“Let me know how he’s doing, please,” Paris asked. Callie squeezed his hand again before standing. “Callie, did Josef come back with you?”
Callie nodded. “Yeah, I think he’s down in Counter-Magic starting some paperwork and he’s got about as many questions for you as I had.”
“Thank you.”
With the thoughts percolating in his mind, Paris supposed he should go down to Counter-Magic to see Josef right away, but he wanted to check some details first. He was certain Dr. Gellar would inform him immediately if there was any change, but he was still loathe to leave medlab. However, if he could answer some questions for and about Jade, it would serve her better than him sitting around waiting for her to wake up. He sent a quick email explaining his absence to Dr. Gellar, knowing she would likely check it once she realized he was gone.
The Coven was dark and quiet at this time of night. Or morning, Paris supposed it was now. He didn’t expect to see anyone on the way to his office and he wasn’t mistaken - the halls were empty. Sitting down at his desk, he logged into his computer, his fingers hovering over his keyboard for a moment, unsure. If his suspicions were correct, there would be no going back. He only delayed a minute longer before opening up the search tool for the Coven archives and entering in the keyword search terms - drowning, lake, Preserve, child.
It wasn’t as though there were any other incidents of a child drowning in the Preserve, so Paris wasn’t surprised when he got the results he wanted immediately. The archives confirmed what Paris recalled - it had been Josef’s niece, four years old, death by accidental drowning. After that, the lake had a tainted energy about it - one that the Counter-Magic department at the time had been unable to do anything about. Coven members began avoiding the area. A formal investigation had been conducted that indicated no negligence on the part of the mother, Joseph’s sister. However, the child’s mother had fallen ill shortly thereafter, unable to stop blaming herself for not watching well enough over her daughter. The little girl had simply wandered away and fallen in, drowned before anyone noticed she was missing.
Paris wasn’t sure how it was possible, but he was certain Jade was that same little girl.
The first time he’d taken Jade close to the lake, she’d had a strongly adverse reaction, which hadn’t been all that unusual - many witches still disliked the lake area. But Jade had also admitted at the time that she struggled with her water powers. Paris had tried to get Jade to work on her water magic that day, and she’d spoken of it strangely.
“When I think about water, it’s like… it’s waiting for me, like it knows things about me. Sometimes… sometimes I think it wants me to belong to it.”
It had been odd, but Jade had a different way of looking at magic, not having grown up in a Coven. Paris attributed her statements to her different point of view. But now, coupled with what Lily told him, he realized he’d been mistaken. Lily had said when Jade first ‘arrived,’ she’d seemed younger than Lily, smaller, and Lily herself had been six. A four-year old would definitely seem younger and smaller to Lily at that age. Jade hadn’t remembered where she’d come from. A traumatic incident, like drowning, could have caused a memory block. Then, when Lily had asked her name, all she’d gotten from Jade was the letter ‘J.’ Paris had one more question he needed answered; an answer that wasn’t in the archives. He picked up his desk phone and called down to Josef’s office. He answered on the first ring.
“Just the person I was hoping to talk to,” Josef said immediately. “I’ve got a lot of questions about what happened at the lake.”
“I’m sure you do. Could you come to my office? I have one for you as well.”
While Paris waited for Josef to come up, he wondered how he should phrase his question and by the time Josef arrived, Paris decided he would simply go for simplicity.
Josef knocked once before coming in and then took a seat in one of the chairs in front of Paris’ desk. “So, did my old eyes deceive me tonight or do we now have two witches who look exactly like Jade?”
“Your eyes are correct. The second woman’s name is Lily and she and Jade are interconnected. I’m starting to figure out how and why, although I fear it may lead to more questions than answers. I have a sensitive question for you.”
“Ask away.”
“Your niece, who died. If I remember correctly, she was your namesake?”
Josef had a sad smile on his face. “That’s correct. Her name was Josefina.”
