Her fingers slid up the broken chain and stopped where I'd clumsily tied it together.
"It is in need of repair," she said, loosening the knot and letting the amulet fall into her hand. "The cimaruta speaks to us, guides us when we need it most. In the presence of evil, it quickens. Its vibrations alert us to impending danger, and through it flows the wisdom of ages. Its whispers offer us guidance."
I'd heard these whispers. They terrified me. First at Ruth's, when I put it on. Seek the ones you know. They will protect you. And then with Shaun. Its warning was clear. Run!
Luci clenched the amulet tightly in her hands, and suddenly her body stiffened and her eyes closed. Her hair blew back from her face as if a gust of wind had suddenly cut through the room. Watching her, I knew what was happening. I'd been taken away like this before. In that moment, though she sat before me, she was somewhere else.
When her body finally relaxed, she opened her eyes. Her face was pale and sober.
"What did you see?" I asked anxiously. She looked surprised by my question. How did I know she'd seen anything? But then she reached out and grabbed my hands.
"Your grandmother," she said solemnly. "She wore this amulet when she died. They broke it, when they tore it from her neck."
"Yes," I confirmed.
"Mia cara, you must tell me. How much do you know...about who you are?"
My entire life was thrown into question in recent days. I felt like my brain had reset to zero. Everything I thought I knew was shattered, and I was starting from scratch.
"I know my family kept a lot of secrets from me. I'm seeing strange things, having bizarre dreams...but I really don't understand why."
My own words overwhelmed me, and I rubbed my eyes. The small cast iron pot began to whistle. Luci turned off the stove and returned with a teapot and two cobalt teacups.
"Where shall I begin," she mumbled to herself as she sat back down beside me and let out a long sigh. "You come from an extraordinarily special family, Jay. A family with unique gifts. Gifts that are innately good and meant to help others. Your heritage is rich and long. Your mother, your grandmother, your great-grandmother, they all possessed these gifts. And Jay, so do you."
"What gifts, exactly?" I asked nervously.
"I think you know," she said, leaning forward and taking my hands in hers. "You've already begun to use yours."
LVIII
Luci reached for the pot of tea and poured us each a steaming cup.
"We share the same ancestors, Jay. I, too, possess these gifts. Thousands of years ago in ancient Italia, in the same beautiful lands of Toscana where I grew up, the Etruscan people once thrived. Among them, there were three wise women of the forest, known by their people as Strega. These women were devoted followers of the goddess Diana. And from her, they received powerful gifts. These women were the first of our kind. Their gifts have been passed on through generations of women, ultimately to us.
"Since the beginning of time, the goddess Diana has watched over all women. She inspires us, guides us through the joys and pains of birth, life, and death. She protects us, gives us strength, and heals us. She is many things. Goddess of the forest, adored for her beauty and coveted healing touch, she brings fertility and abundance. Goddess of the hunt, revered for her unyielding power as a huntress, she is always seeking, always defending. Goddess of the moon, channeling the fiery light of the heavens, she provides great light in darkness.
"In the ancient Etruscan forests, in a sacred grove where the light of the moon poured in, and its power could be drawn down, the three women of the woods gathered to honor Diana with pure devotion. Each night they did this. Diana provided them with clarity where there was confusion, hope where there was doubt, and strength where there was fear. And one fateful night, a night forever held sacred by all Strega, Diana descended to earth and bestowed great power upon them.
"These women of the woods were known for their wisdom and for their superior bond with nature. This is why Diana chose them. Though they were mere mortals, they had the innate ability to tap into the power of nature to bring blessings, healing, and protection to their people. And their people honored them and called them Strega. Masters of nature. Vessels of innate wisdom.
"Diana foresaw a resurgence of darkness that threatened to consume all of humanity. An evil that she and all the gods of the heavens had banished to the underworld. Demons. These creatures, spawn of the dark chthonic gods and humans, roamed the earth, spreading only darkness and death. Upon banishment, some evaded capture and remained on earth, hiding in the shadows, continuing to proliferate and spread destruction under the cover of night.
