by T. A. Foster
“It looks like clear skies all night. Nothing about rain.”
I breathed a sigh of relief.
“We still have one little problem.” I glanced at my brother. I hated that he looked worried.
He turned. “What’s that?”
“We don’t have a dagger to perform the spell.”
“Finn’s on that too.” He smiled for the first time since walking in the room.
“And where did he find a dagger for a Fire Spell?” I couldn’t do another Time Spell to locate where Lily left the dagger after the botched spell in 1949. It was a key ingredient we needed.
“He said something about calling a voodoo queen friend of his in New Orleans.”
“Madame Chantilly? He called Madame Chantilly?” My mouth dropped.
“I take it you know her?” Ian asked.
I rolled my eyes. “You could say that. She and Finn didn’t really hit it off, but I guess a lot of things changed on his quest.” I sighed.
“Sounds like she told him how to get a dagger enchanted for the ritual. He’s on his way right now to meet with a Gullah witch.”
“Gullah witch?” My voice rose. The Gullah witches were known for their low-country roots and use of voodoo-like practices. It made sense Madame Chantilly would have connections in this area.
“Yep, Holly tagged along. They should be back in an hour or so, and then we’re leaving together for the island.” Ian’s hand landed on the door. “I’ll let you get ready. See you in an hour.”
I smiled. “Yeah, see ya.”
I waited until the door was closed before I reached toward the zipper at my calf and peeled it over my leg. The throbbing was so deep that I thought my leg might split the leather on the boot each time my blood pumped through my heart. I threw the boot on the floor and slumped on the bed. It wasn’t the first time footwear had hurt. This would all be over in a few hours. I could handle any amount of pain for a few hours. I tried not to think about the palm slicing and crying that was in my future. One thing at a time.
“One Gullah Witch enchanted Fire Spell dagger for you.” Finn presented the dagger to me as if it was part of a knighting ceremony.
I took it from his hand and rotated it in the light. It looked identical to the one Lily and Leo used, complete with the swirly engravings.
I smiled. “I think this will work. How did you find a Gullah Witch so quickly?”
Finn tucked the dagger in his boot. “I called Madame Chantilly in New Orleans. Turns out she has a cousin that lives nearby. There was nothing to it. Holly and I took the knife, she did her little voodoo thing, and now we have an enchanted dagger.”
I studied his face. “There is always more to it with Chantilly. She doesn’t give away anything free. Especially not something this huge.”
“True. But in this case, she needs us to complete the spell. Her curses are breaking apart. Seems like things in New Orleans are getting a bit chaotic.”
“Did she tell you anything else? Does she know about the Sognare Ladri?”
Finn poured a drink from the mini-bar. I hoped he wasn’t going into one of his reckless moods. I needed him to be strong and clear-headed. “Actually, yes. She had more information.”
“And?” We had to leave in a few minutes, but the more I knew about the enemy I was about to face, the better I’d be able to defend myself.
“It’s a long story, but the Cliff’s Notes version is that they gather every sixty-five years on the island to draw the power that will keep them going until their next gathering.” This part of the story was not news to me. Finn continued. “As they leave their regions around the world and travel here, they steal a little magic along the way. That’s why the spells break. It’s like they are feeding off us in order to complete the massive ceremony that unites all of them.”
A shudder raced across my shoulders. I hated the idea of stolen magic, but the consequences of it were heartbreaking. I thought of all the people Finn had lost this week.
He slung back his vodka drink. “Turns out this is also the time they choose Proxies. The magic they steal and the spells they break get transferred to them. That is the power Proxies possess—stolen magic and senses.”
“Oh my God. Are you serious?” I never knew how Proxies originated, but these details made it seem like something I should have realized long ago, especially after facing Helen. There was nothing natural and pure about her abilities.
“Yep.” He poured another drink. “She also told me that the reason we only have an hour window is that during that time they stop channeling stolen magic. They sit and clear their minds. Whatever in the hell that means. Something about making their bodies ready to absorb the tides and the moods. I don’t know all those details. Chantilly can get long-winded.”
