Chapter 55
FIFTY-FIVE
Morana followed Dora back to Sephy’s house.
She was feeling stronger, a little more in control of herself and as much as she wanted to revert back to her old self, she knew that time had passed.
Whether or not she had wanted it to, the book had set off a chain of events that had led her to this moment in time and she had discovered that she didn’t have to be alone ever again if she chose not to.
It was such a warm feeling inside of her to know that she could have a family, be part of one – as long as they could accept her flaws and all.
Dora opened the back gate and called out for Hades. As they walked up the garden path both women scanned the trees and rooftops for the crow.
‘Does he do this often?’ Morana asked. ‘I’m kind of worried about him.’
‘He does have a tendency to flit off. When my mother died, he was gone a very long time. He was taking her soul to the light.’
‘He can do that?’
Dora nodded. ‘He’s more than a bird. He’s our black knight in shining armour. He was there to save our souls the first time we died, which is why we keep living again. We owe a lot to Hades, he is very special.’
‘And I thought he was just a pesky, annoying crow.’
‘Oh, he’s that as well.’ Dora winked at her, then called out again. ‘Hades, Hades.’ She whistled but there was no sign of him. ‘I’m a bit worried actually. What are we going to do?’
‘He spent a lot of time at my place. Do you think he’s gone there looking for me?’ Morana said.
‘Maybe.’
‘We should go take a look after we tell your aunts what that old fire-breathing dragon Clara had to say.’
Dora laughed. ‘I’d rather take a chance with a fire-breathing dragon. I’d trust one of them more than Clara. There is something way off about her.’
Inside, they saw Sephy and Lenny both working away in the kitchen.
Sephy looked up. ‘You’re back, did you get the spell book?’
They both shook their heads.
‘No, she said I couldn’t have it. I have to be invited to a council meeting to put in a formal request.’
‘That old witch, she wants it for herself. I knew she did. She won’t hand it over. I should have gone myself.’ Lenny was furious.
‘It’s okay, dear, calm down. We can sort this out.’
‘Can we, Sephy? Because I don’t know if we can without resorting to some big showdown or using force to get it back.’
Dora shook her head. ‘Must we always have to fight with magic to get what we want?’
‘At times, yes. Pointless but pivotal to getting our own way.’ Sephy sighed.
‘Morana, dear, we have come up with something to help you contain that fire inside your soul for the time being. I’ve made the tea and Lenny a protection pouch.
If I brew the tea, can you read the spell out loud three times before you drink it? ’
Morana looked at Sephy, her kind face so sweet even if she wanted to say no she couldn’t.
‘I’ll try, but I’m not really a tea drinker.’
‘Oh, this won’t taste like any tea you’ve ever had,’ Lenny sniped.
‘Shut up, Lenny, you’re not helping,’ Sephy hissed at her.
Sephy set about pouring the cast-iron pan of boiling water into a small, one-cup tea pot.
Morana winced as she watched the liquid turn a black colour.
Once it had steeped, Sephy strained it into a mug, then stirred in honey, lemon and a huge spoonful of sugar.
It made Morana’s teeth ache just watching her.
Sephy guided her to a chair and handed her the piece of parchment with the protection spell written on it.
‘You can say those words out loud or inside your head, whatever you prefer, but you must chant them three times for it to have full effect. Oh, I almost forgot, here.’ Sephy passed her a small linen bag, beautifully embroidered with a crescent moon and some tiny blue forget-me-knots.
‘Keep this bag on you at all times, it is of the utmost importance.’
Morana nodded and Sephy passed her the steaming cup of tea that was making her stomach churn just looking at it. All three women were staring intently at her and she frowned.
‘Can you like not watch me that way? You’re putting me off and I don’t want to sound rude, Sephy, but it smells like some awful medicine you give to kids.’
‘I know, dear, and I am sorry for that but, trust me, a cup of that every morning before you leave the house and you’ll be stronger and more protected than…’ She didn’t finish her sentence.
‘More protected than what?’ asked Morana.
‘Than any other witch in Salem,’ piped up Lenny.
Sephy gave her a grateful smile, and Morana realised that the pair of them were making this up as they went along. She decided then that if they could go to so much trouble to help her then she would do everything they asked; it was the least she could do. She nodded.
‘Thank you, I appreciate it.’
Then she blew the steam from the mug and took a sip, trying not to grimace.
‘The spell, you have to read the spell first.’ Sephy was panicking.
Lenny gently clasped her sister’s arm. ‘It’s okay, Sephy, it will work no matter what order Morana chooses to do it in. This is her magic, not ours.’
‘Yes, I suppose you are right, dear.’
Morana smiled at them, terrified of letting them down.
She looked down at the parchment in her fingers and read the words inside her head, slowly and three times over just like the aunts had told her to.
When that was done, she tucked it into the linen pouch, clasped that in one hand then began to sip the tea, imagining it was Sambuca or vodka shots.
When she’d finished, she let out a loud burp.
‘Ladies, I’m not going to lie. That was the worst thing I’ve ever drank in my entire life, and I’ve been to some shady bars in my time.’
Sephy laughed. ‘I’ll work on a better tasting version. Thank you, how do you feel?’
‘Sick.’
Sephy’s face was stricken with worry.
‘I’m okay though, just a bit queasy that’s all. I’m sure it will wear off soon.’
‘Oh, we need to talk about Hades. Has anyone seen him today? We saw him outside Gulu-Gulu and then he took off and we haven’t seen him since.’
‘He did?’ asked Lenny.
Dora nodded.
‘Can I use the bathroom?’ Morana smiled at them all.
‘Of course, it’s the palest pink door on the left upstairs.’
Morana stood up and closed the kitchen door softly behind her.
She needed to get out of here. It was too much.
Her eyes were watering so much and she didn’t want to cry in front of these wonderful women who would try to comfort her.
She wasn’t sure she could accept their comfort – it would be so strange after a lifetime of loneliness.
Why had her father abandoned her when she’d needed him the most?
Why had he never come home to visit and see how she was?
It didn’t make sense and she needed a little time to herself to process everything because her entire life as she knew it had been flipped inside out.
* * *
She snuck out of the front door, a horrible taste in her mouth from Sephy’s tea, clutching the bag with the crystals that Lenny had given to her, but her heart felt full, even though the grief for Addison was tearing it in two.
She was going to find Hades, then Clara, and get the book back.
She had caused all of this. She would be the one to put an end to it.