Six Times a Charm

by Deanna Chase

  Pyper nodded and continued with her work.

  Kat glanced at me, and jerked her head toward Lailah. “Or something?”

  “Kat,” I said in a low voice, not wanting to offend the one person who might be able to help.

  “It’s all right.” Lailah sniffed one of her herbs. “I’m not a witch. I’m a low-level Angel. I sense things other people can’t, and I can utilize some Wiccan type spells to my advantage.”

  “A low-level Angel?” Kat said, each word rising.

  Lailah flashed a genuine smile. “That’s the reaction I usually get. I’ll explain more later. Right now we have work to do.”

  I sensed Kat having difficulty containing her curiosity, but she kept quiet until we finished the pentagram circle. “Low-level Angel?” she whispered to me.

  I shrugged and whispered back, “That’s new to me, too.”

  Pyper never once registered she heard the exchange between Kat and Lailah. She stood a small distance apart from the three of us, waiting.

  Finally, after studying some notes, Lailah looked up. “I need the three of you to stand in the middle of the blue candles in a small circle with your hands linked.”

  We each stepped carefully over the ring of lit blue candles and faced each other. I held my hands out and warmth spread to my center as I grasped the hands of my two friends. Suddenly everything felt right. Like we were supposed to be there together. I smiled, feeling for the first time this might actually work.

  “Good. Just like that. The three of you stay linked until I tell you it’s time. Then each of you will need to move across the blue candle plane, into the space I’m in. Got it?”

  We all nodded.

  “Now, I just need to do this last thing before we start.” She stepped outside of the white candle circle and began to chant in a language I didn’t understand, while dropping a trail of crushed herbs. Once she’d completed three rotations around us, the chanting stopped, and she stepped back over the white candles into the circle.

  “What should we expect?” I asked.

  “I don’t really know. No spell is ever the same twice. I’m going to call on the goddess for help to dispel the spirit. It’ll be her will as to what happens after that. The idea is to trap the spirit in that circle you are in and to get the three of you out before he can hurt anyone.”

  Panic radiated off Pyper.

  I squeezed her hand in assurance. “I’m not letting go.”

  She nodded and looked straight ahead, her eyes wide.

  Lailah stood directly in my eye line and for the first time that evening I noticed she wore a deep plum velvet cloak with gold trim. How had I missed that? Then the vision of her gazing with dreamy eyes up at Kane filled my head. I scowled.

  “It’s very important that each of you keep a positive attitude through this ritual, or else there could be severe consequences.” A twinge of irritation jabbed me right between the eyes.

  Startled, I followed it to Lailah’s piercing stare. Damn. I hated that she could read me. I bit my lip, took a large intake of breath and willed my irritation away as I exhaled.

  Pyper relaxed her hand in mine, and I noted the easing of the tension lines around her mouth. Gathering energy, I projected what I hoped was calm in her direction. A little help couldn’t hurt.

  Kat squeezed my hand, getting my attention. Her posture wasn’t exactly relaxed, but she didn’t look like she wanted to run away either. I squeezed back, grateful for the support.

  “This spell works primarily off of intentions. I need each of you to focus on trapping the spirit in the circle. Jade, your energy is the most suited for this type of thing, due to your empath abilities, so your intentions will carry more weight. You said you’ve seen the ghost?”

  “Yes. Lots of times.”

  “Good. Form a clear picture of him in your mind, and use all of your energy to bring him to the circle.”

  “Isn’t he already here? Can’t you see Pyper’s dark shadow?” I asked.

  “Yes, her shadow is there, but once we start the spell anything can happen. Just keep focused.”

  I nodded and closed my eyes, concentrating.

  “I’m going to start now.” Lailah’s light energy circled us as she walked the perimeter of the circle. “I need each of you to stay silent and focus. Expect anything from rain to sunlight to intense heat or extreme cold. Like I said before, I just never know what will happen.”

  I looked up at the clear night sky, spotted the familiar yellow Louisiana moon and gave a little shudder at the unknown yet to come. I snapped my mind back to the mental picture of Bobby and focused on the brick closest to the center of our inner circle.

