Magic Rising (28 page)

“I went to the bar with Daniel, Anders and Micah.”

“Oh, okay. Well, when I was thinking about what our names meant, I remembered my mother told me a story about your mom and her when they were younger. I think she was pregnant with Seren at the time. She didn’t tell me exactly what happened, except she said she, your mom and one of their friends cast a spell to protect their children, to help us protect each other.”

“So what does that have to do with anything?”

“Well, we’re not literally sisters. My mom could explain this better. I’m trying to remember what she said.” Etoile stepped out the bathroom. She looked perfect as always and the blue drew the colour of her eyes out, as well as highlighting the creamy tones of her skin. “The spell was supposed to bind us together through our names. Estrella means star in Spanish. Our names connect us. I think we’re the star sisters, you, me, Seren and Astra.”

I sat on the bed heavily. Perhaps Georgia’s comment did have meaning. “Why didn’t your parents tell you about it?”

“I guess they forgot. It’s been close to thirty years since they cast that spell.”

“What about their other friend?”

“I don’t know. Mom didn’t say. If you wanted to ask her about it, I’m sure she won’t mind. I’m kind of curious about it too.”

“Thanks. I‘ll ask. Can I ask you about something else?”

“Sure.”

“What’s going on with you and Matthias?”

She didn’t look at me as she searched for her purse. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve seen him before. Before the Summit.”

She frowned. “You can’t have.”

“Not physically. In your mind, back in Yorkshire, when you let me look inside you. I saw him then.”

“And?”

“I felt sadness and that you loved him. Is that true?”

“Yes, on both counts.”

“So why have you never talked about him?”

“Sometimes it hurts to talk about things so personal.”

I bit my lip at her soft resignation. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.”

“No, it’s fine. It’s a relief actually. We met ten years ago. I was studying here. He had already been a vampire for some time. I met him in a club.” She smiled at the memory.

“Please tell me he saved you from vicious muggers.”

“You silly romantic.” She laughed. “Actually, I tripped over him and feared he was going to rip my throat out. So I did the best thing I could think of.”

“Which was… run like hell?” I guessed.

“Bought him a martini.”

“Who knew vampires were so easily pleased? Were you old enough to buy alcohol back then?”

Etoile raised a single eyebrow in disbelief. “Seriously? I just told you how an old vampire came this close…” she squeezed her thumb and forefinger together “… to killing me and you ask if I were old enough to buy alcohol?”

“Did you get an olive with it?”

“I don’t think you’re taking this seriously.”

“I am, really,” I assured her. “Tell me about him.”

When she smiled, her eyes were far away like she was back in the bar. “I thought he was fabulous. He knew so much, and had travelled so far. He was impossibly handsome. Still is. One of the perks of living forever.”

“Did you know what he was?”

“Oh yes. And he knew what I was too. When he offered to walk me home that night, I told him if he even tried so much as to bite me, that would be his last moonlight walk.”

“Way to go, Etoile,” I said, impressed at her bravery.

“Thank you. It was a friendship at first, but soon, very soon, he became my lover and I adored him.”

“But he made you sad?”

“Not him, so much.”

“The blood thing?”

“Not that either. More the whole situation.”

“Because he’ll never grow old and time’s racing on for you?” I teased, but there was some truth to my question.

“It’s true that vampires can live forever, providing they don’t get staked or barbecued, but witches can live a long time too. I’m already slowing down. You will too, if you want to.”

“Definite witchy bonus. I think.”

“Anyway, back to me. The relationship was on for a couple of years, then off because I wasn’t sure witches and vampires could mix. Then back on, then off again. When the Council wanted me to do more work for them, Matthias was busy with his travels. Things just didn’t work out. It was passionate one minute, angry the next. He hated how the Council was pulling my life apart and I couldn’t stop them; while I hated that he’d already lived this huge, long life before I was even born. So we… stopped us. We kept in contact, but I didn’t see him again until a few months ago.”

The dates dropped into place. The more frequent trips to New York when she stayed days on end. The dearth of dates with Jay, from Gage’s pack, not that it ever appeared anything remotely serious. My secret boyfriend theory wasn’t so wrong after all.

