by Liz Schulte
“We’re not exactly sure,” Leslie said, despite Katrina shaking her head.
I let her words sink in. “You don’t know?” I repeated slowly.
“We hope—back to where it came from,” Katrina said.
“But—” Leslie stopped as Katrina nudged her.
The blank wasn’t difficult to fill in. But they had no idea. It was irresponsible at best. If they were correct, and I had no reason to suppose they weren’t, while inhabiting Jessica, the evil was contained in an enemy we could recognize. Once removed, we wouldn’t know where to look or what to expect from the next attack and one thing was certain—there would be a next attack. There always was.
“You don’t think we should do it, do you?” Leslie asked. “See, I told you it was a bad idea.”
“It’s a good idea,” Katrina said.
Frost stared at both women, then looked over at me and shrugged. “You have to admire their devotion to each other.”
“I do. However, this plan causes me concern.” Picking and choosing my words carefully, as to not insult them, I carried on. “I believe that before you take any further steps, we should talk to Selene. She might have some useful insight that would help us better prepare for what may happen.”
“Time is an issue,” Leslie said. “The spell requires Jess’s hair, which I got, but its connection to her grows weaker, the more time passes—and I’m not going to be her prisoner again.”
I hardly had the words. “You were taken prisoner…on purpose.”
“It’s fine. We had a plan and it worked,” Katrina said.
I was of half a mind to lock them all in the dungeon. “Correct me if I am mistaken, but the last time you saw Jessica she murdered Devin. The only other time you were outside of the castle’s safety, she tried to lure you into the past—and she’s had people following you in the present. Now you tell me you wittingly sent another friend to her to be taken prisoner in order to get a piece of hair.” Two sets of eyes avoided mine while the third seemed amused. “Have you completely departed from your senses?”
“You could look at it that way,” Katrina said, finally meeting my eyes. “Did we take a risk? Yes. But it was a calculated risk. If we do this spell now and it works, it was worth it. I can’t stand stalling any longer. Don’t you see? We have been waiting and preparing for Jessica to attack, but it never happened. The longer the spirit has her, the stronger its hold will be. I’m taking the fight to her—or hopefully out of her. Unlike some, I would rather risk everything to get what I want than do nothing and let it slip away.” Passion was thick in her voice.
“But you didn’t risk your life. You risked hers.” I pointed to Leslie. “You knowingly and willingly put your friend at risk.”
“Hey! I was a part of this too. It isn’t like Kat came up with any of this alone. We planned it together and wrote the spell together. We want our coven back,” Leslie said, then her voice softened considerably. “But I also wouldn’t mind waiting a few minutes longer if you wanted to get Selene.”
“Les!”
“It’s not that I don’t think it will work, I do. But the point of this was to get the coven back. I don’t like doing that without Selene involved. She’s one of us—and she has the most to lose if this goes wrong. You should have told her, Kat.”
Katrina’s shoulders fell and her fists unclenched. She nodded at Leslie then to me. I headed immediately for Selene and Cheney’s room. He wouldn’t like it—and if she were my wife, I wouldn’t like it either. Selene had been through too much already tonight and the closer she came to giving birth the more frightened all of us were.
None of us spoke of it, or dared to utter the words aloud, but the thought still hung over the entire castle. Would she survive? And if she didn’t, would Cheney survive that? Cheney, more than anyone, was affected by this fear. It came out in overprotectiveness, which drove Selene crazy. When a female human and a male elf bred, the birth almost always resulted in the human’s death. But elf pregnancies were not easy even on elves. Cheney’s own mother died with the birth of his sister. Most elves, if they were lucky, produced one child; two was rare. Selene, however, was half of each race and that spoke in the mortality rate. Her odds were slightly less than 50/50. She needed to be rested and strong when the time came.
Stopping in front of their door I could hear them arguing. At least she was awake. I knocked firmly and waited.
Cheney opened the door, scowling. “What?”
“The coven needs Selene for a moment.”
He blinked several times. “Whatever it is will wait until morning. She’s resting.”
“No, I’m not,” she called from the background.
He ground his teeth together. “Yes, my dear, you are.”
“I’m fine,” she said, slipping beneath his arm and out into the hallway, then smiling back at him. “Don’t wait up.” She linked her arm through mine. “Walk fast before he explodes.”
Selene’s voice was laced with laughter and she rushed me down the hallway. Cheney slammed the door and followed after us. For just a moment it was like old times—and then I noted the heavy circles beneath her eyes. She needed the rest. “Perhaps he was right,” I said.
“Not you too. Look, I know you all mean well, but even when I go to bed I can’t sleep. All I can do is think and that makes everything so much worse. I’d rather have something to do. I just want to see how Leslie is with my own eyes and then I promise I will be good and go to bed.”
Cheney fell into step beside her. “If I have to carry you back up, I will hold you to that.”
She glanced up and stuck out her tongue. “I’d like to see you try.”
“What does the coven need?” he asked me, ignoring her.
I took a deep breath. “They have a plan to end the fight with Jessica. It is probably best if they explain it to you.”
“And what’s your opinion of their plan?” he asked.
“I can see both sides,” I said.
