Chapter Eight

Aterrible sensation tangled in my gut, telling me to get to Grammy right the fuck now. I hiked my skirt up and ran down the mountain in my bare feet. My friends raced behind me, and our cats scurried ahead of us.

My pulse grew loud in my ears, and sweat dripped from my brow. My dress caught on underbrush and tore, and rocks sliced my feet. It barely registered, because all I could think about was getting to my grandmother and the others before the Executors cornered them.

My magic tingled, indicating I'd crossed the ward boundary. Ahead loomed a steep hill covered in loose rock. I grabbed trees to help me steady my balance as I ran down the hill. I kept running, but then came the sound of tumbling rock behind me.

I whirled around to see Lucas's silhouette sliding down the steep incline, loose rock tumbling down with him. A loud crack sounded—as if a rock had hit him aside the head—followed by a pained grunt. Lucas caught himself at the bottom of the hill.

I turned to go back for him, but then the sound of screaming voices came in the distance. A loud explosion rocked the forest, and streams of lights shone through the trees up ahead.

"Get their shields down!" Verla shouted.

I hesitated. Lucas was on his feet and conscious, and right now, the others needed magic. I turned away from my husband and sprinted through the trees toward the sound of exploding battle magic. Ahead, the trees cleared enough that I could see Grammy, Verla, and Warren facing off against a dozen Executors. Magic blasted off in every direction, illuminating the scene. Our cats had already reached them, and they were fighting the Executors' cats. High-pitched meows and low growls filled the air.

A spell caught Professor Warren in the shoulder, but it barely fazed him as he shot a spell back at the Executor who'd hit him. The spell hit the Executor in the chest, and he slumped to the ground.

A shield shimmered around Grammy and Verla. It looked like they were working together to defend Professor Warren as he went in for the kill. Verla lifted her hands to the Executors, but she hesitated, like she didn't want to hurt the cats who were in the middle of it all. If she cast a spell at the wrong time, it would kill all of them. Odin screeched as one of the other cats slashed its claws across his face. Blood trickled down his black fur.

An Executor aimed a spell at Grammy, but I reached out with my Curse Breaker powers and siphoned his spell for my own. The spell died in his hands, and I used the power to throw a deadly battle orb in his direction. The spell hit him square in the back, and his whole body went limp.

I had almost reached Grammy and had to be less than fifteen yards away when I heard the whizz of a rogue spell flying out of the forest. I only had a split-second warning. I didn't get a chance to react before the spell hit my ankles and swept my feet out from under me. My body was yanked to the side, and my head smashed against a nearby tree. I landed with a hard thud on the ground. I thought I felt the warmth of blood trickling down the side of my face, but I could hardly process it. The forest seemed to spin around me as I staggered to my feet. Grammy spun to the side to block a spell, but I spotted an Executor behind a tree raise their wand to her.

My voice rang through the forest. "Grammy, behind you!"

Grammy whirled around just in time to deflect the incoming spell. Her eyes turned in the direction of my voice. Her gaze locked on mine, and the color drained from her face. "Nadine, run!"

Grammy threw out her arm, and the shimmering protective shield that had encompassed her projected in my direction. In the blink of an eye, an Executor raised their wand, and a sizzling red battle orb shot toward me. I barely had a moment to process it before it bounced off Grammy's shield—which protected me—and back in her direction. Verla saw the spell, and she swung her hand out to deflect it, but her shield was cast too late.

The red battle orb hit Grammy in the chest, blasting her off her feet. The power of the spell was so intense that it tore a wound through her skin. Blood sprayed across the forest, splattering against my face and over the front of my dress. Grammy's body hit the ground hard several feet away from where she'd been standing.

I stumbled to the side and caught myself on a tree. The sounds of magic whizzing through the forest grew distant. I waited for Grammy to stand. She was fine… she just had to get up.

Out of the corner of my eye, I was vaguely aware of the rage marring Verla's features. The sound of her furious scream cut through my bleary daze. Verla raised her hands, and over a dozen streams of battle magic shot from her fingertips all at once. The spell was so powerful that it tore straight through the Executors' shield and burned through their chests all at once. Screams echoed across the mountain range, along with screeches from the Executors' cats. Abrupt silence followed immediately as the Executors' bodies dropped to the ground in unison.

The light faded, until blackness consumed the forest once again. All I could hear was the sound of Verla's ragged breathing.

I stumbled forward and dropped to my knees beside Grammy's unmoving body. Blood soaked down the front of her dress, but the wound wasn't as deep as I thought it'd be. I pushed her white hair out of her face, but her eyes remained closed.

My voice became a broken whisper as I said, "Grammy, wake up. The Executors are gone now."

I turned my gaze up to Verla, who stood several feet away. I thought she appeared to be in shock, but it was hard to see much of anything behind the tears forming in my eyes. "Help her," I pleaded.

"Nadine…" she started softly, but anything she was going to say in that tone of voice wasn't something I wanted to hear. Verla knelt beside me and placed a hand on my shoulder. It was supposed to be comforting, but it was anything but. I shoved her off of me. Verla had already given up, but I wouldn't.

"YOU NEED TO HELP HER!" I screamed. "Why aren't you doing anything!?"

I shook my grandmother and tried to call out her name, but my throat had completely closed up. All that came out was a heart-wrenching whimper. I waited for Grammy to open her eyes… but she never did.

A twig snapped behind me. I whirled around, a spell crackling in my palm. Lucas stared back at me with wide eyes. The heartbreak in his features told me everything I needed to know.

He'd heard someone's last thought. And I knew exactly who had spoken it.

I dropped the spell. "Lucas…"

He knelt beside me and took me in his arms. I couldn't muster the energy to push him away. He stroked his hand over the top of my head, and his voice cracked as he whispered, "I know."

I couldn't bear to hear those two simple words, because it confirmed everything I didn't want to believe. He'd heard her last thought, and that meant she was already gone. Sobs racked my body, and tears streamed down my cheeks to soak into his tux. Inside of me, something snapped, and I could swear the sound of my breaking heart filled the forest.

Footsteps approached us from both sides, and Talia's choked sob came through the darkness. "Nadine, I'm so sorry."

Arms encompassed me from all angles as my friends wrapped me in a group hug. Nobody said anything else, because they all knew there were no words that could mend my heart in the wake of the devastation.

Grammy was dead… The last of my family was gone.

I didn't know how long I sobbed. Eventually, I pulled away from Lucas and turned back toward Grammy. Someone must've lit a witch light above me, because I could see Grammy's lifeless features clear as day. I ran my fingers over the side of her face. She was still warm, but no breath escaped her lips. Hushed voices reached me, but I couldn't be entirely sure of what they were saying.

