“I thought so too, Mamma,” I said. “That’s why we need to perform this spell.”
I slid the book to her and she said a simple revelation spell should work if we concentrated on what we wanted. She told us to hold hands, close our eyes and envision a spell that would help us in our time of need. Then chant, “Revelare!”
The pages of the book flew open of their own accord for several seconds, then stopped. I looked down and my eyes nearly popped out of my head.
“What is it? What did you find?” Danielle asked.
“Well, if I understand it correctly”—I placed the book in front of her so she could see what I was looking at—“this spell talks about finding what was lost. It might work on the talisman if we can’t find Roger. The talisman belongs to our family. It should come back to us according to the book.”
“Well, hot damn! That’s just what we needed. I knew you were good for something, Abbs,” she teased.
Everyone got up from their seats to read the spell for themselves. “My word,” Mom said. “This might just work and we can do it here from our home.”
“Can we do it now?” Liz asked, looking up at Mom.
“I would like to have Genevieve here, just in case. It’s eleven a.m. now. I’ll call her around two and see if she’s available. If not, we’ll go ahead without her,” Mom replied.
“Hey, do you know what this means?” Danny asked, interrupting. “Once we get the talisman, we can jump in Delphine’s illusion and save my dad.” He leaned over and planted a kiss on my mouth. “Thank God and the ancestors for your dad’s book.”
I smiled back at him. “Yep and maybe we can kick her ass while we’re there. Wishful thinking, but I’d love to.”
Just then the phone rang and Mom answered. It was Genevieve. Strange. Mom’s mouth opened, then closed and she said that we’d be home and to come right over. I thought Genevieve would be busy with funerals today. Apparently, something was going on that we didn’t know about.
Mom hung up the phone and looked at me. “Genevieve learned more about Daphne, the Red Witch. Her two sons are, in fact, dead, but there’s more.” Mom pulled out her seat and sat down at the table.
“She and Marcus attempted to make a deal with the soul-sucking demon to bring their sons back from the dead.”
“Their sons?” I interrupted, shocked.
“Yes, and when we sent the demon back to the Underworld it enraged them further. That’s why they’re attempting to create more demons.” Mom took a deep breath and looked around the room.
“So, why is Genevieve coming?” Liz asked.
“I’ll let her tell you,” she said.
The doorbell rang not two minutes later and Genevieve walked in, or ran rather, to the kitchen and sat on the other side of Mom. “I filled them in as best I could, but I’ll leave the rest to you,” Mom said, getting up to make two cups of tea.
Liz and Danielle brought the coffee carafe to the table with three mugs.
“I now know why Daphne’s sons’ bodies disappeared,” Genevieve began, accepting a cup of tea. “Marcus and Daphne removed and preserved them, waiting for just the right opportunity to bring them back.”
“I don’t understand,” Danielle said. “They’re dead. Wouldn’t they have had to make some kind of sweet deal with the demon in order for him to do it?”
“Yes, and it was Abby’s soul. You see, they were working both sides: Delphine and the demon. Whoever could bring their children back, but now that the demon is gone, they’re using Delphine’s magic along with Roger to help possess vampires in hopes of creating demons they can control.”
“How do you know all this?” Danny asked, leaning forward.
“I caught a glimpse into Marcus’s mind,” Genevieve replied. “Abby injured him severely. He’s not able to keep me out and I’m also able to see bits and pieces of Daphne’s past. It all happened so fast and I had to rush right over.”
“Wow,” Danielle said. “And here we thought Francesca was his girlfriend.”
“No, just a loyal servant who wants Delphine’s magic for herself.”
I had to laugh. “So, Delphine’s being played and she doesn’t even know it. Ironic, huh?”
“I’m sure she will figure it out,” Genevieve said. “She’s not as stupid as they think she is. She’s playing them as well by draining the magic and souls they’re offering, making her stronger. It’s only a matter of time before someone turns.”
“Crap balls. That means we don’t have much time. She could kill them all,” I said fervently. “We need to get that talisman back. Now.”
