Believe: The Complete Channie Series (87 page)

“I don’t care.”

“I do!” Channie pressed her forehead against Josh’s. “If Momma tries to kill you in front of me, I won’t be able to stop myself from attacking her. It’ll trigger my own death-pledge. Even if you survive … I won’t.”

“I can’t let her take you.”

“You can, and you must.”

“If you can distract her long enough for me to grab the knife—”

“No. It’s not worth the risk.”

Momma’s voice set Channie’s teeth on edge. “That’s long enough. We need to get on the road.”

Channie leaned forward and kissed Josh’s mouth, even as she pulled away from him. It was a quick kiss, but filled with all the love and passion she possessed. “Be brave, Josh. Study the words of the book. Follow it’s instructions to the letter. And then come find me.”

Josh’s eyes widened until his irises were surrounded by a ring of white. All the color drained from his face as he clutched Channie’s arms. “No!”

Momma stomped her foot and snorted. “I said … let’s go!”

The pain that shot through Channie’s chest was only partly caused by the death-pledge. “No matter what happens, I’ll love you forever.”

“Channie!” Josh’s voice broke as he called out her name.

She pressed her palms over her breaking heart, and bit her lip to keep from whimpering as the pain grew more intense. She said, “I know it’s hard, but you have to let me go.”

Josh released her arms, and staggered to his feet. His gaze darted to the knife on the floor then back to her face. Channie scrambled to her feet. She could see it in his eyes. He could barely stand, but Josh wasn’t going to let her go without a fight.

Josh’s
shield collapsed as he lunged towards the knife. Momma looked up then jumped to her feet. But instead of attacking Josh, or cursing him, she cast a mild be-calm spell on him. He swayed for a moment then stumbled forward — right into Momma’s waiting arms. At first, Channie thought Momma had triggered the death-pledge when she dropped to one knee. But she was only lowering Josh to the floor.

Channie sank down beside him.

Momma was as tender and careful as a young mother with a newborn babe. She laid Josh’s head in Channie’s lap and smiled at him as she brushed the curls off his face. “You’re too weak to be darting around like that. You need to rest. Sleep. Save your strength.”

No wonder the death-pledge remained dormant. Momma had interfered with Josh’s plans, but she hadn’t done him any harm. In fact she’d helped him. He
was
weak. He
did
need to rest. The be-calm spell was mild enough to be good for him.

Momma said, “Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘Discretion is the better part of Valor?’” then giggled at her own pun using Josh’s power-name. She smirked at him and patted his cheek … a little too forcefully to be a true act of affection.

Channie hoped Momma would give in to her insane, violent urges and slap Josh. But she reeled the crazy back in before it could trigger the curse. She said, “You’ll feel much better by morning,” then stood up and wiped her hands on her jeans as if touching Josh had somehow contaminated her. “Come on, baby girl. It’s time to go.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Channie didn’t want any question about whether or not she was being obedient. She pulled a cushion off the sofa and placed it under Josh’s head then stood up. He looked so peaceful. But it wouldn’t last. The instant the be-calm spell wore off, he’d come charging after them without a thought to his own safety. He’d already proven he had no intention of obeying the Book of the Dead even though that was their best chance of surviving the next few months. If only Josh weren’t blinded by love, maybe he’d act a little more rationally.

“Momma? Can you cast a remember-not spell on Josh? Make him forget he ever met me … so he won’t follow us.” Just the thought of it punched a hole through Channie’s heart but she couldn’t think of any other way to protect him. She prayed that the book’s message she’d sent to his phone would be enough to guide him through the treacherous months ahead.

Momma blinked and arched her eyebrows. “That’s a very good idea.”

Josh groaned as he lifted his hand three inches off the floor. He shouldn’t be able to open his eyes, much less move.

He trembled as he reached for Channie. “No.”

How was he able to speak?

“Don’t.”

Channie glanced over her shoulder to be sure she wasn’t gonna piss off Momma then knelt back down and pressed her hand over Josh’s heart. “No spell can break our bond.” Their heart-bond glowed and shot beams of golden light between her fingers. Channie leaned over, blocking it from Momma’s view, until Josh was able to pull it back inside his heart-of-hearts. She pressed her cheek against his and whispered, “Remember our wedding vows?”

Josh lifted his chin, a tiny nod.

She whispered the prophetic words into his ear. “
Look upon each other’s face and bind yourselves with courage and grace. When time and distance keep you apart, let love protect your spell-bound hearts.”

Josh’s body trembled under Channie’s hands as she kissed his brow. “Even though your mind forgets, your heart will remember. I love you Joshua Vincent Abrim.”

“Channie!” It was barely a whisper but she heard the agony in his voice as if he’d screamed her name.

She kissed him again … one last brush of her lips over his. “It’ll be better soon. I promise.”

Momma said, “Get out of the way. I don’t want
you
to forget
him
.”

Channie backed away in slow motion … studying every detail … the width of his shoulders … the angle of his jaw … the stubble on his chin … the shape of his lips … the deep blue color of his sapphire eyes …

She pressed her hand over her shattered heart and whispered, “Never. I could never forget him.”

