Taylar leans forward between our seats. “Maybe we can make them talk like Trevor did? Make them tell us what they’re up to?”
I nod. “Exactly. And maybe they will know a way to defeat the Pale Horseman.”
Vicky rakes her hand through her blonde-tipped black hair. “We could bind it to its tree in the Shadow World like we did with the Red Horseman.”
With a sigh, I take the last turn toward the silver mine. “We could, but I’m hoping there’s an easier way. It can’t be healthy to keep going to the Shadow World.”
I park out of sight, behind the abandoned mine carts, and we quickly make our way to the entrance.
It’s abandoned. I lower myself onto the rough ground and rest my head against the cold rock behind me.
Vicky drops down beside me, and I wrap my arm around her, pulling her close. I should take out my Book of Spells and look up the spell to create a demon snare, but doubt has fallen over me again. I remember Jeep’s concerned words about Taylar and himself. It’s probably not such a good idea to do another spell now. As long as our powers are switched, we should only do what’s necessary.
Charlie watches me with a frown. “Are you okay?”
“I’ll be fine. I just…” I search for a word to describe all the feelings knocking each other over inside me. But it’s too much to summarize with just one word, so I settle for, “I just need some rest.”
With a sigh, he sits down at the other side of the mine entrance. “Yeah, I know what you mean.”
No one speaks for a while. We all enjoy the peace and quiet of the woods and the occasional call of a small animal. It’s a nice summer day and for a moment, it feels like old times again but with new friends. I can almost remember the lazy feeling that used to come with summer break. I’m just about to express my gratitude for this when Jeep has to ruin it.
“Was this here before?” he asks, rubbing the tattoos on his arms.
I push myself up and help Vicky to her feet.
Jeep points at something stuck to the wall inside the tunnel, and D’Maeo steps in for a closer look.
“No, don’t!” I yell, and I dive forward, grabbing his arm.
He gives me a startled look as I yank him back. “What’s wrong?”
“The trap! If you walk into it, you’ll lose your power, just like we did.”
There’s a blank look in his eyes I’ve never seen before, but it’s gone when I blink.
“Oh right, I forgot,” he says, giving me a weak smile. “Thanks.”
“It looks like some sort of strange leaf,” Jeep goes on as if nothing has happened.
I follow his gaze from the wall to the ceiling of the tunnel and narrow my eyes. “There’s a whole bunch of leaves. Have you ever seen something like that?”
Everyone gathers around the tattooed ghost, careful not to step into the mine. We peer at the ceiling, which is decorated with sparkling white leaves. They look sugarcoated or something. I don’t think a plant with leaves like these exists.
I’m about to give up trying to figure it out when Vicky gasps.
All heads turn to her.
“What is it?” I ask.
“I just remembered reading about fairy-like creatures whose skins glisten like this. They sometimes cover objects with this dust to mark a spot they wish to investigate further.”
I scratch my head. “What creatures?”
“The iele.”
The name rings a bell, but I can’t remember why.
“The fairies that made the Bell of Izme,” D’Maeo says helpfully.
Now it’s my turn to gasp. “You think they want it back?”
Vicky nods. “Of course. They don’t want any of their precious objects to fall into the hands of humans, magical or not. They’ve become very unforgiving, and I expect them to use whatever force necessary to get their bell back.”
My hand hurts when I slam my fist against the rock beside me. “They can’t take it. We need it to keep the black hole shut!”
“Just tell them that,” Taylar offers. “They don’t want evil to rule the Earth either, right? They’ll be happy to help us.”
D’Maeo solemnly shakes his head. “I’m afraid it doesn’t work like that. Their need for revenge has turned them into selfish, cruel beings. There’s no reasoning with them.”
“Do you think they’ll be able to find the bell? It’s hidden pretty well.”
The old ghost looks up at the beautiful white leaves. “Their magic is strong, and no one knows how they find the objects they created.”
“Okay…” I pace up and down, but my brain doesn’t give me anything useful to work with.
“Is there anything we can do to ward them off or defeat them if they attack?” I ask, coming to a halt.
“I’m afraid not.”
“Great.” I start walking back down without another word. I almost wish for an army of demons to be waiting for us below so I can smash a couple of heads in.
All these setbacks are driving me crazy, and I just want to kick or crush something now. I’d give my right arm for some more peace and quiet.
Vicky is already waiting at the car when I get there. “Maybe you should let us work on this for a while,” she says. “You can rest, and we’ll call you if we’re in trouble.”
“She’s right, you should take a break.” Charlie holds up his hand. “I’ll drive back.”
With a grateful nod, I hand him the keys.
Darkwood Manor is silent when we get there, but I’m too tired to look for Mom and Mona or a note from them. I go straight to my room and collapse on my bed.
“Do you want me to stay with you for a while?” Vicky asks, appearing next to the bed.
I’m clutching the sides of the bed, anger and irritation still flowing through me, but most of my negative emotions fade when she slips under the covers and snuggles up to me.
“Yes,” I whisper, already half asleep. “Forever.”