"Nadine needs to see her one last time," Onyx said.

"I can't help," Miles replied. "Her spirit isn't here."

"She already moved on," Lucas cut in, his voice rough. "I can feel it. Her reaper's already been here."

His words seemed to echo in my mind. Her reaper's already been here.

Grammy wasn't just gone in the flesh; her spirit was gone, too. I didn't get a chance to say goodbye.

I curled over my grandmother's lifeless form, sobbing for what could've been hours until I couldn't cry anymore. I couldn't be sure how much time passed, but it felt like decades all crammed into one single moment.

Eventually, Verla cleared her throat, though her voice came out sounding broken. "Lucas, take Nadine back to the house. Jonathan and I will remove all traces of what happened here—magical or otherwise."

Nobody moved for a beat, until Professor Warren added, "If we don't act soon, the priestesses will be able to track the Executors to our location. We must cast our spells now."

Gentle hands helped me to stand. My feet moved under me as Lucas supported my weight, but my spirit seemed to exist somewhere outside my body, like I was watching the scene from above.

Somehow, we made it back to the house, though I didn't remember walking that far. Lucas helped me sit on the couch, and someone draped a blanket around my shoulders. My friends spoke in broken whispers, but all I could do was stare into the crackling fireplace that seemed nothing more than a blur. I couldn't process any of their words.

It had all happened so fast. One moment, I was living in euphoric bliss… and the next, my entire world had been shattered to pieces.

It didn't feel real.

Worst of all, I realized it was still my wedding day.

Hours must've passed, or maybe it was minutes. I couldn't be sure, but even time couldn't convince me of what I'd seen. My eyes had become raw with tears, and they burned when I blinked. Isa had curled up in my lap. Her weight could usually comfort me unlike anything else, but tonight, it felt like a boulder crushing me.

Voices came from another room. Verla and Warren must've returned by now.

"Are we confident the perimeter is safe?" Chloe asked.

"Yes," Verla said. "Our wards are strong, and we've expanded them to conceal what happened here tonight. The priestesses would need all the Oaken Wands to break through them."

It didn't matter if my body was safe, because the priestesses proved tonight that they could take everything from me that mattered. What was the point of staying here and being in hiding if my body was safe but my soul was in pieces?

I'd sworn they wouldn't take anyone else from me, but they had. They'd driven us from Octavia Falls. They'd taken our home. Now they'd taken my family.

I should want to burn the priestesses and everything they cared about to the ground—to raid Octavia Falls right now and make them suffer for what they'd done in the worst ways possible. But all I wanted to do was curl into a ball and drift off to a place where none of this was happening. Grammy couldn't be gone… she just couldn't.

"The Executors got too close to the safe house tonight," Grant said.

"They're narrowing their search, but we don't believe they know exactly where we're hiding," Professor Warren replied. "We bought us some time with the wards."

"What if it isn't enough?" Miles asked. "We may need to leave the safe house."

Verla cleared her throat. "We can't. Our wards are concealing us in more ways than one. If we leave, we're vulnerable to the priestesses' magic. Even if we find some place to stay and cast more wards, the priestesses will continue looking until they find us. We're safest here, and we need to stay for as long as possible. Let's all get some rest."

I wasn't sure if they said anything else, because I couldn't bring myself to focus on anything right now. Eventually, I heard footsteps approach.

"You should get her to bed," I heard someone say. I thought it was Verla, but her voice sounded distorted through the fog clouding my mind. "She needs to rest. We all do. We'll hold a funeral tomorrow."

Isa moved off my lap, and Lucas helped me stand. It was the first time I noticed I'd been holding a cup of tea, only the tea had gone cold. I didn't know who had given it to me. The mug was still full, and I hadn't taken a sip.

Talia took the teacup from my hands, and Lucas helped me upstairs. Cornelius lay at the bottom of the stairs. He looked up at me with shining eyes, like he could feel my heartbreak as his own.

Lucas led me to our bedroom. This room had been so full of love and passion earlier tonight, but all that magnificence had been replaced by anguish. Lucas helped me out of my dress, but the motion felt nothing like it had before.

He wrapped a robe around my body, then lowered me onto the bed and pulled the covers up around me. I lay on my side, staring into the darkness that seemed all-consuming. I feared that if I closed my eyes, I would see the spell impacting Grammy all over again—or hear her scream telling me to run.

I couldn't help but think this was my fault. Grammy had cast a shield to protect me, and it caused the Executor's spell to ricochet and hurt her instead. If she'd just kept her shield around herself instead of trying to save me, she'd still be here.

Isa curled in my arms, and Lucas snuggled close to me, but I could hardly feel them. All I could feel was the agonizing tightness in my chest that no amount of tears could alleviate. It was bizarre to think that Grammy wasn't just down the hall, sleeping two doors down.

At some point, I fell asleep, but it was a restless sleep. I didn't have any dreams—or at the very least, they were so harrowing that my mind couldn't bear to remember them.

I woke to an all-consuming ache curling around every muscle and joint. I lay in bed for a long time, unable to process how much time had passed. Rain pelted the window, and thunder cracked over the house. It was very unlike the drizzle that had been a good omen the morning of our wedding. This was a symbol of turmoil.

I didn't understand how the good omens of our wedding day had led to this. Either the omens meant nothing, or I couldn't trust them. Grammy's death was anything but a blessing the rain and spider had promised me. That, or there were larger forces at play. The thought terrified me to the very core. I refused to believe there was a larger meaning to Grammy's passing, because nothing could justify this kind of loss. I didn't care if there was a reason for her leaving, because I needed her right now. She was gone because of me.

I had to get out of bed to prepare for the funeral. We were supposed to bring an offering to Grammy's grave, which she would be buried with, and I couldn't imagine her being buried with anything other than the flowers from the garden she loved so much. I dug a lily bulb out from one of her potted plants and returned to my room to get dressed.

I couldn't, though. I sat on the bed and stared across the room, unable to move.

By mid-afternoon, the rain had let up. Voices came from downstairs, but I couldn't be sure whose they were. I kept expecting to hear Grammy, but her voice never came.

Lucas sat beside me on the bed. I lifted my heavy eyes and noticed he wore a black suit. A long black dress hung from the back of the door. I wasn't sure who put it there, though it looked like something that had come from Chloe's closet.

"Is it time for the funeral already?" I asked, my voice cracking.

Lucas pushed my hair back. "Not until you're ready. Take all the time you need."