“Is he part of the reason why you’re running for Leader?” I asked her.

“Yes and no. No, because none of this is about him and me.”

“Not even a little bit?”

“Maybe a tiny bit,” she conceded, “because I already know our races have no problems getting along, given the right incentives. Kitty dates a werewolf. You live with a daemon. A demon guards you. I’ve spent a decade, on and off, with a vampire.”

“And dated a werewolf,” I interjected.

“You kissed one, too,” she pouted.

“Boy, these werewolves get around. Are you sure Kitty is okay at the apartment?”

“Positive. So, as I was saying, if we can get on individually, there are more who can too. I’ve said this before, our races are better off working together more closely than as separate entities.”

“Is that why Matthias is here?”

“He’s part of the vampire delegation.”

“I’m not going to ask how you requested his backing.”

“I never asked him to stand up when I announced my candidacy. Besides, what happens between us personally has very little to do with the Summit, but it’s good to know what the vampires want. It’s good to know someone in their circle knows me and can vouch for me. Matthias is respected.”

“How do you know Matthew, Mary and Georgia don’t also have someone in their circle? Or in the other camps?”

“I don’t. Nor would I ask.”

“Perhaps you should.”

“I want to win on honesty, not on subterfuge.”

“I don’t care how you beat Georgia,” I told her honestly. “I don’t think I’ll live if she’s elected.”

“Don’t worry about that for now,” Etoile told me. I wished she’d finished with “at all,” but I’d take “for now” even if it didn’t exactly fill me with rainbows, bunnies and other happy feelings. She slipped on her shoes and stood. “How do I look?”

“Great.”

“I thought so too. Walk with me? We’ll pass my parents’ room and you can ask them more about the prophecy. When you’re done, come find me. I’ll be working the room. This is my last chance to solicit votes. Dress up?”

“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

“Oh, honey.”

The Winterstorm parents were finishing breakfast in their room when we arrived. Etoile stayed long enough to say hello before leaving, but they invited me in nevertheless and insisted I joined them for a drink, indicating I should sit with Astra.

“To what do we owe this pleasure?” asked Byron.

“I wanted to ask you something. It’s about my parents.”

“Go on.”

“I heard something about star sisters, and wondered if you knew what it referred to?”

“Star sisters, hmm?” Byron glanced at his wife. “Isn’t that something you and Isadore used to say?”

Laura nodded, her face brightening at the memory. “Gosh, that was a long time ago. I’d almost forgotten but Etoile mentioned it yesterday.”

“I was told it was some sort of prophecy,” I prompted.

“That’s putting a very inventive spin on it,” Laura said. “It was a spell, back in the days when I thought I could master spellcasting. Never my strong suit. Your mother thought it was hilarious whenever a spell backfired on me, which was often.”

Astra grinned. “I remember when you tried to spell the toys in our bedroom. See this scar,” she said to me, pointing at a thin white line on her temple. “Apparently, my doll didn’t like me.”

“Laura’s spellcasting days are long behind her,” said Byron pointedly. “You remember what happened when Seren came to visit?”

“Yes, dear.” Laura sighed.

I recalled Seren calling me a few days after she left my house, right after we defeated Georgia, and mentioning something about a spell Laura tried to perform and Byron teaching her a lesson. Seren thought it was funny once everything calmed down, and Etoile doubled over with laughter when Seren retold the story to her.

“About the prophecy…” I corrected myself. “The spell? What was it for?”

“Isadore and Jonathan, your parents, stayed with us that summer and they were returning to England. They’d been talking about having a family. Isadore and I couldn’t imagine our children growing up so far apart, not when we were such good friends. So we decided we’d perform a little spell.”

“Oh, God,” said Byron. Astra smirked as she selected a croissant from the basket.

“We’d been discussing names for our children. I had already decided on Seren for our next daughter and Isadore said she wanted Estrella if she had a girl. She said it was the most magical name she could think of. When Ariadne pointed out all our children had star names, it gave us the idea for a star sisters spell, like a friendship spell. It was supposed to ensure you would all have a support network outside of your own families. When Isadore went home and Ariadne moved away, I forgot all about it.”

