Magic Rising

by Camilla Chafer

  “I was told it was some sort of prophecy,” I prompted.

  “That’s putting a very inventive spin on it,” Laura said. “It was a spell, back in the days when I thought I could master spellcasting. Never my strong suit. Your mother thought it was hilarious whenever a spell backfired on me, which was often.”

  Astra grinned. “I remember when you tried to spell the toys in our bedroom. See this scar,” she said to me, pointing at a thin white line on her temple. “Apparently, my doll didn’t like me.”

  “Laura’s spellcasting days are long behind her,” said Byron pointedly. “You remember what happened when Seren came to visit?”

  “Yes, dear.” Laura sighed.

  I recalled Seren calling me a few days after she left my house, right after we defeated Georgia, and mentioning something about a spell Laura tried to perform and Byron teaching her a lesson. Seren thought it was funny once everything calmed down, and Etoile doubled over with laughter when Seren retold the story to her.

  “About the prophecy…” I corrected myself. “The spell? What was it for?”

  “Isadore and Jonathan, your parents, stayed with us that summer and they were returning to England. They’d been talking about having a family. Isadore and I couldn’t imagine our children growing up so far apart, not when we were such good friends. So we decided we’d perform a little spell.”

  “Oh, God,” said Byron. Astra smirked as she selected a croissant from the basket.

  “We’d been discussing names for our children. I had already decided on Seren for our next daughter and Isadore said she wanted Estrella if she had a girl. She said it was the most magical name she could think of. When Ariadne pointed out all our children had star names, it gave us the idea for a star sisters spell, like a friendship spell. It was supposed to ensure you would all have a support network outside of your own families. When Isadore went home and Ariadne moved away, I forgot all about it.”

  “Maybe that’s why I never wanted to hurt you,” said Astra, surprising us all into silence. “Eleanor wanted me to, but I couldn’t. You know that nursery rhyme? ‘Twinkle twinkle little star’? I kept singing it, trying to remind myself who I was.”

  “I sang that to you as a baby.” Laura reached across the table and laid a hand over her youngest daughter’s. “There was always good inside you.”

  “Not enough,” said Astra, her voice pained. “Not enough. Will you excuse me? I’m going to mingle upstairs.”

  “Shall I come with you, darling? Or your father?”

  “No thanks.” Astra rounded the table, kissing her father on the cheek, then her mother. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Are you sure?” Laura twisted in her chair to look up at Astra; a trace of uncertainty in her eyes.

  “I’m sure. And Stella, I’m sorry. I truly am. For everything. I just wanted you to know that.” Her eyes implored me with heartfelt sincerity.

  I nodded because I wasn’t sure what to say, or what she was asking for. Forgiveness, maybe. The more I’d thought about it, the more uncertain I was that there was forgiveness to be offered. I truly believed Astra was manipulated, pushed and pulled by Eleanor, and that her actions had not been born of malevolence. I believed in the power of redemption; for Astra, anyway. “Perhaps I’ll see you up there,” I said, offering a friendly gesture. It was a start.

  She smiled shyly. “Okay,” she said, and after another round of her parents checking she would be all right, she left.

  “She’s doing much better,” said Laura, the pride tinged with the memory of Astra’s missing years and the way she was found. I don’t think any of us can truly know what happened, what it took to pull Astra to the brink of sanity. “She’s living with us now. She’s going to start helping Seren and David in the magic shop.”

  “Oh?” A flash of panic about my own job crossed my mind, which was perhaps a touch selfish, but I liked my job, enjoyed the flexibility, and Seren and David were good employers.

  “Just in the shop so they can have a day or two off,” Byron explained. “You’re all working so hard. We’re very proud of everyone. Your parents would be proud of you too, Stella. I hope you know that.”

  I hoped they would be too. “So the star sisters was just a friendship spell?” I asked, feeling somewhat relieved and a little confused at the explanation. So much for Georgia’s bombshell! It seemed she had gotten it all wrong.

  “Well, that and there was a little boost to your individual powers when you all came together,” said Laura, with a little shrug of her shoulders.