“I found her.”
With a jolt, I sit up. Vicky rolls onto her other side and mumbles something sleepily.
“I found her,” the voice says again, and I turn my head toward the sound.
“Gisella?
Next to me, Vicky blinks as hard as I do.
“Yes, it’s me,” the girl with the bright red hair answers impatiently. “I found my aunt.”
I push myself further up and scratch my head. “Your aunt?”
Gisella places her hands on her hips. “Yes, my aunt. The one who cursed your father, remember?”
All traces of sleep are crushed, and I throw my legs over the side of the bed.
“I didn’t know Mages slept with their clothes on,” she remarks with a crooked grin.
I dig in one of the bags Mom brought from home and pull out a clean shirt. “I didn’t know you ever wore something other than a shiny catsuit.”
Her answer is muffled through the fabric of the shirts I exchange. “I couldn’t search for my aunt dressed like that. My catsuits are for Blackford and other magical places only.”
“So, what did she say? Your aunt.”
She rakes her fingers through her hair. “Nothing yet, I didn’t visit her.”
Vicky is finally waking up too. She shakes herself in a sort of samba movement, and every part of her and her clothes that is out of place or wrinkled is smoothened.
Gisella follows my gaze and shakes her head sadly. “I wish I could do that. It takes me at least half an hour to look like this.”
Vicky frowns. “You wish you were dead?”
For the first time since I met her, I see an uneasy feeling sliding over Gisella’s face. “Oh no, of course not! I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that.”
Vicky swats her apology away. “Never mind, I know what you meant.”
“Gis!” Charlie calls up. “Everything okay up there?”
“Yes!” she yells back. “They’re awake now.”
While we follow Gisella downsta
irs, Vicky takes her outfit in. “You look nice.”
The red-haired girl blows a lock of hair out of her face. “Please. I look ordinary.”
“Exactly, I like it.”
“Me too,” Charlie says, wrapping his arms around his girlfriend. “But I like you in any outfit.”
“Or without, I imagine,” Jeep says from the doorway to the kitchen.
In response, Gisella stretches her fingers. Both of her hands change into blades, and she points them at the tattooed ghost. “Are you sure you want to challenge me?”
With a wide grin, he shakes his head. “No thanks, you’re a bit young for me. Besides…” he gestures at Charlie, “I don’t want your boyfriend to freeze me for the next decade.”
Gisella bursts into laughter. “You’re smarter than you look.”
We file into the kitchen, and Mona treats us to some hot chocolate.
“I like this tradition we’re building here, Mona,” I say, sipping from my cup.
She smiles. “Me too.”
“How have you both been feeling?” I enquire.
“Fine,” they say in unison.
Relieved, I change the subject. “So, what have you been up to?” I ask the Shield.
“Well,” Maël says. “We made that love potion and delivered it before that salesman could summon back your pendant.”
I shoot her an incredulous look. “You did that without me and Vicky?”
Jeep snorts. “Yes, master, we are not totally helpless without you, you know.”
“Well, great job then! I didn’t know that salesman would be able to summon the pendant back to him.”
Maël nods. “He can, if you don’t pay him in time.”
“How did you get it to him then? You can’t leave Darkwood Manor without me.”
Charlie raises a hand. “I did that.”
I can’t help the grin pulling at my lips. “You guys are awesome. You know that, right?”
They smile back, and Jeep wipes some imaginary dust from his sleeve. “We know.”
“Thank you, really. That is one item off the endless list. So, did you have any time left to think about a way to get rid of the Pale Horseman?”
“We did.”
When the ghosts start to lay down their ideas for taking out the Horseman, Mom stands up. “If you don’t mind, I’m going into town. I have a couple of orders to deliver before dinner.” She gives me a kiss before leaving the room.
“Oh, Mom?” I call after her.
She turns around. “Yes?”
“It’s dangerous to go out alone.” I bat my eyelashes at Mona. “Would you mind going with her?”
Our fairy godmother is on her feet in a heartbeat. “Of course not. You’re right, she shouldn’t go outside on her own.”
“Hey,” I call out as Mom turns to the front door again. “If you want, you can pick up our dining table to put in the office here. You can make your clothes in there.”
“Well, actually… I was thinking about renting out the house. If we clean up the living room, I’m sure it could bring in a nice amount of rent every month.” She fidgets with the zipper of her purse. “That is, if you don’t mind your mother moving into your house.”
“Are you kidding?” I push my chair back and jog to where she’s standing. “I’d love to have you here.”
We hug each other with Jeep and Taylar making puking noises behind us.
When she lets go of me, I nod to the kitchen. “Are you sure you want to live in the same house as those two?”
She grins at the two ghosts over my shoulder. “I’m sure I can teach them a thing or two about love.”
“Master, I demand a house without interfering housemates!” Jeep calls out.
I turn and place my chin in my hand. “Let me think. How about… the basement?”
He frowns. “We don’t have a basement.”
“I can dig a hole for you,” I answer with a shrug.
“Eh… no thanks. I’ll manage in here.”
