Gina jerked when the stone flashed beneath the light. I was positive it warmed in her hand the way it always did mine when it granted my wish.
I sighed and worried my temples. “Check your pocket, Gina.”
She slid her hand in the right front pocket of her jeans and pulled it inside out. With a laugh, she said, “Empty.”
“You have three other pockets,” Kaiden reminded her.
Rolling her eyes, Gina checked the others. When she slid her hand in the final back pocket, she paused. A crisp, folded hundred-dollar bill emerged tucked between two fingers.
“That's a fluke.” I could hear the uncertainty in her voice. “I could've forgotten to check my pockets on laundry day.”
She huffed and dropped her hands to her sides before I could grab it. “I just wish you both would tell me the truth.”
Compelled by something greater than our own will, we spoke words that weren't ours in unison. “If it is truth you seek, you must open your eyes to hear it.”
The energy drained, sending a shiver over our bodies.
“I always hated that feeling,” Kaiden spat.
“I will never do that to anyone ever again,” I grimaced and shook my head. “That was awful.”
“What does that even mean? I must open my eyes to hear it?”
I wasn't sure I wanted to find out. The fae meant things literally, and it creeped me out even more that it gave a direct response, like we were a conduit, and it was speaking through us.
A glint in Gina's eye said she might have figured it out. My stomach knotted. “I wish for Jessandra to appear in front of me. Right now.”
“It doesn’t wor—” I started to tell her, but the words died on my tongue as a dark cloud appeared between us in the brightly lit room. The shadowy mass grew larger, swirling counterclockwise, until it was big enough for a person. Kaiden gripped my shoulders and stumbled backward, pulling me with him. Our nightmares were manifesting out of thin air.
A choking noise caught my attention. “Gina?”
Held tight in the vice grip of Kaiden's arms, I scratched and pinched at him to release me. He refused. Suddenly, the shadow swirled faster, growing smaller, until it swallowed itself. A giant stood in the middle of the room. Gina dangled from their massive grip, feet kicking out in the air as she clawed at their hand to let her go.
“Who are you?” They commanded. “Why have you summoned me?”
Gina could barely make a sound. Her eyes bulged from their sockets as her face turned shades of red.
“Holy shit,” Kaiden whispered, his head tilting up. “That's who helped you?”
“Jessandra?”
The woman spun on her filthy booted feet readying herself for an attack. Sludge and muck embedded in the carpet under her weight. Even with Gina still high in the air, her fighting stance was perfection.
Jessandra’s confusion was evident. Her tense muscles relaxed when she saw me. “It can’t be.” She blinked. “Calista, is that you?”
Trapped in Kaiden’s arms, I wiggled my hand in an awkward wave. “Hey, Jess!”
“It is you.” Jessandra’s attention snapped to my brother. “Unhand her!”
As she rushed forward, Gina swaying in her grip, Kaiden slid his hands to my waist and hid behind me. I just became his human shield. Nice to know what I was good for to him. Guess he hadn’t grown up much after all.
“Whoa! I’m not in danger!” She stopped in front of me. “But my friend is.” I pointed up at Gina’s chameleon face. “Please put her down.”
Jessandra released her, and the apartment shook when Gina crumpled to the floor. The colors bled from her face as she coughed and gasped for air.
Both Kaiden and I dropped to our knees. None of her bones appeared broken. “You okay?” Ginger touches from the tips of my fingers over her swollen neck made her wince.
Her head bobbed as she grabbed my hand. With a weak, hoarse voice, she said, “I think I’m gonna be sick.”
