Chapter 24 - Sadie
It’s just not enough.
For the hundredth time, I look across the table at the endless piles of old books. I know that I’ve scoured every single page and am no closer to a cure.
The potion I came up with to halt the disease has begun to falter. Along with caring for the sick people, I now have to deal with the pack’s trust in me beginning to fail again.
It’s very early in the morning, barely even dawn, and when I go out into the hall, I see Rhys collapsed on a chair next to one of the beds. He’s so exhausted that he fell asleep trying to comfort one of the ill. Fear and frustration rise in me like a fist made of fire.
I will not give up!
I walk quickly out to the parking lot, taking Rhys’s Viper into town.
The museum has been closed since Fern became ill, and the place is as silent as a tomb.
I use my own key to go inside. Driven by instinct more than determination, I hurry out back to the small stone room, running my finger along the shelf as I search through the old texts.
There is something here. I just know it.
Closing my eyes, I stop trying to think and just feel. I’m drawn towards the back of the room, which looks like a plain wall of stone bricks. I run my hand across it gently, feeling a layer of crumbly dust moving under my palm.
Then, suddenly, I feel a strange warmth in one of the bricks.
I run my hand up and down, confirming that all the surrounding bricks are cold and only this one is warm. It looks identical to the others. Only the temperature sets it apart.
Would anyone else have even noticed it? Is this a message just for me?
I push on the brick experimentally, and to my surprise, it gives, sinking back into the wall. There is a sharp click, then a grinding noise as part of the wall beside me moves out of the way, revealing a small, dark room.
You’ve gotta be kidding me.
I pull out my phone and use the flashlight to see.
The room is tiny, with no electric light, and old books are stacked haphazardly on narrow shelves up and down the wall.
The urge to explore the library is strong, but I’m pulled towards the back of the room where a thick, leather-bound book sits by itself.
I open the front cover and see the now-familiar cursive of Lynette Croft. I run my fingers over the letters of her name, awed by the title.
“Spells of wellness and healing, by Lynette Croft. May my sisters and daughters come to cherish this book and add their own spells to it as we bring harmony to this beautiful valley.”
She really was a witch!
I flip the book open. It seems to fall to a random page, but I see immediately that this is the spell I need.
Thank you, Lynette. I can almost feel your hand in mine, guiding me. Thank you.
A sense of urgency crackles in the air around me, and I know I have to get moving. I look again at the page, knowing that this ritual is the one I’ve been looking for, the one that can cure the disease.
And the page next to it has been ripped out. I wonder what happened to it?
The sense of urgency ripples over me again, and I grab the book, running from the museum back to the car.
I don’t even think about where I’m going, I just drive straight out to the manor.
The place feels as foreboding as ever, but I shove through the heavy front door, a faint trickle of fear running down my spine.
Something bad happened here.
To the left of the stone atrium is the hall that leads downwards to the council chamber and dungeon.
A spiral staircase to the right leads to the upper floors, and right in front of me is an arched doorway.
I can feel the council on the other side of it, and I grip the book even tighter as I stride up to the door and push it open.
The room is a large, comfortable parlor with old-fashioned furniture and walls full of books.
Musical instruments are gathered in one corner, and long windows let in the light along one wall.
The council members are sitting on couches in the center of the room, all of them looking shocked by my intrusion.
“What are you doing here?” Darla tries to yell and stand from her chair, but almost topples over. She clings to the armrest and manages to sit down without falling.
“Get out of here, witch,” Thorne says, his voice rasping in his throat. “All our troubles started with you!”
“Your troubles started a long time before I even got here,” I reply firmly. “And all of you know I’m not the cause, so stop fucking around.”
“Where did you get that book?” Neville asks, his eyes wide with wonder. “I thought it was lost forever.”
“I found it in a secret room in the museum,” I answer. “Does that mean you’ve read it?”
“No,” he says, shaking his head. “I only know of its existence because we have pages torn from it, but I thought the book was long-lost or destroyed.”
I wait for a moment, looking around the room. Every member of the council looks at best uncomfortable, and at worst, flat-out guilty.
“It’s Lynette Croft’s spell book, isn’t it?” Faye asks, and I nod.
“So, you know she was a witch?” I ask. “Not just one of the town founders, but a magic worker?”
