“Why?” I asked.
One of the most basic rules of witchcraft was that you never stepped into someone’s salt circle unless you knew what they intended to do with it. La Voisin wagged her finger in the air. “Smart girl. Remain skeptical.” She motioned down to the circle. “I’m bound to Xaphan. Although Morgan’s magic has, presumably, veiled you from the royals in this place, I felt it necessary to add more specific protection. The circle nulls Xaphan’s reach in this home—a place where, according to our bond, he is welcome at all times.”
“Why is it so small?” Eva eyed the area that couldn’t have been more than three feet in diameter.
“I can’t very well make it too spacious, now can I? He would feel a larger null area, and pay me a visit.”
Good point.
Assured that what she said made sense and would only help to protect us, I stepped into the salt circle. Eva followed a moment later.
“We will get to the lessons, but first I need a bit more information.” La Voisin positioned herself in front of us. “In addition to learning black magic, you wish to halt the influence of your lord and lady. Or perhaps hide from them in whatever era you call home. Is that true?”
We nodded.
“Very well. I have done this before, temporarily. It is not for the faint of heart. It also takes time to arrange, which is why I’m posing the question now. How familiar are you with spirit walking and talking?”
“Familiar, but we can’t do it ourselves,” Eva replied.
“Have you ever called a spirit?”
“Yes.” The hair on my arms electrified at the memory. “But we had a spirit worker there to guide us. Nora and I didn’t manage that alone.”
“Well, that’s how you will keep the royal demons out of your head.”
“We’re going to resist being possessed by banishing a ghost?” I asked, lost.
“No, girl.” La Voisin looked like she wanted to roll her eyes at me and barely refrained. “By inviting a ghost—specifically, one from a mind witch—into your head for protection.”
My heart began to pound. Back when Amethyst had been possessed by a ghost, I’d asked her if I was at risk too. I distinctly recalled her answer.
A ghost wouldn’t want to possess me because I was naturally resistant to ghostly energies. It would be terrible for both parties involved—perhaps even kill me.
I whirled to face Morgan. “Is that safe?”
Her eyes were wide as she shook her head. “To be honest, I’m not sure. It seems rather drastic.”
“Well, of course it is! This is the royal demons we’re talking about here! Did you expect the solution to your problem to be easy?” La Voisin threw up her hands. “It’s the only way I’ve found that works. And yes, it can be dangerous if a ghost possesses you, but this would not be a true possession—rather aunion. You wouldinvitethe ghost of a mind witch into your body, to live life as they once did. The vibrancy of feeling alive is a lure that most spirits can’t resist.”
“How?” Eva asked, her voice shaky.
“I’m not sure of the specific incantation. I had to have a spirit worker perform the rite on me. But it has to do with blood.” La Voisin spread her hands wide as if that was a foregone conclusion. “With ghosts, it usually does.”
I nodded. When we’d banished Amethyst’s ghost, he’d drunk my blood, so I could believe that.
“So all it takes is calling forth a mind witch’s ghost and providing blood to create a bind?” Morgan asked. “If we learned the incantation is there any way we can do it ourselves? Not involve a spirit worker?”
It was obvious to me that Morgan didn’t want to let even more people in on who we were, or our secrets. The poisoner witch was a substantial threat as it was.
La Voisin shook her head. “Absolutely not. Theyneeda witch familiar with spirits to bind them. Once the spirit worker completes the binding, the mind witch’s ghost will protect the girls by using the skills they had in life.”
“If they’re ghosts how do they do that?” Eva asked.
“Once the ghost is bound to you, it is reinvigorated by your magic. Essentially, it uses a bit of your own power and lifeforce to do what it does best. With mind witches that generally includes controlling or protecting minds.” She paused, and her eyes narrowed briefly as if something frustrating had occurred to her. “Although there is one problem.”
One? I could think of a dozen potential issues.
“What’s that?” Morgan asked.
