Free Amaranthine (Willow Shadows Book 1) by Lanie Jacobs Page B

long as you’re here. We aren’t asking you to stop your life completely or implying that you should be scared all the time. We just need to figure everything out and take precautions, but we can’t keep you safe if you don’t help us. Your mother is safe as long as she is away from her house, so when she isn’t at work, I have made arrangements for her to stay here, also. You remember Miranda? I already have her setting up the guest rooms for the two of you.”
     
    Josephine was gesturing towards the pale, ordinary young girl that was standing timidly in the corner of the room. Khalida hadn’t even noticed the maid until Josephine pointed her out. Miranda stood as quiet as a mouse, looking blankly at the floor.
     
    “I am still going to school,” Khalida declared, meaning it more as a statement but it sounded more like a question.
     
    Josephine wasn’t one to be told what to do or to be given demands. She was an incredibly intelligent woman and gushed with authority. Khalida only knew that she really wanted to go to school, but she also knew if Josephine thought it wasn’t a good idea, then it was out of the question.
     
    “I already knew you would ask, and I can’t see any reason why you can’t go to school, but as a precaution, Luke will be changing his class schedule to suit yours as well. You can consider my son a personal body guard until further notice,” s he said as she stood and walked back around her desk, opening a drawer and digging around.
     
    “What about my mom? Shouldn’t someone be with her, too?” Khalida whimpered.
    Josephine looked up from the drawer and a smile crept at the corners of mouth, “Who said your mother needed protection?”
     
    “She does, doesn’t she?” Khalida asked a little confused.
     
    “Khalida, your mother is almost as powerful as I am, and I assure you she needs no protection. God have mercy on those who try to attack her. She has an extraordinary power over one’s mind,” she went back to digging, “although rarely used, she can make anyone see or feel whatever she wishes. It’s something we are hoping you will inherit from your bloodline.”
     
    “I’ll be almost as powerful as you? What can you do?” Khalida asked naively.
     
    “I am not the leader of our coven for my weaknesses, Khalida,” Josephine responded after finding what she was looking for, Josephine walked over to the window to stand by Luke. Khalida always knew Josephine was hardcore. She just had that look about her, and Khalida didn’t push for any further information.
     
    “What about my job?”
     
    Last year Khalida took a job at the local animal shelter. It was only for a couple of hours after school, a few days a week, so she supposed she could take a leave of absence for awhile until this whole thing blew over. Khalida loved her job working with the stray animals that got brought in. She loved tending to their needs; she groomed them, fed them, and walked them. Taking care of the helpless always seemed to help ease her mind. The only thing that Khalida didn’t like about her job was the manager. It seemed that no matter what Khalida did, he was always trying to find something wrong with the work she did, constantly standing over her shoulder, picking out the obvious.
     
    Jerk!
     
    “Khalida, you’re different than your mother. You’re what we call a newbie; it’s a vampire that hasn’t come into her power, yet. You’re vulnerable. It’s really an unnecessary risk that we can’t afford to take. I don’t care what you tell them. Quit for all I care. It’s just too much of a liability right now. We certainly couldn’t hide Luke in the store, and you can’t go without protection. Even if we put you in training, you are no match for the caliber that Braedon is.” She said everything so matter-of-factly that Khalida couldn’t help but agree.
     
    “That’s fine. I was actually thinking of getting a different job later, anyway .”
     
    Khalida sat back in