“Is this Heaven?” Allison asked, sure that it must be.
“No, this is the meeting place, where those who are no longer living can speak to someone who is still alive. There is not much time; I just brought you here to tell you to keep fighting. You have to try harder against his magic.”
“I am trying,” Allison said.
Her eyes were pleading with Allison, “You can defeat him. You are stronger than he is because his magic is stolen. Yours is inherited. It’s your birthright.”
Allison had a million questions for her mother, but before she could ask anything, there was a blinding flash of light and she was back in the water. Try harder? She couldn’t even move.
“You are stronger than he is.”
Those words rang out inside her head. She had to believe. Everyone kept talking about her inner magic and her natural abilities, her gift. Allison had to keep trying as long as she was still conscious, which did not seem like it would be much longer. She would start small. Allison pushed everything out of her mind, and concentrated on the muscles in her fingers, willing them to move. Nothing happened.
She tried again, concentrating harder. This time she felt a small twitch. That was enough to build her confidence. She kept working, willing her arms to move and then her legs. She opened her eyes, breathing out a final breath before emerging from the water, dagger still in hand.
Jackson was unaware, standing on the edge of the water. She buried the blade deep in his abdomen before he could react. He collapsed, while placing his fingers on his forehead.
“What did you do?” she asked, worried he had just commanded the other members of The BC to attack her.
He just smiled at her, “I can’t believe you were strong enough to break the paralysis. How I wish I could have bled you dry.”
Allison cringed at the thought, but realized that she could not worry about him any longer. She had to go back and check on everyone. She sprinted across the yard, not knowing what to expect, but she had her dagger ready just in case.
When she reached the spot where she had left them, the distant figures began to take on familiar forms. From the looks of things, all of the BC was dead or gone.
“You fought them off?” Allison asked.
“They fled,” Vinnie said, his face was streaked with tears.
“What?” Allison asked.
It was all she could say before her voice cracked and stuck in her throat. She already knew. Ruby was lying on the ground, Ursula and Cain bent over her.
“She’s gone?” Allison asked.
“Her heartbeat grew weaker and weaker, and then it just stopped. We tried CPR,” Cain said.
“No! It can’t just stop. Do something. Take her to the hospital, do magic, do something.”
Allison realized she was yelling but she did not care. She could never go on without Ruby.
“I don’t have any magic that can bring people back from the dead. There’s nothing we can do,” Ursula said.
“Maybe there is a way,” Cain mumbled.
“How? Whatever it is, I don’t care,” Allison said.
“You know how I told you I stole magic from innocents, but don’t use it out of respect? The woman was a healer. She had ways of bringing the deceased back if the death was recent enough. She could restart the heart and lungs, even make them stronger. I’ve never tried it except for one time, with your mother.”
“And it didn’t work.”
“No. But she had been dead a long time before I got there. They attacked her while I was away.”
“So do it,” Allison said. “Maybe that’s a better way of respecting those you took magic from, by helping people.”
Cain nodded and placed both hands on her chest. Everyone watched in silence, no one seemed to be breathing. Cain’s eyes were shut and he began moving his hands up and down Ruby’s chest, right above her heart. Seconds felt like hours, the wait was torture. After a few moments, Cain lowered his hands back onto Ruby’s chest and looked up with a tentative smile.
“It’s still weak, but it’s beating.”
Allison gave a faint laugh before breaking down into tears. She hugged Vinnie in celebration. They held each other, crying and laughing at the same time. When Cain rose to his feet, Allison released Vinnie and walked over to him.
“I can never thank you enough,” she said before throwing her arms around his neck.
He hugged her back, speechless.
Allison remembered someone else, “How is Walter?” she asked.
“Stable. He’s not conscious, but he’s okay. I’m going to mix some good herbs for Daddy and Ruby after we get them into bed.”
Allison nodded, wiping tears from her cheeks. She looked down, noticing Dru for the first time.
