Free Spirit Sorceress: Spirit Sorceress: Book 1 by D. L. Harrison Page B

Still, I wasn’t going to argue.
    Ceara continued, “I don’t think this will take long, I’ve
talked to the others and it seems you’ve had a rather bad time lately. 
That said, I’m not quite sure what to do with you.  As a vampire you fall
under our laws, as a sorceress you are your own agent.  So, let me ask
you.  If I gave you a choice, what would you want?”
    This was far too reasonable.  I was probably being
paranoid but… I couldn’t read her at all, and honestly I was afraid to try.
    “The forest holds no appeal to me any longer for various
reasons.  I think I’d like to stay in Seattle, as for beyond that, I
haven’t really given it much thought.  I don’t want to just go my own way,
and be alone, but it’s complicated.”
    It was.  As a spirit sorceress I was supposed to live
on the edge of society.  Observe and only interfere to help a soul that
couldn’t find the way back, or unlock their memories.  I wasn’t supposed
to interfere with free will at all for mortals, except for self-defense, and if
they ceded that free will.
    On the other hand, as a vampire I would be inextricably
linked to this coven and other vampires.  It would be very tempting in
that scenario to turn my back on the tenets, which I don’t want to do. 
For instance, if some monster attacked right now, I’d have to sit back and
watch, I wouldn’t be able to interfere at all, unless someone specifically
asked for my help.
    How could I truly be a part of a group on those terms? 
I didn’t think I could get away with calling the coven a family, which was the
last exception, they couldn’t be, not really.
    Ceara nodded, “Let’s get back to that, can you tell me what
happened that led you here from your point of view?”
    I took a moment to gather my thoughts, and started from when
Terry called for help.  I finished my story when I threw the knife in
Vince’s eye.
    Ceara shook her head, “Are you telling me, that you killed him
because he asked for help?”
    I shook my head, “I killed him because he was a twisted and
evil bastard.  It was him demanding me for help that enabled me to act on
that.”
    Ceara asked, “And that constituted help?”
    I nodded sincerely, “He was stuck.  Sunk completely in
evil and cruelty and unable to die.  I freed his soul from that torment of
endless mortality, he’ll get another chance to get it right now.”
    Ceara chuckled, “I’ll take your word for it.  So what
happened with the lightning?”
    I sighed, “I was supposed to just hit you, that was the
compulsion.  But I’d never used my power in the city before, and touching
all those human souls was overwhelming and it all went wrong.  I suppose I
should tell you I overcame that deficiency last night.”
    Ceara smiled, “Alright, why don’t we do this.  I’ll
offer you a place in the coven.  You can get settled, take some time to
think, and let me know where you want to contribute.  You can do anything
from filing paperwork on the third floor to mopping the cafeteria and cleaning
tables.  Work one of our clubs, or go get a degree in something to get any
job in our companies.  Or, if your so inclined I think your capable enough
to join the guards.
    “If that doesn’t appeal to you, you’re free to go at any
time.”
    I could probably do most of that, but I’d make a terrible
guard, unless the person I guarded kept asking me for help… and there is always
the danger that help might end in the wrong party dying.  The rest of it
sounded possible, and it was something to do.  It also meant I wouldn’t be
alone anymore.  I decided to be honest.
    “Probably not a guard, but I think I’ll take you up on your
offer.  A couple of days to look around and decide?  I mean what job
I want.  I definitely want to stay if you’ll let me.”
    Ceara nodded, “First things first,” she called in Lisa,
“Lisa, assign a condo to Miku here, and then take her shopping.  She needs
clothes that fit, and a real