Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
May and Faron were at my kitchen table, and she had her crystal ball in front of her, along with a deck of tarot cards. Both cats were eating their dinner. I breathed a sigh of relief that they hadn’t gotten out.
May straightened. “Did you…”
“We managed to trace him to the Elwa Junction, but I lost the scent there,” I said. “What should I do, May?”
“Well, for one thing, I’ve contacted Daisy Parker. She needs to be aware, just in case something comes through the department,” May said. “She’s on the way.”
“Thank you,” I said, totally at a loss.
Faron stared at me, a look of concern on his face. “I’m so sorry. What can I do to help? All you have to do is ask.” He crossed to the counter. “Do you want some tea? Coffee?”
“Coffee, please,” I said. “I need to call Grams. She can help us, too.”
“I called her as well, dear,” May said. “She’s on her way.”
The gentleness of her voice and her concern hit me and I broke down in tears. I slumped into a chair. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“We’ll find him,” Bran said, rubbing my shoulders from behind me. “We’ll bring him home.”
At that moment, the doorbell rang and Faron hurried to answer. When he returned, Grams was with him. She pushed past him to give me a hug, then turned to May.
“What’s next? I’ve never had much to do with dragonettes, but tell me what to do and I’ll do it.” Grams kissed the top of my head, then sat down next to May.
“First, tell us everything you were able to sense, Elphyra,” May said. “Even if it seems miniscule. Also, has anything odd happened lately? You’ve had your little meltdown but now you need to buck up. Fancypants is depending on us.”
“You’re right,” I said. I wiped my nose with a tissue that Faron handed me and cleared my throat.
“We think they headed toward the Olympics at the Elwa Junction. But there were so many emotions lingering in that area that it clouded my ability to keep hold of him. He said that two men in a green van locked him in a cage.”
“Green van, huh? We’ll tell Daisy when—” The doorbell rang again. “That’s probably her now,” Bran said, heading to answer the door.
I looked at May. “I keep losing my focus, May. What can I do?”
“That’s because of the bond between you,” she said. “When something like this happens, it plays havoc with your emotions and senses. Think of it as astral static. As to what you can do about it—there is something, but I doubt you’ll like the idea.”
I sighed. “What is it? If it will help—”
“Oh, it will help, but it can be frightening. I can create a dampener on your emotions. It won’t destroy the bond, but it mutes it.
It’s not permanent, but it can—at times—force the dragonette and the witch to re-bond after they meet again.
However, it will allow you to focus on what needs to be done. ”
I worried my lip. “Will Fancypants think I abandoned him?” That was the last thing I wanted—I didn’t want him feeling like I’d just cut him out of my life, like some old tissue I had blown my nose on and then discarded.
“No, dear. He won’t notice. This won’t sever your bond—no fear about that—but it will give you the ability to focus without Fancypants’s fear clouding your vision.” She motioned to Grams. “Can you cast a circle while Bran and I go get the tincture I need?”
“I can. Do you want me to invoke the elements, as well?” Grams opened her bag and pulled out her dagger.
“Invoke the elements and focus on air—we need the clear sight. I’ll be back in five minutes—”
“I can get them for you, Ma,” Bran said. “Tell me which one?”
“The one labeled Lemon Clear Sight. Can you also bring the sage spray, and my clear quartz Merkabah stone?” As May motioned for me to follow her into the living room, Bran took off out of the kitchen door.
May and I settled on the sofa as Grams readied her dagger. She walked to the north side of the room and encircled the edges, drawing the magic circle of power. Her voice rang in the room, echoing with strength.
I cast this circle once around, by the powers of sacred ground.
I cast this circle once again, by the powers of sacred wind.
I cast this circle once on high, by the powers of sacred fire.
I seal this circle as the Mother’s daughter, by the powers of sacred water.
By the powers of three times three, as I will, so mote it be.
Her magic filled the room, settling over us like a blanket of starlight.
I breathed in and caught the faint scent of jasmine and oleander.
My Grams was a powerful witch, she was. I was learning from her—learning the family secrets and spells.
I was learning about the heritage I’d never been privy to because of my father’s untimely death, and my mother’s disinterest. We were taking it slow, step by step, but I was starting to recognize my great-grandmother’s energy signature.