My eyes widened. “This is crazy.”
He held up a finger. “And there’s one more thing.”
“Ok, what?” I didn’t know how much more I wanted to hear. So far, none of this was good news.
“The only witch who can stop a Proxy is a Laurel. That’s why you have to be a part of the spell. You have to call the Extinguish Spell to stop it all from happening.”
My breath caught in my throat. “And you? What is the Guardian part?”
“I’m there to protect the magic that is pure. It’s my job to save the witch world that exists.” He winked. “And I have a feeling I’m really there to keep you safe while you do the spell.”
I knew that couldn’t be it. Finn was just as crucial to the spell as I was. I guess it didn’t matter. The spell called for a Laurel and a Guardian, and we had accepted that.
He placed his glass on the table and walked toward me. He pulled me to a standing position.
“Your brother and Holly are going to be here any second to follow us to the island.”
“Did you do the Protection Spell for Jack?” I had to ask before we left. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something happened to him while we were gone. I promised him we would keep him alive.
Finn huffed. “Yes, Editor Boy is fine. Not very happy, but he’s safe for now.” Finn looked at the floor. “I can’t guarantee the spell will hold, but I was able to start it. Let’s hope that since the Ladri are all on the island right now, they aren’t cruising the streets of Charleston doing a spell sweep.”
I bit my bottom lip. It was sound logic. The spell should hold.
“We’re getting ready to walk out this door, and I don’t know what’s going to happen.” He traced my cheek. “So, if something does happen to me tonight, you need to know I love you.” He brushed his lips against mine, and I wrapped myself around him, tugging and pulling him closer. The warmth spread between us until we shared one breath. I fisted his T-shirt in my hand, desperate to pull him closer. I didn’t want this to be our last kiss, our last night, our last anything. My mouth moved against his, and I held him tighter than I ever had before.
“I love you too,” I whispered between ragged breaths. I pulled his lips back to mine. This moment needed to last longer. I wasn’t ready to let go.
“Knock. Knock.” Ian opened the door.
I clung to Finn, my head landing on his chest.
“Hey, man.” Finn smirked, knowing we had been caught in a major lip-lock.
“Ready? Holly’s waiting. She says it’s moon time.”
Finn’s crystal eyes shot to mine. “Ready?” he asked.
I nodded. “I’m ready.”
He laced his fingers through mine and we walked out the door.
I HAD never flown tandem before, but it was necessary. When we climbed to the hotel’s roof and I attempted to take off on my own, my ankle buckled and I almost landed on my knee. Finn scooped me up and placed me back on my feet. He thought it best if he took the brunt of the lift off. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders, and with one foot, I pushed off the roof while he propelled us upward. The flight to the island was short, but for those few minutes, I enjoyed his arms aligned with mine, his chest against my back.
After this was all over and my leg was healed, I would tell him we should fly like this every time.
Ian and Holly left the roof at the same time and were directly behind us. I didn’t want to put either of them in danger, but I felt better knowing we had our own mini witch army to defend an attack. We might have been small in numbers, but we were skilled and highly motivated. Each of us had something at stake in this war.
I pointed ahead as I saw Shute’s Folly Island light up under the moon’s bright beams. I thought of all the times the moon had been my guide during night flights, its silvery light shimmering on my skin as I cut through the air. Tonight however, it was nothing but eerie as it cast long shadows around the castle. I swallowed hard, wondering if those weren’t really shadows, but instead the Ladri gathering to drain the island and the tides of their power for the next sixty-five years. Either way, the moon was creepy and I found it impossible to enjoy it.
Finn maneuvered us to the opposite end of the island from the castle. His arms continued to clutch mine as we touched down on the shores of the remote island. I felt my leather boots sink into the soggy sand, and I tried to forget that I had just spent four hundred dollars on them.
