Broken Spell (19 page)

The doorbell rings. Yara is here. I hope I’m not making a mistake. Well, multiple mistakes.

When I open the door, the
smiliest girl in Seattle greets me.

“Hi, handsome,” she says.

“Hi, Yara. I’m glad you came.”

She walks in and says, “Are you kidding? I can always make time for you. How are your classes at Ballard?”

“I only go there twice a week. They are a little ahead of me, but I’m catching up.”

“You know I go there too for
advanced chem, right? Maybe you could give me a ride sometime.” Yara gets close to me. Like, a Priscilla-level of closeness. She’s invading my personal space with the confidence and purpose of the 82nd Airborne. I lean back by instinct, but Yara leans forward in response. I’ve got my back to the wall, literally.

Yara is about to kiss me again, and I don’t know exactly how to stop her. But I have to. I gently hold her shoulders.

“We can’t do that. I’m sorry. I have a girlfriend. Your friend.”

Her smile vanishes, but it isn’t replaced by a sad or angry expression. She just looks at me. “She’s not here, is she?”

Still holding her shoulders, I say, “It’s just not right. Come on, you know that.”

She casts down her eyes. “Sometimes it
feels
right, Drake. You can’t fault a girl for trying.”

“I…just don’t have these feelings for you, Yara.”

Her eyes lose a little of their light. “Eh, Drake, don’t dump me.”

“I’m not. I can’t dump you, because we were never involved in the first place.”

This makes her take a step back, and my hand loses contact with her.

“Yara, do you understand? In some other situation, I’d love to get close to you, but I have my girl. What about Skye?”

“
What
about her? She’s my friend, but just because she saw you first, it doesn’t mean I need to make way, you know? We’re not five. It’s not like I have to give up on my feelings because she called dibs on you.”

“In this case—”

“No. I’m not giving up. Why should I always be the one who yields? This has happened my whole life. I’ve been too respectful, too shy, too mindful. I’ve been passed over too many times. When is it my turn? When?”

I’m disarmed by her candor. A wave of empathy washes over me. “I know exactly how you feel,” I say. Of course I do. That’s exactly how I felt just a few months ago.

Once again, her face doesn’t betray any animosity. Only her fingers tap her thigh.

“Okay,” she says. “I have a proposition. Let’s not finish this discussion just yet. Instead, why don’t I keep this…connection between us on this shelf, here.” Her hand mimics holding a box, and then she puts the invisible box on a similarly invisible shelf. “If our situation changes, we can always go back and open the box, what do you say?”

I blink a couple of times. “Sure.” What else can I say?

“But you have to promise one thing: please don’t be so self-conscious around me. I may kind of flirt with you without even realizing sometimes, but it’s just for fun. I can’t turn it off, really, and you make me feel guilty every time you draw back.”

If it gets me out of this weird situation, I’m okay with it. “Deal,” I say.

She offers her hand. We shake hands, but she holds mine a bit longer. She stares into my eyes, but I just smile. I hope no impeding signs of panic come from my expression.

“Good boy. Come with me.”

She turns and, still holding my hand, pulls me after her to the sofa. We sit down, and she finally lets go of my hand.

“See? I’m harmless.” She grins.

“It’s hard to think of you as harmless, Yara,” I say. “Sorry.”

“Sorry for what? This is one of the sweetest things someone has ever said to me.” She points her finger at me. “You too flirt without even noticing, don’t you?”

I shrug. “I wouldn’t know. I really wouldn’t.”

“So what did you have to tell me that was so important? Or was that it?”

“No, that wasn’t it, but I’m glad we are on the same page now.”

“So is it about your sister? Who I know is a Sister, capital S?”

My cheeks turn cold. “What? No. It was the amulet, remember?”

Her hand moves to my face and holds my chin as if I’m a little kid. “Drake, being a Knowing doesn’t mean you actually
know
much about the Craft. Your story was smart, but my mother knows history. Our history. There’s no such thing as an amulet that stores magical energy—not that much energy. I know Mona is a Sister. But what intrigues me is this: how come her energy comes and goes?”

She stares at me for a while, her gaze switching back and forth between my eyes, but I can’t make myself tell her. She releases my chin and fishes a cigarette out of her small pink purse. “Mind if I light up?”