Funerals in the coven often happened quickly after someone died—usually the following day. Grammy's spirit had already moved on, and we had to put her body to rest, too. Witches had a strange way of embracing death, and I was still learning how to view it like the rest of them. I wasn't used to it yet.

"It feels too soon," I admitted.

"We have to perform the funeral ceremony to release her," Lucas stated softly.

"I thought she'd already moved on."

"Her spirit has crossed over, but the coven must let her go, too," Lucas explained. "We still have some time, though. We can wait."

I shook my head. "I don't want Grammy to have to wait for me. She chose to move on, so I have to let her."

It felt like a lie on my tongue. I didn't want to let her go, and I knew that it'd take a hell of a lot more than a funeral to do it. I was still grieving my parents' death, and this only made all that grief and loss come rushing back. I had to go through it all over again—but this time without her.

She'd been at my parents' funeral to hold me together when I was breaking down… quite literally. Grammy's hugs were all that had gotten me through that day. She'd held my hand when their caskets were lowered into the ground, and she helped me walk across the cemetery when we placed flowers on their graves, because my knees were so unsteady I didn't think I could do it myself. I felt like I was unraveling at the seams now, and Grammy wasn't here to knit me back together.

Lucas helped me into the black dress, and I sat at the vanity while he brushed my hair back. Isa purred on my lap, trying to comfort me, but nothing could help right now. The lily bulb sat on the vanity, and I picked it up. There was still dirt under my nails from when I'd dug it up this morning.

We went downstairs, where the others were dressed in funeral attire. Everyone remained eerily quiet, and it was obvious they'd all been crying. I noticed my friends weren't the only ones there, though. Hattie had arrived with her wolf Familiar.

She stepped forward and placed a bundle of blue flowers into my hands. "They're forget-me-nots, because we will always remember her."

I wiped my nose. "Thank you for being here."

Hattie placed a gentle hand on mine. "I wouldn't miss it. Let's lay your grandmother to rest."

We followed her outside in our bare feet, to connect us to the earth, which was Grammy's final resting place. The grass was wet, and the sky overcast, but there were no raindrops. I noticed the decorations from the wedding from the night before had been cleaned up. It already felt like weeks ago. It was ironic and heartbreaking that we'd had a wedding and a funeral in the span of less than twenty-four hours.

Hattie led us through the trees and to a flat clearing that seemed so removed from the house. Lucas had said we needed to bury her far away so her body didn't contaminate our water supply, but I hated that. I wanted Grammy close to me, but now she was going to be all alone out here in the woods.

A large stone stood at the head of her grave. Hattie had used her powers to etch Grammy's name into the grave marker. The earth had been upheaved, and Grammy's body lay four feet below us. We were giving her a natural burial, because even though the coven used caskets and held traditional funerals now, this was the way we used to do things. It's what Grammy would've wanted, being in nature and surrounded by her flowers. It was a shallow grave, so Grammy's body could return to the earth quicker and nourish the plants she so loved.

Grammy's features were pale, and her arms were crossed over her chest. She wore a white gown and was laid on a thin cotton shroud to symbolize Mother Miriam's skirt surrounding her, like it would if she was a child embracing her mother's legs.

When I saw her corpse lying there, the crushing reality hit me all over again. She was really gone.

I was never going to hear her laugh again, or taste another one of her delicious homemade dinners. Her warm embrace would never envelop me again. She'd never bring me another cup of tea, and the garden she'd planted here at the safe house would wither away without her.

Cornelius stood beside the grave. He took one look at Grammy's corpse, then turned his face to the sky and yowled. The other cats joined in the song of mourning.

Beside the grave stood a small table, which served as an altar and held a white, unlit candle and a silver goblet filled with a dark liquid. Verla approached the altar and lit a match. "We will begin by lighting a candle, to symbolize the light that Helena brought into this world while she was with us, and to guide her way home to Alora."

Verla lit the candle. The wick instantly ignited, burning at least three inches high. Grammy was with us, all right. She had to be, because there was no light in this world brighter than hers, and this flame knew it.

Verla lifted the goblet. "You have all brought an item with you, which will serve as an offering to Mother Miriam. We pray that our offerings will be accepted as a symbol of our love for Helena, so that Mother Miriam may grant her a peaceful rest in Alora alongside her family, friends, and community. When you are ready, take a sip of the bitter funeral wine, which has been brewed by the Alchemists in attendance today. Drink the wine as a symbol of your acceptance of the bitterness of death, then place your offering within the grave and speak your parting words."

Verla took a sip of wine, then placed it back on the altar. "Helena, you were a mother to us all. I've known you since I was a child and spent so many nights at your house when Faith, Nicole, and I had sleepovers. You helped me study through law school, and you came to all my graduations. When I was named headmistress, you brought me flowers you had grown from your own garden, and you told me you were so proud, when my own parents couldn't even bother to show up. When Nicole died, you came to her funeral, and you stood next to me when I gave her eulogy."

Tears streamed down Verla's face. She never talked about her sister. Everything I knew about Nicole Verla was based on what others had told me. Grammy must've meant more to Verla than I ever thought, because she wouldn't bring up her sister if Grammy didn't mean the world to her.

Verla conjured a thin yellow shawl. "You bought me my dress to the Midnight Formal my freshman year of college when I couldn't afford one myself. I've kept the shawl all these years, to remind me to show kindness to others the way you showed it to me. I offer this shawl as a symbol of your empathy and caring nature. I give you all my love, and I pray this love brings you peace in Alora."

Verla gently folded the shawl and knelt down, lowering it into the grave beside Grammy.

"You told me when Faith died that Nadine would need someone to look up to, someone to help her and protect her," Verla continued. "I promise to be that for her and look after her. Rest in peace, Helena."

Verla finished by tossing her forget-me-nots into the grave, then stepped back for others to approach. Tears streaked my cheeks.

Professor Warren came forward next, holding a throw blanket in his hands. He took a sip of wine, then began to speak. "Helena, you made this house a home for all of us when we were cast out of our own. We cannot thank you enough. I offer this blanket that kept me warm for many nights here in this house, as a symbol of the home you built and the love we all shared."

He placed the blanket over her legs, then sprinkled his flowers over her body. More tears leaked from my eyes. Grammy's body was so cold down there in the grave, and Warren's blanket would keep her warm.

Hattie stroked her Familiar's head and came forward to partake in the wine. She held a potion bottle in her hands. "We knew each other for a brief time, and in that time, we became great friends. I offer this potion that you brewed me, meant to bring strength and vitality to the body. Now, I return it as a symbol of the strength and vitality you showed. You will be dearly missed."

