Shifted Fate (Amy)

I walked back to the table and opened it to the one I needed. I was reading the page when Carly came to. "Wait!" She wiggled down from Alannah's arms. "Amy, wait!" She wiggled harder and Alannah finally let her down. She ran over to the table and climbed up to a chair. She grabbed Abby's hand and held on. "It's okay Abby. I'm here." She looked up at me. "This is okay, right?"

I nodded. "It should be okay. But I'll tell you the same thing I told them. It's going to look like I am going to hurt her, but I'm not."

Carly nodded. "I saw." She looked up at me with haunted eyes. "I saw it all. That's why I'm here. Abby is my best friend, and I want her to know I'm here." I nodded once, then looked back at Toya.noveldrama

She smiled. "She is like us. Bonded in a flash and completely devoted to her friends." Toya walked over to Carly and kissed her temple. "Our girl has been talking about her best friend since she came last time. She even told her dad about her."

Abby's hand tightened around Carly's. "You are my best friend, too." Carly's smile was big as she leaned in.

"Don't be afraid, okay?"

Abby nodded. "I trust you guys."

I had to clear my throat. I don't know why, but I started to feel choked up. "Okay." I stepped back top the bowl and lit the cotton. I added the herbs I needed. Dried acorn for protection and personal power. Adder's tongue for healing. Ague weed for hex breaking. Bamboo for hex breaking and protection. The pit in my stomach grew bigger. So many of the herbs were for protection, healing, and hex breaking. Usually, only one herb for each would have been enough, but there were so many layers.

"Focus girl." My grandmother's voice jolted me from my worries. "Add the Barberry." I grabbed the handful, but she snapped a hand out. "Cleansing her soul from Vince's manipulation is needed. But only one." Her eyes met mine. "You have a few souls to disentangle from his strings." I nodded as I dropped one into the bowl. "Basil, to exercise Vince from her soul ties. One is enough. Hold off on the benzoin until the fire dies down. The smoke from it will help purify her. Add in the hydrangea to help with the end of the hex. Last add in the lady's slipper to stop anyone from attaching to her again." She nodded as I finished. The fire burned down and then she nodded. "Add the benzoin in now. There. Now use the feather to fan it over her."

I grabbed the burning bowl, feeling the heat of the flame, and hissed.

"Amy?" My mom stepped closer, but I waved her off.

My grandmother turned to her. "When casting, if there is going to be pain inflicted on the victim, the caster also needs to feel it. We do not do unto others without taking it on ourselves. It's a balance." My mom nodded, but I could see she was worried.

I moved to Abby's head and started.

I fanned the smoke over her with the pure white feather of a barn owl. I walked around her three times. The fire buming with every step. The flame was now fueled by my magic, the golden flame now a deep blue. I placed the bowl by her head and sent a steady stream of magic to the fire to keep it burning.

I grabbed the bottle of water that was in the box and poured it into a cup. I sprinkled in a few of the herbs that I sprinkled into the fire and helpedAbby sit up enough to drink it. She coughed a little, but swallowed it down. I poured the rest of the water into the bow, keeping the flame burning as the water took on a blue sheen.

I bent over and rolled up Abby's shirt, bearing her stomach. Rick's brow furrowed.

"What are you doing?"

I dipped a cloth into the burning

liquid. Then wiped down Abby's stomach, I'm trying to cleanse her body. I'll focus on her stomach, chest and the brand. But the

stomach is first." I wiped her done

dipping into the bowl periodically. I

turned back to the bowl and slid a small dagger into the bowl. To purify it.

Rick growled when he saw the knife, but Shelly took a step. "Amy?" Her voice was confused, but I quickly wiped down Abby's chest and then turned to the brand that Vince has burned into Abby's skin.

I cleansed the brand, earning a few pained whimpers from Abby. "Are you okay?" She met my eyes and nodded. "Are you ready?"

She took a few deep breaths. "Will it hurt?"

"I won't lie to you. It's going to hurt like a bitch, but we need to purify your soul. The brand is the entry point. You heart is the pathway, and the soul is settled somewhere around your center."

"My tummy." I nodded. She closed her eyes. "I'm ready."

I took a steadying breath. This was the part I hated the most.

Then I slammed the dagger directly into her heart.