Chapter 30
JOSIE
The future of the New Orleans Sun Witches hangs heavily on my shoulders. I try to shake it off—giving each of my limbs a good twist and wave, but the crushing feeling only gets stronger as I descend the stairs of St. Augustine Church.
Human visitors look at the Catholic Parish and see the first church in Louisiana to be built by and for free people of color.
It’s wonderful, beautiful, and powerful.
And beneath it lies another powerful sacred spot. A section of the underground tunnels that leads to an ancient chamber of the witches.
There’s a general buzz of excitement as I pass witches and wizards scattered within the tunnels.
Today’s trial is for me, Beatris, and Summer to connect with Mother Gaia, while the Sun Witch elders watch on. Everyone else must wait in the hall for the announcement once things are done.
I inhale the cleansed air of the chamber and stand at the edge of the pentacle circle carved into the earthen floor. The five Sun Witch elders are readying the space, preparing for the ritual.
Against the far wall, Emilie Broussard stands wearing the moon phases pendant, signifying her as the Moon Witch High Priestess.
Grand-Mère always said she was a dear friend of my mother’s and a driven and honest sister in the coven. She meets my gaze and crosses the room to greet me with a warm smile.
“Good luck, Josephine. It will be my absolute pleasure to work alongside you going forward.”
“I have to be chosen first.”
She winks. “I have a good feeling.”
“I’m glad someone does.”
The elders continue as Beatris and Summer step into the chamber to join us. I keep my expression blank, unwilling to give Summer any hint of what we’ve got in store for her.
Summer’s here. Phi, did you see her leave?
I’m sorry. I don’t know how I missed her.
Dammit. She likely had a cloaking spell. It’s all right. Is Sebastian back yet?
Not yet, but Rune is here with your witch friends. We’re ready as soon as we have a target.
Okay. Thanks.
I was worried my connection to Phi would be compromised by the tunnels, but this chamber has the same all-encompassing and all-powerful energy as the tree stump in Lilian’s cabin.
The elders finish with their preparations and each of them moves to stand at one of the five points of the pentagram star. “Welcome, ladies. The circle is cast, and the chamber is cleansed. Are you ready to begin?”
I lift my chin and meet the gazes of the elders. “I’m ready.”
Summer is glaring at me. “Didn’t you have something you wanted to tell the elders?”
I meet their expectant gazes. “Just that I thank you for this opportunity and hope to mend the brutal past of my mother’s betrayal. Blessed be.”
Edith bows her head. “Blessed be, child.”
I can almost see steam coming out of Summer’s ears. What? Did she really think I’d just bend to her threat? I believe in my friends and in good winning out over evil.
“Beatris? Summer? Are you ready?” Francine asks.
When they express their readiness. Zana raises her hands. “Hail to Mother Gaia and the ancestors of witches past. We invite you to come forth and join us for our workings this night. We are honored to serve you and do your bidding. Hail and Welcome.”
“Hail and Welcome,” we all repeat.
Phi, I don’t know if I’ll be able to hear you once the trial begins. Any news?
Nothing yet.
Good luck.
To you as well.
“Please kneel within the circle and raise your chalices.” Zana gestures to the three vials which have been placed within the circle. “The potion provided will allow you to channel your natural connection to the elements, and, in turn, enter the meditative plane of Mother Gaia herself.”
Enter the meditative plane?
Easy for her to say.
With Finn missing and Sebastian—my paranoid, hallucinating vampire mate—being the one we’re depending on, my nerves are jumping like live wires.
Dumont witches have always been leaders in our coven. I can’t think of anything worse than Mother Gaia telling me I lack focus and don’t live up to the Dumont name.
Scratch that—worse would be losing Finn.
If Summer is as frazzled as I am, she doesn’t show it. The only thing on her face is unwavering determination, her intense gaze focused and unblinking.
Zana moves to stand before Beatris. She lifts a ceramic jug, tipping it slowly until a dark amber liquid pours into her raised chalice.
Josie? Can you hear me?
I look into Zana’s eyes as she fills my chalice and school my expression. Have you found him?
Not yet, but Sebastian is back and has an address. He and Rune are going to check out a house down the street.
Thank Gaia.
Zana finishes pouring for Summer and leaves the circle. “You may drink.”
The potion is a luminescent elixir that shimmers with ethereal energy. I raise the chalice to my lips and take a measured sip. It’s not as bad as I expect. It’s earthy and invigorating. I tip the rest back and swallow every drop.
Magical awareness surges through my veins. It’s like I can see energy.
Atoms. Cells.
Wow. This stuff is potent.
The potion takes hold of me fully, and I send one last thought to my familiar. Keep them safe, Phi.
I will do my best.
The awareness of my familiar fades away, and I find myself standing in a lush garden. The cool evening air brushes against my skin as I stand barefoot in the soft, dew-kissed grass. My sacred space is defined by a circle of stones, each emitting a faint, comforting glow under the twilight sky.
I turn to face the North, arms lifting slightly with palms open to the heavens. “Guardians of the North, element of Earth, I call upon you.” I smile as a stable, grounding energy rises through the soles of my feet. “Lend me your strength and stability, ground my energy as I seek deeper truths and wisdom.”
Pivoting smoothly to the East, I continue. “Guardians of the East, element of Air, I invite you into my circle.” A playful breeze teases strands of hair across my face. “Bring me your breath of inspiration and clarity, guide my thoughts to soar high and free.”
