Page 71 of Death Card

Orion and Malik silently retreat to the kitchen while I walk toward the circle of Elders, gathering my strength.

“I have something to share.”

Before Gramps can continue speaking, I reach into my back pocket and remove Sabine’s dagger. It was hidden beneath my blouse, so no one noticed until now. There’s a chorus of gasps as they stare at me with expressions of confusion.

Gramps rests both hands on his hips. “What is the meaning of this?” he asks.

I could lie and come up with an explanation that won’t anger him too much, but I’m tired of doing what Gramps wants me to. I want to be my full and complete self, and that means telling the truth, even it flies in the face of everything I’ve ever tried to do.

“I went to see Sabine Andry.”

I can practically see the steam hissing out of Gramps’s ears. His eyes are alight with rage. He’s so upset that he can’t even find his words, instead stammering out an endless stream of half-uttered curses.

“We needed an expert on demons, so I went and found one.” My voice only trembles a little. I search for Aunt Roberta’s face, and her warm brown eyes steady me. “She enchanted this dagger so I can use it to banish the demon that the Hightowers have summoned.”

“How do you know you can trust her?” Miss Connie asks. “That girl hasn’t been one of us in a long time.”

“Nearly as long as you’ve been alive,” Bernadette adds.

The other Elders murmur their assent. Aunt Roberta and Gramps are the only ones who remain silent.

“It’s the only weapon we’ve got, so I intend to use it.” I grip the hilt and turn to face Gramps. “I know I was the one pushing to find another way—one that wouldn’t involve violence—but we’re out of options. Either we do nothing and allow more people to die, or we attack. The way I see it, both options are drenched in blood.”

Gramps crosses his arms over his chest and studies me. I don’t shrink beneath his gaze.

When he finally speaks, his words are meant only for me. “I’ve done you a disservice by hampering you at every turn. I said I would hand over the reins, but it isn’t so easy to relinquish power.” He squeezes his eyes shut. “You’re ready, Mikaela.”

Despite the growing sense of confidence that’s been building within me, hearing Gramps say it is like a tidal wave washing over me.

Aunt Lorraine guffaws, but Gramps shoots her a look that could cut steel. “If she trusts Sabine, then we’ll all have to do the same.”

Aunt Roberta reaches her hands out toward me, and I fallinto her embrace. She kisses my cheek. “Tell us what to do, cher, and we’ll follow your lead.”

For the first time, the Elders look to me for direction. The hinges of the kitchen door squeak as Malik and Orion peer into the room.

I’m carrying the weight of my entire coven on my back, but I won’t let it crush me. My mind races as I formulate the beginning of a plan.

“Does anyone know how to cast a living statue spell?”

Over the courseof the next week, we make preparations to attack the Hightowers in a two-pronged approach. One team will lure Aria to Crescent Moon Books after hours, while the other will attack the main house. If their coven’s resources are split, then we’ll have a better chance of exorcising the demon from their ranks.

Once Gloria realizes that they’re overwhelmed, she’ll have no choice but to surrender. Gramps has said that in no uncertain terms can the Hightowers remain in New Orleans, and after our plan has been implemented, they likely won’t have any interest in staying.

When I open my eyes on Monday morning, my gaze rests on Gran’s tarot cards. The full moon has arrived—the day I’ve been dreading since Joelle walked into the shop. We’re putting our plan into motion tonight, but I’m not sure whether I’ll live to see tomorrow. There’s one thing I have left to do. I need to speak to Gran once and for all.

I snatch one of my spell books from my bookshelf and quickly flip through the pages until my finger lands on the section I’m searching for: dreamwalking.

I skim over the page and then grab the supplies I need: candles and a bottle of lavender essence from my stash of essential oils. Silently, I flip the lock in case Gramps or anyone else peeks in and disturbs me. Once the candles are lit and placed on my nightstand, I rub the oil beneath my nose. The spell book stipulates that a sprig of fresh lavender should be used, but I have to make do with what I have on hand.

My body sinks into the mattress and fatigue overtakes me as my eyelids droop shut. Sleep comes swiftly.

I open myeyes to find myself perched on a bench at the Audubon Zoo. Fat, lazy clouds drift across a teal-blue sky. Despite it being such a beautiful day, I’m the only person in sight. The bench I’m seated on is just outside the aviary, and the sound of chirping from within seems to form the wordsShe’s here.

In the distance, a figure strolls in my direction. The first feature I make out is her bright smile. Gray curls frame her sun-weathered brown face and her eyes gleam with unbridled joy. She opens her arms as she approaches and I crash into her chest, clutching her tightly.

“Gran,” I breathe. “I’ve missed you so much.”

We hold on to each other for what could be hours or days. Any measure of time isn’t enough. I don’t want to let her go, and I sense that she doesn’t want to release me, either.