  “What kind of boost?” asked Byron, his mouth dropping open.

  “Just a little one!” Laura insisted.

  “How. Little?”

  “Well, uh…” Laura hesitated, pulling a face and conceding, “I’m not sure. Spells confuse me.”

  “I think you had better show me the spell.”

  “I don’t know if I remember it. I might have written it in one of my notebooks at home.”

  “Who was the other witch? Ariadne?” I asked quickly because Byron looked like he might explode, and Laura looked stricken. I didn’t want to lose the thread of the conversation.

  “Ariadne Chapman,” Laura said. “At least she was then. We lost touch a couple of years later. There was some kind of argument and she took things the wrong way.”

  Byron made a rude noise. Evidently he didn’t agree. Laura ignored him.

  “Did she have a child too?”

  “Not when I knew her. If she did, I never heard. The spell was supposed to transfer to unborn children, as well as already living ones.” She leaned in. “Do you feel any different when you’re in the same room as my daughters?”

  “No.”

  “Ah.”

  “Is that bad? Etoile and Seren have always been my friends. Maybe that means it worked?”

  “Maybe it only works if Astra is your friend too,” Laura mused. “Anyway, it was just a little spell. I would put it out of my head, if I were you.”

  “Unless you come across a child of Ariadne’s and suddenly explode with magic,” added Byron. For a moment, I thought he might genuflect, but he only reached for the teapot.

  I got to my feet. “I can hardly wait,” I joked, except a little spark of worry hit my stomach and refused to budge. A friendship spell I could live with, anything more I wasn’t sure about, but evidently, Laura and Byron didn’t think much of it. I thanked them for letting me share their tea and headed for the stairs, planning at the last moment to change my jeans into something more formal, Etoile‘s criticism of my clothing was still ringing in my ears, but I truly didn’t mind. I knew all about wanting to make a good first impression.

  By the time I was changed into a sleeveless knit dress, sheer tights and flat shoes, I grabbed my shoulder bag, and made my way up to the meeting room. It was where the candidates had revealed themselves days earlier, and I was the last one to arrive judging by the crowd. The atmosphere was tense, despite the rhythmic noise of conversation. I craned my head, but Etoile was nowhere to be seen. However, Seren raised her arm and waved. Grabbing a glass of orange juice from the refreshment table by the door, I crossed over to her.

  “Is it just me or is it…”

  “A little tense?” Seren finished. “You just missed the entertainment.”

  “There was entertainment?”

  “Ignore her.” David stepped closer to give me a swift hug. “She means Georgia and Mary just had a screaming fit and had to be physically separated.”

  A smile spread across my face. “No kidding?”

  “It was beautiful,” sighed Seren with undisguised glee. “Georgia went so red, I thought she would pop.”

  I was sorry I missed it. “What were they arguing about?”

  David inclined his head away from the group of three witches and a vampire who had drifted closer. We moved closer to the empty stage and Seren placed her half full glass on it. “Georgia accused Mary of sabotage, said she knew she was behind the shootings and that she was be
ing set up.”

  “Georgia thinks everyone is setting her up,” said David. “She cornered Etoile and told her the first thing she would do after she was sworn in would be to have her indicted for treason.”

  “Maybe I missed something, but has Etoile done anything treasonous?”

  “No,” said Seren with a snort.

  “I imagine Georgia will think of something,” David added. “There she is now.”

  “Ugh,” grunted Seren. “Who let her back in?”

  “She’s still a candidate,” David observed as we watched Georgia stroke the arm of a warlock and laugh at something he said. Given the way his eye twitched, and how he looked over his shoulder three times in the space of a minute, I didn’t think the warlock looked particularly comfortable. She seemed to have a knack for making everyone twitchy. I looked closer. Georgia wasn’t just stroking his arm, she was very subtly layering magic.

  “Did you see that?” I asked. “She’s using magic.”

  “She’s trying to influence him!” Seren’s tone was furious. “God! Watch this.”