I snap out of my stupor. Until a while ago, smoking gave me chills because of the whole fire incident. Now I know it wasn’t my fault, but old habits die hard. “Let’s go outside.”

On the deck, she gives the cigarette small puffs. For some reason, I’m reminded of Jane. Maybe because I don’t know many smokers.

“So?” she asks.

“It’s complicated,” I say.

She sighs, then takes a deep puff and blows the smoke in my face.

It smells of tobacco, cloves, and, strangely, sweet fruit. I cough a little. “That wasn’t very nice.”

“You need it to clear your head,” she says. “Now, let me ask again: is Mona a witch?”

“Y-yes.”

She blows another cloud of smoke in my direction. “Is she the Singularity?”

My eyes water a little. I was trying to come up with a story for this meeting, but it’s silly to lie to Yara if I’m going to ask for her help. I’m compelled to tell her the truth. “Yes.”

Yara’s eyes bulge, but she says nothing. She recovers soon, though. She sighs and asks in a dreamy tone, “Why can’t you be my knight in shining armor?”

“I’m already someone else’s knight.”

“Did you fall for Skye?”

“What? What does that have to do with anything?”

“Please, just answer me,” she says in a soft voice.

“Yes.” I’m used to the cigarette smell by now.

“Do you
love
her?”

“Yes. I love Skye,” I say.

Wait! Why did I say that? Most importantly, why did I say it to Yara, and not to Skye?

She nods in slow motion. “Why did you ask me here today, Drake?”

Being direct is the best course of action now. “We need to cure Boulder. I need you to help Mona save him.”

“How?”

I try to remember the witch-speak. “Mona has plenty of magical energy, but she doesn’t know the healing rituals. You need to guide her.”

“Can’t you ask Skye?”

I shake my head. “I did. She doesn’t want to. She says it’s too risky. That it may reveal Mona’s powers.”

Yara bites her lip and puts out the cigarette in a deliberate motion. “She’s right, you know?”

Despair comes over me, and I grab her hands. “Yara, please. I’ve told you a secret that puts my sister in danger. I’m trusting you. Please help me. Please help my friend.”

Her eyes search my face. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me. And I will help you.”

***

“You told her?” Mona is not amused.

“She already knew, Mona. Yara got it the moment you showed downstairs the other day. Regular witches can’t turn it on and off.”

“This is the worst-kept secret in history,” she growls. “Do you trust her?”

I open my arms. “I don’t really have a choice, but I trust her. I met her best friend after, and she didn’t have a clue. And those girls share
everything
.”

“I have to talk to Pain about it,” Mona says.

“Are you in?”

“I have to talk to Pain, Drake.”

“Okay. But I don’t understand why.”

“It’s just…I want to do it, Drake. Boulder is all right. Even if he weren’t, I have a duty to help. We’re doing the right thing. But I need to know the consequences.”

“And Pain?”

“She helps me think. And she’s a part of this now too.”

“Pain? How so?”

Mona looks at me in disbelief. “For the same reason why you’re doing this for Boulder.”

“Oh,” I say, “I get it.”

“Besides, she almost got killed on the day of the earthquake. She’s part of this mess. And Drake?”

“What?”

“The story you told me about Jane. When she came here?”

Mona didn’t look well when I gave her the highlights of my nightmare meeting with Jane. “Yes?”

“Do you believe her?”

I do, but I don’t want Mona trusting Jane. I may be wrong.

“I don’t know, Mona.”

Drake and I have barely spoken since we parted ways bitterly three days ago. I called him a couple of times, but he would only utter monosyllables. It’s better that way for now. We need to rethink some things in our relationship. At least, I know I do.

Pain’s words from our conversation from yesterday still resonate with me. I’ve been thinking about my feelings for Drake and about our less-than-stellar few days.

I push it all out of my mind, though. My head needs to be clear for today.

This is it. The dreaded deposition I have to give. Connor asked Aunt Gemma if we could use the house. It’s going to be a long day.

I’m glad Drake didn’t mind. He trusts me. Drake even seemed eager for me to spend the day with Connor. Maybe I’m imagining things.

Connor brought a Sister with him—a witness. Her name is Vanessa. I wonder if they’re dating, but I don’t see any flirting between them. Well, not more than the usual.

She’s also a stenographer. She will write down everything I say. As if the AV equipment weren’t enough.

