Fire Spell (15 page)

She looked me in the eye. “And nothing. You have to stop worrying about what coulda, woulda, shoulda, and find Finn. None of this matters if something has happened to him. You are a Laurel and he is a Guardian, and somehow the two of you together are going to stop the evil cloaked people.” She twisted her lips. “Although, I don’t know what the evil is and I don’t know how you’re going to do it, but that’s the plan. Ok?”

I straightened my shoulders. “Yes. Good pep talk. I can do this.” I stood and caught my reflection in the mirror. “But first a little
Glamour Spell
?” I pointed at my face and watched as the traces of mascara disappeared and blush dotted the edges of my cheekbones.

Holly removed the
Barrier Spell
, and we walked out of the bathroom. I felt ridiculous running out of the room like that, but I had grabbed control again and I could face whatever was in front of us.

“You ok?” Jack stood as I walked back to my chair.

I smiled. “Yes, completely fine.”

He didn’t look like he believed me, but sat again and we turned to Ian. “Sorry, go ahead, Ian.”

“I think I mentioned I’ve been working on my
Locality Spell
.”

I nodded. “Yes, you said something about it. Does that mean you found Gigi’s spell book?”

“No, but I’ve done research on some other Locators, and I have upped the spell a little. There is a good chance I can find Finn without having something that belongs to him. Although, it wouldn’t hurt.” He paused. “Ivy, do you have anything from him?”

I felt three pairs of eyes on me. Shit. Why couldn’t Ian have asked me this privately?

“Um, I might have something.” I hopped from my seat and pulled out my jewelry travel bag from my suitcase. Finn had given me several pieces. Lately, I had refrained from wearing them, but there was probably something from him in my stash.

I ignored Jack’s look as I pulled a necklace from the bag. “Here.” I handed it to Ian.

He looked at the necklace. Our initials were entwined in a flame. “Ok. I guess it will work.” I could tell he was uncomfortable. I had little sympathy, considering I just outed my relationship with Finn in front of Jack. It’s one thing to break a man’s heart, but it’s another to run your ex in his face. My brother looked at Jack. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave for this part. You can wait in the hall.”

“Right. You’ll lose your strength.” Jack stood from the chair and walked to the door. I wanted to explain everything in a hurry, but confusion and hurt feelings would have to be dealt with later. “I’ll be right outside.”

I smiled at him and turned to Ian. “You couldn’t have waited to ask for something after he left the room?”

“What? Is something going on between you two?” He looked at Holly. “Never mind, I don’t want to know. Your love life confuses me.”

I huffed. “Seriously? You’ve dated so many girls, no one can keep track.”

Ian held up the necklace. “All I’m saying is Finn’s my best friend, and you’re my sister. I don’t want to get in the middle of it.”

“He’s gone.” I steamed. “We are not to—”

“Ok, you two, maybe we could do this later. We need to find the missing Mr. Delano.” Holly brought us back to the task.

“Sorry.” I slumped in my chair and waited for Ian to perform the spell.

The sunlight from the window caught the I and the F as Ian held it toward the wall. I had never seen him perform the spell without a map. This was a first.

His eyes closed and the pendant spun as he chanted and held his free palm toward the wall. I watched as the Earth’s continents formed on the wall, followed by the oceans. It was amazing. Ian had really upped his spell game.

“I see it.” I pointed to the map, and Holly stood next to me. There was a light, glowing brightly on the coast.

“Where is he?” Ian opened his eyes.

I stood with my hands on my hips. It couldn’t be. I was expecting to have to hunt him down in Singapore or Tanzania, but the light glowed on the coast of Georgia.

Finn was in Savannah.

“W
HAT IN
the hell?” I stared at the wall and the light.

“So, that’s good news, right?” Holly tried to lighten the mood.

I turned toward her. “He’s two hours away? All this time I thought he was on the other side of the world, and he’s two hours away?”

Ian shook his head. “You know he’s on his quest. It must have taken him there.”

That damn Shadow Quest took over everything. If I never heard the words Shadow Quest, I would be extremely happy.

“Whatever. I guess I’ll fly down and get him.” I walked toward my bag, ready to put on my coat and hit the sky.

Ian stopped me. “No. You stay here. I think you should try to follow Gigi again, and get some more information. I’ll go talk to Finn.”

It was as if he had poured water on my head. As much as I wanted to see Finn, I didn’t. However, I sure as hell didn’t want someone else telling me that my chance to see him wasn’t going to happen. It had been nine months.

