Lucifer nodded slowly, uncertain how MacCoinneach might react if he didn’t like Lucifer’s answer. “He did what he had to and ate animals as well as people. But he said he regretted doing so. Abigail was the one who changed his mind about trapping people. She wouldn’t have loved him if he hadn’t been willing to change his ways.”
Lucifer tried to hide the gloom from his voice as he thought about Abigail loving another. That future he’d set out to make for them was already spinning off course. His love wasn’t enough for her. She didn’t trust him enough to tell him the truth. His heart burned with regret as he thought about her preferring Godric over him.
He didn’t want it to be true, but it was better to hope for that than the alternative. He didn’t want to imagine Godric forcing himself on her.
“I liked the new Abigail,” MacCoinneach said. “She didn’t dislike me the first moment she saw me. Not like the other girl, Kelsie. Is it because Abigail is part tree like I am?”
Lucifer forced himself to be present, to focus on the task at hand. “She’s still very innocent. She likes most people. I think people are less likely to dislike others if they haven’t experienced too much tragedy that jades them.” He hoped her recent experiences with the unicorns didn’t weigh her soul down and burden her with sorrow.
“Like you?” MacCoinneach fidgeted with the bottle.
“Am I jaded?”
“I can’t tell.” MacCoinneach retreated into his tree. “I have something for you.” He removed the bottle Lucifer had previously given him. “My tears will help her remember her past? She’ll remember my father?”
“I don’t know. Maybe if she has the rest of her soul, the memories will return too.” Baba hadn’t been clear on that.
“I should like that very much.” MacCoinneach tossed the bottle to Lucifer, who caught it. The bottle was almost full.
He must have had a lot of sad things to cry about if he’d filled the bottle.
“You will bring her to see me again someday?” MacCoinneach asked. “After her memories have returned?”
“Yes, if she isn’t opposed to the idea.” Lucifer thought about Kelsie’s wrath. “But I would stay away from the cottage. You scare Kelsie too much.”
“I scare her?” MacCoinneach laughed. “I didn’t think anything could scare that Elementia she-demon.”
* * *
When Lucifer returned, he showed off the spoils of his quest proudly. Baba and Kelsie’s expressions were grim. Baba looked haggard, and the aches in her bones radiated from her more strongly than they had before he’d left. Kelsie’s hair was especially messy. Perhaps Baba had been busy with a patient when he’d been away. He couldn’t imagine why else Kelsie would be scowling.
He found five letters addressed to him on the table. All were written with the neat penmanship he’d come to recognize as Abby’s. He scooped them up and hugged them to his chest, not knowing which he would prefer to do, read them or test the leshi tears first.
Kelsie gave him a pointed look.
“What’s wrong? You think it was too easy, don’t you?” he asked. “Maybe he didn’t give me tears? He might have given me leshi saliva, and it might burn through the blanket. I already thought of that. I’m going to test it on a scrap of rag tonight and make sure there isn’t any acid in the liquid.” Lucifer grinned, remembering how Baba had made Abigail test leshi wine that way so she would see its effects.
The old Abigail.
“It is not that.” Baba gestured to the month glass.
Lucifer set the bottle on the table. As he peered at the month glass, he saw not much sand had shifted to the bottom since he’d left. That was to be expected. “I made good time.”
Kelsie coughed. He looked again. Perhaps the glass was set to slightly less time than he recalled.
His belly lurched. “Wait a minute. . . .”
“Nyet. You use too much time,” Baba said. “Kelsie had to turn glass over while you were away. You were gone one month.”
“No. How could that happen? I was hardly gone more than a few hours.” His heart felt as though it seized in his chest. “I need that lost time.” Abigail needed it.
He stared transfixed at the shifting white sand. Another month had passed. Soon it would be too late to retrieve her soul or place it in her body.
“It is likely we will have another anomaly of time soon,” Baba said. “Time speeds up. It will also slow down. The sand looks like it sticks during those times, but it isn’t so. It simply means time here is faster than outside this season.”
