The Girl and the Gargoyle: Book Two of The Girl and the Raven Series

by Pauline Gruber

  “Bathroom break,” I announce. After closing the door in the powder room, I grab a cloth from beneath the sink and run it under cold water. My flushed reflection stares back at me as I relish the cool feeling against the back of my neck and my temples. Dylan needs to leave. I can’t handle being around him. Not until the spell takes effect.

  I jump at the soft knock on the door. I press the cloth to my lips. Please don’t let it be Dylan. What if it’s one of the kids, needing to use the bathroom? I open the door and immediately regret it.

  Dylan pushes his way inside and closes the door behind him.

  “Get out.” I back away from him and bump into the shower doors.

  He grins playfully. “But I’m not doing anything.”

  “Stop walking toward me.”

  “I just want to make sure you’re okay. You looked a little flushed.” His expression grows serious. “Are you worried about Jude?”

  “Yes. And I’m worried about your face and how exactly that happened.” And I’m worried about the fact that there’s only about two feet between us.

  “I’m touched you care.” He closes the distance between us and plucks a lock of damp hair from my cheek, twirling it around his fingers. My skin burns from his touch.

  I press my hands against his chest.

  “Why are you fighting this?” His words are velvety soft.

  My eyes close without permission. “Because it’s wrong.”

  “It wouldn’t feel this good if it was wrong.”

  Momma said the exact same thing once when she was high as a kite on heroin.

  My eyes shoot open, and I shove him as hard as I can. “It’s wrong.”

  He removes my hands from his chest and pulls me against him. His breath warms my cheek. His fingers sink into my hair as he draws my face to his. My eyes close again.

  “Hey, where’d you guys go? It’s your turn!” Ethan calls from the other side of the door.

  My eyes pop open. I shove Dylan away from me.

  “Hide behind the door,” I hiss. I flush the toilet. “I’ll be right out!”

  I pretend to wash my hands while I shoot a nasty glare at Dylan in the mirror. I return to the living room. Dylan returns a few minutes later.

  “You’re not supposed to the use the bathroom in Mom and Dad’s bedroom. No one can,” Brandi says to Dylan, her eyebrows scrunched up tight.

  Dylan glances at me. “Sorry about that, but Lucy was in the other one. Don’t tell on me, okay?”

  Brandi grins and makes a show of zipping her lips and throwing away the key.

  “Dylan, didn’t you say you had to leave?” I struggle to keep my voice casual.

  He glances at the kids uneasily, then flashes a smile. “I was having so much fun, I forgot.”

  Ethan and Brandi make a fuss, but Dylan kneels to hug them and promises he’ll visit again soon.

  Before he leaves, I whisper in his ear. “Meet at Marcus’s apartment at eight o’clock.”

  He flashes his megawatt smile. “Why not your place? I’d like to say hi to your uncles, make sure they still like me better than Marcus.”

  I shove him out the door.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Persephone

  I end the call, and my gaze lingers on the phone. Good grief and goddesses almighty, Henry and I could’ve put an end to this emanation. Where is that man when I need him? Bailing Max’s behind out of another mess, that’s where.

  Can I make the spell work without him?

  There’s a knock at the door, and I make my way across the room. I blow a heavy curl from my eyes and survey Marcus, Aiden, Lucy, and Dylan.

  “Let’s get this over with. Quick,” Lucy huffs.

  “For once, I agree with her,” Aiden says stiffly.

  “It’s good to see you again, Persephone.” Dylan winks at me. “At least one of us brought our manners.”

  Lucy rolls her eyes and elbows Dylan in the side. Dylan doesn’t look too bad for a guy who took a serious beating recently. I study the wounds on his face and neck. Maybe his chest bore most of the damage? Marcus appears surprisingly tolerant. Tonight may go better than I expected.

  “Marcus, I need you to assist with the spell, to serve as the third supernatural in the spellcasting.”

  “No problem.” Marcus says. His manner may be easygoing, but he’s keeping an eye on Dylan. “I planned to stick around until this thing is done, anyway.”

  “Henry’s not going to make it?” Aiden glowers. “Let me guess. Max?”

  “Leave it alone, Aiden. We have a lot of work to do.”

