Blood and Blade (Goddess with a Blade #6) - Lauren Dane Page 0,71
give off power. There are crevasses and caves and notches that catch magic. Crystals. A purity because out here it’s fairly untouched by the human world. I never had a study here in the United States and I think it’s time to remedy that.”
“Study?”
“When I was eight, my father sent me to my first study. A practitioner of rune magic. I stayed with her until I killed her and left at twelve. But she taught me a great deal. I’ve studied all over the planet. On small islands in the middle of the ocean to villages high up in the mountains. I know how to use blood and water, bones, stones, runes, I know how to sing a spell, sign a spell, will it into being. My last one was fifteen years ago. I learned kitchen magic and healing arts in the Yukon. I’ve never been so glad I know fire magic in my life. Fortunately my teacher lived in a beautiful log house that was always warm and dry. That was the closest I’ve come from the north to the US and from the south, it’s Guatemala City.”
“Is that how most witches learn?” It sounded similar to Rowan’s education beginning at the hands of Theo at the Keep and then to Celesse and then to Susan at Hunter Corp. She didn’t have the years Genevieve had, but they were a lot alike.
“No. Most witches are born and are taught according to whatever gifts they manifest. And before you ask, no there is no Hogwarts, but within the various covens and via the Conclave, there are mentors and classes on how to use magic if it’s a different discipline than a parent might have. We don’t want untrained witches out there doing themselves or anyone else harm.”
Rowan knew there was more to the story so she kept quiet and let Genevieve speak at her own pace.
“My family, much like Clive’s, is important and highly placed within the Conclave. I’m the child of two very powerful, very gifted witches from two very prestigious families. There are a few of us in my generation. Most of us are still alive. The ones that aren’t couldn’t find a way to live with the pressure. Couldn’t find a way to process and live with the Aubert method of education. From the time I could remember, I was told that it was my job in life to be able to wield as many types of magic as I possibly could. The more disciplines I understood and could wield, the more powerful I would be and the more secure my family would be at the top of the Conclave. I did and we are and continue to be. I am something very few witches can be, a lattice witch. I can fold myriad disciplines and shape them into spellcraft.”
Rowan didn’t have to be looking at Genevieve to know she shrugged like it was no big deal. But it so was. Still, she took Genevieve’s lead and didn’t comment.
“How old were you when you killed the first time?”
A very abrupt question, but Rowan answered it honestly. “Nine. It was a rite of passage. Theo made me mete out punishment to one of his Vampires who disobeyed him and nearly exposed our existence. As it was, that Vampire was the reason seven humans had to be executed in a staged car accident to keep them from blabbing it all.”
“Did you feel guilty?”
“No. I did what I was told to do. The Vampire had endangered everyone and The First had given an execution order.”
“A human child was ordered to execute a full grown Vampire?”
Rowan laughed but there wasn’t much joy in the sound. “That wasn’t the last time he ordered me to do something like that. He was a very old-school parent. He believed in beatings and other harsh punishments to hone me into a weapon. He told me most human emotions made me weak and that it was his job to Make me into a Vampire.” In his own twisted way, it had been love. Love she was still recovering from in many ways, but he had indeed Made her into a Vampire in many important facets. And she was still alive for it.
“You are a weapon, but you’re not without emotion or compassion. You made the best out of what your life was. You changed what you could when you could. That’s survival and it’s why we’re here right now.”