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It’s still a shock as she’s asking me to lead for the first time. During the unbinding ritual, she was running the show and telling me things as if I didn’t know anything. Granted, I didn’t know anything about bindings, but I do know stuff about plants and some of their properties.
“Yeah, but don’t we need to get the other spell going for unlocking memories first?” I ask, wanting to make that my priority.
“I’ve already got it started, over there.” She points to two small caldrons. “I was told Levi has to be at the Hub in Nova at ten o’clock tomorrow, but the spells should be ready shortly after that if you want to stay back to perform them and help with the grounding.”
“Yeah, I would like to get their memories to them as soon as possible. Besides, I don’t think I'll be invited to Levi’s ceremony.” I give her a pursed smile and reach for the book I read last time. “But here you go. This book here has this spell that I thought could resist memory spells if they are used against the guys.”
“Who? Who would do that to my boys?” Her tone waivers, and I feel as though I’m sitting on the edge of a knife. I don’t want to lie to her, but I also don’t want to send her spiraling when I need to make sure these potions are done right.
“I’m just taking precautions. They mean the world to me, and I don’t want someone to take them away, so they agreed to take precautions to make sure that doesn’t happen.” I fudge the truth.
“Oh.” She forcefully exhales, grabbing her pearls. The Stepford Wife getup is the outfit choice for today’s spell casting for some reason, but I’m not about to complain if she’s sane enough to work. “Yes, they need all the protection they can get. I’m so happy they have you looking out for them,” she says, reaching over and pinching my cheek.
I fucking take it back; she’s definitely not sane enough to handle this. Where’s Bez to carry her off?
“Well, let’s get started.” Lilith grabs the book and the ingredients, and we get to work.
Working beside this unpossessed Lilith isn’t as bad as I thought, though. As Benny deseeds the Bat flowers for Knots’ and Lynx’s spells, Lilith and I work together to make the protection potion for memory loss.
* * *
“Good job, Rez. You’re a natural,” Lilith praises me as I smile down at the nine sparkling white vials lined up on the table.
“Thank you for helping. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.” I grin at her.
“Well, the fun part comes next,” she says, and turns to the Demstones. She grabs nine random stones and sets them before us.
“So, how does this work?” I ask, rocking back and forth to dispel the anxiety clawing at my skin.
“Demstones have a long history, but let me give you the Cliff Notes. They are a rare combination of brimstone and star rubies. They are the best for holding powerful spells and are extremely hard to acquire, as you probably saw by the Blood Slick Road. Most mines have either been claimed, sold, or are known to be quite dangerous to get to.”
A shudder runs down my spine as I stare down at the pretty pink and yellow swirl stones, remembering all the death and the life I took. It wasn’t pretty.
“We are lucky to have such unrefined stones,” she says almost giddily.
“Why’s that?”
“Because you’ll be able to shape them as you apply each spell,” she tells me. I quirk an eyebrow, and she laughs as she lightly pats my shoulder.
“Sorry, I tend to forget how new all of this is to you. When applying spells to unrefined stones, you’re able to shape them with your mind and fingers to what you want. For example, if you wanted a ring, it would mold it into it. What attributes you want it to do, you would just think of and it will do it. Like if you want it to shrink with the wearer, it will.” She gently pulls me in front of her so I’m directly across from the stones.
“When it comes to Demstones, it works best for the person applying the potion to be shaping the stone all at once. Since this is your project, I think it’s appropriate that you do it. Besides, you know what suits each of them better than me. I would just be guessing,” she admits with a hint of sadness. “Anyway, to do this, think of the person you want the spell to work on, pour the spell onto the Demstone, then pick it up and mold it into something for them to wear. Don’t worry. I’ll be right here to make sure you get it right on the first one,” she says, and I feel her step back from me.
Sure. Simple as that.
I let out my breath and think of Levi first, since he’s the first person up for me to lose. Tomorrow afternoon, he takes his vows and I’ll lose him. If Emer has her way, he’ll lose all memory of me as well, but I won’t let that happen. He needs to be protected, but not with something obvious that sticks out.
Grabbing one of the vials, I pop the cork and pick up a stone, holding it in my hand. I slowly pour the white liquid onto the stone and watch it absorb all of it. Trusting Lilith that it’s as simple as she says, I grab the stone with both hands before I close my eyes and picture what I want. Pinching the middle, I make two separate stones. Amazingly, the stone’s hard surface turns soft as putty.
I crack open an eye to peek, making sure I’m not imagining anything, and close my eyes again when I see the stones. I picture the shape that I want and rub my thumbs over the stones, sucking in a breath as I feel the material move on its own. Once the weight becomes heavier, I open my eyes. A giggle escapes me as I look down at what I created.
“Yes, that is definitely Leviathan, and it’s stylish too,” Lilith says, peeking over my shoulder.
I set down the cufflinks that I shaped as scales, like the tattoo he has on his hip, which reminds me that Lilith or L.A.M.B. might know more about that than we do. Turning to face Lilith, I decide to just tackle it head on.
“Okay, I’m just going to say this, and I know it’s awkward since you’re my… harem’s mother? I’m not sure what to call you.” I cock my head to the side and Lilith breaks out into a huge smile.
“Call me Mom!” she says, and wraps me into a tight hug. “I always wanted children, and now I have a daughter-in-law. My little black heart is so full right now.” She sighs as she rocks us back and forth in her embrace. “I could skin a thousand Demons and still not be this happy.”