#
Jade was lost. She shouldn’t be so scared or worried. She was only dreaming, but the feeling of being lost ate at her gut, making it rumble and roil. What if there was some other kind of hinky mojo happening? What if being lost in the dream meant she could never get out? She’d been in this part of the Preserve before and there should be pathways, but they were gone - overgrown and covered up. Or maybe they had never existed here in her dreams; Jade didn’t know.
Every way she tried to go, every time she tried a new direction, she always ended up back at the lake. Jade crashed through the underbrush to find herself there again, with Sakkara standing calmly on the dock, looking at her expectantly. Waiting as though she had all the time in the world. The bright, sunny day had gone grey and ghastly, a chill seeping into Jade’s skin and bones, settling down in her marrow and making itself at home.
“What do you want from me?” Jade shouted at Sakkara when she came out of the woods for the umpteenth time and found herself still at the lake.
“I told you, a favor.”
“For you and your…” What was it Sakkara had said? “Your mistress. So, someone’s pulling your strings.”
Sakkara sighed. “My strings are quite tangled, yes.”
“And you think I’ll do you this favor why? Because you’re Paris’ mom? Because you say I’m part of your Coven?”
“Yes,” Sakkara answered simply.
“Fuck you,” Jade responded, hands falling to her side in defeat. She was a thousand percent done. She just wanted to wake up. Why wasn’t she waking up? God, maybe she totally fried her brain. “Your Coven sucks. They don’t like me. They’re pretty elitist about me not being born there and now they’re pissed their magic matches mine.”
“They’ll come around once they find out who you were. Who you are.”
“I don’t care.”
“If you won’t do it for them, then perhaps you’ll do it for my son. For Paris.”
Jade shrugged. “So he’s Coven leader,” she bluffed. “So what?”
“I think you harbor some affection for my son. I’m counting on it. I’ve been counting on it for years.”
“You’re seriously still creeping me out. I want to wake up.”
“I can’t let you do that. Not until you’ve agreed.”
“You’re keeping me here,” Jade realized. “You’re keeping me asleep.”
“Yes.”
“How?” Jade asked, eyes narrowing.
“The dream hex I cast on you is still in effect. You may not be in your bed any longer, but you’re still under the spell. You can’t wake up until I allow it.”
The number one way to get Jade to do something was to imply that she would not be allowed to do it. Jade narrowed her eyes at Sakkara’s words. “You won’t ‘allow’ me,” she repeated.
Sakkara shook her head. “I’m sorry.”
Jade ran through a quick recap of what she knew. Paris’ dead mom, not so dead. She needed a favor. She was keeping Jade asleep until Jade agreed. If Jade agreed just for the sake of getting let out, would she somehow be bound by the promise? Would this be like a demon deal? The thought that she might trap herself by agreeing, if only to escape, kept her from lying her way out of the situation. Jade thought about what she knew about Sakkara. In the Coven, she was spoken of reverently - a great leader, a wonderful woman. Jade had read her demon grimoires and thought about the magic contained within them. Powerful and elegant. Could Jade magic her way out of this? At best, all Jade usually had was brute force an
d while it worked with Dex, he’d been a little on the ‘crazy’ side, and that had worked in Jade’s favor. Sakkara didn’t strike Jade as unbalanced. Maybe she was crazier than a rucksack of angry cats, but Jade couldn’t be sure. Sakkara was powerful, but she mentioned that it took her time to break Jade’s demon locks. She didn’t have quite as good of a memory as Jade herself and couldn’t remember all the spells in her own grimoires. Jade might be able to best her simply because she could remember more demon magic.
Jade felt a tugging at her brain, like a string, just inside her head being plucked and vibrating.
Lily. Lily was still there. Different from before, but still present. Sakkara had said Lily was separate now, and the truth of that statement resonated with Jade. But, Jade could still feel Lily peripherally. Lily wasn’t in Jade’s head, not like she had been before, but Jade could sense her, hovering around the perimeter. Jade focused on that sensation. It was the same feeling she’d always gotten from Lily - a sense of calmness and safety. Like being a small bird tucked under a larger bird’s wing.
Did Jade even need to use magic against Sakkara? Or could she use her connection to Lily?
Lily, Jade thought, trying to send the thought outwards, imagining it traveling with her intent to where Lily was. Pull me out, wake me up.
