Chapter 21

  Meredith And The Messenger

  BAM!

  A door slammed shut, stirring Meredith and Cici awake. She opened her eyes and turned from the sitting room to see Grandma stride into the kitchen.

  “Grandma!” Meredith groggily mumbled.

  “Good morning, dearest,” Grandma turned to her granddaughter. Blood and bits of gore were splattered across her black robes and covered her from boot to forehead.

  “Are you okay!?” Meredith stood up as Cici leaped off her lap.

  “Oh, I’m fine!” Grandma waved her worry away. “None of this blood is mine. All of mine is safely beneath my skin.” Grandma giggled as she patted herself. “I’d hug you, but that would be gross.” She turned away and began to set a small, bloody leather bag on the kitchen counter.

  “What have you got there?”Meredith asked as she strode towards her.

  “Some souvenirs,” Grandma replied coolly. “I always take some from my battles. You never know what latent magical powers might remain!”

  She set a gnarled skull with a pointed jaw beside the sopping bag. “I’m especially curious about these.” Grandma set down a small jar of liquid with a pair of eyes suspended within. The irises were purple.

  Meredith gasped.

  “Grandma! I didn’t realize you were so…” The young witch was lost for words.

  “Old-fashioned?” Grandma tittered. “People used to fear us witches back in the day, and for good reason. Wait until you see this.”

  Grandma uncinched the leather bag completely and dumped out a pale head with askew pepper hair. Meredith’s throat hitched as she recoiled at the sight of the vampire’s severed head lolling atop the kitchen counter. She had never seen a decapitated head before. It settled facing Meredith, and the vampire’s eyes shifted toward her.

  “Hello again,” he spoke.

  Meredith drew back in shock, clutching at her heart.

  “He’s still alive?”

  “He was never alive,” Grandma stated. “Vampire magic is very complicated.”

  The vampire’s head lay on its side with fangs removed, leaving large gaps in the rows of his otherwise perfect teeth.

  “I’ve got his fangs here.” Grandma pulled a small jar from her pocket. “These will go for a pretty penny! Vampire fangs are a potent, versatile ingredient and especially valuable when taken from an active vampire. They’re not as potent if they’re killed first.”

  “Is show and tell over?” He asked mockingly. “I’d really rather be properly deceased now, thank you very much.”

  “Not yet.” Grandma smiled. “You’ve got your uses. I’m going to mount you, and maybe after a few years of good behavior, I’ll bestow the power to levitate so you can move around a bit.”

  “Oh, joy.” He rolled his eyes as Grandma procured some tools and a small wooden mounting plaque with a wave of her wand.

  Meredith turned away as Grandma began her work. Slick, slimy sounds and grunts of exertion and pain rang through the kitchen.

  “Ow, woman! Are you trying to stab my brain?”

  “Hush, you’re making this more difficult than it has to be!”

  With a final squelch, Grandma leaned back from the counter and beamed. “There! All done!”

  Meredith tentatively turned to see the vampire’s upright head stuck upon a thin rod attached to the center of the mounting block.

  “Look, Thomas! I’ve got you a new friend!” Grandma brought her mounted trophy to Thomas’ enclosure, where he sat silent and unblinking. She set the head on the table beside it.

  “Wonderful,” Thomas said ruefully.

  “Indeed,” the vampire muttered.

  “Now.” Grandma clasped her hands together and, turning, smiled at Meredith. “Let’s wash up, then catch up!”

  Later, the freshly clean pair of witches donned matching black robes and snacked on pastries and tea—Meredith also had a healing potion—while they sat by the low fire in the sitting room with George and Thomas situated on the nearby table.

  “Where’s Mama at?” Cici jumped onto Meredith’s lap.

  “She’s watching over my boyfriends back at the compound,” Grandma replied.

  Meredith gave her a quizzical look.

  “They get so worried when I’m gone too long. Tell me, Meredith, how has everything been at the shop?”

