“Okay, that’s no problem,” Mal said. “I’ll put out some feelers for another witch or warlock to do the protection spell. I’m guessing you wouldn’t be able to perform the same amnesia spell that your aunt and mother did then?”
“No,” she said quickly. “Even if I could, I wouldn’t. I won’t use dark magic.”
Tension made her shoulders stiff and her neck ache. Just the thought of using dark magic scared the shit out of her. If she were caught, the Witches and Warlock Council would put her in prison. She’d die all alone in a magic suppressed cell, and she’d never -
“Little witch, take a breath.”
Briggs’s deep voice washed over her, and she stared blankly at him. He studied her hands, and she followed his gaze. Both hands were squeezing her coffee mug, and her knuckles were glowing a soft green.
She sucked in a breath, trying to release some of the tension in her body. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Willow said
“I won’t use dark magic,” Cece repeated.
“We don’t want you to,” Willow said. “Right, Mal?”
“That’s right,” Mal said.
“Okay.” Cece took another big breath and released it.
She could see her breath, and it felt like the temperature in the kitchen had dropped another ten degrees.
“Willow?” Mal said.
“She’s here,” Willow said. “Honey, can you and Briggs give us a few minutes?”
Mal nodded and stood, glancing at Briggs when the big man didn’t move. Briggs stared at Cece, and she gave him a quick nod. “I’m good.”
He and Mal left the kitchen as Willow reached out and took Cece’s cold hand. “Your aunt wants to tell you something, honey. If that’s okay?”
“Yes,” Cece said, her voice cracking a little.
Willow squeezed her hand before bowing her head and listening quietly. After a minute or so, she smiled at Cece. “Your aunt is sorry for lying to you, but she wants you to know that she and your mom believed it was the right thing to do. They were afraid and just wanted to keep you safe.”
Tears streamed down Cece’s face, and she swiped them away with her free hand as Willow fell silent for another minute.
“She was going to tell you the truth about your father and who you really were. She was going to tell you everything, and she’s so sorry that she didn’t get the chance. She hates that you’re alone and afraid, and she wishes she could stay, wishes that she could continue to keep you safe.”
“I wish you were here too, Aunt Sybil,” Cece said in a low voice. “I miss you so much. I’m sorry our last conversation was a fight.”
Willow listened before squeezing Cece’s hand. “She doesn’t want you to think of that. She’s sorry for the fight, too, but she wants you to remember all the good moments, okay? She wants you to remember your trip to the Grand Canyon, your Friday night movie nights, and your walks by the river. Will you do that for her?”
Cece nodded, and Willow smiled. “I wish you could see her face, honey. You’ve made her so happy.”
“I love you, Aunt Sybil,” Cece said as a soft sob tore from her chest. “Thank you for looking after me, for being the mom I needed when I lost mine.”
Tears sliding down her face, Willow said, “She wants you to know that raising you with your mom was the greatest privilege of her life. She wouldn’t change a single minute of it, and she hopes you know how proud she is of you and how much she loves you.”
Willow squeezed her hand again. “You were the best part of her life, and she will always love you. When you’re missing her, she wants you to sit by the river and remember how much she loves you.”
“I will,” Cece sobbed. “I promise. I love you, Aunt Sybil.”
Willow pushed a tissue into her hand, and Cece wiped her face and blew her nose before staring at Willow. She could no longer see her breath, and her voice wavering, Cece said, “She’s gone forever now, isn’t she?”
Willow nodded. “Yes. She’s transitioned to the light.”
Cece started to cry again and didn’t object when Willow moved close and put her arms around her. She buried her face in Willow’s shoulder and sobbed as Willow rubbed her back and rocked her gently.
