Fire Spell (24 page)

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.

F
OR 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 horrible. 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.

She crouched to pick it up. She raised it to the moon again, barely visible with the rain clouds rolling in, and kissed both sides.

“Here.” She tried to force it in his bleeding hands. “Take it. We have seconds. Take it.”

Leo grabbed the dagger. Lily closed her eyes and held her palms toward him. For a second, I believed he might actually go through with it, but he turned away from her and shot into the sky as the clouds opened and the rain poured.

“Leo!” she screamed after him and propelled herself after him.

I watched in disbelief, my heart heavy and torn. I hovered over the island’s sandy point, my clothes absorbing cold raindrops, my shoulders shaking from the chill of the air and the darkness ahead of me. Then I heard it. The screeching, hissing sound. I whipped around to see one of the hooded Ladri gliding over the marsh.

“Witch! Witch!”

It was as if an alarm had been sounded on the island. Before I knew what was happening, I saw the island full of black capes. I didn’t wait to count; I pulled my arms back and pushed forward into the rain. The wind was in my face and my speed was slowed.

The white coating that had given me the double Fade protection was gone. Only patches of it remained on my jacket. I hoped the rest of the
Fade Spell
would hold until I could make it to the seam. If humans saw me fly, I would lose my strength and nothing could be worse right now.

I looked over my shoulder. One of them was following me. I didn’t know they could fly. Panic gripped me as I headed toward the theater. If I get back to the seam, I could close him out and lock him in 1949. It wasn’t too much farther ahead. I had to fly faster.

I could see the theater a few blocks ahead, but he had gained speed. I fought to land near the corner, but his hand gripped my ankle and a searing pain scorched up my leg. I looked down to see he had sliced through my pant leg. It was already soaked with blood. I felt woozy and the lightheadedness knocked me from the sky. I landed on the sidewalk, my face hitting gravel. I felt the skin split above my cheek. I stood, knowing I was still several blocks from the seam. I heard a thump behind me. He had landed.