by T. A. Foster
“Can you tell me about the ring?” I hadn’t taken my eyes off it since we got in the car. Finn was driving the rest of the way.
“Sure. The setting was my mother’s.” He smiled at me, tracing his finger over the ring. “But the center stone—that is all yours.”
“It’s just so big and sparkly. It has to be at least two carats.”
“At least.” He winked.
Later I would ask him how long he had it and which mother it belonged to. Right now, I wanted to revel in this feeling. I held my hand in front of me. It was the most magical sensation. We were going to get married and spend the rest of forever together. I was officially a bride.
I turned to Finn. “How are you feeling today?” I wasn’t sure how to ask if he’d lost anyone else. It was painful to watch.
“It seems to have stopped. Maybe it means things are holding up for a while.” He adjusted his sunglasses.
“Good. I’m glad you haven’t had to go through that anymore.” It was a relief the mechanism that had ripped through the spells had stopped temporarily. We’d take any bit of luck we could.
We were only fifteen minutes from Charleston. I was anxious to find out as much as we could about the Sognare Ladri’s gathering so we could put an end to the mind games that had kept Finn and me apart. I was ready for the rest of my life to start.
I don’t know what shocked me more—the proposal, or everything he told me about his Shadow Quest. We sat on the stone ruins, the petals fluttering around us while he started at the beginning—the first night he left me in New Orleans. The more he talked, the more I realized how much we needed the time apart. We needed to heal on our own before we could ever find our way back to each other. I had worked through my feelings for Jack on my own. I was glad I didn’t have to choose between the two. Somehow, I faced the reality of what life with Jack would be like without Finn’s interference. I had no doubt I had made the right choice where he was concerned.
Finn’s quest had changed him. I could see it, and more than anything, I could feel it. What he had been through would crush most men, but he kept moving forward. One day I would ask more questions, but today it was about listening to his story. For the first time in years, he told me things he was sworn and bound to keep silent until his death. The ring symbolized the future he wanted with me, but telling me about the Shadow Quest meant more than that. He trusted me with his life. He was willing to defy all our witch laws to show me how much he loved me. Finn wasn’t going anywhere.
He turned the radio down. “So, what’s the plan in Charleston?”
“I wish I knew exactly. We have to figure out the spell details. That I know. I’m hoping that if I read some more of my grandmother’s journals, they will be in there. Otherwise, I don’t know how we’re going to perform it.”
“I don’t have the best feeling about this. We need more information.” Finn slowed as he exited.
“Holly and Jack should have something new for us.” I winced as I said it. I had completely forgotten to tell Finn that Jack was in Charleston.
“Excuse me? Jack? Is that one of Holly’s new boyfriends?”
“Uh, no. It’s the same Jack who’s my editor.”
Finn’s eyes narrowed. “And you’re just now telling me he’s in Charleston?”
“We were kind of busy.” It was true. We had moved between extreme sorrow and happiness in the past twenty-four hours. There wasn’t a lot of time for chitchat.
“Hmm. What’s he doing there? Shouldn’t he be in Sullen’s Grove?”
This conversation was getting increasingly awkward. I wanted to keep us wrapped in the bliss from the ruins and the rose petals.
“You know how all of the spells are falling apart? Well, Holly’s are too. His Eraser Spell lost all its hold on his memory. He remembers everything about Las Vegas and the Proxy.” I cringed waiting for the reaction from my fiancé.
“Hmm.” He pursed his lips. “He knows you’re a witch?”
I nodded. “He does. But I haven’t done any magic in front of him.”
“All right, well as soon as we get the spells back in place, Holly can just erase him again. This week too.”
“No!” I didn’t mean to spit it out like that. “I mean, Jack wants to keep his memories. He won’t let Holly do it a second time.”
Finn turned to read my expression. “There is something else going on. Why would he want to keep all of those memories? We can’t let him walk around knowing about all of us? What if he talks one day?”
