He strides across the apartment and grips my upper arm, squeezing until it hurts. “Influence, Sasha? Influence? What the hell are you thinking?”
I gulp. So, he did hear that. My mind gropes for a reasonable explanation to dismiss my conversation from moments ago, but I can’t come up with anything.
Elliot searches my face as if he’s staring at a stranger. “I don’t know what you’re playing at, but you can’t mess with Influence. Did you ever wonder why no one in the Devoted ever went through with that spell? Even the ones who were most desperate not to send their kids away? Influence is serious business, Sasha.”
The condescension in his tone spurs me to action. “Don’t talk to me like I’m stupid, Elliot. I know the risks. You don’t understand.”
He releases his grip, but the ghosts of his fingers remain on my flesh. “I think I do. I think I understand better than you. Sasha.” He breathes my name out like a gust of wind. “I thought you were getting over this whole revenge thing.”
Tears prickle my eyes. I hate that the disappointment in his tone is enough to break me. “It started out that way, but it’s more than that now. I screwed up, okay? Is that what you want to hear? When I contacted the Amaranthine, yes, I wanted to hurt Krissa and her circle. But now they’re turning on me and threatening to come after you and Anya and Misha if they don’t get what I promised. It’s the only way to keep you safe.”
“Safe? That’s the last thing we’ll be if someone wielding Influence is let loose on the town. It’s not magic, Sasha, and it’ll consume whoever it touches.”
“But it won’t be our problem to deal with.” It’s what I’ve been convincing myself since I decided on this course of action, but out loud the justification sounds thin. “Krissa will—”
“Dammit, Sasha! Do you really believe the Influence won’t affect you? Don’t you realize Krissa won’t be fighting it alone? There’s no way Anya won’t do everything she can to help, so saying you’re doing this to keep her safe is bullshit.” He spins on his heel and stalks toward the door.
“Where are you going?”
He pauses only briefly when his hand touches the knob. “I think you know.”
Chapter Forty-Two
Krissa
Owen and I have a date tonight. I still can’t believe it. I can’t go more than a few minutes without brushing my fingers to my lips, just to remind myself of the feeling of his pressed against mine. But something tells me I won’t have to rely on memory for much longer.
We’re going to watch tonight’s eclipse down by the river. In addition to the location providing us an excellent view, it will also afford a measure of privacy—one I know we’ll need for the conversation I plan to have, and that I hope we’ll need for making up for lost time afterward.
My heart is lighter than it’s been in four months. I’m so excited I can hardly think straight, and I’m very glad I’m not scheduled to work. At first, I try to wile away the time until Owen’s done with track at home, but nothing holds my attention for long. I try to shed my nervous energy by going for a walk, but it has the opposite effect. Finally, I make my way downtown and spend some time in the clothing store owned by Lexie’s mom. I decide to buy a new outfit for tonight. I know it’s silly and Owen probably won’t care, but I can’t help it. I feel different than I have in ages, and I want my outside to reflect my inside.
The only thing tempering my excitement is knowing Crystal had wanted me to cast the Influence spell tonight. I promised to help her get the information the Amaranthine want, and I know Brody’s deadline is approaching. But she sat with Bridget during sixth hour today and she’s ignored all my texts. I can’t help her if she doesn’t want me to.
After trying on a dozen different things, I finally decide on an outfit: simple black leggings and a flowy paisley-print dress in blue—like Owen’s eyes. After paying Mrs. Taylor, I leave her store and step out into the bright sunshine bathing Main Street in its glow. Spring. A time for rebirth. I feel that.
I glance down the street, considering stopping in for something at the coffee shop, when a familiar form catches my eye. Elliot. He’s coming from the direction of the bookstore, and he looks like he’s on the warpath about something. I take a moment to reflect how I’m glad I’m not on the receiving end of that glare, but then his eyes lock on me. What the heck? Is he mad at me for some reason? It doesn’t seem possible. What could I have done recently to offend him? I haven’t even interacted with him since the night at Anya’s apartment.
