“We don’t have the money for the service.” She drops, shakes her head. “Whatever the county, state, or his employment provides is all I have to offer him.” She drops onto the sofa and breaks in heavy sobs.
Luna sits beside her mom and tries to comfort her, but I can only imagine… there is no comfort for one who has lost someone dear to their life, their heart.
I stand to the side and wait, shifting back and forth, crossing and uncrossing my arms. The bokor made good on his threat. He killed Luna’s dad. What could we have done differently? How could we have saved him? Nothing comes to mind
“Thank you, sweetheart.” Mrs. Flores squeezes Luna’s hand. “Go attend to your friend.”
“Are you sure?” Luna asks. “I am here for you if you need me.”
“I will be alright. I am not your burden to bear.”
Mrs. Flores motions for Luna to join me and she does.
“Tell me what to do and I’ll do it. Anything, if it will help you right now,” I say.
“There is a massive void inside of me.” She stares across the room. “I feel it growing, swallowing my ability to find happiness. I am turning into a puddle of muddy rainwater on the gloomiest of days.” Her head jerks up, and her entire body turns to face me. “I appreciate you coming so much. So so much. But this is no place for you. I’ll only bring you down.”
“If down is where I’ll find you, then I’m alright with that.” I take her hands in mine.
“What about your brother?” she says. “Is he the one I saw sitting in the car?”
“Yeah. He gave me a ride.” I tilt my head in his direction, indicating his location through all the barriers between us.
“He must be getting pretty bored waiting out there,” she says.
“He’s fine,” I reply “He wants to keep an eye on things from the exterior of the house.”
She throws her arms around me, catching me off guard. I jolt, then return the hug. “The hard part is done,” she murmurs. “All that is left for me to do tonight is ball my eyes out. You don’t need to be here for that. In fact, I’d rather you not be.”
I guess I can understand that. I’m never keen on people watching me cry. Still, I want to be here for her. “I want to be here to protect you, keep you safe.”
“There is nothing more to do,” she counters. “The bokor did as he said he would. He is no longer a threat to me.”
“Is that what you think? Because I’m not so sure,” I state. Glance from her, to the window, then back. “My brother was going to help with tonight’s protection spell. Since he’s sitting outside, why don’t we bring him in and cast the spell here? Do a little something extra to keep you safe.”
Luna’s gaze blinks to her mom and back. “I know he’s your brother and all, but I don’t think my mom will be okay letting a strange man into her house without having good cause.”
“Then we tell her…” I say.
“Spell casting is not a good cause,” Luna interjects.
We drop into silence. Stare at one another, mentally wrestle with the presented puzzle.
Three minutes later, we are tiptoeing down the hallway to the back door and I slip outside, circle around the house, and flag Michael in the car. When I return to Luna, waiting at the back entrance, my brother is in tow. He’s carrying a bag of goodies collected from the trunk of his car. The three of us slip into Luna’s bedroom. Sit in a circle.
Chapter Twelve
The room swirls with the aroma of cider, cinnamon, and dragon’s blood. Michael chose to combine three of his favorite protection empowering ingredients for the spell, given the challenge we are set against. The powerful bokor.
Gathered between us, on the floor in Luna’s room, are various items representing the four elements. The incense for air, sprinklings of salt and sand for earth, a burning white candle for fire, and a bowl of water. All these atop a cloth altar.
Michael and I lend our energy to Luna, and she charges her chosen object with the power of the elements. Chanting over each natural force, one at a time, allowing her protection amulet time to load to full strength.
Only Luna can experience the total expanding flow of the amulet’s potency, but through our connection, I catch a glimmer of its might. My heart settles with the knowledge she’ll now have this added piece of protection watching over her.
When the spell is complete, Luna sets the amulet on the carpet in front of her.
“Put it on,” Michael says. She follows his request, slipping the long necklace into place. “Never let anyone touch it. Not even Belle.” He glances between us. “Mixing another energy with your object of protection will weaken, even destroy, the spell we have cast here tonight.”
“No one touches it. Ever.” She slips the amulet inside her shirt so that it is out of sight.
“Okay. Good.” Michael inhales deep and releases his breath in one long, slow motion. “Other things you must abide by, never wear it at night or you will drain the power while you sleep. Hide it away when you are not wearing it so that no one else touches it, be it accidental or not.”
“No one touches it. Don’t wear it at night. Hide it when not wearing it.” Luna repeats the three don’ts delivered by my brother.
“Exactly.” He smiles and nods. “Make sure you are wearing that thing every time you leave the house.” He points the visible chain around her neck. “You’ll need to recharge the power in about two months. Sooner if you find it being activated more often than not.”
Luna and I exchange a look. Given the current circumstances, what are the chances her amulet will need to be recharged next week? I grimace.
“Luna. What’s the smell? Are you burning