“He won’t. I know he won’t.”
“And why is that?”
I was stupid to think this wasn’t going to come out eventually. “Because he’s kind of in love with me.”
Finn pulled into the hotel’s parking lot and leaned back in his seat. “What?”
“It’s a long story, but yes, he has feelings for me.”
“What about you?” His eyes landed on mine.
I reached toward him. “I don’t want to lie to you.” His eyes misted. “I did. I really did have feelings for him a long time ago, but it’s not like that anymore. I haven’t for a long time.” I wrinkled my nose at him. “No matter how much I wanted to move forward with anyone, I couldn’t. You always got in the way.” I crossed the console and tugged him closer to me. “You have always been the one.” I kissed him lightly before he claimed my mouth with his. His fingertips pressed into my back, and he growled, making me smile.
“I guess we both have a past, babe.”
I nodded, drawing his lips back to mine. Could we just stay in the car and pretend the world wasn’t falling apart?
Finn broke free and pulled the keys from the ignition. “All right, so Mr. Editor Boy is here and I’ll deal with it.”
“No territorial stuff, Finn,” I called after him.
“Me, territorial?” He huffed, but I recognized the look on his face. Great, all I needed was to add one more problem to the growing list of world disasters we had to tackle.
I took his hand in mine and remembered the ring. We decided not to announce the engagement. There was nothing that would tip them off like this rock.
I wiggled it from my finger and handed it to him.
“Here. I guess you have to hold on it to it a little longer.” I didn’t want to give it back. It was gorgeous.
“You know, I was just thinking maybe this is the perfect time to share the news.” He winked at me as we stood in front of the lobby door. “If the world ends tomorrow, I want it to end with everyone knowing you are mine.” He threaded it over my knuckle.
“And you say you aren’t territorial?” I teased.
He kissed me. “Ok, maybe a little. Nothing wrong with that.”
“But wait, I’m not ready for my parents to know. They think I’m on a work trip and you’re on the quest. Let’s tell them when we get back to Sullen’s Grove, ok?”
“Sure. We can do that. But this little trio here.” Finn pointed to the ceiling. “I think they need to know.”
I felt his fingers laced in mine. He was the someone I didn’t want to live without, and Holly, Ian, and Jack were getting ready to find that out.
Holly squealed, “Let me look at it again!”
I held my hand toward her and smiled. Ok, this was a great feeling. Sharing the news with my best friend made it feel all the more real. We could giggle about the showers our mothers would throw, and what kind of dress she would want to wear. We could talk about all of those things, but later, when we were alone, and Jack wasn’t on the other side of the room.
I tried to ignore the sullen stares he threw my direction every few seconds. He would see eventually that we could never work together. I’d always have to keep my life a secret from him. There would have always been something between us, and I knew that wasn’t how I wanted to live my life. He deserved more than that. I only wish he would let Holly erase this from his memory. It would be easier for both of us, because right now, the only thing he could see was the big rock on my hand an
d how I had crushed his heart.
Ian hugged me. “Sis, this is huge news.” He patted Finn on the back. “On behalf of the Graces, welcome to the family, man.”
Finn smiled. “Thanks. I appreciate it. But you know we’re keeping this quiet until after we get back.”
“Right. Got it.” Ian nodded. I didn’t have to worry about my brother spilling the secret. This wouldn’t be the first one he had kept for me.
I walked toward Jack. He had barely spoken two words since Finn and I returned. The engagement announcement didn’t help. He stood near the windows, looking onto the Charleston cityscape.
“Hey.” I smiled at him.
“Congratulations.” He kept his eyes at the window.
“Thanks. I know it probably seems like a shock after—”
He held his hand up. “Don’t give me your pity. You had a choice to make and you made it. I respect that, Ivy.”
I sighed. I didn’t want to be the person who hurt him. I cared about him way too much to be the source of his pain. “I know this might be a little awkward, but I still need you to stick around until after the spell. You’re not safe until all of this is over. The Ladri have made you a target.”
