Mistwood Manor
“Tell me again exactly what the oracle said.” Warwick wrinkled his pointed nose and stared at the hair she’d given him.
“I asked how to get my power back, and Grindylow said, ‘Rebind thee to thy sisters.’ That’s it.”
“And you believe this hair belongs to the third sister. You two, I assume, are the other two?” He glanced between Avery and Clarissa.
“Yes!” Clarissa tossed up her hands in agitation. This was taking too long. It had taken Warwick thirty minutes to get here and then she’d had to explain everything. Now they were in Nathaniel’s study and he was staring at the hair like he hadn’t a clue what to do with it. “Nathaniel said to use your blood.”
“My blood?” Warwick placed a stubby-fingered hand on his chest. “Why on earth would we do that? My blood holds no power.”
Clarissa held her head. “Nathaniel knows what he’s talking about, Warwick. There is a reason he wanted me to bring this to you. I have reason to believe it was a piece of my hair that was used to unbind us, so this hair must be able to be used to bind us, right?”
Warwick stroked his round chin, his bushy gray brows low over his eyes. “In theory. I would think if we braided the three strands, performed a binding spell, and added an activation agent, we could redo whatever was undone between you. But what agent? Why, if Nathaniel was here, I’d suggest his blood, but…” Warwick’s squat face twisted in concentration. He began to laugh a deep belly laugh.
“What is so funny?” Clarissa asked in frustration.
“He doesn’t mean my blood. He means his blood in my possession. I keep a vial of Nathaniel’s blood to use to prepare his tobacco and certain other spells. Sometimes I have to test things.” He circled his hand. “You understand.”
“Yes, yes,” Clarissa said hastily. “Do you have any of the blood left?”
“Oh, of course I do. In fact, I have it with me.” He patted his pocket. “I always keep it with me. There is no safe place to store dragon blood.”
Avery spread her hands excitedly. “So can we do the spell? If we reignite this bond and give Clarissa and my sister back their power, maybe Raven can come home.”
Warwick nodded. “Worth a try! I can call in the coven tonight.”
“No. No!” Clarissa said. “We have to do this now.”
“We can’t. We need more power to raise the circle, even with Nathaniel’s blood. You currently have none.”
“What does raise the circle mean?” Avery asked.
Clarissa cleared her throat. “There has to be enough mystical energy to activate a magic spell. The blood has it, but that’s our catalyst. Warwick has it, but he’s only one person. Normally, three or more are required to raise a circle.”
“What about me?” Sabrina said. Clarissa had forgotten she was there, pacing at the back of the room.
“You are?” Warwick inquired.
“Sabrina the vampire.” She dropped her fangs, and Warwick’s eyes grew large.
“Perhaps. Vampires are magical creatures. That’s two. Is there a third?”
Nick waved two fingers in the air in a kind of casual salute. “I’ve swallowed a dragon’s tooth. I’m human, but I’m tied to Rowan.”
“Hmm. Might be enough,” Warwick mumbled.
Maiara lifted her chin. “I was raised from the dead.”
Warwick blinked at her. “I have no idea if we can draw on that power, but your participation is welcome.”
“We could use the egg,” Clarissa said. “It’s very powerful. Avery could hold it.”
Avery tucked her hair behind her ears. “I don’t know. Could this hurt it? I can’t put Li’l Puff in any danger.”
“Oh no, of course not,” Warwick said. “I wouldn’t lead a circle that would put a child at risk. It’s completely harmless.”
Avery nodded. “Okay then. Yes. I know my little niece or nephew has power. Enough to knock a grown dragon on his ass.”
“Then if you please.” He held out his hand.
Avery pulled a long black hair from her head and draped it over Warwick’s hand. Clarissa followed, laying her platinum hair with its dark roots next to Avery’s.
Clarissa stood. “I’ll show you to Nathaniel’s ritual room.”
Warwick scowled as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “He gave you access to it?”
She raised an eyebrow. “Yes indeed, he did.”