  That wasn’t the answer Meredith expected, but she moved on and recounted the past few months in exceptional detail.

  “Wait,” Grandma interrupted. “George here is the same vampire who attacked you that one time?” She gestured towards him.

  “George?” Meredith never considered the vampire had a name. “Yes! And the time after that.” She leered at the disembodied head.

  “What a turn of events for you.” Grandma covered her mouth as she chuckled.

  “Indubitably,” George muttered.

  Meredith continued her tale, briefly including her encounters with the hag and enchantress and the times she spent with Victor and Phillip.

  “Oh, I know that young tiefling boy!” Grandma exclaimed. “I’m so glad you hit it off! And this Phillip character sounds like a fine fellow. Look at my grandbaby with all her boyfriends! Are you seeing any of the town boys?”

  “Oh my gosh, Grandma!” Meredith rolled her eyes and huffed exasperatedly. “They’re not my boyfriends; I’ve never even had one.”

  Grandma smiled, dropping the subject, and Meredith resumed detailing the past few months, including Thomas’ teachings.

  “Oh, Thomas loves to teach, doesn’t he?” Grandma cajoled. “You know, years ago, he was actually an instructor at your academy! Can you imagine that? I wish he wouldn’t have taught you the clone spell, however. You’ve seen how disastrous that can be. You mentioned your clone was bitten by George here. How’s your neck? Let me see.”

  Meredith moved her hair aside and exposed her neck, displaying a pair of very faint marks. Her canines still felt slightly too long and sharper than she was accustomed to.

  “How do you feel?” Grandma asked.

  “Fine, I suppose.” Meredith shrugged. “The sunlight through the windows hasn’t affected me. But it was a clone who was bitten, and I had divided myself into four, which I suppose is what saved me from becoming a vampire.”

  “Diluted blood,” George stated flatly. “How lucky for you.”

  “Naughty George!” Grandma said indignantly as she twisted in her chair to face him. “Biting my dear grandbaby’s neck!” She turned back to Meredith. “He won’t be biting anyone any time soon, but do be careful. We don’t know what to expect from this situation. As far as I’m aware, you’re the first person to be bitten by a vampire that wasn’t killed or turned.”

  Meredith nodded, then continued catching Grandma up to speed.

  “It seems Wallace has had an eye on you since I left,” Grandma said. “I don’t pity that wretched hag or enchantress. May their souls burn for all eternity.” Grandma turned to George. “Aren’t you lucky you’re here with us instead of burning in hell?”

  George rolled his eyes.

  “So, Grandma,” Meredith started. “What’s going on with all these boyfriends?”

  “It’s just a cult I’ve been building up for a while,” Grandma replied nonchalantly.

  Meredith and Cici gawked at each other, unsure what to make of the revelation.

  “I don’t know what to say to that, Grandma. What does that even mean?”

  “Oh, you know.” Grandma flopped her hand indifferently. “It’s a cult. My boyfriends worship me; They do everything for me.”

  Meredith stared at her Grandma incredulously.

  “Like slaves?”

  “Dearie me, no! They can leave whenever they want, but they don’t want to.”

  “Mom told me you never got into another relationship after Grandpa died.”

  “She’s right.”

  “But you have all these boyfriends…” Meredith gestured expectantly, waiting for Grandma to start making sense.

  “Oh, they’re nothing serious.” Grandma waved the notion away. She suddenly grew somber. “Meredith, your grandfather—how I wish you could’ve met him—was a wonderful husband. He showered me with more love and affection than my cult could ever provide. There will never be a day where I don’t miss him, but Grandma’s got needs and fifteen boyfriends to tend them!”

  “Grandma!”

  The elder witch laughed. Their conversation continued until noon when Grandma stood up, fished a thick ruby, glowing with dormant power, out of her pocket, and tossed it to Meredith. She deftly caught it.