She was curled up across Ruby’s legs.
“Where did she come from?”
“I guess she heard the commotion and came to help,” Vinnie said, “She clawed up at least one guy’s face.”
Allison smiled down at her familiar.
Chapter 16
It was late evening before they got Ruby and Walter both into beds. They were weak but recovering. Ursula stayed by their sides, making sure they were okay while everyone else attended to other concerns.
Cain, Vinnie and Allison went out on the grounds, searching for bodies left by The Blood Coven. They placed them all into one pile. When Allison helped move Adam, she felt a pang of regret. They never would have worked out, but she was still confident he did like her underneath it all.
The three of them walked over to the pond to grab the last body, Jackson. While they approached, Allison became fearful. She didn’t see him.
“Where is he?” she asked, her voice had an edge of hysteria.
He was gone.
“Are you sure you killed him?” Cain asked.
“He was dying. I stabbed him. No one could lose that much blood and survive. He did do that thing where he touches his forehead with his fingers.”
“That was probably the time when his surviving members retreated. They wouldn’t want to leave his body to his enemies. They must have taken him; and leader or not, they will bleed his body and take his power.”
Allison sighed, “I’m sure you’re right.”
Once the bodies were all gathered, they performed something called a removal. It was an ancient way that people used to dispose of their attacker’s remains. Cain poured a purple substance on top of the bodies.
He then said the following incantation, “Doing harm to us was their hearts’ intent, but we fought back until their lives were spent. Now we ask that you take away, the corpses left behind this day. No violence or murder did we seek, and we ask this favor with spirits meek.”
Vinnie and Allison watched the pile disintegrate into nothing.
“Wow,” she said, “That’s great, but what if murderers used it on their victims?”
“A few did try that in the past, but they didn’t like the results. See, this is only meant for those who acted in self-defense. Anyone else would walk away with a permanent mark. The name of the one they murdered would be forever etched onto their face.”
Allison and Vinnie stood silent, processing the information. After a minute, Allison spoke up again.
“How are we supposed to find Sam?”
“I tried to get it out of one of the members, but he would not talk. You are going to have to try and find them.”
They walked back to the house after disposing of the bodies, and checked on Walter and Ruby who were sharing a room. Allison bent over her grandmother, kissing her forehead.
“Allison,” she whispered, grabbing for her hand.
“I’m here.”
“I’m so proud of you and I love you.”
“I love you, too and I saw Mom, I think. I was somewhere called the meeting place.”
“Oh, Allison,” her voice trailed off. Ruby did not seem happy with this information.
“What?”
“It just scares me, that’s a
ll. The only people who can be called there are those who are close to the veil; on the cusp of death.”
Allison felt a chill. She knew that it had been a serious situation, but she hadn’t realized she had been so close to death.
When everyone was in for the night, Allison grabbed the bottle of liquid and began repeating the words she had heard so much growing up. She touched the liquid to every window, every door leading to the outside. She was not taking any chances, though it did not seem like the BC would be concerned with them right now. After losing their leader, she assumed they would have other things to worry about.
Everyone settled in for bed, exhausted by the day’s events. Allison hoped the BC did not take their failure out on Sam and Jane. While the others slept, Allison concentrated. She cleared her mind, trying her best to see them. She tried for almost an hour with no success. Her eyes wanted to remain closed. The physical and mental exertion was beginning to take its toll on her now that the adrenaline in her body had subsided. She fought sleep, fought to focus. In the end, her eyelids were too heavy.
It was not until she was sleeping that she could see Jane and Sam in her mind. They looked exhausted and dirty, but alone in the dark woods. They were still tied to the tree. Allison scanned the area, looking for anything. She spotted a blue outhouse off to the corner. It was unusual because she had never known of anyone making an outhouse so decorative. On the other side was part of a rubble wall. It was just a small section.