Channie could see the effects of Momma’s spell as it attacked Josh. Agony twisted his features into a mask of pain as he fought back.

Their bond flared, filling the room with a brilliant golden light as Josh reached for her once more. He whispered her name then sighed and closed his eyes. Their bond faded. Darkness reclaimed the room.

Channie now knew the true meaning of
Empty
.

Finding
Valor: Book Three of the Award Winning Channie Series

By Charlotte Abel

What readers are saying about
Finding Valor
 :

“Finding Valor was my favorite book of the series as we are finally able to see Josh come into his own.”—Chrissy Harris

“A thrilling conclusion to The Channie Series. Finding Valor is a dynamic book I couldn't put down!”—Crystal Job

It is 100% worth every penny and completely a 'can't put it down' type of book.”—Tammy Ladd

EMPTY

“
G
ET
. I
N
THE
CAR
. N
OW
.” Momma curled her lips in a feral snarl then threw the keys at Channie. They bounced off her chest.

Channie kept her eyes locked on Josh’s face as she squatted down to retrieve the keys. Diego’s sobs tore at her as he clung to Abby’s body. But she was too numb to cry. Too empty.

She pressed her hands over her heart as she backed out of the room. A vain attempt to keep the shattered pieces from slicing her soul into ribbons. Grief sucked at her body like quicksand. Each step away from Josh required a herculean effort. Climbing the stairs out of the basement left her completely drained. She pressed the button on the key fob with trembling fingers then crawled into the back seat and curled her body into a ball, hugging her knees to her chest. She’d sacrificed everything to save Josh and he wouldn’t even remember her. It was better this way. The remember-not spell would protect his heart as well as his life. If Channie had to die, at least Josh would be spared the grief that now consumed her.

A quiet tap on the window startled Channie. She sat up and opened the door. Savvy, CoCo and Zeal stood, shoulder to shoulder like little soldiers. Savvy and Zeal trembled, but CoCo was solid as a rock. He put his hand on Channie’s knee. “It’s gonna be okay.”

He’d just lost his mother. Channie should be comforting him. Not the other way around.

“What are you doing out here? Where’s your daddy?” Diego needed to get the boys out of there.

CoCo took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. “He’s saying good-bye to Momma before Granny gets rid of the ever dense.”

“Evidence.” Channie hiccuped then covered her mouth with three fingers. Abby was a wife, mother, sister, daughter—not
evidence
. “I’m sorry.”

CoCo climbed into Channie’s lap and wrapped his arms around her neck. “Don’t cry, Channie. I’ll protect you.”

Channie grabbed CoCo’s wrists and held his hands against the center of her chest. Panic tightened her throat. “No. You have to get out of here. Take your brothers and hide until after we’re gone. I don’t want Granny changing her mind about letting you go.”

“Granny’s mean. And you ain’t got no magic to protect you no more. You need me.”

“I need you to take care of your brothers and your daddy. Granny isn’t going to hurt me.”
At least, not yet. Not until summer solstice.
She kissed his forehead. “Don’t worry about me. I’m pretty tough, even without magic.”

Savvy and Zeal crawled into the back seat, climbing over CoCo to get to her. They soaked her shirt within seconds as they sobbed. Channie wanted to console them, but there wasn’t time. Momma could come at any moment. She leaned back and gazed into each of their grief-stricken faces. “Listen to me. All of you. You have to be strong for your daddy and for each other. No more squabbling or bickering. Understand?”

They all nodded.

“I love you guys, more than you can imagine.” Channie could barely speak around the lump in her throat. She gave them each one last hug then gently pushed them out of the car. She grabbed CoCo’s hands and pulled him close to whisper in his ear. “I’m counting on you. Take your brothers and find a hidey-hole where Granny can’t get you. Now go!”

CoCo nodded then grabbed Zeal and Savvy’s hands. They ran across the yard and disappeared behind the house—right before Momma marched out the front door.

She put her hands on her hips and scowled as she surveyed the yard. “Where’d those little devils get off to?”

Channie didn’t say a word.

“Diego’s going to have his hands full with those three. Especially now that they’ve started using magic.” Momma shrugged her shoulders then slid in behind the wheel as if this were nothing more than a trip to the store…as if she hadn’t just murdered her own daughter…or shattered Channie’s heart.

She didn’t regret asking Momma to erase Josh’s memory. It was the only way to protect him. But she would never forget the look of betrayal on his face as he reached out to her and called her name. Or the way their bond dimmed as his memories fled. That vision would haunt Channie for the rest of her very short life.

No. Damn it. She would not give up so easily. She wasn’t dead yet. She still had three months until summer solstice. A lot could change in three months. Especially if they found Aunt Wisdom. Even if she couldn’t cure Momma, she’d never let her hurt Channie.

And then there was Daddy. As soon as he took a break from gambling, and figured out that Momma was gone, he’d come looking for her. There’d be hell to pay when he caught up with them and found out what she’d done.