  “Come on, that should help get you through the day. There’s a half-decade of stored energy in that. We need to help our neighbors. They’re helpless without their witches! Besides, Wallace targeted them to get to us. We owe the innocents our help.”

  Meredith stretched and stood up while Cici scrambled onto the arm of the cushioned chair.

  “Do you think we’ll run into Wallace again?” Meredith asked as she summoned her boots onto her feet.

  “I hope so,” Grandma replied as she led Meredith outside. “He’s fought half a dozen of our ancestors trying to steal Thomas away, but ever since I took charge of him, the coward has only shown himself twice in two hundred years, including last night. You know, he’s only ever defeated one of our kin! And he lost an eye doing it!”

  Meredith and Grandma snatched up their brooms as they made their way out to the shop entrance. It was a bright, sunny day; Meredith felt a strange tingle as the noon sun warmed her skin but ignored the implications. The pair of witches straddled their brooms, launched skyward, and soared towards Greenwood. Grandma stopped and hovered high above the small river town. Meredith sidled beside her.

  “What is it, Grandma?”

  The older woman sighed.

  “I’m sorry, Meredith,” she said. “I didn’t want to have this conversation in front of everybody. I should have prepared you more before I left; I should have told you our family’s history. It’s no surprise to me that you were unaware. Your mother doesn’t want anything to do with the shop or Thomas. She wants to be free to do what she wants, unbound from our ancestors' choices.

  “She gave up the hectic, adventurous life I raised her in for a quiet one. I understand why; guarding the power that resides within Thomas is not a light burden to bear. After all these years, I think I also wanted a taste of that freedom, which is why I rushed off to vacation without giving you the full scope of the situation. I’m sorry, Meredith. After all this, I’d understand if you didn’t want to work the shop anymore. I’m honestly more surprised that you’re not furious with me.”

  Meredith remained silent for a moment, thinking. She watched a trio of hawks circle an updraft. A gentle breeze wafted over her and tugged loose a few strands of her hair. Grandma was right. By all accounts, Meredith should be angry. But she wasn’t. Despite the seemingly constant conundrums that plagued her since she took up residence in Greenwood, she had never been happier, even during the slow days. Meredith enjoyed being the town witch. She felt like she was living up to her full potential, especially after learning so much from Thomas and Grandma. And she was eager to learn more.

  “Back home, at the academy,” Meredith started. “I never get to do anything worthwhile. I hardly ever get to fly. I’m too busy with meaningless schoolwork and assignments. But these past few months here have felt like freedom. I’ve learned so much, more than the academy has ever taught me. I get to use magic all the time, and I feel like a proper witch when I run the shop and make house calls. I fly, and I use magic to help others. It’s everything I could ever want. It’s a shame we have to deal with Wallace, but living this life,” Meredith took a deep breath. “I thnk it’s worth it.”

  “I’m glad to hear it,” Grandma wiped a slight tear from her eye and cleared her throat. “Sunny days like these always make me sentimental. Your Grandpa used to magic away the clouds wherever I went so I’d always have a sunny day.”

  She took a steadying breath.

  “Now, to work! You see all those busy bodies down there by the burnt buildings? Let’s give them a magical hand!”

  Grandma soared downwards with Meredith close behind. They stopped before a row of damaged buildings where villagers were scrounging about the burnt wreckage. They were removing debris and cutting off burnt pieces of otherwise usable wood still clinging to the building’s frames when the pair of witches disembarked and left their brooms to hover by a nearby tree.

  “Hey!” A villager called out. “Look who swooped in!”

  A small gathering of townsfolk approached Grandma, welcoming her. Soon after, Grandma and Meredith got to work.

  With swishes of their wands, they began to use their magical talents to help restore what they could of the burnt wreckage. Meredith and Grandma cleared away debris, enchanted saws to cut wood, and other odds and ends as needed. Meredith fed on the magic from the ruby Grandma had given her. She had only slept a few hours but was thoroughly invigorated by the power gem. After a while, the witches found themselves without any meaningful work and split up to help restore the other burn sites.