“Ian, I should be the one to go. I need to explain this Laurel-Guardian stuff to him.” I talked to my brother, trying to take the pleading tone out of my voice. Now that I knew where Finn was, everything suddenly seemed different.

He looked at Holly as if he was asking her to help. “
Time Spell
, find out something we can go on. By the time you get back, I’ll have him back.”

“Wait, you’re bringing him here?” That scenario hadn’t actually entered my mind.

Holly put her hand on my shoulder, probably in an effort to keep me from locking myself in the bathroom again.

“Yes, I have to bring him here. You two are meant to do something. I doubt you can join forces far apart.”

He had said it. Finn and I had to join forces. I sat on the edge of the bed.

Ian reached for his coat. “I’ll be back by tonight.” He turned at the door. “Ivy, can you handle this?”

I nodded. I could put my hot mess of a love life aside if it meant ridding the world of evil.

“Good. Be careful and I’ll see you.” He closed the door behind him.

Holly scanned my eyes. “Are you ok?”

“No, not at all.” It was as honest as I could be.

“Ok, good answer. But we have a few problems.” She nodded to the door. Jack was still waiting for us to let him in.

“Right.” I stood and walked to let him in.

“Everything ok in here?” He brushed past me, squeezing my arm as he moved. It was a sweet gesture. I realized then he wasn’t giving up on me yet.

“Yep. Ian is on his way to Savannah to talk to Finn. In the meantime, I need to
Time Spell
.”

He smiled. “I love it when you do that.”

“Well, this time you can’t watch.” I didn’t mean it to sound like that. I blushed. “I mean, I can’t lose any more of my strength. You’re going to have to stay put. Holly can hang with you, right?”

“Oh no, you’re not leaving me with her.”

Holly giggled. “You’re afraid of me? I’m barely five feet tall.”

“Height means nothing in this scenario. I learned that the hard way.”

Holly stretched on the bed and flipped on the TV with the remote. “I won’t erase your memory. I promise, Jack.” She stuck out her bottom lip. “But with Ian flying and Ivy traveling, you’re kinda out of witch protection options, so you’re going to have to trust me.”

I smiled at him. “You’ll be fine. She’s under strict orders not to melt your brain.”

He wrapped his arm around my waist, turning me away from my cousin. He leaned toward my ear. “There’s no way anyone could erase you from my memory.”

He leaned toward me as if he was going to kiss me. I stepped back in time to see a hurt look flash in his eyes.

He cleared his throat. “Is there anything I can do?” he asked.

I looked into his warm brown eyes, wishing I could give him what he wanted. “Stay alive while I’m gone, and don’t be scared of Holly. She’s like a kitten.” I giggled. A kitten with tiger strength, but still a cute kitten.

He shoved his hands in his front pockets and watched as I walked out of the room.

The last thing I felt like doing was a
Time Spell
, but everyone was counting on me. I walked to the conference room and checked for any straggling hotel guests. Lucky for me, the coast was clear. I entered the supply closet and faced the wall.

I wished I had brought my grandmother’s journals with me. I needed time to read through all of her entries. She was careful not to mention many details, but maybe now, with the small glimpse I had at the council, the hooded men, and Leo, I would be able to extract what she was talking about.

I performed my
Double
Fade Spell
, securing the extra layer of invisibility that would keep other witches from seeing me. I was all too glad I had used it last night.

I walked into the movie theater and listened for any customers who might attend a matinee. I didn’t know if that was something that was popular in the fifties.

It seemed quiet, but I tiptoed just in case. I pushed open the back door and walked into the Charleston sunlight. I didn’t have much to go on. Without studying the journals and walking blindly into the spell, my plan was to visit my grandmother’s townhouse in the hopes she and Leo were talking about the council. Plan B was a visit to the council.

She lived several streets from the theater. I made my way to her townhouse, keeping my eyes peeled for any signs of her or Leo. Sometimes it was easier to see things from the ground.

I reached the row of brownstones and looked for 724. At the end of street was a pale yellow house, complete with a white picket fence. There were flowers in the planter boxes and a swing on the front porch. It had my grandmother’s domestic stamp all over it. I smiled, knowing it was the right place.

I looked in each of the windows, before entering through the front door.

“No, Leo. You’re not doing it.”

I heard her raised voice from the back of the house. I walked toward the sounds.

“I am. Are you going to stop me?” Leo stood with his back against the counter, his eyes blazing.

“I will stop you if it keeps you from getting killed.” My grandmother was pissed.

He lowered his voice. “They want us to perform the
Fire Spell
tomorrow night. We’re not ready. You know we’re not ready, Lily. Let me talk to the council and explain it to them.”