‘Well now, ain’t that interesting,’ Ashley said, still holding the bottle of whiskey as the gates to Bonaventure cemetery swung shut behind them. ‘Looks like the house has chosen a side. At least we know where they are. Unless it’s a trap.’
‘It probably is,’ I admitted. ‘I still have to go after them.’
She reached over and placed her hand on my shoulder, a warm smile I’d never seen before on her face. ‘Whatever happens, I want you to know you’re not alone in this.’
A jolt of gratitude shot through me and I returned her smile.
‘Because she’s going to kill us both.’
‘Thanks for the vote of confidence,’ I muttered, smile melting away.
‘Any time,’ she replied with a thumbs up. ‘Let’s do this.’
Things were worse than Jackson realized. By the time we tumbled into the Powells’ parlour, Lydia was catatonic. Sitting upright on the sofa, she stared straight ahead, her brown eyes completely blank. I crouched down in front of her, searching for her bold energy but came up with nothing. Her body was with us but Lydia was somewhere else entirely.
‘I can’t believe I’m out of the house,’ Ashley said, staring around the parlour with wonder. ‘And I can’t believe Catherine would do this again.’
She pushed me out the way and took hold of Lydia’s hands.
‘You know what this is? She’s done it before?’ I replied. ‘When?’
Ashley looked back at me like she had terrible news she did not care to deliver.
‘She was awake, her eyes were open, but she simply wasn’t there.’
‘My mom.’ I exhaled, all the air knocked out of me. ‘This is what she did to my mom.’
‘Who did what?’ Jackson demanded to know. ‘What are you talking about?’
‘I think I can help.’ Ashley spoke to me as though he wasn’t even there. ‘I’ve been working on a cure, just in case she ever decided I was too much trouble but, thankfully, I haven’t been able to test it out. But you need to stop Catherine. If the herbs don’t work, taking her out might be the only way to get Lydia back.’
‘Will someone please tell me what is going on?’ Jackson yelled, his face bright red and full of fury.
I turned towards him, desperately trying to calm the energy in the room and only halfway succeeding.
‘We’re going to help Lydia,’ I promised. ‘I know it’s confusing and we’re asking you to take a lot on trust but I don’t have time to explain it all right now.’
‘Emily is a super mega witch and she’s maybe going to blow up the whole city tonight but fingers crossed she won’t,’ Ashley said. ‘My mother, also a witch, is planning to bind Emily’s magic to stop her ending the family line but she needs her to go through this whole ceremony thing first so she, Catherine that is, has cursed your sister and kidnapped Wyn the werewolf to get Emily where she wants her. That pretty much brings you up to speed. Any questions?’
‘Emily?’ Jackson said my name weakly, turning to me for verification.
‘She covered it pretty well,’ I replied, forcing my mouth into the world’s least convincing smile.
‘Wyn is the guy you were dating?’ he said.
I nodded.
‘He’s a werewolf?’
‘Probably.’
‘And you’re a witch?’
‘Definitely.’
He sank down on the sofa next to his sister, a similar blank look on his face.
‘Before we lose you too,’ I said, squatting down in front of him, ‘is this a terrible time to ask for a ride?’