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  Meredith repeated the process at two other sites, then returned home and waited for Grandma as the sun descended. That night, the tired witches dined and promptly went to bed.

  Early the next morning, Meredith donned another set of black robes, and she and Cici brought in the mail. Meredith sifted through the myriad letters at the kitchen counter while she and Grandma ate their morning oatmeal. There were quite a few house call requests, mostly burn injuries.

  “This one asks for you specifically.” Meredith handed Grandma one of the notes as she continued to flip through them. Grandma read it as she mulled her breakfast.

  “Let me have half the stack.” she held out her hand. “We’ll divide and conquer. Let’s finish these house calls before noon, have lunch, and then we’ll help with the rebuilding.”

  “Sounds good to me.” Meredith split the stack of house call requests and gave them to Grandma. The pair finished their breakfasts and flew off to opposite sides of Greenwood. Throughout the morning, Meredith zipped all over town, tending to burns, calming upset babes, administering medicine, performing deliveries, and, in one case, gently pulling the tar out of a man’s lungs who had been exhaling smoke since the fire.

  Eventually, Patricia found her.

  “Meredith!” The jolly woman called out to the young witch just as she was about to take off on her broom. “Thank you so much for all your help yesterday! But where did you go? You were all over the place, then nowhere! Nobody could find you! Oh! Did you get your Grandma? I saw her flying around earlier. And what were you doing the other day, hovering in the air during that one rainstorm? You looked so spooky! But also incredibly sad. Is everything okay?”

  “I—"

  “Oh, before I forget, I should mention Francene felt many evil auras yesterday before the fires started. Some people think some kids were playing with matches, some are accusing a traveling salesman of arson, but I think it had something to do with what Francene felt!”

  Patricia droned on while Meredith sat astride her broom. She was surprised at how close Patricia was to the truth but wasn’t sure if she should tell the town gossip the real reason behind the fires, at least not just then. Meredith decided to consult with Grandma first.

  “I…” Meredith hesitatingly interrupted. “It’s complicated. I have to go; I still have a lot of people to help.” She held up her stack of house call requests.

  “Of course, dearie, of course!” Patricia shooed her away. “Don’t let me stop you from working!”

  At noon, Meredith landed in front of the shop, but Grandma’s broom wasn’t set beside the door. Meredith parked her broom, went inside, and began making lunch. By the time she was done, Grandma still hadn’t arrived. Meredith ate her sandwich and chatted with Cici and Thomas while blatantly ignoring the disembodied vampire, George. When she was done, she waited a bit longer for Grandma before deciding to join the restoration projects in town.

  “Tell Grandma I went ahead without her,” Meredith told Cici and Thomas. She said her goodbyes, flew to the nearest restoration site and contributed as much as she was able. The tradesmen were happy for the enchanted ladders that walked themselves where they were needed and the boards and shingles that floated up to the workers atop the roof.

  Meredith flew from site to site, lending aid. It wasn’t until the sky was orange from the setting sun that the tired young witch returned home. She landed just before the shop door and parked her broom, noting the absence of Grandma’s broom again.

  She sighed. Fatigue enveloped her as she let the day's tension roll off her. Although she had utilized the power gem throughout the day, her body was weary from lack of sleep and constant work.

  Meredith passed through the shop and entered the house, where a short elderly woman stood between the sitting room and the kitchen. Alarm and shock rippled through Meredith as her tired body tensed and her stomach leaped to her throat. The woman stood motionless, her hunched back turned to Meredith. Dirty rags hung off her knobby frame like a patchwork dress. She looked strangely familiar.

  Beyond the mysterious intruder, Cici and Thomas sat poised like gargoyles on top of a table and countertop on either side of the woman. George raised an expectant eyebrow in his spot by Thomas’ enclosure.

  Meredith turned her attention back to the woman. She cleared her throat and said, “Excuse me, ma’am, can I help you?”