“Yes,” Sylvie says, shifting in her chair as she tries to take a deep breath. “We know. We tried to keep the information hidden from the pack.”
“Why?” I ask, exasperated. “Why would you do this?”
“Because the witch queen and the wolf king were not enemies!” Rafe explodes. “They were lovers!”
His words sink into me slowly, and it’s crystal clear to me what would happen in the packs if they learned about this.
Their entire culture could be destroyed. There could be civil wars, retaliation against the council. It would be beyond ugly and could tear their society apart.
“You’re cowards,” I say, shaking my head. “But still, I understand why you did this. It really is for the greater good. I don’t know how this news would be received by all three packs.”
“Even I agreed on it,” Neville says. “We had no choice but to continue the lie. I have always loved the old books since I was a boy, and I found Lynette’s bonding ritual, a spell that allows an alpha to find his true mate and share strength with each other to bring life to the whole pack, and break any curse. ”
“You used a magic spell?” I choke out. “And you didn’t tell the others, even Rhys?”
“We had no choice,” Darla replies, angrily. “Nothing else was working, and we had to try something. I’m sorry I agreed to it now because obviously, it didn’t work—we’re all still dying.”
“Don’t be so sure,” Neville says. “The pages of the book we had were torn from it hundreds of years ago, and standing before us is Lynette’s descendant, holding the other half to make it whole again.”
“Why was the book torn up?” I ask, afraid to hear the answer.
“When the wolf king, Darien Cole, found out he had been betrayed, he went to war on all witches,” Neville says. “I believe Lynette took those pages herself and gave the book to her sisters to hide. Lynette would have had the pages on her when—”
“Oh, God,” I gasp. “When what?”
“When he locked her up in here,” Darla says. “He imprisoned her in the manor.”
“Oh God!” I cry. “She died here, didn’t she?”
No one answers me, but their faces tell me everything I need to know. I cling to the book, holding it against my chest as if it’s my poor, dead ancestor and I can somehow bring her comfort.
That’s why this place has such bad vibes. Poor Lynette.
“May I see the book?” Neville asks. “I’ve been very curious about it.”
“You don’t need to,” I say, holding onto it defensively. “It’s mine now, and what you need to know is that it has a continuation of the bonding ritual that will fully release my magic and break the curse.”
“It will heal us?” Darla asks in amazement.
I nod. “Lynette left instructions for the bonding ritual where you could find them, and I think she did that because deep in her heart, she didn’t want the wolves to be cursed forever. But at the time, she would have been furious with Darien, and a curse would have been inevitable.”
“He bound her with the Dead Silk,” Neville says. “It was something she actually invented that can hold any magic worker. I’ve read his journals, and he—”
“I don’t need to know all of that,” I cut him off. “The important thing is that Lynette left a cure and we can end this curse.”
“Or, be doomed forever,” Darla says. “Maybe it’s the final blow, not our salvation.”
“We won’t know until we try,” a voice from behind me says.
I turn around to see Rhys and rush over to hug him.
“How long have you been standing there?” I ask.
“Long enough,” he replies. “Are we going to try this mojo or what?”
“Yes,” I say eagerly. “We have to go back to the hospital—I have everything I need there. Ideally, we’d do it somewhere out in nature, but it will be too hard to move all the sick people. Just get on your phone and get everyone gathered at the hall, and I’ll meet you there.”
“I’m coming with you,” Neville says, painfully pulling himself to his feet. “I’ve been waiting my whole life for this.”
The rest of the council members organize themselves to come with us, as none of them are in any state to drive. Rhys sends out some messages to tell the pack to meet, and we drive back to the hall. I go straight out back to get my ingredients ready, and Neville watches with interest.
“I would really love to read the book,” he says. “I promise, I’ll treat it with the utmost respect.”
“I understand,” I reply. “But you’ll have to forgive me for being protective of it, especially after I found out what happened to Lynette.”
“Alright,” Neville says, nodding. “I’ll trust you, but I would like to read it someday. Maybe when the rift between wolves and witches has truly healed.”
I just nod, focusing on my ingredients and trying not to get too flustered.
I can’t let you see it. Not yet, anyway.
