by Mona Hanna
“Yes. Maybe next time.” Erica felt a knot in her stomach for lying to her mother, but everyone had an agreement to keep the parents in the dark. She’d promised James. “Would you like me to bring you back anything?”
“No, that’s fine. I may go to the shop with Hallie at some point. Take care.”
Erica nodded, and then her and Elliot walked out the door and shut it behind them. The shop was too far to magically transport to in one go, and Erica felt like an outing, so they were going to get a carriage there. They headed to where they could hire one, the day sunny and warm. Erica walked quickly beside Elliot, but he slowed his stride slightly for her, being a fair bit taller.
Elliot suddenly cleared his throat. “I was wondering something. You know how Caeden and James’s father spent two years at sea when he was younger?”
“Yes,” Erica said. “A few years before they were born, I think.”
Elliot nodded. “Well, I was thinking.” He hesitated. “I was thinking about what to do with my future. I like when we travel by ship—I never get sea sick and enjoy it very much. How do you think Mother and Father would feel about me spending time at sea? Maybe a year.”
Erica stopped and looked at him. “This year? You’d miss my wedding.”
Elliot’s blue eyes filled with concern. “I—I know. I don’t want to be absent from that, but I really feel like I need to get away. I like working at the market with Father, but it’s not… mine. It’s not something of my own. I do it because it’s our family business. I just want to travel, move away from what’s comfortable. I want to live my life, to grow up. I don’t want to be viewed as a child anymore when I’m not.”
Erica thought for a moment. He was her little brother but nearly an adult. The thought of him missing such an important day in her life broke her heart, but she knew this must be really important to him or he wouldn’t consider doing so. “I think you’re very brave. I don’t think Mother or Father would stop you, although they’d definitely want to talk about it. I’d miss you—we’d all miss you. Even Merilyn.”
A blush crossed Elliot’s cheeks. “I doubt that,” he said, but he looked slightly pleased.
Erica was aware Elliot’s crush on Merilyn hadn’t abated, even after all these years. She wondered if going away was some final attempt to get her to view him differently, as she’d never shown any interest. Erica didn’t think Merilyn would ever return his feelings, but maybe being at sea would get him to forget about her. Or enable him to finally let go if she didn’t change her mind about him when he returned.
“I’m proud of you,” Erica said. “Good luck breaking this to our parents—I know that won’t be easy.”
Elliot grimaced. “I’m dreading it. I’ll wait until we’ve been home for a while. I want to leave soon after, though.”
Erica nodded, and they walked on in silence for a while, then chatted about other things until they reached a carriage. Soon enough they were at the book shop, a building of red-brown bricks with quaint windows. They left the carriage, walked up to the door, and pushed it open.
A bell at the top jingled to announce their presence. The familiar sight of rows and rows of bookshelves greeted them, very tall ones along the walls and shorter ones in the center of the shop.
Tricia stood on a tall ladder, getting a few books down from the top shelf. “I’ll be with you in a moment,” she called out.
Erica looked around while they waited, taking in all the different titles.
Shortly after, Tricia came down the ladder, artfully balancing books under one arm. She turned and grinned when she saw them. She tossed her long brown braid over her shoulder and adjusted her glasses. “Erica! Elliot!” Tricia said, walking forward. “How are you! It’s been months since I’ve seen you. Elliot, you’ve grown a foot.”
“Not quite,” he said, grinning.
“Erica, what’s new with you? And how are your mother and Hallie?”
Hallie and Mother had been visiting the shop for years, so both knew Tricia quite well. The woman was especially close to Hallie, as they were the same age. All of their children had met her over the years, although it was Erica she knew most.
“They’re doing well. They said to say hello. I’m also fine. I have some news, actually. I recently got engaged. His name’s Gareth.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful! Ariel and Hallie must be ecstatic!”
“Yes, they’re quite happy. Gareth couldn’t be here today, but I’m sure you’ll meet him soon.”
“That would be great,” Tricia said. “Now, how can I help you today?”
Erica hesitated for a moment. Tricia knowing her and the twins’ parents meant she might pass on what they were looking for, even just in conversation. Erica didn’t want that, but she wouldn’t be able to find what she needed without Tricia’s help. She just had to take the risk.
“I’m looking for a spell that could help someone recall something they saw only briefly. They can’t remember because they saw it only for a moment, but I was wondering if a spell could bring it forth so they could see it clearly.”
Tricia narrowed her blue eyes. “Well, the best thing would be hypnosis, which can be done with a spell, but also without by people skilled in such things. Hypnosis need not involve magic, but a spell can be used to produce the same effect. It’s a difficult spell, however, and I normally think most wouldn’t be able to manage it. But you’ll be fine, of course. Let me find some books to help you.”
She disappeared to the right of the shop for a while, then returned with three brown books in her hands. Walking to the wooden counter near the back wall, Tricia placed the books on the flat surface, and Erica and Elliot joined her.
“Each of these spell books contains a hypnosis spell, each one slightly different. Read the spells and decide which you like best.”
“Thank you so much for your help,” Erica said. “What do the books cost, please?”
