Eden spied each woman in turn, weighing and measuring their strength in the power. She gave her head a shake and admonished herself to stop it. These were her sisters. What was the matter with her?
I’ve really got to stop asking myself that question.
“You okay?” Sarah whispered out of the side of her mouth.
“Just nerves,” she replied.
Alex called forth the sisters being tested. Eden took her position in the South, while Sarah stood to her right in the East. Skyler’s designated location was opposite Eden in the North next to Paige who was positioned to the West.
Sarah lit the incense she held. “Guardians of the East,” she intoned as the smoke drifted upward. “I call on you to bless this rite and guard the circle.”
The fire came easily as it always did, the red candle in Eden’s hand sparking to life. She felt a rush of exhilaration. “Guardians of the South, I call on you to bless this rite and guard the circle.”
Paige dipped her hand in the bowl of water she held then dropped some of it onto the floor. “Guardians of the West, I call on you to bless this rite and guard the circle.”
Skyler finished this phase by sprinkling a small handful of earth freshly dug from the garden. “Guardians of the West, I call on you to bless this rite and guard the circle.”
One of the sisters in the outside circle cleared her throat. Eden heard robes rustling as others shifted their feet. Calling the corners was meant to open the ritual and induct those present into a heightened state of consciousness. Not this time. There was more fear and dread in the air than magic. Eden hoped it was worth it—Alex forcing them back into routine before they were ready.
Alex summoned a nervous-looking Paige into the center of the circle. Minutes passed, and Paige made attempt after attempt, each one fizzling before the thirty-second requirement to hold the spell had passed.
Eden gripped the sides of her robe; the hunger she’d been free of now aching anew.
Finally, Alex held up her hand. “Enough. Step back to your place.”
Paige hung her head in defeat and shuffled back to her corner. Eden realized how terrible it must be for Paige, but her failure put her own mind at ease. Sarah had to be right—Alex couldn’t expel multiple sisters, especially not under these circumstances: an unplanned test so soon after they’d suffered such a tragedy.
Sarah was next. On her third try, she managed to hold her hair a bright green color long enough to pass. She exhaled with relief and returned back to her place.
Sarah’s efforts had required more power than Paige’s had, and Eden wiped her brow, slick with the effort of not giving in to her hunger. Their hunger. She would never take a drop from her best friend, but Ariana’s magic tingled just behind her outside the circle. One drop wouldn’t hurt her.
Maybe two…
She couldn’t be sure if it was her thought or theirs, and it terrified her.
Skyler stepped forward and fared little better than Paige. But with each pitiful attempt, the hole in Eden’s belly grew. Her vision blurred; her attention narrowed only to not taking what didn’t belong to her. The longer Skyler tried, the more Eden spun, fighting the threat of blacking out.
Alex cleared her throat. Eden glanced up, willing her eyes to focus. Alex’s expression was a mix of irritation and expectation. Her gaze went to Sarah who looked concerned but cut her eyes toward the center of the circle. Eden licked her lips and stepped forward.
I will feed you, Eden told her tormentors. She was staying with Quinn that night so they could leave early the next morning for his parents’ house. I will feed you soon, but you have to shut up so I can do this. Otherwise, I might get kicked out, and then what are you going to do?
The bargaining seemed to work, the voices receding to an angry buzz.
“Anytime you’re ready.” Alex gave her a flat stare. “Don’t let us rush you.”
“Sure, piss off the uber witch,” Ariana muttered under her breath. “What could possibly go wrong?”
The room was quiet. Even Eden’s mind grew quiet. All she heard was the rapid beating of her own heart.
I can do this.
She didn’t realize she’d said it aloud until Alex said, “Then get on with it.”
Eden closed her eyes and accessed the small amount of magic available to her then focused on her hair.
Opening herself to magic only made her need more of it. Sweat dripped from her brow. Her stomach turned in on itself, the hunger so great it consumed her from the inside. She wanted to run, but her rubbery legs refused to obey.
She had to get out of there before she did something she couldn’t take back.
“Oh my God, just fail already.”
Ariana’s words were barely a whisper, but Eden heard. They heard.
Just like with Davida, it happened too quick for Eden to stop it. One of the souls reached through her and into Ariana, extracting more than a drop of her power.
The relief Eden felt was immediate, as was the crushing guilt. But the next time she tried, her glamour held. When Alex called time, Eden stepped back, eyes glued to the floor.
The minutes stretched as Alex recited the words that closed the ritual. Finally, she dismissed the sisters.
As Ariana filed out, Eden heard her say something about a migraine.
Another thing that’s my fault.
“The tests are only going to get harder, you know.” Alex turned her athame over in her hand, its blade flashing when it caught candlelight. “If you had to put that much effort into a spell that easy, it doesn’t bode well for your future here at Coventry House.”
“I guess I’ll just have to work harder.” Eden kept her voice even.
“I thought you wanted to continue Carolyn’s legacy of keeping magic alive.”
Alex’s eyes burned when Sarah mentioned her deceased aunt. “Carolyn knew sacrifices must be made to protect the good of the whole. If a garden needs weeding for it to thrive, so be it.”
