Page 78 of Witchy Woman

“But—” Hazel grabs my arm.

“Did you read the letter?”

Her mouth shuts. I can tell by the guilt in her eyes that she has, that it hasn’t changed her mind enough. That she still doesn’t want me to do this.

At the end of the day, if it were just me and her...I’m not sure what I would decide. But she didn’t get banished to Hell because she’s a bitch. She got banished because she saved someone’s life. She got banished for Hazel.

And that will eat away at me.

So buckle up, Mom. I’m coming.

Chapter 35

Follow the Scent of Narcissism

Training is awkward.

Hazel hasn’t brought up the possibility of not saving Mom again, nor has she addressed the letter.

When someone sacrifices themselves to save your soulmate with the intent of saving you from becoming a bitchy narcissist, you really can’t say shit.

Grandma doesn’t seem to know how to feel and that keeps her uncharacteristically quiet, focusing purely on the magic and nothing else.

And here I am. Staring at fire and trying to contact Mom.

I’m not trying to save her tonight, but maybe if I can get a better sense of where exactly in Hell she is...How big even is Hell? Are there actually seven levels?

“Focus, dear,” Grandma says.

It’s hard to focus when your mind is running a mile a minute.

The bonfire flames crackle and pop softly, soothingly. Just for me.

Slowly, the noises of the world outdoors soften, and the whispers of the fire surround me. Mournful, angry, regretful...The whispers are easier to understand than ever.

But I ignore them. They’re not what I’m looking for.

No, I’m looking for the woman who spent my entire childhood ignoring me. Who mourned and never moved on from the loss of her soulmate. The woman who chose her own perverse sense of revenge over her family.

Just follow the sickeningly putrid smell of self-assurance and narcissism.

Help.

There it is.

“Mom, where in the hell are you?” I ask aloud. I’m still not sure how this bond works, but it feels weird replying using just my mind.

No, not you.

“Love you, too. Now where the fuck are you?”

You cannot do this. Stay home and safe, Laura.

Annoyance skitters over my skin. The confidence in my abilities is overwhelming. Truly. It almost makes me want to take Hazel’s advice and say ‘Fuck you.’

Almost.

“I’m saving you whether you like it or not, so just tell me where you are,” I growl. I’ve never spoken to Mom like this, but it’s easier somehow when she’s not standing right in front of me.