She laughed and then winced. “You’re the smart one. I thought you had the entire library memorized.”
If only. “A patch, maybe? A little help, please?” My question was intended for Chaos since he seemed to be an expert in the matter.
Ember replied, “Yeah. We’ll need to get closer.” She reached for me, and I helped her walk to the rift.
“The fibers of the veil are thin like strands of silk. They’ll need to be woven back together for a permanent hold.”
Weaving the fabric of reality. With this level of fatigue and Ember’s injuries? Yeah, right. “We’d need a few more witches to have the power to seal it for good. I can make a glue, though. It’ll hold long enough for us to call in reinforcements.”
“Yeah. Do that.” Ember leaned forward, bracing her hands on her knees. “Fast.”
I grabbed my bag and dumped the contents back inside before racing around the tree where I’d left the rest of the supplies and stuffing those in too.
Back at the rift, Ember’s complexion had taken on a grayish hue. We didn’t have much time. My hands trembled as I mixed the ingredients for the magical glue. Angelica, basil, and heather turned to green liquid when I poured in the wormwood oil.
“The poison will solidify her innards before turning her skin to ash.”
“I’m working as fast as I can.” The potion popped and sizzled. I grabbed Ember’s hand to channel her magic, which I felt really, really bad about. She needed all her strength to fight the poison, but I couldn’t do this alone.
“A simple patch to close this hatch. As I say, keep the demons at bay.” I tossed the potion at the hole in the veil, and the torn sides moved toward each other, sticking together. A thick scar ran down the length of it, but as soon as the perimeter spell wore off, no one would be able to see it.
Ember sagged, my stubborn sister refusing to give in. After grabbing my bag and her weapons, I wrapped her arm over my shoulders, and we stumbled to the van together. I buckled her into the passenger seat and tossed our gear into the back before texting Patrice to let her know we needed her.
The drive took ten excruciating minutes. I fought to keep my eyes open and on the road while Ember rested her head against the window, her eyes closed, mouth open. Ghostly white rimmed her lips, and her shallow breathing seemed forced.
“We’ve got time, right? She can come back from this?” I didn’t bother whispering. Even if Ember were awake, I doubted she’d remember me talking to “myself.”
Chaos grunted. “I’ve never seen someone survive a shedim attack. You are strong witches, but the poison is spreading quickly.”
“Fabulous.” I came to a screeching halt in front of Patrice’s house and laid on the horn.
She scurried out, wearing a long, flowy brown skirt and a light pink top. She’d piled her curly red hair on top of her hair in a messy bun, and a pair of reading glasses hung from a chain around her neck.
I slammed the door and ran around to Ember’s side before pulling her out. Her eyes rolled back and her head lolled to the left as we dragged her inside and laid her on an exam table.
“What happened?” Patrice cut Ember’s shirt the rest of the way open. The skin around the wounds looked like partially burnt charcoal…just like the demon’s.
“It’s demon poison. A shedim got in one good swipe before she vanquished him. Can you draw it out?”
“I’ll do my best.” She dumped jars of herbs and liquids into a bowl. Normally, I’d watch her intently, trying to learn as much as I could about her spells, but this time, I kept my gaze trained on my sister’s paling face.
“Patrice will fix you, Em.” I gripped her hand in mine. Her finger twitched, but she didn’t have the strength to hold me. “I’m so sorry I didn’t get the demon under control faster.”
“Not…your fault,” she whispered.
“Yes, it is. I take full responsibility. I should have checked the perimeter to see if the binding spell would penetrate it before I wasted the powder.” And if I’d kept the kit stocked properly, I would’ve had enough peppermint oil to make a second proper binding spell.
“You are not to blame. If she hadn’t taunted the beast, he would not have been so strong. His anger increased his power.”
“If I’d kept up with the thrift shops, I could have nabbed that book before it got into the wrong hands. I can list a million reasons why this is my fault.” A sob bubbled from my chest to my throat. “I can’t lose you too, Em. You have to be okay.”
Ember groaned, and I snapped my gaze to Patrice. She chanted the incantation and returned to my sister’s side.
“The blame lies with those who summoned the shedim.”
“Shut up.” I could appreciate what Chaos was trying to do, but damn. If I wanted to wallow in self-pity, he needed to let me.
“I didn’t say anything.” Patrice narrowed her eyes at me.
“Sorry. Talking to the voice in my head. It’s been a day.” I laughed dryly.
“So it seems.” She spooned the mixture over Ember’s wounds, and it disappeared beneath her skin.
Em gasped, her bloodshot eyes flying open as she clawed at the table. She thrashed, and a gurgling sound emanated from her throat.
“What’s happening? This isn’t helping; it’s hurting her!” I tightened my grip on her hand, trying to hold her steady.
Patrice grabbed her other arm. “The potion is traveling through her body, collecting the poison.”
Ember’s legs flailed. Her knee drew upward and crashed into my shoulder before her boot thudded on the table. Ouch. That would leave a bruise, for sure. She went utterly still. Her chest didn’t rise and fall with her breath. Her hand fell limp in mine.
“Is she…?” My voice trembled.
“Wait for it…” Patrice snatched an oversized Mason jar from a shelf and twisted off the lid.
Ember’s wounds bubbled. Black sludge pooled in the gashes.
“Take this.” Patrice shoved a ginormous syringe into my hand. “Draw out the poison and put it in the jar.”
