do with him, if you find him? Relocation wouldn’t be easy. Where would you put a predatory animal who can pass for and think like a human most of the time?”
“I don’t know,” Ari said, giving her an unhappy face. “Relocations are never easy. I helped Martin with one a month ago. Vampire bats that weren’t satisfied with cow blood. Have you ever tried to round up bats?”
Yana’s chuckle showed the dimples in her cheeks.
“How did you cover it all?” Ari asked. “Olde Town and the new city? I’m busy with just one district.”
“I had two apprentices. That’s why the Council has split the territory.”
“There’s still a lot to do, and a lot I don’t know. Like now. Something’s happening in Olde Town. I can feel it. At times, I can almost touch it, but I can’t figure it out.”
“You will. These things take time to sort through.” Yana paused. “You’re impatient, Arianna. Driven. Maybe too much so. Sometimes I wonder if Great-Gran and I did the right thing after your parents died. You were still so young, just starting school. Perhaps we should have suspended your training schedule. Broadened your experiences.”
“Like what? Sending me to boarding school or on a grand tour of Europe? In all my spare time.” Ari attempted to introduce a lighter note. When Yana frowned at her flippancy, Ari sighed. “What choice did you have? I was born with the crescent birthmark.” Ari reached down and patted the spot on her right ankle. “Marked by fate. All future guardians enter training as toddlers.”
“Yes, but your mother’s ways were…gentler, I think. And if you had remained with your grandparents and siblings, instead of only visiting on holidays, perhaps they would have balanced your education, made it less severe. But Great-Gran chose to push the guardian skills. The martial arts, the weaponry. And I went along with her wishes.” Yana peered at Ari anxiously. “Your witch skills suffered in the process. And maybe, so did the child inside. Did you feel cheated, my dear?”
“Oh, Yana. What’s brought this on?” Ari reached over and gave her a quick hug. “I never regretted the time I spent with you and Great-Gran.” Seeing Yana wasn’t satisfied with her quick reassurance, Ari drew back and tried to give her a better answer. “I felt cheated of my parents, sure. I was six, and I didn’t understand where they’d gone. And there were times when I’d rather be with Robbie or Sis or go fishing with Grandpa than training. Especially when I didn’t get it right the first time.” Ari remembered the long hours of repetitious practice. The perfection expected by her instructors. Lots of bumps and bruises along the way. Be tough, her Sensei said, and then, be tougher.
Why was Yana dredging up the past? Ari hadn’t thought about the early years and early losses in a long time. Many of those memories she’d rather leave buried.
“There were good things too,” Ari said, smiling now. “You and Great-Gran were always there when I needed you. Spoiled me, I think.” Ari pictured the long walks and the evenings of storytelling. The hugs. Making potions. Baking cookies, or if she remembered right, mostly eating cookies. “I’m surprised you think the witchcraft was neglected. Besides what I picked up from watching Great-Gran, I had four years of witchcraft training.”
“Yes, Moriana taught you the basic skills, but she couldn’t give you your heritage. You must learn to trust your magic, Arianna. Perhaps if you had the Book…” Yana wrinkled her brow, turned her gaze out the window.
Ari shifted, uncomfortable, wishing they’d get off this subject. The family Book of Shadows had been missing since her mother died. All the spells, potions, and magical rituals of generations of Calin witches resided in that one leather-bound volume. Ari had hoped it would return by her witch initiation at age eighteen, but that hadn’t happened. The Book’s absence was a sadness she couldn’t shake. Without it, her witch abilities would always be limited.
Ari returned her wandering thoughts to the conversation. Yana continued to reminisce. “Great-Gran was so happy when you were born. The family had blamed her for tainting the bloodlines by marrying a human. Then you came along with the birthmark, and she was determined to make you the best.”
“Why the walk through history, Yana?” Ari interrupted, growing increasingly edgy. “Is something bothering you?”
“No, dear.” Yana reached out and patted Ari’s hand. “Just the ramblings of an old woman. And you’re right, it is history. The past