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The rest of Avery’s day passed in a blur, and all too soon she was back in Alex’s flat, her heart pounding uncomfortably, her mouth dry. She leaned against his door before opening it, wondering briefly if she’d gone mad, and why she thought to touch up her makeup before arriving. She wished she were heading to the downs instead.
Before she even knocked, the door flew open, and Alex ushered her in, saying, “Your nervous energy preceded you. I could sense you a mile off.”
“Exaggerator,” she said, pushing past him.
He locked the door behind her. “We really don’t want to get interrupted.”
His flat was completely transformed. All traces of the mess from earlier had gone. Despite the warm night, the fire was on low, and the room glittered with candles. In front of the fire was a soft warm blanket, big enough for two. There was no other lighting in the room, and the rich smell of incense drifted around. Avery could feel her mouth dropping open in surprise, and Alex laughed.
“It’s easy to get cold when you’re lying still, so we need the fire, and we need to be comfortable. The lights help induce a relaxed state.”
Right now, Avery thought she would never relax. “I bet that’s what you say to all the girls,” she shot back, thinking her heartbeat must be audible.
Alex just laughed again, and led her to the rug. The grimoire was on the coffee table behind them, a selection of coloured candles next to it, as well as Alex’s Athame and a silver goblet filled with a dark, murky liquid.
“We need to create the protective circle, then take that drink—it will help us enter the right state and help us link, and then we say the spell.”
“What’s in the drink?” Avery asked, eyeing the concoction warily.
“Valerian, clary sage, vervain, amber, gold leaf, lavender, and bay. And a couple more.”
“All right, if you’re sure you’re not going to poison us.”
“Trust me, Ave, I’m a pro.”
She resisted the urge to comment, and instead joined him as he used the Athame to create the protective circle by drawing in the air and on the floor. She followed him, lighting the candles and placing them on the four points of the compass. He sat in the middle of the rug, and she sat opposite him, legs crossed, knee to knee. The soft yellow candlelight gave everything a warm glow, and despite herself, she relaxed.
“Do you feel okay?” Alex asked.
“Surprisingly, I do.”
“Good.”
He took her hands in his, closed his eyes, and took a few deep breaths. Avery did the same, willing her heart to slow as she dropped her shoulders. After a few seconds, he squeezed and released her hands and she opened her eyes to see him holding the small, engraved silver goblet with the liquid inside. He took a few sips and grimaced, and then handed it to her. Avery took a few sips, too and shuddered. It was horrible. Bitter, with a slightly burnt taste to it. She handed it back to Alex and he placed it on the edge of the circle, and then he lay down on his back facing east, and she lay next to him. He took her hand in his and squeezed it again. “Ready?”
“Ready.”
Alex started to recite the spell and she closed her eyes again, feeling the energy in the circle change, and her awareness heighten. As he chanted, her breaths deepened and her body relaxed, her limbs becoming heavy. Within seconds she heard Alex’s voice in her head, but instead of jolting her awake, it intensified her experience and she embraced his voice. It was like a soft blanket wrapping around her and she wanted to hug it close. As if he could sense it, his presence encompassed her and she responded again, the intimacy almost overwhelming. And then she could see him, his entire form lying a few feet above her. But it wasn’t his physical form. He was a pale, silvery blue and he smiled down at her.
“Come on Avery. Join me.”
He took her hands and pulled gently and with a whoosh, she felt herself sliding up and out of her body until she floated next to him. For a second, a wave of panic washed over her, and then Alex’s presence wrapped around her again, calming and reassuring her.
“I’m okay,” she said. She saw her physical form lying beneath her, and a long, thin silver cord connecting her spirit to her body, and the same with Alex next to her. “This is so weird,” she thought, forgetting Alex could hear her.
“But great, isn’t it?” His eyes glowed with a pale light, and as if sensing her discomfort, he said, “Let’s just move around the room so you can get used to the feeling. Just move slowly.”
He floated away from his body and pulled her with him. The room was dim and shadowy, its colours drained, the candles bright points in the darkness. A powerful purple aura emanated from the grimoire. “Look,” she pointed.
Alex nodded. “Magical energy. Very strong, too.”
As she followed him, she felt stronger and safer. This was actually fun.
“If you feel worried at any point,” he said, “just envision yourself lying here, and follow the cord back to your body.”
She nodded as her eyes followed the cord spooling across the room. “Can we go outside?”
“If you feel ready.”
“Yes!” She grinned. “This is awesome.”
Avery again felt Alex’s essence squeeze her own gently, and she responded as he laughed. “This is so cool—way better than doing it on your own. For now I’m going to keep hold of your hand, is that okay?”
“Yes, I’d prefer that.”
“Great. This is going to be odd, but don’t panic.”
He turned and pulled her towards the wall and then through it. She was aware of the strange sensation of brick and stone and then she was free and the stars floated above her. She gasped. “Look!”
Avery rolled onto her back as if she was swimming, and watched the stars glowing in swirls of incandescent light. They looked bigger than she was used to, and the rest of the town below her was pale in comparison. She could see waves of energy flowing around everything. Beyond the pub, she could see the sea, and the immense force of the waves as they rolled in and out further along the beach. The raw power on display was amazing—it was so tangible.
“This is what you draw on, Avery. Do you see it?” Alex asked, his hand the one warm constant in this sea of change around her.
“I do. I feel as if I could touch it.” She gasped again as people spilled out from the pub below them. “Look, I can see their auras.” The people were dim, but their auras glowed white, or purple, or orange.
“It’s easy to see auras here,” Alex said. “You’ll find it becomes easier when you return to your physical form, too. How’re your energy levels?”
“I feel fine. Great, even!”
“Good, let’s head up to the downs.”
