Chapter 7
Chapter
Seven
Kainda
M y mother could’ve at least given the coven a heads-up about our arrival. Thanks for nothing, mom. Instead, the perimeter crystals hummed a warning that crawled along my skin, the protection sigils flared sending heat through my chest, and the wards dug under my skin like cactus needles pinching as they wormed deeper. These witches with all of these layers of protection had prepared for an apocalypse. If I had to guess, they probably also wore personal protection amulets and stones, and kept salt lining all entrances into the buildings. Even from this distance, I could see and hear their gargoyles warning their masters that visitors had approached.
Elijah fidgeted, growing antsy when a figure shimmered into view on the other side of the perimeter. I smirked when I saw him flinch, followed by a mumbled curse. I’d yet to hear him say a foul word outside the vision, it betrayed his emotions. He didn’t strike me as the swearing type. Gaia knew he’d endured enough to make even the most devout worshipers verbally sin.
“State your business here Half Witch and the Demon Touched,” the astral form of an older lady said. She looked stern enough to teach in a Catholic school for girls.
“We’re here to seek help from your healer. The human mortal needs treatment for magical spider venom. My mother, Bronwen Lane, Voice of the Coven for the Happy Valley Coven, suggested your coven could offer us assistance.”
The stern hag contemplated what I’d told her, the more likely scenario, though, she had relayed the message to someone higher up the chain of command. Mom had taught me to respect coven elders, but Dad had more or less raised me among demon hunters who didn’t have time for witches political posturing. Luckily, Dad’s band of hunters had a few covenless witch members, or I’d still be fumbling around trying to learn to use my magic. Mom’s coven hadn’t thought it wise to teach me to develop it, but instead to only learn to control it.
“Someone will meet you there at the perimeter to escort you both to the healer. Once healed, someone will escort you from the property.” With nothing else, the projection of the elderly witch fizzled out of view.
I rolled my hip on the side of the car to look at Elijah. He cradled his hand close to his midsection, but his face showed turmoil instead of pain. Frustration, evident in the lowered brows, narrowed eyes, pinched lips, and the tension in his jaw from clenching his teeth. Placing my hand on his chest seemed to wake him up from his dark mood. He looked at me, and in that instant his eyes looked like the eyes from the images of his conscious self from the memory walk. Those eyes belonged to Elijah’s true self beneath the pain, anger, and trauma. My breath caught at the sight, woah.
“Stop worrying so much, E.”
“E? So you’ve gone all the way from Mr. Henry to calling me by my first initial.” The look he gave me went all through me. My first glimpse of his sense of humor and potential happiness. A smile lurked somewhere in that strange look on his face. Almost like he’d forgotten how to smile.
“Yep, E, is all you get. If I didn’t think we’d get through all of this in one piece, I wouldn’t bother to give you a nickname. Only long term friends get nicknames in my book.” Where had that statement come from?
He shocked me when he tossed his head back and laughed. Well that’s a pleasant sound and the action did great things for his face. My lips twitched at the ridiculousness of this situation. Potentially dying from demon venom, his body ravaged by said demon, on the lam from a psych hospital, he’d just learned of the existence of all things supernatural, and I could taste the end of Uttu’s existence. But here we stood laughing, with me having stupid, inappropriate thoughts about Elijah. Gaia, if he only knew, he’d run in the opposite direction so fast. Soon, we’d go our separate ways, and I only another reminder of this bleak period of his life.
“If you’ll both follow me, I’ll take you to the healer now.” An annoyed voice called us over Elijah’s laughter.
Beside me, Elijah sobered, and we followed the male coven member they’d sent to escort us. The coven’s property grounds beautiful with lush greenery, well maintained buildings, and adorned with marks of their magic and religion. Annoyed Guy lead us to a small bungalow just off the main building to the right, facing the west. Water flowed merrily from fountains on either side of the entrance. The glass in the windows tinted blue and the siding also painted blue to represent the element associated with healing.
A woman around my age stood on the porch and offered us a kind, welcoming smile. She ushered us right to the door, where she stopped us. I mostly knew the drill for entering a magical healing center. Kicking off my boots, I elbowed Elijah to follow my lead. He frowned as I removed my socks as well.
“My name is Althea. I’m Reselda’s apprentice. She asked that I greet you and prepare you to enter the healing sanctuary. I’ll explain the process for the human mortal, but it appears you know what you’re doing, Sister.”
I choked back a shocked cough. Lady Gaia, was this chick green! Even though I followed the rites, practiced magic, and worshiped the way of the witches meant little to the community at large. Nothing changed my heritage as a half witch with dirty human blood, a blemish on their way of life. They might not accept me, but I respected my heritage, and nothing they did could change that. One thing magic demands is respect. Although I might be a touch irreverent at times.
“Don’t let your elders hear you call a half witch sister. Last I knew, they still frown upon that, what with diluting the magic with human blood.” Nope, not at all bitter at my mother’s people. Nope, just peachy.
Althea ignored me as she placed two basins at our feet. “Please step into the basins. Roll your pant legs up. I’ll say a blessing as I pour the cleansing water over your feet. Afterward, I’ll cleanse you with sage before we enter. What are your names?”
“Kainda Lane. And he’s Elijah Henry. Would you like me to repeat the blessing with you?”
She smiled at me as she lifted the pitcher of water, surely ice-cold, from a shelf near the door. “If you’d like. Shall we begin?”
“God King Poseidon, Goddess Queen Amphitrite, may this water with your divine powers and blessings cleanse us. Wash away what weighs us down so that we may come forth with your light.”
The last word still rang through the still air when Althea filled my basin with the as predicted icy water. I held back a reaction, but Elijah hadn’t predicted the temperature. He gasped as his spine snapped straight in his attempt not to jump out of the fancy bucket. Althea place a towel on the ground between our submerged feet and the door for us to step on without tainting our newly cleansed feet. She offered her hand to help us step out and then inside.
Inside, the bungalow, warm and humid air filled the space from all the water used in healing rituals. The glow of candlelight added to the peaceful air. My feet made a soft sound on the tiled floors, the room we entered had, with two large bathtubs taking up most of the space. Both tubs fizzed with oils and salts. Dear sweet Lady Gaia! They fully intended for us to do a full cleansing bath before they’d admit us further into the sanctuary. A glamour on the door, masked the doorknob preventing anyone from going further. Fantastic! Of course, it wasn’t optionable.
Elijah stepped inside, close enough to me, his body brushed mine with every breath he took. I stepped further into the room out of the doorway to give him some room. Turning, I had to see his expression when he figured out what came next.