I watched them for a while, finally finishing my drink just as Abben pulled the large wolf tooth from her pocket and began drawing on the wall, dipping the edges in her glass of red wine as though it were an inkwell and then tracing out the symbol.
I would take her a few minutes, that much I knew, and I didn’t feel like watching this experiment even if it was a success. I looked back down at the phone. I continued to study the image, though I don’t know why. It wasn’t as if my staring at it was going to give me some massive epiphany.
I thought about the fountain again, how it had been carved into the wood so perfectly. How the . . . wait. I grabbed Babbs’s phone from the bar and frantically flipped through it until I came to the pictures of the cave walls. She’d taken photos while we were there. Ones showing the symbol as it had been carved in history. I held my phone against it and began comparing the two. There it was, the answer we needed.
“Oh, no,” I muttered, raising my head to see Abben sketching the last of the symbol. “Abben! Wait!” I ran toward her, fighting my way through the sea of dancers. But it was too late.
As my feet hit the dance floor, a large torrent of magical energy suddenly crackled to life, rushing from the symbol and spilling into every inch of the club. Bright white light filled the room, blinding everyone inside. The loud thuds of bodies hitting the floor and screaming out in pain echoed through the building.
A magic unlike anything I’d ever felt surged through my body. There was something wrong with it. It didn’t feel like regular magic. It felt dark and wrong like the kind of thing you know is a mistake from the beginning.
“Abben!” I ran toward her, trying my best to shield myself from the light. “Kianna! Babbs! Where are you?”
“Here!” Babbs yelled as I dropped to the floor, crawling toward them. Then, just as quick as it came, the light was gone. There was nothing left, nothing but darkness and silence. My body froze in place as I waited to see what would happen next.
“Potens in lucem!!!!” I heard Abben call out.
Light streamed from her outstretched hand. She held it high in the air, creating the illusion of a lighthouse.
“I’m coming!”
18
“What happened?” Kianna asked.
“Is she breathing?” I dropped to my feet and pressed my head against her chest. “I don’t feel anything!”
“What about her signature?” Kianna replied, tears beginning to fill her eyes. “Can you feel her magic?”
“I . . . I don’t know,” I said, my nerves running a million miles an hour. My hands were shaking as I placed them on her chest, trying once again to feel for anything. I steadied myself as much as I could, then after what seemed like a lifetime, I finally felt something.
“She’s alive!” I said. “I can feel her energy!”
“We need to get her out of here! Help me lift her.”
“Um . . . you guys . . .” Babbs said as the club lights came back up. “I think we have a problem.”
I turned to see a room full of angry people, about half of them shifting into wolves and the other half trying to fight it. As you might imagine, none of them seemed too pleased with us in that moment and I began to wonder if we were going to make it out alive. To them, we just looked like a group of witches who’d lied our way into their club and then, for all intents and purposes, tried to kill them.
“I don’t think they’re too happy with us,” Babbs said.
Kianna knelt down and shielded Abben’s body with her own, then began casting a protection spell. It was a wise move. From the looks of things, we may have had to fight our way out. I readied myself, trying my best to tap into the battle magic I hadn’t used since longer than I could remember.
“Witches!” A large lycanthrope man stepped forward. It was an odd sight to see, as small pieces of his body morphed between human and wolf and then back again. He stepped closer. “What do you want?”
“Nothing,” I replied, feeling the magic begin to grow within me. “It was an accident. We just want to leave. My friend is hurt.”
“You come here and assault my people and expect sympathy and compassion?” He snarled. “I don’t care about your friend! Look at what you’ve done!”
“It was an accident!” I said.
The man held his hand in the air, signaling for the other wolves to step forward. In seconds, we were surrounded. This wasn’t what I wanted. I couldn’t fight them. I couldn’t start a war with these people when one of them meant so much to me.
“Hold my hand,” Babbs said, locking her fingers with mine.
I could feel it happening. She was using our physical connection to tap into both our magics, ramping them up to a level I’d never truly experienced. It rushed through my body, creating a sense of pure power and ecstasy. I was overwhelmed. I’d never been this strong. I’d never paired my magic with anyone else’s before.
“Babbs!” Kianna held out her hand.
My entire body shook when their hands touched. Now, not only was my best friend using my power, but she was using Kianna’s too. The world looked different through my eyes now. I could see everything, new elements, new colors, and new worlds, each one atop the other in perfect harmony.
“You guys are gonna need to calm down,” Babbs whispered as wave of calming emotion began to flow from us. It was almost visible in a way, gliding across the floor and coating everything in its path before snaking up the legs and arms of the Lycans.
Usually, the two magics wouldn’t have been able to be mixed, but I doubted something this powerful knew any bounds or limitations. In the moment, I felt like we could change the world, like we could alter time and space in an instant if we’d only have wanted to.
“I don’t know how long this will last,” Babbs said as the wolves stumbled backward, their Lycan shifting slowing to a pause. “We need to hit the road! Now!”
“Light as a feather!” Kianna snapped her fingers, sending Abben’s body floating into the air. We each grabbed hold, positioning her upright, and headed for the door, leaving the wolves stumbling through a rush of emotion they couldn’t understand.
