Fire Spell (6 page)

The floor felt wet and cold. I reached forward and touched something rough and slick. I opened my eyes. I was lying on cobblestones, and the rain poured from the night sky. I looked over my shoulder and saw the cloaked figure rushing toward me.

I scrambled from the sidewalk and lunged forward. If I could align my body upright, I could move. My feet were bare and I slipped on the stones the faster I ran. I turned the nearest corner between two houses. There was no way to quiet my breathing, so I tried to hold the breath in.

I hunched behind a fence gate and watched as the hooded creature passed me. I let go of the air burning in my lungs. I didn’t know where he was headed, but for now, I was out of his view and his reach.

“Ivy! Ivy!” My name was followed by a scream.

Oh my God. I peered from the side of my hiding spot. I knew that voice.

“Ivy!” He screamed my name again. “Run! Get out of here. Go!”

My heart sank and my stomach churned. Finn? The hooded man had Finn? I pushed off the gate and ran toward the screams, toward the darkness. It felt like my heart ripped in pieces, and my chest was being split with every breath. I couldn’t run fast enough to save him.

“Finn!” I yelled as I saw the cloaked man place a hood over Finn’s piercing blue eyes.

I sat up in bed.
It was a dream.
It was a dream.
I tried to calm myself. “Illuminate,” I whispered between ragged breaths.

My chest was covered in perspiration. I peeled the sheet away, searching for cool air. Everything suddenly felt hot and suffocating.

The glowing orb bobbed in my hand. I looked down at Cooper, snoring in his bed. My dream had clearly not bothered him. I tried to laugh, but there wasn’t anything light about all of the darkness I had just experienced. I tried to sort through it. Was Finn in danger? Did he need me? Maybe I just replaced the usual Jack nightmares with Finn this time because of my grandmother’s journals. I wasn’t alert enough to psychoanalyze how the guys matched up in my head.

It was almost the same dream every time with subtle variations. None of it made sense, except that whatever was causing the dreams wasn’t finished with me. I was tired of the nightmares and the fear. I had done my best to listen to the cloaked man. I had Jack’s memory erased, I never shared my magic, but I hadn’t stopped the Foresight completely. It was time I faced it. Only, I didn’t know how.

I threw my legs over the side of the bed, knowing I wouldn’t be able to shake the dark feeling that the images of Finn in danger conjured if I didn’t do something about it. It was five, and earlier than I ever woke up, but I needed to start my trip sooner than planned. There had to be answers in Charleston. My grandmother was a Laurel. The man she was in love with had been a Guardian, and they were working on something together there that had to do with evil. If I ever needed answers, it was now. It was probably a long shot that any of it had to do with my nightmares, but deep down, I hoped they were connected. I needed good dreams again.

Sullen’s Grove, 2002

I
AWOKE
to the sounds of birds chirping and Ian playing music from his room. I stretched my arms toward the ceiling and smiled. Today was the day. It was my birthday, but not just any birthday. I was sixteen. Most sixteen-year-old girls were clamoring to get their driver’s license, have their curfews lifted, or have their dating privileges extended, but none of those things was on my mind. All I could think about was that, today, I would learn my gift spell.

After Tommy Nichols’s car accident, I had recommitted to my magical studies. Determined I would never let another Foresight affect someone I cared about, I dove into spell history, construction, and practice.

There was going to be a ceremony and celebration at my grandmother’s house tonight. Once it was complete, I would be able to share in my family’s gifts. I knew it would take years to tap into their strengths, but today was the start. My parents and Ian would be able to share their gifts with me. They were probably as anxious as I was to find out what new skill would be added to the family line-up.

On Ian’s sixteenth birthday, we gathered at Gigi’s. After the customary birthday candles had been blown out, we turned to her. The oldest member of the family provided the line to the teen witch, which would answer the question we all couldn’t wait to find out: What would Ian’s gift be?

Our grandmother squeezed him on the shoulders and smiled. “You will be a Locator.”

We all laughed and clapped. There weren’t any other Locators in the family. Ian would be great at it. Funny, he had always loved maps and geography. I felt like I should have seen that coming.

I threw my feet on the floor and padded off to the shower. I had a full day of pampering prepared for myself that started with the hottest shower I could stand. An hour later, Holly and Aunt Pansy arrived.

The moms planned to drop us off at a nail salon while they did some shopping. Holly and I had this mani-pedi scheduled for weeks. For me, it was part of the everyday girl life I held on to. Of course, we could
Glamour Spell
any color we wanted onto our nails, but I loved participating in normal human activity. Red was in, and I couldn’t think of a better color for my sixteenth birthday.

