Getting it all laid out and organized before slipping out of my clothes and removing my amulet. Placing it on a shelf next to the metallic clutch purse Sabine gave me a couple months back, knowing the deep V in the dress I plan to wear offers no place to hide the assortment of stones. Besides, after the ritual Im planning to do, Ill no longer need it.
No longer need anything.
Thanks to Romy and Rayne Ive been handed the key Ive sought all along. And all it required was a password of sorts, the three of us forming a circle with the book in the center, hands clasped, eyes closed, each of us repeating a verse that went:
Within the world of magickresides this very tome
To which we are the chosenreturning to our home
Within the realm of mysticswe shall now reside
Allowed to glimpse upon this bookand see what lies inside
The two of them beside me as I pressed my palm to its front, simultaneously frightened and fascinated when the book opened in a flurry of pages until resting on just the right one.
I knelt down before it, hardly believing my eyes. What was once a series of convoluted, hard-to-read code had become a simple recipe stating just what I need to get the job done.
I drop my dirty clothes in the hamper and reach for the white silk robe I rarely wear but thatll be perfect for the ritual. Carrying it into the bathroom where I fill up the tub for a nice long soak, which, according to the book, is the first important step in any ritual. Not only for cleansing the body and releasing the mind of all distracting negativity and thought, but also allowing time to reflect on the spells intent, the outcome one wishes to see.
I lower myself in the water, sprinkling a dash of sage and mugwort and adding a clear quartz crystal stone to aid in my quest and center my vision, closing my eyes as I chant:
Cleanse and reclaim this body of mine
So that my magick may properly bind
My spirit reborn, now ready for flight
Allowing my magick to take hold tonight
All the while visualizing Roman before me, tall, tanned, and golden-haired, deep blue eyes gazing into mine as he apologizes for the terrible inconvenience hes caused, begging forgiveness and offering aid, willingly handing over the antidote to the antidote, newly enlightened to the error of his ways.
Replaying the vision again and again until my skins gone all pruney and its time to move on. Stepping out of the bath and into my robe, cleansed and purified and ready to proceed as I assemble my tools and light the incense, passing the knife through the smoke three times, as I say:
I call upon Air to cast out any dark energies from this athame
Allowing only the light to remain
I call upon Fire to blaze away all negativity from this athame
Allowing only the good to remain
Repeating the verse for the rest of the elements, calling upon Water and Earth, to cast out all dark and leave only light, concluding the consecration by sprinkling salt over the knife and calling upon the highest of magical powers to see that its done.
Cleansing and consecrating the room as I walk three times around it, waving my incense as I say:
I walk this circle thrice around
To consecrate and empower this ground
Evoking the power and protection of thee
Drawing their magical powers to me
Forming a magick circle by sprinkling salt onto the floor, not unlike Rayne did with Damen just a few weeks before. Taking my place in the center and envisioning a cone of power rising around me as I arrange my crystals, light my candles, and anoint myself with oil, calling upon the elements of Fire and Air to aid in my spell, then closing my eyes until a white silk cord and a replica of Roman manifests right before me.
Where you go my spell will follow
Where you hide my spell will find
Where you rest my spell will lie
With this cord your actions cease
With my blood your knowledge released
With this spell I bind thee to me
Raising my athame and slicing it across my palm, tracing the curve of my lifeline as a rush of wind sweeps through the circle and an applause of thunder claps overhead. My hair whipping about as I squint against the swirling gale, my blood letting onto the cord until its soaked and red. Rushing to secure it around Romans neck, my gaze fixed on his, willing him to provide what I seek, before banishing him as though he never appeared.
I rise, body shaking, sweating, elated to know that its over and done. Just a matter of time before the antidote to the antidote is in my possession and Damen and I join as one.
The wind begins to slow as the snap crackle of electricity starts to abate, and Im collecting the stones and snuffing the candles when Romy and Rayne burst through the door, mouths open, eyes wide, as they stand there and gape.
What have you done? Rayne cries, gaze darting from my magick salt circle, to my collection of tools, to my blood-covered knife.
