I could tell Mikael wanted to refuse. His kind of grief was so deep and dark that he didn’t even want to be pulled out of it. “Think of Sadie. She wouldn’t want you like this. Let Alex do what he can. Then you can honor her with the infinitum spell, and you never have to do magic again.”
Mikael nodded. Alex shifted and worked on the injured hand. The blackness dulled to a gray, and splotches of pink appeared. When it stopped improving, Alex shifted back. “That’s the best I can do. It’s deeper than any other curse I’ve come across.”
“Thank you. You’ve done plenty.” Mikael wiggled his fingers, but he still couldn’t close his hand around a wand. Even so, his wand activated in the other hand. He’d at least connected with his spark again. “Kat, will you help me perform the spell?”
“Of course.”
Mikael placed Sadie’s wand on her chest then kissed her forehead. When he stepped back, he raised his wand, and I lifted my hand to show I was ready. Mikael recited the words, “Magicka infinitum.”
Our magic activated Sadie’s spark one last time. It grew and grew until it consumed her body in bright light. Then it continued on, infinitely outward, carrying Sadie to join the magical current of the universe. When the light dissipated, nothing remained but the empty bed.
Alex and I let Mikael be the one to break the silence. He turned to face both of us with a determination I hadn’t seen since his sister died.
“I’m going to turn myself over to the Council.”
“What?” Nothing could have surprised me more.
“I may be able to help them fight the Directorate. I can at least tell them what I know.”
“They’ll view you as a criminal, Mikael. You’ve already paid enough. Try to find yourself some peace now.”
“There’s nothing left for me. This is the least I can do. If it’s in my power to help defeat them, then I have to.”
Mikael would be an asset to the CCS if they’d let him. “I can make you a portal to Elustria, if you like.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
I used my magic to write a note to Thaddeus explaining Mikael’s situation and vouching for him. “Here, take this with you. The portal will transport you to the road leading to the Citadel. You can go into the village and disappear. I’ll never tell a soul. Or you can go to the Citadel and hand this note to the guard there. Tell him to deliver it to Thaddeus. I can’t promise you anything.”
“I understand. Thank you.”
Mikael stepped through the portal, and I hoped he would find peace whichever direction he chose to go.
Thirty-Seven
Alex and I held hands as I ported us to the hotel room. I couldn’t wait to settle down and start a new kind of normal life with him outside of the CCS.
Millhook jumped up from the bed when we appeared. Behind him, Nicole sat in a chair.
“What—”
Nicole cut me off. “Am I doing here?”
I glared at Millhook.
“Ah, yeah, well, about that.” The imp fidgeted as he spoke. “You see, I took care of the other two, but when it came to Nicole, I couldn’t go through with it.”
“Nope, not once I reminded him that I have a video of Marguerite cursing Mikael from the mountain. He may be able to wipe my memory, but he can’t wipe my phone.”
Millhook pointed at Nicole. “She has a point. So I didn’t see the harm in lettin’ her be. Besides, we’re going to need her skills with the interwebs for our crime-fighting team.”
I didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or yell at Millhook.
“Since I know you were only trying to do what’s best for me,” Nicole said, “I’ll forgive you for ordering him to wipe my memory this once. Don’t let it happen again.”
“I didn’t want you to have to live with that,” I said in my defense.
“You didn’t want me to live with the memory of it. But wiping my memory won’t change the reality of what happened. I won’t let Marguerite scare me away from living the life I want with the people I want.”
I couldn’t believe I’d been stupid enough to think that I could start my new normal without my best friend.
“See? It all worked out,” Millhook said as he resumed his seat on the bed. “Now, for the name. I was thinking, ‘Millhook’s Mystery Mavens.’ What do you think?”
“Veto,” Alex said. He sat on the bed and pulled me down with him until I was snuggled against his chest.
“What kind of name is ‘Veto’?”
Alex laughed. “It’s not a name. It means no, we’re not going to be called that.”
“Oh. Well, we could be ‘Furball’s Fabulous Four.’”
Alex growled. Nicole and I laughed in response. This would be a long night in the absolute best of ways.
After an hour full of laughter, we had gotten no closer to settling on a name. Instead, we ordered room service and watched a movie. It was all so wonderfully normal. Before the closing credits rolled, Millhook and Nicole were both sleeping. Alex and I snuck out for a walk on the beach.
The cool waves lapped at my ankles as the warm sand soothed my aching feet. Tomorrow, I’d lie out in the sun all day. After the ice cave, I didn’t think I could get warm enough.
“What are you thinking about?” Alex asked.
“All the wonderful normalcy we have waiting for us.”
“Do I need to remind you about the crime-fighting imp waiting back in our room?”
I chuckled. “I think this is as normal as it’s going to get for us.”
Alex stopped walking and put his arms around me. I followed his gaze out over the ocean to the orange sun that lit the sky in fiery red as it said goodnight.
“I want to watch a hundred different sunsets with you in a hundred different places,” Alex whispered in my ear.
“Hmmm. That sounds delightful.”
“Then let’s do it. I’m not asking for forever, just one hundred days for the two of us.”
I looked into his yellow eyes and saw my own desire reflected back to me. The rest of the world could wait. We had lost time to make up for. “Yes. But you’re the one who has to break it to the imp.”
Alex laughed, and I turned back to watch the last bit of sun descend below the horizon.
“So this is number one,” Alex said.
He kissed me just below my ear, and I purred in delight. A light breeze tousled my hair, and the amber stone on my chest warmed. “No, tomorrow will be number one.”
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Haunting Echoes series:
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About the Author
Caethes's writing is influenced by her observations of this imperfect world and the flawed characters who inhabit it. She enjoys playing RPGs and making up complex
backstories for her avatar and the characters she encounters. Caethes has lived in seven states and is always looking for the next place to call home with her husband and dogs. She currently resides in Florida where she's often found at theme parks when she's not writing.
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Copyright © 2017 by Caethes Faron
Cover by Lou Harper
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