Over the summer, Cope had brought up teaching Everly some basic garden spells. Her mother, Emilyn was a garden witch herself and some of her skills had been passed to her daughter. He’d been surprised when Ronan had agreed to let him work with Everly. Cope hadn’t known at the time that what he was teaching his niece might help him save Jude six months later.
Pulling down the folding steps leading to the attic, Cope climbed up. He went to the dark mahogany chest that contained his Devereaux magic. Whispering an incantation, Cope opened the lid and grabbed his cauldron. It had been a sixteenth birthday gift from his mother. Other kids got sportscars or new clothes. Cope had gotten something far more valuable.
Gathering the ingredients he needed, Cope slowly backed down the stairs and pushed the folding hatch back up into the ceiling. He stopped in his bedroom and grabbed Jude’s hair brush before going back downstairs. When he reached the kitchen, he saw that Ten had been true to his word. There was a black cloth laid over the table with a circle of black candles in the middle. All of the chairs had been moved across the room and left near the stove. “The spell I’m using involves the four winds. Ten you’re south.” He pointed to the end of the table to his right. “Everly, you’re east.” He pointed to the side of the table nearest the sliding glass door. “I’m north.” Cope moved to the opposite head of the table. “We’re one person short, so we’ll have to-” Cope’s thought was interrupted by the ringing doorbell. He grinned as he ran into the living room, knowing exactly who was standing on the other side of the door.
“I hear you’re looking for a wicked witch of the west,” Madam Aurora said, entering the house. “Sorry I’m late. I had to dig my car out of the snow.”
“I’m so glad you’re here.” Cope hugged his friend and ushered her into the kitchen.
“Look at this little coven.” Aurora clapped her hands. “Welcome, Everly. You’re here right on time.” Everly glowed with pride at Aurora’s words. She took her spot opposite Everly at the table. “What’s your plan, Cope?”
“My father was a serial cheater. He was always out boozing it up with women all over New Orleans. Just before my tenth birthday, my mother had enough of his bullshit and created a spell that would allow her to track him down. Sort of like a GPS for witches. She used it on him twice and it worked both times. I was awake for one of them and I saw her drag my bloodied father into the house by his ear. I asked her about it the next morning and all Mom would say was that the blood wasn’t a direct result of the spell. She never used it again after that night.”
“Why are you just thinking of this spell now instead of when Jude went missing?” Ten asked.
“I haven’t thought about that night in over twenty years.” Cope shook his head. “My mother came to me in a dream to remind me who I was and what I was capable of doing. Ever since I packed up my magic, it’s fallen to the back of my mind. If I’d been actively practicing, I’m sure this spell would have come to me sooner.” He looked around the table. “Is everyone ready?”
“I’m ready,” Everly said, all traces of the little girl were gone, left in its place was a strong witch, ready to help in any way she could. Cope had never been prouder of her.
Aurora and Ten agreed they were ready too.
Cope opened his sliver match box and pulled out a long handled match. He struck it, sending a whiff of sulphur into the air. He lit the black candles and stood back from the table. “I call upon Hecate, goddess of magic and witchcraft, hear me. I call upon Thoth, god of magic and reckoning, hear me. Grant me your wisdom, strength and protection. I seek to find that which is lost. Return Jude Byrne to me.” Cope picked up a jar of dirt, uncorked it, and sprinkled some of it into the cauldron. Next he grabbed his collection of coffin nails and added one on top of the dirt. Next came rosemary for purification. Cope went to the kitchenisland and grabbed a piece of paper. On it, he wrote his intention to find Jude. Folding it into fours, he placed it in the cauldron. Lastly, Cope plucked several strands of Jude’s hair from his brush and added them to the cauldron. “Is everyone ready?”
Ten, Everly, and Aurora nodded.
“I’m going to speak the incantation, then I want you to repeat it with me three times. Clear your minds and focus on Jude. Here we go.” Cope closed his eyes and took a deep breath. In his mind’s eye, he pictured Jude in this very room, laughing while he watched dishes, dancing with Cope in the moonlight, and making tough decisions together. He took one of the black taper candles and lit the ingredients in the cauldron. “With the magic of Hecate and the might of Thoth may I see the path to Jude Byrne. Powerful Hecate bring him to thee. Show me the way. As I speak, so mote it be.”
When he was finished, Everly began to speak. “With the magic of Hecate and the might of Thoth may I see the path to Jude Byrne. Powerful Hecate bring him to thee. Show me the way. As I speak, so mote it be.” Cope, Aurora, and Ten joined her.
When the incantation was spoken for the third time, Cope felt an otherworldly energy buzz through his body. The flames in the cauldron had gone from orange to a bluish green. He could feel the magic swirl and surround him, but he wasn’t seeing Jude or where he was.
Everly gasped. “2258 Milton Street, Salem. White house. Black shutters. Basment. Cage. Jude.”
Cope felt a jolt of energy surge through him, knocking everyone back from the table. The circle broke and losing her balance, Everly fell to the floor.
“Are you okay?” Ten rushed to her side.
Everly laughed. “I’m great, Daddy. I did it! I saw Uncle Jude. I’m a tiny, but mighty witch.”
Ten hauled his daughter back to her feet. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Me too, sweetheart. I knew you could do it.” Aurora reached into her pocket and pulled out a green crystal. It was about as long as Cope’s little finger and was shaped like an obelisk. She handed it to Everly. “This is agate. It’s the perfect companion for a green witch and can help you harness the power in plants. Agate also will help balance your mind, body, and spirit. Sleep with it under your pillow. When spring comes, I’ll bring you some to plant in your garden.”
“Thanks, Aurora.” Everly held the crystal gingerly, as if she were afraid it would break.
“Bring her by the shop, if she’s interested in learning more about crystals and green spells.” Aurora grinned at Cope.
“I’ll have to run that past Ronan.” Ten laughed.
“When you find Jude, thanks to this spell, I’m sure Ronan won’t mind our little Everly learning a bit more about her abilities.” Aurora picked up Cope’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Give Jude my love.”
“I will,” Cope said. He walked Aurora to the door. He pulled out his phone and called Ronan.
“Tell me you found him!” Ronan said, sounding breathless.
“We have an address.” Cope’s entire body buzzed with exhilaration. When he found Jude, the first thing he was going to do was hug him until his arms hurt. The second thing Cope was going to do was buy Everly a pony.
“Meet us at Fitz’s SUV. We’re walking out the door now,” Ronan said.