  The glass in Georgia’s hand promptly exploded. She shrieked and looked around, which coincided with everyone picking a spot on the floor, wall or ceiling to stare at.

  Seren grinned. “Where’s my sister?”

  “Astra said she was coming here.”

  “I know. Sister number one?”

  “She had meetings. You weren’t invited either?”

  “No. Where’s Micah?”

  “What am I? A map? Actually, I have no idea. I’m sure he isn’t far. I can barely shake him off. Not that I want to,” I added. “I like him, I just don’t need a babysitter.”

  “We know about your Evan problem,” said David.

  “I don’t have an Evan problem!” Seren and David exchanged looks. “Okay, maybe a little problem. But it’s only been nine days. We aren’t joined at the hip. It’s okay for him not to call back.”

  “How many messages have you left?” asked Seren.

  “Do texts count?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I’m not sure. But it’s okay. I know I’ll see him when the Summit is over and he can tell me where he’s been and why he couldn’t call back.” I injected more confidence into my little speech than I felt.

  David put his arm around my shoulders and gave me a squeeze. “I’m glad you’ve got it under control. Do you have your voting slip for later?”

  “Yes. It was pushed under my door this morning. Is that Anders with Astra?” I watched the couple make their way to the coffee urn, laughing and talking.

  “She says he’s the only one who doesn’t treat her like she’s made of glass,” Seren said softly. “Where’s your cousin?”

  “I don’t know. I’m going to find him. Georgia keeps pestering him and I’m afraid he’ll develop a nervous tic before the Summit is over.”

  “Don’t forget to vote,” David reminded me. “Voting opens at two p.m.”

  “We just stick our ballots in the box and it’s done?” I confirmed. “It seems too easy.”

  “Appearances can be deceiving. Etoile needs to win this…” Seren trailed off.

  “I know. I’ll catch up with you later.” I sent Micah a text message letting him know where I was going, in case he decided to show his face. I went in search of Daniel, hoping that we would finally get some peaceful catch-up time. He and Anders had rooms on the fourteenth floor, so I went to get the elevator, thinking I would probably find Daniel there. As I stepped into the car, Shazia Halpern followed me. She didn’t speak until the doors closed.

  “I’m on my way to the seventeenth floor,” she told me as I reached for the buttons, pausing over the fourteenth. “Go ahead. I’ll just go up when you step out. Drew Freeman called ten minutes ago and said they’re waiting for me.”

  “Right now?”

  “Yes. Still interested?”

  “Of course. I wish I could see it too, but I don’t think they’ll be too happy that I know about it. Noah is only interested in it if it’s magic. Apparently it can be used offensively as well as defensively.”

  She gave me an alarmed look. “Should I be worried about this?”

  “Only if he decides to test it on you.”

  She considered my warning thoughtfully. “Point taken. I’ll make sure I’m protected.”

  My floor arrived and I stepped out. “Are you sure about this?” I asked.

  “Of course. This is what I do. See you later, Stella. I’ll let you know if the talisman is real.” She gave me a wave as the doors slid shut. I took a long hard look at my reflection in the closed doors and made a decision. I didn’t want to wait as I hurried towards the stairs. I wanted to see the talisman for myself.

  SIXTEEN

  It didn’t take me long to find the werewolf contingent and Shazia as I exited the stairwell onto the seventeenth floor a few minutes later. All I had to do was pass by the library and follow the angry voices. Peeking inside the room where I thought they came from, I saw no one, but I could hear them though not clearly. I pushed open the door, grateful the hinges were well oiled and slipped inside. The room had a twin set of folding doors on a track that could be pulled back to create one larger room, or two smaller ones when they were shut. The middle part hadn’t been fully closed, and evidently, there had been a party in here the night before as several sacks of garbage awaited collection in my section. From the slight smell, it had sat there a day too long. From my point of view, that was just fine. The wolves probably wouldn’t scent me.

  I hesitated at the folding doors, fully aware I was snooping, but unwilling to leave.