Elliot stalks straight for me, his eyes never leaving mine. When he’s barely an arm’s length away, his lip curls in a sneer. “Are you completely insane?”
I stare blankly, not sure what he’s talking about. Does he know about my plans with Owen tonight? I reject the idea. Even if he did know, what would make him react like this? It’s not like he has a vested interest in my love life. “Care to elaborate?”
A muscle in his jaw jumps as he grinds his teeth. “Are you are or are you not working with Crystal Jamison to cast the Influence spell tonight?”
For a moment, I just stare, too shocked to respond. How does he know anything about this? Did Crystal say something to it about Anya? Even if she did, why would Elliot be coming at me like this? “No, I’m not. She asked me to, but I had a bad feeling about it. I told her we’d find another way to get the information. Why? Why are you suddenly so interested?”
He curses under his breath. “That’s quite the instinct you have there.”
I have no idea what he’s talking about. “Care to clue me in on what’s going on here? What do you care? What does it have to do with you?”
He blows out a breath, looking exasperated. “If she goes through with this, it’s going to involve me and everyone else in this town—bare minimum. Do you have any idea what the spell does?”
Although I’m not actively trying to read him, the distinct tinge of fear tickles the back of my throat. “I’m starting to think maybe I don’t. I thought it was a spell to give magic to someone without it, but I’m beginning to think that’s not the case.”
Relief mingled with worry colors his features. “Come with me.” He reaches for my arm.
I take a giant step backward. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”
He holds up his hands, a tacit promise not to grab for me again. “Will you come with me to your aunt’s shop? Anya’s working today, and she needs to know what’s going on. And it seems like you need to know to, since you don’t really have a clue.”
I consider his request. There’s no danger I can see going to the shop with him. We’re not far from there now, so it’s not like he would have any opportunity to do something malicious. Not that I think he would—but it’s best to be prepared for anything. The shop is a safe place, and as hard as it is to admit it to myself, I trust Anya. In the end, it’s the look in his eye that makes me agree. There’s something going on—something serious—and I’d like to know what it is.
I nod and the two of us start down the street. His legs are longer than mine, and I have to rush to keep pace with him. When we make it to Hannah’s Herbs, Elliot enters first. Anya greets him warmly, but her expression clouds when she catches sight of me coming in behind.
“What’s going on?” I’m not sure if it’s the fact that Elliot and I are walking in together or that she’s a psychic that makes her mood turn so quickly. She is refilling the aluminum planters full of herbs, and as Elliot and I cross to her, I scan the shop for customers. When my eyes don’t catch sight of anyone, I stretch out with my mind to confirm the place is empty but for us.
Elliot’s lips are pressed in a tight line. His nostrils flare as he breathes in and out. Anya studies him closely, and when he doesn’t say anything, she turns to me.
“What’s happening?” she asks, her voice heavy with concern. Unbidden, a face flashes in my mind. It’s not someone I’ve ever seen before, but her features are similar enough to Anya’s and Sasha’s for me to take a guess at her identity. Anya must have anothe
r sister, and it’s her she’s thinking about. While part of me feels bad for gleaning this information from Anya’s mind, another part can’t help remembering a time when catching glimpses like this was normal for me—part of daily life as a psychic.
“Misha’s fine,” Elliot says. He must have also picked up on the flash from Anya’s mind. “It’s Sasha. I should’ve told you when I first found out, but I thought I convinced her…”
Anya places soft hands on Elliot’s shoulders, ducking so she’s in his line of sight. “You can tell me anything. You know that.”
He does his best to avoid her eyes. “She’s the one. She’s the reason the Amaranthine are here.”
“What?” I snap. This isn’t what he said to me on the street. He was talking about the Influence spell. What do Brody and the Amaranthine have to do with that?
“Why?” Anya’s voice is much softer than mine.
