Chapter 32
In the wake of the chaos and death of our birthday party, the Council assembles.
Back home, I watch the Council members walk through the gate and up the porch steps through the rain from my bedroom window.
Miss Connie leans on Terrence’s arm as he holds a black umbrella over her head.
Aunt Lorraine stalks through the open gate with a fierce scowl peeking out from beneath the hood of her rain jacket.
Malik is hot on her heels, ducking his head and clutching her purse.
Aunt Roberta is the last to arrive. She walks with a shuffling gait as Uncle Larry grips her elbow.
She pauses and tilts her head upward, seemingly sensing my gaze.
I’m not sure if she can see me through the thick pane of glass, but she doesn’t move for a long moment.
Finally, Uncle Larry tugs her forward, and the spell is broken.
I take my cue to head downstairs.
Orion and Gramps have dragged a few extra chairs into the living room from the kitchen. My brother and Malik stand off to the side, hands stuffed deep into their pockets, silently watching as the old folks take their seats.
I cross the room to stand beside them.
“Hey, ’Kaela,” Malik murmurs, pulling me into a quick side hug. “How are you?”
“About as good as can be expected with…everything.”
His gaze drifts past me to the assembled group of Elders. “My grandma was silent the entire drive over. Normally, you can barely shut that woman up.”
“Five people died,” Orion says, voice completely devoid of emotion. “I think that’s enough to shut anyone up.”
Across the room, Gramps claps his hands together. “All right, let’s get started.” His voice is raised so everyone can hear, but his eyes are trained only on me.
Orion and Malik silently retreat to the kitchen while I walk toward the circle of Elders, gathering my strength.
“I have something to share.”
Before Gramps can continue speaking, I reach into my back pocket and remove Sabine’s dagger. It was hidden beneath my blouse, so no one noticed until now. There’s a chorus of gasps as they stare at me with expressions of confusion.
Gramps rests both hands on his hips. “What is the meaning of this?” he asks.
I could lie and come up with an explanation that won’t anger him too much, but I’m tired of doing what Gramps wants me to. I want to be my full and complete self, and that means telling the truth, even it flies in the face of everything I’ve ever tried to do.
“I went to see Sabine Andry.”
I can practically see the steam hissing out of Gramps’s ears. His eyes are alight with rage. He’s so upset that he can’t even find his words, instead stammering out an endless stream of half-uttered curses.
“We needed an expert on demons, so I went and found one.” My voice only trembles a little. I search for Aunt Roberta’s face, and her warm brown eyes steady me. “She enchanted this dagger so I can use it to banish the demon that the Hightowers have summoned.”
“How do you know you can trust her?” Miss Connie asks. “That girl hasn’t been one of us in a long time.”
“Nearly as long as you’ve been alive,” Bernadette adds.
The other Elders murmur their assent. Aunt Roberta and Gramps are the only ones who remain silent.
“It’s the only weapon we’ve got, so I intend to use it.
” I grip the hilt and turn to face Gramps.
“I know I was the one pushing to find another way—one that wouldn’t involve violence—but we’re out of options.
Either we do nothing and allow more people to die, or we attack.
The way I see it, both options are drenched in blood. ”
Gramps crosses his arms over his chest and studies me. I don’t shrink beneath his gaze.
When he finally speaks, his words are meant only for me. “I’ve done you a disservice by hampering you at every turn. I said I would hand over the reins, but it isn’t so easy to relinquish power.” He squeezes his eyes shut. “You’re ready, Mikaela.”
Despite the growing sense of confidence that’s been building within me, hearing Gramps say it is like a tidal wave washing over me.
Aunt Lorraine guffaws, but Gramps shoots her a look that could cut steel. “If she trusts Sabine, then we’ll all have to do the same.”
Aunt Roberta reaches her hands out toward me, and I fall into her embrace. She kisses my cheek. “Tell us what to do, cher, and we’ll follow your lead.”
For the first time, the Elders look to me for direction. The hinges of the kitchen door squeak as Malik and Orion peer into the room.
I’m carrying the weight of my entire coven on my back, but I won’t let it crush me. My mind races as I formulate the beginning of a plan.
“Does anyone know how to cast a living statue spell?”
Over the course of the next week, we make preparations to attack the Hightowers in a two-pronged approach.
One team will lure Aria to Crescent Moon Books after hours, while the other will attack the main house.
If their coven’s resources are split, then we’ll have a better chance of exorcising the demon from their ranks.
Once Gloria realizes that they’re overwhelmed, she’ll have no choice but to surrender. Gramps has said that in no uncertain terms can the Hightowers remain in New Orleans, and after our plan has been implemented, they likely won’t have any interest in staying.
When I open my eyes on Monday morning, my gaze rests on Gran’s tarot cards.
The full moon has arrived—the day I’ve been dreading since Joelle walked into the shop.
We’re putting our plan into motion tonight, but I’m not sure whether I’ll live to see tomorrow.
There’s one thing I have left to do. I need to speak to Gran once and for all.
I snatch one of my spell books from my bookshelf and quickly flip through the pages until my finger lands on the section I’m searching for: dreamwalking.
I skim over the page and then grab the supplies I need: candles and a bottle of lavender essence from my stash of essential oils.
Silently, I flip the lock in case Gramps or anyone else peeks in and disturbs me.
Once the candles are lit and placed on my nightstand, I rub the oil beneath my nose.
The spell book stipulates that a sprig of fresh lavender should be used, but I have to make do with what I have on hand.