  Out of the corner of my eye I saw Lailah reach up and untie her cloak. She tossed it outside the circle and stood barefoot in an almost transparent white gown. Her honey-streaked hair hung loose around her shoulders, and I couldn’t help but think she looked like an escaped mental patient.

  Her disapproving glare landed on me. I shut my eyes tight, determined to focus.

  I heard nothing but Lailah’s voice after that. “Selene, moon goddess of the night, hear me now, High Priestess of the Coven.” Her voice was clear and somehow blocked the dull background noise from the people walking Bourbon Street, just feet away. “Bless these women, your three daughters, with your presence. We call seeking wisdom, strength and, above all, the power to protect our sister from all who seek to harm.”

  Mist tickled my arms. I opened my eyes to a thick blanket of fog. I could see nothing but the dim glow of the candles flickering low on the ground.

  “Moon goddess, we ask you read our sisters’ intentions. We give our will to you freely and take nothing but yours in return. We want only to help our sister to be free of the bonds that bind her. Free of the spirit that haunts her. From one to three, and three to one, please let your will be done.”

  Silence loomed. The foggy mist turned dense, soaking my shirt until it clung to my body. The candles, barely visible, flickered like a faulty light bulb. I held my breath and waited.

  And waited.

  Then, in a flash, the mist dissipated and the candles stopped flickering. The three of us looked at each other then at Lailah, standing as still as a statue, her eyes closed, head tilted up. I sent Pyper a questioning glance. She lifted one shoulder in a sad deflated shrug.

  I let out a barely audible sigh and opened my mouth to speak but was shocked into silence as the blue candles lit and shot a wall of fire straight in the air, blocking us from Lailah and the rest of the courtyard. Kat jerked, trying to get free, but instinctively I held tighter, keeping the circle whole. The flames turned a brilliant sapphire blue before fading to a transparent white.

  Through the wall Lailah gestured to me. “Now!”

  I yanked Pyper and Kat through the wall without any warning. Instead of heat, sharp stabs of icy cold prickled my skin. The three of us toppled to the ground, and the flames turned brilliant blue once more. The radiant heat warmed the chill instantly.

  I stayed still with my face pressed to the ground, breathing deeply. “Did it work?”

  “I have no idea,” Kat mumbled beside me.

  “Pyper?”

  Her motionless body faced away from me, and she didn’t answer.

  Too tired to move, my eyes flickered to Lailah. She stood like a statue, her face blank.

  Crawling up on my knees, I tried to get my feet under me but froze when Lailah’s face glowed silver and her features changed, revealing long, white blonde hair and clear, pale blue eyes. Her full red lips moved into a grim line, and the voice that spoke was deep and husky.

  “I have fulfilled your intentions. What comes next I cannot control. The events that unfold are up to you, my child.” She pointed at me. “Reach deep inside yourself to alter the course now set in motion.” The silver glow started to fade.

  “Wait! Why me?” I asked in desperation.

  “You are my daughter.” The image faded back to Lailah, now as pale as a ghost.

/>   The blue wall of flames faded back to translucent white. Lailah turned to focus on the circle and yelped. “He isn’t Pyper’s black shadow!”

  My head snapped to the circle. There stood Bobby, radiating frustration. I was more than a little surprised I could read his emotions.

  “Yes it is. He’s the one who’s been tormenting her.”

  “No! I know him. His energy is bright white, not black.” Lailah dropped to her knees, checking on Pyper still curled up at her feet. “Pyper. Wake up!”

  I crawled to her side and cradled Pyper’s head in my lap. “Pyper?”

  “Her black cloud is gone, but so is her energy.” Lailah’s voice rose in panic. “Oh my God! What have I done?” She slumped down next to Pyper.

  I opened my mind and tried to get a read on Pyper’s energy. Nothing. “She’s just passed out. Do you have smelling salts in that bag of tricks?”

  Lailah fished around and handed me a small jar. I quickly checked Pyper’s pulse and breathing. Both were a bit weak, but I let out the breath I’d been holding and put the smelling salts under her nose.

  Nothing.

  “Come on!”

