Take her to the coven. For safety?
And the full moon, it was—
Broderick had been demanding answers a few days before the fire. Answers about what?
If her mother had called the coven previously... then...
Where the hell was the previous journal?
Rushing into her mother’s office, Violet began scanning the shelves, looking for it. For as much as her mother was organized in some ways, in others... a journal could end up anywhere on the shelf, without rhyme or reason, but simply because of how she was feeling or how the magic led her. Still, every journal was dated or numbered for a reason, and so eventually, she found the very journal in question.
Only, when she tugged that one down, another one beside it fell as well.
Interesting.
If this was a sign, well, she could just as easily flip through a second book, after going through the first.
The only problem was, she didn’t know exactly what she was looking for. So that meant...
Grabbing a blank journal from a stack beside her mother’s desk, along with a pen, Violet took the items into the kitchen, setting them up on the large island. She was going to work her way through both books, and take notes while at it. And maybe even go back in for another book while she was at it.
These were her mother’s personal thoughts, and while it sort of felt like she was intruding on them...
She had never, ever, forbid Violet from looking at them. And what was more, Violet was often encouraged to look at them, to grab them. To follow her instinct with them.
If anything within these pages was restricted from her... well...
She was sick of being lied to. It was time to find out the truth.
BythetimeVioletfinally looked at a clock again, she had been through over twenty notebooks, drank so much tea her bladder ached despite her regularly going to the bathroom, and it was dark outside. The day had disappeared around her while she had been wrapped up in discovery, and now, she was standing in her mother’s office, staring at the phone. She had to make the phone call. She had to make sure she understood. Even though she was angry, even though she was trapped, and even though she was confused...
For the first time in a long time, everything was starting to make sense.
She had all the pieces before her. Now she just needed to verify what she was looking at.
Her call was answered on the first ring, which was a good sign, except the call was immediately placed on hold without Harriet even greeting her, a bad one. Oh. Well okay then. Was she going to get her mother, or...
“Violet?” It was her mother, which was a good thing... or a bad, given how she was whispering. “We have about ten minutes before Harriet has to go and find the elders. They’re worried they can’t trust you.”
“They should be worried. I don’t answer to them,” Violet answered, sinking down into a chair. “But what do they think I’m going to do?”
“I have no idea, but they’re worried all the same. You’re not connected to the coven like others. They considered you to be an aspirant who had left the fold, with no control. They had no idea how powerful you are.”
“I’m not powerful, Mom. I’m out of control. Wreckless. Without direction.”
“But that’s just it, Violet. You are powerful. Powerful in a way that scares them. That scares me.”
Powerful. Violet, the powerful witch. It was... not something she had ever imagined.
“I looked through your journals, Mom, and I have some questions.”
“Are you still angry with me?” Mabel asked, her voice cracking a little.
Violet was silent for a moment, before calmly finding her voice. “I’m tired of being angry with you. I’ve been angry for a long time, but I was starting to forgive you, only... I’m too tired to be angry, but yes, I am. I don’t think you understand what you did.”
“I know that, now. I know what I did... I don’t understand, because I never could. Your connection with Henrik, it’s what makes you so much more powerful. I just wanted to protect you.”
“My connection with him has harmed him, again. And now, he’s afraid of me, just like everyone else. And he should be afraid. Everyone should be.”