The moon was high overhead, and I knew this was the right time to start the spell. If we could make it through the entire ritual, we would be able to end the nightmares and the pain. I closed my eyes and inhaled the salty marsh air. We could do this.
“You ready?” Finn whispered.
I nodded, afraid to speak. Afraid I couldn’t find the words I needed. I would have to get over that quickly. The spell needed a Laurel’s words. It needed my words.
Holly and Ian continued their flight pattern in front of us, crossing back and forth above us and then circling the marsh. I worried they would get to close to the castle. As if he read my mind, Ian rotated in the air and I could make out a thumbs-up symbol from his hand.
Finn reached for his ankle, retrieved the dagger from his boot, and placed it in my hand. We decided that I would go first. If Finn’s Guardian nature took over and he had trouble with his part of the spell, it would give me more time to talk him through it. I prayed that we could overcome the obstacles Lily and Leo couldn’t. She had pleaded and begged him to hurt her, but the rain clouds rolled in and her time to convince him was cut short. I wondered if it hadn’t been a stormy night if things would have turned out differently. The course of history was altered because of a thunderstorm.
I grasped the dagger and locked on Finn’s eyes, determined he would see my conviction. We were going to complete this spell. He nodded, and I began the process I watched my grandmother perform in this exact spot.
We would be different from Leo and Lily. We were going to be the ones to stop the patterns of the past. My diamond flashed in the moonlight. We were already different—Finn promised never to leave me.
I plunged the dagger into his palm, drawing it forward. Blood welled and dripped into the water at his feet. I couldn’t look in his eyes; if I did, I would lose it. I heard him fighting a groan at the back of his throat. Keep going, Ivy.
“Extinguish this evil,” I whispered. “Extinguish this darkness.”
I grabbed his other hand and sank the tip into the center, drawing a straight line to his fingers. He bent forward, a moan escaping from his lips. The water around our feet started to shimmer. Specks of amber and orange glowed from the sandy bottom, drifting its way around our ankles. The spell was working. For the first time all night, I had a glimmer of hope we were going to pull this off.
Finn lifted his head and I met the anguish in his eyes. Heavy tears streamed down his cheeks. “I’m ok, babe. I’m ok. Keep going.”
“Extinguish this evil,” I called the spell, willing the darkness on the island to evaporate. “Extinguish this darkness.”
Finn’s face twisted with the pain from the cuts. I fought the urge to hold him and take the pain from him. I could do that after. Instead, I pointed the tip of the knife toward the cloudless sky. I brought it over my eyes then kissed each side of the blade. I tried to ignore that there was blood on my lips, Finn’s blood. He couldn’t see me waiver. I placed it in his hands, covering the wounds I had made on his palms.
I could sense his reluctance to take the dagger. I folded his fingers over the blade. “You can do this, Finn. I can take it.”
He shook his head. “No, I can’t hurt you.”
The back of my neck bristled. I could feel the air changing around us. I looked toward the clear sky to see a storm on the horizon. Where in the hell did that come from? There were no storms in the forecast, and it had been a crystal clear night.
I held my palms out to him. “Just cut each one. Two little cuts. Do it fast and I won’t feel a thing.” I smiled.
“I can’t, Ivy. I know I have to. I know I’m supposed to, but it’s as if something else is stopping me.” His eyes darted to mine and his expression was laced with fear. “I don’t want to do it.” He let the knife slip from his hands and land in the water.
I sighed, trying to stay calm. We were prepared for this situation. I had seen it before, and we both knew it could happen. I had fooled myself into thinking that things between us wouldn’t play out like the last Guardian and Laurel. However, the universe kept reminding me there were some things that would always be out of my control. There were parts of the magical continuum that no matter how hard I tried to downplay, they were always going to be stronger than I imagined.
“What’s wrong?” Ian whispered. He had lowered from his high position.
I shooed him back. “Nothing.”