  “What happened?” A male voice, Kane’s voice, called in panic.

  “She’s passed out.” I tried to sound calm.

  “No. She isn’t in there. I can’t feel her.” Lailah crumpled into tears.

  Kane’s eyes stared into mine for a brief agonizing moment.

  Then I heard Kat say, “Yes! My friend has lost consciousness. Send an ambulance.”

  Chapter 18

  Time seemed to stand still as Pyper lay crumpled in my arms. If Bobby hadn’t been attached to Pyper, then what was? And where had it come from? A cold chill snaked its way through my body. She hadn’t been affected until after I’d moved in. Had Ian’s ghost hunting triggered it somehow?

  And what about Bobby? How come Lailah hadn’t seen him attached to me? Even if he didn’t follow me everywhere, she’d been in my apartment earlier that evening. Surely she would have seen him then. Maybe she had been too caught up in Kane. I scowled and forced the petty thought out of my head.

  The roar of the siren snapped my mind back to reality. I tore my tear-filled eyes from Pyper’s face and peered up at the gate, trying to mentally urge the paramedics to move faster.

  “What are you doing?” Kat asked.

  I turned to answer her, but she was staring at Lailah. The wall of flame had disappeared, and Bobby was gone from the circle.

  “Closing the spell,” Lailah said in a barely audible whisper.

  I cleared my throat. “Where did he go?”

  “Bobby? I let him out. There was no reason to keep him.” Lailah gathered up her supplies and stuffed them in her paper bag.

  I said nothing but wondered if that was true. I’d thought Bobby had been interfering with Kane and me every time we got close. But was it really Pyper’s black spirit, or something else entirely? Anything seemed possible now.

  “Excuse me. You’re going to have to let her go,” a paramedic said, gently pushing me to the side.

  Kat pulled me to my feet as the emergency workers loaded Pyper on the gurney. Kane stayed by her side, and the rest of us followed as the EMTs rushed her to the vehicle. An argument broke out when Kane was told only family was allowed in the ambulance. Lailah stepped forward, laid her hand on the paramedic’s arm and said something I couldn’t hear. After that, Kane climbed in, sat next to Pyper and took her hand.

  We watched as they raced away.

  “Lailah, what did you say to him?” I asked.

  “Nothing significant. I just bent his will a little bit with my energy.” She looked at her feet. “It was the least I could do.”

  “Come on. I’ll drive.” Kat pulled out her keys and led us to her car.

  ***

  The antiseptic smell burned my nose as I made my way to the nurses’ station. Kat and Lailah trailed behind me.

  “I doubt they know anything yet,” Kat said.

  “Probably not, but we need to know where she is.” Plus, I needed to see Kane. My eyes burned with unshed tears as I thought of the anguish on his face before the ambulance took off.

  Kat grabbed my arm. “Have a seat. I’ll get the information.”

  I shook my head. “It’s okay. I’ll go.” I left them in the back of the full emergency room and returned thirty minutes later, after insisting the nurse personally check on Pyper.

  “She’s here, but there’s no change. They’re running tests. As far as I can tell, Kane is still with her.” The nurse had said a family member was with her. It could only be Kane. I sat next to Kat, with Lailah on her other side.

  “Here.” Kat handed me a Styrofoam cup. “Coffee.”

  “Thanks.” I held the cup, warming my chilled fingers, even though the night was thick with humid summer air.

  “What happened back there?” Kat asked in a low voice.

  I turned and saw her peering at Lailah.

  “Which part?” Lailah focused on the white wall in front of us.

  Kat glanced at me and raised her eyebrows.

  I cleared my throat. “Let’s start at the beginning. You were trying to trap the black spirit attached to Pyper, but instead you trapped Bobby. How is that possible? I thought they were the same being. Bobby is the only one I ever saw.”

  “I already told you, Bobby has white energy. He’s Bea’s brother.”

  “I know. That’s why we were trying to get in touch with her. I didn’t know you knew him. You’ve seen him before I take it.”

  She nodded. “A few times with Bea. When we were working on some spells together.”

