He wiped a hand over his face. ‘It’s not great.’
‘Then you’ll never get your sister back.’ Ashley dumped out a backpack full of herbs and crystals she’d grabbed on the way out of Bell House, onto the floor. ‘Emily is Lydia’s best chance. Help her and you’re helping your sister.’
‘I need to get to Catherine,’ I agreed, squeezing his hand. ‘It’s the only way to put a stop to all of this. I know you must have a million more questions but—’
‘Em, we should be in the car already,’ Jackson said decisively, pulling a set of car keys out of his pocket and striding straight to the door. ‘You can explain the rest on the way.’
Chapter Thirty-Nine
‘Here we are. Happy birthday, Emily.’
Bonaventure looked just like I remembered but it didn’t feel the same. I didn’t feel the same. Overhead, the peach-pink sunset sky promised this would all be over soon. The moon moved closer with every passing second and I felt my magic growing, covering my body like armour.
‘You’re sure this is a good idea?’ Jackson looked extremely perturbed. ‘You don’t even know where you’re going. I could come with you.’
‘I couldn’t let you,’ I replied, warmed by the knowledge that he really meant it. ‘Don’t worry about me, she’ll be easy enough to find. I have to go the rest of the way on my own.’
He rested his hand on my shoulder, eyebrows drawn to-gether.
‘But you don’t have to.’
‘I know.’ I opened the passenger-side door of his Audi and climbed out. ‘Thank you. You’re a really good brother and a really great friend.’
‘Walking straight into the jaws of certain doom and she still had time to friendzone me,’ he said with a chuckle. ‘I knowthis is the wrong time for it but really, Em? You threw me over for a werewolf?’
‘Wasn’t intentional.’ I smiled, tying my hair up and back in a tight ponytail. ‘And I am sorry. Anyone would be lucky to date you, Jackson.’
‘Well, you still owe me that rain check. Don’t think I won’t hold you to it.’
He put the car in reverse and backed up a couple of feet. ‘You’re sure you don’t want me to wait?’
Looking over at Catherine’s car, parked up in front of the church, a blank Barnett in the driver’s seat, I shook my head.
‘If everything works out, I’ll have a ride,’ I told him. ‘As soon as you get back, I need you and Ashley to put Lyds in the car and get as far out of town as possible. Promise me.’
‘I will,’ he said solemnly and I felt his fear and anger before it showed up on his face. ‘Em?’
‘Yes?’
‘Kick her ass.’
I waited right where I was and watched him drive away, not moving until the tail lights disappeared. I couldn’t promise any of them would be safe after this but at least he had a head start.
The first time Catherine brought me to Bonaventure, it was to meet our dead relatives. This time, I passed through the cemetery hoping not to join them. I moved swiftly past the graves as night fell, following whispers in the moss that guided me over and across and around, running faster than I might have guessed towards my own possible end. There was no point in delaying the inevitable. She made sure I would come, she almost certainly knew I was here. I could feel her and Wyn, their very different energies both callingto me across the cemetery. Out-of-season azaleas burst into life to draw me through the maze, leading me along the banks of the Wilmington River. The carefree flowers didn’t know the danger they were in, only that a new Bell witch was about to Become and as far as they were concerned, that was cause for celebration. But the sleeping residents of Bonaventure had heard differently. The statues turned and hung their heads sadly, glowing under the full moon, and I offered them a sympathetic smile as I passed. This night should have been shrouded in darkness, not blessed by the beautiful, milky moonlight. They’d earned their eternal rest, they shouldn’t have to see this.
‘She’s waiting for you.’
A tiny voice, sweet and high and clear as a bell, rang out from the darkness. It was a little girl, no more than five or six, with long hair and bangs framing her pretty face. Her shoes had a row of pearl buttons up one side and her dress was pristine, despite the fact she was happily sitting in the dirt. Above her, I saw a statue on top of a grave. The same hair. The same shoes. The same dress. The same little girl.
‘Do you know where my grandmother is?’ I asked softly. She inclined her head to one side and smiled.
‘Don’t you?’
‘The Bell monument,’ I guessed and she nodded.
‘Could you open the gate for me?’ the little girl asked, tiny hands wrapped around the tall railings that surrounded her grave. ‘I haven’t been out to play for such a long time.’
No harm could come to her now. I held the padlock that kept her inside in my hand. It was made of steel. Steel was made of iron, iron came from the earth. A flurry of vines swooped down from the closest tree, smothering the lock, squeezing it tighter and tighter until I heard it pop. The gate swung open and the little girl skipped towards me.