I look at them, gaze steady and secure, as I say, Relax. Its over. I fixed it. And now its just a matter of time before everything is put right again.
About to step out of the circle when Romy shouts, Stop!
Hand held before her, eyes blazing as her sister adds, Dont move. Please, just trust us this time and do what we say.
I pause, glancing between them, wondering what could possibly be the big deal. The spell worked. I can feel its energy still thrumming inside me, and now its just a matter of time until Roman appears
Youve really done it this time, Rayne says, shaking her head. Dont you know that the moon is dark? Youre never supposed to do magick on the dark moonnever! Its a time for contemplation, meditation, but you never, ever, practice unless youre practicing the dark arts.
I glance between them, wondering if shes serious, and if so, what difference it could possibly make. If the spell worked, it worked. The rest is just details. Right?
Her twin chiming in to add, Who did you call upon to aid you?
I think back on my rhyme, the one I was pretty proud of for making up on the fly, recalling the line: Evoking the power and protection of thee, and repeating it to her.
Great, Rayne says, closing her eyes and shaking her head.
Romy standing beside her, frowning as she adds, During the dark moon, the goddess is absent while the queen of the underworld takes over. So in other words, instead of calling upon the light to work your spell, you asked the dark powers to aid you.
And to bind Roman to me! I gape, eyes wide, darting between the two of them, wondering if theres a way to reverse it, quickly, easily, before its too late!
It is too late, they say, reading my face. All you can do now is wait for the next moon phase and try to reverse it. If it can be reversed.
But The word dying on my lips as the enormity of my situation starts to sink in. Remembering Damens warning from before, how sometimes when people get involved in witchcraft they get in over their head and wind up taking a much darker path . . .
I gaze at the two of them, unable to speak. Watching Rayne shake her head angrily as her sister looks at me and says, All you can do now is cleanse yourself and your tools, burn your athame, and hope for the best. And then, if youre lucky, well let you out of the circle so all the bad energy youve conjured cant escape.
If Im lucky? I look at them, stomach sinking. Is she serious? Is it really that bad?
Gaze darting between them as Romy says, Dont push it. Youve no idea what youve started.
CHAPTER 44
Miles and Holt arrive together, and when they take one look at the decorations, Miles totally flips.
I dont even have to go to Florence now that youve brought Florence to me! He hugs me to him, quickly pulling away when he says, Sorry, I forgot how you hate to be touched.
But I just shake my head and hug him again, feeling pretty good despite Romy and Rayne standing before me like the Great Wall of Pessimismall raised brows, folded arms, and twisted lipswhile I performed a quick but thorough grounding/protection meditation, picturing strong beams of white light penetrating my skull and flowing through my body, in an attempt to ward off at least some of the damage theyre convinced that Ive done.
But the truth is, I dont see the point. After the initial burst of empowerment, just after the binding spell was completed, everything returned to normal again. The only reason I even went through with their guided meditation is because they were acting so freaked, it was the only way to calm them down. But now Im thinking it was all just a big misunderstandinga complete overreaction on their part.
I mean, Im immortal, gifted with strength and power they cant even begin to imagine. So while performing a magical ritual during the dark moon may pose danger to them, I seriously doubt it makes the slightest bit of difference for me.
And no sooner have I gotten Miles and Holt their drinks when the bell rings again, and again, and before I know it, my house is filled with pretty much every member from the Hairspray cast and crew.
Huh, guess hes not Havens date after all, unless theyre arriving separately? Miles says, nodding toward Jude as he enters the room laughing that good-natured laugh and helping himself to some virgin sangria, before taking off with Holt and leaving us alone together.
Nice send-off. Jude nods, gazing around. Makes me want to go somewhere too.
I look at him, smiling vaguely, wondering if he notices anything different about me, a change of energy, a new sense of empowerment
But he just smiles, raising his cup as he says, Paris. He takes a sip and nods. Ive always wanted to go to Paris. London and Amsterdam too. He shrugs. Pretty much any of the great Euro pe an cities would do.