“I think you know why.” Elliot finally makes eye contact with Anya. “She’s been lying to us. She hasn’t moved past Seth’s death. The only reason she would’ve contacted a group like the Amaranthine is if she wanted to stir up trouble. She knows how bad they are. When I found out they were here, I went straight to her. She promised she would do everything she could to help Crystal so nothing bad would happen to her family. But I never thought…”
This trailing-off thing he’s doing is annoying me. I want some straight answers. “What did you think? What’s going on?”
He ignores me, keeping his eyes trained on Anya. “I think she’s convinced Crystal to do an Influence spell.”
Anya’s arms drop to her sides and she takes a step back. “Are you sure?”
“Pretty darn.”
I wait for someone to continue, to clue me in on what’s going on, but neither of them speaks. “Okay, someone care to fill me in?” I ask, the words coming out sharper than I anticipated.
A few seconds elapse before Anya brings her eyes up to meet mine. “Do you know what Influence is?”
“It’s a way for people who aren’t witches to acquire magic,” I offer. I know it’s not a complete definition, but it’s a pretty accurate summary of what I know.
She shakes her head. “It’s not magic—not in its real sense. Magic is pure; it comes from nature. Influence is… It’s something else—something darker. It’s born of a desire to manipulate and control. A person can work spells with Influence, but at a price.”
“Then why does Sasha want Crystal to do the spell? If it’s so bad, why would she—”
“Don’t you see?” Elliot asks. “She hasn’t moved on yet. Our whole lives we were told to wait for the day when Seth would return. And then he did. I don’t know if you realized it, but that was kind of a big deal for Sasha.” He purses his lips just slightly, enough for me to understand it was important for him, too. “And then he was gone. Not only him, but everyone we’d ever known. Anya says it’s the way things were supposed to be—that she’d seen visions of his demise. I choose to believe her. But I don’t think Sasha’s at that point. She’s still hurting—still looking for someone to blame.”
“I just don’t see why she wants to hurt Crystal,” Anya says. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
“Crystal’s not the target,” Elliot says. “She’s just a casualty.”
I suck in a breath. “She wants to hurt me. If she knows I’m the one…” I can’t bring myself to state my crime, but I know I don’t need to. “If Crystal does the spell, Sasha has to know I’ll do everything in my power to undo it, to make sure Crystal’s safe—to make sure Clearwater is safe. This whole thing—she’s doing it to get back at me.”
“We have to stop it,” Elliot says.
“Thank you, Captain Obvious,” I mutter.
Anya shakes her head. “It won’t be enough. Even if we can stop Crystal from working the Influence spell, there’s still the Amaranthine to deal with. If reputation holds, they’re not the kind of people who will simply cut their losses. They’d rather kill Crystal and her family to prove what happens to people who cross them. And if Sasha is the one who brought them to town, that means she’s in the cross hairs, too.”
“And us,” Elliot says. “You, me, and Misha.”
My mind is reeling. We have to stop Crystal from doing the Influence spell, but if we do, what’s to stop Brody from retaliating? He only gave her until tomorrow to get the information. I doubt he’s the kind of person to grant an extension.
“Lexie,” I murmur.
Elliot looks at me. “What?”
I shake my head. I didn’t even realize I’d spoken the word aloud. “I was just thinking… If I’m not doing the spell, and Crystal can’t do it on her own, she must’ve found someone else to do it. Lexie.”
Anya nods. “You’re probably right. We need to find them. They probably have no idea what it is they’re about to unleash.”
I pull my phone from my back pocket and pull up Lexie’s number. The line doesn’t even ring before dumping me to voicemail. I attempt to call Crystal, Bridget, and Fox but am met with the same results. “Dammit.”
Anya brushes my shoulder. “The eclipse is supposed to start around eight. We still have an hour to find them.”
Elliot nods. “At least. To harness the full power, they’ll have to wait until closer to the full eclipse. Still, better to find them sooner than later.”
Anya fixes me with her gaze. “This is your old circle. Where would they meet for a spell like this? They could do it indoors, but it would be better to be outside, in full view of the moon.”