My body sinks into the mattress and fatigue overtakes me as my eyelids droop shut. Sleep comes swiftly.
I open my eyes to find myself perched on a bench at the Audubon Zoo.
Fat, lazy clouds drift across a teal-blue sky.
Despite it being such a beautiful day, I’m the only person in sight.
The bench I’m seated on is just outside the aviary, and the sound of chirping from within seems to form the words She’s here.
In the distance, a figure strolls in my direction. The first feature I make out is her bright smile. Gray curls frame her sun-weathered brown face and her eyes gleam with unbridled joy. She opens her arms as she approaches and I crash into her chest, clutching her tightly.
“Gran,” I breathe. “I’ve missed you so much.”
We hold on to each other for what could be hours or days. Any measure of time isn’t enough. I don’t want to let her go, and I sense that she doesn’t want to release me, either.
When I do pull back, I stare up at her, reorienting myself with her features. I feared I would forget the details of her face with time, but she’s exactly as I remember her. Pictures don’t do my grandmother justice. She’s beautiful, age and all.
“I can’t believe I’m here, Gran,” I say with shaky laughter. “I’ve never had a dream that felt this…real.”
When Gran speaks, her voice soothes me like a lullaby. “Just because it’s a dream doesn’t make it any less real.” She gestures to the bench. “Come, let’s sit. We don’t have long.”
As soon as we’re seated, Gran takes hold of my hands in hers and squeezes tight.
Her entire body seems to glow as she drinks in the sight of me.
“I am so proud of you.” Her words sink deep into the innermost parts of my soul, filling me with joy and light.
“I could feel you reaching for me, but I knew you could push yourself further than you’ve ever been before. ”
“I’ve come really far since you’ve been gone.”
“I know,” Gran says, beaming at me. “You’ve always been a strong, courageous young woman. It just took a little while for you to see what’s been so clear to everyone else.”
Gran’s pride in me begins to be slowly eaten away by my own shame and fear.
“Everything’s a mess. So many people have died.
We think the Hightowers are behind it all.
I’ve got a way to banish the demon they’ve summoned, but I’m not sure what will happen afterward.
Oh, and I’m meant to die today.” I can’t help the whimper that escapes me.
“I’m not going to live long enough to do anything that truly matters. ”
Gran rubs circles into my back but doesn’t speak.
“I wasted so much time with Joelle, Gran. I’ve been too spellbound by my crush on her.”
Gran purses her lips. “Nothing is ever a waste. I thought I taught you better than that. Our visions are more complicated than they may seem on the surface.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. In Gran’s presence, the weight of all my failures threatens to crush me. The urge to spill all my insecurities is too great to resist.
“Orion and I haven’t done anything with our lives since you’ve been gone. We’re a waste of space.”
“You know that isn’t true.” Her tone is measured.
“I’ve watched you come into your own these past couple of weeks, Mikaela.
I know you can feel your own strength building.
Look at where you are. Do you think you could’ve reached out to me a few months ago, or even a few weeks ago?
” She brushes a braid out of my face. “You’ve always carried this strength within, but you’re only beginning to unlock the confidence necessary to wield it.
You have so much more time to build a life you’ll be proud of. ”
The truth crawls up my throat. “I didn’t apply to college, Gran.”
“I know.” She squeezes my knee. “Everyone doesn’t walk the same path, baby. You’re forging your own.”
“And Orion?” I ask. “I worry about him.”
“Your brother has his own journey. He’s always taken after his mother. Strong-willed and bullheaded. He acts before he thinks, but you’ve always been there to steady him.” Her smile grows wider. “Just as he does for you.”
“Gran,” I begin.
“No, let me speak. We don’t have much time left.
” Gran’s smile slips, and her eyes narrow in determination.
“You’ve come here for answers about how to stop your vision and how to defeat the Hightowers, but you should know by now that the hands of fate do not waver.
Your destiny is set. Now, as for defeating the demon that’s been plaguing you, that solution has been staring you in the face the entire time. They are one and the same, baby girl.”
A grimace crosses my expression. “What?”
“A Death card can signal new beginnings and transformation.”
I can’t help the frustrated sigh that escapes me. “I know what it means, Gran, but my vision clearly meant capital-D Death. And besides, what does that have to do with Gaz—the demon?”
Gran sits back and folds her arms over her lap. “Death can be its own sort of transformation.”
Oh my God, I don’t have time to unravel a cryptic message. “Please tell me what to do. Are we doing the right thing? How is Joelle connected to the Hightowers?”
“Remember the gift that Sabine gave you.” She takes on a thoughtful expression, staring at a point past my head.
“I shouldn’t have banished her so hastily.
You taught me that lesson. I wasn’t a perfect leader by any means, and you won’t be either, but you’ll learn from both of our mistakes.
” Gran leans in to press a kiss to my cheek.
“You’ll be the leader this coven needs.”
She pulls me into another hug. “You can’t lead if you don’t put up a fight,” she whispers. “Don’t let anyone, including your grandfather, walk all over you.” She kisses my cheek. “Tell him I love him. I’ll never stop.”
“Oh, Gran.” I squeeze my eyes shut and commit this moment to memory.
“I love you too, my dear. I promise I’ll see you again someday.” She gives me one last squeeze before releasing me.
“Gran.” When I open my eyes, I’m back in my bedroom, and Gran is lost to me once more.
Except that isn’t entirely true. Her kiss still lingers warm on my cheek. When I peer in the mirror, a small beauty mark graces my skin. A permanent reminder of her love. I’ll carry it with me for the rest of my life, no matter how long or short that may be.