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EPILOGUE: FRAN

We stand in front of the gathering crowd with the stones at our backs. Magic leaps playfully between the stones, so alive it feels like I should be able to see it. More than that, touch it.

I can only imagine what it must feel like for Callie.

This place. It’s special. It’s the perfect choice for this meeting. And there are more people here than I anticipated. I know a lot of the people in the town want something different from what's in place now, but somehow, I thought more of them would be too scared to come out.

Phoebe, I miss you every day. I send the thought out into the magic, and I swear I feel it swirl around me. I refuse to believe she's gone. When she died, she went out into the fabric of the world and became one with it. I'm almost certain of it. Which means talking to her sometimes. I don't blame Callie for trying, either. There's no reason it doesn't work that way.

I hope the magic means she can feel me, too, and that if she still exists in some form, she will know I’m thinking of her. She’ll know how much I loved her. Love her still. I'll go to my death knowing and loving Phoebe.

I finger the paper in my pocket. I don’t need to pull it out. I've committed the handwriting to memory, the last words of the love of my life. The first part asks me to do anything I can to help Callie. Phoebe knew that when she died, Callie would need everyone she could get on her side. That was why she’d allowed them to kill her when she had. Dying on her own terms, she was able to help in ways I didn’t even realize yet. I wish she'd told me. Then I could have been ready for the pain coming my way.

“I hope I’m doing this the way you would want, Phoebe,” I whisper as I clutch the letter. The paper crinkles, but I know it won't be damaged. The first thing I did was put a spell on it, so it won't be easily destroyed. After the fire, I can't bear the thought of losing another piece of her.

She doesn’t answer me. I'm not surprised. With her granddaughter about to take her place in the coven, she has better things to focus on.

Stepping forward, I place a comforting hand on Callie’s back. “Remember why you’re doing this,” I say quietly into her ear.

Callie looks at the large crowd gathered inside the stones. “For them,” she whispers, awe filling the words. The entire town has turned out, at least it looks like they have. “And for Mom. And Grandma.”

I smile. She’s a good girl. Someone who will do her legacy proud. I resented her at first. Her existence killed my beloved Phoebe. But it isn’t the child’s fault. All we can do now is make sure Phoebe’s death isn’t in vain. And that the man behind it is punished. Robert deserves to lose his power. For personal slights, as well as the horrible things he's done to the people of this town and the rest of the coven.

I eye the crowd as Callie steps forward. She clutches her hands behind her back. Nervous. Benny steps forward, to the front of the crowd, even though this isn’t his coven. Any visiting witch is always welcome at ceremonies like this. I can't say I'm particularly thrilled about that.

He stares at Callie in awe. Not lovingly. Respectfully. He recognizes power when he sees it. I can only hope the rest of the people gathered do as well.

“My name is Calliope Sawyer Kranton. I am the daughter of Regina Kranton and the granddaughter of Phoebe Kranton.” Her mother never took her father’s name. There's always been a Kranton on the throne, so she kept her maiden name, which means Callie is also a Kranton. I find a slow smile crossing my face at the inclusion of Sawyer. It's just like Regina to include her husband's name somehow. It's as if she wants her daughter to remember where she's come from.

The crowd is mixed. Some are shocked, and some don’t look like they are surprised at all. The rumors have been going around ever since Callie came to town, so a lot of people have heard she's here already.

“I am here to formally claim my place as the Queen of the East Coast Coven.”

Again, mixed reaction. Part of the crowd cheers and claps. Some look apprehensive. And some look outright hostile. I make a note of the angry faces. They’ll need watching.

I miss a few things Callie says as I take note of the names, but my focus pulls back to her when she speaks again. My heart swells with pride. This girl, whom I’d been so angry at when she first came to Blackwater Falls, has become the woman she’s meant to be. She’s ready to lead the coven. Time will tell if she’s ready to take on the king. “I will not stop until I succeed. Until Robert is deposed, and you are a free coven again.”

This time, the cheers are louder, but people are already walking out of the circle. Those loyal to Robert. They will bring trouble. Robert will not give up his throne without a huge fight. But we knew that already.

Now, the real fight begins.