“Well, maybe we should send them a memo I’m not one of your love interests anymore so I can head back to Sullen’s Grove.” His words were angry.
“I’m sorry I got you mixed up in this.” I turned from him to rejoin Holly, Ian, and Finn. They were talking about the island. I knew no matter what I said to Jack that it wouldn’t make any difference. Words didn’t heal broken hearts, actions did. And there wasn’t anything I could do to give him what he wanted. He would need time.
I forced a smile. “So, what did I miss about the island?”
Ian started. “Holly found out a little about the history. Go for it, Holly.”
She shrugged. “I’m afraid it’s not much, and I can’t find any real connection to the Sognare Ladri. The island is called Shute’s Folly Island. The weird castle structure used to be a military fort called Castle Pinckney. It was primarily used in the Civil War as a POW camp. Since then, it has fallen into ruins. There are a lot of ongoing debates between environmentalists and developers on how to use the land, but that’s all I found it. Nothing on the Ladri.”
“I guess we shouldn’t expect the Ladri to pop up on Google.” I smirked. “Anything on the Fire Spell?”
Holly shook her head. “No, not a thing.”
“Ok, I guess I’m going to have to start on Grandma Grace’s journals again. It’s the only lead we have.”
Holly hopped from her seat. “The hotel said they would have more rooms ready for us. Why don’t I go check on that? We can’t all stay here.”
Jack crossed the room. “I’ll go with you.”
“Ok, let’s go.” She grabbed her purse, and he followed her out of the room.
“I’ve got a friend on the Charleston PD who might know about the Ladri. It’s a long shot, but we are shooting in the dark. Finn, want to join me?” Ian reached for his coat.
“Sure.” He stood to follow my brother. “Unless you need me here?”
“No. Go. I’ve got two journals to read through, and no one can help me do that.”
“Ok.” He kissed me on the neck. “We’ll be back soon.”
“Bye.” I waved, watching them leave the hotel room. I crossed the room for my suitcase and shifted clothes to the side until I felt the journals.
There had to be something in here that could help us. We were running out of options and time. I rubbed the elixir on my palms until they glowed and waved them over the empty pages until I saw Gigi’s handwriting. I leaned into the pillows and started reading.
May 25, 1949
It is planned for tomorrow night. Leo and I have gone back and forth. He doesn’t think we’re ready, but I do. I know we are connected enough to do anything. It’s true that blood makes me squeamish, but for him, I will walk through it. The council is counting on us.
May 26, 1949
Tonight is the night. When Leo and I met, I didn’t know this was our destiny, but now it seems as if it is only a part of it. We are meant to do this, but I know we are meant to love each other. If we lost all of our magic tomorrow, it wouldn’t matter. Spells and destinies mean nothing without love. I will write tomorrow when it is over. Now, I must get the dagger before Leo arrives.
I sat up. Dagger? I wondered if there was a particular dagger we needed to perform the spell. I hadn’t seen anything in my grandmother’s kitchen when she was baking up a chocolate chip storm. Although, I did leave rather quickly. I looked at the clock. I had been reading her journals for over an hour, and it was the only clue I had. Once Leo left, she moved back to Sullen’s Grove and never mentioned the council or the spell. It was as if none of it had ever happened.
There was only one way I was going to find out how to perform the spell. I had to watch it. I grabbed my phone and my jacket. I thought about calling Finn, but I knew he would try to talk me out of it. Ian had warned all of us about performing spells.
I scribbled a note on the hotel stationery and left it for him on my pillow. Hopefully, I’d be back before he even realized I was gone.
I closed the door behind me and walked toward the conference room. This Time Spell was our only chance.
FOR A hotel that constantly advertised its conference facilities, it had been surprisingly quiet at this end of the building all week. I shuffled into the storage closet, feeling anxious about the spell.