  The old woman turned to face Meredith. She had deep-set wrinkles, depressed eyes, and scraggly, wispy hair scattered atop her liver-spotted head. Meredith recognized her! She was the lady who came into the shop but never bought anything, the one Cici had told her about!

  “I bring a message from Wallace,” the woman stated in a warbly voice. She stared at the floor before Meredith as she held out a parchment scroll.

  Anger enveloped Meredith. What the hell was that devil doing? And where was Grandma? Meredith hesitated for a moment before taking the scroll. Cici and Thomas stood like statues, waiting.

  The diminutive woman began to slide past Meredith. She whipped out her wand and pointed it directly at the elderly messenger.

  “Not another step,” Meredith growled. The woman froze and stared at the floor with empty, expressionless eyes.

  It almost felt wrong to threaten such a defeated-looking, helpless old woman, but she was one of Wallace’s assets. Meredith pitied her, but she was also getting wise to Wallace’s antics and knew better than to let her guard down. Neither Cici nor Thomas objected.

  Meredith unwound the scroll. It read:

  Dear Most Magnanimous Meredith,

  I am currently hosting your dear Grandmother in my home here in the first layer of Hell. It’s quite warm this time of year. I’m sure you’ll be delighted to visit. Hell is much more exciting than that dreary little village. Bring Thomas with you, lest your visit be cut short.

  Your Fiendish Friend,

  -Wallace

  P.S.- Place your finger on the sigil below and say Treyva Shaeren.

  P.P.S-You’re welcome to punish my messenger, but don’t be too harsh! She’s soul-bound to do as I say. It’s not her fault she lured your grandmother under false pretenses.

  Meredith looked up from the letter.

  “You brought my Grandma to Wallace!” Meredith declared. She glared down her outstretched arm at the elderly slave. “Did you write that house call request?”

  The woman solemnly nodded.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “Wallace told me to bring her into town to abduct her, then instructed me to deliver this message.” The elderly woman bowed her head. “Kill me if you want. I’ve been seventy years a slave to that devil; I’m ready to spend eternity in hell.”

  Anger rushed over Meredith. It would be so easy to blast the soul-slave through a wall, but her will floundered at the thought. She wasn’t a killer. Meredith flicked her wand towards the door, and it yanked open.

  “Get out,” Meredith snarled. The elderly messenger did so. Meredith stood in silence until she heard the woman shuffle out the shop door.

  “I’m glad you spared her,” Thomas croaked when they were alone. “Wallace is trying to fluster you. He knows you’re exhausted. We must remain calm and formulate a plan.”

  Meredith sighed in frustration and stared into nothingness as her mind raced. After everything she had been through and everything she had told Grandma that morning about how she could handle dealing with the situation their ancestors had created, Wallace upped the ante. She didn’t realize the situation could become even more messed up.

  Meredith had figured that Grandma would always be present. How did he even get ahold of her? Grandma was the strongest witch Meredith knew! Now, she was alone and felt incredibly inclined to abandon Thomas as her mother had.

  It would be easy to do, give Wallace Thomas in exchange for Grandma. He was a mass murderer after all, though reformed and swore an oath to protect Meredith’s family. The idea lingered in Meredith’s mind. Could she really do that? Could she really sacrifice Thomas? Did she even want to?

  Meredith ground her palm into her eye and rubbed. No. She knew she couldn’t abandon Thomas. The young witch wouldn’t be able to live with herself, and Grandma wouldn’t be happy about it. Meredith had spent all summer living with and learning from Thomas and, after all that time, realized he was more than just Grandma’s oddity; he was also a friend.

  “What’s the plan?” She finally asked.

  “Here’s mine,” Cici stated. “We go to hell, scratch Wallace’s remaining eye out, and steal Grandma away!”

  “I like that plan.” Meredith huffed patiently. Cici smiled proudly. “But to do that, we need to prepare.” She added.