“What are you doing?” Sakkara asked. Her eyes sharpened, the bright blue of them (so like Paris’ eyes) clear and piercing.
Jade took a step backward from the lake, into the forest, still thinking about Lily. Wake me up, Lily. Jade could feel the moment Lily’s consciousness focused in on hers. She had been searching too, looking for Jade. Like two magnets put close enough together, they snapped into place. Jade felt her consciousness press up against Lily’s. She was feeling double, like seeing double. Jade could see the lake and Sakkara in front of her, but also, if she concentrated, she could see the inside of a medlab room and… Paris, like she was looking through a filmy overlay. Paris said something to Lily and Lily answered him; Lily’s words clear in Jade’s mind. I’ve almost got her.
“Jade,” Sakkara said, moving forward. “This is exactly why you’re perfect for this favor, why she wants you to do it, needs you to do it. The things you can do, things like this… But I need you to agree. Please. Don’t go just yet. Just… agree.” Her voice was tight and somewhat frantic.
Jade took another step back.
“I will come back,” Sakkara said sharply. “I may not have the dream hex, but I won’t need such a powerful spell this time. You’ve already gone to the lake and separated from Lily. I just need you to agree. I’ll keeping coming back.”
“You can try,” Jade said, taking another step backward.
Lily, Lily, come get me.
It was like being tugged softly at first, and then yanked hard. Like breaking the packaging on a cardboard envelope, she felt a sharp, strong pull, ripping through her brain with a tearing sound.
Then Jade was awake. Lying in medlab on a bed, squinting at the lights.
In front of her, leaning over her, for the first time ever in person, was Lily.
#
When Josef confirmed his niece’s name, Paris wasn’t sure if he felt victorious, feeling like he’d solved part of the puzzle, or if he was more confused than before. Josef had, of course, asked why Paris wanted to know. Paris wanted to tell him his suspicions, but at the same time, didn’t want to say anything until he’d had a chance to discuss it with Jade. And Lily, he supposed. They were two of a kind now and even though Paris would like to speak to Jade privately, he doubted that would be possible.
Paris had indicated he was only certain at this point that Josef’s niece’s drowning and the lingering magical taint was somehow tied to the incident at the lake. Josef had questions himself as to what happened, who was involved and what sort of magical response from Counter-Magic Paris would be comfortable with at the moment. Now that Josef had finally been out at the lake, he’d found Paris’ mother’s old wards destroyed and was adding that to his list of concerns about the area. Paris wished he had more answers for him and let him know he was hopeful once Jade awoke, they could and would sort everything out.
Paris asked if Josef thought he could reset some wards at the lake, to try to contain any lingering magic, but Josef gave him another surprise.
“That’s another thing I wanted to tell you,” said Josef. “I don’t get a linger sense ‘wrong’ or ‘bad’ from the area now. No one does.”
Paris frowned. “Are you certain? No one feels anything?”
Josef shook his head. “I’ve had six Counter-Magic agents out there and I’m going to be calling in a random sample of witches today to do some testing. Well, I guess it’s not exactly random. I’m calling in the people that have previously been extra-sensitive to the area. But so far, I don’t sense anything anymore and neither do my agents.”
Paris wondered if what Jade had done tonight, with the creation of Lily, and the resultant power surge, had finally burned out the lingering tinge of the area. Or was it more tied to Jade herself, having gone back to the area.
More questions.
Paris thanked Josef and let him know he’d be in touch when Jade was awake and up for some questions. Not wanting to sit in his office and ruminate, he headed back to medlab. As he walked through he hallways, he saw the Covenstead was slowly coming alive. It was still early morning, but the early birds were arriving to their jobs - those that preferred getting up and having their workday start at six o’clock were filtering in, coffee or other beverages in hand. He saw a few surprised faces as he walked back to the medlab. Paris was an early starter, but not as early as these rare folks.
