It would’ve been nice to have a way to communicate with Tripp or any of my team. As it stood, I didn’t have my comm or cell.
“Ladies, move,” I commanded.
Layla and Agnes hurried over.
“Layla, you’ll need to do the spell to make an opening here.” Agnes nodded at the cement wall.
Patricia started to chant, but Layla smacked her in the face. “Do you want to choke on your own blood?”
Patricia threw Layla the finger while Agnes gave Layla instructions on what to do.
Holding up her palms, my wife drew an imaginary circle over the dirt wall, chanting words that I tuned out.
I was too busy listening for enemies coming our way. We had maybe five seconds.
Finally, the exit appeared.
We rushed through the hole just as the metal door groaned, and a man shrieked Maeve’s name.
Once on the other side, I covered Patricia’s mouth as Agnes gave Layla the commands to magically seal the entrance.
My vision quickly adjusted to the small room that had a set of stairs leading up to a cellar door.
“Hold Patricia,” I said to Layla. “I want to check before we rush out.”
Agnes caught my arm. “Wait.” Her pulse was beating rapidly. “Before we leave here, I have an idea to return your powers. If we don’t do it now, I’m afraid you’ll never get them back.”
I had to agree. All sorts of things could go wrong. If we lost Patricia, I was fucked.
“It has to be done quickly. I’m sure Roman will know we’re missing in less than a minute,” I said.
“First, Layla, I want you to say these two words as you look at Patricia.”
Patricia shook her head. “Don’t do it, Aunt Agnes.”
After Agnes gave the command to Layla, then my wife glanced at Patricia and said, “Gravayire Nawturi.”
Patricia opened her mouth to speak or shout, but nothing came out.
“Next, both of you join hands with Patricia,” Agnes ordered. “Layla will be the conduit between Sam and Patty.”
Patricia’s mouth was moving, but I wasn’t paying her any attention as I clutched her hand tightly.
Agnes gave Layla the spell.
My wife’s sunburst-yellow eyes brightened as she chanted, “By the power of water, the cleansing of air, the flames of fire, and the grounding of earth, I bestow nature’s elements once again to Sam Mason.” Layla trembled as if she was freezing cold. Her eyes flashed from yellow to blue to dark orange.
Suddenly, an electrical charge careened up my arm, and I felt as though a million bolts of lightning had zapped me. I closed my eyes briefly, welcoming the familiar tingling, throbbing, and pulsing that usually came with my elemental powers.
Layla’s hand slipped from mine as her body went limp.
I caught her before she fell.
Patricia dashed up to the door that led outside, but Agnes was quicker as she yanked her niece down the stairs and held her hostage.
I bit into my wrist. “Drink, baby doll.” I didn’t know if she needed blood, but considering all the spells she’d performed and the fact that Roman had almost drained her, she was probably weak.
My wife suctioned her lips to my wrist.
