Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

F aith offered to take Salima in the Jeep, her voice gentle and reassuring. Salima nodded, her concerns still evident, but tempered by a glimmer of trust. We left the suite together, the three of us stepping out into the fresh morning air. Mrs. Harriet was drinking a cup of tea and waved at us from her porch. I returned the gesture, trying to project an air of calm and normalcy.

Faith had grabbed the cookies we'd brought, a small comfort in the midst of chaos. We climbed into the Jeep, with our thoughts still on Salima. Faith started the engine, and we pulled away from the small home with its blooming roses that seemed to stand as a beacon of hope against the backdrop of uncertainty.

The drive to Eve's store, The Blue Moon, was short but felt laden with significance. As we passed through the town, I noticed many of the townspeople out in their yards, taking advantage of the nice weather. Lawnmowers buzzed, and people knelt in their gardens, weeding and planting, their lives continuing in the comforting rhythm of a small-town routine. The sight brought a bittersweet pang to my heart, a reminder of the normalcy we all craved. One that was no longer available to me.

We turned onto Raven Street, the familiar landmarks passing by. There was the bakery where I'd spent countless mornings, the library with its ivy-covered walls, and finally we turned onto Crescent Street, and pulled into the lot of The Blue Moon. Eve's store stood out with its deep blue paint and the intricate crescent moon sign above the door. Faith parked in a nearby stall, the gravel crunching under the tires.

As we came to a stop, I glanced at Salima. Her eyes were wide, taking in everything, but there was a hint of relief there, too. The Blue Moon was like a sanctuary where we could unravel the mysteries that had brought so much fear into her life.

"We're here," Faith said softly, turning off the engine. She handed Salima a cookie, the gesture simple but filled with kindness. "Let's go inside and talk."

I nodded, reaching for the door handle. As we stepped out of the Jeep, the warmth of the sun contrasted with the coolness of the store's interior as we entered. The scent of herbs and incense enveloped us, a reminder of the magic that lay within these walls.

Eve was waiting with her apron on. It was obvious she was working on something in her industrial-sized kitchen. Her eyes were sharp and understanding. She gave Salima a reassuring smile, then looked at me and Faith with a question in her eyes.

"We need to talk," I said, my voice steady.

Eve nodded, her expression serious. "Come into the back. I'm just working on a potion."

We followed Eve to the back of the store, moving through the familiar aisles of The Blue Moon. The glass case with its old-fashioned register gleamed in the soft light, a nostalgic touch in an otherwise modern world. My eyes flicked to the purple walls, deep and comforting, and the bookshelves lining the shop, filled with tomes of ancient knowledge and arcane secrets. Each book held a promise of wisdom, a glimpse into the mysteries we sought to unravel.

As we entered the kitchen, the scent of herbs and freshly baked bread greeted us. The kitchen was warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the tension we carried. Nishi was seated at the large wooden table, casually eating a bagel with cream cheese, her demeanor calm and untroubled. She looked up as we entered, her eyes curious and attentive.

"Hey, peeps," Nishi greeted, a smear of cream cheese on her lips. "What's up?"

Faith gently guided Salima to a chair, offering her another cookie as a small comfort. Salima took it with a tentative smile, her uneasiness slowly giving way to trust.

Eve moved to the counter, her movements purposeful and efficient. She began preparing tea, the clinking of cups and the soft sound of boiling water a soothing backdrop to our troubled thoughts.

"I had a discussion with my mother this morning and she told me I had to find a coven necromancer if I wanted to retrieve the Temporal Echo. That's the artifact I need to have a look into the night I was drugged," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.

Nishi's eyes widened slightly, but she nodded, understanding the gravity of the moment. "Are you sure one exists? Every mention of one in the council records has... gone badly. They turn on their covens and to dark magic. I know what Thornshade said, but I will be surprised if a human necro still exists."

Salima glanced around the room, her gaze lingering on each of us before she spoke. "I told you my kind are doomed regardless of circumstance."

Nishi shook her head. "Salima, we are talking about necromancers, not healers. You have an amazing gift. Shannon is training with her squad already, thanks to you."

I felt a surge of anger at her words, a protective instinct rising within me. "No one here will harm you, Salima."

Nishi leaned back slightly. She glanced at me then Faith. "Are you saying that Salima is a necro?"

I nodded, and Faith moved closer to Salima.

Nishi blew out an extended breath. "Now I understand why your coven is so secretive about you. They know you are a necromancer, but as a healer, they can't call you dark."

Salima nodded. "If I were to turn dark, I would lose my healing abilities. Or they would be severely diminished. But only the council is aware of my necro powers. I am forbidden to tell anyone." She pointed to the charm on my bracelet, which still glowed a bright blue. "Had Tegan not outed me, we would never have had this conversation."

Eve placed a cup of steaming tea in front of Salima, her expression softening. "Nobody here will hurt you, Salima; you are safe with us."

