Book of Enchantresses

by Mary Ting

  Dom crossed his ankles. “What does he know? He only seems to care about your business and getting drunk. You two really make a fine pair.”

  “Thanks,” Paymon said, but then schooled his features when he realized Dom had just mocked him.

  Dom closed his eyes as if he didn’t want to be bothered with Paymon any longer. “Oh, by the way, Liana isn’t here. If we’re going to be frank with each other, we might as well tell the truth. Liana has two souls, and if we don’t figure out something quick, she’s going to die.”

  “What?” Paymon inhaled a sharp breath, and his steely gaze might as well have punched me in the gut. “I thought you said she was resting. Malum, you better tell me everything. And I mean everything.”

  “Come, have a seat. I wanted to spare you the details, but since Dom”—I glared daggers at him—“decided to be honest today, I should tell you everything.”

  Paymon bolted out of his seat after I was done. Before he could go through the door, I blocked his way.

  “Let me go, Malum. You can’t keep me here.”

  I had never heard such a commanding tone from Paymon before.

  I prepared to push him away from me. “NU won’t let you in. You know that. You would be wasting time if you tried.”

  “I know that. I’m not going to NU.”

  “Where are you going?” I furrowed my brow.

  “He’ll probably find his true friends, get drunk, and eat a few people. Then we’ll have to cover for his ass with TO.”

  Paymon growled. “It’s so nice to hear such confidence from my eldest brother.”

  “Yup. Sure. Anytime.” Dom, still spread out across the sofa, flicked something from his nails.

  Asshole.

  “I’m going to see Balen. Maybe he can help.”

  “Awan tried with her sisters, and they couldn’t help her,” I said.

  “Well, you don’t know Balen and what he’s capable of.”

  “He won’t be able to help much. He’ll need to be at the TO meeting.”

  “That’s not until tomorrow.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Lotus told me when she visited me while I was resting. I have to go.” He stomped off in a hurry.

  Dom rose to pour himself a drink and chucked it down his throat. “I don’t think that boy knows what he’s talking about. Always Balen. Balen this. Balen that.”

  “Are you jealous?” I checked my cell phone for a message from Lotus.

  None.

  “Of course I am. You know I like to be the center of everyone’s attention.”

  I shook my head. Though Dom had said it as a joke, there was truth in it.

  Sinking into the sofa, I pressed the sides of my temples. Breathe. Lotus would get back soon.

  Please let Liana be okay.

  Chapter 31

  My Lovely Family

  Awan

  I barged into the guest room Balen was resting in, Giselle behind me, and Corian shut the door.

  “What did you do?” I asked, my tone stern but gentle.

  I didn’t bother to sit since I didn’t plan to be there long.

  “Do you mind? I’m changing. I could have been naked.” He zipped up his pants and slipped on a long-sleeved shirt. “And I have no idea what you’re talking about. According to you, I always do something. So you tell me what it is that I have done.”

  “Did you tell Lotus you wanted to attend the Trinity Order meeting?”

  Balen flashed a glance at Giselle and buttoned his shirt. “No. Why would I do that? I have no interest. Do I have to go?”

  “What are we doing here?” Giselle said softly. “We already know Balen didn’t ask to be there. He doesn’t care about politics. We all know that.”

  I almost slapped Giselle. Questioning my judgment made me look foolish for asking him questions.

  “One never knows, sister,” I replied coolly. Then I turned to Balen, meeting his calculating amber eyes. “Are you going?”

  He sat on the ottoman, put on sleek, black shoes, and tied the strings. “I think I need to be there since Lotus is asking. Wouldn’t that look bad if I don’t show up?”

  “He’s right.” Corian tapped her heel on the hardwood floor. “We need to show a unified front.”

  “I didn’t know we weren’t unified.” Balen tucked in his shirt and adjusted the lapels. “Sure, Awan hates me and would rather see me dead, but other than that, we’re a happy family.” He smirked.

  I wanted to scrub those lips off his face. Why did I put up with him? It had been a promise. Balen was my dead sister’s son. With her last breath, she had asked me to take care of him. Little had I known he was going to be a pain in my ass.