Professor Warren helped Hattie to her knees, so that she could place her offering and flowers inside the grave. She lingered there a moment as several tears leaked from her eyes, then Warren helped her stand again.

Onyx drank the wine and knelt beside the grave with a bundle of herbs in her hand. "I offer this herb bundle of chamomile and peppermint to symbolize your wisdom. You taught me many healing potions, and I will take that knowledge with me and continue to heal through the wisdom you passed on."

Miles stepped up next. He held something that looked like a large gold coin in his hands, and when he shifted, I realized it hung from a ribbon. It was a gold medal. "I offer this medal I won in a Skee-Ball tournament last school year. It was the only thing I got to take with me when we fled Octavia Falls, and I wouldn't have it without you. I didn't know who you were at the time, but you found me in the halls of Miriam College when you were visiting Nadine one day. You asked me what was wrong, and I told you I was considering entering the tournament, but wasn't sure, because I thought I'd lose. You asked if I was going to have fun, and I told you I would. You said as long as I loved what I was doing, I'd already won. You convinced me to join the tournament, and I won, just like you'd said. I offer this medal as a symbol of your ability to uplift us all."

I'd never heard this story before. It made me cry harder.

Grant knelt beside the grave with a container of cookies. "I offer you these gingersnap cookies I baked. It's the same recipe you made a month ago. When I asked you for the recipe, you took me to the kitchen and showed me how to bake them right away, like it was the only thing that mattered. You always saw me, even if it was for the smallest things. I offer these as a symbol of your generosity."

Talia wiped her tears and pulled out a sheet of paper when she approached the grave. "When I was in a bad relationship, you found me crying at the park, and you sat there with me for over an hour as I contemplated breaking up with my ex or not. You were so kind and gentle, even though you told me to leave him. I never told anyone about that day, but I went home that night and wrote this song about what you said. I've held on to it because these words became a part of me, and I couldn't bear to let them go. But I'm ready now. I offer this sheet music, as a symbol of the compassion you showed. I'm never going to play this song again, and that's okay, because I don't need to anymore."

I didn't know what Grammy had said to Talia, but it must've been profound. Cody had been so horrible to Talia, and as friends, we'd all done everything we could to help her ditch that awful relationship. I never realized that it was Grammy's words that had given Talia the courage to leave.

Chloe went next. "Helena, you showed me kindness I didn't deserve. I am descended from the man who killed your husband, and I was cursed to keep your granddaughter out of town. I made bad choices and treated people poorly. I came to Nadine and joined her cause to create a better coven, and it is because of you that I have the chance to be here at all. You could have cast me out and refused to welcome me as one of your own, but you didn't. You welcomed me with open arms, without any hatred or bad blood. That says everything about who you are as a person, and as a witch. You showed me the power of forgiveness, and I will carry that with me forever."

I barely concealed a sob. Chloe and I had been through a lot to get to where we were today, and breaking our curse together had been a catalyst for the friendship we shared now. But I'd never thought about what Grammy must've thought of her, because it was so natural for Grammy to be kind to everyone. Chloe was right, and Grammy's kindness toward her made the coven—and the world—a better place. It wasn't fair that Grammy had to die when people like the priestesses got to live and continue ruling the coven through fear. We needed more people like Grammy in the world, who were willing to forgive.

Chloe conjured a can of olives, and I didn't understand what it meant until she started speaking. "I wanted to offer an olive branch, as a symbol of the peace and reconciliation you offered me. Since I do not have an olive branch, I offer these olives to symbolize my gratitude for the forgiveness you have shown, and to give my love back in these final moments."

Lucas approached the grave with a jar of applesauce in his hands. It was the applesauce we'd made with Grammy over the summer, and it hurt to even look at it. It was all the moments we shared with her, and everything she taught us, all condensed into a single glass container. I feared the jar may shatter, because I was certainly falling to pieces on the inside.

Lucas drank the wine, then paused for a few beats to collect his thoughts. "Helena, I met you in my darkest time. I had lost my brother, and I thought that the only person who'd ever care for me was gone. I came to you seeking healing through herbs and potions, but you saw I needed so much more when I didn't know it myself. You gave me a safe space to speak about what I'd been through, and you offered advice when I didn't know how to ask for it. Your love saved my life. Without you, I wouldn't be here, and I hate that I didn't get a chance to tell you that. I offer you this applesauce as a symbol of the memories we created together. I love you deeply, and your memory will live on."

Lucas placed his offering and flowers into the grave, then took a step back. It was my turn, but the words felt stuck in my throat.

"It's okay if you don't say anything," he whispered.

"I want to." I approached the altar and lifted the goblet to my lips. A horrible bitter scent filled my nose, and I already knew what it would taste like on my tongue. Still, I wasn't prepared for how awful it would be. The bitterness of the wine flowed over my tastebuds, and I wanted to spit it back out. I forced myself to choke it down, because I didn't want to ruin the ceremony.

I rushed to set the goblet back on the altar, but in my haste, the goblet fell over, spilling the remaining wine across the grass. I stared as the bitter liquid seeped into the ground.

"It's okay," Verla quickly assured me. "You may speak whenever you're ready, Nadine."

I tore my gaze from the wine and turned to the grave. I drew a deep breath, though my voice cracked. "Grammy, I thought I had more time with you. You've been there for me through everything, from the moment I was born, through my therapy sessions, and during my time in the hospital. It didn't matter how long the drive was—you'd always make it. Then Mom and Dad died, and you gave me a home again. You taught me some of the hardest lessons in life and guided me when I felt lost. You may be gone from this life, but you'll always be in my heart. The world was a better place with you in it."

I knelt at the edge of the grave. "I offer this lily bulb as a symbol of your love. I know how much your garden meant to you, and how much you loved us all. My love for you is like this lily. It will survive throughout the changing seasons, and it never needs replacing. I've loved you since the day I was born, and I will love you long after I die. Rest in peace, Grammy."

I tossed the forget-me-nots into her grave, then gently placed the lily bulb beside her. I stepped back and began to sob.

We joined hands in a circle, and a low funeral tune filled the air as my friends began to sing a witch's song. Though I mouthed the words, I couldn't bring enough air through my lungs to make it audible.

You were the crystal on my altar

And the wand that I had conjured

You were the potion in the cauldron

The incantation I once pondered

You were all that gave me power

You lifted me so high

Now at this final hour

I bless you with goodbye

We had a life together

But if it's right with fate

I'll meet you in my spirit

Right at Alora's gate

As the funeral song continued, Cornelius jumped into the grave. He nudged Grammy's hands a few times, as if he could get her to wake, but she didn't move. Then he curled up on her chest and laid his head down. His whole body sagged as the breath left his lungs.