While she sets it up, he says, “All right. Remember, Skye, this is just a formality. You will basically say to the camera all that you told me about Brianna. But the keyword here is ‘formal.’ We’ll follow the procedures and the language. Is that all right with you?” After I nod, he adds, “I’m sorry about the potion, but it’s mandatory.”

I’m amused by this display of concern from Connor. He seems to care for me now. Where was this thoughtful Connor two years ago when we were dating?

Vanessa preps the Truth potion. She smiles at me and asks, “Are you comfortable?”

“Yes,” I say.

“Good. We’ll be here a while. I brought you a pitcher of water, a glass, and some biscuits.” She points to the coffee table. “Do you need to use the restroom?”

I tell her I don’t. She’s so perky. With her gold locks and constant smile, it’s as if the sun is shining upon her all the time.

She adjusts the tripod-mounted tiny camera and tells Connor, “We’re ready.”

He sits across from me, off-camera. “Let’s do it.”

Vanessa starts recording.

Connor narrates. “This is Connor Wallace, member of the London coven and temporary supervisor for the Search, Pacific Northwest.” He recites the date and time. “I’ll conduct the exit interview with Skye Lexington-Ellis, also a London coven Sister, regarding her participation in the Search. This is the official record for the archives, to be complemented later, if necessary.”

What does he mean, “if necessary?” I thought we would have Elsa, the Mother with Truth Charm, interviewing me later anyway. Does that mean I might be off the hook? I have the Dispel working. I can beat today’s interview.

He continues. “Assisting me with equipment and transcribing the session is Vanessa Walker, Sister of Eugene, Oregon, currently residing in Seattle, Washington. Miss Walker will be administering the Truth potion.” He nods to her.

She gets the syringe from the tray and approaches me, entering the frame. She kneels down, preps my arm, and injects the potion into it.

I hope Yara’s Dispel holds. It should. If it could resist that night with Miranda, it certainly will help me today.

“Let’s give it a few moments to make sure the potion is active. Miss Lexington-Ellis, may I call you Skye during the course of this interview?”

I nod.

He motions to his throat and mouths, “Speak up.”

“Yes.” I feel like a hostile witness in one of those courtroom movies.

“Skye, please tell us how you got involved with the Search.”

It’s odd seeing Connor act all business-like. He has command of the situation. He sounds older. Maybe he has really changed.

“Skye?”

“Oh, of course. I was asked by the London Mothers to move to Seattle and help with the Search. I was assigned to Greenwood High School. Gemma Rowland, a trusted Knowing, is my host in Seattle.”

“Any particular reason for your selection?”

“At the time, I was told my True Sight Charm would be a valuable asset to identify the Singularity. Later, you—I mean, Connor Wallace—informed me Greenwood was the most probable neighborhood for the Singularity Daybreak.”

Connor grins and nods his approval.

“Give us an account, in your own words, of your progress since you arrived at Greenwood.”

I try to arrange the facts in my head. Almost everything will be the truth anyway. I only have to fudge the Singularity’s real identity and some facts about the school fire. Feeling relaxed, I begin. “I assumed I would be the only Sister at school, but I was surprised to sense another Sister there. I learned her name was Jane Kaplan, a rogue Sister, and possibly a member of a Night coven.”

This is not hard. I have no idea of telling if the Dispel is working or not, but I trust Yara’s skills. I have no option. And the prospect of having the examinations end today make me determined to get this right.

Connor motions to me to go on.

“Jane Kaplan was openly hostile to me at first, and I—”

I yelp. All of a sudden, a massive wall of energy hits me. It’s like I’ve been knocked down by a sea wave. Connor feels it too and lets out a grunt. Vanessa takes a step back.

Green light surrounds us. Our ears ring with a sound reminiscent of crystal glasses clinking.

No, Goddess, no.

Connor recovers fast. “That’s the girl. Brianna has awoken.” He stands up and gets his phone. “Calling the hospital,” he tells me. “Vanessa, call London.”

It’s the Singularity, all right. Not Brianna, as he thinks. With the energy all around us, I hope Connor cannot tell the direction of the energy. I know I can. My True Sight tells me the source was located west of the hospital.

While they dial, I run to my room. I left my phone there.

I call Drake. When he answers, I blurt out, “What have you done?”