Elliot’s lips work and I can tell he’s trying to fault my logic. After a beat, he shakes his head. “Well, I guess you’re just going to have to find a way to help Crystal, then.”
I shake my head. “No way.”
“Do you know why Bess’s consciousness was in Crystal to begin with? She must have reminded Seth of his beloved. If you’re really trying to avenge him, why would you go out of your way to hurt her? Clearly she meant something to him.”
I huff. This has crossed my mind, but I haven’t seen it as reason enough not to follow through with my plan. “It has to be done.”
“No, it doesn’t. I get where you’re coming from—believe me, I do. I know why you want this revenge so badly. Suddenly, nothing in our lives makes sense anymore. Everything changed that night. But that just means we have to change, too.” He blows out of breath and places a hand on each of my shoulders. He bites his lower lip—a tell. He’s about to say something he doesn’t really want to say. “Have you ever thought this is the way things are supposed to be? Anya always did have the gift of precognition. Maybe she saw what she did so she’d leave, so we’d end up exactly where we are. Maybe… Maybe the Devoted were wrong.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I can’t believe Elliot—someone I know as well as myself—could ever say something like this. He grew up the same way I did, believed the things I did. How can his attitude have changed so completely in so short a time? It’s like he’s a stranger to me. White-hot anger bubbles up inside me. But I know better than to let him see it. If this is really what Elliot believes now, he’s beyond logic. This is the way he’s coping. Our world has been destroyed, so all he can think to do is turn his back on it. I can’t trust him anymore, which means there’s only one thing left to do. Lie. “It’s just so hard for me to believe that,” I say, injecting as much sadness into my tone as possible. “I’ve just been so mad. I thought—I thought that if I could make Krissa hurt, it would make me feel better. But you’re right. The Amaranthine are far too dangerous. I wasn’t thinking.” I watch his face closely, trying to get a read on whether he believes me. When his eyebrow doesn’t arc questioningly, I continue. “Just don’t tell Anya. She’ll be disappointed in me, and I don’t want that. I’ll find a way to help Crystal. I promise.”
Elliot’s brow pulls together as he studies me. I try to keep my face arranged in a mask of apology. I can only hope he keeps his promise and doesn’t read me too deeply with his abilities. After a beat, he nods. “Okay. We’ll figure this out.” He rubs the back of his neck again. “I should get going. Let me know if you need any help.”
I walk him to the door and we exchange our goodbyes. When I’m alone in the apartment once more, the wheels in my mind begin to spin. I know that Elliot will be checking in on me. I can’t simply allow Crystal to fail. But I also know that if I approach her with an offer to help, she’ll shoot me down immediately. I have a feeling Elliot won’t take that as sufficient trying. No, I have to find a way to help her and still make Krissa suffer.
I think I have a way. I’ll need to do some research, but if the thought taking form in my head is what I think it is, this might be even better than my original plan.
One way or another, Krissa Barnette is going to pay.
Chapter Nineteen
Krissa
Tucker spins around in the desk chair in my room, tipping his head back as he goes. I’ve already warned him several times that he’s going to make himself sick, but, just like a young child, he doesn’t heed my warnings. I’m ignoring him now, getting all my notes in order before my visitors arrive. It’s been days since I met with Dana and Crystal, since Brody showed up at Crystal’s house. After he demanded we tell him whatever information he wants to know, I’ve devoted myself fully to researching ways to contact spirits. Because I’ve spent so much time online and at the library, I haven’t been at Griffin’s much—hence Tucker’s presence here now.
“Are you almost done with that?” he asks, stopping his constant spinning and fixing his gaze on me. His eyes swirl slightly in his head.
I glance up. “I already told you—I can’t hang out today.”
He raises an eyebrow. “What? You got a hot date or something?”