I looked around to see if anyone else was as shocked as I was, but they all seemed to take it surprisingly well. I guess it made sense. Cornelius had incarnated in this life to serve as Grammy's companion. Now that she was gone, his purpose had been fulfilled, and his soul energy could return to Alora with her.

The song concluded, and Hattie lifted her hands to control the earth. Her elemental powers shifted the dirt to cover Grammy's body, until the grave was completely covered. Hattie commanded the grass to grow over the grave, until it looked as if the ground had been left undisturbed entirely. My breath caught in my throat as I witnessed a lily spring from the grave, growing before my very eyes.

It should have been a beautiful moment, but it was difficult to watch. This wasn't right, and I hated the priestesses even more now. Grammy didn't get to be buried in the cemetery next to Grampy back in Octavia Falls. It was too dangerous for us to go back to town and bury her there, a place that had always been her home. The priestesses had torn her community from her, and now she'd been laid to rest here all alone. It wasn't fair.

Verla blew out the candle, and I couldn't believe it was over already. It all happened so quickly, which was all too symbolic of the way she died. Twenty-four hours ago, Grammy was helping me into my wedding dress, and now, she was buried in the ground.

Lucas reached for me, but I couldn't take his hand. The walk back to the house felt hollow. I should be walking inside to ask Grammy for a cup of tea, not retreating from her grave. I didn't know if everyone else felt like they'd said a proper goodbye, but I certainly didn't.

"I'll put on some coffee," Verla offered, and Onyx followed her into the kitchen to help.

I didn't want coffee. I wanted tea—Grammy's tea, specifically. Something I'd never get to have again.

"Nad," Lucas whispered. He gestured me down the hall away from the others. I appreciated the moment alone, because I desperately needed it. Isa and Oliver followed, but they stood at the end of the hall, making sure no one interrupted. Lucas didn't say anything—just wrapped me tight in his arms and rocked me back and forth. This time, I didn't pull away.

"I didn't say enough," I cried into his chest.

He stroked my hair back. "Everything you said was perfect."

"But there's so much more I want to say to her," I sobbed. "I never got to say goodbye. Why didn't she stay, Lucas? I wish she'd just stayed one more minute so I could let her know how I feel."

"I don't know what it's like to die, but I know that if someone's ready to go, they're not going to hang back," he stated gently. "Your grandmother knew her time was coming."

"It was too soon," I argued. "She was only seventy. She could've had another twenty or thirty years left."

"I'm not sure she wanted those extra years for herself," he said hollowly.

I wasn't sure what he meant. When I glanced up, he couldn't quite look me in the eye. "What do you mean… What was her last thought?"

Lucas swallowed, like he was hearing it all over again. "I died protecting what I love most."

My face grew hotter, and my lips trembled. "She died thinking of me?"

He nodded. "I think she's been prepared for this for a long time. She always knew there'd be a chance she'd die protecting you."

I drew away from him without thinking about it. "I didn't want her to!"

"But she was okay with it. I think that's why she went with her reaper so quickly. She was already prepared to go."

A lump rose in my throat. I tried to swallow it down, but it didn't budge. My words squeaked past the lump. "I just wanted to save her."

"She needed to save you," Lucas said in a small voice.

I looked into his eyes—really looked at him this time. Tears brimmed his bottom lids, and the corners of his lips twitched like he was trying to hold back a pained cry. I realized he was trying to hold it together for me.

Grammy was as much of a grandmother to him as she was to me. She had been a safe place to come to after his brother had died. She had been a mentor to him.

She hadn't just moved on without saying goodbye to me. Lucas had been standing right there, and yet Grammy had gone with another reaper. I saw the pain in my husband's eyes. He wanted to be there for her, and he didn't get there soon enough. She'd chosen not to have him help her into the next life, and he didn't understand why.

"I'm sorry, Lucas," I whispered. "I know this is hard for you, too."

His gaze became distant. "She moved on before I even got to the clearing. I could've helped her cross over. We could've all said goodbye. I don't know why I couldn't help her, and why I wasn't enough."

"There has to be a reason," I said. "Perhaps she thought it'd be too much for you, or that we wouldn't let her go. She may understand things in death that we don't yet, and it has nothing to do with you."

"I could've helped her, though, and maybe this wouldn't feel so heavy if I did," he admitted. "I'm so sick of losing the people I love. I didn't want to lose her, too. Not so soon. I have to accept that she was ready, and we must honor her wishes."

"We could hold a séance," I offered.

Lucas shook his head. "It's not going to work. Miles and I tried what we could last night, to make sure she'd really crossed over, and she's already gone. Even if we could summon her, a séance wouldn't help heal our hearts. Once someone dies, that's it. They don't get to come back."

I missed Grammy so much already, but I was angry at her, too. She knew what power we had, and she could've chosen to stay another minute and let us say goodbye. Grammy's spirit may be gone, but I wasn't ready to let her go.

Lucas led me back into the living room, where the others were quietly sipping on coffee. He went into the kitchen to prepare us each a cup, but I was magnetized to the patio door. I stared out across the damp lawn, at the entrance to the trail that led to where we'd buried my grandmother.

Quiet whispers filled the room, but I didn't hear what anyone said as I slid the patio door open and walked across the grass and into the trees. It was drizzling now. My hair was getting wet, and my feet squished in the mud, but I barely noticed. My chest ached as I approached the grave, Isa following at my feet. A crushing weight on my shoulders forced me to my knees, and Isa snuggled against my leg. I wanted to say something, but nothing came out.

I sat in silence for several long minutes, until I heard the sound of light footsteps approaching. Talia knelt in the wet grass at my side, and she wrapped a gentle arm around me. Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I rested my head on her shoulder.

"The first day I met Helena, she couldn't stop talking about you," Talia said gently. "You were her shining light, Nadine. You're the reason that woman's heart kept beating, until the very end."

I sniffled and wiped my eyes. "Is that why she died for me? I caused this, Tal."

"That's not true, Nadine. Your grandmother loved you very much, and she chose to fight for you. The Executors killed your grandmother, and they're the only ones to blame."

"Their spell hit the shield she'd used to protect me," I insisted. "She wouldn't have died if I hadn't gone after her."

"You don't know that," Talia said.

I clutched my stomach, because it felt as if my insides might come spilling out. "I wish I could believe you."