  Balen blamed me for his mother’s death. He thought I should have gone back to the TO gathering to find his mother. Going back was a suicide mission after I had escaped. I wouldn’t have come out alive.

  It would have been the end of the original witches. I couldn’t let that happen. Someone had to unite the second generation and make us whole again.

  I would show TO the mistake they had made trying to get rid of our kind. We could have contributed in making the supernatural world better. Instead, they feared our power. Crushed us before we could shine.

  “Maybe you’re right, Corian. We need to show a united front.” I smiled. “I have a feeling they will amend their past wrongs by placing me on the seat. And when they do, I will ensure the witches are represented well.”

  “And our sisters can finally come out of hiding.” Giselle swiped a hand in front of her as if she could see it happen.

  “I can’t wait,” Corian added, her amber eyes beaming. “It’s about damn time.”

  Balen rose and dusted lint from his wool pants. Then he texted and shoved his phone in his back pocket. “So, any news regarding Liana?”

  I stroked a hand down my golden hair. “You shouldn’t have interfered. You’re very lucky Malum didn’t kill you. You might still want to think about hiding for a while until he cools down. But I’ll leave that up to you. You’re going to do what you want to do anyway.”

  Balen rolled his eyes. “He should be thanking me. I saved Liana and Paymon. Had I not been there, they would have been dead.”

  “Perhaps.” I shrugged. “Regardless, the poor thing will die from having the shock of her life and not from the explosion.”

  “What do you mean?” Balen’s eyes rounded in confusion. “Giselle visited me alone and told me about Liana having two souls, but I didn’t understand what she was talking about.”

  I looked at Giselle before I spoke. She had checked up on Balen, as we all had, but I hadn’t known how much she’d shared.

  “One body cannot handle two souls. One will have to die, or they both die,” I said. “It’s unfortunate. Malum seems to really love that girl.”

  Giselle stiffened and feigned unconcern, or at least she tried not to show it on her face.

  Balen, meticulous Balen, fluffed the pillow and put it back in place. Straightened the blanket and stepped back to check. “There must be something we can do.”

  “We can. The Book of Enchantresses should have the spell we need.”

  Balen glanced about the room, probably examining whatever he had cleaned up. “Then what are we waiting for?”

  “We can’t open the book.” Corian caressed the long braid cascading down her left side.

  Balen froze in place. “Why not?”

  “We need to find out. We’re taking it to the meeting tomorrow.” Giselle moved out of the way for Balen.

  “Where are you going?” I scowled. “We’re not done talking to you.”

  Rude. Always so rude. Thinking of himself only.

  Balen spun around after he opened the door. “I was actually on my way out. I have a meeting to attend.”

  “With whom?” I let out a spurt of skeptical laughter. “You have no one to see. No purpose.”

  “Whom I see is my business. Have a good day, sisters. Bye.” He winked and l
eft.

  “Balen.” I hissed. Angered, I raised a hand to the mattress. The pillow and blanket flew off the bed. The throw pillows on the sofa flew and scattered across the floor.

  So immature of me, but at least I hadn’t killed him.

  Chapter 32

  Saving Liana

  Keira

  Kelly, tucked into a ball, jolted to her feet when she saw me. Her darker-than-night eyes beamed and her smile seemed strangely genuine. Her long, raggedy hair, dull as if coated in oil, hung over her filthy face.

  I stayed behind the security of Ezekiel’s equipment with Samyaza, Jonah, Uriel, Lotus, and Ezekiel.

  “You came back, girl. And you have her with you, don’t you?”

  How did she know?

  Her words startled me, and her deep, crude voice gave me the shivers.

  “You felt something when you saw her, didn’t you?” She sniffed the air like an animal looking for answers. “Bring her to me. I can help her.”

  “How do you know she needs help?” I tried to keep my unnerved tone at bay. Pissing the demon off would not be in my favor.

  Kelly pressed her forehead against the glass and peered down. “Because you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t need something. And I feel her soul, split into two. I have a half a soul and she has the other. Combine the two half souls, and you’ll get your mother.”

