Chapter 48

Liv drove us to her funeral home. She held up a finger after she parked. ‘Wait here, please.'

We looked at each other uneasily, but waited while she went inside. A few minutes later she emerged with a small box that she handed to me. Inside it was a large gem. My blood ran cold. ‘What is this, Liv?' I asked, my voice was full of suspicion.

‘A large, very expensive gemstone,' she said bluntly.

I got that. The gem was blue, so I assumed it was another sapphire like the Water Gem. ‘What's it for?' I demanded. If she was planning on trapping Aoife, I would stop her no matter what.

‘I know you have no reason to trust me right now, but after falling under the control of the gems I think the only recourse we have is to pull the banshee spirits out of them. They are too strong and too unpredictable in their current states.'

She took a deep breath. ‘As you said, we don't know how long the new containment boxes will work, and I'm sure that they won't control the barrier like the iron boxes did. We have limited time and we need the gems to power the barrier, preferably without powerful evil spirits. We have to break the curses and free the inhabitants. I need this gemstone, the four elemental witches and your banshee friend to do it.'

I couldn't make that decision alone and we had no time to ask the council. I had Connor to represent them, my mum to represent magic users and my own judgement. Did we trust Liv?

I looked at Connor. ‘Yes,' he said simply. Mum nodded as well. So it was up to me.

I weighed the choices. Liv knew the gems and their issues intimately, and we needed her whether or not she was trustworthy. She'd protected the town for years at her own personal cost, and I had to trust her to continue to do so. The cursed gems in their current state were under control but they would eventually make their presence felt again. We needed the barrier to protect the town, so we had no choice.

I nodded firmly. ‘Do it.'

Liv pulled out her phone and sent a text. ‘We need to gather the gems and the elemental witches. In fifteen minutes, the barrier will fall to the magic users I have in position and we'll have one hour to cleanse the stones, replace and reactivate them. Bunny, where do you think your banshee friend will be most comfortable appearing to you?'

‘She's appeared in a bunch of places, but probably she'd be most comfortable near her house.'

‘Okay, let's go there. I'll drop you off, then gather the other elemental witches.'

‘I'll come with you.' Connor's tone brooked no argument.

‘Fine,' she snapped. ‘We're going to need your friend to call the banshees from the gemstones. This new gem is a focus stone that is unique to her kind, similar to the original gems in configuration. It should increase her power.'

‘It won't trap her?' I asked anxiously.

‘It won't as long as she doesn't touch it. Give her this incantation.' Liv handed me a slip of paper. ‘She needs to chant this while connecting with the gem through her power.'

Could Aoife do that? I wouldn't know until she appeared, and I could ask her.

I directed Liv to Aoife's home. Mum and I climbed out of the car and watched as Liv and Connor drove off to get the others. ‘Ever call a banshee?' I asked Mum curiously.

‘Can't say that I have,' she answered.

I lifted my voice. ‘Aoife Sullivan, we need your help.'

‘That's all you do? No spell?' Mum sounded incredulous.

‘I haven't one to use.' I looked around. No banshee. ‘Aoife,' I called again. ‘It's life or death. Please appear.' A cold prickling enveloped me and a pale form raced to me from the woods. Aoife was floating a foot above the ground, staring at me.

‘We must save the town. I need you to call the banshees from the cursed gemstones. There's an incantation.' I held out the paper and was surprised when she managed to take it. She studied it silently.

‘You need to push your power out and connect with this gem,' I explained, offering it to her. She shrugged; even though she was now a fully-fledged banshee, she was a teenager and new to the job. She wasn't sure she could do it.

‘Please try,' I pleaded. ‘But be careful. Once you say the incantation, you mustn't touch the gem otherwise it could trap you.' She looked scared but nodded.

The entire town, the trapped banshees and the fate of the cursed stones were dependent on one frightened, dead teenager.