I bite my lower lip. I haven’t told him about my current involvement with Crystal—or the possible threat against her and her family. He’d want to help—which is actually admirable. There was a time I figured he was incapable of caring for anyone but himself, and he’s proven time and again that’s not true. Still, I’m not sure I should share what I’m up to. I don’t know how Crystal would feel about him being around. Their relationship is complicated at best, and the few interactions I’ve witnessed between them have been strained to the point of discomfort for onlookers. Besides, if I told him what kind of threat Brody appears to pose, there’s no guarantee he wouldn’t do something stupid, like try to take Brody on himself out of some misguided attempt at bravado.
And there’s also the other thing—the thing that lurks at the back of my mind, the one I try not to think about. But no matter how I try to ignore it, there it is, coloring all my rational thought about this matter: I need to be the one to help Crystal. Part of me thinks that by doing it, I’ll somehow make up for the things I’ve done, I’ll start to become the person I used to be. It’s ridiculous, of course. But it doesn’t change the fact I want—I need—to do this myself.
My phone buzzes. It’s Crystal. She’s just picked up Dana and the two will be over soon. I sigh. “If I tell you yes, will you go?”
“Nah. I’d stick around to see who it is.” He flashes a wolfish grin and I can’t help rolling my eyes. In an instant, his face grows serious, all traces of laughter and dizziness disappearing. “Is that it? Did you finally talk with Owen? Is that why you want me gone? Or is it something else?” He narrows his eyes. “You’re not getting back together with Fox, are you? Because Dana Crawford seems to have her manicured nails plunged deeply into his flesh.” He clicks his fingers. “Unless that’s it—it is Fox, but you two are meeting on the DL because—”
I hold up my hand. “Enough with your conspiracy theories. If I were really having a clandestine meeting with some guy, do you think I’d be bringing him here? Jodi’s downstairs, and my folks will be home soon.” In January, Dad returned to the workforce after a five-year hiatus, and he and Mom usually arrive home around the same time each night. If Dad gets home while Tucker’s still in my room, he’ll likely throw a conniption, as I’m not technically allowed to have guys up here. Jodi and my mom have been more chill lately about letting Tucker stay for brief visits. I like to think it’s because they trust me, or at the very least they realize nothing even remotely sexual is going to happen between the two of us, but I have a sneaking suspicion they’re just happy I’m interacting with anyone at all right now. “In fact, you’d better leave before my dad gets home and skins you alive.” I cross to Tucker and grab his hands, heaving him out of the chair.
He reluctantly allows me to heft him to his feet. “You’re no fun,” he grumbles.
“And yet you continue to associate with me,” I return, pushing him toward the stairs. He’s about a foot from them when I pause, something he said clicking in my brain. “Wait—why would you think Fox might be showing up here? You said it yourself—he’s with Dana now.” He cut ties with me pretty quickly after Dana spilled all my secrets to him. Once he found out I’m not the girl he dated for years, that I have no memory of the two of us together, he seemed to make it his mission to move on with his life.
Tucker turns, an unaccustomed flush rising in his cheeks. “No reason.”
If blood rushing to his face wasn’t enough to make me think I was onto something, the slightly higher register of his tone tells me I’m right on. “What is it? Spill.”
He begins with a shrug. “Well, you know how I’m still pretty new at the whole psychic thing.”
I nod, already sensing where this is going. He’s used this phrase numerous times in the
last few months to excuse himself from fault when he does something he knows he’s not supposed to. I’m pretty new at this psychic thing… I didn’t mean to make that guy to give me my order for free… I just wanted to see if I could convince the cashier my license said I was twenty-one…
He puts up his hands innocently. “I may have scanned Fox’s thoughts once or twice in English. And you may have crossed his mind on an occasion or two.”
Panic rises in my chest. If Tucker’s been in Fox’s head, does he know the truth about me messing with time? No—there’s no way. I dismiss the idea, taking a deep breath to slow the quickening pace of my heart. If Tucker had picked up on anything like that, he’d have said something already. This must be something else. “And?”
He shrugs. “Let’s just say he’s thought about the good ole times between the two of you.”
It’s my turn for my cheeks to flush. Fox and my alternate self were together for years. I’m not sure exactly what kind of memories he has from the relationship before I showed up. I almost want to ask what kind of images have been floating around in Fox’s mind, but I stop myself. It’s entirely possible I don’t want to know. “Why would he be thinking about me?”