  I lead the convoy out of my apartment and up the narrow, slanted stairs. The footsteps of the others echo behind me. I try to ignore the pain in my hip, a pain that’s grown substantially worse since Lucy and I cast our protection spell on Jude. Is this simply a temporary punishment or the beginning of something much worse? Whatever it is, let it rest on my shoulders alone. That girl’s got enough to bear.

  At the top of the stairs, I run through my unlocking spell and lead the group into the attic.

  Soon, Lucy will have her own key. At the rate she’s training with Jude, her demon powers are going to overtake her witchcraft. I promised Vera that wouldn’t happen. Once we resolve the emanation issue, Lucy must step-up her training.

  “Lights,” I call out. The room brightens.

  Dylan whips his head around as the door locks behind us. His gaze narrows suspiciously at Aiden, then Marcus. The muscles in his arms flex. “Is this some kind of trick?”

  Lucy touches his arm. “You’re safe. I promise.”

  Dylan hesitates for a moment then relaxes. Something more passes between them and they exchange a private smile. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Marcus watching them, his jaw clenching and unclenching. I need to move things along. Fast.

  I snap my fingers and all eyes fix on me. “Follow my footsteps exactly. Don’t stray, please.”

  The energy pouring off of Dylan and Lucy fills the room and overwhelms my senses. I must apologize to Marcus later for not taking him seriously when he first came to me with the problem. Their energy passes through me, and I shudder at its strength. I feel Dylan’s desperation, his longing. I feel Lucy’s fear as she fights her desire. Her resistance is crumbling. I double over and grip my stomach as the emotions pummel me.

  “Persephone, are you okay?” Lucy reaches for me.

  I hold my hand up. “I’m fine.”

  Whispered voices swirl through my mind.

  Would it be so bad?

  Why not let nature takes it course?

  They are the same. They’re meant to be together.

  Don’t interfere!

  Then a faint, yet familiar, voice calls out to me. A voice I haven’t heard in four years. You know what to do, Sepha. Don’t allow the darkness to determine Lucy’s future. It’s about free will. Always has been.

  I gasp and stop suddenly. Vera. Pressing my fingers to my forehead, I beckon to her. Vera, please. I could use your energy tonight. I’ve already angered the Goddesses. Please…

  “Persephone!” Lucy calls out. “What’s going on? You’re scaring me.”

  I open my eyes and meet Aiden’s questioning gaze. “Can you do this?”

  The voices are gone. From the corner of my eye, I catch Dylan’s finger brush Lucy’s arm. A sigh escapes from her lips and mine simultaneously. My skin tingles. Goose bumps break out over my arms. Marcus flinches, his muscles clench as he struggles to keep his anger in check.

  “Of course.”

  My chest aches and my limbs feel heavy from Vera’s brief visit, a visit that comes after so many unsuccessful attempts to conjure her spirit. Why now? Is the decision of Lucy’s future mate so vitally important that Vera’s spirit finally came forth?

  Aiden nods. “Let’s move this along.”

  I cross to the center of the room, walking around the circle drawn on the floor, so we enter from the east. I gesture for them to sit on the four cushions arranged on the floor. M
y altar sits between them and me.

  Marcus pulls Lucy toward him, his eyes blazing at Dylan. “If you touch her again, you’re going to lose a hand.” He is about to say something else, but stops himself.

  I fix him with a stern look. “Not now. Not here.”

  “He’s not sitting next to her.”

  “Of course not. Aiden…”

  Aiden moves to sit between Lucy and Dylan. The spell could backfire if I can’t keep all the emotions in check. Once everyone settles onto their cushions, I close my eyes. Anger burns inside of me. In order to move forward with our spellcasting and express my intent to the universe, I need to clear my mind and heart of all emotion.

  Vera’s visit caused me pain, but not anger. That means the anger vibrating through me isn’t my own. I open my eyes and analyze the four faces across from me. “Marcus, please take a moment to relax. There’s no room for your hostility here.”

  “Yeah, Marcus, chill out.” Dylan grins.

  “I’m going to rip you to pieces, I swear…” Marcus pushes himself off of his cushion. Aiden reaches around Lucy and puts a hand on the protector’s arm.

