Page 63 of The 13th Daughter

"The dream, it was more than a nightmare wasn't it?" Jeff pulled me closer.

"It's a memory," I agreed.

"Memory?" Kay asked, puzzled. "CJ, what's going on?"

"Yeah, CJ, what's going on?" Billy glowered at me.

"You tell me, Billy."

Kay looked from me to Billy. Her face went from puzzled to concerned. "Billy?"

"She knows things she's not supposed to," he snapped. "How did you learn about transference spells, CJ? They don't even begin to teach us that until we've been a full member of the Coven for at least five years."

"I told you, I don't know. It just came to me."

"Bullshit," he growled. "Who's teaching you?"

He took a step toward me, anger written in every movement of his body. The panic I'd been trying to keep at bay leapt to life. He looked angry enough to do me some real harm to get the answers he wanted. My stomach knotted. A strong wind surrounded me and spread outward, catching Billy and throwing him backwards into the wall. He struck his head and didn't move.

Kay jumped up and ran over to him. What had I done?

"Is he okay?" Jeff asked. I gazed in horror.

"He's breathing. I think she just knocked him out," Kay sighed in relief. "CJ?"

What was I supposed to tell her? I didn't have any of the answers.

"Look, CJ, it's just you, me, and Jeff," Kay said softly and rejoined us. "You can tell us."

"She's been able to invoke the Elements since she was six," Jeff blurted.

I glared up at him. I'd told him that in confidence.

"CJ, is that true?" Kay demanded. "And how does Jeff know and not me?"

"I've been helping her," he confessed. "I might not be able to tell her anything, but the rules don't say I can't teach her the basics."

Kay's expression became worried. "Jeff, if anyone finds out..."

"They won't," I said. "Unless you tell them."

She sighed. "You know I'm not going to say anything."

"The reason I told you is because I was thinking. Do you remember what they told us about people born to be true Coven leaders?"

Kay frowned. "Yeah, but I don't see what that has to do with anything, Jeff."

"It has to do with everything," he argued. "She's..."

"Wait," I interrupted. "What are you talking about?"

"A true Coven leader is born with certain gifts and affinities," Jeff explained. "Being able to manipulate the Elements at an early age is a sign of it. They have an inborn spelling ability too. CJ, you wrote that truth spell when the combined efforts of the Coven couldn't."

"Shit," Kay whispered. "You could be right."

"I don't understand," I said. What were they going on about?

"CJ, you were born to be a Coven leader," Jeff smiled.