Frankie's head snaps to him. “What…Why?”
He huffs, probably not used to someone fighting everything he says. “Skin on skin contact makes it easier for my magic to flow through her. Don’t worry, I like my partners to be willing participants.”
Frankie removes Jess’ clothes and lays her down gently, while Graven stretches out on the bed. His limbs wrap around her body, and she instantly relaxes into him. A line of sweat slips down his temple. He doesn’t acknowledge it, but I know he’s in more pain than he lets on as the veins in his neck strain.
Hopefully it won’t take Garrick too long to find the witch. She’s somewhere in town doing what she can to help those suffering in the streets.
Frankie sweeps her thumb over Jess’ knuckles. “Can you control how much of her pain you can take? Maybe you can share it so it lasts longer. Buy us more time until the healer gets here.”
He pauses, forcing his body to ride out another wave of agony before he answers. “Middle ground isn’t really my style. I go all in.”
“Sounds like someone else I know.” My fingers slide up Frankie’s neck, working slow circles into the knots as she leans into my touch. She doesn’t see it yet, but one day she’ll find her balance, and when she does, no one will stand against her.
The door creaks open and in walks a dark-haired woman carrying a large bag. Her brown eyes are fatigued, but hold a warmth to them that immediately makes the room feel at ease. I approach her, holding my hand out. “Thank you for coming, Dahlia!”
“Of course.” She grips my hand firmly, then turns to Frankie and pulls her into a hug. “But I’m the one who needs to give thanks. You freed me when you killed Aradon. I got to see my family for the first time in years because of you.”
Frankie gives her a small smile, and turns back to Jess. Dahlia follows suit, placing her bag beside the bed. “Garrick told me what happened. I’ll do my best to help, but I must be honest, I’ve never done anything like this. I can’t guarantee it’ll work.”
“We just appreciate you trying. What do you need from us?” Frankie asks, eager to get started.
Her expression turns to all business as she reaches into her bag. Pulling out seven green candles, she hands them to Frankie. “Place these in a circle around the bed. Zarreth, fetch me some water.”
It only takes me a minute to return with a bowl of water, but it looks like Graven has already gotten himself in trouble.
Dahlia’s glaring at him, her arms crossed over her chest. “Why do you smell like my sister’s magic?”
With as weak as he is, I didn’t think his skin could get any paler, but I was mistaken. “If your sister happens to be a little psycho with daddy issues, then there is a perfectly good explanation why I smell the way I do.”
She scoffs, but doesn't take offense to his description. “I’m sure there is. Do you have a good explanation as to why there is a love spell on you?”
Graven’s eyes get so big they nearly pop out of his head. “What? That little witch! I knew she did something to me, but it sure as hell didn’t make me fall in love.”
Groaning, she tilts her head to the sky. “Out of all the witches in my coven, why does my sister have to be the only one obsessed with demons.” She points at Graven. “You're lucky she didn’t kill you. I told her to stop practicing witchcraft on living beings until she has more experience.”
“Females are crazy.” He looks at me for backup, but I keep my mouth shut and shake my head. He’s young. Maybe one day he’ll learn that insulting the only person who can help you is not the best route. “Can you remove it?”
She balls her fingers into a fist and squeezes for about ten seconds, then opens her palm and blows him a kiss. “Done.”
I quickly glance at him, half expecting him to look different. He’s holding his arm out, studying it like he’s expecting the same thing. Dahlia takes the bowl of water from me and places it on Jess’ chest, next to some sort of purple crystal. The candles flicker to life with one sweep of her arms as she pulls dried herbs from her bag.
“You’ll have to step back, loverboy.” She glances at Graven. “I can’t have you accidentally syphoning my magic when I pour it into her.”
Graven unwraps his legs from Jess’ and pulls his arm from under her head. I catch him running his thumb over her shoulder a few times. He seems reluctant to pull away. Interesting, especially for someone who claims to hate humans. The moment he hops off the bed, color returns to his face, and his bloodshot eyes clear up.
Frankie steels her spine, readying herself as Jess’ back begins to arch, spilling water over her chest. “Hold her down,” Dahlia orders as a blood-curdling scream fills the room.
She wastes no time crunching the herbs into the bowl of water while I pin Jess’ shoulders to the bed. Frankie lays across her legs, using her bodyweight to keep her in place.
Dahlia raises a finger, her metal bracelets clinking together as she makes an invisible circle in the air. Water begins swirling counter-clockwise and the gem begins to glow as she whispers some sort of incantation.
A tremor starts at Jess’ feet and works its way up to her head. She’s no longer thrashing around, but her shaking intensifies as Dahlia repeats the last two words. “Exi, venenum!”
Ripples spiral in the water until a small tornado rises from the bowl. The herbs glow, the air thickens around us. Small beads of sweat form over the witch’s brow as she continues chanting.
Soon we all join her. I can even hear Graven’s voice from the doorway. “Exi, venenum!”
The wind becomes stronger with each chant. Jess’ hair is floating in the air, twisting the same direction as the tornado. The corners of the sheets are lifting, along with Frankie’s braid. The bowl of water crashes to the floor, as a sound no human should be able to make rips through Jess’ lips. Her entire body rises from the bed, then slams back down. Her screams fade and her body goes limp once again.