Faith ran her hand through her hair. "We have to be careful. Helena is the witch leader in Salem, and she is friends with Lucinda. I think those bitches would sever Salima for jaywalking."

Faith and I glanced at Eve. We were all thinking the same thing. Could another be added to Eve's coven? We didn't know enough about Salima to make that kind of offer. Or how we would go about doing it.

Nishi crossed her arms. "If Lucinda does anything like that, I will kill her. Anything you do for us is with council sanction. You didn't tell us you were a necro and the council won't question Tegan. They need the guardian."

"We need more information, Salima," Eve said.

Salima nodded, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and hope. As we settled around the table, Eve placed more snacks on the table as well as mugs for me and Faith. "About what?"

Eve began stirring the cauldron with her current potion. "We need to figure out what killed Henriette. If it's a supernatural virus, it's only a matter of time before it spreads. The entire empowered community is at risk."

Salima looked a little shocked that Eve was more concerned about the cause of the former healer's death than her being necromancer. "I have examined Henriette's body. Had I not met her, I would have assumed she was a mundane. She had no magical residue at all."

Eve sighed. "It's the reason we couldn't save her. We had an artifact that could place a person in stasis, but it only works on the empowered. She had no magic to connect to. Even Rerek didn't drain his subjects like that."

Salima stared at Eve for some time. "Eve, are you feeling alright?"

Eve smiled. "Just tired. We have had one disaster after another, and I haven't had time to recuperate."

"Are you sure that is all it is?" Salima asked.

Eve nodded. "I can assess myself and it's just exhaustion. Miletus took a lot out of us physically and I haven't had a lot of sleep. I am so behind on my supplies for the store that I will be brewing all day. Nishi offered to help."

Salima held her hand out. "Do you mind if I give you a little boost?" Eve took her hand, and I could feel the energy in the room. It swirled like the sun on a warm beach before Eve retracted her hand.

"Wow, Salima. You are even more powerful than Henriette. I am surprised the Salem coven let you go."

Salima smiled sadly. "It wasn't for a lack of talent on my part. It's just the fact I also have necro ability."

Salima yawned. "Sorry. That took more out of me than I expected. You need to get more rest, Eve, and apparently, so do I."

Eve was quiet for a moment, but I couldn't fail to notice the color in her cheeks had returned. "Salima, are you willing to tell us why the coven doesn't trust you? It can't simply be because you are a necromancer. If you don't use it for dark purposes, then you can stay light. We met a light necro in the fae realm. It is possible."

Salima nodded. "I know it is. The easiest way is for me to avoid using those powers. That's pretty much what I do."

Eve stirred her potion. "All magic seeks to be utilized, eventually. Your coven must have known this."

Salima huffed. "I suppose they do. They made sure that I only use it for their... advantage and not my own. They don't seem to realize that if I force myself to use my power, it's no better than using it for my own gain."

Eve nodded. "I don't think you should use necro abilities if you think the cause is unjust; it's too risky for you and everyone around you."

I took a bite of one of the muffins Eve had laid out. "She is right, Salima. If you don't think my cause is just, then you shouldn't use your power. We can find another way to find the Temporal Echo."

Salima turned to me. "The Temporal Echo is one of the artifacts that was stolen from you?"

I nodded. "Yes, it and hundreds of others. Since I didn't know about the dark vault, the thieves didn't either."

Eve stopped stirring her potion. "The dark vault? I think you kept a few pertinent details out of your story."

I filled her and Nishi in on the rest of the events from earlier that morning and they were both stunned and excited about the dark vault's existence. We fell into conversation about what kinds of artifacts could be housed there. Faith inevitably asked about rare weapons, and I assured her my mother wouldn't let her play with them.

"We could ask her nicely," Faith grumped, as we all laughed.

Salima's eyes moved over my friends before they rested on me. "Are you ready to use the soulglass?"

My eyes conveyed their worry. "Only if you are sure. But I would want to do it in the vault. Having my mother available adds a level of security if any issues arise."

"I would like to meet your mother," Salima said.

After we finished our tea, Faith, Salima, and I helped Eve clean up the kitchen. The small, mundane tasks provided a brief respite from the weight of our concerns. Eve washed the dishes, her movements brisk and efficient, while Faith and I dried and put them away. Salima wiped down the table, her actions slow but steady, as if the simple act of cleaning was helping her regain some sense of normalcy.

Once everything was back in its place, Eve moved to the front of the store. She flipped the small sign hanging in the window to read "Be Right Back" in an elegant, hand-painted script. The Blue Moon would be left in temporary silence, its shelves of knowledge and mysteries waiting patiently for Eve's return.

We stepped outside into the bright sunlight, the warmth a stark contrast to the cool, shadowed interior of the store. Faith's Jeep awaited us, a familiar beacon of reliability. We climbed in, the leather seats warm from the sun, and Faith started the engine. The hum of the motor was a steady, reassuring sound as we pulled away from the curb.

