Fire Spell (26 page)

“No, she hasn’t improved at all. I think we are going to need help.” Ian was stern.

“She’s not going to like that.”

Yes, listen to Holly. I can do this. I just need to fight through this cloud. And maybe sleep a little. If I could sleep a little, Ian, I’d be fine.

“Babe, I waited nine months to see you and I will wait as long as I have to for you to wake up, but you’ve got to wake up.”

Finn, I’m awake. I’m here. Can’t you hear me?

“Just open those beautiful green eyes and smile. Ok?” His hand brushed through my hair. “I don’t care about the spell or about anything else. The only thing that matters is bringing you back. Come back to me.”

His forehead pressed lightly against mine. His cheek was wet.
Finn, don’t cry. I’m ok.

“Ivy?”

Yes, I’m here.

He wrapped his arms around my back and lifted me against his chest. “Come back, come back.”

The blackness was thick, and it settled on my skin, sinking into my pores and working its way toward my bones. I pushed against it, resisting the soothing feeling it spread over my body. I knew it was a trick—a way to lure me away from everyone. I had to resist the power.

My eyes fluttered open, and I clutched at Finn’s neck.

“Holy shit, babe. You’re awake. You’re really awake.” His mouth covered mine, and he kissed me like he hadn’t seen me in weeks.

“Yeah.” I raised my hand to my head. “I’ve been trying to tell you.” I felt sluggish.

He held my face between his hands. “Yeah, I guess you have. Don’t ever leave like that again, ok? Promise me.”

I nodded, shaking some of the sluggishness from my head. “I promise. I won’t leave.” I smiled, remembering that, for the rest of my life, I would be waking up to this beautiful face.

“What day is it?” I had no idea how long it had been since I collapsed in the closet.

He tucked a strand behind my ear. All I could think about was that I needed to take a shower. “It’s Friday.”

“Friday? We have to do the spell tonight.”

“Oh no, we’re going to cancel that. We’ll catch it in sixty-five years or find another way to take the Ladri out.”

“Seriously? You’re going to let them win? No. We’re doing the spell.” I unwrapped myself from his arms and struggled to put a foot on the floor. I looked at the gash on my ankle. Someone had wrapped it. It shot pain through my muscle when I applied pressure on it.

“I told you. Nothing is worth losing you. The spell is off.”

I pushed off the bed, steadying myself until I found my balance again. “It’s on. We are doing it.” I didn’t know where I’d find another Guardian in the next twelve hours, but if I had to, I would and we’d do a crash course in getting-to-know you because there was no way I was letting these evil bastards rule our lives for another sixty-five years. This ends tonight.

“You can’t even stand with that cut. There is no way you can fly and do the spell. Plus, we still don’t know how to do it.” His eyes had that determined look.

I crawled back into his lap. It’s where I’d rather be anyway. “I have you to hold me up and help me fly, and I do know how to do the spell. I watched Leo and Lily.” I kissed his cheek. “This is for all of the people under your protection. This is to save Jack.” He bristled. “It’s to save you and me. I don’t want any more nightmares. And I want my powers back.” I locked my eyes on his.

“All right. But as soon as something goes wacky, I’m flying you right out of there. Understand?” He was looking at me as if I were a delicate, damaged flower, not like the strong witch I knew I was.

“Got it. But we can do it. We have to.”

He stood from the bed. “I better go tell everyone you’re awake. They’ve sitting here on rotation ever since I found you.”

“You found me?”

“Of course.” He kissed my neck. “You ok for a minute? Their rooms are just down the hall.”

“Yep, I’m going to try a shower.”

His eyebrows raised. “Shower?”

I nodded.

“Ok, they can wait a few more minutes. I think you’re going to need some help.” He scooped me in his arms and carried me to the shower. I could play patient to his doctor a little while longer.

I
PULLED
the zipper on the side of my boot. I winced as I shoved my leg inside. No matter what herbs Holly collected from the local magic shops, nothing eased the pain. She had tried every combination her mother had taught her. Whatever had been on the knife, it was powerful enough to drain some of my powers, knock me out, and leave a lingering burning feeling that snaked its way through my entire leg.

If I told them how much it hurt, they would try to talk me out of the spell. Given everything that had happened, I understood why they would want to protect me, but there was no way I was going to let this moon window close. I promised Finn he could keep me in bed for weeks if he wanted to after we were done. Tonight, I was taking out the Ladri.

Ian poked his head in the door. “How you doing?”

“Good.” I stood, careful to keep my balance on one leg, but make it look as natural as possible.

“Sis, I’m not feeling great about the plan. What if they are expecting you? What if the one Ladro who followed you knows you’ll be back tonight?”

I had thought of that scenario. If they knew we were coming, performing the spell would be incredibly more difficult than it already was.

“I don’t know for sure. It’s possible. And with the way they’ve been in my head and Finn’s, they’ve done everything they can to keep us separated.” I sat on the bed; my leg needed more rest. “It all makes sense now. All the nightmares were scare tactics. They had me flipping between Jack and Finn, confusing me so much until I was afraid to be with either one.”

Ian sat next to me. “It really sucks that they could mess with you like that.” He paused. “Holly and I were talking, and we’ve decided we’re going with you tonight.”

“What? No. You have to stay here. Someone has to watch Jack.”

“We can seal him in his room. Finn can use a Guardian Spell.”

My eyes narrowed. “Those spells aren’t holding. You’re going to leave him here like open prey?”

“No, I think he’ll be fine. You and Finn, however, need backup. If the Sognare Ladri are ready for you, there’s no way you’ll get the first incantation off, much less complete the spell. You need us.”

“But does Holly even know how to stun?” I couldn’t imagine her knocking anyone out.

Ian nodded. “Finn took her on the roof and trained her while you were—you know—asleep.”

Asleep,
it would have been a better way to spend my time instead of feeling as if I was on the other side of a glass mirror and was the only one who could see through.

“So, he’s ok with this plan?” Why would I think he would care whether something happened to Jack? He never liked him.

“Yep. He agreed you couldn’t do the spell and survive an attack.” Ian stood from the bed.

“What about the weather? What’s the forecast?” All I could think about was the storm that hovered over Lily and Leo. It stole their extra minutes for the spell.

“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.