“It’s a gift, darlin’.”
“Well, we could beat more info out of you, but I don’t know that it would be productive, so I suppose I’ll table that to go and rummage in Zane’s library. We’ll have to be neat, actually,” I said to DeAnna. “The guy is worse with his books than we are with our stillroom.”
“I can understand that. We’ll be careful,” she promised.
“Doc, if you think of anything, will you let me know when we get back? If we can find Granny’s spirit, which is starting to feel like a bigger undertaking than even I thought, we need to know exactly what we want to ask her.”
He nodded, and drifted toward the door of the kitchen. Then he was gone.
“I’m going to the store. We’re out of bacon. We also need to open tomorrow, God help us all. Because that’s just what we need, but we need to.” Daniella sighed.
“I’m going to make sure we have everything we might need,” Deirdre said. “I’ll be in the stillroom if you need me.”
“Don’t go all crazy ordering stuff,” Daniella cautioned. “If we’re out of something, call me first, okay? No Amazon!”
“Okay, okay, I promise,” Deirdre said. “Love you.”
“Love you,” we both said automatically.
Deirdre smiled and walked from the kitchen and I heard her going downstairs a moment later.
Daniella sighed, hugged me and DeAnna, and also left.
“Ready?” I asked DeAnna.
“You three are very efficient,” she said.
“We have to be. It’s usually quiet and low-key here. But when things go bad, it’s in a hurry and all at once. We never have a build-up to doom or anything like that.”
She nodded, and we left for Zane’s house. I hoped we’d find what we needed. This was not really my forte. Everyone thinks witches can talk to the dead, but as a rule, we don’t want much to do with the dead. Our responsibility was to the living. Dead folks, whether body or spirit, are just not in our wheelhouse. I didn’t mention it to DeAnna, but if we couldn’t get Granny on the afterlife horn, I was going to try and call my sister’s spirit back. Better to keep that one to myself, though.
Enter the necromancers. As we moved into Zane’s library, I took the time to marvel at his books. This was a lifetime of dedication to collecting. He had hundreds of of them. But he’d pulled out twenty or so that he thought would help. Probably didn’t want my hands touching more of them than I had to, I thought with a grin.
“Grab one from the stack on the table,” I said. “Zane already got these ready for us, probably so we didn’t dig around in his system too much.”
“Saves us the trouble,” DeAnna said. “Never look that sort of gift horse in the mouth.”
We both started to read, and I saw that Zane had thoughtfully left pads of paper and pens for notetaking.
Why did he have to be so thoughtful? At this point, he was going to have me inviting necromancers to tea.
He’s not a par for the course kind of guy, I told myself. Simmer down.
Three books in, I found something I thought might work. It was dark magic, darker than we preferred to dabble in. We’d had witches come through that wanted to partner up, do some big thing they were planning, but Meema had always declined. Her attitude was that we had quite enough to do with keeping the crazy out of Deadwood.
While we weren’t Sturgis, that yearly gathering brought all sorts through town. And there were some like us, some with magical skills and supernatural interests. We didn’t sleep a lot during Sturgis.
“I think I have something,” I told DeAnna. “But I’m not sure. Take a look and see what you think.” I slid the book across to her.
“You think I might have an opinion on this?” Her eyebrows went up into her bangs. “I think you’re giving me more credit than I deserve.”
“We need to call a spirit that’s been gone for over one hundred years. We need to figure out how to find that specific spirit, and then coax it here, if it even wants to be. I don’t want to drag her here kicking and screaming, but I will if I have to. And yes, I think you have an opinion.”
She read what I’d been reading. Then she looked up at me. “This might be it.”
“Why don’t we tidy this up, and take our notes and this book back with us? I can’t copy all these pages, and be sure of getting it right,” I said.
She nodded, and we stacked up all the preciouses, keeping out the one that might have the answer. Then we locked up Zane’s house.
