Her eyes narrowed before she gave a single nod. “Just answer me this, was Martha a specific target for a reason?”
“No. Your sister is an unfortunate, random victim. It has nothing to do with her individually.”
“Shit. I don’t know if that makes it better or worse.”
I had no idea either and kept my silence. I felt Hikaru’s reassuring presence before I saw my kitsune. I’d felt off since he left, as if a part of me were missing. Pushing out of my chair, I stood on unsteady legs as I turned and faced the witch he’d brought with him. “Captain Cicely, thank you for coming.”
Loretta’s large, brown eyes blinked rapidly as she ran her hands up and down her body, patting here and there. “Seems I arrived in one piece.”
Hikaru’s eyes widened with offense. “Of course you did. I’m not some one-tailed kitsune.” Crossing his arms, Hikaru huffed. “Honestly, what are they teaching witches and warlocks these days?”
“Very little regarding kitsune,” Loretta answered as she headed for me. Leaning in, she conspiratorially whispered, “Thanks for the heads up about the antinausea charm. My insides feel scrambled up like an egg.”
“You are welcome. Please don’t mention it to Hikaru.”
“I won’t.” Loretta pulled back, looking me up and down. A frown pulled her lips and her eyes narrowed in either concentration or concern. “You look like hell, Holland. You’re dangerously magically spent. You should know better.”
I bristled at the scolding. “You would have done the same if the positions were reversed.”
Loretta cocked her head to the side, her pierced ears glinting in the low lights. “Hikaru gave me an abbreviated version of what’s going on and you’re right. I would.” Turning, Loretta’s attention settled on Martha’s unconscious body. Belle stood next to her sister on the opposite side, holding her sister’s limp hand.
Looking at Belle, Loretta moved closer to Martha’s bed and said, “I’m Loretta. I’m a witch with a penchant for healing. I’m going to assess your sister’s condition and see what I can do to help.”
Belle’s voice held that niggle of hope again. “You can fix her? Tell me you can fix her.” That voice also held a note of desperation.
“I can’t tell you anything yet. Give me a minute to evaluate the situation.” This time, when Loretta raised her arm, Belle didn’t reach across and grab it. Much like I had done, Loretta sent a wave of intentional seeking magic into Martha’s body. And just as the magic I’d sent had reacted, so did Loretta’s.
Congregating in Martha’s brain, the magic focused there before returning to Loretta. Upon its return, Loretta sucked in a harsh breath. “Gaia, that’s…the damage is extensive.” She swallowed hard.
“Is it beyond you?” I asked. “I mean no judgment.”
Loretta gave me a skeptical look before she inhaled again, eyes narrowed and focused on the woman wasting away below. “It’s a lot, but I believe I can manage, or at least give her a fighting chance. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. I can get the healing started, but at the end of the day, it will be up to Martha’s own body to build on what I do.” Shoulders back, Loretta focused on Belle, making certain she had the human’s attention before adding, “Just so you’re prepared, your sister’s recovery will be a marathon, not a sprint.”
Belle’s blotchy skin paled. The human appeared momentarily lost before her fingers tightened on Martha’s. “I’ll do whatever it takes. Martha’s…we’re all each other has. I’ll get her back to her former self, even if I have to drag her kicking and screaming.”
I thought Belle’s response a bit dramatic but didn’t comment. She’d need a spine of steel to get through the rough patches. Martha was lucky to have her.
Loretta sucked in a deep, chest expanding breath. “Well then, what are we waiting for? Let’s get this healing party started.”
Hikaru clapped. “Oh, I looove parties.”
“I don’t think it’s that kind of?—”
“Hush, Niki. Don’t be such a Debbie Downer,” Hikaru scolded. “You just sit back and let the pretty, petite witch do her thing.”
Loretta’s eye twitched. Unfortunately, I knew how she felt. Choosing to ignore Hikaru’s silliness, I said, “Please, proceed.”
“It’ll take some time,” Loretta answered.
I checked my watch, noting the late time. “Then we better get started.”
Moving toward Martha’s head, Loretta stretched out her arm, fingers splayed. Three rings flared to life as Loretta called on the magic, guiding it into Martha’s brain, manipulating its healing properties. Eyes closed, Loretta focused on the task at hand, leaving me little more to do than sit back down and attempt a few moments of rest.
Ass precariously perched on the armrest, Hikaru stayed close. His claw-tipped fingers slid to my shoulders, kneading my cramped muscles and lulling me into a sense of serene calm.
By force of sheer will,I managed to remain awake while Loretta Cicely worked her healing magic. The minutes ticked by until over eighty-seven of them had passed. All the while, Loretta guided her magic. It was a delicate process—one my warlock eyes could not follow. It was the way of warlocks and witches.
Belle silently sat, worrying her sister’s bedsheet as she anxiously waited for word from Loretta. The witch had made it perfectly clear that there were no guarantees. Even well-woven witch magic could not perform miracles.
