Dime Store Magic

'The protection ritual, as we said. Savannah, kneel beside the young man and put your hand on his chest.'

Savannah hesitated, then started to kneel.

'No,' I said. 'Get up, Savannah.' I turned to Greta and Olivia. 'We aren't doing anything until you tell us exactly what this ritual entails.'

Greta turned her back on me.

'Hey-!' I said.

I was cut off after the first word, frozen in a binding spell. Savannah started scrambling to her feet, but Anton put his hands on her shoulders and pressed her down.

'Hey! Don't-! Paige!' Savannah swung her gaze up to Olivia, who stood behind me and was undoubtedly casting the binding spell. 'Let her go! Now!'

'Paige is a Coven witch,' Greta said. 'She doesn't understand.'

She pulled a thin-bladed knife from her bag and knelt on the other side of the boy.

'Wh-what are you doing?' Savannah asked.

'A top-level protection spell requires an exchange. A life protected for a life lost. You should know this, Savannah. Your mother did.'

'No! My mother never-she wouldn't-' Savannah looked at the boy, then wrenched her gaze away and struggled against Anton's grip. 'You can't do this! I forbid it.'

'You forbid it?' Greta's lips twisted. 'Did you hear that, Mother? She's giving orders already. Well, 'princess,' it's your father who gives orders around here, and he told us to do whatever was necessary to keep his little girl safe. Anton, put her highness's hand on the boy's chest. Over the heart, please.'

Anton forced Savannah's hand to the boy's left breast. Greta moved the blade to the boy's throat.

'No!' Savannah said. 'You can't do this! You can't! He didn't-he didn't do anything.'

'He's a nobody, Savannah,' Olivia said from behind me. 'A runaway. The only meaning his life has is in protecting yours.'

'Don't bother, Mother,' Greta said. 'It's obvious Eve coddled the girl. What do you think dark magic is, Savannah?'

'It's not this. I know it isn't. My mother never did this.'

'Of course she did. She just never let you see it.' Greta pressed the blade against the boy's throat. 'No!' Savannah struggled harder, forcing Anton to put all of his weight into holding her down.

'He's a pretty boy, isn't he?' Greta said. She put her left hand behind the boy's head and lifted it. 'Would you like to give him a kiss, Savannah? A last kiss? No? All right then.'

She slashed the knife over the boy's neck so fast that it seemed not to have left a mark. Then his throat split open. Anton shoved Savannah's head forward. Blood jetted into her face and she started to scream.

Chapter 45

Brotherly Love

I WON'T DETAIL THE NEXT FEW MINUTES, I CAN'T, it broke my heart the first time, and even thinking about it is enough to bring me to tears. Savannahs terror and rage were indescribable. All I could do was stand there and watch, trapped in a binding spell.

Twenty minutes later I was in the bedroom, tucking Savannah into bed. Ringed around us were Nast, Sandford, and Leah.

On hearing the screams, Leah had come running. In the chaos that ensued, no one had escaped Savannah's blind fury. Leah had a bloodied nose and even I had a scratch across my upper arm. Eventually Shaw managed to sedate Savannah, and she'd collapsed where she stood. Then Sandford had carried her back to the house.

Once I'd finished getting Savannah into bed, Nast waved for everyone to leave the room. When I tried to stay, he motioned for Leah to remove me. I brushed her off and followed Nast and Sandford into the hall.

'I can't believe they did that,' Nast said.

'They say you gave them carte blanche,' Sandford said.

'Not for this.'

'It's a common spell, Kris. Not too common, given the risk that comes with kidnapping and killing humans, but it's common enough.'

'But to take her, unprepared, without a word of warning, of explanation…'

'I did warn you, Kris,' Sandford said, lowering his voice so Leah couldn't hear. 'They expected Greta's daughter to succeed her.'

'You think they did this intentionally?'

'Duh, no, really?' I said, stepping forward. 'Of course it was intentional! I can't believe you placed Savannah in the hands of women who had every reason to want her gone. I'm surprised they didn't kill her instead of the boy.' I looked from Sandford to Nast. 'Oh, I see. You figured they'd toe the party line because they're witches. Too stupid, or too cowed, to plot against you.'

'Are we done with her yet?' Sandford asked, jerking his chin at me.

Nast looked at me, but his gaze was unfocused, distracted. 'Just get her out of here. I'll decide what to do with her later. I haven't time for this right now.'

The moment Sandford asked his question, I'd started whispering the fog spell. I flicked my hand and a cloud of smoke burst from my fingertips, swirling up like a smoke screen. I raced into the bedroom, slammed the door, and cast a lock spell. Then I ran to the window and tugged on the frame. It was painted shut. I grabbed a chair and threw it through.

'Savannah!' I said, shaking her shoulder.

She gave only a low groan. I grasped her around the waist and pulled her off the bed. Then I looked out the window. We were on the second story. Maybe I could jump, but I could hardly throw Savannah out.

Leah pounded at the door. Sandford shouted orders, calling the others. I thought fast. Did I know any spells for getting Savannah down? No. Either I could find a way to lower her to the ground or I'd have to carry her. The first would take too long. I tried lifting her, but could barely get her off the floor.

The door flew open. Friesen burst through and grabbed Savannah from me. Leah followed at his heels.

'See, guys?' she said. 'No rush, like I said. She wasn't going anywhere.'

'Take her to the secured room,' Nast said.

Leah leaned over me and said in a mock-whisper, 'Just a tip. Next time, run for the front door.'

Friesen and Sandford laughed.

They put me in a secured basement room, but bound and gagged me, leaving me incapable of spell-casting. Then Shaw shot a dose of sedative into my arm. I was unconscious before they left the room.

I don't know how much time passed, but when I awoke, I found myself staring into Cortez's eyes. I struggled to sit upright, smiling behind my gag. The eyes blinked and I saw within them something so cold I shuddered and skittered backward. Somewhere in the room Gabriel Sandford laughed.

'Scared of her own shadow,' Sandford said. 'Just like a witch.'

The man bending over me blinked and the illusion shattered. They were Cortez's eyes, but older. Older and soulless. He moved back and I saw that the resemblance ended at the eyes. This man was in his early forties, shorter than Cortez, with a severe, patrician look that might have been handsome if he smiled, but with frown lines that suggested he never did.

'You're certain?' he said. 'About the relationship?'

'Certain?' Sandford said. 'What do you want? A videotape of your brother banging her?'

The man turned a cold stare on Sandford, who straightened and cleared his throat.

'I can't be absolutely certain, as she's not likely to admit to it,' Sandford said, his tone formal. 'Yet all evidence points to that conclusion. Your brother is searching frantically.'