  Thomas nodded.

  “There is much you must learn before delving into the hells,” the toad stated.

  “Well, teacher.” Meredith sassed. “You can’t take too long! You’ve got a few minutes before I press this sigil; Grandma needs me!”

  “Correct.” Thomas blinked. “First, let’s attempt to scry her.”

  “Good idea,” Meredith said. They gathered by the crystal ball, and she conjured an image of Grandma.

  The orb showed a faint image of the elder witch dangling in the air, wrapped and strung up in a twisted and gnarled cocoon of black, spiky chains. She thrashed within them, and Meredith could see her mouth spouting vile insults.

  “Why doesn’t she just use magic to escape?” Meredith asked.

  “Those are infernal chains,” Thomas responded. “They restrict most magic.”

  Meredith channeled more magic out of her weary body and into the crystal ball. The image became clearer, and the surrounding area became more discernable. Grandma hung suspended above a white marble floor decorated with a plethora of lavish scarlet and gold chairs, couches, cabinets, and tables.

  Wallace stepped into view and glanced upwards, straight at Meredith. Anger spiked within her. The devil winked, then the display within the crystal ball erupted in hellfire and grew painfully warm. Meredith dropped her hands and stopped the flow of magic, thwarted and frustrated. The ball regained its calm, misty appearance.

  “We’ve been forced out,” Thomas claimed from the table beside her. “But now we know she’s relatively safe.”

  “Right.” Meredith grimaced. “But there’s no time to lose!”

  “Patience, child,” Thomas croaked. “We will save your grandmother. But first, look at yourself. You’re exhausted. Only two days ago, you were captured after fighting fires all night. Yesterday and today, you devoted yourself to restoring the damaged parts of the village. Wallace is cunning, and his strikes are calculated. He knows you are weary. He planned this. You cannot face him as you are now.”

  “Then what would you have me do?” Meredith's voice rose despite her attempt to stifle her rising temper.

  “Remember my first lesson: Prepare yourself,” Thomas stated. “First, eat! We have time enough for that.”

  Meredith groaned impatiently but knew Thomas was right. She flicked her wand over her shoulder, and kitchen utensils began to prepare her a meal.

  “Now what?”

  “Now, I will tell you about devils while you rest.”

  Meredith sat back in her cushioned chair, crossed her legs, and anxiously wrung her hands while mustering every ounce of patience she could.

  Thomas began, “There are six layers of hell, each filled with an assortment of evil creatures and tortured souls. Near the top of the social hierarchy are devils. They are naturally ambitious creatures with many strange magical abilities.

  “You may remember our previous discussion on this topic. Devils, like gods, require mortal souls to fuel their powers. The more souls a devil is imbued with, the stronger they are. Through my investigations, I’ve deduced that Wallace is a minor devil who preys on the desperate to gain their souls through tricksome deals, like most devils are wont to do.”

  “If he’s a minor devil, why is he after you?” Meredith interrupted as a plate of chicken thighs, carrots, and green beans floated into her lap. She tossed a piece of chicken to Cici on the opposite chair and scarfed her dinner down.

  “It’s precisely because he’s a minor devil that I am his target, or rather, the souls held within me. A more powerful devil has no need for the millions of souls I hold, but for Wallace, it would be a cataclysmic leap in power. Do not focus on his being a minor devil; he is still a formidable threat. He even slew your great, great grandmother Eden.”

  Meredith’s frazzled hair bobbed as she nodded.

  “I believe you will need all the power gems at your disposal to save Ethel,” Thomas continued.

  Meredith wiped her hands, sent the plate back to the kitchen, and procured the topaz from her bag and the ruby from her pocket, cradling them in her hands. The sapphire in her necklace was dormant and empty.

  “Absorb them completely,” Thomas instructed.

  “Are you sure?” Meredith exclaimed. “That’s a lot of power. I don’t know if I can handle all of it.”

  Thomas nodded expectantly.