My conversation with Grammy from the night of my bridal shower weighed heavy on my mind. I'd told her I was waiting for the other shoe to drop, and it had—only that shoe had been a massive fucking boulder, barreling through my life to destroy everything I held dear.

I despised the Executors for casting that spell. They'd taken my grandmother from me, under order from the priestesses. I swore right then and there that the priestesses would pay for what they'd done. I didn't know how or when, but I was going to destroy every last Executor to get to the priestesses if I had to.

"Grammy died because things were going too well," I said. "Every time something goes right in my life, something bad has to happen to even the scales."

Talia shook her head. "Witches don't believe in that."

"Don't they?" I lifted my gaze to hers. "Do we not believe in karma?"

"In a way, but balance isn't about weighing good and bad. It's about creating our own energy and guiding the outcome."

"So if this happened to us, that means we created it," I reasoned. "When things get good, I'm expecting something bad to happen, so I caused it. Tal, I'm…"

I couldn't believe I was going to say this out loud. I couldn't admit it to myself, really, but I couldn't ignore the ache in my chest telling me this is how I truly felt.

"I'm worried that marrying Lucas was a mistake," I spat out.

"Your wedding didn't cause this," Talia pressed. She seemed so desperate to help, but I was so convinced that I'd gotten Grammy killed, and she couldn't tell me otherwise.

"How can you be sure?" I asked. "Lucas and I were cursed when we got together. I may have broken the Reaper's Shadow curse, but being with him feels too good to be true. I'm afraid I never should've pursued a relationship with him at all."

Talia furrowed her brow. "What are you saying? Are you going to annul the marriage?"

"No!" I said quickly. "I love Lucas so much. I would never want to leave him. I'm terrified of the future because time is going to keep moving forward, and I'm not ready to lose another one of you. Things were really good for a moment, and now it feels like there isn't any point in putting myself back together, because if this is the price I have to pay for happiness, I don't think I want it."

Talia pulled me closer. "I know what it's like to feel that things are too good to be true, and to seek out the bad because that's what you're used to. When things are going good, it feels uncomfortable. What's important is that you embrace the good and detach it from the bad. They aren't two sides of a scale where one has to influence the other. I know we need the bad to see the good in things, but sometimes the good can exist on its own."

"How can you be sure of this?" I asked.

"Because I've been through it," she answered. "I was never good at relationships. It didn't occur to me that someone could actually want me the way Grant does. I pushed him away and dated Cody because that's what felt normal. Cody really messed with the way I viewed myself and how relationships could work. Hell, he taught me sex was bad and uncomfortable. When Grant and I started fooling around, it was really hard, because I couldn't completely open up to him at first. Everything we did just made me feel dirty."

"I'm sorry you went through that," I whispered. "Lucas and I have a great time together, but sometimes when I'm with him, I feel like we're breaking the rules, because we were never supposed to get this far in the first place. If I'd never broken the Reaper's Shadow curse, we never wouldn't have gotten married."

"Sex should feel freeing and empowering for both of you," Talia said. "It shouldn't feel restrictive, like you're breaking the rules. Have you tried the toys yet?"

I shook my head. "I don't know if we're that kind of couple. They make me nervous."

"I felt that way at first, too, but they really helped," Talia said. "I found them therapeutic."

I furrowed my brow. "In what way?"

"It was something new for Grant and me to connect over—something I'd never done with anyone else," she explained. "We got to experiment together, and it became a meditation for us. I could just be with him and trust that he would take care of me. When I was focused on all the good with Grant, I forgot about the bad with Cody. I won't ever forget, but it also doesn't weigh on me anymore. In order to change the way I felt, I had to involve my mind and body."

"So when I'm with Lucas, I should focus just on him, and not all the bad that will come as a result?"

Talia nodded. "I understand you're looking for an explanation for what happened, but you and Lucas are not responsible just because you shared a moment of happiness. Putting the blame on yourself isn't going to save you from your grief."

I turned back to Grammy's grave, and my stomach clenched tighter. I understood what Talia was saying, but I couldn't quite accept it.

"The people we love in life make choices," Talia added. "Helena made the choice to defendyou no matter what price she had to pay. One day, you're going to understand why."

I drew her into a hug. "I miss her so much already, Tal."

My best friend sniffled and squeezed me tightly. Then she gave a little chuckle and said, "Look at us talking about sex toys in front of your grandmother. She'd be so proud. I bet she's shouting down from Alora right now, Stay safe, girls!"

I wiped my tears. "I know she is. She certainly always wanted to protect me. Who's going to buy us condoms now?"

Talia snickered. "I'll take one for the team. It'll be my job from now on."

I forced a hint of a smile and laid my head on Talia's shoulder. I drew a deep breath, though the air felt thick as syrup in my lungs. "Grammy, I'm really going to miss you. I love you so much."

I placed a hand on her grave, and though there was no magic pulsing through it, I could swear I felt her love flowing into me. Grammy may not be here with me, but she would always be watching over me.

It was a comforting thought for now, but something told me it'd take me a lot longer before I was all right again. If I ever would be.

* * *

One melancholy dayfaded into the next. A numbness had taken over my entire spirit. I didn't feel much of anything.

Lucas found a scrapbook Grammy had left in her room and brought it to me, and that helped a lot. They were all old pictures, from back when Mom was a kid. It reminded me of how much life they lived—even if they had left too soon.

By the afternoon following the funeral, I noticed the ache in my belly twisting tighter, and I realized I hadn't eaten anything. I didn't want to eat, but I knew I needed something. The house was quiet as I found my way downstairs to the kitchen. Leftovers from our wedding reception were packed into the fridge, and I pulled out a container of brisket to heat up.

If anything could break me from my stupor, it was Grammy's food. Flavor burst in my mouth as the tender meat crumbled on my tongue. It made me believe that for just a moment she was right in front of me. The taste of her brisket was like the warmth of her hugs. I shoveled more food into my mouth, as if that would help me reclaim her memory. She had made this brisket. It was the last meal I'd ever have from her?—

My thoughts came to a screeching halt, and my chewing slowed. This was the last thing she'd ever made… if I ate it all, it'd be gone for good. I'd never have one of Grammy's home-cooked meals again.

The thought made me want to hurl up every bite I'd just eaten. I slowly choked down the food in my mouth. I took the rest of my plate back into the kitchen and wrapped up the leftovers, then placed them in the freezer. I wanted to keep that last piece I had of her with me for as long as I could. Grammy's recipes were a part of her.

It occurred to me that maybe she had left behind more than just this brisket. If I could find her recipes and recreate them, maybe I could keep her with me longer.