“Can we go that far?” Avery asked, worried.
“Your cord will travel a long way, as long as your energy is good,” Alex explained with another squeeze of reassurance. “Come on.”
Alex pulled Avery up higher and away across the town to where it became dark, the lights and the people disappearing behind them. In the distance she could see dark purple clouds washing up from where the surf pounded at the cliffs heading out of town. And then she saw the ruined house on the moors, tucked into a curve of hillside, and the pale blue auras of two figures poking around amongst the ruins. Elspeth and Rueben. There was flare of light along the foundation; it seemed El was using magic.
“She must be using some kind of locator spell,” Alex said. “Can you see the lines beneath the earth?”
For a second, Avery couldn’t understand what he meant, and then she saw the silvery lines growing stronger by the second, marking the foundation of the old house, some stretching further back up the hill. “Did El do that?”
“She must have. Can they see it, though? Look,” Alex gestured further up the hill. A slab of silvered earth glowed for a few seconds, and as they drifted over it, it disappeared.
Avery felt of rush of excitement. “Is that where the book is?”
But before he answered, she felt another wave of energy hit her, but different this time. It felt dark, angry. She tensed and looked up at the same time as Alex. A dark red glow was heading towards them, and Alex quickly pulled her to his side as a figure became clear ahead of them.
“What the hell is that?” Avery asked, panic racing through her.
“Another spirit walker,” Alex said, “and he doesn’t mean well.”
The figure raced towards them and a wall of power pulsed outwards. Almost simultaneously, Avery sensed Alex push something like a force field towards the approaching figure. The two met with a clash, and although Avery couldn’t hear anything, she felt an almost tidal surge of electricity rush around them.
Now was not the time to panic, and Avery stayed close to Alex, doing as he did and summoning her own powers. She was a witch—if she could do this in her physical body, she could do it now.
Alex was totally focussed on their attacker, but she felt him anchoring her, and she joined her force to his, strengthening the shield he had created. Their attacker’s form was blurry, non-human, and it was impossible to make out what he or she was. One thing was certain. It was trying to hurt them. The figure pushed closer, trying to crack the protective shield that glowed a pale blue ahead of them. Avery didn’t ask what would happen if it broke.
“We need to withdraw, Alex. I don’t know what I can do to help.”
“To withdraw we have to push it back, to give us time. We do not want it following us back.”
“Will it hurt Reuben and El?”
“No, it can only watch. I hope. Listen, we must push together. Let it think it’s overpowering us, and then push. Hopefully it will be enough to throw it off balance. And I have a trick up my sleeve.”
Avery was vaguely aware of the scene below. The two witches were continuing to work the spell, following the lines beneath the earth, but Alex pulled her attention back.
“We need to protect them, too, give them privacy.” He grinned at her, his teeth glowing with a silvery light, his eyes sparkling. “Follow my lead.”
The dark mass ahead was pushing against them. Its anger was palpable. Avery felt Alex’s energy pull back, and she matched him, allowing their attacker to come closer. She saw two red eyes glowering malevolently, and she felt its premature wave of pleasure at their perceived weakness. They allowed it to creep closer and closer, until Avery was worried it may be too close to repel. Red waves flared like fire around the shield, licking like flames trying to crack their defences.
Alex whispered, “Nearly time. Wait. Wait. Now!”
He pushed suddenly, striking out in one massive hit, and Avery joined it, amazed at the strength they created together. Into the middle of it Alex projected a strike like lightning—a silvery bolt that crackled with searing heat. It punctured out through their shield and into their attacker’s, sending it shooting backwards.
They barely had time to enjoy their victory when Alex pulled her away, and she did as he told her earlier. She thought of her physical body next to the fire and followed her cord back, racing along it in a blur, Alex next to her. Their attacker was a long way behind them.
Avery returned to her physical body with a thump. Her limbs felt heavy, but her mind was alert in an instant and she tried to sit up. A searing pain exploded in her head and she cried out, falling back.
She heard Alex. “It’s okay, take your time. You’ve used a lot of power.”
She turned to him, blinking, and the room focussed. The warm orange light was soothing, and the fire still crackled, bathing them in heat. Alex was lying on his side, head propped on one hand, watching her. She took a few deep breaths and felt the pain recede quickly.
“Better?” His voice was a balm to her senses. It almost replaced losing his warm presence that had wrapped around her earlier.
“I think so.” She shivered, despite the warmth. “Shouldn’t we be doing something? Like joining El and Reuben?”
His close proximity made her nervous, but her gaze wandered from his dark eyes, across his delicious stubble, down to his full lips.
“In a minute,” he said softly. And then he leaned forward and kissed her, gently at first.
A flare of desire raced through Avery and she leaned into his kiss. Within seconds his hand was on her back, pulling her close, until she felt his whole body pressed against hers. Her hand snaked around his waist, feeling his muscular build and his warmth. His kisses deepened, and she felt herself falling away, losing herself completely in him.
He eventually pulled away, gazing at her. “I suppose we should go and check on El and Reuben now.” But he didn’t move, waiting for her response, his gaze still travelling from her eyes to her lips and back again. His hair fell around his face, grazing her cheeks, and his scent enveloped her.
She felt breathless and giddy and wanted nothing more than to stay right there. “I suppose we should.”
He grinned, and she melted a little more. “In another minute.” And he kissed her again, all playfulness gone as she arched into him, drawing him closer. When they broke apart again, both were breathless.
Avery pushed him away, her hand against his chest. It took every ounce of her willpower. “You’re a very bad influence, Alex Bonneville. Our friends could be in trouble.”
He reluctantly pulled away. “Come on, then. I’ll drive.” He pulled her to her feet, and while he grabbed his keys, she extinguished the candles with a word.