"Diana's vision revealed that these demons would grow too powerful for the gods to stop. She shared her vision with the gods, but upon hearing it, they fell into conflict. Some dismissed her warning, denying that demons could ever grow so powerful. Others feared it, trusting Diana's vision and knowing that without intervention, it would inevitably come to pass. Determined to protect her people from what threatened to destroy them, Diana tirelessly hunted all demons. But she knew that her efforts alone would not be enough.
"Diana chose the Strega to be her beacons of light on earth. She came to them that sacred night and bestowed upon them her own godly powers. To the first, she gave the power of precognition, vision, to see the past and learn from it, and the future, to change it. To the second, she gave the power of acceleration, to move with great speed, strength, and dexterity, for advantage in the hunt. And to the third, she gave the power of translucence, to conceal herself among her enemies and become invisible. To each of them, Diana gave a sacred blade—all three unique and forged in the heavenly realm. With these blades, they channeled the fiery light of the heavens, just as Diana did through her fiery arrows.
"These very first Strega—the Originali—slayed countless demons. Each was powerful on her own, but when together with her sister Strega, all of their powers deepened. Together, they formed a triquetra of power, and they were as impenetrable as a god.
"These women received their gifts with honor, and understood the great responsibility that came with them. For years, they defended their people. And as their powers were given to them by their mother goddess, so it was that they passed on their magic to their own daughters. And when their daughters became mothers, they too passed on their matrilineal gifts. A Strega's power remains dormant in her sons.
"This was the way for generations in Etruria. With the passage of time, as our ancestors fled from persecution, their bloodlines scattered throughout Europe. But their blood, the blood of the Originali, runs through our veins now. And in us lies the very same power and responsibility that they once came to bear."
Ironically, Dad had contributed Italian Bonifacio roots to my ancestry. But it was Gram's Celtic roots that Luci was referring to, and they clearly took some unexpected turns.
"My mom wanted to teach me," I said, remembering what Gram had written. My heart ached. I wanted Mom back every single day. I wanted them all back. I didn't know how to move on. I ran from the pain, as if I could ever escape it. But I was in its grip all along. I felt everything, and the sorrow was unbearable. Luci put her arms around me and pulled me in close as I cried. She gently rocked back and forth as if it would shake free every last bit of my pain.
"Celia and Ruth have told me much about your mother," she whispered in my ear. "She was strong, and she protected you for many years."
With a bittersweet smile, I sat up and wiped my tears away with my sleeve. What Luci was telling me was unbelievable, but finally everything I'd been through was starting to make sense. I wanted her to continue.
"The women in your family, like mine, possess the power of precognition. It is what you will pass on to your daughters if you have them. The dreams and visions come first, as you've experienced. What you see in them is as real as what you see in wakefulness. They deliver you to a place between worlds, beyond the boundaries of time, where the past, the present, and the future are reveale
d. With time, your gift will advance and blossom in unique ways. Deepening intuition, accessing the thoughts of others, or even projecting your own thoughts into reality. Nothing is impossible, mia cara."
In the newsroom, Matthew tripped and spilled his coffee all over himself, just after I'd seen it happen in my mind. And my power was going to advance. To what? I gulped.
"You've experienced it," she said to me before I could say a word. "But still you doubt yourself. Mia cara, this is your gift! Don't let it scare you. It is new, this power, and it will take time to harness. Now, it is wild and raw. Inconsistent, and often quite startling. A Strega's power is bound to her emotions. Intense fear or desire will often trigger it. Precognition can also be provoked by touch. All things possess residual energy, and we can access it through physical contact, though this ability usually comes later.
"Like any other force, you will learn to control your power and use it consciously. You are at the beginning of an incredible journey, and you've seen only a glimpse of what is ahead."