“They should be back tomorrow, right?” DeAnna asked.
“Yes, as long as Gareth isn’t too difficult. But maybe a text is in order?” I could tell she was really worrying. “Zane’s not going to let anything happen to them.”
“You haven’t known him very long, though, have you?” she asked as she gave me a sideways glance.
“No, but if he was going to screw us, he’s had plenty of chances. Trust me. If he’s bad, it will come out. But he has surprised me every time, so I am going to give him the benefit of the doubt.”
“With my girls,” DeAnna said.
“If this goes sideways, we die,” I said. “It’s not just your girls. It’s all of us. All the Nightingale women. Is that not sinking in? Yes, you’re helping us accomplish something that needs to be accomplished. But this isn’t empty kindness on your part. We go down, you go down.”
“You don’t know that,” she argued.
“No, I don’t. You want to gamble and hope for the best with a demon? One that dragged me and Meema off like it was nothing? And threw Meema into suffering forever? Really? That’s what you want to gamble with?”
We’d reached the house, and I stopped right before the porch, one hand holding the book, and the other on my hip. “DeAnna, we need you to be all in on this. This is not us using you, or something selfish. We’re trying to save us all.”
She stared back at me, and I couldn’t tell what she was thinking. Finally, she sighed. “I know this. I know it, but at the same time, I hear Momma in my head, muttering, ‘That damn Deadwood,’ and then she’d go off cussing. Something else happened, and I can’t shake it.”
“I’ll agree with you there. For all that Doc told us, there’s something more. But that’s what we’re doing. It sounds like,” I added as we walked into the house, “your mom knew something that none of us knew. Maybe that’s it.” I stopped. “Maybe that’s why she left? Holy shit,” I breathed. “That’s it, isn’t it? She found out something, and that’s what made her want to leave.”
I set the book down on the dining table and sat myself down as well to consider this. I don’t know why I’d never thought of it. Probably because Meema always supported Deana, and didn’t make it a big negative drama thing, we never thought anything of it.
But if Deana had discovered something—something that was so bad, or scared her, or pissed her off—she would have left. None of us were ever what you’d call shy and retiring, or accepting of shit merely because we ought to be. We called a shit sandwich a shit sandwich, and never, ever asked for seconds.
“What do you think it was?”
“DeAnna, you have to try and remember all that your mom ever told you. I’ll get you a notepad, and just start writing down the things she told you, anything you remember.” I got up and hurried into the kitchen, leaving DeAnna staring after me. When I came back, she hadn’t moved.
“Here, sit down, and close your eyes, and just let your memory go back. There’s no pressure, no right or wrong, just anything you can remember, okay?”
“You might not like it,” she warned.
“A little hurt feelings is way better than a lot dead,” I said. I got her situated and left her staring out the front window while I went down to see Deirdre.
Chapter Fourteen
When I walked into the stillroom, I breathed in. Even now, in a time of crisis, walking in here and smelling all the herbs both calmed and soothed me. It balanced me.
“Hey,” Deirdre said. “What’s up?” Sh
e had glass jars around her, and was making more of what looked like the teabags we’d armed Dee and Deana with.
“I’ve got a direction, at least,” I said. “And DeAnna is trying to remember what the hell might have happened with Deana.”
“I think her idea that something changed, either for Granny or whatever, has legs.”
“Yeah, but Deana left years after Granny died.”
Deirdre shrugged. “I don’t know. I can’t believe what a headcase Granny was, and I’m having a hard time being anything but pissed because we’re on serious clean-up duty from whatever the hell she put in motion.”
“I think DeAnna has a decent idea.”
Deirdre looked at me, not understanding.
“That Granny gave it up because she found out something that just took her will to live.”
“Okay, I could see that. But what? I mean, making a deal with a demon wasn’t enough? What gets worse? Wait!” She held out a hand in a ‘stop’ motion. “Don’t answer that. I don’t want to borrow trouble.”