“How do you suppose we do that?” Genevieve asked.
“We just found a spell in Daddy’s book,” I replied, standing up.
“If you would like my assistance, I’ll help you prepare,” Genevieve offered.
“That would be wonderful,” Mom said. “As long as you have the time. I know today is a hard day for you and your coven.”
“It is, but I want to help.”
Everyone stood. “Where would be a good place to perform the spell?” Danny asked.
“The attic,” I suggested.
Mom looked at me strangely and asked why. I explained to her that it was where Daddy led me to find his book, and something in my gut told me that was where the spell needed to take place. I could feel it. It was also where we were warned of the Red Witch. I felt it was a place of revelations and hopefully, new beginnings.
We took the stairs to the attic and switched on the light. It was exactly the way we had left it. Mom began clearing a space on the floor after grabbing several candles from a nearby shelf. Danielle and Liz helped her create the circle while I studied the spell. I wanted to make sure everything was set up exactly as the book instructed. We couldn’t afford to change even the slightest detail.
Genevieve burned sage and began blessing the room, asking for guidance and strength from God and our ancestors. Danny walked alongside her saying a prayer of his own. I knew he was praying for the safe return of his dad once we had the talisman back in the safety of our home. We were going to ward and cloak it immediately to keep dark forces from attempting to steal it again.
Once the blessing was complete, we sat behind our designated candles. I placed the book in front of me. The spell seemed simple enough, but nothing in my life was ever simple and I didn’t want to believe this would be any different.
I instructed everyone to light their candles counterclockwise. This spell required a lot of concentration, power from our ancestors and God’s light. I prayed for strength and that if Daddy could be with me and guide me, to please do so. I was nervous and scared.
I told everyone to hold hands and concentrate on their powers, praying to the ancestors for their strength. I squeezed Liz’s hand and asked her to focus on God’s light. Then recited the incantation:
Ancients and Ancestors, we call upon thee
With the power of God Almighty.
We seek what is lost;
Bring the talisman forth to its rightful place.
Remove it from the clutches of evil
And bind it from seeing our will.
So we have called it.
So shall it be.
The flames flickered in and out at first, then grew three feet high, dancing inside the circle. I watched as the wooden floor took the shape of a tornado and wind ruffled my hair. I remained seated, clutching Liz’s and Danny’s hands, careful not to break the circle. I wasn’t sure if the spell worked, but I continued praying for the talisman to come forth, chanting aloud.
The small tornado grew in size, nearly touching the ceiling, blowing our hair back, but not touching anything outside the circle. My heart raced in my chest when I saw a glint of something shiny circling the middle of the dying whirlwind. As the winds died down, the wooden floor came into view. Then with a loud clang, the diamond-encrusted talisman hit the floor.
Gasps rent the room. I couldn’t believe it worked. It actually worked! “Liz, do you
have the purple velvet sack I gave you earlier?” I asked, still in awe.
Without speaking or even looking at me, she handed me the small bag. I untied it, then took the metal candlestick holder sitting to my right and pulled the talisman toward me by its golden chain, careful not to touch it, then slipped it into the bag, and tied it closed.
“Holy shit!” Danielle shouted. “A freakin’ tornado came out of your floor. Then the talisman. I bet Mr. Braud is pissed.” She laughed, blowing out her candle and standing from the floor.
Mom looked at Danielle and shook her head. I assumed she was giving up on scolding everyone for their language, at least for now.
Danny jumped up and nearly squeezed the life out of me. “We did it!” he said. “Now, all we have to do is get my dad outta there.”
“One step at a time,” Mom reminded him. “It’s dangerous, Danny, and we will have to prepare all of you beforehand. We have no idea what to expect now that the talisman is back where it belongs.”
“I understand. I just want him safe and out of that talisman as soon as possible. I’m afraid of what she’s done to him.”
Mom placed her hand on Danny’s shoulder and pulled him in for a hug. “We all do, child.”