“Why does time do that?” Lucifer asked.
“Time magic is volatile and unpredictable.” Baba’s lips curled around her teeth as she smiled. “Like love.”
Kelsie rolled her eyes.
“Time magic takes much energy, and I am old woman. It is difficult to control at its best.” Baba’s smile faded. “Today you test tears. If it is not trick, you will weave into blanket upon morrow. Then you will capture Abby’s soul.”
Lucifer tested the tears on a scrap as he’d planned and left it. While he waited, he opened the letters from Abigail. He noticed two envelopes poking out of Kelsie’s pocket. “Is that one mine too?”
Kelsie made a face at him. “You aren’t the only one she writes to, you know.”
One of the letters didn’t look like it was in Abigail’s hand. Kelsie shoved it deeper into her apron.
The letters from Abigail made no mention of the unicorns or what had happened between her and that git Godric. She didn’t so much as acknowledge his letter. Perhaps he hadn’t been successful in sending it.
He could see her steady progress in spelling and writing. There was a maturity in her word choice and sentence structure. It needled under his skin when she mentioned Godric had called on her and Izzy. He couldn’t understand why Clarissa saw fit for Godric to visit Abigail at all after what had happened.
Perhaps Abigail truly did love him.
In her last letter Abigail wrote how sad she was that she hadn’t heard from him. He regretted not trying to send her more letters before he’d left.
Lucifer wished he could see her so he could evaluate her soul. He didn’t want it to be too late for her. The sand in the glass was slipping by too quickly. He only had weeks left.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Soul Searching
The moment Lucifer leapt out of bed, he checked on the rag he’d dabbed with leshi tears. There weren’t any holes burned through it, so he supposed MacCoinneach hadn’t tried to trick him.
“How do I get tears into the blanket? Should I just pour it on?” he asked.
Baba huffed in disgust. “You must weave it like rest of materials.” She held out her hand.
He brought her the bottle, and she demonstrated how to spin tears into yarn. Kelsie fetched the water for oatmeal, the wood for the fire, and started breakfast. He flashed her a grateful smile, more than ever wishing he could thank her.
If it weren’t for his allies, Lucifer wouldn’t have been able to manage these tasks.
* * *
A raven scratched at the window during breakfast.
Lucifer hadn’t even had time to write to Abby before the next letter came. The last letter was from Elric of the Silver Court. It was an invitation to a ball being hosted by the Raven Court. As one of the eligible bachelors in the land, he was invited to attend. The ball would be in two months’ time.
“What the bloody hell is a ‘coming out ball?’ Coming out of what? A broom closet?” he asked.
“You’re impossible.” Kelsie shook her head at him. “Haven’t you ever read Pride and Prejudice?”
He’d watched it with Abby when he’d been a cat, but he’d been more intent on curling up on her lap and getting her to pet him than anything on television.
“This is a ball to announce eligible maidens so the upper classes know they are now available for courting and marriage,” Baba said. “Like your Abby.”
“Oh.” He didn’t like the idea of her being old enough for that. He didn’t want other men looking at her and appraising her like a commodity. “And Vega Bloodmire thought this would be a good idea?”
“My dear Vega will want to show off her power and entice nobles to accept Red affinities into their midst. People must see forbidden magic as useful and nonthreatening if you are to be accepted publicly.” Baba looked pleased with her granddaughter’s ingenuity, though her smile faded a moment later. “She will show off her Ruby of Divine Wisdom and grant favors to those she deems worthy.”
“I bet they’ve invited a handful of Fae as well.” Kelsie said. “The more openminded courts.”
“The smaller ones,” Baba said. “Many respectable Witchkin families will be there. Probably the Tinaaltos.”
The Tinaaltos? Godric’s snooty family were the last people Lucifer wanted to see. And surely the last people Izzy needed to see as well. They might recognize her and report her to the Verde Court.