Isa followed me into Grammy's bedroom. The room was neat, and the bed had been made. I walked over to the vanity, and my fingers grazed across her jewelry. I picked up a bottle of perfume and smelled it. Goddess, the sweet floral scent smelled like her, and sadness tangled in my gut all over again.

I set the perfume down and went over to the closet. All kinds of skirts in different colors hung from a rod, and I reached out to touch the soft fabrics. I noticed a stack of scrapbooks on the top shelf, as well as a few shoe boxes. This must've been where Lucas found the scrapbook he'd brought me earlier.

This was all that was left of what Grammy had rescued from her house the night we'd escaped Octavia Falls. I had to preserve it, so I could keep what was left of her.

I pulled the shoe boxes down from the shelves and set them on the bed. The first box was filled with keepsakes that didn't make much sense. I picked up an old watch, a button, and a small seashell. I didn't know why Grammy had bothered saving all these things, but I realized they must've been important to her. It broke my heart that the meaning and stories behind these items would die with her.

Inside, I found an old picture of Grammy and Mom. Mom must've been a teenager in the photo. It would've been taken before she had her magic, but the two were stirring a cauldron together like my grandma was teaching her Alchemy secrets.

They looked really happy. I wanted to keep the photo, so I conjured my own keepsake box. My fingers shook as I shifted through the contents inside. I'd kept pictures of my parents, along with one of Mom's old aprons and a candle that smelled like her. I'd also kept used score cards from Clue games I'd played with my father, and an old collector's license plate from one of his cars. I placed the photo of Mom and Grammy inside, then went over to Grammy's dresser and added a necklace of a cat she often wore into the box.

I opened another one of Grammy's shoe boxes, and I found a small wooden box inside. I lifted the top to reveal a stack of recipe cards—exactly what I was looking for.

I pulled out the first index card and smiled. It was Grammy's brisket recipe. The next several cards were tea blends, and I found more for cookies, cakes, and pies. My heart lifted as I pulled out more and more recipes I recognized.

Grammy had always been very organized, but I noticed the recipes weren't placed in any particular order. She must've had them all memorized by now and hadn't opened this box in a long time.

I pulled out the recipe cards and started organizing them into stacks, separating them between dinner items, desserts, appetizers, and tea blends.

As I reached the end of the recipes, I realized the last one was thicker than the others—folded up like it had been added to the box as an afterthought. I unfurled the paper and nearly fell off the bed when I recognized my mother's handwriting.

Isa jumped onto my lap and nudged my hands. I scratched her behind the ears while I began reading.

Mom,

Thank you for your last package. The spira cacti worked like you said and made the protection potion ten times stronger. I'm sending a sample along so you can test it and let me know if I need to make any adjustments for the next batch. Nathan and I sold what stock we had to the vampire woman you told us about. Don't worry—we were careful about our meeting spot. We have enough money to get us through next month, but we're almost out of ingredients and will need more before we meet with her again the Friday after next. We hope to see you soon. Nadine misses you.

Much love,

Faith

My hands shook as I read over the letter. What did all this mean? Mom was brewing potions and selling them on the black market—and Dad was involved? Did she realize how much danger this could put her in, working with other supernatural races she couldn't trust?

I had the horrifying realization that perhaps my mother understood the danger and did it anyway. I quickly checked the date at the top of the letter, and my stomach dropped. It was dated two weeks before my parents' death. They had died on a Friday…

I shot to my feet, ready to go find Grammy and demand she explain, until I stumbled against the side of the bed when I realized I couldn't ask her a damn thing anymore. Still, my heart pounded fiercely, demanding I find answers about what happened.

I stomped down the hall, toward the sound of voices in the den. I entered to find Verla, Professor Warren, and Hattie. They all wore serious looks on their faces, but their conversation died when I entered the room.

Verla's features fell. "Nadine, what can we help you with?"

"I need to talk to you," I stated firmly. "Now."

Verla shot the others a worried look. "Yes, of course. Let's go somewhere private."

Verla led me to her bedroom. The moment the door closed behind us, I handed her the letter.

"Do you know anything about this?" I demanded.

Verla's eyes scanned the words, and her shoulders dropped. "I'm afraid I do. Your mother came to me for help years ago."

"She was selling potions? Verla, look at the date! Mom was going to meet a vampire the night she and Dad died. The police told me the brakes on their car failed! Tell me the truth. Was Mom killed by vampires?"

"No," Verla assured me. "It's true—your parents died in a car accident. It was an unfortunate accident."

"But that's where they were driving that night, wasn't it?" I asked.

Verla dropped her gaze. "Yes."

I began pacing around the room. "I don't get it. What did Mom need the money for? Were my parents involved in something illegal, besides selling magical potions?"

"It's not like that," Verla insisted. "Your parents were honorable. They were only trying to pay the bills."

I shook my head. "I didn't know we were struggling. Mom never said anything."

"She didn't want you to know. Bills added up over the years. She didn't want you to feel responsible."

"You mean my therapy and medical bills?" An invisible force constricted my stomach, like someone was trying to suffocate me by tying a ribbon around my ribs. I felt responsible all over again. I'd spent years in talk therapy, which I'd come to learn later I needed because I was fighting the curse inside of me. That was before I was diagnosed with lupus, and then the insane medical bills just kept coming after that.

"Yes. I'm sorry you have to find out this way, but your parents took out loans to pay off your medical bills, and they couldn't afford the interest," Verla explained. "Your mother saw a way to use her powers for good, to help your family. I promise you she only brewed potions that would help people. Your mother was a good person—to a fault at times, even."

"I didn't realize Dad knew she had magic."

"He'd known for years."

"Why didn't they just ask Grammy for money?"

"They did. They asked your grandmother; they asked me. We all helped. But eventually, your mother wanted to manage on her own. She was fiercely independent, much like yourself. She didn't want to burden us."

"If you knew all this, why didn't you tell me?" I demanded.

"Your mother didn't want you to think it was your fault, and neither do I." Verla reached out for me, but I yanked away from her.

"I don't want to believe it's my fault, either, but that doesn't change the fact that it feels that way," I said bitterly. "My parents were trying to make money to cover my medical care, and they ended up dying for it."

"Nadine, this is not your fault. All this means is that they cared. Your parents and your grandmother died to keep you alive, so you can honor them by doing what you came here to do."

"Everyone's dying for me all the time, and I'm sick of it!" I yelled. "I wish I would've just died, because everyone else would be alive. My lupus should've killed me. Then the people I love would still be alive."