  “Okay.” What kind of spells? I shook my head trying to focus. “But you said before you could see things. You saw the black spirit, so why didn’t you see Bobby’s energy?”

  “Because of you, I guess. You’re aura is purple, but surrounding that is brilliant white energy, like all intuitives have. If he was near you, it would have been hard for me to see him.”

  “Oh.” I sat back staring at the admittance door, wishing Kane would appear.

  “So because Jade was focusing on Bobby, he got trapped in the circle and not Pyper’s ghost. We are talking about two ghosts here, right?” Kat asked.

  The people next to us turned and openly stared after hearing her statement. She stared back until they turned away. In spite of myself, I smiled.

  “At least two,” Lailah said.

  “At least!” I sat up straight.

  “I don’t know!” Lailah finally met my eyes. “I have totally fucked up. I don’t know anything anymore.”

  “Calm down,” Kat said in a hushed tone. “No one is blaming you.”

  I suppressed a grunt of disagreement. Kat must have heard me, judging by the elbow she nudged in my rib.

  “We’re just trying to figure out what happened. Tell us about the vision we saw,” I said.

  “The vision?” Lailah furrowed her eyebrows. “What vision?”

  “The one where you turned into another person and told me I was the one who would have to fix this mess.” I jumped out of my chair and stood in front of the two of them.

  Lailah’s eyes went wide as her head turned from me to Kat. “She came…”

  “Who? Who came?” Kat asked.

  “The goddess. It had to be.” She sat up straight. The remorse faded, replaced by an excited glow.

  Kat and I stared at her in silence. She looked around, as if aware for the first time where we were. Standing, she grabbed a hand from each of us. “We need to talk a little more privately.”

  I glanced back at the admittance door, while Lailah dragged us outside. Still no Kane.

  “Tell me exactly what happened,” Lailah demanded when we were safely out of hearing distance from the emergency room door.

  “I…” I turned to Kat. Suddenly I was overwhelmed into silence.

  She gave me a small smile and replayed the scene for Lailah.

  “It’s for you to alter the c
ourse now…” Lailah trailed off, deep in thought.

  “What did she mean, ‘I am hers’?” I asked.

  “You are her daughter. In a cosmic sense. I’d guess your powers are deeper than you ever thought. A white witch, maybe. A natural born witch.” She shrugged. “Hard to say until you explore your powers.”

  “So the goddess Selene, whoever that is, thinks I have some extra powers?”

  “Pretty much.” Lailah paced in a circle. “Damn it. I wish Bea was here.”

  I gritted my teeth and walked back to the entrance, scanning for Kane. I didn’t want to hear about extra powers. All I cared about was Pyper’s condition. I turned back to them. “I’m going back in.”

  “Wait.” Kat held up her hand. “Just one more thing. What the hell is a low-level angel?”

  Lailah stopped pacing. “It means I’m a mortal angel. A messenger from God, but in mortal form. It’s why I can do some Wiccan magic, but it all comes naturally for me. I don’t have to practice or do special rituals. I can just make it happen. I do have to take precautions to keep evil out, which is what the herbs, candles and circle was about. Though I could have made that all happen without it. Unfortunately, I failed.”

  “A messenger from God?” Kat asked with a heavy dose of skepticism.

  “We come in all forms.” Lailah closed her eyes, as if her burden was too heavy to bear. “I still do not know my purpose. I try to do good, but as you can see I’m not always successful.”

  Too overwhelmed by the night’s events, I said nothing and returned to the waiting room.

  Soon Kat joined me. “She went home.”

  I nodded, and we sat in silence until finally Kane emerged.

  My heart swelled simultaneously with joy and pain at the sight of him. He held his face taut with his lips in a grim line. Our eyes met as I stood, and his pain ripped through me, almost making my knees buckle. I grabbed him and held on with my face buried in his shoulder.

  “She’s still the same,” he whispered in my ear. “Coma.”

  “No.” I felt him nod and I looked up. “I’m so sorry.” Silent tears streamed down my face.

  He hugged me tighter and brought one hand up to wipe my tears. “I don’t know what happened, but I know whatever it was, it isn’t your fault.”