His eyes met Kelsie’s. If he ran into Godric, Lucifer didn’t know what he would do to him. If he found out Godric had taken advantage of Abigail, he would kill him. And punch him in the face.
Maybe not in that order.
Lucifer had to figure out what Godric had done to Abigail first. Taking advantage of a girl too young to understand sex was unforgivable. But Baba had warned Lucifer not to interfere—at least not without knowing all the facts. Even if Godric had taken advantage of her innocence, if Abigail loved him. . . .
Lucifer felt sick at the idea. He needed to see her. He needed to hear the truth from her lips.
“Can I go to the ball?” Lucifer asked.
“You sound like Cinderella,” Kelsie said. “And just like Cinderella, you haven’t a thing to wear.”
“Clothes are little matter.” Baba waved her off. “They will attire you there if you arrive early enough.” She looked his tattered clothes up and down. “And even if you don’t arrive early, they will be forced to dress you like gentleman.”
“So I can go and see Abby?”
Baba sucked on her teeth, not answering. “It will be distraction and waste of time.”
His shoulders sagged. “I promise I’m not going to run away like last time.”
Baba sighed. “I consider letting you go if you promise to master three spells first. Without these spells, there is no point in you going to ball.”
“Three spells. Piece of cake,” he said eagerly. “Which spells?”
“First, you must capture Abigail’s soul and keep it contained in amulet. Second, you must master spell for spying. Third, you will learn portal magic in case you run into problems and need to . . . escape.”
That sounded ominous.
“Why would I need to escape?” If he murdered Godric, he would probably have to.
“No reason,” Baba said. She resumed knitting. Crimson threads laced the blue yarn.
Lucifer knew she was seeing something in his future, and it wasn’t all rainbows and sunshine.
Two months until the ball meant he would probably have Abigail’s soul back inside her by then. “How much time do I have—in our time?” He looked to the month glass.
“Five days. If sand in glass continues at current rate. If it stops, you have more time, nyet?”
That was decidedly vague.
Kelsie nudged a crumb on the floor with her shoe. “Do you think Gertrude Periwinkle will be at the ball?”
Baba nodded. “All important Witchkin will be there. Gertrude is friends with Vega. She will attend.” Baba frowned. “But you . . . no. You will stay here.”
Kelsie crossed her arms. “Lucy is important enough, but I’m not?”
“Lucy is king’s brother. What are you?” Baba sighed in exasperation. “You are spoiled brat.”
Lucy offered a conciliatory smile. “The invitation says that all in this household are invited as my guests. I’m sure Kelsie can come. They would attire her appropriately too. I bet Vega would be thrilled for you to attend, Baba.”
Baba clucked her tongue. “If I step in my granddaughter’s house, she will want me to stay. I cannot leave spring, or I will die.” She jabbed a knitting needle at Kelsie. “You will not leave because I need at least one apprentice.”
“This sucks big-time.” Kelsie stomped off.
Lucifer wondered whether Abigail had learned the word “suck” from Kelsie and not the other children at school.
Baba waved a hand at the invitation. “You write RSVP and send it off. If you do not accomplish spells, I send Kelsie to ball in your stead.”
* * *
It took all day for Lucifer to finish weaving the leshi tears into the blanket. Baba had instructed him to wear it while he traveled to the underworld and to throw it over her soul like a net when he found her.
He was so exhausted by the time he was finished weaving, his bones felt weary. Or perhaps he was simply feeling the weariness in Baba’s bones, and he couldn’t properly shield himself from her old age.
Lucifer wanted to travel to the underworld to test the blanket, but Baba vetoed his enthusiasm.
“You turn into cat tonight. Recharge your affinity. You need magic for this.”
Lucifer understood what that meant. Those muileateaches had been vexed with him for ignoring them at the stream, but when he went to the bog where they dwelled, they were all too willing to welcome him into their embraces.