On the other hand, May was training me in kitchen witchery—how to infuse everything I cooked or planted or made with love or anger, depending on what was necessary.
This was the type of magic that Bran used, though he focused his magic through tending to the earth and to his animals.
Both of them were considered Earth Stewards in the human magical community, and they blended the folklore of the earth with actual magic.
“Can you feel it?” Grams asked, lowering her voice.
I closed my eyes and reached out. There—there it was.
One of Grandmother Spider’s children was weaving a web of protection around us.
My great-grandmother worked with the spirit of webs every so often, and she had drawn her energy in for today.
I wasn’t fond of spiders, but I did nothing to break the spell.
The astral servants of Grandmother Spider were both fair and fell, depending on which energy was called for.
When I closed my eyes I saw the astral eight-legged servants, scuttling around to weave the web of protection around the outskirts of the circle.
These spiders were both terrifying and beautiful, their eyes sparkling jewels, their legs and bodies formed of thin copper wirework.
And yet, they were no machines. They were actual beings.
My great-grandmother possessed powers I only had a glimpse of yet. But she had assured me that one day, I’d be able to reach out and touch those same energies.
May let out a soft sigh. “You cast one hell of a circle, Morgance.”
“I’ve had plenty of practice,” Grams said.
At that point, Bran returned. He handed May a bag. “Here, I found the tincture, sage spray, and the stone, but something else wanted to come. I don’t know why, but I brought it back with me.”
May took the bag, then froze. “Melda.”
“I wouldn’t have brought the urn if I hadn’t heard her, Ma. She wanted to come.”
I glanced over at May, who looked like she had no idea of how to react. “What is it?”
“Not what,” she whispered. “But who…Melda’s ashes are in here.”
I looked over at Bran. “Is that…”
“Melda was my bonded dragonette,” May said. “I keep her ashes in my bedroom. I’ve never included her in spellwork before, not since she died.”
“I didn’t want to hurt you,” Bran said. “But I swear, I heard her.”
“I believe you,” May said, setting the bag on the table. “Very well, she wants to be part of the ritual. To be honest, she’s been around. I feel her now and then, resting on my shoulder. I rarely respond because…”
“Because you don’t want to hold her to this realm?” Grams asked.
May nodded. “Yes. But if she wants to stay, it’s up to her. I’d welcome knowing she was watching over me. I miss her.” She turned to me. “We’ll do everything in our power to find Fancypants.”
“Thank you,” I said. “I can’t imagine losing him. I hate that he’s out there, waiting for me, and I’m not there. What if he thinks I’ve abandoned him?”
May took the items out of the bag—the tincture, the sage spray, the Merkabah quartz, and then a porcelain urn that had a lovely green dragonette painted on the front.
She set the urn on the coffee table as Faron wandered in.
I glanced at him, but by his expression, he had been listening in.
He took the bag from May when she finished, then retreated to the kitchen.
May motioned for me to sit beside her. “This won’t be pleasant, but it will allow you to focus.” She picked up the Merkabah stone—spraying it with the sage spray. “Now stretch your arms out to the side and hold them steady.”
I did as she asked, closing my eyes. “I’m ready.”
May sprayed me down with the sage spray, then said, “Open your mouth. I need to drop this tincture on your tongue.”
I did as she asked. As the tincture hit my tongue, it was as though I’d been supercharged with rocket fuel.
I spiraled up, soaring as though I’d taken a hit of acid that immediately hit my core.
I kept my hands out, but felt like one of those pictures of a meditator sitting there, in the lotus position, half out of their body.
I started to speak but the words that came out of my mouth sounded a million miles away and I wasn’t sure if I’d actually said anything.
“Can you hear me?” May asked, from a million miles away.
I tried to nod, not trusting my tongue to actually behave and follow instructions.
“Listen to me carefully. You’re experiencing the power of the tincture.
It’s helping you to connect to your oversoul.
From there, you’ll be able to work out on the web.
I’m going to place a crystal in your hand.
I want you to try to keep grounded when I do—it’s imperative you not let yourself fly until I give you the go-ahead.
” Her voice was commanding, and once again, I nodded, hoping that I had actually done so.