Page 22 of The 13th Daughter

I have something very special planned for your induction ceremony. You and Kay always celebrate your birthdays together, but your induction into the Junior Coven should be about you and you alone. That is why I have planned Kay's induction for the first Saturday in November. Yours will be on your birthday.

Before the Junior Coven leader can join the Coven, the next leader must be chosen and I choose you, Cassie Jayne. You areto be the next leader of the Junior Coven. Don't be afraid. It's scary, but amazing. I know you don't believe in it now, but after your induction ceremony, all your doubts will be swept away. I promise. It's who you are.

I love you so much, little sister, and am so very proud of you. Happy birthday!

Love,

Emily

Questions exploded into my mind. She'd planned to hand the Junior Coven over to me? It made no sense. Why would she warn me stay away from it then? What had happened to change her mind? I thought back to the night that was forever burned into my memory. She'd been scared that night. I'd always thought it was because she was in pain and knew she was dying, but now I wondered if there was more to it than that. She'd loved the Coven with her entire being. This proved it. So why, why had she told me not to go near it? What had she known about the Coven that I didn't? What had scared her into making me promise to stay away from it?

A horrible thought pushed its way in. What if the Coven had something to do with her death? Oh, damn. My stomach clenched painfully. I knew I was right. I didn't understand why, but I was right. Maybe her death hadn't been an accident after all. Could that be why she'd warned me away from the Coven? Because they'd tried to kill her?

I'd promised her I'd stay away, but I couldn't. She was my sister and I needed to find out if what had happened to her was really an accident or not.

"I'm sorry," I whispered and folded the gown back into the box. "I have to know, Ems."

I pulled out my phone and found Ethan's number.

"Cassie," he answered. I could hear the smile in his voice. My stomach flipped at the sound. He sounded like he'd just woken up. Images flooded my mind at that thought and I blushed to the roots of my hair.

"So what do I wear to an induction ceremony?" I asked him.

"What's wrong?" he demanded. "You sound like you've been crying."

"Nothing's wrong," I lied. "I just found something that reminded me of Emily, that's all."

"Are you okay?"

"Not really, but I will be. So, I'll meet you in the park at seven?"

"I can pick you up."

"No, I don't want Dad to know I'm going. It'll just upset him."

"Okay," he agreed with a sigh.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Did your dad ever bring you to visit you grandfather here when you were little?"

"No, I told you Mom wouldn't let us visit. Granddad came to us."

Who was lying? Ethan or Mom?

"Why?" he asked me.

"No reason," I said. "So, what do I wear tonight?"

"Something nice."

"Okay, I'll see you at seven. Bye."

I snapped the phone shut, my stomach clenched into knots. Mom said Ethan had been here before and Ethan denied it.

Who was lying to me and why?