  “Let the woman hold it,” came Noah’s voice against the backdrop of a growl. “I want to be sure I’m not purchasing some lump of wood.”

  “You know me,” said Shazia. “I have to hold it to authenticate it. Otherwise, what’s the point of asking me to assess it?”

  There was a small pause, then a woman said, “Fine. Just be careful.”

  “I always am.”

  After some shuffling, I assumed that the object had changed hands because Shazia said, “It’s quite remarkable. Look at the carvings. I’ve seen similar pieces, reputedly created by the same craftsman, but this is something else.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” said Noah. “Is it from the right time period?”

  “I’d estimate it to be around two hundred years old.”

  “I’ve told you this already,” said the unidentified female.

  “And I want to hear it from someone else, okay? Is it the talisman or a fake?”

  Quiet descended over them.

  “I can feel its power,” said Shazia, “and it’s considerable. The magic is definitely from a witch, and it’s very powerful although it appears contained. I believe there is a way to unlock it, but I don’t know how. Yes,” she said finally. “Yes, it’s real. This is the talisman you’re looking for.”

  “How do I know you’re not lying? Maybe she paid you,” said Noah.

  “I speak the truth. I have no interest in it, other than that it’s a fascinating object and I’d like to study it more,” replied Shazia. If she were insulted, I couldn’t tell.

  “How does it unlock?” asked Noah.

  As he spoke, I edged closer to the opening. I stopped when I noticed one of the folds on the doors held a hole the size of a penny, making it just large enough for me to peer through. I saw Noah, with his back to me, and Drew, with his arms folded. Gage stood a little way off, close to the door to the corridor, which he checked periodically. Caroline stood opposite Noah and another woman stood next to him, with her back to me. Shazia still held the talisman, her head bowed as she turned it over in her hands, studying each side with a fascinated expression.

  “I don’t know,” said the woman whose back was to me. It wasn’t Caroline, who I could see, so this had to be the witch and the current owner of the talisman.

  “What about you?”

  Shazia looked up. “I’ve seen something similar that n
eeds a sequence pressed on the talisman, but I haven’t found any mechanisms on this. It could be a spell.”

  “A spell?” Noah shook his head and turned to the woman. “Do you have the spell?”

  “No. Just the object.”

  “It’s worthless without the spell,” he growled.

  “So? Why do you need to activate it?” the woman asked. “You know what it can do!”

  “So do you and you’re still prepared to sell it; so get off your high horse!”

  “Maybe I shouldn’t sell it. This was a bad idea.” The woman reached for the talisman and Shazia started to hand it back to her, casting a worried glance at Noah. Noah lurched for it.

  “You can forget our support!”

  “Let go!” the witch snapped.

  “It’s ours!”

  “It’s mine!” They both grabbed an end and Shazia had to leap away from the fray as they spun around, each refusing to let go.

  I almost spoke the woman’s name out loud when I got a look at her face. Mary Richardson? My friend’s rival was trading a harmful talisman to the wolves in return for money? Or was it now in exchange for their votes? Either way, this had to be a treasonous act.

  Noah and Mary continued to tug at the talisman. Then Noah let go with one hand, lifted it and aimed a blow to her abdomen, wincing as his hand hit her protective magic. Retaliating at his attempt, Mary began to whisper an incantation and Noah’s hand shot to his throat, his face turning red. He rushed her, throwing them both to the ground and the talisman flew from her hand, skidding across the floor. It landed in the narrow opening between the rooms, but was ignored as Drew and Caroline moved to separate the fighting pair, getting knocked over in the process.

  “I’m out of here,” said Shazia, throwing her hands into the air. She jogged past Gage, who moved towards the squabbling pair, and a moment later, her footsteps sounded in the corridor as she hurried away.

  With the rest of the room occupied by the fighting duo, I tiptoed forwards, picked up the talisman and hurried out of the room, closing the door softly behind me. Hardly believing what I’d just accomplished, I gaped at the talisman as the shouting continued. Slipping it into my purse, I took Shazia’s lead and hurried to the stairwell without a moment to spare.