Page 8 of Hex You

Jax leaned forward, squinting down at the liquid. “Did it work?”

Palm fronds creaked overhead as warm air blew around them, tepid gusts that signaled the fast-approaching heat of summer, but the water remained still, a pane of glass.

Hunter picked at her jagged thumb nail. The magic still called to her, a tugging on her heart that would surely make it explode within her chest if she didn’t follow. “The spell’s not finished yet.”

She pressed her palms against either side of the cauldron and let her heart guide her.

“To the power of the ley lines that stretch from this realm to those beyond, I beseech you.”

The earth shuddered beneath them, a great giant awaking from slumber.

“Help me find what I have lost—the other half that makes me whole.”

The ground hummed, tickling her spine and raising the hairs on the nape of her neck.

“We’re connected by blood, by love, by magic. No matter how far apart, I always feel her with me.”

Green light rose from her arms like mist. The same green as the power at the cherry tree. The same green as her sister.

“To the power of the ley lines that stretch from this realm to those beyond, I beseech you,” Hunter repeated.

Green light, the lush emerald of living things, radiated from the moon phases etched into the copper cauldron. It rained from the points of the crescents and dripped from the round slopes of the full moons, pooling against the grass.

“Help me find what I have lost—the other half that makes me whole.”

Verdant light blazed against the ground beneath them, illuminating the line of magic that ran from the doum palm and connected it, in a pentagram, to the four other ancient guardian trees that stood at the gates of the Underworlds.

“To the power of the ley lines that stretch from this realm to those beyond, I beseech you.”

The green track raced back to Hunter. A scream tore from her throat as power reached up from the earth and buried its teeth into her flesh.

“I beseech you!”

A flash of lightning ripped through her chest. Jax and Emily shielded their eyes as green flames engulfed the palm fronds, an umbrella of otherworldly fire.

Hunter submerged her hands in the basin of crystal-charged water and threw up a handful of liquid. “Find my sister!”

The droplets burst apart, and magical bluish-green rain extinguished the flames and fell into the cauldron as if being called home.

As the water stilled, shapes appeared on its surface, fuzzy at first as if seen through sleepy eyes, then clearer and clearer. Mercy stood next to a bare-chested Khenti, her dark hair hanging around her shoulders as she leaned over a wooden railing to blink down at Hunter. Her tear-filled eyes were the bright green of butterfly wings pressed into her chalky-white face. Hunter choked back a sob as she took in her twin’s graying arms. If she didn’t act fast, Mercy would be gone for good.

“I found you.” Hunter leaned forward, bumping into the cauldron and nearly sloshing the magical portal all over the grass.

“Hunter?” Mercy’s eyes filled with tears. “Is that really you?”

Emotion choked Hunter’s voice, and she could only nod.

“I miss you.” Mercy sniffled, tears falling down her cheeks.

I miss you, too,Hunter mouthed, and she meant it.

Emily released a shaky breath. “Oh, thank god, or goddess, or whoever. That was intense.”

Jax nodded and dragged his palm down his cheek. “Too intense.”

Mercy’s thick eyebrows lifted. “Em! Jax! I’ve been so worried I wouldn’t see you again!”

“Come home already.” Emily tucked a mahogany curl behind her ear as she peered down at Mercy. “You look terrible.”