The next day, Lucifer went to the underworld. The blanket was draped over his physical body where he sat in Baba’s cottage, and it remained anchored over his shoulders as his astral body drifted in the underworld. He swam through the misty void, passing through fragments of souls.
He hadn’t been floating through the nimbus of souls long when several shimmering green lights drifted toward him. They were like fireflies but larger. The air around them tasted of oak and gardening in the sun. Happy-sad music drifted toward him. He’d woven flowers and spring into the blanket, but what greeted him was more like winter and regret.
This was why he hadn’t been able to capture the remaining fragments of her soul before. These pieces of soul were the sorrow of Abigail’s past drawn by her tears and the leshi’s.
Lucifer didn’t know where to throw the blanket. He waited until the green flashes stilled before him, converging into one place. He threw off the blanket and used it like a net.
One of the segments of soul skittered out of his reach, but he caught the other pieces. He hugged the blanket to his chest, holding her soul against him. They didn’t fight him. This part of her soul was too full of anguish and despair to resist. She was so sad and lonely, he was relieved he’d found her before it was too late.
When he roused himself from the astral projection, he found himself clutching the blanket to his chest just as he had in that dreamlike world.
Fragments of soul stirred inside, nudging and quivering against him as tangibly as a sack full of baby bunnies. They were frightened and confused. Their apprehension rang through him like a physical pain.
“It’s all right. I’ve got you now. You’re safe.” He spoke soothingly as he would have to a baby.
Green illuminated the gaps in the weaving, but they couldn’t escape. Baba held out the small bottle she’d worn around her neck as an amulet.
Her hand shook. “Use affinity like I told you.”
He spun together his electrical magic with that of the plants. He reached within the folds of the blanket and scooped out the first piece.
Abigail’s soul felt so fragile and delicate in his rough palm. He tipped the glitter of green into the mouth of the tiny bottle. He was surprised it fit and there was room to spare for more of her soul. Some of the pieces didn’t want to leave the blanket and clung to the weaving.
“Be gentle with her soul. Do not tear blanket.” Baba walked him through using his magic to coax the last pieces inside the bottle.
Each fragment felt sad and alone. They pined f
or a body, to live and breathe again. He didn’t like bottling her up, but he had no better solution.
This was the moment he’d worked for, what he’d trained to be able to do so that he could collect Abigail’s soul before it was too late, but holding these broken fragments of her soul filled him with melancholy. Perhaps it was the magic. Just as he couldn’t tell the difference between someone else’s pain and his own at times, his affinity couldn’t tell the difference between the sorrow of Abigail’s past and his own feelings.
“Wear the amulet and let her soul know you are safe. Let her know she is safe,” Baba said. “You will need the blanket when it is time to put the soul back inside. It will take the same Red affinity magic you used—and then some—to remove the soul from the bottle and place it in her heart.”
He could see his previous mistake. “I tried to make her drink her soul before.” Or perhaps breathe it in was more accurate.
“Da. That is where you went wrong. Soul is not physical. You must place it inside her. Use your affinity. Then anchor blanket on her to keep soul inside long enough to settle in.”
“And you think I’ll be able to do this at the ball?”
“Nyet. Not at the ball, but sometime when it is convenient before or after. But guard amulet. Keep it close to your heart. Do not take it off.”
“Even for a bath,” Kelsie suggested.
Baba arched an eyebrow at him. His cheeks flushed with heat as he remembered how he’d schemed to trick her out of the amulet while she’d bathed.
“Soul magic will be most challenging magic you ever attempt in your life. Healing injuries and making portals will be easy to master compared to this task.” Baba patted his hand.
It was always difficult to keep from sensing the pain in her body when Baba touched him. He felt the throbbing in her ankle from her previous injury and the ache in her bones. Fatigue pulled at her every limb, but she looked spry.
He took her hand in his. “I should heal your ankle today.”
“You do not have time. You know what will help old woman restore youth and health? Flesh of children for stewpot.”
“Baba! No eating children,” Kelsie said firmly.
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