A few moments later, we stumbled into the street, each of us exhausted and tired from the magical energy we’d just unleased. And then, just like always, we ran into one the last people I wanted to see.
“Ms. Black,” Detective Shannon said as we turned the corner of Holden Street. “I was just on my way to find you. Someone said you might be at the club. I can see from your outfits . . .” He stopped dead in his tracks.
Could he tell there was something wrong with Abben? Did he sense our magic? What could possibly have caused his jaw to drop and the color to leave his face the way it did?
“Are you okay?” I asked.
I was coming to confront you about the fact that you’d lied to me.” He narrowed his eyes. “That is, until I saw that you lied to me again.”
“Lied?” I asked. “About what?”
“First of all,” he said, “It has come to my attention that not only do you know Nicco Turner, but you’re also involved in a long-term relationship with the man.”
“I wouldn’t call it a relationship,” I lied.
“And now . . .” He turned to Babbs and pointed to her skirt. “You’ve implicated yourself as well, Ms. McGhee.”
There it was, the skirt we’d both promised him we had no idea where to find. Kianna was wearing it and Babbs wearing one that to him probably looked identical, even though the design was flipped. The only way we could have looked guiltier in that moment was if we were holding bloody steak knives and digging holes.
“You said that skirt was one of a kind. You also said you didn’t know where to find it.” He pulled a pair of handcuffs from his belt. “Babbs McGhee. You have the right—”
“Sleep!” Kianna snapped her fingers, sending both the detective and his partner to the ground. “Let’s go!”
“What about Abben?” Babbs asked. “How long can she go on like this?”
“In here.” I pointed to an old and seemingly abandoned building. “I’ll explain.”
We pushed through the door and made our way to the middle of the room where we laid Abben on the floor. There were still no signs of life and barely any magical signature left. She was dying and it was our fault. I quickly explained everything I could to Kianna.
We needed to get out of there, to find a better place to leave Abben while we tried to undo all of this mess, somewhere where Detective Shannon wouldn’t find us. There was no doubt he’d come looking for us in my apartment. And I sure as crap didn’t want to go back to the store. We’d done enough damage there already. I could only think of one place left. One place I thought we might be able to find the truth in all of this. I told the girls to follow me, rushed out the door, and hailed a cab.
“Where to?” The cab driver said as the four of us piled in the back seat.
“Dunwoody,” I replied.
19
“Why are we going back to Dunwoody?” Kianna asked.
“Because,” I replied. “We need the blood of a wolf, and the only other one we know lives there. We obviously can’t use Nicco’s. So that leaves—”
“Finn,” Babbs said.
“Do you think he’ll do it?”
“Yeah.” She smiled. “He will.”
There was something between Finn and Babbs. It was obvious every time they were near one another and it was just as obvious now in the way she talked about him, the way her eyes lit up at the sound of his name. She felt for him and I understood the draw. He was kind and devastatingly handsome. Not to mention those Lycan pheromones that oozed from his pores, the ones that make it almost impossible to pull away once you’ve gotten close.
We made our way through the city streets as I pleaded with the driver to try to get us there faster. I wasn’t sure how the poisoned magic worked, but I knew Abben didn’t look good. She’d warned us so many times about getting involved with werewolves, about how ready they’d be to defend what they saw as theirs and how dangerous their magic was.
I felt bad for bringing her to the club. For not stopping her. This was, after all, my burden, my cross to bear. Was it unfair of me to keep involving my friends? Should I just go off on my own and do my best to fix this solo? It was too late for that now, though. Abben and Nicco both needed help. Not to mention the chance that Hannah might still be alive somewhere, slowly dying from the same mistake I’d watched Abben make.
It only took a little while to reach the small white house. Just like the first time I saw it, the place was in darkness, with nothing but the soft glow of candlelight casting shadows across the windows. We pulled Abben from the cab and brought her to the door. My hands hesitated for a moment before I knocked.
“Babbs. Ginni.” Finn opened the door. “What are you—”
“We need your help,” Babbs said.
“Come in.”
We laid Abben on the couch, placing a small blanket across her legs before explaining the mess we’d found ourselves in. Finn was kind and understanding, listening as we explained everything, as we told him of our mistakes and missteps.
“So what is it that you need me to do?” he asked.
“It’s your blood,” Kianna said. “We need the blood of a wolf in order to reverse the magic.”
“Sure,” he said, lifting a silver letter opener from the table next to him.
“No.” Kianna stopped him. “We need the blood of a wolf. You’ll have to shift.”
He looked at her, placing the letter opener back on the desk. It was a lot to ask of him. Shifting was a painful thing, not to mention a dangerous one. Especially when surrounded by a bunch of witches. Our magic attracts lycanthropes, almost as if they can smell it. And with so many of us here, and all immensely powerful in our own ways, it might prove to be too much for him.
“No.” The sound of his grandmother’s voice echoed through the darkness. “He will not shift. Not to satisfy a witch!”
“Please.” I turned to her, unsure of what else to say. “My friend’s life is in the balance. She’ll die, not to mention other people.”