As I digested this idea, she reached for her tea and took a long sip. I did the same. And as she set her cup down, she asked me a question that made me choke.
"Now, where is your blade?" She extended her hands in anticipation. But I didn't have it. I didn't even know it belonged to me until now. The last time I saw it, it was tucked into the back of Shaun's pants.
"Do not worry, mia cara," she responded to my unrest. "It will return to you. A Strega's blade always returns to her."
She stretched out her legs and sat back like she often did when she was about to tell a more benign story. It added a touch of normal to everything she said after that.
"When a Strega's power begins to emerge, her unique blade comes to her from the heavenly moon realm, Diana's realm, where all Strega blades are forged. A fusion of heavenly and earthly materials, signifying the bond between the two realms, each blade is crafted of the purest metals, and unbreakable moonstone."
I first saw the blade in my dream, just before it appeared in actuality. I didn't understand how it was possible, where it had come from. Until now.
"When I was a child, my mother taught me how to wield a blade," Luci said. "I held hers in my hands, feeling its weight, swinging it, listening to the powerful sound it made as it cut through the air. One scratch from the sharp edge of a Strega's blade will paralyze any creature with demonic blood. Deeper, it incinerates them. When your blade returns to you—and it soon will, for it is drawn to you as you are drawn to it—we will teach you how to wield it."
"So, Ruth and Celia—"
"Ruth possesses the power of translucence, and Celia, the power of acceleration," Luci answered before I finished asking my question. "Ruth can conceal herself, blend into her environment without being seen. Celia moves and shifts faster than the human eye can see, traveling in mere seconds no matter the distance."
Ruth's tall, slender body could easily slip from view even without this supernatural boost. She moved so gracefully it seemed effortless, as if the wind carried her from one place to the next. And if anyone were to possess the power of acceleration, naturally it would be Celia. She was the only person I knew that ran more than I did. She was faster too, despite being more than triple my age. She ran the Boston Marathon every year and made me promise to train for it and run with her one day.
"How long have you known them?" I finally asked, still wondering how the three of them could have been so close without my ever knowing about it.
"Ruth, Celia, and your grandmother once formed a triquetra of power. When she died, they lost this power. I had lost mine, too. Within a year, I had lost both of my Strega sisters to our enemies. I was alone. When I left Italia to come here, it was not only family obligation that brought me. It was mia destina. A calling that beckoned me long before zio or his ristorante did. And I didn't understand it until Ruth, Celia, and I found each other. Together, we reclaimed the triquetra of power."
"The day of your grandmother's funeral, when you came to my ristorante with Ruth and Celia, we sensed each other immediately. Strega intuition is keen. We recognize our own, as you will soon discover."
Again, I pondered the instant, seemingly familial connection I had with her from the moment we met.
"I had not been in town long. Ruth and Celia were taken aback by the encounter, and remained reticent, not wishing to acknowledge our bond in your presence. I respected this and said nothing that night. But we found each other again soon after. Ruth contacted me, and the three of us met right here. And so our relationship began.
"So, let us talk about you, mia cara," she said, striking her lap decisively.
My adrenaline spiked as the focus shifted back to me.
"From Ruth and Celia, I've learned much about you. Your power first emerged when you were a child, which is quite unusual and troubles me. Our powers emerge in a time of great need, often when we are in danger. For your power to have been awakened at such a young age is telling of your enemies. They are focused. Determined. For some reason you are marked.
"You sensed them coming for you then as you do now, but your power was bound soon after it emerged. We knew that it may have been unbound upon your grandmother's death, but we could not be certain until now. I have never bound one's powers, nor would I ever do so. But I do know that breaking a binding takes time. Much like a tree in spring after having endured the cold, harsh winter, its branches must fill again with heat and potency before they burst forth with new growth. You have certainly begun to blossom, Jay."
Luci held my face in her hands and looked into my eyes.