I chew my lower lip in concentration. I suppose they could try to cast the spell in Fox’s backyard, the same place they cast the one that anchored them to Seth’s crystal. But it’s spring now, not fall, and they won’t have the cloak of darkness to hide them. Where else might they do it? There’s the clearing by the river where we did the spell that took Crystal and me to the past. That’s one possibility. But if Crystal has even an inkling I might try to stop her, she’ll likely choose a different location.
“I think we’re going to need to spread out. I’ve got a few ideas, but Crystal’s going to know I know them. If she’s trying to hide, I’m not sure where they might be.”
The corner of Elliot’s mouth turns up in a wry smile. “Good thing we’re psychics.”
“There are ways to get around being detected,” Anya warns.
I sigh. “Well, then, we better get started.”
Anya glances around the shop. “I hope Jodi won’t be too mad I’m closing up a bit early,” she murmurs, striding toward the front door to lock it. “You mind?” she asks, catching my eye.
I nod and start for the back door. Before I reach it, the phone in my hand vibrates. A glance at the screen reveals a text from Owen. Practice is over. I’m gonna head home to shower and change. I’ll let you know when I’m on my way to pick you up.
I stare down at the screen as I lock the door. Owen. How can it be that less than an hour ago my biggest worry was what to wear for our date? I told him I was finally ready to explain why I’ve been pulling away from him. Will he give me another opportunity if I cancel now? If I tell him why I need to put our plans on hold, he’ll want to come with me. But I can’t let him do that—it’ll only put him in danger. I don’t want to give the Amaranthine any reason to come after him.
I tap out a message: I have to take care of something. I’ll let you know when I’m finished.
As I turn to head back into the main part of the shop, I add one more thing to the list I’ll have to explain to Owen later.
Chapter Forty-Three
Krissa
A reddish-orange smudge encroaches on the white face of the moon. The eclipse has begun and we’re no closer to finding Crystal and the witches than when we started. A locater spell turned up nothing, so we’ve been searching the old-fashioned way. Between the three of us, we’ve checked every place in Clearwater I can think Crystal might have gone. Just to be safe, I checked Fox’s house and the clearing by the river.
In fact, Anya and I swept much of the riverbank, but we turned up nothing. Elliot checked the other witches’ houses. We checked the library and the school, the forest clearing where we once hoped to harvest Althea root for a spell—in short, everywhere it’s even remotely possible they might be. It all turned up nothing.
The three of us have regrouped at Anya’s apartment. I run my hands through my hair as I sit on the couch. “It doesn’t make any sense. They can’t have just disappeared.”
“They haven’t, but they obviously cast a spell to cloak their energy. I’ve got nothing.” There’s an edge of irritation in Elliot’s voice.
Despite the fact that it was he who pointed out the true nature of the spell Crystal plans to cast, I can’t help being surprised by the fact that he’s putting so much effort into finding them. I haven’t given Elliot much thought beyond him being one of Seth’s followers, someone willing to do anything to help his long-awaited master rise to power. I know Anya believes he changed, but this is the first time I’ve seen it with my own eyes.
“What happens if we can’t stop them?” It’s the question that’s been rattling around in my mind since we started looking. “Any spell can be undone. Even if they manage to pull this off, can’t we just undo it afterward?” I hate to admit it, but that might be the easiest course of action for us. Crystal needs to cast the spell to contact Bess. I wasn’t able to provide her with my own magic for long enough, but if she has the power of Influence behind her, she should be able to do it on her own. After she’s done so, we can simply undo it. It seems straightforward enough to me.
But Elliot is shaking his head. “It’s not that easy. This isn’t like borrowing energy from someone else, or even using herbs or stones to enhance an ability. Magic comes from nature—nature chooses who can wield the power. What this spell does is circumvent that. Influence fills an empty vessel with power. The abilities don’t come from nature; they come from somewhere else. Somewhere darker. And darkness isn’t easy to get rid of.”
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