Alex strode out. Once they were alone, Sarah wheeled around on Eden.
“And just what in the hell was that?”
Chapter 30
Eden’s expression implied protest, but then she cast her eyes to the floor. “You know what it was.”
“But why? You said the voices were gone—”
“I said they were quiet. I never said they were gone.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I knew they would come back eventually. I just thought I’d have more time.” Eden exhaled sharply. “I would have if Alex hadn’t called that stupid test.”
“Make me understand, Eden. Why am I getting splitting headaches, and why does Ariana have a migraine?
Eden looked up sharply. “You said your headaches were from TMJ. When did they start?”
“Around the time Bes’tal moved in next door.”
Eden recoiled, and Sarah regretted the harshness of her words.
“Ariana is my fault, but I swear, I haven’t done anything to give you a headache. I would never hurt you.”
Sarah accepted Eden at her word, but it didn’t change the facts. “So, you won’t hurt me, but you’re okay with hurting Ariana?
“I’m not okay with any of this.” Eden slumped in a chair. “I haven’t been okay for a long time. The past week has been a reprieve—a temporary remission from these…parasites that have invaded my body.” She shook her head ruefully. “Except they didn’t invade. I let them in.”
Sarah felt herself softening. After all, Eden had made the ultimate sacrifice to save the rest of them. But she couldn’t afford to be soft. Not after whatever it was Eden had just done.
“What did you do to Ariana?”
“I didn’t—” Eden stopped and then exhaled as if in defeat. “I want to say it wasn’t me—it was them. But it was me—is me. The voices started talking, and I did my best not to listen. I always try so hard.” Tears spilled down Eden’s cheeks. “But when I’m around that much power. Not just witches, which is bad
enough, but magical energy, they just will not shut up. I don’t want to do what they’re telling me to do. I don’t want to…” Eden wiped the tears from her eyes. “I took some of Ariana’s power. A couple of drops. I just needed them to shut up, Sarah. I needed them to stop yelling at me.”
Sarah tried to keep the horror from her face. Eden was clearly remorseful, but Sarah could only remember what it was like in Torwille’s tent as her power had been extracted drop by excruciating drop. “And did it work?”
Eden’s cheeks colored with shame. “Yeah. For now.”
“Have you done this before?” Sarah wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
Eden nodded. “Once. In the hospital, when Davida was questioning me.”
Sarah’s mouth hung agape. “Davida?”
“I didn’t even know what was happening. The souls reached through me and into her. I was so scared she would know. I was ashamed of what they’d… what I had done. But she didn’t know, and the voices were quiet for a while.”
“And it’s just been those two times?”
Eden nodded, and Sarah thanked heaven for the smallest of favors.
“How have you avoided giving in to them?”
Eden scrubbed a hand through her hair. “I found another way to shut them up.”
Sarah was almost afraid to ask. “Which is?”
“Quinn. Being with Quinn quiets them for a while. Not as long as the power thing, but long enough.”
“And when you say, ‘being with,’ you mean…”
Eden shot her a flat stare. “I don’t mean cuddling.”
Sarah’s cheeks warmed. “That’s…strange.”
“I don’t think it is,” Eden said. “I’ve had way too much time to consider, and I think it makes perfect sense. They feed on a person’s essence. A witch may be more powerful, but soul is soul. And when I’m with Quinn, I feel his soul.”
Sarah understood. There were times with Kai when she wasn’t sure where she began and Kai ended. So much could pass between them with a simple glance.
“Is it hurting him?”
“It’s wearing him out, but no. I wouldn’t hurt him any more than I’d hurt you.”
“I know.”
The two shared a look, neither seeming sure what to say.
Finally, Eden took a deep breath. “You were right about Alex. We need to tell her.”
Sarah gulped with a mix of worry and relief. She did need the help to get the containment spell to work, but her confidence that Alex wouldn’t turn them over to the Council was not absolute.
Sarah screwed up her courage and took a few steps toward the door. “We should do it now. Rip off the Band-Aid.”
“What?” Eden appeared startled. “I didn’t mean yet. We don’t even have the urn.”
“What’s the point in waiting? Besides, she might have a book or one of her potions that could help.”
“I just…” Eden paused. “Look, it’s selfish, okay? It’s totally selfish, and you can say no, and I won’t blame you. But can’t we do it after the holiday? I want to believe Alex will help, but it’s Alex. I could be carted off by the Council an hour after we tell her. I might not even get a chance to say goodbye to Quinn.”
Sarah hadn’t thought of that.
“Just give me a few days with him. A few days to be with him and feel normal.”
“What if you get…hungry?”
“I won’t. At least I don’t think I will. The voices pretty much left me alone for days after Davida. But if they do start up again, the safest place I can be is away from Coventry House and with Quinn.” Eden’s eyes were pleading.
“If anything happens—”
“Bind me.” Eden’s words shocked Sarah into silence. “All the way.”
“Are you sure?” Sarah did have to admit it would make her feel better about the situation.
“Completely. It’s the only way we’ll know I can’t do anything really bad. I would never risk hurting Quinn or his family.”