“Dunno,” Tucker says. “It’s probably a good thing Dana can’t read his mind right now, though. Girl walks around like she owns him. I’m really not sure why he plays along with it. Well, I suppose I can think of a couple reasons.”
I groan, rolling my eyes. “You always have to take things to the dirty place, don’t you?”
“What can I say? Gotta stick with what I’m good at.”
I’d be lying if I said my curiosity wasn’t piqued by this information, but there’s really no time to delve into it. Besides, what would be the point? Do I really want to know why Fox has been thinking about me? Actually, if it comes right down to it, he’s not thinking of me at all, but her. He’s thinking about the girl he was with before I showed up and messed with his life.
I shake the thought from my head. There’s nothing to be done about that now. I can only move forward. Crystal and Dana should be here soon, and I’d rather they not find Tucker here. “Okay, it’s time for you to take off.”
He does his best puppy-dog face, but I’m unmoved. When he realizes he’s getting nowhere, he relents and we make our way down the stairs. Jodi’s in the living room, her computer perched on her lap, and Tucker makes sure to bid her farewell on his way to the door. I’m fairly certain Jodi doesn’t think much of Tucker, but she’s pleasant enough to him. I overheard her and my dad arguing in hushed tones once. She was trying to convince him that if he expressed disapproval about my new friends, I would only cling to them more. I don’t think she’s right—after all, I’m not spending time with him and Griffin as an act of rebellion.
Tucker pulls open the front door to reveal Crystal and Dana on the porch. Crystal freezes, her fist raised like she’s about to knock. When her eyes lock on Tucker, she shifts uncomfortably. Dana touches her arm.
Tucker’s eyes dart to me, something like accusation taking form there. I can tell he wants to say something to me, but he holds back. “I was just leaving,” he murmurs as he brushes past the girls and lopes down the steps.
Dana presses the small of Crystal’s back, urging her across the threshold. I feel like I should apologize, but I’m not entirely sure what for. I don’t know exactly what happened between Tucker and Crystal, but I’ve spent enough time with Tucker to be relatively certain he didn’t do anything wrong in the equation. It’s obvious that unexpectedly seeing him rattled her, but it’s not like I had any ulterior motives in him being here. In fact, I was doing my best to get him out before she arrived.
Dana greets Jodi as we walk past the living room. Jodi smiles warmly, a sharp contrast to her earlier reaction to Tucker. Yep, she doesn’t like him at all. Jodi says nothing as the three of us head upstairs to my room. I didn’t mention anything to her about Brody’s visit, and I don’t know whether Anya has brought it up. I didn’t specifically tell her not to, but I wish I had. No need to worry her about this. Not yet.
As soon as we’re upstairs, I indicate the small area by the bathroom where there’s a couch. As Crystal and Dana settle themselves, I wheel my desk chair over to them.
Crystal seems to have recovered somewhat from her earlier shock. “So, what’s the plan?”
It’s not like I wasn’t expecting this question, but it still puts me on edge. “I’ve been doing a lot of research, and it looks like the most straightforward thing would be to just contact Bess—not worry about your abilities for the moment.”
Crystal’s shoulders draw back and I know she’s taking the news as well as I anticipated—which is to say not well at all. “No.” Her tone is flat. “I don’t like that one bit.”
I was prepared for this. “When I came to you the other day, I wanted to help you figure out new ways to connect with magic and psychic abilities. But those things will take time to master, and right now we don’t have that luxury.”
Dana leans forward in her seat. “I think what Crystal is saying,” she begins tentatively, “is that she’s thankful for whatever help you can give her, but our goal hasn’t changed. We both want our abilities back. How do we know you won’t help us with the whole Brody problem and then leave us twisting in the wind?”
