P.S. Tell Carly I love her. I don’t want her to ever forget it.
I had to swallow past the lump in my throat. Oh Carl. I put the letter away and looked at Toya, raising my eyebrow.
“We are ready. Your mom even got some rope to tie them down if we need to.” I nodded and then wiped my face. “You got this Amy. We believe in you.” She rubbed my back and then walked over to the far counter, grabbed a small box, and then handed it to me. “Go save that little girl.” I took the box, put it down, and then turned and hugged Toya. “What’s this?”
I sighed. “I just needed it.” I sighed as she slid her arms around me and supported me. “It’s been a rough day.”
She nodded against my shoulder. “Your mom heard from you, dad.” She rubbed my back. “It sounded horrible. But we can talk about it after we cure Abby, and then have porch wine.” I laughed.
“That sounds perfect.” I let go and stepped back.
She looked me over. “You look exhausted.”
I nodded. “I am, but I have enough for this.” I grabbed the box, then went back to the dining room. Abby was staring up at the ceiling and doing her best to be strong. I slid the box onto the chair. “This isn’t going to be pretty.” I pulled out candles and placed them around her. I started at her head and moved clockwise until I was back at her head. I leaned down and kissed her forehead. “This is going to be painful.” I looked at Shelly and Rick. “It’s going to look like I am trying to torture her…kill her. But I swear on the Goddess I am saving her.” They both nodded.
Toya stepped up. “I know it is going to go against every instinct you have as a parent. This is your pup on the table. I’m not even sure what is going to happen, but the three of us are here to protect you from yourselves.” My mom and Wendy stepped up beside them. Rick looked down and my mom stepped forward.
“Hey Ains.” He was trying his best to seem strong.
“Hey Rick.” She smiled as she held out her hand to him. “You have grown up so much.”
He chuckled as he considered her words. He nodded and slowly held his hand out to her. “Yeah, a lot has changed since I was the little boy on your front porch.” My mom winked at him.
“Not as much as you think.” She nodded to Abby. “You have an amazing little girl.”
He nodded. “That I do.”
Wendy held her hand out for Shelly, who grabbed it without hesitation. “Thank you.”
“You are very welcome. And I know you will hate me pretty soon, but I won’t take it to heart.” She smiled. “But we are going to save your little family.” Wendy nodded to Toya. “Make sure she reads the note in the box before she starts.”
Toya snapped her fingers. “Right.” Toya pulled out a small piece of paper from the bottom and handed it to me. I quicklyread the words and groaned internally, but I shook it off. We will figure it out as we had to. I pulled out the bowl and threw the cotton balls inside of it.
I laid out everything, then I heard the little footsteps and turned. Carly was holding my Book of Shadows with her eyes a veil of white. “You will need this Tri-spirit. Your work tonight will be long, but important.” She sighed. “Vince did more than you think. Hidden runes, hidden curses. Tonight will stretch you to the end of your rope. But it will be your strength and determination that will make the final decision. Will you swing free from his manipulation or hang from it?” She trembled there and then dropped. Alannah screamed as she dove to catch her.
“Is it always like this?” Her voice was filled with worry.
I walked over and took the book from them. I bobbed my head back and forth. “Kinda.” I smiled as I turned away, but my stomach was a twisted ball of knots. What the fuck is going on?
I walked back to the table and opened it to the one I needed. I was reading the page when Carly came to. “Wait!” She wiggled down from Alannah’s arms. “Amy, wait!” She wiggled harder and Alannah finally let her down. She ran over to the table and climbed up to a chair. She grabbed Abby’s hand and held on. “It’s okay Abby. I’m here.” She looked up at me. “This is okay, right?”
I nodded. “It should be okay. But I’ll tell you the same thing I told them. It’s going to look like I am going to hurt her, but I’m not.”
Carly nodded. “I saw.” She looked up at me with haunted eyes. “I saw it all. That’s why I’m here. Abby is my best friend, and I want her to know I’m here.” I nodded once, then looked back at Toya.
She smiled. “She’s like us. Bonded in a flash and completely devoted to her friends.” Toya walked over to Carly and kissed hertemple. “Our girl has been talking about her best friend since she came last time. She even told her dad about her.”
Abby’s hand tightened around Carly’s. “You are my best friend, too.” Carly’s smile was big as she leaned in.
“Don’t be afraid, okay?”
Abby nodded. “I trust you guys.”
I had to clear my throat. I don’t know why, but I started to feel choked up. “Okay.” I stepped back to the bowl and lit the cotton. I added the herbs I needed. Dried acorn for protection and personal power. Adder’s tongue for healing. Ague weed for hex breaking. Bamboo for hex breaking and protection. The pit in my stomach grew bigger. So many of the herbs were for protection, healing, and hex breaking. Usually, only one herb for each would have been enough, but there were so many layers.
“Focus girl.” My grandmother’s voice jolted me from my worries. “Add the Barberry.” I grabbed the handful, but she snapped a hand out. “Cleansing her soul from Vince’s manipulation is needed. But only one.” Her eyes met mine. “You have a few souls to disentangle from his strings.” I nodded as I dropped one into the bowl. “Basil, to exercise Vince from her soul ties. One is enough. Hold off on the benzoin until the fire dies down. The smoke from it will help purify her. Add in the hydrangea to help with the end of the hex. Lastly add in the lady’s slipper to stop anyone from attaching to her again.” She nodded as I finished. The fire burned down and then she nodded. “Add the benzoin in now. There. Now use the feather to fan it over her.”
I grabbed the burning bowl, feeling the heat of the flame, and hissed.