  “Please stop fighting,” Lucy groans. Her sense of hopelessness travels through me and my body sags.

  Aiden raises an eyebrow at me. “Persephone?”

  “Yes, yes. Moving right along.”

  I lower myself onto my cushion, my knees creaking in the process. My left hip protests. I face my round, wooden altar and pull matches from the single, slim drawer. I light the black candle at the center to enhance the spell that will be cast before touching the match to the incense stick to my right. It’s odd to see the empty spaces on both sides of the candle where the figures of my favored goddesses once stood.

  “Please tell me you spoke with Jude,” Aiden says. “Demon magic is his area of expertise.”

  “I did. He offered to help, but…” I harrumph…as if I would allow a high-powered demon into this sacred space. It’s one thing to erase Aiden, Marcus, and Dylan’s memories of tonight, but I don’t have the power to erase Jude’s. He doesn’t know about the attic, and it’s going to stay that way.

  I’m not reversing a spell or releasing them from the magic of other supernaturals. Lucy and Dylan’s natures are compelling their actions. Jude isn’t sure such a thing can be reversed. It’s unfortunate timing that Henry had to help Max tonight. But without Max and his partner, we don’t have enough of a team to combat Garret.

  “Let’s get to work. Aiden and Marcus, the three of us need to form a circle around Lucy and Dylan. Lucy and Dylan, you need to turn and face each other and recite this spell.” I pull the sheets of paper from my pocket and hand one to each of them. “The key is to focus on your intent. Put your emotions and belief behind the words you recite.”

  Lucy and Dylan nod as they review the words on the paper.

  “Aiden and Marcus, your—our—purpose is to enhance the spell. While I’m the only witch, this type of spell has always been done with the power of three, so I don’t want to mess with that. Essentially, we’re going to amplify their intent. Focus on every word spoken. Believe in it…as if it’s already the truth.”

  “What if it doesn’t work?” Marcus asks, sliding a sideways glance at Lucy. “What if we can’t stop this…emanation?”

  Aiden rests his hand on Marcus’s shoulder. “If you don’t believe it will work, then it won’t. Spellcasting one-oh-one.” He gives Marcus’s shoulder a squeeze. “It will work, little brother. I promise you.”

  Marcus lets out a huge breath. “Okay.”

  “Lucy and Dylan, you will need to hold hands while reciting the spell.”

  Marcus twitches as Dylan takes hold of Lucy’s hand.

  I hold out my hands to Aiden and Marcus, and we form a circle.

  “Now recite the spell in unison,” I instruct Lucy and Dylan. “Three times.”

  Lucy’s voice shakes at first. Dylan sounds strong from the get go, his eyes glued to Lucy’s.

  I return what I do not want

  Host body reject the emanation

  Cease all temptation

  Let friendship resume

  Where once passion bloomed

  I close my eyes and slip slowly, level-by-level, deeper into focus. I sense the scent of the oil I used to anoint the candle, the satchels of centaury and allspice to strengthen the spell, and the barberry to free Lucy and Dylan from the power and control of their demon urgings. My ears fill with the sound of blood rushing through my body. My heartbeat thuds rhythmically in my chest. My power surges.

  For the first time I feel the full extent of Aiden’s powers as they amplify my own. I retain my focus as our powers coalesce. I draw in a deep breath as I see dark edges, black swirling with red at the edge of his aura. I am momentarily distracted by the colors. I haven’t seen magic of that color in a long time. Not since…no…that’s impossible.

  Suddenly, we’re jostled and jerked to the side. Not just once, but twice. My eyes fly open as my hands are nearly yanked free from Aiden and Marcus.

  Marcus’s attention is fixed on Dylan, ready to pounce.

  “Get your hands off of her,” Marcus roars.

  “Marcus, we must finish,” I command. “Don’t break the circle.”

  As the two of them glare at one another, I see Dylan’s sheet with the spell sitting on his lap. His hand, slightly hidden from view, strokes Lucy’s leg. She trembles, a low moan rising from her throat. I feel her longing. Emanation…it’s proceeding fast. Too fast.