“That isn’t what he asked,” Selene said, watching me. “You don’t like whatever they intend to do.”
“It could work, but requires more preparation,” I said.
Cheney lifted an eyebrow. “It must be Katrina’s plan.”
Selene laughed.
I focused in front of us. “I assure you there is no impartiality on my part.”
Selene squeezed my arm. “So if this were my idea what would you say?”
I would have said the pregnancy hormones had addled her mind and she wasn’t thinking clearly—but of course, I could not tell them that, so I said nothing.
“That’s what I thought.” Cheney’s tone made me want to hit him, which would be tantamount to treason so I kept my arms firmly at my sides. “You are a pillar of impartiality, my friend.”
“No one asked you,” I muttered, only making Selene laugh more—which did lighten the moment. Cheney may have been the life of this castle, but Selene was the joy and laughter that had been missing for far too long.
Selene couldn’t die. Even if Cheney survived losing her, I wouldn’t. At the very least, I wouldn’t be able to stay another moment within these walls. I pressed my lips to her temple, feeling a surge of protectiveness for my friend. “If you begin to feel weak or tired, please promise you will let Cheney take you to bed.”
Her eyes softened. “I promise.”
Cheney sighed. “Sebastian, you may fight all of my battles from now on. Apparently my wife has ears that are capable only of listening to you.”
Selene rolled her eyes. “Apparently my husband has yet to learn that asking me to do something and demanding I do it are two completely different things.” But she slipped her arm out from mine and around his waist. “You big oaf.”
Cheney’s arm wrapped around her shoulders, as he pressed a kiss to her hair.
Inside the archive room, the three witches waited for us. Selene embraced Leslie immediately. “I was so scared for you.”
“Thank you for not choosing the el
ves over me,” Leslie said, her voice muffled against Selene.
“Never.” She released her friend. “Frost. What are you doing here?”
“Katrina invited me,” she said, not standing with the other girls, but also not standing as far away from them as she used to be.
Selene took in the scene surrounding her. “What are you guys doing?”
“He didn’t tell you?” Katrina asked.
“He said it’d be better coming from you.” Her gaze focused on the circle drawn on the floor. “I can see why. What is this?”
“Did they find a spell?” Cheney asked low enough that only I could hear him.
“In a matter of speaking,” I said. “I thought it best not to interfere more than necessary.”
He nodded and got Selene a chair. The coven had a mind of its own and would not be governed by us anymore than Selene would be ruled by Cheney, so we went to the couch and had a seat. Whatever happened, whatever they decided, we were spectators from here on out. It was the way it had to be.
Katrina and Leslie explained what they had done and what the plan was, Leslie periodically sending worried glances at a bowl in the center of the circle. Selene listened and Cheney frowned, but neither said anything until they were finished.
“May I see the spell?” Selene asked.
Cheney looked back at me. “What will happen to the evil residing in Jessica?”
I shook my head. “They don’t know.”
He took a deep breath. “Hence more preparation.”
I nodded. “Indeed.”
“With that problem ironed out, however, and if it works … well, it could solve a lot of our problems.”
That was true, of course—but I didn’t hold out much hope.
Cheney continued, looking thoughtful. “Perhaps if the witches stayed longer, they could figure it out.”
“After the incident this evening, I assured the people they were leaving. They will not stand for humans living in the castle any longer.”
“They’re Selene’s family—and our friends. You would turn your back on them?”
Cheney too often seemed to forget that it wasn’t about what either of us wanted, personally. This had always been about changing our world—and real change didn’t come without sacrifices. No one knew that better than me. I had sacrificed much to see that Selene and Cheney ended up here, and I wasn’t about to let it be for nothing. I stood board straight. “No one said being Erlking would be easy.”
Cheney’s mouth fell open then snapped back shut as he refocused on the coven. “As for your impartiality, Sebastian, I stand corrected. I honestly thought you cared more.”
I did care. I cared too much, which made every decision impossible. The fae race and the coven were important to me, but they both couldn’t win. Someone had to stand up for the fae. That was my job and Cheney’s job. There was no reason both could not thrive—but they couldn’t do it together. The girls needed to go back to their home and we had to do whatever it took to win. The debate tonight made that painfully clear.
Katrina tapped her foot rapidly, her stress thick in the air as I scanned the spell for a third time.
“This is why I didn’t want to tell everyone. I knew you would all have an opinion and…” She shook her head peevishly. “By the time everyone makes up their mind it will be too late.”
Leslie took her hand. “I’m scared too.”
I looked up at them, my best friends. “Gram would be really proud. It’s a good spell.”
“We tried really hard,” Katrina said, swiping beneath her eyes.
“So you think it will work?” Leslie asked. “We were going to have Frost cast it since she isn’t part of the coven.”
“I’m willing to try,” Frost added. “But I make no promises.”
Their hopeful faces made saying what I had to say that much harder. “I think it could work….That’s why we can’t do it.”
Kat stopped tapping. Her mouth fell open. Leslie shook her head as if it would change the words she heard.
Frost shrugged. “Then I guess I’m done here.” She started toward the door.