Genevieve’s phone rang and she placed it on speaker. It was James telling her that at least a dozen rogue vampires had just shown up at Saint Louis Cemetery Number Six. Her mouth fell open in a gasp, as did ours. How the hell were they out in broad daylight? It made no sense. Did our spell upset the balance somehow or was it possession? I had no idea—the Red Witch! It had to have something to do with the warning.
I rushed to her side when she hung up the phone. “Whatever you need us to do, we will,” I said, grasping her hand.
Genevieve was in shock, at a loss for words. “I know this is hard to understand, but you must get yourself together,” Mom urged, gripping her shoulders. “We don’t have much time and we need to leave now.”
She nodded, but her eyes were unfocused and glazed over. I’d never seen Genevieve in such a state, not even when Christopher and Sheri died.
We gathered our things and practically dragged her down the steps. It was the only way. She would snap out of it eventually. We had a good fifteen-minute drive ahead of us and that was if there was no traffic.
James called again and Genevieve didn’t answer. I snatched the phone from her hand and called him back. I heard screaming in the background.
“James, it’s Abby. What’s going on?”
“They’re everywhere, Abby. And there’s magic. I don’t know what to think. They’re not hybrids,” he said, panting. I heard rustling, like he was running through tree limbs.
“Okay, keep everyone together as best you can and whatever you do, don’t let one of them bite or kill a hybrid. They could be one of Marcus’s possessed vamps. I won’t know until I’m there.
“Fight them off with magic. Blow them up, I don’t give a shit, just stay out of their reach. We’re on our way.”
“Abby, please hurry. I don’t know how much longer we can hold them off,” James said, and I heard another scream in the distance. I only prayed it wasn’t a hybrid.
“If you can, put up a magical barrier to ward off humans and to protect yourselves. We can’t have them seeing any sort of magical display or, God forbid, vampires on the loose.”
“I’ll do my best. Thanks, Abby,” he said, ending the call.
I jumped in the driver’s seat with Danny upfront. Mom ushered Genevieve in the middle while Liz and Danielle sat in the back. I decided to take a short cut to the cemetery, bypassing the highway.
On the way, Mom performed several cleansing spells on Genevieve to awaken her mind and she finally came back to us, gasping for air. “My family!” she shouted.
“We’ve got this, Genevieve. Don’t worry. We’re only a few minutes away,” I said, speeding down the road like a madwoman.
Shit. The talisman. I had stuffed the bag in my front pocket and forgot about it during all the commotion and didn’t ward it before we left. Oh well. As long as no one but me knew where it was, the stupid thing was safe.
We pulled up to the cemetery and holy hell! James hadn’t been exaggerating. There were rogues everywhere. The hybrids erected a barrier, but the vampires were attempting to break the forcefield with magic of their own. I didn’t understand how, but now wasn’t the time for contemplation. I had to fight for my friends and family.
We parked on the side road and ran through the cemetery gates, then joined the hybrids. I asked James for an update. No one had been bitten or lost their lives, thank God and the ancestors.
I looked beyond the barrier to see what we were dealing with. Black inky auras surrounded the vampires and, just as I expected, it was the work of Marcus and Roger—they were possessed. We would have to tread lightly.
I looked to Danny, Liz and Danielle just as they came to stand beside me. “Look, their auras. Sis, your sword can only kill them this time. They can’t be redeemed. Understand?”
Liz nodded that she understood and Danielle was ready with her magic on full display.
“If you can, use your fire and avoid close contact as much as possible,” I told them. “Where’s Mom and Genevieve?” I asked, looking around.
“They’re helping the hybrids strengthen the barrier,” Danny answered.
“All right, then. It’s up to us now. Let’s kick some vampire ass!” I shouted and took off running around the barrier, hands blazing.
The possessed rogues were standing alongside the tree line firing magic toward the barrier, but when they saw us coming, they stopped; their inky black stares locked onto me.
