I’d just dropped a lot of shit into her lap, and she didn’t even flinch. “Why would the goddess you speak of want to stand in the way of balance? She is the keeper of the crossroads, the patron of travelers. Surely there is nothing that represents balance more than choice and movement?” Her eyebrows arched as she spoke, her disbelief obvious.
I was surprised that my issues with Hecate didn’t faze her, but I tried not to show it. “I don’t know. I just know that Hecate has tried to kill me before, and failed.”
“The Queen of Witches does not fail, Darlena.”
I paused, sipping my tea. I eyed her critically. “Then how do you explain what’s happened to me?”
Dr. Farren leaned back against a gold cushion, stirring her tea with a faraway expression. “I am not sure. My patron told me a bit about you, and I have learned more by meeting you. But whatever the whole truth, it is clear that you are a Witch of some consequence.”
I spilled tea onto my lap. “What makes you say that?”
She laughed. “Look at those who have found an interest in you! For that matter, look at the magic you practice: there are only ever three Reds in the world, and weak Witches never hold the post.”
“But if I’m so powerful, why can’t I seem to make anything work?”
“What is it you feel you cannot do?”
Frustrated, I pulled my long hair into my fist and started twisting it. “I can’t work against the Queen alone! That’s why I came here; if another Red Witch stands with me, we won’t be vulnerable. Alone, I’m an easy target. I need to win, I need to beat the Queen, or more people will die.”
“Power isn’t about always winning. It’s about wise use, weighing the costs and values of action before acting.”
“I don’t know enough about Red magic to do that.” It was hard to admit that to her, but it was the truth.
Her eyes bored into me again. “You know a great deal more than you think.”
I didn’t know what she meant. It was clear that I knew nothing; every time I used Red magic, it ended with disaster. The room fell silent as I thought back on all the destruction I’d caused. I fiddled with my tea bag. It split, the leaves pooling quickly in the bottom of my cup. “Dang it!”
The director smiled slightly. “Give it here.”
I looked at her. “What are you going to do?”
“Watch. Maybe learn.”
I handed her my cup with the clump of tea in the bottom, and she cupped it with both hands, her long fingers encircling it. Her gray head bent over the tea, her eyes staring intently into the bottom of the cup. I watched, fascinated.
“I didn’t know tea reading was still considered a magical art.”
Her face was grim when she looked at me. “I realize now that there is much that you don’t know. Even the small arts may prove necessary to you in your coming struggle.” She set my cup down and frowned at me intently.
I stared back at her, twitching my fingers nervously. I wanted to ask what she’d seen in my cup, but part of me didn’t want to know.
Finally, she nodded once. “I will not hinder your quest, although I don’t agree with your reasons for using Isadora.” She waved her hand to silence me, and I swallowed back my angry retort as she continued. “Just know that if you do anything to put Isadora or any of my students in danger, you will have to answer to me.”
I glared at her, and she shrugged.
“It’s the most I can offer. Take it or leave it.”
I thought for a moment, and then I nodded. It wasn’t like I had a choice. “I’ll take it.”
Even though I was still on the school campus, I called my mom once I left Dr. Farren’s office. She picked up on the first ring. Her voice made my heart clench, and I had to fight back tears.
“How’s the weather?” I asked, trying not to let on how affected I was to hear her voice.
“Lena? It’s good to hear from you. The weather is cold. It’s a bad winter.” Her tone was serious, and I felt a twinge of
I was surprised that my issues with Hecate didn’t faze her, but I tried not to show it. “I don’t know. I just know that Hecate has tried to kill me before, and failed.”
“The Queen of Witches does not fail, Darlena.”
I paused, sipping my tea. I eyed her critically. “Then how do you explain what’s happened to me?”
Dr. Farren leaned back against a gold cushion, stirring her tea with a faraway expression. “I am not sure. My patron told me a bit about you, and I have learned more by meeting you. But whatever the whole truth, it is clear that you are a Witch of some consequence.”
I spilled tea onto my lap. “What makes you say that?”
She laughed. “Look at those who have found an interest in you! For that matter, look at the magic you practice: there are only ever three Reds in the world, and weak Witches never hold the post.”
“But if I’m so powerful, why can’t I seem to make anything work?”
“What is it you feel you cannot do?”
Frustrated, I pulled my long hair into my fist and started twisting it. “I can’t work against the Queen alone! That’s why I came here; if another Red Witch stands with me, we won’t be vulnerable. Alone, I’m an easy target. I need to win, I need to beat the Queen, or more people will die.”
“Power isn’t about always winning. It’s about wise use, weighing the costs and values of action before acting.”
“I don’t know enough about Red magic to do that.” It was hard to admit that to her, but it was the truth.
Her eyes bored into me again. “You know a great deal more than you think.”
I didn’t know what she meant. It was clear that I knew nothing; every time I used Red magic, it ended with disaster. The room fell silent as I thought back on all the destruction I’d caused. I fiddled with my tea bag. It split, the leaves pooling quickly in the bottom of my cup. “Dang it!”
The director smiled slightly. “Give it here.”
I looked at her. “What are you going to do?”
“Watch. Maybe learn.”
I handed her my cup with the clump of tea in the bottom, and she cupped it with both hands, her long fingers encircling it. Her gray head bent over the tea, her eyes staring intently into the bottom of the cup. I watched, fascinated.
“I didn’t know tea reading was still considered a magical art.”
Her face was grim when she looked at me. “I realize now that there is much that you don’t know. Even the small arts may prove necessary to you in your coming struggle.” She set my cup down and frowned at me intently.
I stared back at her, twitching my fingers nervously. I wanted to ask what she’d seen in my cup, but part of me didn’t want to know.
Finally, she nodded once. “I will not hinder your quest, although I don’t agree with your reasons for using Isadora.” She waved her hand to silence me, and I swallowed back my angry retort as she continued. “Just know that if you do anything to put Isadora or any of my students in danger, you will have to answer to me.”
I glared at her, and she shrugged.
“It’s the most I can offer. Take it or leave it.”
I thought for a moment, and then I nodded. It wasn’t like I had a choice. “I’ll take it.”
Even though I was still on the school campus, I called my mom once I left Dr. Farren’s office. She picked up on the first ring. Her voice made my heart clench, and I had to fight back tears.
“How’s the weather?” I asked, trying not to let on how affected I was to hear her voice.
“Lena? It’s good to hear from you. The weather is cold. It’s a bad winter.” Her tone was serious, and I felt a twinge of
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