“One at a time, and no one steps on the same stair. We go single file,” Brielle says. We follow her up to the second floor, thankfully without falling to our deaths.
Bonus points for us.
When we reach Mama’s bedroom, I blink in surprise. It looks completely different from how it was last year when I was here to fetch the grimoire. Last year, this place was destroyed and rotting in decay.
Today, it looks as fresh and tidy as it had when we were little kids. As if Mama were here this morning to make the bed and fluff the pillows.
“I don’t understand,” I say.
It’s an illusion, Lucien says. It’s meant to confuse you. Just keep going.
“This place is a pit,” Daphne whispers. Clearly, she and I see two very different things.
But Mama finds the table next to the bed and opens a drawer. “They’re here.” She pulls out two photo albums. “Just where I put them. My albums of you girls and my parents. This is what I was after.”
The door slams shut behind us, locking us in.
Brielle’s face turns white.
“What is it?” I ask and turn to the door, but I don’t see anything.
“We need to go now,” she replies but recoils in pain when she tries to open the door. “It’s hot.”
“You’re not going to keep us here,” I announce and hear hissing and laughter throughout the house. Suddenly, something starts to squeak in the corner.
“The rocking chair,” Daphne says, pointing to the chair, which is currently moving all by itself.
It always did that.
And it’s always moved to different places in the house, seemingly on its own.
You have to get out of there.
The door flies open and bangs violently against the wall.
“I want to take my mother’s chair,” Mama says, pointing to the rocker.
I share a look with my sisters. “That was Grandmama’s chair?”
“Yes, and I want to take it. She sat there with me all those years. She protected me. I don’t know how I know that, but I do. It’s the only thing I remember. The chair.”
“It was in your room downstairs when we came to see you last year,” Brielle says. “But, Mama, I don’t think we can take it with us. We don’t have room.”
The rocker moves faster now as if in warning.
Millicent, where are you? Come on!
“We have to go,” I say and start for the door.
“The chair,” Mama cries.
“We’ll come back for it another time,” I reply and take her hand. “Mama, we have to go. It’s not safe for us here. Let’s take the pictures and go.”
Mama’s crying softly with grief and fear as we hurry down the steps the way we came and head to the front door.
There’s wailing and crying behind us as we step outside. Both Miss Sophia and Lucien are sweating as they chant, holding hands. They both breathe a sigh of relief when they see us.
“Did you find what you came for?” Miss Sophia asks.
“Yes, but we couldn’t take my mother’s chair,” Mama says. “We’ll have to try another time. The house was too angry, too aggressive.”
Get your damn shields back up.
My eyes find Lucien’s. He narrows them on me, and I immediately do as he asks, raising my protective shields so I can’t read the spirits’ energies anymore. My whole being calms considerably.
Thank you.
You’re welcome. You’re bossy, you know that?
He smiles and gives me a wink.
You can close the connection spell, I suggest. I’m out safely.
He nods, and I feel him quietly close the door that links us. While it’s good that he can’t read my mind 24/7, a piece of me immediately misses the connection.
“Is everyone okay?” Brielle asks.
“Yeah, but we need to go,” Daphne says. “I hate this place.”
“I’ll take Miss Sophia home on my way back to town,” Lucien offers.
“Thank you,” I say to him, and then walk to Miss Sophia and hug her close. “Thank you, mother of my heart.”
“You’re welcome, daughter. Speak with Ruth. Be openminded and open-hearted so you both can heal.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She and Lucien get into his car and leave, and the rest of us pile into Daphne’s vehicle. She peels out of the driveway, getting us out of the bayou as quickly as possible.
“I’m so sorry, girls,” Mama says. Her voice and hands are shaking. “I saw little snippets, little flashes of time while we were in there. Things that I did to you, said to you. Made you endure. And I’m horrified that you were treated that way. It’s my job to protect you. I would never have let anyone else treat you that way, but it came from me. I’ll never be able to forgive myself.”
“Mom, it’s not your fault.” The words are from me. “We survived it. We’re happy, productive, healthy women.”
“I’m so grateful. Did you see your father?”
We’re silent as we stare at Mama in the front seat. “Did you see him?” Brielle asks.
“I did. And he wasn’t happy to see me.”
“Mama, are you a medium?” Daphne asks.
“Of course.” Mama brushes her fingers through her hair. “Before I go home, I’d like to see Millie’s café, if you don’t mind. Daphne, I’ll have a look at your shop the next time we’re out, if that’s okay with you.”
“Sure thing,” Daphne says.
There is so much we need to talk about. I’ll tell my sisters we need to get together tomorrow.
The rest of the ride into the city is quiet as we’re all lost in thought. I breathe a sigh of relief when Daphne parks in front of Witches Brew.
This is my familiar place, my home, my safety.
We walk through it with Mama, who seems genuinely delighted by everything I’ve done. She sips her white chocolate mocha and sits on one of the purple sofas, looking around.
“I’m so proud of you, Millicent. This is a beautiful place, and I can see why it’s a success.”
“Thank you.”
“I saw the potions on your board.” I steel myself against