One by one, they crept toward us with what seemed to be black magic swirling around their hands, but I didn’t give them a chance to get very close. When I was close enough, I threw out fireballs in quick succession, one after another, setting them ablaze from head to toe as they approached. I could hear wailing accost my ears, but I didn’t let that stop me.
I continued blasting one, two and three at a time, watching as their bodies turned to ash. Then I heard Danielle scream behind me. I turned abruptly just before a tall lanky vampire was about to sink his filthy fangs into her arm and I called upon the magic within my soul. No one was going to hurt her! Blue and white fireworks exploded from my fingertips, crashing into the vampire’s torso just as Danielle was pushing him away with her own magic. He went down in a thunderous cloud of supernatural fire, then exploded leaving nothing but bone fragments and what was left of his burning flesh in his wake.
Danielle ran to me. “Thanks, but vampire guts? Again?” she asked, yanking stray remains from her hair.
“You’re welcome,” I said and hugged her. “You all right?”
“Yeah. Where’s Liz and Danny?” she asked.
I looked around and saw Danny fighting off three vamps successfully, but I didn’t see Liz anywhere.
“Shit. Liz!” I called out for her and continued walking around, throwing out my fire when a vamp moved on the ground. I stepped over bodies, and looked through the trees.
“Danielle, I can’t see her. Where did you see her last?” I asked, frantically.
“She was fighting near Danny before I was attacked. I don’t know after that.”
“Dammit! Come on.” I took off running to the farthest tree line near the back part of the cemetery.
I came to a halt when I saw Marcus and Daphne holding Liz down in a kneeling position—her sword was lying on the ground about two feet in front of her. Daphne held a red and black magical flame dangerously close to her throat.
I freakin’ knew it! “Let her go. Now!” I shouted. “It’s me you want.” Liz looked at me shaking her head, but there was no way in hell I would allow them to hurt my baby sister.
“Why should we let her go when we can have you both?” Marcus sneered, then threw out a green magical blast toward my face, but I met it with my own white light, pushing him further back.
Danielle called upon h
er magic. “I wouldn’t if I were you,” Daphne said to her. “Not if you want your friend to live.” Then she allowed her flame to graze the side of Liz’s neck and I lost my shit.
I called upon all of my power, praying to God and the ancestors. “Don’t touch my sister again, witch,” I said in an even, deadly tone, continuing to push Marcus back.
Danielle stood next me, then glanced over my shoulder. I wasn’t sure what she was looking at, but I didn’t have time to care.
“Or what, Abigail? You’ll try to kill me again and fail?” Daphne threw her head back and laughed.
“I won’t fail again. I know your secret and yours too, Marcus.” I turned and glared at him, pushing my magic forth. He was sweating now, unable to keep holding me back.
“Your sons ring a bell?”
Their faces lit up in shock. I smiled, throwing out another, more powerful blast toward Marcus, knocking him to his knees, then Liz cried out in pain.
I ran toward her, mere feet from Daphne. “I suggest you let my sister go and take me instead.” I seethed, yanking Liz from her grasp and throwing her toward Danielle, having no idea where the added strength came from, but I wasn’t about to question it.
Daphne’s hands lit up in flames and she reached for my throat. I took a step back, hooking my right leg beneath her, and pulled her to the ground.
Liz scrambled behind me, then stood with her sword at the ready. I told her to run and get Danny, but she continued standing, rooted to the spot, refusing to leave me. Danielle was staring off to the side again and I wondered what the hell she was looking at.
I snatched Daphne by her hair with my left hand, holding a blue and white flame in my right. “Your sons will never enter this world again. Not as long as I have breath in my body.”
“Abby, duck!” Liz cried out.
Marcus was on his knees, and in a last-ditch effort, had thrown a burst of dark magic straight toward my heart. I rolled off Daphne, but Marcus struck me in my right shoulder. It felt like the fires of hell were scorching my body, even with a protection potion in my system.
Magic Unleashed (Delphine Rising Book 2) Page 13