Chapter Seventeen
Carly whirled to face the end of the grave only to see Carl settling down on to the ground. “Daddy.” She stood to run to him, but he waved her back down.
“I’m not here baby.” He looked down. “Well I am, but I’m not.”
She settled back on her knees. “You’re under here?” He nodded.
“Yeah baby. Amy laid me down here so that you can spend some time with me if you want.” He smiled as he settled in. “I know I won’t be able to come every time you need me, but today seemed important.”
Carly nodded her head. “I miss you, daddy.” She swiped her hand at her face, smearing snot across her cheek.
I pulled a tissue from my pocket and I wiped it away. Carl smiled, watching us. His eyes met mine. “I miss you too, baby girl, but Amy here has you.”
Carly looked up at me. “I like Amy, but it’s not the same.” Her eyes held an apology.
I chuckled. “It’s okay sweet pea. It’s going to be different. And it should be.” I kissed her and then we turned to Carl. The smile on his face was bright.
“Go on and say goodbye, baby. I’ll be here whenever you need me to listen.” He nodded to the flowers. “I love my flowers, baby. It was the best choice.” I could see the tear in his eyes as we turned to Carly.
I wrapped my arm around her. “Let’s say goodbye to daddy so he can rest.” I nudged her, and she nodded.
“Okay daddy.” She smiled up at me and then at Carl.
She settled with her hands in her lap. “I don’t want to let you go.
But I know the Goddess called you home.” She sounded so mature for someone so young.
I looked up at Carl and I realized he was gone.
I looked up at the sky and I smiled. He came to make sure she was okay and when he was sure she was, he left.
“Amy has been super nice to me. Even though it’s only been a day since you left us, she has made sure you had a nice place to rest. She protected me like you said she would.
” She sighed. “Her friends are nice, too. They are like new aunties. You always just talked about how Amy would come to save me, but now I’ve got four more girls too.
They aren’t my mommy or you, but at least I’m not alone.
” She swatted at her face. “I’m going to miss you every day.
I promise I’ll be good for Amy.” She turned, and I watched her face fall. “He’s gone.”
I nodded as I leaned over and kissed her.
“He left once he was sure you were okay.” I pulled back and opened my arms. She crawled into my lap and started to cry.
“Just because you can’t see him doesn’t mean he isn’t here with you.
” I kissed her head as I stood. “Any last words for right now?” She shook her head.
“I’ll bring you out here when I get back tonight, and you can tell him about your day. ”
She pulled back. “You promise?”
I nodded. “Of course. I’ll tell him about my day, too. Plus, I have to water the lilac.” We turned away and I sent a push of power into the small plant, giving it a boost before we left it alone for the day.
“Amy…are you mad?”
I almost stumbled. “About what?” I pulled back to look in her face.
“About me?”
I chuckled. “What about you could make me mad, baby?” I tucked her head under my chin as we walked the rest of the way.
“You are so young, and now you have me.” She pulled back as we made it to the door, wiggling until I put her down.
I crouched so I could look at her face to face.
“Let me be very clear. Yes, I am young, and I do not have a mate. But never for a minute think I didn’t want you.
I might not have any idea how to raise a child, but your father could have asked anyone.
And he did. He asked my mom. But you and I knew better, didn’t we? ”
Carly nodded. “I’m supposed to be with you.”
“That you are.” I leaned over and kissed her head. “Now. I have to take everyone to grab their stuff. Hanna and Micca have to return to their packs, and I have to figure out a way to get our stuff here.”
Carly’s eyes grew wide. “You have a lot to do.”
“I do. But the most important thing is making sure you are safe.” I pulled her inside with me.
“Daddy said the magic that your daddy did failed.” I turned to face her.
“What?”
“He said that the spell your daddy did wasn’t going to last forever, with everyone searching for us. And last night it failed. That’s why those men turned up. People are searching for me.” Sweet Goddess.
“Holy shit.” I turned and ran.
“Amy.” Carly ran after me, her sweet voice calling for me, and I skidded to a stop.
“Yeah sweet pea?” I panted. The need to protect her warred with my need to take care of her.
She pointed to a box on the fridge. “Daddy told me to show you the box.” She bounced on her toes. “He said it was important, but I forgot about it till now.” She looked worried.
“It’s okay, baby girl. You did great.” I ran back to the box and pulled it down. Another note was taped to it. I wanted to laugh, because the man thought of everything. I brought it to the table and Toya stood from the couch when I slammed the box down.
