Bruja Born (Brooklyn Brujas #2)(11)

“Brujas who break the order of things always pay a price,” my father says.

I can’t—won’t—listen to this. “Then I call a meeting of the High Circle of Brooklyn.”

“No,” Mom says, a deep ache in her voice. “I can already tell you they’re not going to help.”

“How do you know?”

“Because we asked them to heal you,” Rose says. “They wouldn’t. That’s why the recoil is so bad for us. We channeled our power through Alex, and then into Ma, because she’s the healer. Even with Alex’s magic you’re not a hundred percent.”

“But the High Circle is family,” I say. Maybe not all of them, but our aunt Lady is the Alta Bruja. Valeria is Rose’s godmother. The rest grew up with my parents, fought alongside them in their youth.

“They’re afraid,” Alex says. “There’s too much heat. Between the regular cops and the Thorne Hill Alliance sniffing around—”

“Why would they be sniffing around?” I ask. “Brujas aren’t part of the Alliance.”

Alex shakes her head. “One of the boys who died was related to one of their members. They want to make sure there was no foul play.”

“I want to see the High Circle,” I say, my thoughts racing to form a plan. “I want them to look into my eyes and tell me there is nothing we can do.”

I’m afraid my mother is going to yell at me again. I’m afraid Dad is going to walk out that door and never come back. I’m afraid I won’t be able to get through the rest of the day.

Instead, my mom places her hand on my face, tracing her thumb along the scars on my cheek. “If that’s what you need to hear, then I’ll make the call.”

? ? ?

After our parents leave to get coffee, my sisters stay. Rose is wheeling herself around in the chair a nurse brought in case I wanted fresh air. Alex flips through a stack of newspapers, searching for signs of anything strange in even the smallest headlines. She hasn’t spoken a word since our parents left, and I feel a tinge of guilt after the mean things I said to her.

I clear my throat and look toward the door to make sure the coast is clear. “I have a plan.”

She squints in my direction. “I don’t like that face.”

“I don’t like your face either, but I still have to look at it,” I say. She rolls her eyes, and I’m relieved we can still tease each other like always.

Rose perks up and quirks an eyebrow. “What kind of plan?”

“It doesn’t matter what kind of plan,” Alex says. “Once you get shut down by the Circle, they’re going to be watching you.”

“No, they won’t,” I say. “But I need your help. You too, Rosie.”

“Me?” Rose gets up from the chair and comes closer.

Alex shakes her head. “We leave Rose out of this.”

“No way,” Rose says, and it’s disconcerting to recognize the Mortiz-stubbornness in her features. “Don’t forget, my power’s been awake since I was born. Any kind of spirit magic needs me there.”

“Fine,” Alex groans. “Let’s hear this plan.”

“I remember a canto,” I say. “It’s in the Book. It’s old. Way old.”

“Mom old or Great-Great Grandpa Philomeno old?” Rose asks.

“Older,” I say, and her eyes light up with curiosity. “It’s a blood healing canto. The ingredients are easy to get. The most important part is—”

“Blood?” Alex asks sarcastically.

“Aside from that, herbs and mirrors blessed by an Alta Bruja.”

“Lady blesses all her jewelry,” Rose says, smirking despite Alex’s disapproving glares.

Alex paces back and forth. Tiny sparks shower over her head like it’s the Fourth of July just for us. Her magic still has a wildness to it. Wild magic can’t be tamed. I’m surprised she kept it together when Detective Hill was here.

“I’m no one to tell you not to do this.” She wrings her hands. “You know I’m not. But maybe I should be. Don’t make the same mistake I made.”

“Mistake?” I ask her. “The mistake was hiding your secret. The mistake was trying to get rid of your magic and nearly getting us all killed.”

“I know what my mistake was,” she says, stopping suddenly. “That’s why I don’t want you to repeat it.”

“But if you hadn’t done all that, you wouldn’t have Rishi. You wouldn’t have met Nova and we wouldn’t have Dad back.”

“Don’t.” She holds her hand up, as if that’ll deflect my words. There’s a crack in her voice. “Don’t throw that in my face. Rishi and I would’ve found each other eventually. What I did was selfish—I hurt you. You were trapped in that awful place and I wish I could take that pain back. Why do I glamour you every morning to hide your scars? Why do you think I do your chores, Lula? Do you think I like being your personal maid? No, but I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for everything I did to hurt you. Every single day you’ve been distant and sad, and I know it’s my fault. That’s why I take care of you.”

“You’re right,” I say, solidifying the plans in my mind. I know I’m doing the right thing. “You did hurt me. You owe me, Alex. You owe me. All I want is to try and heal him. That’s it. He’s still in there somewhere. What good is our power if we can’t help the people we love?”