A moment later Asheen squinted through the mirror, looking like she was ready to climb into bed.She was wearing a nightgown and squinted at the mirror.“Camille—do you know what time it is?”
I nodded.“Yeah, and I know you go to sleep early, but I really needed to consult you.I found out what the tenzar was holding.It triggered a demon magnet spell.Do you know how to break one of those?”Realizing how abrupt I sounded, I added, “I’m sorry.I’m just so focused on solving this that I forgot my manners.I’m sorry to disturb you this late.”
“That’s all right,” she said.“I understand.If a friend of mine was under a demon magnet spell, I’d be worried, too.Give me a moment to get some tea and I’ll be right back.”
I waved her off.“Go on, I can wait.”
As she walked away from the mirror, I headed over to my balcony and opened the door.Outside, the rain had stopped, and the clouds rolled across the moon, still full from the night before.They boiled, churning as they raced by, whipped to a froth by the wind.I took a deep breath and reached up, feeling the pull of the Moon Mother.She was glorious, she was, wild and feral, and she claimed my heart.
“I love you,” I whispered.“I belong to you.”
Take comfort that I am here with you, and that you are worthy in my eyes.No matter what world you wander, I will wander beside you.
The words comforted me, easing the feeling that I was a failure.My sisters did their best to ease the stings I received from our father, but as the Moon Mother shone down from behind the veil of clouds and fog, it hit me: I was forever seeking his praise.The little girl in me wanted her father’s approval.I also realized that I’d probably never receive it.Sephreh had set me up to play mother to my sisters, but I could never take the place of our mother, no matter how hard I tried.We all knew that.
With a sigh, I closed the door and turned back to the Whispering Mirror.
Asheen was there, waiting.She had found a dressing gown, and had a teacup with her.I settled back on the bench.
“Thank you, by the way, for helping out.I appreciate it,” I said.I wanted my friends to feel like I valued them.
“I don’t mind,” Asheen said.She took a sip of her tea.“All right, so you’re facing a demon magnet spell.First, you don’t need the tenzar to break the spell.All it is, is a receptacle.Once the spell is triggered, then you can re-use the disc, because the spell vanishes from it.The residue energy you feel from it probably comes from the sorcerer who made it.”
“So you think asorcerermade it?It doesn’t seem like something an Earthside witch would make—even one who works with dark magic.”I held up the disc, staring at it.The longer I looked at it, the more it felt like it belonged back in my home world.
Asheen closed her eyes for a moment as she held a crystal ball.Then she set the sphere down and opened her eyes.
“Right.I’m getting a vision that some sorcerer crossed over from Y’Eírialiastar to Earthside.He found the portal your friend stumbled into.Maybe he was being chased, or chasing someone.Whatever the case, the sorcerer set up the tenzar as a trap.And your friend just happened to cross into it first.”
“That makes sense,” I said.“All right, if I don’t need the disc to break the spell, what do I need?Do you have any idea?”
Asheen pulled out a book.“I happen to have a copy of Ezaera’s Demonology, so grabbed it while waiting for my tea.Let me see what it says.”
Ezaera’s Demonologyhad been written by an Elfin mage and scholar—Ezaera the Wise.He was a member of Queen Asteria’s court, and the Elfin mage had penned several volumes on magic, including a study of the dark arts.I hadn’t seen that book since I first trained with the Coterie of the Moon Mother.
As I waited, she flipped through the pages, then stopped.“Here we are.Demon magnet spells.”She read through it, then—eyebrows arched—said, “Got a pen and paper?”
I grabbed a notebook off the table on which the Whispering Mirror sat.“I’m ready.”
“All right.To negate a demon magnet spell you have to obtain a lodestone, three hairs from the victim of the spell, a vial of pixie dust, four berries from the Golden Chain bush, three drops of your blood, and a ruby.”
As she proceeded to give me the rest of the directions, I grimaced.This was a costly spell.Not only that, but to find the berries and pixie dust, I’d probably have to go to Otherworld unless some magic shop here carried exotic ingredients.
Once the portals had opened, trade between the two worlds had started up, and for the first time since the Great Divide, the Fae and Elves were interacting with humans again.I’d have to ask Frieda for shops that might carry some of the Otherworld ingredients.
“Wow,” I said, staring at the instructions.“That’s going to be delightful.Not.”I glanced back at her.“Do you really think I can do this, Asheen?”
She tapped on the glass of the Whispering Mirror.“Camille, look at me.”
I looked up, meeting her gaze.“Yes?”
“You had a rough time in the Coterie.I know that some of the acolytes and members didn’t want you there—they didn’t believe you belonged.But the Moon Mother herself chose you.You passed the test.You were accepted by the only one who matters—our silver lady on high.And Derisa gave you official approval.Yes, you have problems.But you can do this—your magic doesn’t always falter.I believe in you.”
I teared up.“Thank you, Asheen.Your friendship…it means so much to me.”
“Then go.Break the spell, and help your friend.Let me know how it goes,” she said.With a yawn, she bade me farewell and closed out the call.
I glanced at the instructions again, then—as I heard voices downstairs—headed down to greet Chase and to tell them the news.