Tricia gave her the price, and Erica reached into her satchel for her coin purse. She paid for them, placed them into her satchel, and then she and Elliot said good-bye and left.
Erica pondered hypnotizing James as they traveled back home, not having realized that would be the spell. She hoped he would go along with it and hoped she would get the spell right. Then they could find the villain tormenting James and make her break the spell she cast on him. The problem was, how would Erica convince her? Would she have to fight her with magic? Would battling the woman make her obey Erica? But battling her had one main problem. Eighteen years ago, Mother and Hallie, along with Julia and a baby Erica, cast a spell that gave every witch in the world a special reserve of power that would come forward if the witch was overpowered.
Would the extra power Mother and Hallie decided to give all witches enable the woman hurting James to escape Erica?
Chapter 7
“No! Benji! No!”
“Miranda! Wake up!”
Miranda awoke with a start. She was sitting at her desk, having fallen asleep late that morning after barely sleeping the night before.
Leona squeezed her shoulder and sat on a chair beside her. “You have to sleep at night. You need to take care of yourself.”
“I know,” Miranda mumbled, smoothing back her disheveled red hair. “I just can’t stop worrying.”
Leona was about to leave for her afternoon shift at the tavern. She supported both of them, as Miranda had lost her job a few months ago after the business shut down. Miranda doubted she could have concentrated at work right now anyway.
“What’s wrong?” Leona asked.
“I—I’m just upset. I don’t know if I can defeat Erica. Her and the others might be too strong for me. They’re working together to stop us. I checked last night, and Gareth was watching James the whole time. I could hardly take control of him then. We had such a great plan, but it’s all falling apart.”
Leona shut her eyes for a moment. When she looked back at Miranda, her dark eyes were glistened with tears. “I know this is hard for yo
u, and believe me, if I could do it instead if you, I would. It’s more my fight than….”
“No! We all suffered. I’m with you in this. I promise you.”
Leona nodded, wiping away a few tears. “I just don’t have your power. If only I’d been born a witch. If only….” She stood and walked away a few paces.
Miranda watched her, wishing she could heal the wound in her sister’s heart. All four of them were broken—Miranda, Leona, and their two other siblings. Nothing would really make up for what they’d lost, what they’d gone through, but Leona had come up with the plan to avenge the deaths of their family members. Two lives for three, one of those the most innocent of them all.
It had taken weeks for Leona to convince Miranda to go along with it. It seemed too abhorrent at first. Murder? But Leona said it was only fair. It was right, because what the witches had done was so wrong.
But they have children, Miranda had said.
Their children are nearly grown, Leona had replied. And they’ll still have their fathers. It meant so much to Leona, and she had sacrificed more than any of their siblings. Leona had raised them from when Miranda was six. She’d given up marriage and a family of her own to raise three children—three scarred children who’d been emotionally and physically abused. Miranda owed her sister everything.
Two lives for three. If her sister’s tears didn’t motivate her enough, her brother’s dying screams would kindle the vengeful fire she needed within.
Miranda walked over to her sister and placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’ll do anything you need.”
Leona turned and looked down at her. “I’m glad to hear you say that. I think I know a way around this.”
***
James nearly jumped out of his chair when Erica and Elliot returned home. He had a thousand questions. Had she found a spell to help him find the mystery woman? What would it involve? Could she cast it without their parents finding out? But he just sat in his chair as Erica and Elliot took their seats, hoping their parents would leave soon so he and the others could talk.
“How was it, honey?” Ariel asked, sitting on one if the settees beside her husband.
“Fine,” Erica replied. “I found some good books.”
“Now that you’re back, I’ll start lunch,” Mother said. “James, could you help me?”
James frowned, wondering why Mother would single him out, considering he could barely boil water. But he rose and followed her into the kitchen. Once they were in the cluttered room, James waited for instructions, but she just stood looking up at him, her blue eyes filled with sadness.
“I’m worried about you. I know the healer didn’t find anything wrong, but you’re not your usual self. Are you sure nothing’s bothering you?”
James looked at his hands. He didn’t want to lie to Mother but felt he had to. He didn’t want to hurt her by telling her what was going on. He and the others would figure out what to do somehow. James stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked at the floor. “I’m okay. I’ve been more quiet, but nothing’s wrong. Please don’t worry about me. Just enjoy your holiday.” He risked looking up.
Mother was frowning at him as if she was trying to decide if he was telling the truth. Finally she just sighed. “Alright, but you can talk to me or your father any time if you need to. I’ll go to the larder and get the food we need. You get out plates and cutlery.” She walked to the other side of the kitchen, and James breathed a sigh of relief. If she’d kept questioning him, he would have found it hard to keep lying.
He went to the cupboard to get the plates, and then with a start, it occurred to him he was alone. You can’t be alone, not for one moment. He was about to hurry out of the room when the door was pushed open and Erica walked through.
“Oh, sweetie, you are alone. I wasn’t sure if it would happen, but I thought I’d come in to check. Listen, I had good luck at the book shop. Later I’ll tell you about….”
“Erica, here to help?” Mother asked, walking back into the kitchen, carrying bread and cold meats, among other things. “James and I should be able to manage, but you’re welcome to stay.”
