The Girl and the Gargoyle: Book Two of The Girl and the Raven Series (17 page)

“Let’s get to work on that spell,” Persephone suggests. She struggles to her feet and grabs a broad metal tray from a cabinet behind her, which she sets on the floor beside the altar. She moves her cushion to one side of the tray; I move mine to the other.

Persephone wiggles her fingers at me, beckoning. “Jude’s business card? He wrote on it, didn’t he?”

I pull it from my pocket and show her the note scrawled on the back.

Lucy,

It’s very important we meet. Call me, please.

Jude Morgan

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since Jude and I first met. Well, collided is more like it.

“Set it in the middle of the tray. It will serve as a representation of Jude.”

I do as she says.

“I hope it’s really Jude’s handwriting and not something he dictated to some assistant at his office. Will the spell work if Jude didn’t write the note?”

“If he went to the trouble of running into you at the airport, I have to believe he took the time to write the note,” Persephone says.

“Good point.”

“Place the black tourmaline on the tray,” Persephone instructs. I grab the black gemstones and set them on either side of the business card. Persephone separates the wooden branches and arranges them on the tray, so they, together with the stones, form a sort of square-ish circle around the business card. “As I said, the business card represents Jude. The sticks and stones represent protection.”

Persephone uncorks the first bottle and pours a small amount of liquid into a shallow dish. I recognize the stems inside the bottle. Rosemary. She pours liquid from the second bottle into the second small dish, and the rich, earthy smell of cedar hits my nose.

I watch intently and try to keep my hands from fidgeting. I wish she would let me do something.

Next, she retrieves what appears to be a sewing needle from her altar drawer and twirls it over the flame of the purple candle. “Now we need to activate the protective oil by adding a couple drops of blood.”

She raises her eyebrows at me. It takes me a minute to get it.

“Oh, you mean mine? Sure, okay.” It never occurred to me blood was used in good magic. I thrust my hand at her, palm side up, and try to sound braver than I feel. Needles make me think of Momma.

Persephone swiftly pokes my index finger, then squeezes it to draw out the blood. She steers my hand over the two small dishes, clutching my finger until three droplets of blood land in each dish of oil. As soon as she releases my finger, I stick it in my mouth and stuck on it to stop the bleeding.

Persephone swirls the two small dishes to distribute the blood throughout the oil. She anoints the gemstones and the birch branches with the rosemary oil. Then she anoints Jude’s business card with the essential oil of cedar.

“It’s important to note—and you’ll come across this as you continue to study your Gram’s books—that you should avoid protective herbs that are also traditionally used in exorcism, like sage, frankincense, and myrrh.”

“Exorcism?”

Persephone frowns at me like I’m a total moron.

“Jude’s a demon. The spell would be a disaster.”

We’ve had enough of those.

“Now we need to visualize a protective circle around Jude,” Persephone says, staring intently at the contents of the tray. “Can you do that?”

I nod and focus on the sticks, stones, and our representation of Jude. I imagine huge boulders and the ogre-like trees in Jude’s yard surrounding him, creating a barricade so no one can get through.

I didn’t realize how hard I was focusing until Persephone’s voice startles me. “Deep breaths, Lucy. I don’t want you passing out.”

I take a deep breath in, then exhale.

“Now repeat after me,” Persephone’s calm voice washes over me and I relax even more. “Sticks and stones forge together to protect Jude Morgan.”

I wonder if she’s making this up on the spot or if she wrote it ahead of time and memorized it.

“Lucy!” Persephone hisses.

Oops. Focus.
“Sticks and stone forge together to protect Jude Morgan.”

“No matter what conclusions are foregone or cast on.”

Foregone conclusions? Does she think this is a lost cause? Is Jude going to die no matter what? Am I? I give myself a mental shake, then repeat the line before Persephone can chastise me.

“Keep him safe from all opposition.”

My shoulders have crept up to my ears. I roll them out to regain my relaxed state and repeat the line.

“Remove all suspicion, regardless of his position.”

Position?
I’m about to repeat the line when an old, creepy voice echoes through the attic.

“Jude holds the rank of king among demons, and he is said to have been created second only to Lucifer.”

Who was that?
Where did that come from? Was that part of the spell?
I glance up at Persephone, but she’s just glaring at me.

“Did you hear that?” I ask. “That voice?”

Persephone’s eyes narrow as she peers at me.

“I heard a voice, I swear. Some old guy talking about Jude and Lucifer.”

Persephone’s complexion grows pale. She clears her throat. “Let’s finish this, okay?”

I nod.

“Remove all suspicion regardless of his position,” she repeats, her voice firm.

I repeat the words quickly.

“Form a barrier against those who mean harm.”

I’m relaxed. I’m relaxed. I’m relaxed.
I repeat Persephone’s words.

“Stay arm in arm, sound the alarm and then unarm.”

The words come out slow as they’re a bit of a tongue twister, and I don’t want to get them wrong. What happens if you get a spell wrong? Does the opposite happen? Or does it ruin the whole thing and you have to start over? I’m pretty sure Persephone would be mad either way.

“Until the threat is gone.”

I repeat the words without delay. Silence. Are we done? I peek out of one eye at Persephone. There’s a look of annoyance on her face. I’m guessing I didn’t do so well.

“I’m impressed with your ability to rhyme,” I tell her, trying to suck up a little.

“Shhh!”

I press my lips together and watch as Persephone looks around us, waiting, listening. The spell didn’t work. She fixes me with a look, eyebrows pulled low, her mouth an upside down smile that clearly says it’s all my fault.

Jude holds the rank of king among demons, and he is said to have been created second only to Lucifer.

Lucifer. I shiver and swallow. “Should we do it again?” I ask meekly.