  “Alright,” Meredith mumbled, uncertain but determined. She held the stones in each hand and focused on pulling the energy out.

  The warm magic flowed into her and spread throughout her body. It took a few minutes, but she soon depleted her topaz. As she continued to absorb the magic in the ruby, her body seemed to vibrate and buzz with the additional magic.

  “Stop!” Thomas stated.

  Meredith ceased the flow of magic and energetically leaped to her feet.

  “I feel amazing!” Her voice shook, and her skin tingled. “I feel like I could take on the world!” Power surged throughout her body.

  “You’re practically glowing!” Cici meowed. “And your hair is sticking up!”

  Indeed, loose strands of Meredith’s curly locks stuck up as if held by static.

  “This will not do,” Thomas announced flatly.

  “What do you mean?” Meredith exclaimed. “I could freeze the hells over with ease!” Static electricity crackled as she spread her arms wide.

  “No,” Thomas replied. “Your great, great grandmother Eden held twice the power you hold now.”

  “What?” Meredith stated incredulously, her confidence shaken. She dropped her arms, deflated. “Seriously? This isn’t enough?”

  “It was much better contained as well,” Thomas continued as his features contorted into a frown. Nearby, loose parchment and quills began to quiver and lift. “No doubt Wallace has increased his power since then.”

  “Then what do I do?”

  Thomas thought for a moment.

  “You must age,” he finally announced. “Your young body cannot contain much more power.”

  “Well, I don’t have time to age!” Meredith retorted.

  “Astute observation,” Thomas chided. “You will have to do so artificially. I know of only one way.” He paused. “It’s permanent.”

  “I’ll do whatever it takes,” Meredith stated bravely. “If that’s the sacrifice to save Grandma, then I’ll do it.”

  Thomas admired the young witch.

  “Are you sure about this?” Cici meowed.

  “Positive,” she replied.

  He then turned to Thomas.

  “There’s no other way?”

  “None that I can surmise that won’t delay Ethel’s rescue.”

  Cici sighed.

  “To the kitchen,” Thomas ordered. “Retrieve your grandmother’s potion book.”

  The trio went to the kitchen. Cici and Thomas sat atop the counter while Meredith stood over the potion book and flipped through the pages until she found the correct recipe, as per Thomas’ instructions. She glanced through it and began to set out the necessary beakers, jars, bowls, and ingredients.

  “By my estimation,” Thomas croaked. “You need to age by at least six years. Make the potion as the recipe describes, but only drink a quarter of it.”

  Meredith nodded and continued her work, then stopped. She drew her wand from her forehead to her naval and summoned three clones to help.

  A half-hour elapsed as the clones minced, ground, and infused the myriad ingredients. Thomas instructed one of them to sleep in the sitting room.

  They added everything into a small cauldron, lit a flame under it, and summoned an enchanted wooden spoon to stir the concoction. Meredith absorbed her clones, feeling slightly refreshed after her nap. She hovered over the gloppy mixture and waited for the potion to smooth and change from brown to yellow. A door creaked behind her.

  “Hello?” A familiar voice called out.

  Meredith whipped around to see Victor poking his horned head through the narrow gap in the door that separated the shop from the house.

  “Victor?” Meredith exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

  “Doctor Archibald heard Ethel was back and sent me to pick up some things.”

  “Well, she’s not here,” Meredith answered tersely. “But I’m about to rescue her.” Meredith returned to her cauldron, satisfied with its hue and texture. She scooped a small vial into it, filling it to the top.

  “Is she in danger? I can help!” Victor stepped through the door.

  “No!” Meredith said sharply as she was about to bring the vial to her lips. “It’s extremely dangerous, and I won’t have anyone in harm’s way due to my family issues.”

  “But—"

  Meredith tipped her head back and drank a quarter of the vial before setting it on a stand. Everyone remained silent as they waited for the potion to take effect. Meredith stood motionless as she waited. And waited. Then waited some more.