“Are you excited about tonight?” Holly asked in the massage chair.

As long as we were vague we could sort of talk about tonight’s rite of passage.

I giggled. “Yes, I don’t have any idea what it’s going to be.” I admired the red polish on my toes.

“I wish I didn’t have to wait two more months for mine.” She flipped through a magazine.

Holly and I were born the same year, but all of a sudden, the two-month age difference felt like the difference between high school and college. I was entering the adult stage of my magical life.

“It’s not much longer for you.” We weren’t the most patient teenagers. “After tonight—” I looked at my cousin. “—I think a lot of things are going to be different. At least that’s what I’m counting on.”

“What if you’re a Healer or a Locator like Ian?” She whispered the question.

There was no way to know. We could speculate all day. I closed my eyes and sank into the chair. “Right now, I’m going to enjoy this and worry about
that
later.” I hoped I sounded confident, because on the inside, I was nothing but nerves.

I had made a list in my diary of all the gifts I thought I might get. We weren’t supposed to have favorites, and there wasn’t a way to make a request, but that didn’t stop me from wishing.

Mama wanted me to be a Healer, like her, but that was way down on the list. I couldn’t imagine studying herbs and flowers every day. It didn’t come naturally to me so I already assumed that wasn’t going to happen.

Daddy had nudged me a few times about how great it would be if I had Infuser gifts like he did. He wasn’t afraid to hide that he wanted me to follow in his footsteps and use magic to insert joy into people’s lives.

My parents had amazing skills and talents, but neither one fit me. I wanted something unique and different. I wanted what my grandmother had—the Traveler gift.

We arrived at my grandmother’s house at six o’clock. The Grace family hoped our promptness would make her happy. Knowing her, she had been planning the dinner and ceremony all week. She wouldn’t let my mother help with any of the food or the flower preparations. Daddy and I decided not to get in the middle of their party planning battle. Those two had gone head to head over china patterns and menu selections for years.

“There she is.” My grandmother kissed me on the cheek as she pulled me into a hug. “Happy birthday.”

“Thank you, Gigi.” I smiled, peeking over her shoulder at the dining room.

“It’s a big night. Sixteen. I still can’t believe it.” She squeezed my hand and led me to the head of the table.

My parents and Ian followed closely behind us. The table was set with my grandparents’ wedding china. Gigi only brought it out on special occasions like this one. Bright pink peonies lined the center of the table. There was a candle at the edge of everyone’s plate.

My palms felt sticky. I didn’t know I would be so nervous.

“Gigi, it’s absolutely beautiful.” I noticed there were champagne glasses on the table too.

“It’s not every day your granddaughter receives her gift spell. I want this night to be perfect for you.” She walked toward the sideboard and pulled the champagne bottle from a bucket. “Richard, would you like to serve us?” It was more of a statement than a question.

My father took the bottle from her and walked around the table to pour the bubbly into crystal glasses. We were still waiting on Holly and Aunt Pansy to arrive.

Mama eyed the table. “Lily, I think you’ve done a lovely job for Ivy’s party.” She smiled at her mother-in-law.

“Thank you, Violet. That means a lot coming from the town’s best party planner.”

Daddy and I exchanged glances. At least we didn’t have to worry about a wand fray between them tonight.

“Knock, knock.” Aunt Pansy opened the front door. “Sorry we’re late.” She handed me a box with a big bow tied to the top. “Happy birthday, Ivy.”

“Thank you, Aunt Pansy.” I hugged her, then Holly.

My cousin rolled her eyes. “Someone was running late as usual.”

I giggled. “It’s fine. We were just getting ready to start with champagne.”

Her eyes lit up. “Yummy. I want a glass.”

My father strolled toward us with two glasses in his hand. “Hello, Holly.” He handed us the champagne. “Only one tonight.”

“We know. We know, Daddy.” Maybe we were only allowed one glass of champagne for one night, but it made us feel more grownup. I wanted to make mine last as long as possible. I took tiny sips.

“Cute shoes.” Holly pointed to my new heels. I had saved them for tonight. The higher the heels, the better. I especially loved how this pair sparkled.

“Thanks.”

“You ready for the ceremony?” She nodded at the family gathered in the dining room. My mother may have been rearranging forks.

My stomach churned, and it wasn’t from the champagne bubbles. I inhaled. “I think so. I’ve never been this nervous about magic before.”

Ian walked toward us. “You ready?” He looked completely calm. He had already been through this, so it was no big deal to him.

I tried to steady my shaking hands. “I think so.”

He put his arm around my shoulder. “Come on. Let’s go find out what kind of witch you’re going to be.”