“Of course, you wouldn’t.” Sarah knew Kai would want her to be strong in this situation—to be hard. Would want her to march up to Alex’s bedroom and spill everything right now. But strength sometimes meant being soft, and her best friend was up to her eyebrows with hard. “Go to Quinn’s. Meet the parents. Do the normal thing. You deserve it.”
Eden threw her arms around Sarah’s neck. “Thank you,” she said. “Thank you.”
Chapter 31
With the exception of the suffocating feeling of being fully bound, Eden enjoyed the ride to Quinn’s parents’ house. Once outside of Somerland, the houses became sparse, and soon she and Quinn were on roads that cut through dense forest. The trees stood sentry, some having shed their foliage, others a riot of color. She soaked in the beauty as they zoomed past.
As they got closer, Quinn pointed out various landmarks: the now-abandoned water park he’d visited as a kid, the neighboring high school where he’d taken a girl to prom as a favor to his mom’s best friend.
“How bad was it?” Eden asked as they idled at a stoplight.
“Not bad at all, really.” The light turned green, and they continued on their way. “I balked because I was a teenager and didn’t like my mother telling me what to do. But she was sweet. Just a little awkward. I’m pretty sure she was more embarrassed about the set-up than I was. We showed up, got our picture taken, had some punch, and bailed. I took her for ice cream.” He pointed. “Right there, in fact.”
Eden smiled. She liked hearing Quinn’s stories and loved knowing he was the type of guy who would take an awkward girl to prom and try to make it less awkward. But of course he was. Over and over, he proved how good of a person he was.
A few more landmarks with their accompanying stories and they were turning down a road that might as well have been called Norman Rockwell Lane.
It was then Eden felt her nerves. The last time she’d met a boy’s parents, she was in high school, and she’d met them before she was officially dating their son. The stakes were much higher this time. Would they like her? Quinn took stock in his mother’s opinion; she needed to make a good impression. She twisted her hands in her lap.
Quinn pulled into a driveway and came to a stop. Eden glanced up at the two-story brick house. It was sweet, with two unassuming cars in the driveway and a wreath of fall leaves on the front door.
Quinn paused with his hand on the door handle, his face serious. “Remember what we talked about.”
Eden smirked. “Whatever do you mean?”
Quinn’s eyes narrowed. “No embarrassing questions.” He couldn’t hold the stern face long, and a grin split his face.
Eden shrugged. “I make no promises.”
The door to the house opened. First, Quinn’s mother appeared and then his father. She’d have known it was them even if they weren’t at his house. Quinn was the perfect mix of both.
“Here we go,” Quinn said. He gave Eden’s hand a squeeze and got out to greet his parents.
Here we go.
Quinn’s parents were effusive in their welcome. Especially Quinn’s mother, who pulled her into an embrace.
“I’m so happy to meet you,” she said. “Quinn’s told us so much about you.”
Eden blushed at that.
When she referred to her as Mrs. Matthews, Quinn’s mom insisted Eden call her Sheila then introduced her husband as Dan.
Once inside, the pleasant scent of home cooking hit Eden’s nostrils. The house was cozy. Not from being small, but in furnishing and feel. Anyone could tell a family had lived there, that life had happened—was still happening—inside these walls. The hominess soothed Eden’s nerves.
“Can I get you something warm to drink?” Sheila led them into the kitchen. “I’ve got coffee, hot chocolate, and spiced cider.”
“Spiced cider sounds amazing.” Eden slid onto a stool at the counter alongside Quinn.
Her own mother made that for the holidays too. She hoped her parents were doing okay. She’d spoken with them that
morning before she and Quinn had begun driving, and they had assured her they were fine. But it was the first major holiday they’d spent apart. She was missing them and knew they must be missing her too. She made a mental note to call again later that night.
“I’ll have that too, Mom.” Quinn rubbed Eden’s back and gave her a reassuring glance.
“Your father has been watching football all day,” Sheila said as she ladled the cider from a pot on the stove. “While I’ve been toiling away.”
Quinn snorted. “What else is new?”
“Hey.” Dan held up a hand. “Flag on the play. Who scrubbed the potatoes?”
“You did, dear.” Sheila slid mugs of cider across the counter to Quinn and Eden.
“And who sliced said potatoes with near military precision so they would cook evenly?” He made a cutting motion as though he held an imaginary knife.
“Yes, that was you too.” Sheila kissed Dan on the cheek, and they shared a smile that indicated this was a longstanding joke.
“We’ll eat dinner in about two hours. Are you hungry from the trip? I can make a snack.”
“I’m fine to wait.” Eden glanced at Quinn, hoping he opted for a snack, so she could sneak a few bites. Now that her appetite had returned—the one for actual food—she often found herself hungrier than ever.
“Me too,” Quinn patted his stomach. “I’m saving room for the real spread.”
“Smart boy.” Dan clapped a hand on his son’s back. “Your mother has outdone herself this year.”
“It’s nothing.” Sheila waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, before I forget. Quinn said you like soy milk in your coffee, but all they had was almond. I hope that’s okay.”
Eden blinked in surprise, then glanced at Quinn, who gave her a grin. He’d told his mother how she took her coffee?
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