WITH HELD

Things Will Improve.

I set the books out in front of me, I had so far a small pile I had read (Not as many as I would have liked. But it was a "pile", five books in total - Go me!)    They sat to the right of me on the table, I looked to the left of me - The stack looked back (There were twelve. Large, long paragraphs/involving information/essential needed to be known material. Not feeling the vibe, but it was stuff that needed to be seared into my brain)     As they say - If one has the power (Or is it the energy?)   One requires the knowledge!

Power doesn't make you knowledgeable. Knowledge can make somewhat powerful, but it's a fine tuned "skill" that brings the best results.     I was a toddler with a hitting fist. I needed to be better than that.     Ethan needed to be better too.     "Better" seemed to be the word of the moment.       Clark had set me up in a room, mother made sure I had all my books, even the so-called excellent reading material (The black spell craft ones were top of the ever growing stacks of reading needs)

"Dearest daughter, of mine!    You must read.   You must absorb..."      Mother had lightly patted my arm, smiled at me.      I gave her a hard stare, glanced at the books being bought into the room (Groaned inside my head)    I felt like I was back at school. Sadly father and her, couldn't stay. They had wanted to be with me a little longer, father had even commented I was in need of some experienced assistance, which was somewhat what they were all about in a round about way. But a letter came to them late one night - They were being summoned back to their duties (A witch council of some description of another, had asked for the return of my parents services)

Mother had got a little upset, father had comforted her - I was told, they would come back as soon as there was another adequate break available. Both Clark and Benton assured my parents, I was in good hands (I wasn't alone) Stella would be with me too.

My coven wouldn't be allowed to devour me on the spot - I would raise to what was expected of me! I would be all that I was meant to become. Stella grinned from ear to ear as she said it. EB nodded like a crazy person. Hector had given my parents an earnest look (Then his tongue rolled out of his mouth. But, he stood to his full height - He felt the full stare of my parents. He would act responsibly to the request demanded of all, in regard of me)

Both Abby and Fern gave their assurances too.

I had to be "successful" - I, was to fix Hector.

I gripped book number six, it was heavy (Bit on the dusty side, looked to be well read. Could it be a well loved book?    Last reader just couldn't put it down?)      I stared at the cover a minute, let the book fall open within my hands - Made the stomach-sinking discovery, the smelly old book had no pictures!  And, it was all written in latin.       Pages had been added, pages had been drawn on (Great! A kid had been allowed this book!)

I took a deep breath, pinched my nose a second (That blocked it for a millisecond) started to read, then came to the gut-aching conclusion - This book was going to ask me to do some mathematical work (SHITSHITSHIT! I don't do maths!    Cheers to the witches that don't mind it, claim it keeps them on their toes (*Insert crazy laugher!*)      But, I'd prefer to stay off my toes!      Where the blazes is Ethan when you need him.    If my memory serves me correctly, Ethan wasn't that great with it either.

Or the very least, the dead part of him wasn't thrilled by it.   But, given a moment or two he could do it (Or he was he pretending too?)    I placed the book back on the table, spotted my list of coven members to be tested.    I had a fair idea of who knew their shit, but to be totally sure would be the answer to have.     The coven were an even number of twenty (By most standards that is a small number)