I kiss Mom and Mona goodbye and join the others at the table. “So, what did you come up with?”
CHAPTER 35
“This is either the most brilliant or the most stupid plan ever,” I say as we approach the church from behind.
Charlie holds up his finger. “That’s how most great ideas start out, you know.”
“Yes, well, most great ideas don’t involve powerful magical beings like the Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” I mutter.
He slaps my back. “And most don’t involve the greatest Mage on Earth either.”
I snort. “Yeah right. I’m far from the greatest Mage on Earth, Charlie, and you know it.”
He tilts his head and looks me up and down. “Oh, I think you are. You just need some more practice.”
I turn away from him. “Thank you for pointing out the obvious.”
“You’re welcome.”
D’Maeo and Maël come to a sudden halt, and the gray-haired ghost points at a small patch of grass surrounded by bushes. “This looks good.”
I peer at the church, about twenty-five feet away. “Sure, let’s do it.”
Quickly, Vicky unloads her endless pocket. Maël creates a circle of salt and places four candles around it, one for every wind direction.
Gisella pulls at the sleeves of her belly sweater. “So, let me get this straight… We’re only pretending to do this spell?”
Maël takes the bowl from Vicky and starts putting the herbs in. “Exactly. My spell casting abilities are not very reliable, so we cannot take the risk of doing an intricate spell. But that does not matter. All that matters is that our enemies will think that we are casting this spell.” She lights a match and drops it in the bowl, creating a small explosion. White clouds billow up, clearly visible for anyone in the church.
I silently wish that Trevor and the Horseman don’t come out until Maël has finished the first lines. If they do, our trick will not work.
Maël lights the candles one by one and reads the words I’ve written down.
“Hear me now, Powers of Air.
Make our enemies despair.
Let them see what they fear most.
Show them now a horse-shaped ghost.
Hear me now, Powers of Fire.
Lift the horse higher and higher.
Make it trample, scream and neigh
until the Horseman turns its way.”
The spell is half done, and my heart pounds like crazy. There’s no sign of Trevor or the Horseman yet, and for the first time, I fear that they’re not close enough. The real spell would only work with the Horseman nearby. If they’re too far away, they’ll know it’s a trick.
I rub my hands together to drive out the sudden cold.
Maël doesn’t look worried. She just goes on lighting the candles and saying the words.
“Hear me now, Powers of Water.
Make this horse move ever farther.
Every border it will breach
and stay out of our enemy’s reach.”
Smoke billows up from the candles and comes together above the bowl, twisting and turning. Bit by bit, it changes into a small horse.
“Here they come,” Jeep whispers.
All heads, except for Maël’s, turn to the church.
Sure enough, Trevor and the Pale Horseman are making their way across the lawn, Trevor looking furious, the Horseman with a fearful expression on his skinless face.
We rise quickly and form a line of defense to protect Maël.
“Hear me now, Powers of Earth.
Give this horse a ghostly birth.
Make it roam forever more
the world, from shore to shore to shore.”
The horse-shaped smoke hovering above the bowl detaches, grows in size and gallops toward the sky, kicking and neighing.
The Pale Horseman reaches up as it passes him. “No!” His heartbreaking scream makes Trevor stop dead too.
“What’s wrong? What did they do?”
“They killed him!” the Horseman exclaims. “They killed my precious Dust!”
Black tears drip from his eye sockets as he drops to his knees.
While we wait for Trevor to attack us, Maël reaches the last part of the spell. My Morningstar and athame lie heavily in my hands. I can only hope we can fight off Trevor long enough for the ghost queen to finish.
“Hear me now, Powers of High.”
Trevor rapidly changes into his earth elemental form.
“No matter what our enemies try,”
The sky is suddenly filled with bricks. D’Maeo stops a couple of them with his power of deflection, and Gisella uses her blades to ward off some more. Only two stones make it through our defense, and they miss Maël by an inch.
“keep this horse from moving on.”
With a frustrated roar, Trevor steps closer. The bricks he forms grow larger, and I order my friends to combine forces. If one of these rocks hits us on the head, we might never get back up.
“Just one more line!” I yell at the others, and they give me a battle cry in response.
As the first giant rock sails through the air, we stand together and use all of our powers and weapons to keep it from crushing us.
“Keep it bound, for years to come.”
The bricks break into small rocks that rain down on us harmlessly. One stone zooms over our heads and scrapes Maël’s leg. She looks up with a start.
Trevor roars as the candles are extinguished by a breath of wind.
“No!” The Horseman’s scream is shrill and filled with pain. His face is streaked with dried, black tears.
“I’m sorry,” I call out to him. “You left us no choice.”
Trevor transforms back into his human form. He looks like he’s going to explode from rage any minute. He balls his fists. “Let’s kill them.”
“No, wait!” The Pale Horseman scrambles back to his feet with his hand held out in front of him. “Don’t.”
“What do you mean, don’t?” Trevor growls. “We’ve got them now. We should take them out.”
The Fourth Soul: (Cards of Death book 4) Page 18