Strega (Strega Series) by Karen Monahan Fernandes Page A

deep forests and plains of the earth."
    "Strega were considered a gift to their people. Unfortunately, we do not know much about them. So much history has been lost. But various unofficial accounts confirm that some survived persecution. Those Strega, by necessity, would have been forced to keep their practices secret throughout the centuries, relying on their ancestors to teach them the ways. I can tell you with confidence that the tradition has indeed survived. To this day, in the remote villages of Tuscany, if you listen closely you can still hear whispers of their power.
    "The intent of benevolent magic is to heal, to harm none, and to act for the greater good. And just as Christians are plagued by Satan, the lord of hell, Strega are said to be engaged in a war against forces of darkness in our world. I wish I knew more. When I was in Italy, nobody would speak of this with me."
    He paused for a moment and signaled to the blade in his hand.
    "That is where this comes in," he said, peering at me with focused and determined eyes, as if waiting for me to figure out the connection.
    "I still don't understand," I finally said. "What does any of this have to do with that blade?"
    "Oh, Jay, this is not just any blade. This is an athame."

XX
    Stacks of books were crammed onto Mr. Whitmore's shelves. On his desk, amongst scraps of scribbled-on paper and notepads, more piles of books were scattered. Several were on the subject of Italy and Ancient Rome.
    "What is an athame?" I asked as I watched him trace his finger along the symbols on the blade's handle.
    "An athame is actually a common tool in the modern practice of Wicca. But to Strega, it was their most powerful weapon." He handed it to me and I examined it as if for the first time.
    "An athame's power is in its magical charge," he said. "Modern practitioners of Wicca use them during ceremonies or rituals to direct energy. In this tradition, they are more symbolic than anything else. But Strega were known to use them quite literally to channel their power and defeat their enemies.
    "The symbols etched upon an athame have profound, pertinent meaning to the one who wields it. These markings often represent certain gods or spirits that are called upon for strength. Just by looking at this, I can tell you without a doubt that it's not the athame of a modern witch. It is the athame of a Strega."
    He stood before me with his arms crossed, staring at the ceiling deep in thought.
    "I just can't wrap my mind around how you found it. You don't just stumble upon one of these. A Strega's athame is highly revered and closely guarded. Always with them. Never out of their sight. You're sure you found this...just lying on the floor?"
    "Yes, in the basement," I said in confirmation, still unsure what to make of all he was saying. "Could it be a replica? I mean, maybe it's not the real thing."
    "There are two things you need to understand, Jay," he said as his expression grew even more serious. "For one thing, Etruscan relics are rare because so much has been destroyed. The handful of items that have survived are all behind glass in museums. And magical tools are never among them. Whatever does exist is hidden, protected within Stregherian families. Even if someone wanted to produce a replica, they couldn't because they would have no model for it. Aside from the Strega that possess them, no one has ever seen an authentic one."
    "So if you've never seen one, then how do you know this is one of them?" I asked as politely as possible.
    "I will get to that in a minute," he said. "The second thing you need to keep in mind is that Strega, though scarce, still walk among us. And so do their enemies."
    He paused for a moment and leaned over his desk, looking me in the eye.
    "What you've found has a very real purpose. It belongs to a Strega that lives and breathes in our time, I am sure of it. I just do not know how or why she was separated from it. Jay, you found it for a reason, and we need to figure