  “Why should I trust you?” Tears dotted my eyes.

  My mother. My mother whom I had never met. My mother who I thought was dead, had been here all this time in some form. And I’d never known.

  Not your fault, Keira. You didn’t know. Not even Ezekiel knew. Don’t blame him. He was doing what your mother requested.

  “Because if you don’t, your mother will be gone forever. You’ll regret not helping her.”

  I fisted my hand and punched the blue monitor in front of me over and over. Everyone seemed to be speechless. Even Lotus. Why had she come here?

  Lotus held a hand up to urge me to stay back and meandered closer to the demon.

  “Kelly? My name is Lotus.”

  Kelly burst out a boisterous laugh.

  Lotus retreated a step but maintained her composure.

  “Lotus? What kind of name is that? Your parents Flower Children or something?” Then she slammed the glass and rooted her eyes to Lotus. “I don’t need your help. I will be just fine once they bring her to me.”

  “What do you plan to do? You see, I’m not going to let them bring the girl to you unless you tell me first.”

  Kelly narrowed her eyes. “And who are you to her?”

  “The girl you want is my niece.”

  “Well then, I guess I have no choice. After you bring the woman into my cell, the girl named Keira, Abigale’s daughter, the gatekeeper, must be in the center. Using her archangelic power, she’ll be able to connect two bodies together. Our half souls will combine.”

  “Then what? In whose body does Abigale reside?” Lotus angled her eyebrows.

  “I don’t know.” Kelly turned away, guilt written across her face. A second later, she faced Lotus. “Your niece. She will live.”

  “Is that so? And how do you know?”

  Kelly drummed her dirt-filled fingernails on the glass wall. “I just do. You should hurry. She’s running out of time.”

  Daniel rushed in. He had been instructed to stay in the room with Liana.

  “Hurry. Her fever spiked higher. One hundred and ten.”

  Kelly curled her lips. “See? You must act now before it’s too late.”

  Lotus pulled her cell phone from a coat side pocket. “Don’t worry. All is fine. Help is here.”

  I wondered what she meant, but my curiosity was satisfied when two men entered. They looked familiar. I had seen them before. Red hair. That beautiful, fiery red hair.

  Before the word demon sputtered out of my mouth, I put two and two together. But Lotus beat me to the introduction.

  “Everyone this is Paymon, my youngest brother, and this is Balen. He’s one of a kind for sure, and he’s a warlock.”

  After the introduction, Lotus filled them in on all the details of what Kelly had said and what she believed to be true.

  Balen paced along the length of the cell, surveying Kelly. “Though my sisters claim they can’t perform magick to help, I believe I can. I need Liana.”

  Kelly growled. “We don’t need you or your magick. I will not cooperate. Did you hear me? Go away.”

  “Do you need my help?” Paymon asked.

  “You can help me by getting Liana comfortable. Sit right here.” Balen pointed at the ground, near the glass wall protecting him from Kelly.

  Uriel carried Liana to Balen. “Where do I put her?”

  “Hand her to Paymon.” Balen knelt and helped Uriel position Liana’s head on Paymon’s thigh. “Watch her breathing.”

  Kelly backed away to the other side, her back against the wall. “You can’t. You’ll kill her.”

  Balen searched the room and landed his eyes on me. “Keira. You’re the gatekeeper. I need you to be the link between them. Don’t worry, you’re safe with me.”

  His soothing voice comforted me, and I did as he asked. I knelt next to Balen and waited. Paymon offered me a warm smile. So strange to meet a nice, friendly demon.

  Balen held my hand, and the other hand he extended toward Kelly. Then he closed his eyes, chanting foreign words.

  At first, nothing happened.

  Then …

  A tingling sensation crept from my head, down to my toes. Heat undulated through me, warmer and hotter, but bearable. Then my whole body illuminated. That glow spread to Balen and Liana, and then the light penetrated through the glass toward Kelly.

  “No, no, no. Don’t touch me. It will hurt.” Kelly dug at the wall like a caged animal desperate to get out.