But…Daddy had ordered Momma to stay away from Channie. She’d been right outside their bedroom window and heard every word.
“You stay away from Channie, you hear? That’s an order.
”

How had Momma gotten around a direct order? Her marriage vows were binding. They wouldn’t let her disobey her husband. A sense of foreboding quenched the tiny spark of hope in Channie’s heart.

“Momma? Where’s Daddy?”

She didn’t answer. But she didn’t need to. Channie already knew the answer. Marriage vows were binding…until death.

Each
passing mile increased Channie’s despair. When they stopped for fuel in Salina, Kansas, Momma told Channie to get behind the wheel. “I want to study my book while you drive.”

Every time Momma tried to open the Book of the Dead, even with gloved hands, it burned her. And since the burns were caused by magic, there was nothing she could do to heal herself.

When they passed the Oklahoma state line, Momma told Channie to pull off at the next rest stop.

She cut the engine and opened the door, but Momma grabbed her wrist before she could get out of the car.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“To the bathroom. Isn’t that why we stopped?”

Momma placed the Book of the Dead in Channie’s lap. “Open it.”

Channie clenched her jaw, preparing herself for the burning pain, but the book was cool to her touch. She opened it with trembling fingers. Nothing happened. Channie turned the pages slowly, so Momma could see there wasn’t anything written on any of them.

Momma glared at her blistered fingers, curled like talons, in her lap. “I don’t understand. Why does it allow you to touch it, but not me? Why does it allow you to open it, but still refuse to share its secrets?”

Channie held her breath…and her tongue. Momma was crazy, not stupid. She had to know the book wasn’t cooperating because it belonged to Josh, not her. She just refused to admit it.

Momma banged the back of her skull against the headrest and swore. When she calmed down, it was like flipping a switch. She lowered the sun visor and patted her hair as she checked her reflection in the mirror. Not that it did any good. She still looked like a crazy witch. But as long as she didn’t act like one, Channie didn’t care. “Is it okay if I go use the facilities?”

“You have five minutes to go do your business and get back out here. Don’t talk to anyone.”

There was no doubt in Channie’s mind that disobeying Momma would trigger the death-pledge so she kept her eyes on the ground as she ran across the parking lot and into the cement building.

When she got back to the car, Momma had put the Book of the Dead back in its velvet sack. It was sitting on the driver’s seat. Channie picked it up. “What do you want me to do with it?”

Momma blinked. A tear leaked out of the corner of her eye. “Put it in the back seat.”

The rest of the trip, while long and exhausting, was uneventful. By the time they got to Whistler’s Gulch, Channie could barely keep her eyes open. Momma took over driving.

Channie was surprised when Momma turned left at the fork. “Veyjivik trackers will be watching the cabin. We can’t go home.”

“My protection spells will keep ‘em away.”

“Please don’t think I’m being sassy, but…your protection spells aren’t foolproof.”

Momma backhanded Channie without even looking at her.

She licked her split lip and tasted blood.

When they got to the cabin, Momma parked right in the front yard, in plain sight. “What happened to the oak tree? And my rose garden?”

Channie kept her bleeding mouth shut. She wasn’t about to tell Momma that Josh had accidentally destroyed ninety percent of the plants in the front yard when he got his power-name.

Momma got out and slammed the door. She paced around the yard, fingering what remained of the shrubs she’d used for protection spells. Maybe now, she’d see how dangerous it would be to stay.

Channie sighed with relief when Momma got back in the car and started the engine. “Josh and I lived in a shack out by the old bauxite quarry.”

“I ain’t living in no shack.”

“The trackers are watching Aunt Wisdom’s place, too. They’ll find us.”

Momma patted Channie’s knee. “Don’t worry about a thing, baby girl. Momma’ll protect you.”

Until it’s time to kill me.

Momma drove back into Whistler’s Gulch. She bought a twelve-gauge shotgun, a couple boxes of ammo and every shrub in Walmart’s garden center. She filled the trunk and backseat with plants then tucked another five bushes around Channie in the passenger seat.

Channie’s heart sank even lower as they drove back home. Hunter Feenie had defeated Momma’s protection spells last summer when the plants were at their prime. These little spring saplings weren’t going to hold enough magic to keep out a mouse, much less a tracker.

The
first thing Josh noticed when he woke up was the pain. A sharp-edged ache in the center of his chest throbbed with every beat of his heart, echoing the agony behind his eyes. He groaned and pried his lids open. It took him a moment to recognize the speckled, sound-dampening ceiling tiles, sage green walls and eighty-four inch flatscreen TV. What the hell was he doing at Dad’s house?

“Daddy! Josh is awake.” The high-pitched, childish voice ratcheted Josh’s pain to a whole new level of agony.

Two identical, tear-stained faces leaned over him. Double vision, migraine, confusion, lethargy…he must have a concussion. Josh squinted, but couldn’t merge the images. When a third face appeared, identical to the other two except for a lack of tears, Josh squeezed his eyes shut.