The drive to my home was quiet, each of us lost in our thoughts. The scenery passed in a blur of green lawns and blooming flowers, the townspeople out and about, taking advantage of the pleasant weather.

We arrived with the familiar sight of my front porch bringing a sense of grounding. Faith parked in the driveway, and we exited the Jeep. The moment my feet touched the ground, a sense of purpose settled over me. We were here for answers, and we wouldn't leave until we had them.

Nishi and Eve pulled up beside us in Nishi's vehicle. They got out, their expressions mirroring our determination. Together, we made our way to the entrance of my home, moving with a shared sense of urgency and resolve.

Once inside, we went directly to the vault. The air seemed to grow cooler as we descended to the basement, the atmosphere thick with anticipation. The dim light cast long shadows on the walls, adding to the sense of stepping into another world, one filled with secrets waiting to be uncovered.

My friends were careful to stay by the steps at the staircase as I entered the vault and stood in front of the Chronicle of the Guardians. "Mother," I whispered before she formed in front of me.

My mother's eyes moved to Salima. "Come forward, Salima."

The new healer approached us slowly, but I could tell she was enthralled by my mother. Her face held a sense of excitement, and I wondered what she could see that we couldn't.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Guardian," Salima said.

"I am now my daughter's guide. Not much different from your own."

Salima's smile fell. "My mother does not possess your power."

My mother moved closer to Salima. "But she is not your only guide. You have a powerful gift, Salima, but you must be wary of who you trust with it. Do not take up the soulglass without understanding the risks. It was created to make a necromancer feel powerful, to boost what nature gave you. It must be returned to the dark vault as soon as you are done with it."

Salima nodded. "I understand."

My mother regarded Salima for a moment. "It is time to trust the living Salima. Your destiny is with the Sacred Sisters."

"Faith mentioned that, but I don't know what it means," Salima said.

"You will learn," my mother said before she turned to me. "I will take the Guardian's Talisman now."

I unfastened the bracelet and handed it to her.

My mother flicked her wrist, and the shelves on the back wall disappeared before the metal door appeared. It clicked and cracked open before my mother entered and both Salima and I followed her.

My mother turned when she noticed that Faith, Nishi, and Eve were waiting by the stairs. "I suggest you move quickly if you would like to see the dark vault."

Faith practically bolted forward, and Eve and Nishi smiled as they followed her.

We went to the illuminated pedestal where the smooth black stone sat. My mother motioned to the stone. "Take up the soulglass, Salima."

I stopped Salima before she touched it. "Tell me what you see when you look at my mother?" Salima glanced at my mother's spectral form. "Your ancestral link is like nothing I have ever seen or felt. It's beautiful really. The embodiment of sacrifice, duty, and love."

I tried not to think about what my mother had sacrificed for me and that I hadn't appreciated her or my legacy while she was alive. "Thank you."

I turned to the others. "This is a major risk for Salima. We have to make sure she stays focused and that we get her out of the vault without the soulglass when she is done."

Faith glanced around the dark vault. "Sounds good. It's not like we can see anything in here, anyway."

Salima's fingers tightened around the soulglass, and suddenly, a pulse of energy surged through the room. I felt her power vibrate in the air, a tangible force that made my skin prickle and my breath catch. The light within the soulglass grew brighter, so intense that I had to squint against its brilliance.

"Salima, what's happening?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

She didn't respond, her focus entirely on the artifact in her hands. The light within the soulglass began to shift and change, swirling with colors and shapes that moved too quickly to decipher. I felt the vibration intensify, resonating deep within me, as if the very fabric of reality was being altered.

Images started to flash in the bright light, rapid and chaotic. I caught glimpses of faces, places, moments frozen in time, all blending together in a dizzying display. The power emanating from Salima was unlike anything I'd ever felt, raw and overwhelming, a reminder of the depth of her abilities.

The images slowed, the chaotic swirl settling into something more coherent. The light within the soulglass steadied, and a clear picture emerged, sharp and vivid. It was a room lined with shelves filled with various items—books, trinkets, and artifacts, each one meticulously placed and carefully preserved.

"Is it a vision?" Faith asked, her eyes wide with awe. "I think she found it."

Salima's face was a mask of concentration, her eyes locked onto the scene within the soulglass. I could feel the effort it took to maintain the connection, the strain in her posture, the slight tremble in her hands.

"Where is this place?" I asked, my gaze fixed on the image.

Salima's voice was soft, almost reverent. "I don't know. Only that the Temporal Echo is in that room."

The room within the soulglass seemed to beckon to us, its shelves filled with the promise of secrets revealed and mysteries solved. The light flickered slightly, but the image remained clear, a steady beacon guiding us toward the next step in our journey.

Eve stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she studied the vision. "How do we find it? The room could be anywhere."

Salima nodded, her grip on the soulglass tightening. "I have an idea."