I squeeze her tight and release, step back. “I haven’t been alone,” I say. “I’ve had my coven and Michael. They’ve all been rather extraordinary.”
“I don’t doubt that. You bring out the extraordinary in people.” She hugs me to her side and leads me toward the house.
“Wow. Thanks, sis.” We climb the front steps to where Grandma and Bastian wait. The cat stands, meows, and walks a tight circle returning to the position where he originally sat. He does so again.
“Welcome back, sweet girl.” Grandma rubs my cheek. “I wish it were under better circumstances.”
“So do I.” I glance back at Michael. He has Mom balanced over his shoulder. He kicks the door closed and approaches.
“Shall we?” Grandma motions for us to move into the house. Miri opens the door and holds it open, allowing all the family members to pass through with ease. Bastian slips through between me and Grandma, hugging the walls, then zipping out in front of our feet.
Michael steps into the house, and mom’s body jerks.
“Great,” Michael mumbles. “Best get her to her destination quick, or things are going to get real ugly.”
“Upstairs,” Grandma says.
“Where upstairs?” Michael asks.
“My old room.” Miri points to the staircase.
Without another word, Michael races up the stairs. Mom’s body jerks, and jerks again. Jumps every few seconds. I drop my bag in the entry and race up to the second level, following close at my brother’s heels. He drops Mom to the surface of the bed and she screams.
Chapter Fourteen
Michael stumbles back against the dresser and wipes his brow. He stares at our mom like he’s never seen her before.
The protections of the house have completely undone my magick. And mom now kicks and convulses and screams at the top of her lungs.
“This isn’t going to go over well with your neighbors,” I say. “Plus, someone might actually call the cops.”
“She won’t be bothering anyone but us.” Grandma moves into the room and grins at my mom. “Scream all you want. No one will hear you. I made sure of it.”
Mom lunges forward and hisses. Grandma laughs.
Miri slips into the room and moves to Michael’s side. Wraps her arm around his.
“And to think, you may be to blame for all the issues I thought I was having with Edith.” Grandma shakes her head. “I told her you were no good for her, but she wouldn’t listen. But then, you already had your deformed claws in her by then, didn’t you?”
Bastian wanders into the room and freezes. Hisses and growls.
“Miri, could you take him out of here?” Grandma asks.
“Of course.” She steps forward and picks up the cat. He continues to hiss as he is escorted out.
“Come on.” Grandma turns around and gestures for Michael and me to exit.
“Where are you going?” Mom screams. “Come back here and untie me. Set me free.”
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Michael asks, glancing back at Mom.
“Keep going,” Grandma urges. She ushers us all into the hallway and closes the door. All Mom-related noises cease. “I spelled the room before you arrived,” she explains. “Anticipating her resistance and fight to be loud.”
“Good thinking.” Michael leans against the railing and heaves a heavy breath.
“What do we do now?” I ask.
“Tonight, we leave her alone. Let the house work on her, wear her down.” Grandma leans into her cane.
“You mean him?” I interject. “Caleb?”
“Yes.” Grandma tilts her head. “Caleb and any other attachments she might have clinging to her.”
“I don’t like the sound of that.” Miri steps out of Grandma’s room. Closing the door behind her. “I had to lock Bastian in your room for now.” She points over her shoulder. “He means serious business and really wants to get back in that room.”
Miri’s comment seems to pause Grandma with thought. A second later, she shakes herself into the now. “Miri, why don’t you show Belle the new sleeping arrangement? Michael, you come with me, and tell me everything you cast last night in regard to your mother.”
“That’s it?” I say.
“For now. Get some sleep. You’re going to need it,” Grandma says, ushering Michael toward the stairs.
“I have a funeral in the morning,” I blurt.
“Then you had best sleep fast,” she responds.
Right.
With Miri’s help, I pull my bike free from the trunk of Michael’s car and stash it in the back courtyard. Retrieving my duffle bag from the front entry, I carry it up to the third level where Miri’s made her room out of Michael’s old hangout. We’re to share a bed and that’s fine by me. At least the bed is bigger than the thin singles we used to sleep on years ago.
As exhausted as I am, my body refuses to give in to rest. I resort to magicking a dose of Chamomile into my system, and within minutes, I’m out. I wake in an almost refreshed state Saturday morning.
I’m alone in the bed. Miri is already up. Somewhere. I find her in the bathroom, succumbing to a bout of morning sickness. I opt to use the other bathroom, a level lower, to get ready. I slip into my black dress. It’s one of the few dresses I own. And I pull my hair into a curly bun with a ribbon.
Grandma is waiting in the kitchen for me, a cup of tea in hand. She offers it to me. “It’s peppermint,” she says. “Should help with the nerves on this stressful day.”
“Thanks.” I take a sip and welcome the slip of warm liquid down my throat. “It’s not like there isn’t enough stress right here at home.” Grandma nods. Sips from her own tea. “Your spell is amazing, by the way. I haven’t heard a peep out of Mom.” I glance up at the ceiling. Mom is in the room directly above us.
“Your mother is fine,” Grandma says. “You needn’t worry.”
“How do you know?” I ask and swallow another sip.
“For one, I just checked on her. And two…” She twists and points across the kitchen.
I blink