I performed the Double Fade Spell quickly before making the seam. I chose an hour to travel in 1949 well after the time I saw my older grandmother on the bench. I knew the spell had to be performed with a high full moon. I would follow Leo and Lily from her house to the island, and then memorize as much of the ritual as I could.
The same western I had heard a few nights ago was blaring through the movie theater walls. I pointed my finger at the seam, apprehensive about closing it while I was gone. I knew I couldn’t possibly leave it open—too many things could go wrong.
“Eclipse,” I whispered. The folds of the shimmery curtain gathered until the wall was flat and dark. This was it. I had to do this.
I closed the broom closet behind me and tiptoed out of the back exit. I just hoped I had chosen the right time. I didn’t like hopping back and forth in and out of the seam. I was worried I might not be able to make the trip repeatedly if I needed to. The way Ian talked, spells were unraveling by the second.
I shivered as I pulled my arms against my chest to push off the ground. I didn’t want to think about all of the chances I was taking. I soared toward Lily’s house, ready to follow her and Leo to the island. I didn’t have to wait long. They completed their Fade Spells in her backyard. I watched as Lily handed Leo something.
I descended to observe closer. It was the dagger. He tucked it between his boot and his ankle, patting it in place.
“We can do this, Lily. I’ll protect you no matter what.” He kissed her and she wrapped her hands around his neck.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I’m ready for this night to be over with.” She squeezed his hand, and they bounded off the yard into the sky.
I stayed close behind as we drifted over the harbor and toward the dark island. Knowing what was on the island, it seemed even darker. I expected them to land somewhere near the ruins, but instead, they landed on the opposite side, their ankles covered in salt water.
“You ready?” she whispered. “It’s time.” She pointed to the sky and the moon that was directly overhead.
“Yes.” He reached into his boot and retrieved the dagger. He held it toward the moon, catching beams against its blade.
“I’ll go first to show you I can handle the blood.” Lily smiled as she took the dagger from Leo’s hand.
I assumed she would ease into the ritual, but she drew back and sank the dagger into his outstretched palm. Leo stifled a moan. He doubled over, but kept his hands forward. Oh my God, this was hor
rible. I didn’t want to stab Finn much less be stabbed. I shuddered, but continued to observe, knowing lives were counting on me.
“Extinguish this evil,” she whispered. “Extinguish this darkness.” She reached for his other hand and forced the blade into the flat surface of the hand then drew it forward. The blood flowed into the water lapping their ankles.
I saw the beginning of orange shimmer in the water.
“Leo, it’s working,” she said excitedly.
His face was in anguish and heavy tears rolled down his cheeks. “You must save your tears, darling. My hands need them,” Lily instructed. Her voice was strong. I knew she was in complete control of the spell.
Hmm, so they had to cry into each other’s hands after the cuts were made and the words were spoken. Lily held the knife tip toward the moon before drawing it over her eyes. She kissed each side of the blade then placed it in Leo’s hands.
A cloud passed over the moon and a look of panic flashed in her eyes. She stretched her hands toward him. “Hurry, the storm is rolling in.”
Leo clutched the dagger. He raised it over her right palm and closed his eyes as he brought its point to her skin. He hesitated.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. “You have to stab me. Go ahead.”
He raised it again, and attempted to bring it toward her palm.
He shook his head. “I can’t, Lily. I can’t hurt you. I know I’m supposed to, but I can’t fight the Guardian in me.”
I heard the water dance with raindrops that began to fall. I shivered from the coolness of the mist hitting my face. The orange glow that had formed weakened.
Lily grabbed his shoulders. “You have to. Stab me. I swear I will be ok. We have to do this. Time is running out.”
I already knew how the rest of the story played out, but I couldn’t stop watching the tragedy unfold. Leo dropped the dagger in the water. “I can’t hurt you, Lily.” His head dropped, just as Lily desperately waded through the tide looking for the knife.