“Yeah, we have enough of that.” I gave a small laugh that wasn’t really amused.
“So what’s the plan?”
“Wait to see if they get the sword. And try and call Granny’s spirit.” I shrugged. “It’s not perfect but I’m not sure what else to do. You know, outside of give up and let the demon win.”
“Come on, now Desi. That’s not even an option. And where’s your famous ‘screw you’ optimism?”
“It’s taking a beating,” I confessed. “I’m afraid.”
“We have to win,” Deirdre said. “It’s that simple. We have to.”
I leaned against the counter. “I know. I know. But what—”
“No. Don’t even go there. What’s going on, Desi?” She put her hand on my arm.
I ran my hand through my hair. “It’s Hell. I mean, the literal Hell. I don’t want to go back,” I whispered. “If Beeval hadn’t helped me, I don’t know how I would have gotten away. And that scares the shit out of me.”
“Stop. Right now. That’s how Ashlar wins. That’s part of what demons do—suck the life and hope out of things. Don’t let him any further, Desi. You can stop this.”
“What if we can’t?”
“We will. We have to.” Deirdre enveloped me in a hug.
I had to be strong for the Deanas. They were scared, even though they were all putting on a brave front and really taking on a lot. But right now, being able to share with my sister, and have her tell me things were going to be okay—I felt better than I had since Ashlar showed up on our street.
I might have even shed a few tears, which were gone by the time Deirdre let go of me. “You’re right,” I said, rubbing my face. “We have to win. Thanks,” I added.
“No problem.”
“What are you making?”
“Killing spells,” she said grimly. “I am not happy, but I don’t think it’s fair to leave the Deanas unprotected.”
“How many are you making?” I asked. She had to have a pile of at least twenty.
“As many as I can. I’ll charge them when I run out of the ingredients.”
I nodded. “I don’t know that they’ll kill him, though. Even though it’s a good thought.”
“Yeah, but they might slow him down, and give them some extra time.”
To run, to hide … it was a good idea. “Okay. Have you heard from Dee or Deana?”
Deirdre shook her head. “No.”
“That’s not good, is it?”
She shook her head again.
“All right, I’ll go see if I can track them down. They have a flight back tonight.” I gave her shoulder a pat and pulled out my phone.
I texted Deana. ‘Hey, how goes it?’
I watched the message chat and then the dots showed up that someone was typing.
‘We got it. But PITA. Figuring out shipping. Flight back tonight. Call in a bit.’
I showed it to Deirdre.
“Call Daniella. I know she’s worried too.”
“After I tell DeAnna. She nearly bit my head off on the way back from Zane’s.”
“She’s worried, and this is a hell of a way to find out you could be magic, or something.”
“True. Call me if you need help. I’m off to spread the good news. I’ll need some help getting all the herbs together for the summoning,” I added.
“Sure, I’m here for you. Slaving away in the basement dungeon, the little family troll,” Deirdre called as I walked back upstairs.
“Good!” I shouted. “We need people to know their place!”
I heard her laugh, and I called Daniella. “Hey,” I said, when she picked up, before she went into the standard greeting.
“What’s up?”
“They got it. Deana said it was done, but not easy. They’re coming home tonight.”
“Thank the goddess,” she breathed. “What else?”
“We were texting. Nothing, but she’s calling later. How’s it going?”
“I’m getting the things together I think might be helpful, and warding the hell out of the shop. In case we need to run.”
“Gotcha. Smart thinking.”
“We need a hidey hole,” she said.
“Is it ready?”
“Yep. All set.”
“Excellent.” I hung up, and felt a teeny bit better. We had a hidey hole in the back of the shop. At one point, our building had been a bank. There was a vault built into the back of the building, down in the basement, in the rock. We’d had it prepped for ourselves in case of a disaster, and so far, had never had to use it. It had gradually become storage.