Verla gasped. I'd never admitted something like that to anyone before, but it was true, because that's exactly how I felt.

"Nadine, you can't think that way," Verla warned.

Angry tears sprang to my eyes. "I can't help it. There's always been this side of me that believes it. I don't get it… I already got rid of Dark Nadine, but it's like there are still shadow aspects outside my family curse that have hung with me."

Verla's shoulders fell, and her voice was soft and understanding. "We can't fix our grief with Curse Breaking."

"Why not? It fixes a hell of a lot of other things."

"Of all the things we can fix with magic, grief is not one of them—hard as we may try," Verla assured me. "Even healers from other supernatural societies can't heal grief. There are no potions or spells for this. The only thing we can do is take the time to process it. It's okay if you don't feel better today or next week, or even years from now. We all handle our grief differently, and it is perfectly normal to take our time on it."

I crossed my arms. "How much time is reasonable?"

"As long as it takes."

"That's not good enough!" I snapped. "How can you sit here and act so calm? You said Grammy was like a mother to you, too, yet you want to just sit around and do nothing and hope that time is going to fix things? Bullshit!"

I stormed out of Verla's bedroom, and she didn't follow. I wanted to cry alone in peace, so I returned to Grammy's room. I needed to do something with my hands, or I was going to break something just to give my anger somewhere to go. I packed Grammy's belongings away, then threw the skeleton key around my neck into my memento box. I was angry that Grammy had given it to me for protection, and it had failed to protect her at all. I slipped the recipe cards back into their box, then carried it all up to my room. I slid the boxes under the bed, where they could easily be retrieved again, but just as easily be forgotten.

I cried for hours. By the time I left my room, it was already close to dinner time. I heard voices coming from the living room. It sounded like everyone was there. I followed the sound of conversation and found everyone gathered around the fireplace. All eyes turned to me, and Lucas approached to take my hand.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"I finally have word from Siona—our contact in Malovia," Hattie said. "She has a safe place to meet, but we have to move fast. The revolution in Malovia is unpredictable, and we don't know how long we have to sneak through the borders."

Good. I needed something to do right now, because I couldn't change that Grammy was gone. Sitting around here wasn't going to help me deal with it, either. We were one step closer to walking through hell—though it felt like I was already there.

I stepped forward. "Tell us where to go."

"You're not going anywhere," Verla stated firmly. "Malovia is dangerous for anyone right now, but especially for members of the Miriamic Coven. Jonathan and I will go to make first contact, and the rest of you will come once we know it's safe. We'll be in touch as soon as possible."

"We should all go!" I argued. "I may not be strong enough to break all their wards, but with mine and Lucas's magic combined, we can portal directly into Malovia."

"We don't know where we're going from there," Verla said. "We can't bring nine witches across the Malovian border without a solid plan in place. Let us go and talk to Siona, so we can bring the rest of you through safely. We don't know this person. We need to make sure she's a trustworthy guide before we allow her to take us to an entrance to the Abyss. You're safe here for now. Give us a day or two, and we'll be able to bring the rest of you safely into Malovia. We'll see each other again soon."

Professor Warren placed a hand on Lucas's shoulders, the look in his eyes very serious. "Take care while we're gone."

Warren wasn't just telling Lucas to keep himself safe, but to take care of all of us.

"Take this." Grant conjured a potion bottle and pressed it into Warren's hands. "It's a tincture I've been working on that will conceal your scent from shifters so you can blend in. Place three drops under the tongue every twenty-four hours. Be careful not to waste it, because I don't have much more of it."

"Take these, too." Talia conjured two cloaks she'd made with Grammy's help. One was a pretty gold velvet, which she handed to Verla, and the other was a silver satin with Celtic knots embroidered across the front. "They will help you blend in."

"Find Siona at Enchanting Whispers," Hattie instructed. "There will be a sign for her shop in the merchant district in their capital city of Dolinska. Turn down the alley next to the sign and follow the winding path until you get to the stone gargoyle. Griffin dick will get you through."

Verla nodded, but my brow furrowed. Now wasn't the time for jokes. Only, I realized maybe that it wasn't a joke. I didn't know much about the fae, and I wondered what strange offerings they required there. Maybe it was the name of an herb.

Lucas and I joined hands, and a portal bloomed. The Malovian mountains appeared in front of us. Verla and Warren stepped through, and then the portal vanished.

They were gone so fast, and the house felt wholly empty, even though we were surrounded by our friends.

Hattie stepped forward, stroking her Familiar's head. "Everest and I must return to Octavia Falls. I will not see you for some time. Whenever I come here, it puts us all at risk. However, if you need anything, you can call me."

I hugged her. "Thank you, Hattie."

Hattie left, and our friends dispersed.

Lucas turned to me, his hands rubbing up and down my arms. "I want to help."

He couldn't give me what I wanted, which was to have Grammy back. "I just need some sleep."

He wrapped an arm around me. "Then let's get you to bed."

It was still early in the evening, but I just wanted to sleep and forget about everything. Lucas and I got ready for bed, and he wrapped his arms around me as I drifted off.

* * *

I opened my eyes to find myself surrounded by blackness. I cast a witch light to see I was in the same hallway I'd seen once before, with its damp air and stone walls. I turned toward the door at the end of the hall, sensing something important was behind it.

Something thumped from behind the door, followed by a whimper. It sounded like someone was in trouble!

I scrambled down the hall and yanked the door open. A small, dark room stood beyond me. The walls were made of stone, and a tiny window at the top of the room let in the smallest bit of light. All I could see out the window was a stone archway with ivy twisting around it.

Through the darkness, I spotted the shadows of two women huddled together in the corner. Their hands had been bound, and their mouths were covered in tape. I rushed over to them, and their familiar features became clearer.

"Mandy! Tate!" I cried as I ripped the tape from Mandy's mouth. Talia's sister trembled from beside my friend.

"Nadine!" Mandy shook as she reached out for me. Her terror permeated the room, and I felt her horror deep within my bones. She gripped tight to my shirt as she begged, "The priestesses have imprisoned us. You have to save us!"

"Where is this place—?" I started to say, but I never finished. Darkness closed in on me abruptly, and the scene disappeared from view.

* * *

I shot upright in bed,rasping for breath. Lucas startled awake beside me, and he reached for my hand. "Nadine, what's wrong?"

I placed a hand over my racing heart. "Mandy can project herself into other people's dreams, and she sent me a message. She and Tate are being held captive by the priestesses, and they need us. Lucas, we need to go back to Octavia Falls and get our friends back."