  Aiden squeezes my hand and turns to Marcus. “Hey, little brother, what would Elvis Costello do in this situation?”

  Marcus’s attention flicks to Aiden reluctantly then returns to Dylan.

  “He’d beat the snot out of Dylan.”

  “He wouldn’t have to,” Aiden says with a hint of a smile, “because his fans would do it for him.”

  Marcus takes a breath, releasing his visual death-grip on Dylan. His jaw unclenches and his shoulders relax. “I remember. That was a great night.”

  Aiden nods slightly, relief passing across his face. “What do you think, Persephone? Should we start over?”

  “Everyone, please close your eyes. Lucy and Dylan, from the beginning.”

  I force myself to descend deep into my subconscious, faster this time. I look for the black and red aura, but it’s gone. I know what I saw. How is that possible? Only one supernatural ever had that aura. I’ll need to speak with Henry after he bails Max’s butt out of trouble again.

  There are no interruptions this time. Once the spell has been repeated all three times, I open my eyes. It takes a moment to get my bearings.

  “Let’s test it out. See if it worked,” Marcus says.

  The magic has left my body. I struggle to my feet, pushing aside the hand Lucy offers to me. My face flushes from the effort.

  Aiden stands guard between Marcus and Dylan. “How do we do that?”

  I eye Marcus warily and gesture for Lucy and Dylan to step forward.

  Dylan shrugs. “I don’t feel any different.” He reaches for Lucy’s hand, a cocky smile on his face. “In fact, come here. Let’s hug this out.”

  Marcus lunges. His fist connects with Dylan’s face, which jerks to the left. Then Dylan narrows his eyes and bares his teeth. His fist cuts through the air, aiming for Marcus’s face. Aiden raises his hand in time to absorb the impact.

  “Marcus, no!” Lucy yells. She grabs his arm, tries to yank him backward.

  “I told you to leave her alone!” Marcus shakes Lucy off and lunges for Dylan again.

  Aiden shoves Dylan aside then grabs hold of Marcus and pulls him back.

  “You’re an idiot, Dylan,” Lucy cries out. “Are you trying to ruin everything?”

  With Marcus’s arms pinned behind his back, Aiden shoves him toward the door.

  “Keep him away from her, Persephone,” Marcus snarls over his shoulder. “I mean it. Don’t let him touch her!”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Dyl
an Douglas

  I’m out of control. It took staring at my bedroom ceiling for two hours to circle back to the same point. I’m an idiot. All I had to do was hold it together and read a bunch of rhyming stuff on a piece of paper. I failed.

  This spell is the only way to save our friendship. Lucy said as much. One lousy spell and I probably blew it. What happens next? Well, duh. That’s an easy one, genius. You’ll have to train with Jude on different days than Lucy. You won’t be able to see Ethan and Brandi on Saturdays. And Lucy will avoid you in the hallways at school.

  What about Marcus? The guy was generous enough to heal me this morning, and this is how I repay him?

  Emanation sucks.

  This isn’t what I wanted. Sure. I wanted Lucy to like me. But not like this. Not under the influence of some demonic mojo. I want her to like me for me, something Rachel never did. Lucy isn’t all about status and parties and getting drunk. She’s deeper than that. She cares about other people. She’s fragile and tough at the same time.

  I don’t want to lose her.

  Maybe we can try it again. I’ll talk to Lucy about it tomorrow morning when I pick her up for training. Scratch that. If we’re not cured of this thing, she’ll be super pissed at me. She won’t go to training with me. Besides, Marcus won’t let me anywhere near her.

  Maybe I should talk to Persephone, see if she’ll convince Lucy into giving this another go. I can’t risk losing her.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Lucy Walker

  At eleven the next morning, Dylan pulls into the driveway. Marcus stands guard at my side. Aiden flanks Marcus’s other side, his arms folded over his chest.

  “I owe all of you an apology. I’m sorry about last night.” Dylan extends his hand to Marcus. “No hard feelings, man.”

  “I’m the one with hard feelings,” I snap. “Let’s get this over with.” I turn to Aiden. “How do we know if the spell worked?”

  “Hug it out. See if you feel anything,” Aiden says then turns to Marcus. “Sorry, little brother.”