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Newton drove them all back to White Haven as fast as possible without attracting attention. Desperate as they were to get home, he went the long way around, avoiding traffic cameras and anything that might incriminate them in whatever had happened at the manor.
They sat on the floor in the back of the van, propped on old blankets and braced between boxes and the sides, trying not to topple over as Newton steered them to safety.
“Can we please release whatever spells bound the others?” Avery asked, as soon as she could get her breath. “I don’t want to think Helena will kill all of them—they don’t deserve that.”
“I beg to differ,” Reuben said, his eyes hard. He still clutched his grimoire.
Briar answered, “Already done. I don’t want that either, Avery.”
“How the hell did Helena gain physical form?” Reuben asked.
“I’m not sure she really has,” Alex explained. “I think it’s just a severe and strong manifestation, brought on by the wave of magic we released, and her fury at the Favershams. After all, his ancestor is the reason she was burnt at the stake.”
“But the smell,” Briar said, covering her face with her hands. “It was awful. I still feel sick.”
“Imagine being burnt alive—that would be far worse,” El reasoned. “Are you all right, Avery? Things seemed really weird under All Souls when she possessed you.”
Avery fell silent for a moment, trying to work through what had happened. “As much as I hate to say it, I don’t think she wanted me back in my body. I accidentally spirit walked when the spell broke, so she didn’t do that, but she sure didn’t want to let me back in, either.”
Alex was sitting next to her, and he snaked his arm around her and pulled her close. Avery shivered with pleasure, snuggling into him. He sighed. “I had a horrible feeling that would happen.”
“I know you did, but we needed her,” Avery said. “And at least we broke the spell, rescued Sally, and got the grimoire.”
“But will she come back?” Briar asked. “What if she tries to get back inside you?”
“I let her in last time, remember? I don’t think it can happen again.”
“I think another tattoo might be in order,” Reuben said with a wink.
Avery rolled her eyes. She looked up to the front of the van, where Sally was sitting in the passenger seat next to Newton, silent for now. She called over, “How are you, Sally?”
For a few seconds Sally didn’t move, and then she turned around to look at them all, finally resting her gaze on Avery. “I’m not entirely sure, Avery. In fact, I’m not sure of anything at the moment.”
Newton called back over his shoulder. “I’ve been trying to explain a few things to Sally, but—”
She finished the sentence for him. “There’s magic, and there’s magic, and I just need some time for it to soak in. And don’t you dare think about spelling it out of my head!” She said forcefully.
Avery raised her hands in surrender. “Witches honour—if you’ll keep this a secret!”
“Of course I will,” Sally snorted as she turned back to look out of the windscreen. “I don’t want to be carried off to the local loony bin.”
“And how are you, Newton?” Briar asked.
“I’m fine,” he said, still concentrating on the road. “Just hoping I can keep us all out of trouble with the police.”
“There’s no way the Favershams will report it, so I think we’ll be fine,” El said.
“And what about the magical explosion?” Briar asked. “I think we need to talk about that. We’ve released something that might have huge consequences.”
“Ah, yes,” Reuben said. “The creatures we will attract to White Haven.”
“You know what?” Avery said, “I just want to appreciate having got through tonight. Let’s discuss everything else tomorrow night. Meet at mine?”
There were nods of agreement, and then Sally said, “And make me a new hex bag, will you, Avery? Just way stronger than the last one.”
***
Before Avery went to sleep that night, she sealed her flat tightly with spells of protection—just in case the Favershams decided to retaliate—and then spent some time looking at both of her grimoires.
As she turned the pages, new understanding flooded through her. Spells that she had struggled to really understand and use now made more sense. And with a shock, she found in her new, or rather, old grimoire that she would forever call Helena’s, the spell that allowed transformation and flight—the mysterious way that Caspian Faversham could appear out of the air. A shiver of excitement and fear ran through her. She would practice that, and then teach the others. She allowed herself a smile at their victory.
Unable to suppress her increasing yawns, she headed to bed, thinking of Alex. Whatever was now happening between them seemed to be more than just physical. He had looked genuinely worried about her earlier, and sitting in the back of the van with his arm wrapped around her had provoked a feeling of peace and security she hadn’t felt in a long time.
But the last thought that flitted through her mind as she drifted to sleep was Sebastian’s warning about the creatures they might attract, and she wondered if that also included the Council—whoever they were.