“What’s going on?” She walked over to us and patted Carly on her head. “Are you okay?” I opened the box only to find more herbs and four little statues. “What’s this stuff for?”
As I looked at the supplies, I knew this was the start of a new barrier spell.
I grabbed everything from the box and thought back to the spell in the book.
The herbs were here. The statues were here.
There was a lock of hair from everyone in the house that needed to be cloaked. But everything else is here.
“A barrier spell.” I put everything back into the box and then went for a pair of scissors.
I dropped them off at the table and then ran upstairs to Carly’s room and grabbed the bag of small rubber bands that I used on her hair today and made my way back to the table.
“Guys, I need you down here for a minute.” I dropped the bag on the table and pulled my hair free.
“What are you doing?” I sectioned a tiny portion of my hair off and I braided it. Toya came closer. “Why are you braiding your hair?”
“Come over here, baby girl.” I waved my hand as I grabbed the scissors. Then I cut the braid from my head and chucked it into the box. Carly came over to me. “I have to do the same to you, baby.”
“Okay.” She turned, and I undid her hair. “Why though?”
“I’m going to use it in a spell to keep us safe.” I looked at everyone. “I need a piece from all of you, too. Just in case you come and visit, I don’t want someone to be able to trace you here.” I explained, but my friends were already braiding their hair.
Toya just took the scissors and snipped off her braid.
“There.” She smiled as she tossed it into the box.
One by one, my friends tossed a chunk of their own hair into the box.
I finished the tiny braid at Carly’s nape and cut it off, then I quickly redid her hair.
“Look at how pretty you are. You can’t even tell.
” Toya smiled as she pinched Carly’s cheek, earning a giggle.
Then she turned to me. “What are our next steps? For the spell, I mean.”
I kissed Carly’s head and then grabbed the box. “Wendy, grab the big metal bowl from the counter.”
“The one with the fruit?”
“Yeah. Just leave the fruit and fill it with water, please and thank you.” I turned to Carly. “We always say please and thank you because it’s…”
“The nice thing to do?” She looked at me, confused.
I smiled and nodded. “Exactly.” Then I headed to the door.
Outside, I put the box down and looked at the sun. It was east, behind the house, and I realized the view from the front deck, the swing there would be amazing. The sunset over the ocean. I made a vow to watch it later tonight. But right at this moment, I needed the northern point.
It’s to the left. Nix nudged me that way.
How do you know? I started around the side of the house as Megan and Nix laughed.
We are wolves. We know our directions.
I shook my head but kept walking. I wasn’t sure where I needed to be, but when I took one more step, I knew.
This is where I needed to be. I dropped to my knees and pulled everything out of the box.
Everyone froze beside me as I put everything on to the ground, kicking up a small amount of dirt into the air.
“Um, Amy?” Toya started'.
“Hanna, can you get me some wood? I need a little fire.” I cleared off a spot and looked back to the cabin.
“Amy?”
“Hanna? Can you bring two big rocks from the garden over here? I need to suspend the metal bowl over the fire.” I organized everything again.
I heard footsteps and I looked up to see Wendy. “I got the bowl.”
“AMY!” Toya screamed, finally snapping my attention to her.
“What?” I sat back on my feet.
“Do you realize where we are?” Toya looked around.
“North?” I was still focused on the spell.
“My daddy died here.”
Carly’s words had my stomach dropping. I finally looked around and realized everyone was staring at me, but I couldn’t blame them. This place, this place was still so fresh in our mind from last night.
“We need to move this to a new spot.” Micca offered, but I shook my head. This was the spot that I needed.
“We can’t.” I looked down at the ground, blood still a dark stain that I didn’t see. But now I understood. “This is the only place for this spell, and I think Carl knew that.” I sat back on my feet and waited.
“What do you mean, this is the only place for the spell?” Toya crouched in front of me.
“The spell has to be cast at the north point of the property. The spell, the barrier, stops people from finding those within. My father cast one to keep Carly safe, but since he went into hiding, he wasn’t able to come here to renew it.”
“Renew it?” Micca looked around. “How do you do that?”
“This spell is powered by a sacrifice. The hair of the cloaked, and blood.” I swallowed. “Normally it is the blood of the caster…”
“But Carl…” Toya started, and I nodded.
“My daddy, he fought to get here.” Cary whispered. We all turned to face her.