“All right.I was about to head home.I can pack a bag and then drive over to your place.If bullets won’t work on them, then I guess I do need the help.”
“Bullets won’t work on a lot of demons, or a number of Supes,” I said.“Delilah?Can you drive over with Chase so he can grab his things?I’ll go home and get the room ready, and then I’ll call Asheen.”
“I’ll take the rest of the night off and drive over with them—not much can get past me,” Menolly said.
And with that, she let Jocko know she needed the evening off and we split up: Delilah, Menolly, and Chase over to his apartment while I headed home.
Before starting my car,I called Iris to let her know Chase would be staying with us.She said she’d get started on the guest room, which was stacked full of our boxes and other things we hadn’t had a chance to unpack yet.
The night was silent, with only the wind stirring.Most of the leaves were off the trees by now, but we were due for a big windstorm coming in.Tomorrow, I’d need to tend to the yard and batten down anything that might get caught up by the winds and swept away.The Seattle area was famous for its November windstorms, but sometimes they started during October.This one looked to be the first real storm of the season.
As I approached our driveway and turned onto the long graveled road, I turned the radio off.I loved Earthside music and was accumulating quite a collection.My sisters questioned me as to why I bothered.I had realized they still thought we’d be heading back to Otherworld in a couple of years.But I wasn’t sure that was true.
Deep in my heart, I had a feeling that we were here for good.I hadn’t told them yet because I didn’t want to burden them, but every time I cast my vision forward, searching for a glimpse of the future, I saw this house, this land, this world.
As I circled the driveway and parked, I stared up at the house.It still felt empty in many ways.But I caught a glimpse of figures coming in and out, shadows of the future, filling the house.This was our path.This was our future, if nothing stepped in to intervene.And it felt both terrifying and yet comforting.
I slid out of the car and headed toward the house, but as I climbed the porch steps, I couldn’t help but feel that someone was watching me from the shadows.I stopped and turned, scanning the bushes and trees that circled the front yard.
The breeze susurrated through the leaves, the trees whispering secrets I couldn’t quite catch.But if someone was out there, I couldn’t see them, though I thought I spotted a pair of golden eyes staring at me.But I was alone, and right now I didn’t trust myself to go exploring alone.I looked again, but the eyes had vanished, if they’d ever been there in the first place.Taking a deep breath, I turned and headed into the house.
CHAPTERSEVEN
As I entered the house,Iris came bustling down the stairs.
“I’ve made up the room for Chase,” she said.“He’ll have to take care of himself—I’m not his maid, but he can eat with us, and I’ll be happy to make up his bed and change the sheets.”She was carrying a basket of laundry toward the laundry room.
“Are those Delilah’s?”I asked, pointing to the clothes.
She nodded.“Yes, they are.”
“You give me that basket,” I said, holding out my hands.
She grinned, but handed me the laundry.I marched upstairs, into Delilah’s room, and dumped the entire load on her bed.
Iris, who had followed me, giggled.“And what do you think she’ll say?”
“Nothing, because she knows better.We had a talk with her earlier.”I tossed the laundry basket on top of the clothes.“All right, I’m going to fire up the Whispering Mirror and talk to Asheen again.We had another demon come calling tonight, next to the Wayfarer.Luckily, we were there, and we saved Chase’s ass.”
“If you don’t find a way to break that spell…” Iris said, then paused.
“Yeah, if we don’t, then chances are he won’t make it through the week.”I sank to the edge of Delilah’s bed, shaking my head.“I have to find a way to break that curse.”
“Have you ever tried to break a spell?”Iris said.
I waved off the thought.“Me?My magic’s half-assed at best.I can’t do anything to break it.”Feeling embarrassed, I looked over at Iris.“Let’s face it.I’m useless.My sisters can fight, but I’m not the most agile.I don’t have the skills they do.I can wield magic, but I can’t control it.”My father’s words rose in my mind, coming home to hit hard.
Ever since I was little, he had discouraged me from using my magic since I couldn’t control it, even while he scolded me for not trying hard enough.
“If you just tried harder, you could manage your magic,”he would say, glaring down at me.It didn’t help that I looked like him—the same jet hair, the same violet eyes, that same intense stare.I wanted to be close to him—I wanted him to be proud of me.“You just aren’t trying, Camille.”
And I would swallow my tears because I knew I’d be scolded for crying, and mumble promises to try harder.He’d pat me on the head and say,“I know you will, because you’re my daughter, and there will be no quitters in this family.”
Iris shook her head.“Don’t talk about yourself like that—it’s not your fault your magic misfires.”She looked perplexed.
I shrugged.“It doesn’t matterwhyit happens.All that matters is that…never mind.”As the memory faded, I headed toward my study.“I’m going to call Asheen.”
As I settled in front of the mirror and activated it, the fog began to swirl.I cleared my throat and straightened my shoulders, brushing my hair back from my face.