I swallow hard and try not to gape. Wondering if he somehow knowsif its buried deep within his subconscious, trying to surface. I mean, why else would he list all the significant places of our past?
He looks at me, green eyes on mine, holding the moment so long I clear my throat and say, Huh. And here I had you pegged as the eco-adventure type. You know, Costa Rica, Hawaii, Galapagosseeker of the perfect wave and all that. Knowing that laugh at the end did nothing to hide my sudden bout of nervousness, just about to follow with something equally dumb when he looks past my shoulder and says, Incoming.
I turn to find Haven, practically dwarfed by the tall, lithe, beautiful girl from the store where she works, on one side, and Roman on the other, while the immortal from the hall today at school walks just behind them. Three gorgeous, auraless, and pretty much soulless, immortal rogues Haven inadvertently invited into my home.
I swallow hard, eyes narrowed on Roman, fingers at my throat, seeking the amulet I chose not to wear, and reminding myself that I no longer need it. Im in charge now. I summoned him here.
Figured youd have plenty of room and food. Haven smiles, hair newly dyed to the darkest of browns with a platinum streak that curves down the front, having ditched her usual emo look for one thats even edgier yet vintagelike a post apocalyptic vintage if there is such a thing. And all it takes is one look at the dark beauty beside her, her spiky hair, multi-pierced lobes, delicate lace-corseted dress paired with black leather boots, to know who spawned this latest makeover of hers.
Im Misa. The girl smiles, voice betraying the faintest trace of an accent thats unrecognizable to me. Her hand reaching for mine as I brace for the chill, the familiar jolt of ice water swarming my veins confirming my suspicion, though failing to tell me if shes one of the orphans, or more recently turned.
And of course you know Roman. Haven smiles, lifting her hand so I can see it entwined with his.
But I refuse to react. Refuse to give anything away. I just nod and smile, as though it doesnt bother me at all.
Because it doesnt.
Its just a matter of time now til Romans handing over the cure and doing my bidding. Thats the only reason hes here.
Oh, and this is Rafe. She nods, jabbing her finger toward the glorious rogue just behind her.
Same group of rogues the twins were talking about, minus Marco, the one with the Jaguar who doesnt seem to be here. And even though Ive no idea what theyre up to, what their agenda could possibly be, if theyre hanging with Roman, the twins have every right to be worried.
Haven heads for the den, eager to introduce Misa and Rafe to her friends, as Roman lags behind, grinning at me.
Id almost forgotten how good you can look when you put a little effort behind it. He smiles, gaze gliding over my turquoise blue dress, hovering at the deep V of the neck, the expanse of bare skin where my amulet should be. Guess this must be the reason, he nods, motioning toward Jude. Since we know it wasnt for me, and Damen doesnt seem to be around much these days, does he? What happened, Ever? You forfeit your quest?
I swallow hard and steady my gaze, taking in the tousled hair, designer board shorts, leather flip-flops, and long-sleeved tee, nothing about him appearing the slightest bit different, and yet we both know it is. That gleam in his eye, his lascivious gaze, his attempt to embarrass meits all just a front, a bit of bravado, trying to save face before he hands over the goods.
So, you pouring? He nods toward the punch bowl filled with nonalcoholic sangria. Or is this a help-yourself situation? Eyeing the bowl in a way that sets me on edge.
I dont think youd like it. I shrug, gaze fixed on his when I add, Not your kind of drink.
Good thing I brought my own. He winks, raising his glass bottle and stopping just shy of his lips, tilting it toward Jude when he says, Wanna try? Takes the edge off. Guarantee you that.
Jude squints, entranced by the sparking, pearlescent liquid Roman jiggles before him. And Im just about to intervene when Romy and Rayne barrel down the stairs, halting when their eyes meet Romans, knowing Im responsible for his being here.
Well, if it isnt the Catholic school twins. Roman smiles, cheeks spread wide as he takes them in. Love the new look! Especially youyou little punk goddess. He nods at Rayne, prompting her to turn away as he takes in her short dress, ripped stockings, and black patent-leather Mary Jane shoes.