“Maybe that’s why I never wanted to hurt you,” said Astra, surprising us all into silence. “Eleanor wanted me to, but I couldn’t. You know that nursery rhyme? ‘
Twinkle twinkle little star’
? I kept singing it, trying to remind myself who I was.”

“I sang that to you as a baby.” Laura reached across the table and laid a hand over her youngest daughter’s. “There was always good inside you.”

“Not enough,” said Astra, her voice pained. “Not enough. Will you excuse me? I’m going to mingle upstairs.”

“Shall I come with you, darling? Or your father?”

“No thanks.” Astra rounded the table, kissing her father on the cheek, then her mother. “I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?” Laura twisted in her chair to look up at Astra; a trace of uncertainty in her eyes.

“I’m sure. And Stella, I’m sorry. I truly am. For everything. I just wanted you to know that.” Her eyes implored me with heartfelt sincerity.

I nodded because I wasn’t sure what to say, or what she was asking for. Forgiveness, maybe. The more I’d thought about it, the more uncertain I was that there was forgiveness to be offered. I truly believed Astra was manipulated, pushed and pulled by Eleanor, and that her actions had not been born of malevolence. I believed in the power of redemption; for Astra, anyway. “Perhaps I’ll see you up there,” I said, offering a friendly gesture. It was a start.

She smiled shyly. “Okay,” she said, and after another round of her parents checking she would be all right, she left.

“She’s doing much better,” said Laura, the pride tinged with the memory of Astra’s missing years and the way she was found. I don’t think any of us can truly know what happened, what it took to pull Astra to the brink of sanity. “She’s living with us now. She’s going to start helping Seren and David in the magic shop.”

“Oh?” A flash of panic about my own job crossed my mind, which was perhaps a touch selfish, but I liked my job, enjoyed the flexibility, and Seren and David were good employers.

“Just in the shop so they can have a day or two off,” Byron explained. “You’re all working so hard. We’re very proud of everyone. Your parents would be proud of you too, Stella. I hope you know that.”

I hoped they would be too. “So the star sisters was just a friendship spell?” I asked, feeling somewhat relieved and a little confused at the explanation. So much for Georgia’s bombshell! It seemed she had gotten it all wrong.

“Well, that and there was a little boost to your individual powers when you all came together,” said Laura, with a little shrug of her shoulders.

“What kind of boost?” asked Byron, his mouth dropping open.

“Just a little one!” Laura insisted.

“How. Little?”

“Well, uh…” Laura hesitated, pulling a face and conceding, “I’m not sure. Spells confuse me.”

“I think you had better show me the spell.”

“I don’t know if I remember it. I might have written it in one of my notebooks at home.”

“Who was the other witch? Ariadne?” I asked quickly because Byron looked like he might explode, and Laura looked stricken. I didn’t want to lose the thread of the conversation.

“Ariadne Chapman,” Laura said. “At least she was then. We lost touch a couple of years later. There was some kind of argument and she took things the wrong way.”

Byron made a rude noise. Evidently he didn’t agree. Laura ignored him.

“Did she have a child too?”

“Not when I knew her. If she did, I never heard. The spell was supposed to transfer to unborn children, as well as already living ones.” She leaned in. “Do you feel any different when you’re in the same room as my daughters?”

“No.”

“Ah.”

“Is that bad? Etoile and Seren have always been my friends. Maybe that means it worked?”

“Maybe it only works if Astra is your friend too,” Laura mused. “Anyway, it was just a little spell. I would put it out of my head, if I were you.”

“Unless you come across a child of Ariadne’s and suddenly explode with magic,” added Byron. For a moment, I thought he might genuflect, but he only reached for the teapot.

I got to my feet. “I can hardly wait,” I joked, except a little spark of worry hit my stomach and refused to budge. A friendship spell I could live with, anything more I wasn’t sure about, but evidently, Laura and Byron didn’t think much of it. I thanked them for letting me share their tea and headed for the stairs, planning at the last moment to change my jeans into something more formal, Etoile‘s criticism of my clothing was still ringing in my ears, but I truly didn’t mind. I knew all about wanting to make a good first impression.