“It is a dangerous thing. With witches here, he may forget himself. If that happens, you may not like what follows.”
“I understand the risks,” I said. “And I know it’s a lot to ask. But please . . .”
“I can’t do it without her blessing.” Finn looked at Babbs. “She’s the matriarch of our family. The leader of our pack. For things like this, I have to abide by her word.”
“I understand,” Babbs said.
I could feel her fingers gliding across my arm as she locked them with mine. It took a minute, longer than it probably should have, but I realized what she was doing. I steadied myself, gathering as much concentration as I could and focusing my energy on the old woman. She was strong, through, her magic old and practiced. I could feel it pushing back against us. If Babbs was going to change her mind, we would have to work a little harder.
“Wait,” I said. “No . . . not like this.” I stepped closer to the old woman, finding a seat on the couch next to her and looking directly in her eyes. I knew she was blind but that didn’t mean she couldn’t feel how serious I was. That didn’t mean she shouldn’t be able to feel me, to know my intentions were good and pure.
I placed my hand on hers then asked for a simple favor. “Just this once. Please. You’ll save the lives of a witch and a wolf. Don’t let one of your people die just for me. I love him.”
“Grandmother.” Finn stood. “I want to do it. I can help them.”
It took a little more convincing than I thought it would, but finally, Finn was ready . . .
“What is that?” he asked, looking around at the backyard.
A soft light shone up from the edges of the land, creating a magical barrier no living thing could cross. Much like the hex we’d left on our apartment, it took all three of us to bring enough power to make it happen. But it worked, or at least it seemed to for now.
“It’s like a fence,” Babbs replied. “In case something goes wrong. You won’t be able to cross it.”
“I don’t know.” He smiled. “I’m pretty strong when I shift.”
“Just try to control yourself long enough for us to get the blood. After that, try to shift back.”
Finn walked closer to Babbs, the back of his hand softly grazing her cheek. They were sweet together, and from what I could tell, he really seemed to like her. But who wouldn’t like a crazy-sexy-cute witch, right?
“It’s not always that easy,” he said, leaning in and kissing Babbs on the forehead. “Just do what you have to do. Don’t worry about hurting me. I’m strong.”
“All right,” Kianna said. “Everything is ready. Let’s get started.”
Finn stepped backward, positioning himself in the middle of the backyard, and began to undress. His broad chest and muscular arms glistened in the darkness as he removed his shirt, then his pants and so on until finally, moonlight engulfed his entire body.
It was slow at first, then faster until finally, he began to visibly shift. Sharp, jagged nails tore through his fingertips. His legs, ankles, and feet shifted into large, furry paws. His face, beautiful and sweet, morphed into that of a wolf-like hybrid. He fell to the ground, his body writhing in pain as his eyes went from dark brown to glowing green.
He rolled away, disappearing behind a large bush, then everything went quiet. I turned to Babbs, her eyes wide with alarm and her mouth hanging open. She’d never seen it before, the torturous way a body reacts when changing from one living thing to another. It was unnerving, to say the least.
“Finn?” she called out into the silent still air. “Where is—”
A loud roar tore through the night sky as he leapt out from behind the bush and made a mad dash toward Babbs. He wouldn’t reach her though. We’d made sure of that. Though it didn’t st
op him from trying. The large wolf threw its body against the magical barrier over and over again, trying desperately to break through, to get his teeth on one of the people he now saw as enemies.
“What do we do?” Babbs yelled.
“We need his blood!” Kianna said, balling her fists and punching the air. A blast of energy flew from her, colliding with the wolf. His body, large and strong, flew backward, crashing into the fence.
“We can’t get it if he doesn’t calm down!” Babbs cried. “Finn! Finn, it’s me. Babbs.”
The creature ran toward her again, its long white teeth showing through like spotlights in the dark. It wasn’t Finn. He’d gotten lost inside the wolf and couldn’t find his way out. This was exactly what Nicco had warned me of, exactly the kind of thing he was afraid of.
“What do we do?” Babbs yelled as the large wolf clawed at the magical barrier.
I didn’t know how to respond. What was I supposed to say? I hadn’t expected him to react this way. On the rare occasion I’d seen Nicco shift into a wolf, he was always much more able to handle himself. Finn, on the other hand, seemed to have lost all control.
“Babbs!” I said. “Just keep him distracted. “Kianna and I will go around the sides and try to—”
A loud crash of thunder and lightning struck the ground in the middle of the makeshift magical fence. The blast was enormous and sent the three of us flying backward. I hit the ground hard, my body crying out in pain.
Then I saw her . . .
20
It was the witch, the one we’d seen in the store, the one who’d nearly killed us. She called out to Finn. He turned his large head and growled at her. She seemed to be egging him on, trying her best to entice and anger him. And wouldn’t you know, it worked . . .
Seconds later, the wolf was running full-speed toward her. His feet slammed hard against the ground, sending chunks of grass and soil falling like rain. The witch readied herself, bracing for the impact. As he neared her, she began casting, opening a large portal just as he neared her. Finn pulled back but it was too late. In an instant, they were gone, having vanished into thin air.
Magic & Mini Skirts Page 11
