Fire Spell (8 page)

I zipped up my boots, and grabbed my leather bag and jacket. Now that I had a name, I needed to make a trip to the Charleston Library to get the details of Hattie’s engagement party. I closed the door behind me, hoping the city’s microfilm collection would be a good one.

I hadn’t been this nervous performing a
Time Spell
since the day I had to follow Simone and her bag of diamonds. Nothing had been the same since that Vegas trip. It was unlikely they ever would be again. The past year had yielded more mystifying magic and heartbreak than I had every walked through. I had unleashed something in myself that I didn’t know existed, and that kind of knowledge and power couldn’t be undone.

I tried to prepare myself for what it would be like to see Gigi again. Although, she would be young and in love with Leo. It was unlikely that she would be thinking of having a nosey granddaughter. Maybe I could try to think of her like any of my other characters: Josette or Simone. I winced, hoping I didn’t encounter any Simone behavior. I didn’t think I could handle that.

My trip to the library had proven successful. I had an address for Hattie’s party, along with the perfect place to perform the
Time Spell
. Adjacent to the hotel was a movie theater, popular in the fifties. The hotel had renovated the historic location and converted it into ballroom space. As long as there were no evening conferences scheduled, I should be able to travel from one of the theater’s closets and arrive on April 23, 1949.

I walked along the corridor that connected the famous theater to the hotel. It was quiet in the hallway. I pushed open one of the ballroom doors and searched for one of the original closets. The exterior walls of the building were most likely to be authentic.

I spotted a door at the far end of the room. I checked over my shoulder before crossing the conference floor. I pulled on the handle. Inside were an overhead projector, an assortment of extension chords, and a rolling cart. The back wall was brick, and although the surrounding walls were painted, it still had what looked like the original crumbling façade. I hoped this was the right choice. After making sure no one had entered the room after me, I took one more sweep of the space, and then closed the closet door behind me. I pushed the rolling cart to the side so I could focus on the bricks. It was a tight squeeze, but I only needed enough room to perform my
Fade Spell.
Tonight, I would have to incorporate a double Fade. Following witches was tricky. They would be able to spot my glittery form a mile away if I didn’t coat it with another layer. I never liked the double Fade. It wasn’t nearly as pretty as the original spell.

I inhaled a long breath, filling my lungs until they couldn’t take in any more air. I closed my eyes and felt my chest lower as the breath passed through my lips. If I could clear my mind, maybe I could clear out some of the nerves that were gripping me.

I reached my hands over my head, touched my palms together, and whispered, “Fade.”

I waited while the spell wrapped around my body, making me shimmer from head to toe with glittery particles. Next, I called for the second layer.

“Double.” I frowned as the glitter was covered in a white coating, making me look more like a ghost.

I wasn’t sure if I was truly ready for what I was about to do, but I didn’t see what other options I had. The link to my Laurel roots was in 1949; the link to Finn’s quest was in 1949. I was going to 1949. I faced the brick wall and pointed.

“Unfold.” I watched the ripples take hold and wave over the wall until there was a curtain wide enough for me to pass through.

I arched my shoulders, separated the seam, and stepped into the cold tunnel that would deliver me to my grandmother’s secret life.

Sullen’s Grove, 2002

I
COULD
feel her grasp tighten on either side of my shoulders. I’m not sure who was more nervous, Gigi or me. The faces gathered around the table were locked on us, waiting to hear what my gift spell was. The only reason I hadn’t chewed through my bottom lip was, because I didn’t want to ruin my pink lip gloss. It was one of my sweet sixteen presents I purchased after the nail spa.

I smiled at Mama, Daddy, and Ian as if that would somehow build up my courage. Mama always looked composed no matter what the circumstances, and Daddy didn’t let things throw him off balance. I’m not sure how I missed out on inheriting those calm genes, but it had skipped me. I was more nervous now than in all my sixteen years combined.

“You ready?” my grandmother whispered in my ear.

I nodded my head out of customary habit. I wasn’t ready for any of this.

Her fingers pressed into my upper arms. “Ivy Grace, on this very special night. The night of your sixteenth birthday…”

How could she drag it out like this? I thought I might throw up.