Even though Dana asked the question, I aim my response at Crystal. “I would think after all we’ve been through you would know you can trust me. I still have all those spells, and I’ll help you master them. I’ll do all I can to help you be able to cast small spells or maybe pick up on some thoughts, but right now our focus needs to be getting this information. These people are trouble, and they mean business. Brody wasn’t making idle threats.” I pause, waiting for one of them to ask how I know, but neither does. That’s good, because I don’t know how either of them would react if they knew I told Anya. If I’m honest, I’m still not sure how I feel about it.
Crystal huffs, crossing her arms over her chest. “Fine. Let’s do it your way.”
There is a resignation in her voice I wasn’t expecting. Maybe these last few months have taken a toll on her, too. I pull out the notebook I brought with me from my desk. I’ve been scribbling down all the information I could find about contacting people beyond the grave. Some of it is probably nothing but fantasy, but I feel there are a couple of good contenders here. The one that looks the most promising is a spell that requires the help of a psychic. Luckily, I just so happen to be both a witch and a psychic. Although, really, I wish I didn’t have to wear both hats for this. I’m not even sure how effective I’ll be considering how long it’s been since I’ve connected with another mind. Still, I have to try. I promised. “There’s a spell I think might work. It’s supposed to enable the caster to reach through the veil and contact people on the other side.”
Before I can go on, Crystal reaches for the notebook. I almost don’t give it to her. After all, it’s not like she’ll be the one doing the casting. But I know why she wants to see it. She’s got more experience with spells than I do, first of all. And I suspect that part of it is also that she wants to feel useful. After I hand the book over, Crystal peruses the pages I indicate. She takes longer than is strictly necessary, and as we wait, I can’t help my eyes being drawn to Dana. How are things going with her and Fox? Are things as straightforward as they seem to be when I see the two of them together? Or is there something else going on? How would she feel if she knew I crossed her boyfriend’s mind?
Crystal finally hands the notebook back, nodding. “Seems legit.”
“Thanks. I’m glad you think it looks okay,” I say, even though I wasn’t looking for her approval.
“There’s just one thing,” she says, being sure to meet my eyes. “It says you need at least three people.” Her lips twitch. “Three people with abilities.”
I knew that already, of course. But, really, what was I supposed to do about it? If the witches still meet together, I’m not aware of it. Even if th
ey do, it isn’t as if I can just commandeer them to help us out. There are the psychics, but my relationship with them is tenuous at best right now. Besides, if I don’t have to get more people mixed up in this whole Amaranthine business, I’m not going to. “I think we can manage.”
Dana eyes me suspiciously. “If you knew it took three people with abilities, why did you let Tucker go? He could’ve stayed to help.” Crystal shoots her some major side-eye, but Dana doesn’t buckle. “Shouldn’t we be giving this spell the best chance at succeeding?”
“Tucker’s abilities are still pretty unfocused,” I say, partially as an excuse. While it is true in some respects, it’s not the reason I didn’t have him stick around. “I suppose I could’ve asked Griffin, but he’s at work.”
Dana slides her phone from her back pocket. “I can text Fox. I’m sure he’d be willing—”
“No,” I say. Even if he would come to help—which he might if Dana cajoles him enough—his presence would only serve to distract me after Tucker’s comment. Before she can mount a response, I press on. “I’ve got it figured out already. I’m a psychic and a witch, so that covers that part of the requirements. And as for having three abilitied people…” I stand and close the distance to my closet in two steps. In an old shoebox in the corner are some charms I made up after my initial meeting with the girls. I hand a satin bag filled with herbs and several types of crystals to each of them. “These should channel magical and psychic abilities.”
Crystal cocks an eyebrow. “Should?”
“I haven’t exactly tested them out.”
“Maybe we should,” Dana suggests. “You know—see if we can—”
I shake my head. “I’m not sure how much juice is in them. I’ve never tried to make charms like these before. If you try them out beforehand, there might not be enough energy left to help with the spell.”
The hungry look that had been filling Crystal’s eyes drains away and her expression sours. “So that’s it, then? This is what we’ve got to look forward to? A life of you making charms with enough power for us to maybe cast a spell or read a thought?”
Moon Magic Page 12