As I turn to the South, the last rays of the setting sun warm my face, infusing me with vitality. “Guardians of the South, element of Fire, I welcome you.” The fire within me stirs. “Ignite my will and passion, fuel my spirit with your transformative power and courage.”
Facing the West, I inhale deeply, tasting the moisture in the air that hints at the nearby stream. “Guardians of the West, element of Water, I embrace the cooling touch of water’s wisdom. Flow through me with your healing, cleanse my soul, and refresh my purpose.”
Finally, I look upward, acknowledging the vast expanse above. “And to the Spirit, the Aether that connects all, I acknowledge your sacred presence in my circle,” I speak with reverence, my arms reaching towards the sky and then drawing down to my heart. “Bind these elements together within me, balance within as without, as above so below.”
With my ritual words spoken, I lower myself to the ground, settling into a cross-legged position. My hands rest on my knees, palms upward, ready to receive my message.
Closing my eyes, I let out a deep, settling breath and begin my meditation, embraced by the powerful presence of the elements, each enhancing my spiritual journey and anchoring me to the world around me.
The elemental energies coalesce into a swirling vortex of power, and I sit in the eye of the storm. A surge of energy envelops me, and I gasp air back into my lungs so quickly it leaves me coughing and choking, desperate for breath.
RUNE
I pace the front hall of Josie’s family home while Elara and Nadine work on the shrouding spell that will keep Sebastian from burning up in daylight. We’ve used the spell before, but usually with a team of witches. I’m worried it will be too much for just the two of them, but we’re only going a few doors down the road and Sebastian will vamp run, so he’s confident he’ll be fine.
“Josie’s offline,”Phi tells me, tucking her huge ebony wings to fit through the open window. “Which means Summer is offline too.”
“It’s go-time.” I look toward Sebastian and the witches. “I’ll do a quick perimeter check and wait for you there.”
Sebastian shuts that down. “No. We go together. They’ve already got Finn. We need to be a united force.”
“You just don’t want me to kill anybody without you.”
A cruel smile curves his mouth. “That too.”
Elara frowns. “You said ‘they’. Who else do you think will be there?”
I look to the raven. “Did you see any wolves or other witches?”
“Since Sebastian returned with the address five minutes ago? No.”
“Saucy bird.”
“I can’t believe Summer is a Caron and never told anyone,” Nadine says.
“I can,” Elara says. “Her aunt Gisele helped Claudette and Lilian with the Unity Ritual. I heard that after the dust settled and witches realized the outcome, the Dumonts, Beauchamps, and Carons were in the crosshairs of all paranormal camps.”
Sebastian grunts. “There was a mass exodus of witches from New Orleans in the weeks that followed. Since Summer only came back once she was already married, there was no way to know.”
Nadine and Elara lower their hands and step back from Sebastian in unison.
“That should do it,” Elara says. “But just to be sure maybe we?—”
Sebastian is gone in a blur.
“—should work on the warding before you go outside.”
Nadine blinks. “Is he crazy?”
I hurry the witches out in front of me, and we race down the road. When we arrive at the old Caron home, Elara and Nadine get straight to work on the warding while Sebastian smolders in the shade of the covered porch.
“Your impulses are going to get you fried one day, Bas.” Damn, the steam coming off his body is making me cringe.
“Nonsense. I have faith in the ladies. The shroud will hold until we get inside.”
The air sizzles with both Bas’ skin and tension as Elara and Nadine focus on the shimmering ward that encircles the old century home.
I move to stand beside Sebastian to stay out of the way. The witches’ hands move in intricate patterns, their voices weaving a chant that vibrates through the morning air.
The ward is a pulsating barrier of electric currents, repelling everything foreign. As Elara and Nadine’s magic intensifies, the barrier’s energy fluctuates, pulsing erratically like a heart racing towards its final beats.
I scrunch my nose and give Sebastian a side-eye. “You smell like burnt chicken.”
“You’re an asshole.”
“True, but you still smell.”
After a long moment, the energy begins to flicker and waver, distorting the air around us. There’s a noticeable drop in the atmospheric pressure, and then the ward collapses.
The energy dissipates with a hiss and a faint echo of magical discharge. The abrupt cessation leaves a temporary vacuum, and the sudden absence of resistance is our cue to move.
Without wasting a second, Sebastian and I bust through the door with vampire speed. We race through the empty halls, me taking the main floor while Sebastian heads upstairs.
My senses are on high alert, scanning for any signs of Fintan or a trap that might have been left behind.
As we search, the urgency is palpable.
Now that we’re inside, Finn’s energy resonates over the bond. He’s weak and hurting.
“Upstairs. I have him.”
Changing course, I race up the steps to where Sebastian has found our brother. The bedroom door is open, and Sebastian is standing frozen in my way. When I race around him, my mind fritzes out.
“What the actual fuck?” I rush to undo the clasps locking Finn in a full-bodied pincushion but my skin singes and bubbles the moment I make contact.
“It’s pure gold.” Lilian steps in from the doorway, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “Even now that you’re here, you won’t be able to get him out. How does it feel to be helpless while you watch someone you care about suffer?”
Sebastian lunges and I race back to the top of the steps. “Ladies! We need you up here!”