  Balen closed his eyes. “One soul fell from the light, the other from the dark. Two half souls must merge. One will live. One will die. And the gatekeeper must …”

  The light wrapped around Kelly as she continued to bellow curses. My light intensified, blinding me, and then filled the entire room.

  Like a giant meteor hitting the ocean, the light rippled outward in waves. Something felt wrong. My body went cold, almost numb. I couldn’t move. My breathing became labored.

  I flew backward, and my back hit the back wall. Groaning, I managed to raise my head from the ground. Blurry images of Uriel and Ezekiel running toward me came into focus. Lotus and Samyaza went to help Balen. Jonah and Daniel attended to Liana and Paymon.

  Balen had flown the opposite way, head-first. Paymon and Liana skidded several feet but remained in the same positions.

  “Are you okay?” Uriel helped me up.

  “What happened?” I shook my head, hoping to lessen the ringing in my ears. “I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.”

  “I’m not sure,” Ezekiel said.

  “Did it work?” I slowly turned my aching body.

  Liana was still on the floor and Kelly … She sat in the middle of her cell cross-legged, gloating.

  “I told you not to do it.” She smirked.

  I dragged myself over and planted my palms on the wall for support. “What happened? Did you do something?”

  “No.” She sounded offended. “It wasn’t me. His magick didn’t work.”

  Her tone so cheerful, I wanted to choke her.

  Balen rose. “Perhaps my sister, Awan, is right. We need the Book of Enchantresses. I can put a spell on Liana to maintain her, but it will only last a short time.”

  “What do you mean by short?” Uriel frowned. “Hours? Days?”

  Balen placed a hand on Liana’s head. “A few days. Should we leave her here or take her back home?”

  “Leave her here with me. I’ll stay,” Uriel said. “I’ll keep watch.”

  “I’ll stay with Uriel,” Jonah said.

  “You don’t have to stay, Jonah. You’re not my protector anymore.”

  “I know, but I’ve always b
een. Even though you can kick my ass. I don’t know anything else.”

  Uriel nodded with an expression of reverence. “I could use your company.”

  Samyaza looked at his watch and raked his hair back. “I’m sorry, but I need to go back to the church. Mass is about to start, and I’m supposed to be there.”

  “Go,” Uriel said. “Jonah will call you if there’s anything to discuss or if something comes up.”

  “Godspeed.” Samyaza gave a curt bow to Lotus and left.

  “Everyone is leaving?” Kelly frowned. “Why? Stay. It’s lonely here. I will tell you secrets.”

  Lotus glared at Kelly. “You keep your mouth quiet.” She turned to Balen. “We’ll get the Book of Enchantresses from Awan. She’s supposed to bring it to the meeting tomorrow. We’ll speak to the council and see how we can help Liana. The council will know how to unlock the book since they’re the ones that locked it up in the first place.”

  “What about me?” Kelly said, her tone somber. “I don’t want to die. It’s not my fault I’m stuck in this body.”

  Lotus sighed, annoyed. “We have to figure this all out. No one seems to know what is going on. Until we know for sure and have the facts, nobody dies.”

  Kelly shrugged. “Sounds fair.”

  “Daniel, I need you to find Kai,” Ezekiel said. “I need you to take care of something for me. He’ll give you the details.”

  Daniel gave a curt nod and left.

  “Balen and Paymon, I want you to come with me,” Lotus said. “I’ll text Malum, Dom, and Awan to let them know so they won’t worry about you two. I’ll also let them know Liana is in good hands. And, oh, Keira. You need to be there at tomorrow’s meeting.”

  Balen waved a hand. “Oh, Awan doesn’t care about me. You don’t have to bother.”

  “You don’t have to bother with me, either. Malum and Dom don’t care,” Paymon said.

  “That’s not true, Paymon. Why would you think such thoughts?”

  Paymon curled his shoulders inward and dipped his head. “It’s true.”

  “Let’s talk later.” She patted his back. “Ezekiel, I’ll be in touch.”

  “Thank you, Councilwoman Lotus.” Ezekiel shook her hand. “If there is anything you need, please let me know.”