***
When Avery woke up the next day, she looked out the window, expecting White Haven to look different. But it didn’t. The same people wandered down the winding streets, the sun still rose as normal, and her flat looked the same as it always had.
But, she realised, she felt distinctly different. The power they had released yesterday still coursed through her veins, and she felt a subtle awareness of her surroundings and an awareness of her own abilities more than ever. She thought of the other witches, and wondered if they felt the same.
Despite the late night and her lack of sleep, Avery felt full of energy and she headed down to the shop early, planning to ease her way into the day, but Sally was already there and looking surprisingly well, considering her ordeal. She sat at the small wooden table in the back of the shop with her coffee in front of her, and she looked up as Avery entered.
“Morning, Avery,” she smiled. Her blonde hair was in a ponytail, her eyes were bright with curiosity, and Avery realised she was looking at her with new knowledge and awareness that had never existed before.
“Morning, Sally! How are you?” Avery rushed over and pulled her into a hug, making Sally rise awkwardly out of her chair.
“I’m fine.” Sally said, a gentle reprimand in her voice. “How are you?”
“Good. Very good! But look, I’m so sorry about yesterday, you don’t need to be here today. Have the day off—in fact, have the week off,” she said in a rush, feeling guilt sweep over her.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Sam will wonder what’s going on. I don’t normally take a week off after a stock take.”
Avery grinned sheepishly. “Did he believe it?”
“Completely. I’m not entirely sure I’m comfortable keeping this a secret from him, though.”
Avery poured a coffee and sat down opposite Sally. “Do what you need to. I trust your judgement, and I trust Sam.”
Sally smiled. “Thanks, Avery. It would make me feel better. Besides, who will I gossip to? Real witches in White Haven!”
“But you knew I was a witch!” Avery said, thinking of their conversation the other day.
“Maybe I didn’t understand it as well as I do now. And I think it would be a good idea to let Dan in on it, too. Your magical explosion last night may be the start of more weird things happening around here.”
Avery grinned, pleased to be letting more people into what had been her hidden world. “I agree. Thanks, Sally. I really appreciate that you’re not freaking out about this.”
“I’m your friend, Avery. And besides, what’s life without a little magic?” Sally watched Avery for a second or two, sipping her coffee. “Do you want to tell me what happened last night? All of it?”
“Sure,” Avery said with a grin, and she recounted everything in as succinct a way as she could. “Did you feel it? The explosion, I mean?”
Sally shook her head. “I’m afraid not. It must have bypassed us ordinary people. Unless it was because I was locked in a basement.”
Avery’s shoulders sagged. “Are you sure he didn’t hurt you?”
“I am. I was unconscious for most of it.”
Avery nodded, and hoped this meant Faversham had some morals. And then she felt a rush of guilt about Sebastian.
“Come on,” Sally said, watching her. “Let’s open the shop and keep ourselves busy.”
The morning passed in the usual way, and as soon as Avery had the chance, she let Dan know what had happened.
They were taking advantage of a quiet moment in the shop, and were both perched behind the counter on stools, nibbling on a pastry. Well, Avery was nibbling on a pastry. Dan had demolished his in two bites.
He looked at her, much as Sally had done, with new knowledge and speculation on his face. “So, does this mean weird old White Haven is going to get weirder?”
“It might,” Avery said, shrugging. “Did you feel anything strange last night? It would have been late evening?”
Dan looked thoughtful. “I was in the pub debating life, as normal—”
“You mean football,” Avery said, interrupting him.
He adopted a lofty expression and continued, “Debating life, sipping on beer, and yes, I might have felt something. Like a ripple of...” He hesitated, puzzled. “I can’t quite describe it. It was like a shift of some sort. And then it went.”
“A shift?”
He nodded. “Yes, like reality wobbled for a second. But then it went.”
Avery looked at him sceptically. “Are you sure you weren’t drunk?”
“I may have had a pint or two, but I was not drunk,” he said, mock offended.
“Do you think anyone else noticed it?”
“Maybe. For a second some people seemed to look around, and then it just passed.”
Avery nodded, thinking about when she had been spirit walking above All Souls and had seen people below on the street. So, some people had felt something.
“Thanks, Dan. I hope you still want to work here.”
He looked shocked, and then grinned. “Of course I do! This is great!”