“Do you think you can focus?” Her tone is not harsh so much as exasperated.

I nod. “I’m sorry. I’ll do better.”

“It’s not just about focusing,” she says, her voice gentler this time as she adjusts her position on her cushion. “It’s about visualization. You need to imagine the gemstones and the branches fusing together around Jude in your mind. Spells are all about manipulating energy, and visualization is a stronger form of energy.” Persephone waits for some acknowledgement that I get it.

I nod.

“Use visualization to control and direct the magical energy. You must see it in your mind in order for it to work. Does that make sense?”

“I think so.”

Persephone takes several deep breaths. I do the same. As I repeat her words, I imagine the black tourmaline turning to liquid and melding with the birch branches. They become one, then grow tall and wide, like a wall surrounding Jude.

I gasp when I realize that in my vision, Jude’s wearing the same outfit he had on the night of homecoming. The shirt that wound up soaked with my blood. I shake off the image. I focus on the wall, the impenetrable barrier. It grows taller and thicker. Jude is safe.

“Until the threat is gone.” I open my eyes as I state the final words of the spell, my attention still focused inward on my vision.

Persephone nods at the tray on the floor between us. I inhale sharply as a glowing ball of energy swirls around Jude’s business card. It picks up speed. I focus on my inner visualization, afraid that if I stop, whatever this is will stop. I’m guessing this is supposed to be happening or Persephone would’ve done something about it. I continue to imagine the wall of stone and wood growing thicker and taller.

Suddenly, the magical orb speeds up, racing faster and faster around Jude. It bounces off the larger of the two gemstones and ricochets across the room, smashing through the small, octagon-shaped window.

“What was that?” I ask.

Persephone smiles. “The magical spell is headed over to Jude’s.” Then her smile falls away. Both goddess statues on her alter lay broken in half. “A consequence.”

Uneasiness swirls inside of me. I never heard the statues break. Maybe it happened at the same time the ball of energy shattered the window? “What do you mean? Why?”

“I used good magic to help someone evil.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

On Thursday I come home from school and stop short when I find my uncles talking with Camille in the foyer. The three of them huddle together, their voices low.

I move close as Sheldon takes her hand in both of his. “It’s lovely to meet you, Camille. You and Marcus should join us for dinner.”

“I’d like that,” she says.

I close the foyer door behind me noisily.

All three of them turn to me.

“How was school, Luce?” Bernard asks.

First, Jude shows up unannounced and uninvited, forcing a meeting with my uncles. Now, Camille. It’s bad enough she stood beside Garret after he attacked her son. What does she want with my uncles?

“Um…fine, I think.”

Camille’s eyes are red. What did she tell them? Did she reveal the truth about Jude? I take in Sheldon’s watery eyes, his bottom lip pushed out. Bernard nods eagerly, looking a little distracted. I bet he’s already planning the dinner menu.

But neither of them are freaking out. So she didn’t tell them anything. Not about demons, witches, and gargoyles, anyway.

Camille moves to shake Bernard’s hand, and he pulls her into a hug.

“I look forward to seeing you soon.” He pats her gently on the back. “Come for coffee anytime.”

“It’s the best coffee I’ve had since my days in Seattle.” Camille’s lips pull into a crooked smile. Marcus has the same smile.

Hostility burns inside of me. Jealousy?

“Hello, Lucy.” Camille acknowledges me as she pulls out of Bernard’s embrace. “It’s always nice to see you.” She moves to hug me.

I take a step back and open the foyer door so she can leave. This is the same woman who abandoned Marcus, and who even now sides with Garret over her son. She can burn in hell for all I care. Maybe I should ask Jude to put in a special request for her.

“What’s up with the love fest?” I demand to know once she’s gone.

“Such a remarkable woman,” Sheldon says, following Bernard and me into the apartment as he wipes his eyes with a handkerchief.

Bernard nods. “So brave, revealing the ugliest parts of her past.”

“What exactly did she tell you?” I’m sure she left out the part where she stood by while Garret was about to sink his nasty fangs into Marcus’s shoulder.

“That she left Marcus and his stepfather all those years ago. Did you know about that?” Sheldon asks.

So, she told them some of the truth. Interesting. But why? What’s her angle? “I did…I mean, I do. Are you mad I didn’t tell you?”

“Of course not.” Bernard pats my shoulder. “Poor Marcus. He’s been through a lot. And now his birth father wants to reconnect with him, too, on the heels of his stepfather’s death? That’s a lot to take in.”

I stuff my hands into the pockets of my jeans and focus on my shoes. And then I go and kiss Dylan. Maybe I’m more like Momma than I thought. What if I don’t live long enough to make it up to him?

“Lucy, go call Marcus and see if he wants to join us for dinner,” Sheldon calls over his shoulder as he follows Bernard to the kitchen. “We’re making burgers and your favorite, tater tots.”

“O…okay.” I resolve to tell Marcus tonight. He deserves to know the truth.

I head to my room and dump my backpack on my desk. I pull my cell from my purse, press two buttons, then swallow hard.

“Hey, stranger.” Happiness washes over me the second I hear his voice, followed by more guilt. “I was beginning to think you’re avoiding me.”

I mentally run through our recent conversation. Marcus knew I had to work with Persephone last night. We texted Monday over lunch and after school. Yesterday? Nothing.

Oh, my God. He’s going to know something’s up. An image of Dylan and me pressed against the bathroom door at Jude’s flashes through my thoughts. My skin tingles with excitement.
Stop it!
I tell myself. I slump into my desk chair, squeezing my eyes closed as guilt consumes me.

Marcus bursts out laughing. “Are you still there? I’m just kidding. Relax.”