“You aren’t going anywhere,” Katrina said, jutting her jaw. “This is a democracy and it’s two to one. We’re casting the spell.”
“Kat, it’s irresponsible,” I said softly. “We can’t cast this without knowing what will happen. We could free whatever has her from the constraints of human form. It could possess something else. If we can’t control the situation, then we can’t do it. You have to see that. I have responsibilities.”
Kat’s shoulders rose as she took a deep breath, then let it gust out. “What about your responsibility to us? You brought us here. We’ve supported you through everything. No man left behind… . Hasn’t that always been our motto?”
“I think that’s the marines,” Leslie said.
Katrina widened her eyes at her and shook her head.
Leslie pressed her lips together. “Why does it have to be one or the other?” she said. “Selene, Kat’s right. It isn’t fair if you decide for all of us. And Kat, you don’t get to cast my vote. I think you’re both right.”
“Yeah, that doesn’t help,” Kat said.
“Look, I know you’re scared and sad and anxious about leaving, but that’s no reason to snap at me. I’m not the one who didn’t ask you to stay,” Leslie fired back.
Kat pressed a hand over her mouth and was very careful not to look at Sebastian. “Have I mentioned how awesome it is that you’re an empath? No? Huh.”
“This is the way I see things. I think we should cast the spell, but I also think Selene is right that we need some way to control or trap the entity.”
I nodded. “I agree.”
“Me too,” Katrina added.
“Good. Then what we need is a plan on how to capture Jessica without using magic.”
“Annnddd you lost me.” Katrina looked over at Cheney and Sebastian. “Call me crazy, but I don’t think the elves will let her go if she’s in custody. Am I right?”
They stopped pretending to ignore us and stood up. Cheney waited to speak until he stood next to me.
“I know she’s your friend, but she has hurt a lot of people.” He placed a hand on my shoulder as I looked up at him. “They deserve justice.”
“Whatever we pull out of her can be punished,” Leslie said. “That’s the real justice.”
The elves might not see it that way. Had this happened a week after the election that would have been one thing, but the week of… .Well, we had to tread lightly.
“We did that once already and you saw how it turned out,” he said as gently as possible, which was appreciated. “I have to do something this time.”
“What if she’s banished,” I said. “We’ll banish her from the Abyss. If she ever comes back, she will pay for her crimes.”
Leslie sucked in a sharp breath.
“What sort of payment?” Katrina asked.
I fidgeted. There was only one punishment for murder the fae would accept.
“Her life,” Sebastian said.
Katrina nodded and Leslie stared at her feet. “So we can never come back,” she said.
“Jessica can’t,” Sebastian said. “The rest of you can, but it might be good to give them a few years. None of us want you to leave,” his eyes were trained on Katrina, “but perhaps it is for the best. You are young still and—” His mouth moved, but nothing came out.
Kat’s brown eyes met his and sadness seemed to wash over her before she looked away. “We don’t belong here.” Her voice was raw.
“You deserve a full life. You will not find that here.”
None of us dared to make eye contact with each other. You didn’t have to be an empath to know we were intruding on a moment, a devastating moment for both of them, with no hope of escape. My heart broke in two for them. Life was cruel and unfair. Cheney’s thumb massaged a small circle on my back. He had said the two of them dating was a bad idea from the start, but I wanted to
believe otherwise. If Cheney and I could find a way, why couldn’t they?
“I think we’ve made everyone uncomfortable enough for one day,” Katrina said. “Sorry. My bad. Total TMI.” Just like that she sounded like her usual self. “So how do we capture Jess without magic when she doesn’t trust any of us?”
“You mean she’ll see through my invitation for tea?” Frost said.
Leslie snorted. “You’d have better luck with whiskey.”
“Nothing less than Knob Creek,” Katrina added.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” The petite woman brushed an errant lock of white hair from her face, then slipped her hands into the pockets of her tight black jeans. “What’s the point of a coven?”
“Power,” I said. “Our strength, when we’re not divided, can be harnessed as one, which means our spells are that much more effective.”
“And friendship,” Leslie added. “These girls know me better than anyone else. We accept each other just as we are.”
Katrina nodded. “That’s sort of priceless. We also keep each other in line. When one person is going off the deep end, we pull them back.”
Frost nodded. “That pretty much goes with what I’ve read. Most covens wouldn’t want someone like me. I guess it’s a tainted by association sort of deal, but I figure if you’re willing to take back someone who killed one of your own in front of you, then you might be willing to overlook that I’m a necromancer.” Her eyes didn’t connect with any of us and, if possible, her face grew even paler. “I’ll find your friend and bring her back here, but after the spell is cast, I want in on this coven thing. I want you to help me with my curse.”
“Selene and I already discussed the idea of expansion at Halloween and you were the first person we thought of.”
“I think it’s a good idea,” Leslie said.
I had told Frost there was no way to undo the curse because there wasn’t. I couldn’t imagine carrying the burden she held all through life, but it was hers. The more she held on to this hope that there was a cure, the harder she would fall each time she failed to uncover it—which meant the dark path she was predestined for would become that much more alluring. “There is no cure.”
She nodded, but the truth didn’t register on her face. “Nevertheless.”