I turned to Finn, gripping his shoulders firmly. The wind kicked up, and I could see the clouds in the corner of my eye. Our hour had shrunk to minutes. “We talked about this. The spell is supposed to keep you from doing your part. That means it’s working. I know you can change history.” My eyes locked on his. “Finn. Stab me! Do this so we can have tomorrow, so we can have forever.”
His shoulders straightened and he peered toward the horizon. I don’t think he heard a word I said. Before I could try another plea, he screamed, “Ian, on your left!”
One of the Ladri raced from the marsh, his cloak trailing the brush, as he lunged at my brother.
“Ian!” I screamed as he dodged the grasp of the cloaked assailant. “He has a knife.”
I saw the moonlight flicker off something in his hand. I watched in horror as he swiped at Ian again. I recognized it wasn’t a knife; it was his hands. He had talons that were inches long, curling from his fingertips. I realized then those were the same talons that had sliced my leg.
Holly flew behind the beast and sent a stun wave straight at his head. He slumped into the marsh.
Ian pointed. “Holly, there’s another one, quick!” She whipped around in time to stun the second hooded Ladri into the marsh.
She smiled triumphantly. “Got ‘em.”
Finn grabbed my shoulders; I could feel the blood soaking through my shirt. “Ivy, we have to get out of here. There are ninety-eight more, and they are all on their way to stop us. It’s not worth it.” He pulled me against his chest and began to push toward the sky.
I fought against him, pounding into his shoulders. “No. Stay. We have to complete the spell. We can’t run. Fight with me.”
His eyes scanned the marsh in front of us. “I feel more of them coming. It’s too late.”
“No, it isn’t. Fight the Guardian laws. You are stronger than they are. Fight for me.”
He let us sink back into the tidal pool where the spell started. I sifted through the water, searching for the dagger. I felt the blade brush against my knuckles.
I held it toward him. “Do it.” My eyes bore into his.
The air was filled with the screeching hisses of the Sognare Ladri. They knew we were here. We had minutes, probably only seconds, until ninety-eight of the most evil creatures in the world were after us. It was now or never.
Finn squeezed the dagger in his fist, the blood from his hands tr
ickled over the handle. I steadied my hands, not sure if I could take the pain, but knowing I didn’t have a choice. He raised his arm, and just when I thought he was pulling back with hesitation, he drove it deep into my palm. I doubled forward.
I raised it up and called the spell words, “Extinguish this evil.” My throat was tight. “Extinguish this darkness.”
Finn pulled my other hand in the air and plunged the tip of the dagger into the center. This felt deeper than the first or maybe it was the combination of having two severe gashes at once. The tears welled in my eyes, and I tried to steady my breathing.
I looked at him and saw his face wet from the anguish he caused me. I held my hands below his chin as the tears dripped into the cuts. He followed my action and cupped his palms under my cheeks.
I didn’t see Leo and Lily get this far with the spell, but I didn’t need a study guide. I knew exactly what to do. I pressed my palms into Finn’s, our hands melting together, the blood and tears mixing until his were mine, and mine were his.
In the distance, I could hear Holly and Ian shooting sparks from their Stun Spells. I couldn’t break my concentration with Finn. It would all be for nothing if we had come this far and didn’t complete the spell.
I gripped his fingers. The orange glow from the water started to rise. The air around us was thick with smoke. The swirl blended to pink then red before circling our waists. We held on to each other, not breaking the contact of our palms. I focused all my energy on extinguishing the evil that surrounded us. The Ladri were surging from the end of the island. Ian and Holly were little match for ninety-eight evil assholes.
My hands began to shimmer yellow. I felt Finn’s force taking over. It was his Guardian protection enveloping us. It felt like the Cover Spell. He projected a safety sphere of magic around us, while the Fire Spell infused into the roots of the island. Its warmth spread through the marsh until I couldn’t feel where it ended. I ground my heels into the sand, connecting to the earth, urging the Extinguish Spell to wipe out the evil plaguing us.