Medlab was quiet when he arrived. The door to Jade’s room was closed and Lily wasn’t in the sitting area. Paris didn’t see Dr. Gellar around and wondered if he should take a chance and peek in on Jade. He crossed to the door and knocked softly, his knuckles barely making a sound on the door. It opened rather quickly and Paris had to do a quick check on eye-color when he saw Jade’s face.
Green eyes. Lily, then.
“Oh, hey, come in,” she said, keeping her voice low. “She’s still sleeping, but Gellar says everything seems okay.”
As Paris came in the room, he was hit with a sense of low-level magic around Jade. It was the same magic he’d felt around her at the lake and he was confused.
“Did someone come by and cast a sleeping charm on her? To help her rest?”
Lily frowned and shook her head. “No, I mean, I don’t think so. Gellar said she was sleeping, but didn’t make a comment that they were making her or keeping her asleep. Why?”
Paris stepped closer to the bed. Jade’s face was pale. Her hair should have been tangled from her fall into the lake and subsequent rescue, but it was nicely combed around her face. He spied a brush on the nightstand and assumed that Lily must have done it for her, as though Jade were some kind of maiden in a fairy tale.
Paris leaned over Jade, seeing her eyes flicker back and forth, dreaming. “There’s definitely some kind of magic around her.” He pushed his own magic out at it and was surprised when something lashed back at him - whip-quick and stinging, slapping his magic away. It was neither Jade’s nor Lily’s magic, but he recognized it - the same licorice tinged magic that had been surfacing around Jade lately.
Lily went to the other side of the bed and leaned over Jade as well. “How can you tell?” she asked and then her own eyes moved back and forth, like she was reviewing something in her mind. “Oh, I can feel it now.” She looked up at Paris. “Jade knows how to poke stuff with her magic. I copied what she does. I guess that means I have magic too?”
Paris nodded. “Yes, I’ve felt your magic. Different from Jade’s, but definitely there.”
“It’s not me, is it? I mean, I don't know how it could be, but I’m new to all this, so….”
Paris shook his head. “No, it’s not you. I think it’s your Sparrow Lady. The woman you say you see in the dreams. It feels the same as the magic I
felt at Jade’s, taking apart her demon locks, and then again when she was sleepwalking.”
Lily’s lips thinned. “Fucking Sparrow Lady.” She sounded exactly like Jade and Paris wasn’t sure why he was surprised, but he was. “What does she want?” The tone of Lily’s voice suggested she was talking more to herself than to Paris. “You think the Sparrow Lady is keeping Jade asleep?”
“Yes. Of course, Jade was quite taxed after what happened at the lake. As near as I can figure, she conjured you a body. That’s… I don’t know anyone who’s ever done anything that big before. I’ve read of it, but only in conjunction with blood or demon magic. There was a hex at Jade’s cottage, under her bed and now, I can feel magic around her and-“
“And it’s keeping her asleep,” Lily interrupted, her voice a little far away. She looked down at Jade. “I think… It’s like I can get a sense of her.”
“Can you contact her?” Paris asked, intrigued. “If you can, we may be able to help her wake up, assist her or perhaps have her perform some kind of counter-hex from inside.”
Lily leaned further over Jade, appearing to study her, but Paris got the feeling her mind was far deeper than just the surface.
“She wants me to pull her out,” Lily said. “She knows she’s dreaming.” Lily blinked furiously, her eyes flickering back and forth. “She’s dreaming about the lake and the Sparrow Lady is there.”
“You can see this?”
“Yes.” Lily tilted her head. “She’s calling for me. She wants me to pull her out.”
“Can you? Pull her out?” Paris asked.
“I think so.” Lily nodded, going closer, bending over Jade further, her forehead almost touching Jade’s. “I can almost get her,” she whispered.
Paris could feel the moment Lily used her magic, intentionally, for the first time. He was overwhelmed by the singular mindset of it - Jade never had such clarity or pristine control over her magic. Lily’s wasn’t as strong as Jade’s, but what she lacked in brute force, she made up for in perfect precision. Paris could feel Lily reach through the hex and pull on Jade. The scent of grapefruit and cinnamon wafted through the air.
Double-Sided Witch (Covencraft Book 3) Page 29