Anathema (Causal Enchantment #1)(45)

Sofie spoke quickly. “She can bring them some things—an act of kindness, given their predicament. Maybe they’ll be more inclined to keep her safe.”

Bribery.

Mortimer’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “I thought you said things can’t transfer.”

“I said living things,” Sofie replied in a condescending tone. “People. But I have an idea that might work.”

“Wonderful, Sofie,” Viggo said. “The first one you’ve had in a while … Why don’t you get on that right away? There’s money in the library desk.”

Sofie forced a smile. “Of course, Viggo. I just need to get an idea of sizes and needs from Evangeline.”

Several hours later, I slid my arms through the straps of an over–stuffed mountain bag. It was the same height as me and likely equaled my weight, making it impossible for me to walk while wearing it. Sofie, with her inhuman strength, effortlessly propped it up against the bed frame so it wouldn’t topple over as she adjusted all the straps.

“What’s in here?”

“Just some things for your friends.”

“To bribe them?”

She glanced up at me. “It doesn’t matter why. Think about how happy they’ll be when you give it to them.”

Like how happy I was to come to New York and get showered with gifts, only to find out that I’m cursed? “And what happens when I bring one back? Do they just have to bite someone and you’ll be happy?”

“Something like that,” she murmured. “There, I think those should hold.” She gently patted the straps.

A thought crossed my mind. “Did you pack blood? Human blood?” I can’t believe I’m asking that.

With lips pursed, she shook her head.

“Why not?”

“It’s for the best.”

What would it do to them? I wondered.

She turned and leaned back against the bed so she was sitting beside me. “Human blood tends to overpower all of our senses and logic. After seven hundred years, they’ve likely learned to compartmentalize that hunger, even think that they’ve forgotten it. They don’t need to be reminded. It would be cruel. And I don’t want them distracted from keeping you safe.”

I tried to adjust my position but couldn’t. The bag may as well have had bricks in it. “I don’t know how those Sherpas walk up mountains with these things strapped to their backs,” I mumbled, earning a soft chuckle from Sofie. “Do you think this will work?”

She nodded. “Think so.”

“What’s in here?”

“Just some clothes for the girls and—”

“For all of them?” I silently hoped she had forgotten about Rachel.

“Oh, that’s right. Which one is it you don’t like, again? Rachel?”“ she asked, smiling secretively.

My eyes narrowed. I hadn’t told her. “Get out of my head!”

She chuckled. “I can’t read your mind, just your mood,” she answered casually. “There was a spark of anger before, when you mentioned Rachel. I’m sensing jealousy right now. Perhaps something to do with this Caden?”

I dropped my gaze, flushing. Am I that obvious?

She chuckled again but then her expression grew solemn. “Just remember, that necklace disguises your human traits, but it doesn’t make you indestructible. She can still kill you.”

It was finally time I asked. “Sofie, how does this spell work?”

She heaved a loud sigh. “It’s complicated.” She glanced over and saw my frustration. “I’ll explain the basics.” She stretched her legs out in front of her. “There are two kinds of spells. Little, easy spells that you can learn and do anytime, anywhere—start fires, disguise yourself, that kind of stuff. But then there are other spells, where you’re directly altering fate—life and death. That’s a Causal Enchantment spell.”

“Is that what you cast on me?”

She nodded. “Those spells draw on energies from the earth—everything from the atmosphere to inert materials you use every day. They also draw on the emotions of the spell–casters, even if those feelings are deeply buried. Arguably, these emotions are what form the end result of the spell. The spell itself, though ethereal, becomes a life force as it weaves these other sources together. It is set when it decides on the most suitable response to the spell–caster’s dilemma and imprints the knowledge within his or her mind.”

I tried picturing something intangible weaving other intangible things into an invisible blanket that would send me to another universe. It sounded like something a group of hippies on acid might have long debates over.

“So, when you cast the spell on me, you didn’t know it would send me to this other world?”

She paused, glancing at Max, who lay by my feet. She nodded. “Something like that. But that’s all I can tell you.”

We sat in silence for a long time. When I glanced at the clock, it was almost midnight.

“You’ll be going soon,” Sofie confirmed. “At twelve, every night.”

My stomach started churning, partly anxious about what was waiting and partly excited to see them again—to see Caden, even if he thought I was a complete moron. “Is there anything else I should know?”