“I figured out if I go back, and don’t mess with anything, it doesn’t make anyone sick,” Kallie said. “So I thought if I could be smart enough to figure out a way to change what happened, but not actively interfere myself, then Thad could be saved.”
“Has it worked?” Charlie asked. “Apparently not, because you’ve come back to this reality where he’s still dead.”
Kallie dropped her head. “I’m just trying to perfect it. See how it works. That’s why I keep popping up in this room a million times, because I can practice here without being caught. If I have this ability, I need to be able to use it so we can find the Divinity Keys and prevent other people from dying.”
“We don’t have the power to stop people from dying, Kallie,” Charlie muttered. “That should be pretty fucking clear to all of us by now.”
Silence rang throughout the room, and I asked, “What’s it like, seeing yourself at the same point in the timeline?”
“I can’t confront myself, because it creates a paradox,” Kallie explained. “But even if I’m on the same spot in the timeline, I experience that moment from both angles. I’ll eventually remember both realities, but since they’re happeningtogether, it takes a moment for the memories to integrate, and I can’t remember which one is correct… that is, which memory happened most recently, or what I tried to fix.”
“But you aren’t going to do it again,right?” Charlie growled.
“I don’t know. I’m worried I still haven’t caught up to myself,” Kallie said. “I won’t remember anything that happened until I get to that point in time where I went back and changed things. There could still be a point in the future, as we see it from today, where I went back to alter our reality, and that tampering has a ripple effect on what’s happening now. The version of me you just saw was me from the future, and I don’t know what I came back to change. The fact that I came back at all to this moment already changed things, because we wouldn’t be having this conversation if I hadn’t.”
“But what reality is the right one?” Marcus questioned.
“It’s all real,” Kallie said hollowly. “I just can’t recall the reality that I most recently changed, so I’m not sure what timeline I’m actually on.”
“This shit is going to drive you insane,” Marcus muttered.
“It may have. I’m just not at the point yet where I’ve actually lost it.”
That was a terrifying statement. Marcus shook his head and said, “From now on, we don’t go back in time unless allfourof us go back. It’s not safe.”
“Then what do you want us to do, Marcus?” Kallie asked, on the verge of tears. “Because I’m damn tired of running into nothing but dead ends. We have all this power, but we can’t use it to change the past.”
“We can’t change the past, but we can speak with the dead,” Marcus replied. “I’ve been trying to get in contact with Thaddeus for several weeks, but since he’s already crossed over, I couldn’t just summon him back at any time… that is, until now. I created a spell that will help us communicate with anyone who’s crossed over, and that includes Thaddeus’ spirit.”
“So what are you saying?” Charlie asked.
“We need to bring him here,” Marcus replied darkly. “Because it’s the only way we’re going to get answers.”
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
CHARLIE
“What do you mean you found a way to talk to Thaddeus?” I asked. “I thought we couldn’t hold a séance because he’d crossed over.”
“A normal séance isn’t enough to contact Thaddeus,” Marcus confirmed. “I know, because I’ve tried. But I’ve developed a spell that’s stronger— like a séance on steroids. Usually, once a spirit has crossed over, it’s difficult to connect with them. I’ve been practicing with my powers, though, and I figure if I’m a demigod with control over death, I should be able to pull this spell off.”
Marcus knew more about death magic than I did, so if he said he could successfully cast the spell, I believed him. Wehadto find out what Thaddeus had learned about Professor Mazur.
“We shouldn’t do this,” Ava protested. “Thad would’ve spoken to us by now if he wanted to. Forcing him to communicate is wrong.”
“I think hedoeswant to communicate,” Marcus argued. “My magic can sense something isn’t quite right. It must be the wards on the prison that are preventing him from coming in. Thad wouldn’t leave us hanging like this.”
“Marcus, you have demigod abilities that specialize in death. If it’s not easy for you to bring Thad here, we shouldn’t be doing it at all,” Ava said.
“Exactly. I have demigod abilities, so I’m going to use them.” Papers rustled as Marcus brought out a book to consult for his spell. “I’m going to draw an alchemy circle on the ground with chalk. It’s basically a circle of symbols that will help direct the energy of the spell. I’ll place quartz crystals and an herb blend of lavender, agrimony, and sandalwood inside. This will help amplify our connection to the beyond, while warding off unwanted energies. You’ll all want to be inside the circle, because Thaddeus’ spirit will be protected within it. Are you ready?”
“Marcus is right. We have to get this information,” Kallie said.
“You’re just backing Marcus up because he’s your mate. Charlie, help me out here,” Ava stated.
I wasn’t thrilled she’d put me on the spot. “I wish I could, but Marcus is the one with death magic, so we should trust him.”
Ava huffed. “Whatever.”
