Spells Trouble, Kristin Cast [books to read in a lifetime .TXT] 📗

cushions. She opened it carefully out of habit, even though the pages within were Xeroxed copies of the fragile originals, which remained in a temperature-controlled lockbox in a Chicago bank. Generations ago the Goode witches began copying the oldest grimoires so that the knowledge of their ancestresses would never be lost, and then sealed away the originals.

“I like to think about the fact that someday Goode witches, our great-great-granddaughters, will copy my grimoires,” said Mercy as she searched for the right entry. “It makes me feel like I’m gonna live forever.”

Hunter snorted softly. “It makes me stress about my handwriting.”

Mercy looked up and grinned at her sister. “Well, that, too.” She turned a few more pages and then pumped her fist in victory. “Yes! Here it is.”

Hunter leaned closer, reading along with her. “Hey, that’s the original spell that Sarah used to close the gates in the spring of 1693.”

“Yep. Xena made me think of it when she said that we needed to look deeper and come up with a stronger spell. What could be stronger and deeper magic than the first spell?”

Hunter sat straight up. “Mag, you could be onto something!”

“Right?!” Mercy’s finger traced the words as she read Sarah’s loopy cursive writing. She glanced up at Xena. “Did you know Sarah had help with the first spell?”

“No. I am old, but not that old. I don’t believe I have ever read the original spell. Like you kittens, I learned the history by listening to the Goode witches retelling it.”

“Sheesh, Xena, exactly how old are you?” Mercy asked.

“One never asks a lady her age.” Xena sniffed haughtily and then continued, “I assumed the original spell was almost exactly like the one the Goode witches perform during every Feast Day Ritual.” She peered down at the copy of the ancient grimoire. “How interesting! Sarah had four people who aided her.”

“Seriously?” Hunter scooted nearer to Mercy so she could follow along.

“Yeah, look at this,” said Mercy. “Sarah was at the Norse gate, just like we were. She positioned two medicine women from the Illinois tribe at the Greek and Hindu gates, and—” Mercy paused and squinted as she struggled to make out the smudged scrawl. “I think that says Gertrude Smythe, pioneer woman and Goodeville resident, at the Japanese gate and Oceanus Martin, Pioneer Woman and Goodeville resident, at the Egyptian gate. Using smoke to signal the others, Sarah led them to begin the spell, which was almost identical to the one Abigail led us through except—” She paused and felt a jolt of surprise.

“They sealed the spell and the gates with their blood!” Hunter finished for her.

“And we need to repeat this spell as close to the original as possible.” Mercy chewed her lip. “But there are no members of the Illinois tribes left here anymore. There aren’t even any reservation lands in Illinois.”

“Such a tragedy—such a horror what happened to the indigenous peoples,” said Xena softly, sadly.

“We should add something during the ritual in remembrance of the Illinois tribe,” said Hunter.

“That’s a really good idea,” Mercy agreed.

“Hey!” Hunter’s face lit with a smile. “We do have someone very close to us who has ties to the settlers of Goodeville!”

“Ohmygoddess! Jax!” Mercy and Hunter high-fived.

“Jax would be an excellent addition, but I am in agreement with both of you that it would be wise and respectful to say a prayer for the wise women and make an offering to them during the spellwork,” said Xena as she finished her chocolate, placed it on the table, and settled back to groom herself.

“We’ll do that for sure, Xena,” said Hunter as Mercy nodded.

“Okay, so, we have Jax who is a descendant of Goodeville’s founding ancestors—and we can represent Sarah—all three of us. You”—Mercy jerked her chin at Hunter—“Xena, and me. But we still need one more person.”

“That person should live within the Goodeville city limits,” said Xena as she paused in her grooming. “She or he will also represent the pioneers who came here with Sarah.”

“Em is perfect. She loved being part of the grief spell and her dad’s family has run the funeral home downtown for more than a hundred years. Her grandparents and great-grandma just moved from here to that retirement place in Florida last year.” Mercy sighed deeply. “But I don’t know if she’s up to it.”

“If she is not, you cannot wait until her time of grief is over,” said Xena. “The gates must be sealed immediately.”

“You’re right. I’ll call her and see how she’s doing.”

“Has she talked to you at all today?” asked Hunter.

Mercy shrugged. “Sorta. I’ve been texting her. A lot. She said nothing feels right and her mom is totally not okay. Other than that she’s only sent crying emoji faces.”

“Do not expect her to be able to help you,” said Xena.

Mercy got up and headed for her purse. She fished around inside for her phone. “Well, if she can’t it’ll have to be Kirk.”

“Oh, hell no!” said Hunter.

Xena growled softly.

Mercy frowned and looked up from her phone. “Hey, he helped with the grief spell.”

“He was freaked out by the grief spell and almost screwed it all up,” said Hunter.

“Well, of course he was. Like Em said, he was totally inexperienced about witchy things. I talked to him and explained spellwork. He’s better now. And if we have to use him I’ll take full responsibility for prepping him.”

Hunter rolled her eyes and Xena growled again.

Mercy put a hand on her hip. “Do either of you have a better idea?” When neither said anything Mercy continued, “Then it’s settled. Emily is our first choice, but if she can’t do it we’ll use Kirk.”

“Grandma and Grandpa are like zombies.” Emily’s voice sounded so, so far away as she spoke softly into the phone. “Well, scratch that. Grandpa is like a zombie—if a zombie did nothing but drink whisky and watch ESPN. Grandma is a cooking zombie. She walked in—hugged me—starting crying—ignored Mom—and went straight to the kitchen. She’s been there ever since. Literally the only time