Mathilda, SuperWitch by Kristen Ashley Read Free Book Online Page B

*
    Mavis then began.
    “You see, nearly a millennia ago, there was a coven of thirteen very powerful witches.” She turned to Sebastian who had moved around to sit on the desk. “Norman times, yes?”
    He nodded.
    “I think it was 1069, 1070, something like that,” Mavis went on.
    “1070,” Sebastian clarified.
    It was like watching a tennis match.
    Mavis continued, “This coven made a lot of waves, it had significant power and influence. They made so many waves that they attracted attention. Unwanted attention.” This she said in a dire voice. “The coven needed protection.” She stopped, watched me closely then started again, “To protect it, a secret society was born.” Another pause for effect. “Le Société de Mathilde.”
    Oh sweet goddess, why me?
    Mavis shook her head. “No, my dear, it wasn’t named after you but instead after Mathilde de Flambert. A very, very powerful witch and the high priestess of the coven. She was not even a relative of ours although there were two Honeycutts in that coven.”
    Humph.
    Mavis kept going. “At first, Le Société was formed only to watch over Mathilde and her circle. But over the years, especially through the dark days, it began to work to guard all witches. It grew, expanded and became strong, powerful and even wealthy. The witches it protected worked and still work, I might add, to return the favor of protection. We’ve managed to be able to transfer bits and pieces of power to our guardians…”
    I looked at Sebastian and remembered that night I was out with BecBec and he used the Batman’s Cape Invisibility Glamour.
    “But it never lasts long,” she continued. “These men, and women of course, of Le Société often were forced to lay down their homes, their fortunes, their legacies and their very lives to see that we witches were safe.”
    “Why on earth would they do that?” I asked.
    “Why?” Mavis smiled a private, sad smile and took a moment to answer. “Because you protect the ones you love, my darling.”
    I looked at her, I looked at Sebastian, I looked back at her.
    “Hunh?”
    “The first of Le Société were the husbands of the witches of Mathilde’s coven. It grew and built on the sons and lovers of the witches…”
    Holy Spousal Unit, Batman!
    “No,” I breathed.
    Oh my, oh my.
    “Really?” I asked.
    “Oh yes, my dear. Where do you think my Otto is?”
    Oh my, oh my.
    That means…
    “Dad?”
    My voice cracked, I couldn’t believe it but there she was nodding her head.
    “Granddad?”
    More nodding.
    Fuckity, fuck, fuck.
    “Ash?”
    “Who’s Ash, darling?”
    I pointed at Sebastian and Mavis chuckled.
    “But of course. His mother was Isabella Jacobs-Wilding, my dear. A long time family friend.” Mavis smiled somberly at Sebastian and then she said quietly, “I still miss her.”
    Fuck.
    I watched Sebastian and his face didn’t change at all.
    Sebastian is the motherless son of a dead witch and I’m the fatherless daughter of a live one.
    Fuck.
    Then the questions came:
    “Where’s my Dad?”
    “Deep cover, darling. I cannot say.”
    “Is Granddad still alive?”
    “Of course, dear. He’s due for retirement, er… soon.”
    “What do you mean ‘soon’. When is that?”
    “I don’t know… ten, twenty years.”
    Ten or twenty years!
    “ What? ” I asked or kinda yelled.
    She looked slightly uncomfortable for a second and then cleared her throat.
    “My darling Mathilda, my dear girl. You see, we witches… um, your grandmother… my darling child, there is no other way to put it. Matty, you’re looking at a one hundred and eleven year old woman.”
    * * * * *
    There are times in your life when you wish you would pass out and just wake up later when whatever was bothering you is gone.
    I remember when I was in gym class and the teacher would announce that we were going to play dodge ball.
    I fucking hated dodge ball (I mean, who came up with that idea? It’s ridiculous). I wished I could just faint and