Spells (Bayou Magic 2)

He slips his hand into mine, and I’m instantly calmer. It’s as if I’ve just sunk down into a warm pool of water.

Miss Sophia nods, and we all climb into the two vehicles and drive toward my family’s property.

“It’s not pretty,” I say immediately. “The house is dilapidated. It looks like something out of a horror movie, Lucien.”

“Are you warning me because you’re embarrassed?” He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles, which would normally unnerve me, but I’m already unsettled.

“Partly, yes. No one wants to show someone they lo—” I stop and swallow hard, shaking my head to clear it of the thought that came out of nowhere. But he heard me. “Like that their family lived like animals. It’s humiliating.”

“We know the why of it now, darlin’,” he reminds me. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. That doesn’t concern me in the least. What worries me the most is keeping you safe, a stór mo chroí.”

I frown over at him. “You’ve said that to me before. In the dreams.”

He pushes his glasses up on his nose. “Have I?”

“You know you have. What does it mean?”

“It means my heart’s treasure in Gaelic.”

I blink at him, astounded. “Lucien.”

He follows Daphne off the main road and down the driveway to Mama’s house. “I’ve called you that since our first wedding day, more than a thousand years ago. And I didn’t mean to say it now. It slipped out because I’m worried about this. Before you get out of this car, I want to work a spell between us, something to link us. It’ll open us up to each other so you can read my thoughts and vice versa. I need to be linked to you at all times so I can protect you, and so I know you’re safe.”

“I’ve been in this place a thousand times—”

“This isn’t up for discussion, Millicent.”

I raise a brow, but he’s not backing down. And frankly, I don’t mind the extra protection. I take a moment to breathe and clear my mind, empty it of the anger and frustration from this past week, and find my center.

I feel Lucien park the car, and I can sense the energy of the house.

This horrible house.

“Boy, you weren’t kidding.”

I open my eyes and feel my stomach clench. The building hasn’t changed much since last year. What was once a gorgeous plantation home is now nothing but a pile of ruin and rubble. The wrap-around porch has separated from the main building, and half of the roof has caved in.

I still have no idea how Mama managed to survive here for all those years.

Lucien takes my hand in his and starts to chant in a language I don’t even recognize. I know he’s something of a savant when it comes to the craft, but what he does takes me by surprise. The energy in the car changes, the air grows cooler, and a breeze swirls around us.

Except the windows are closed.

Suddenly, I feel a peaceful, cool calm wrap its way around me like a blanket.

This is how we’ll communicate until this is over.

I hear his voice as clearly as if he spoke the words aloud. It’s just like in my dreams, from the memories of previous lives.

We’ve been doing this for a long time.

I can hear you, I reply. He squeezes my hand three times and then lets go so we can climb out of the car.

“Lucien and I will stay outside and cast a spell of protection over all four of you as you journey through the house,” Miss Sophia says. “That, along with the tea you drank earlier, should keep you safe. Don’t dillydally. The spirits inside are sinister, and they’d love nothing more than to taunt you while you’re here.”

“Oh, I see them,” Brielle assures her. “I thought they left with him when we defeated him last time.”

“Some, but not all,” Miss Sophia adds.

“Let’s get this over with,” Mama says. “The photos should be upstairs, along with the grimoire in my bedroom.”

“I have the grimoire,” I reply. “We came and got it last year.”

“Oh.” She frowns but then nods. “Good. I’m glad it’s safe. Perhaps, one day, I can borrow it.”

I nod and, with my sisters and I flanking her, we walk up the creaky steps to the door. Mama opens it and then gasps when she sees the state of the inside. Piles of garbage are piled in the living room. The second floor caved in entirely, and now sits in what used to be the dining room.

“Oh, this is just horrible.” Mama gasps. “We worked so hard to buy this lovely house, to make it something that you girls could have for your children. And just look at it.”

Brielle takes Mama’s hand. “You stay with us, Mama. Promise me.”

“Of course.”

The spirits are everywhere, lurking in the shadows and sneering at us as we walk through. Some are livid that we’re here, others seem curious.