Erica smiled. “I’ll stay, if that’s alright. I could cut up the loaves.”
The two women began working, and James turned back to the cupboards. Erica was a blessing. What had she been about to tell him? He’d find out soon enough. He hoped it was good news.
***
“Have you two discussed when you’d like to get married?” Mother asked.
Erica looked at Gareth as she sat beside him, her plate resting on her lap. They hadn’t talked about their wedding at all since they’d arrived. Erica didn’t think it was appropriate with what was happening with James, but she could hardly tell Mother that. She looked back at her food, not sure what to say.
“We haven’t decided on a date yet,” Gareth said, touching Erica’s arm. “I’d love to be married as soon as possible, but it’s really up to Erica. I’m fine with whatever she wants.”
Erica looked at Gareth fondly. She was so happy at the thought of being his wife. She kissed him on the cheek. “What do you think, Mother? How long do you think it will take to plan the wedding?”
Mother hesitated for a moment. “The arrangements shouldn’t take too long, depending on what you’d like. Ideally the wedding would take place the next time Hallie, Sean, and the twins visit, which would be roughly six months after we return. How does that sound to you both?”
Erica bit her lip. Six months? It wasn’t just the planning, which she suspected could be done in that time. It was the huge change to her life. Living with Gareth, motherhood. She’d never been away from her family before. She was a little scared about having to cope without her parents. Erica knew they’d always be there for her, but her life would become completely different. She was looking forward to it—waking up next to her love every morning, raising a baby together. It would be wonderful. She just had to try to not let her nervousness and fear about the future get to her.
“I think holding the wedding the next time Hallie and her family visit would be good,” Erica said. “Gareth?”
He smiled at her. “Perfect. Sounds perfect.”
Erica blushed, suddenly embarrassed. She picked at her food.
“Wonderful. We have a rough date,” Mother said. “We need to decide where we’ll have the ceremony, who to invite, the food, the flowers—and the part I’m most looking forward to: your dress. I’d love it if you’d allow me to make it for you.”
“Actually,” Erica said, “I have another idea.” She suddenly became nervous at expressing her thought to her mother. “I was hoping I could wear your wedding dress. I know it’s too long, but I like the thought of wearing the same dress you wore when you got married. Would that be alright?”
Mother gazed at Erica for a moment, and then her eyes glistened with tears. “Oh, sweetie. That would be perfectly alright. You would look lovely. I’m honored.”
“A good idea, Erica,” Father said, smiling at her. “You’d look just as perfect as your mother did when I married her.” He took Mother’s hand, and she smiled at him and rested her head on his shoulder.
Erica suddenly felt embarrassed at the sweet moment between her parents. She’d seen her mother’s wedding dress years ago, kept carefully wrapped in silk and stored in a wooden box. She guessed it would fit her pretty well, apart from the length. Erica knew her mother had been pregnant with her on her wedding day—she was born only five months later—but Mother hadn’t been showing yet. Erica felt wearing the dress was a sweet way to honor her parents while starting her new life.
Chapter 8
There was more discussion about the wedding over lunch, and then their parents went into the kitchen to clean up. Erica knew it was time to tell James and the others about her wanting to hypnotize him. They gathered around the settees and Erica began.
“Tricia told me the way to make James recall where he was transported to was to use a spell to hypnotize him. I bought a few b
ooks with spells for hypnosis, and I’ll study them tonight. If you’re willing, I’d like to try it tomorrow, James.”
James sat looking at her for a long time. “I—I’m not sure.”
“What’s the problem?” Caeden asked. “Why wouldn’t you want Erica to do it?”
James frowned at his brother. “It’s bad enough having someone take control of my body. I don’t want someone in my head too. No offense, Erica.”
“None taken. I understand. But I don’t know of another way to find this woman.”
James took a deep breath. “Alright. I trust you. But what happens then? I mean, if it works? We go to her and… what?”
Erica sighed. “I’m not sure. I need to force the woman to remove the spell she cast on you, but I don’t know how yet. I know I’m more powerful than her magically, but it will still be difficult. Partly because I have no experience with fighting anyone, and partly because—well, the power witches have that comes to them when they’re in trouble. What if it enables the woman to escape?”
Everyone went silent. It was something Erica didn’t know how to get around. They may find the woman but lose in the end. She didn’t know what to do.
“It can’t be a physical battle, then,” Elliot said. “The power comes out when witches are physically threatened. You’ll have to defeat her some other way. Outsmart her or something.”
Erica could have hugged her brother. “That’s so intelligent.”
Elliot smiled. “Well, I’m not a total idiot.”
Caeden cleared his throat. “Actually—”
“Caeden!” Erica snapped, but she wasn’t angry. Elliot had given her an answer—at least, the beginning of one. She just had to figure out the rest.
***
Erica sat on one of the settees in the front room, reading a spell book by candlelight. Gareth sat beside her, reading a book of his own. Everyone else was asleep or in their bedrooms. Elliot and Ethan were in the twins’ room with them—Caeden was watching James that night. Erica used the peace and quiet to read the spells on hypnosis.
