“What the devil is going on, Emilia? The coven rebanded, but they won’t allow anyone aside from the council to attend meetings. I tried scrying, but it’s as if they’ve put a block on my magic. I haven’t even been able to dream.”
I’d almost forgotten that Claudia had been blessed by the goddess of sight and premonitions; she’d have visions we couldn’t always decipher.
Having her magic blocked was a fate I knew too well, and I hated that they’d clipped her magical wings. I wondered what else they might have taken from her, what powers might be lying dormant inside her she couldn’t recall. Her mother was always scheming and plotting, and it seemed she was still playing a game.
“And do you know what is most unusual?” she asked, and I shook my head. “They were able to free old Sofia Santorini’s mind from its curse. My aunt was heading over to her house now to see what she remembers, if anything.”
I squeezed her gently, then stepped back. At least I now knew what Carolina and Nonna were up to. “Don’t trust everything the witches say. They’re not necessarily bad, but they have an agenda.”
“The witches?” Claudia’s brows knotted together. “You speak as if you aren’t one of us.”
I inhaled deeply and held my hand up, summoning a burning flower, and watched my friend’s expression turn from confusion to wonder. She reached for the flower and yanked her hand back from the burn, searching my face.
“Goddess above. You can’t be.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “How?”
“It’s a very long, twisted tale.”
She stared at me, then at the burning flower for another silent moment. Awe spread across her features, and she looked ready to explode from all her questions.
“Given your fire magic and the fact you’re a goddess, I imagine so.” She turned and motioned for me to join her. “Let’s sit.”
I did my best to not rush her, trying not to focus on the ticking clock in my mind, and followed her into the tiny kitchen. She pulled open the cabinet and went about pouring us drinks from her personal collection. I noticed the herbs drying for her tonic to forget and swallowed hard. She placed my drink in front of me, then raised her brows.
“Tell me. I need to know what’s going on.”
“The short version is the witches put a spell-lock on me and Vittoria, containing our magic and immortality, essentially making us mortal witches. That curse you mentioned? The one with the devil? It affected several other beings. Me and Vittoria included.”
Claudia pressed her hip against the countertop and tossed back her drink. “My best friends are goddesses. It’s a lot to digest. I feel as if I should bow or pray.” A look of horror crossed her face. “Should I set up an altar? Stars above, Em. This is strange.”
Despite every dark thing in my life, I laughed. A genuine, happy sound. Her questions hadn’t been laden with sarcasm, only concern. “Please do not ever pray or bow. Most especially to Vittoria. You know how insufferable she can be.”
Tears shimmered in her eyes.
“Vittoria is alive?”
The hope that crossed her features brought a tightness to my chest. I nodded. “Yes. Her death was the beginning of breaking the spell-lock. She’d figured out what happened from hearing the secrets a spell book whispered to her. She orchestrated her own ‘murder’ to free herself and plot our revenge.” I didn’t want to overwhelm my friend, so I quickly moved on. “There is a dagger called the Blade of Ruination. It’s the only weapon with the ability to break curses.”
“Emilia, no.” Claudia sucked in a sharp breath. “Hexed items come with a steep price.”
“I know.” I watched her carefully. “Please. I need you to activate it for me. And tell me what I need to do to use it to break the curse. Time’s running out. I have less than a day.”
My friend shook her head. “I… can’t. I would do anything for you, you know that, but please don’t ask me to do this.”
“Do you not remember how?”
She gave me a sad smile. “It’s something my aunt has instilled in me since I first came to live with her. I just don’t think you realize what the price will be. For you.”
I exhaled. “I’m willing to pay anything. Just tell me what I need to do.”
Indecision warred with what I sensed was her desire to help me.
“The blade expects an equal trade,” she finally said. “If you wish to break a curse, it will want to use your power to do so. All of it.” Claudia bent and pulled up a travertine floor tile, removing a cloth-wrapped dagger. “The one who’s cursed needs to use it. Willingly.”