I hoped we wouldn’t need it. Although I was amazed we’d gotten as much time as we had. Ashlar wasn’t a very organized guy. I would have never let this kind of thing slip through my fingers. First me, and then Beeval? How had he missed it?
Unless he was letting us stew—but I didn’t think so. I think Beeval was right in that I wasn’t his main focus, and he was busy. Which was kind of hilarious if it wasn’t happening to me. A demon too busy for a spot of torture? What the heck was his business?
I didn’t want to know. I realized DeAnna didn’t know, and walked through the main level looking for her. When I didn’t find her, I ran up the stairs.
She was in the upstairs nook, talking with Doc. I stopped, listening.
She was asking what he remembered about Meema, and her mom. No need to get up in that. I had enough going on. “Knock, knock,” I said, making sure to make noise in case DeAnna wanted to keep things private.
She touched her cheek and looked up. “Hi. Sorry. I was talking with Doc about Momma.”
“No worries. I wanted to let you know I’d heard from Deana.”
Her expression brightened instantly. “You did? Are they all right?”
“Yes, and they got the sword. She plans on being on the flight home tonight.”
“Oh, thank God,” DeAnna said. “So that’s the plan?”
“I think we still need to talk to Granny.”
DeAnna visibly sighed. “I was hoping you wouldn’t say that. I’m very nervous about this.”
“What was it you said, Doc?” I faced him. “That you weren’t looking forward to hearing someone’s truth because it was probably going to make you look bad?” He’d made a comment in that vein when we’d found the diaries. “I feel the same way about this. That whatever we find, it’s going to be a complete mess, and I’m going to want to kill Granny.”
“She is the font of a great deal of the distress we’re dealing with now,” Doc said, but his words didn’t have the ring of condemnation they’d had even a day earlier.
Which made me glad. I didn’t want to be pissed at Granny, or Meema, whom I suspected would come in for some share in what had happened.
“Do you want to wait for everyone to get back before trying to find Granny?” DeAnna said.
“No. They have a car, they’ll get themselves home. I think we do this today, tonight. I don’t want
to wait. This may take a while with Granny’s spirit. I also think you need to make yourself scarce,” I added to Doc.
He sighed. “You’re probably right, although I must say I have a curiosity to see Desi again.”
“Well lurk out of sight if you must, okay?”
“Fair enough, Desdemona.”
“When do you want to do this?”
“As soon as Deirdre and Daniella finish. I’m going down to the stillroom and get the stuff I need. Call me if you need me.” I gave both of them a brief smile and left.
DeAnna deserved the right to get to know Doc on her own terms. And to have a little peace before the shit hit the fan. Because if we couldn’t find Granny, I was going to call up Deana, my long-lost sister.
Chapter Fifteen
I spent the next two hours in quiet working beside Deirdre. Daniella came home, having shut down things at the shop for the day. People had respected the sign she’d put up—that we’d open in two more days.
I had Zane’s book of spirit recall procedures, although it wasn’t written that technically. And we prepared the mixtures we’d need to light and burn, as well as getting candles made with grave dirt.
Yes, there was such a thing. We sold them online, along with our tea and herbs. One of the ways it was used was to call forth the spirit of loved one. It didn’t mention calling those who might have passed into the light a long time ago. That was where things got fuzzy.
“Well, we have everything,” I said.
My phone buzzed. It was Deana again. ‘About to board. We’ll see you soon, goodies in hand.’
‘Fantastic. Granny might be here to say hi,’ I texted back.
‘Whoa. Okay. Duly noted.’
So at least that was on track. Back to business. “You all ready?”
My sisters nodded.
“We should get DeAnna in here, so all four of us are represented,” Deirdre said.
“I’ll get her.” Daniella sprinted up the stairs.
Deirdre was reading through the spells we’d need to do. “We’re going to have to say these together. And light the grave candle, and then sprinkle more dirt on the herbs, and then light them on fire, too.”
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