  “Is something supposed to happen?” Victor asked.

  “Thomas, when is it supp—" Meredith’s body quivered. She shook violently as she felt her entire being stretch longways.

  Every bone, blood vessel, organ, muscle, tendon, and ligament painfully stretched. Her skin felt like it would rip open. Meredith’s joints cracked and popped as her bones elongated. Agony enveloped her entire being. She collapsed onto the floor, writhing and gasping, wishing for the pain to stop as her spine and hips pulled themselves apart.

  Cici bounded onto the floor and circled Meredith, meowing in worry.

  As suddenly as it started, it stopped. Meredith lay panting on the floor, drenched in sweat. The others stared at her in silence. She collected herself before cautiously rising to her feet.

  “Are you okay?” Cici mewed.

  “I think so,” Meredith steadied herself on the counter as her vitality slowly returned. “I feel so different.” Meredith examined herself and glanced around, unused to the marginally taller vantage point. “I didn’t get much taller, did I?”

  “No,” Cici stated. “But you look more like an adult.”

  “Your size is of no consequence,” Thomas said. “You are now a fully mature adult. Focus on your power. Do you feel how your magic no longer seems fit to burst from you?”

  Meredith nodded.

  “Good. You are ready to accept even more power to help you thwart Wallace.”

  “Wait a moment!” Victor interjected. “Was that an aging potion?”

  “There’s no time to explain, Victor,” Meredith stated with more authority than she thought herself capable. Her tone softened at the shock of her newfound confidence. “I’ll explain everything later when I get back.”

  Her crush on the boy no longer existed. Meredith’s newly matured mind saw him only as a child and, at the moment, a slight nuisance. But he had been a good companion, so she did not dismiss him outright.

  Meredith summoned Grandma’s ruby and quickly absorbed the remainder of its dormant magic.

  “Do you think that is enough?” Meredith felt the power surge within her, but it was nothing compared to how she felt earlier.

  It didn’t feel like a million ants crawling through her body anymore, it felt like a vast, violent ocean. Her power was much better contained.

  “One moment.” Thomas’ throat ballooned, then constricted as his maw opened to expunge a wet, glimmering blue sapphire onto the kitchen counter. Thomas heaved again and spat out a silver ring with a small emerald set within it. Meredith could barely hide her disgust as she stared at the pair of slime-covered power gems.

  “Hundreds of thousands of souls have lent their energy to these power gems,” Thomas croaked. “With them, you should be more than a match for the devil. Absorb the sapphire and wear the ring. The ring has a significant amount of power but can also summon me at any moment; merely touch the emerald with your thumb, and I will be there to help you.”

  “Thank you, Thomas.” Meredith wiped the gems clean with the hem of her robe, slipped the ring on her hand opposite her warning ring, and then began absorbing the sapphire's power. Her body shivered as she quickly reached her limit.

  “It’s too much!” She gasped as sweat beaded down her brow. Her entire body once again buzzed with energy.

  “Enough!” Thomas instructed.

  Meredith ceased the flow of magic. The ocean within her had become a vicious, swirling tempest.

  “Keep the gem on your person,” Thomas continued. “Draw upon it instead of your own power.”

  Meredith nodded and slid it into her pocket.

  “Well,” she said as she bent and petted Cici’s head. “I better get going. Wish me luck!”

  Cici meowed and rubbed his head against her hand.

  “I don’t know what’s going on,” Victor stood dumbfounded. “But good luck!”

  “Be careful, Meredith,” Thomas stated. “Draw from the power gems before you use your own store of magic.” He reminded her. “Recall my second lesson: Strike first!”

  Meredith nodded. She smiled at them all, then picked up the letter from Wallace. Trepidation threatened to rear within her but she squashed it with her furious determination.

  She looked upon her friends one last time before placing her finger on the sigil, took a steadying breath, then repeated the incantation, “Treyva Shaeren.”