Tucking the book under my arm, I gather up my ingredients and go outside, Neville helping me carry a few things. I’m surprised to see Jean there with the kids, and I wave to Cassie.
Rhys called the whole pack.
I mark out a magic circle with salt and ask the others to sit around the edge. Before I go into the center, I give Cassie a quick hug and kiss.
“Are you going to do magic, Mommy?” she asks in wonder. “And make everyone better?”
“Yes, my baby,” I say, holding her against my chest. “It’s all going to be alright.”
I give Rhys a long look before I let Cassie go, then turn towards the center of the circle, prepared to meet my fate.
Take care of her, Rhys. No matter what happens, please take care of our baby girl.
I take a deep breath to gather my courage, afraid to go forward but knowing I have no choice.
The one thing I didn’t reveal, and the reason why I couldn’t let Neville see the book, is that this ritual might cost me my life.
I sit down in the center of the circle and mix the ingredients together into a dark paste. I transfer it into a stone bowl and set it alight. Thick purple smoke pours from the bowl, completely engulfing me.
It makes my eyes sting, and my throat burn, but I stay where I am and begin to chant. I don’t understand the words, and maybe they aren’t words at all, but the rhythm comes to me, playing out in a cadence that sends chills down my spine.
“It’s working!” someone screams from the hall. “People are getting up!”
Relief floods through me, and I keep chanting even as I feel my own strength leaving me. It’s as if I can feel my energy being sucked into the ground and funneled away from me, and it’s being poured into the sick members of the pack.
My heart starts to falter, and my voice thickens as my chest grows tight, but I keep chanting. The power in the circle sings through me, and I know the spell is going to work.
And I’m going to die.
It’s a certainty. My future standing before me, completely inescapable.
I’m not afraid.
My voice almost dies in my throat, lowering to a whisper as I slump forward. Cold, aching waves spread through me, and my heartbeat slows to almost nothing.
This is it. Goodbye, my love.
“Sadie!” I hear Rhys scream, far too close. I open my eyes and see him kneeling in front of me, hanging onto my shoulders. Threads of power join us together, tendrils of magic from the bonding ritual. I feel the spell surrounding us both as his strength connects with mine.
“No, Rhys,” I choke out. “It’s not enough—you’ll die, too.”
“I don’t care,” he cries, shaking me. “I can’t live without you—I love you!”
Tears pour down my face. I’d break the ritual if I could, but I know it’s too late for me, and if I broke the connection now, the effects might reverse and kill the entire pack.
Including Rhys, and I won’t let that happen.
“Please,” Rhys begs. “Please don’t leave me and our baby girl, our beautiful daughter. Don’t die, Sadie.”
“Daddy?” Cassie’s voice shatters through my pain, panic ringing through every cell of my body.
“Cassie,” I gasp. “Get out of here!”
She shakes her head. “Mommy… is Rhys really my Daddy?”
“Yes, baby girl,” I choke out. “Rhys is your Daddy.”
Cassie smiles and reaches out to take his hand. Then she turns to me and takes my hand.
“Don’t die, Mommy,” she says, very softly. “I won’t let you.”
A massive rush of power streaks through my body, a raging flood of white light that crashes from the top of my skull all the way into the ground.
It feels like fire destroying every last cell, and I scream as I hold tightly to Rhys with one hand and my daughter with the other.
The three of us form a loop, and the power flows through me, balanced by Cassie and grounded by Rhys.
The wave flows through me into the ground, and the mixture in the bowl fizzles out. As the purple smoke clears, I hear excited voices from the hall as more people wake up and the pack begins to celebrate.
“Never do that again,” Rhys groans, throwing his arms around me. “I have never been more afraid in my entire life. What the hell were you thinking?”
“I had to save the pack,” I say. “And this was the only way.”
“I love you,” he says, shaking his head. “I can’t lose you.”
“I love you, too,” I answer, kissing him softly.
Cassie squeezes both of our hands, giggling. “No one’s going away,” she says, very seriously. “I have a mommy and a daddy now, and we’re going to be a family and be happy!”
“Yes, baby girl,” I laugh. “We sure are.”
Rhys and I hug Cassie between us, feeling the harmony that exists between the two of us and the healing love of our child that is strong enough to break all curses.