Page 16 of The Bone Witch
They thought they were big and untouchable when they stole the grimoire, but as the ground quakes beneath them and cracks climb up the walls of this eye-sore of a house, reality is dawning. Magda wants to argue, I can see it in her eyes, but she knows the longer this goes on, the more I will destroy. Right here in this moment, my wrath, my claim, is undeniable.
The power I feel coursing through me is heady. My heart is pounding with excitement as I connect to the essence of those who came before me. The magic inside of me feels eager and ready, like it wants to play and test its limits, but I’m not trying to get myself buried in the rubble of this house. I just want the grimoire and to never see my aunt and my cousin again. Their torturous reign of supremacy and entitlement is over. The bones have chosen, and they’re no more special than any other average human. They’re the Lessers they always mocked and held themselves above.
Out of nowhere, Theresa the maid comes running back into the room, a large chestnut leather-bound book clutched in her arms. Her gait is unsteady as the ground trembles beneath her, but she staggers toward me, determination etched in her features. I release my hold on the bones that are part of the very fabric of this land, and she hands me the tome. With it, she also passes over my grandmother’s scrying board, her onyx pendulum, and a long silver chain with a pendant that has my family’s sigil on it.
“How dare you!” Magda shrieks, stomping over easily now that the tremors have subsided. She raises a hand as if to slap the frail middle-aged woman, and without a thought or even an uttered incantation, I lift my hand and stop Magda’s bones from carrying out the loathsome action. I’m a little taken aback by the ease in which I just wielded a lot of serious power, but I hide my surprise away and embrace the pride and exhilaration that bloom in my chest.
This whole magic thing is so much more than I could have ever imagined, and I can’t deny, boss bitch looks good on me. Magda becomes a statue, her ability to move taken from her as easily as blinking. She can still make noise, but the screech emanating from her is nonsensical without her ability to move her mouth and form words. It all happens so fast that Theresa flinches back, expecting a hit that will never come.
“What the hell did you do to my mother?” Gwen cries out, pulling on Magda’s raised arm. It doesn’t budge.
She wails and tries to move her mother, to snap her out of the state that I just put her in, but she’s more likely to snap her arm if she keeps it up. I have a hold of her bones, and she’s not moving until this woman is safely out of here and I have some answers. “Did you think I wouldn’t come looking for this?” I irritably ask my frozen aunt. “What was the point of stealing it in the first place?” I’m about to release my aunt’s jaw so she can talk, but Theresa’s next words stop me.
“They were going to burn it,” she tells me quietly, and my mouth drops open in shock. “Gwen was going to read everything in it, and then they were going to destroy it.”
Theresa’s declaration leaves me speechless. How could anyone be so selfish, so reckless, so completely corrupt? Hate that I have the bones all you want, but the grimoire isn’t just for me, it’s for every Bone Witch that will come after. They would have maimed our line of magic, and for what?
Disgust fills me. I know the grimoire has protections, but I need to make sure that nothing like this can ever happen again. It’s too valuable to allow anyone to get this close to potentially destroying it and crippling our magic forever.
“Thank you for protecting these things,” I tell Theresa, my voice hollow with shock. Ignoring Gwen’s peals of panic, I pull out my phone and slip a card from the back of my phone case. “I’m incredibly grateful that you did the right thing. I know it wasn’t easy, and I know what it’ll cost you,” I tell her as I hand her my card. “Call me in a couple of days, and I’ll help you find abetterjob.”
“Thank you, sorceress, you are very kind. I’m so sorry that you were dishonored at the start of your reign. May those who stand against the rightful Osteomancer crumble like pillars of dust,” she declares, reaching up and forming the sign of the cross on my forehead.
Surprise flickers through me like a sputtering candle, and I’m taken aback by her respectful greeting and unexpected knowledge of what’s happening. I thought she was just a maid, but as she offers me her regard, I can feel that there’s so much more there. Magic is wrapped around her like armor, and I can sense that it belonged to my Grammy Ruby. I can feel her blessing all over this woman. The distinct sense that she guided her here, for this moment, washes through me. I stare at Theresa, floored by what I suddenly know about her. She’s from a line of coven disciples. I didn’t even know they existed anymore, but I can feel Theresa’s unwavering devotion to whomever the bones find worthy.
I’m flabbergasted by my grandmother’s foresight, and shocked to know that devotees of magic still exist. I stare into Theresa’s adoring brown eyes, and it’s as though I can feel my Grammy’s love and the plans she laid out for me. I know in this moment, without a shadow of doubt, that she knew it would bemeall along. She set things in motion to help me, and I can only wonder what else she foresaw that I’d be up against.
I look over at Rogan, quizzically. Did Grammy Ruby connect us on purpose too? Did she know what was happening to the other Osteomancers? Is there more to all of this that I have yet to see?
I focus back on Theresa as she steps away to leave. I’m not sure what exactly comes over me then. A warmth breezes around me like it’s a summer day, and heat caresses slowly down my spine. I’m hit by a similar feeling that percolated through me when I knew I needed to help Rogan. A calm and clearness sharpens my mind, and I know instinctively exactly what I need to do. I reach out to Theresa and rest my hand on her upper arm. Awe sparks in her gaze, and she holds her breath as I start to speak.
“May your line walk with the honor and steadfastness that you showed here today. And as long as they do, the magic of this line will guide and protect them from their first breath to their last. May this blessing and promise be woven into your very bones, and with it, feel my unending gratitude and regard.”
Magic drips down her person from the top of her head to the soles of her feet. It’s colorless, but palpable. A captivating shimmer that sparkles all around her as I stare reverently at the magic-laced blessing that moves to cloak her. I’ve never seen anything like it, and I’m completely floored by just how beautiful and utterly powerful it is.
Theresa’s eyes fill with watery gratitude, and a wonderstruck smile spreads across her face. I look down at my hands, astonished. Did I really just do all that?
“I’m honored, sorceress, beyond honored. If you ever need anything, anything at all, please call on any Palliano. That’s my family name, and my line will serve you like we’ve served all the Osteomancers that came before.”
“Thank you,” I offer and then cringe as Gwen’s screaming reaches a whole new pitch.
Theresa leaves without another word, and I’m yanked from the calm of our exchange back into the harsh reality of screams and shrill demands to fix my aunt. I turn back to Magda and Gwen, who is now ruddy and splotchy from her efforts to de-statue her mother.
“Lennox, let her go!” Gwen shrieks once again, pulling at her mother’s extended hand. Magda’s face is frozen with malicious intent, her narrowed eyes and venomous grimace are the perfect encapsulation of the kind of person she is.
“Stop yanking on her like that, or you’re going to break something,” I warn Gwen as I open the camera on my phone and snap a couple of pictures of my aunt in all her heinous glory. This year’s family Christmas card is going to be epic.
“Fuck you, bitch. If you think you’re going to get away with this…” Gwen pulls on her mother again like she thinks there’s a hidden lever that will release her, only this time when she does, a resounding crack fills the air, and Magda’s arm from the middle of her forearm down, hangs at an angle.
“Oh shit,” Rogan mutters, horrified, his fist in front of his mouth like it will trap the shock from spilling out.
“Oh god!” Gwen wails when she realizes what she’s done.
I cringe and shake my head. I did tell her to stop doing that.
“You broke her!” Gwen yowls, her gaze murderous.
“Technically,youdid that,” I retort, pointing at my aunt and drawing an air circle around the broken arm she just acquired.