Allison woke in the floor, still in the sitting position she had been in before falling asleep. She hoped someone else was awake. When she got to the kitchen, she realized that she had been the only one still sleeping. Even Ruby and Walter were up, looking much better.
“Mamaw, Walter. You both look so good.”
“Thank you,” said Walter, “I’m sorry I wasn’t more help last night.”
“You were great,” she said, “I think I could see more of where Sam and Jane were. They’re in the woods, tied to a tree. This time, I could see there was a royal blue outhouse and part of a broken, cobblestone wall. Can anyone think of a place in the woods back home that would have something like that?”
“That place isn’t in Mason Springs, it’s nearby,” Ursula said, “Maybe a mile from here.”
“I don’t understand. Why would they bring them here?” Allison asked.
“They knew we would come here. Maybe they thought you would figure out where they were, and go off looking for them alone. It would have given them the chance to ambush you in the woods,” Cain said.
“What if they’re still waiting?” Ursula asked.
“Now? That will be the last thing on their minds. Their leader is dead and they lost several other members. They’re gone. They’ll be too busy regrouping and choosing a new leader. I would say they left Sam and Jane out there to die.”
“Let’s go find them,” Allison said.
“It will have to be on foot,” Ursula said, “I’ll take you.”
“I’ll go too,” Cain said.
“Vinnie, do you mind staying here with Ruby and Daddy?” Ursula asked.
He looked disappointed but agreed.
They took water and set out into the woods. They assumed the girls would be dehydrated. The mile seemed to take forever and Allison grew more anxious with every step. She was not sure how Ursula could find anything in these woods. Every inch looked the same to her.
Allison’s face lit up when the tree with the two girls came into view. Sam looked up when she heard the noise.
“Allison?” she asked.
Allison broke into a run. She bent down and began working her dagger, cutting through the ropes. Jane was looking at her, watching her cut the thick rope.
“Please take your time. We’ve only been tied to this tree for days,” Jane said.
“Maybe I’ll untie Sam and just leave you here.”
“No, okay, I’m sorry,” she said, her voice panicked, “I’m just tired and cold and hungry. I’m sorry.”
Allison continued cutting without looking up at her. Once the ropes were off, getting Sam and Jane to their feet took some time. After days of sitting in one position, their joints seemed set. They gave them both water and let them get used to moving again.
“I’m sorry it’s taking so long,” Sam said, struggling to make her legs work right.
“I’m sorry we didn’t find you sooner,” Allison said.
“I don’t understand what’s going on, but it’s obvious Adam is crazy. I guess that’s why he liked you instead of me,” Jane said.
“Maybe we should leave her,” Allison whispered to Sam, who laughed.
“Listen, I’m sorry about getting mad at you over the Wes thing,” Sam said, but Allison interrupted.
“Don’t even worry about it. I’m sorry too and I’m glad we’re friends again,” she said, while steadying Sam and placing an arm around her waist.
“And listen, I know she’s obnoxious, but don’t be too hard on Jane.”
Allison glanced in her direction, “Are you sure you aren’t delirious?”
“After the first day, I don’t know if she had some kind of breakdown, but she started telling me all sorts of secrets. Your name came up and she told me that she was jealous of you.”
Allison laughed at the thought.
“It’s true. She said she hates having to be what everyone thinks she should be, and when she sees you doing whatever you want, it makes her jealous. She doesn’t even like cheerleading but her dad told her she couldn’t quit because it was her ticket to college.”
Allison looked at Jane. It didn’t seem possible that anyone so shallow could be capable of real emotion. Maybe Allison had been wrong about her the entire time.
“Are you two planning to make out or can we go now?” Jane asked.
“Maybe not,” Allison said under her breath.
The group began the trip back to Ursula and Walter’s home. Allison could not help wondering how everything would be explained when they all returned to Mason Springs. She had no idea what would happen, but for now, she was just happy to have her friends, family and even Jane safe.
Inherited Magic Page 11