"Keeping the truth from you has put you in more danger than anyone realized, Jay. Binding your power kept you safe for many years. But the consequences have only just begun to reveal themselves. Without your power, there was no way to know that this threat against you never ceased. As the years passed, your enemies only grew stronger and more determined. After all those years searching for you, they've finally found you."
"But I don't understand. Who are they and why are they targeting me? What could they possibly want with me?"
"Ah, this we do not yet know. Demons are always hunting Strega, but not with such focus. There is more to it, and this is why you are here with me now. To find the answer."
"How?" I asked desperately. I still felt so helpless.
"You still have much to learn, Jay, but you are not helpless," she said as if I'd spoken my thoughts aloud. "You are a Strega. You possess amazing power, and you will learn to use it. But first you must understand your destina.
"Everyone has a unique destina. A purpose. And on our journey to fulfill this purpose, our destinies often become intertwined with the destinies of others. People come into our lives—and we into theirs—for various reasons. Sometimes as messengers. Other times as guides. In other words, we help each other along—a boon of the cosmos."
As she said this, I immediately thought of Mr. Whitmore. If it weren't for his guidance, I'd be so much further behind. I wondered where I'd be if our paths hadn't crossed. Probably in a ditch.
"As Strega, we have an overriding purpose to fulfill—to vanquish our enemies and to protect the innocent. But our personal destinies are another matter altogether. Yours is a special one. You have great purpose, I can see. Only this would draw such powerful enemies."
LIX
She patted my knee as she got up. She placed a quilted blanket on the hardwood floor and upon it arranged several colorful pillows in a circle.
"Come sit here," she said, guiding me to the center of the circle, where I sat down. In pinches and fistfuls, she tossed various herbs into a copper pot—just like the one I'd seen in Gram's hidden room.
"Vervain," she said, dropping in a heavy handful of small dried leaves that had a beautiful green and purple hue. "A hearty plant with strong stems and beautiful, petite flowers. It is called Verbena now. It is quite common, but it has always possessed divine properties. It has many uses. Protection, primarily. But its calming effect
can dispel fears and anxiety, and if used properly, it can deliver you into your dreams."
Smoke billowed from the copper pot, though beneath it there was no flame. With a wooden ladle, Luci transferred the steaming potion into a small wooden bowl and carefully handed it to me.
"You have much to learn, Jay, but there is only so much I can teach you. Some truths you must learn on your own. And to discover them, you must go deeper."
I held the bowl in my hands and looked up at her, confused and unsure what to do with it.
"You must drink," she said. "Si sta andando su un viaggio."
I didn't know what that meant, but I looked at the steaming liquid, terrified to consider what would happen if I drank it.
"You are going on a journey, my darling."
"Journey?" My voice quivered.
"Si. Una caccia ombra. A shadow hunt. To gain control, you must first let go of it. Do not hold on so tightly. Do not run from the truth. Embrace it." She knelt down in front of me and put her hands on my shoulders. "You are in danger, Jay. This is the only way we can help you now. You must face what you fear most. Go into your dreams. Cast a light upon all that is hidden, to find the answers you need. Only then can you truly embrace your power."
I held the bowl in my hands and gazed into the clear, earthy liquid. I saw my reflection in the smooth, unwavering surface, and stared at my own terrified face. I knew I had to do this. Just then, my reflection shifted before my eyes, and for a second I saw the same face I'd seen in the athame.
"That is only the beginning, darling," Luci said knowingly. "Where you are going, you will see much more than this."
She put her hand on my shoulder.
"I will be right here with you."
I put all my trust in her. I had no other choice. I placed my lips on the edge of the bowl and slowly tipped it back. The warm liquid traveled across my tongue, filled the back of my throat, and then slowly descended down my throat. My whole body warmed, and suddenly my arms went limp. The bowl fell from my hands and crashed to the floor as my consciousness faded.
Strega (Strega Series) Page 19