“I want to welcome you into the next phase of your magical life. Nothing makes me happier than to tell you…you are a Traveler.”

My heart stopped in mid-beat. I had been given one of the best gifts I could possibly imagine. I would actually be able to leave any place I was in and go somewhere else. This was crazy good news.

My mother started clapping and made her way from around the table to hug me. “Honey, I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks, Mama.”

Daddy wrapped me in his big arms. “Congratulations, little Traveler.”

“Thanks, Daddy.”

“If I didn’t know better, I might think your grandmother had something to do with this gift selection.” He eyed her over my head.

“Richard, I did no such thing.” She scoffed. “Gift spells are out of my realm.” She picked up a set of cake forks and lined them across the buffet.

I had to admit my grandmother did look especially pleased with herself. I had always envied her traveling abilities. She would often tell me about trips she would take. I didn’t know it until this moment how badly I had wanted this exact gift. It was perfect.

Aunt Pansy, Holly, and Ian gave me hugs before Gigi pulled me to the side. She called to my father. “Richard, why don’t you and Violet cut the cake? I need to speak to Ivy for a moment. I have a gift for her.”

“Certainly.” My father picked up the silver cake slicer and began tackling my birthday cake.

I followed my grandmother down the hall to the back of the house, where her room was tucked in the corner. When I was a little girl, I would sneak in here and try on her jewelry. It was like a magical jewelry store to me.

She pointed to the edge of her bed for me to sit before turning to her vanity. Her jewelry chest stood to the right of it. She had the most beautiful collection of brooches, bracelets, necklaces, and rings. My grandfather knew she had a thing for sparkly accessories. There was no doubt I had inherited that gene, I thought as I watched the lamplight bounce off my glitter heels.

I watched as she sorted through several pieces in front of the mirror. I looked around for a wrapped gift, but didn’t see anything.

“Ivy, I have something special for you.” She crossed the room, empty-handed. “There are many Travelers in our world, and they spend years working on this spell. It’s certainly one of the hardest to master. There are so many parts you have to accomplish before you can even vanish.” She counted on her fingers. “First, you have to Fade, then form the seam, and then of course you must adhere to certain traveling rules. Really, it’s quite complex in all of its stages.”

I had never thought of the spell this way before. I assumed my grandmother would poof herself in and out of a room whenever she wanted. I hadn’t been allowed to see it.

“Are you saying you think it’s too hard for me?” Apparently, I was going to have to keep studying if I wanted to be able to use my gift.

“No, no, no. Don’t ever think that. This is a special gift.” She looked at the bedroom door. “But, I can help you with it. I know for certain you’ll be quite good at it.”

I wasn’t following her. The news about my gift spell still hadn’t fully registered.

“It took me many years, and yes, you will have to practice to achieve the full power of the spell, but this will help.”

I looked at what she revealed in her palm. It was her sapphire ring. The cluster of diamonds surrounding it lifted the blue stone on a pedestal. It was breathtaking.

I shook my head. “Gigi, I can’t take your ring.”

“Of course you can.” She held it toward me. “I’m not the one who needs it anymore. My traveling is over.”

I held the stones between my fingers. I had admired this ring since I was old enough to say “ring.” It was by far my favorite from her collection.

“Try it on,” she urged.

I slipped it over my ring finger until it settled above my knuckle.

“It’s perfect.” She smiled. “Every Traveler needs something special from their ancestors to travel. I hope this ring brings you happiness and good fortune, my dear.”

I admired the ring on my hand and grinned. “I still can’t believe you’re giving me this ring. It has to be your favorite.” I searched her eyes for more answers.

She sat beside me on the bed. “And because it is my favorite, it will be able to anchor you and protect you more than anything else you could possess. It’s my gift to you, but it’s a gift to me too, knowing it will protect you.” She squeezed me against her. “Happy birthday.”

The blue stone flickered from a nearby candle, as if it was humming. There was magic in the stone, deep and pure. At sixteen, I didn’t know what any of that meant, only that I had received the most beautiful birthday gift I could ever dream of.