had already been close to death.
At first I’d used bugs, but it wasn’t enough, so I moved on, but—
In the distance I spotted the silhouette of a doe, grazing on tall grass. They seldom came to this area of the forest, especially at night, but she was perfect, as if the gods had sent her to me to complete the spell.
With a heavy heart, I stepped forward, unsheathing the dagger that had been inside various creatures this past week.
I whispered a spell to quieten my movements. I needed only to incapacitate it for a moment. As I neared the doe, the dark magic running through my veins throbbed, pushing me onward. I pushed away all empathy, all kindness, letting my inner villain take over; I needed her to do this.
The creature wasn’t quick enough for my magic or blade. The light left her eyes quickly, a swift end. At least it had been painless. I dragged the carcass to my circle of symbols, coating the ground and the ring, bracelet, and necklaces in its blood.
Less than an hour passed, and the ritual was complete. I pressed my lips together, then buried the animal and my deed along with it.
All dark magic came at a price. By the time I finished washing the blood from my hands and jewelry, trying to push away the image of what I’d done in the forest, the voices returned. Every time I succeeded with a ritual, it brought me closer to madness, where things reached out in the dark beyond this world, and spirits loomed closer, waiting for me to move to the dark side, like other witches who played with dark things did.
I held onto the bow and violin as if they were a rope keeping me from the black hole where I might lose control. We’d heard the stories growing up, among us witch families hiding among humans for various reasons. When a witch cast too many hexes and performed rituals that fell outside of the normal magical boundaries… When they were sourced from a place of spirits and wild, evil things, eventually, they lost their minds.
I shuddered at the thought and placed the violin under my chin. I didn’t do the magic frequently enough to truly hurt myself long term. My mind would heal, but the first day after a dark ritual was the worst.
I played. The music was my voice, and with it, I could say anything. Music tore the emotions I kept so far down, flooding them outward in melodies for all to hear. I closed my eyes, perfecting each stroke, every movement calculated to deliver the perfect sound.
By the time I finished my song, I was crying. I had no idea why. Wiping my tears on the back of my sleeve, I placed the instrument on my bed. I jumped when a shuffle sounded behind me, accompanied by a footstep so light, it could have been mistaken for something else if I hadn’t already been so on edge.
“You always did play so beautifully.”
“Mother.” I swallowed thickly, wiping my cheeks again. “I wish you knocked.”
She smiled. “You were so engulfed in your music; I didn’t want to disturb you.”
I cleared my throat. “Is there something you want?”
“No. Just to listen.”
We stood merely feet apart, but it may as well have been miles. Cold circled my room, only adding to the feeling between us.
“Don’t worry.” She softened her tone. “I won’t tell anyone.” Her gaze climbed to my red cheeks, evidence of my tears. “I’m always here for you, Victoria. You will always be my little girl no matter what—”
“Thanks.” I cut her off. I stared at her sagging skin and dull eyes, and my stomach knotted. I wouldn’t take anything more from her. My stupidity had already cost her her health.
“I don’t blame you,” she said, as if she could read my thoughts. “I know you’re thinking it. I’ve always known.” Tears filled her eyes. I hated it. “It’s why you push me away. You didn’t know any better, honey. You were so young. I chose to do that ritual. Everything that’s happening to me is a result of my choices. That girl lost her mind because I made it so.”
She reached out to touch my hand, but I flinched my arm back. Goose bumps spread along my arms, and a lump formed in my throat. “I was foolish.”
She let out a small but sharp exhale. “Victoria…”
“Please,” I said sharply. “I’m busy. I have to find Cas, Ember, and Alex. I need to give them these.” I pointed at the purple velvet bag. “I completed the ritual.”
She brought her hands to her mouth, shaking her head. “I told you not to use black magic.”
“It’s done,” I said simply, then pulled out a delicate silver bracelet. Turning to her, I held out my hand for her to give me hers.
“I can’t.”
“You will.” I gritted my teeth. “It is the only way to protect us from detection. The hunter is in town, and I am taking no risks.”
After several long seconds, she held out her arm, looking at the ceiling with tears in her eyes. I clasped the bracelet around her thin wrist, then stepped back. “I washed them,” I explained as she examined it. “But there still might be traces of blood.”
She paled. “Oh, Victoria.”
