House of Ivy & Sorrow

THIRTY-TWO





I look to Kat, whose horrified expression must mirror mine. This has never happened before. My spells always work, and so do Nana’s. How could it not cure Gwen? I collapse by the bedside, clutching my mother’s pendant.

“What do we do now?” Kat says, her voice shaky. “We can’t let her die. We can’t. Gwen can’t die.”

“I don’t know.” I take Gwen’s hand, even though the shadows burn and hiss.

“Can’t we sacrifice something else? You gave up your voice to purify your dad’s letter, and you burned your hand for me. There has to be something!” She paces the room, panicking enough for the two of us. “What about a kidney or a lung or an arm?”

“It’s too much risk with no assurance that it’d work. I can’t take an arm without knowing with one hundred percent certainty that it would stop the spell.”

“We can’t lose her!” She yells far too loudly for a hospital.

“I know! But I’m not all-powerful. I don’t even know what spell this is—I knew with you. I’ve done everything I can.”

“Do more!”

I don’t answer, because she’s crying and too frantic to reason with. My tear ducts must be tapped out because my heart aches, but nothing will come.

Gwen is so lifeless and dark that I can’t help but realize how much she usually moves. All the time I’ve known her, she was the one bouncing her knees or skipping when everyone else walked. She used to dance, back when old Mrs. Collins taught a jazz class for the girls in town. Gwen was amazing at it, and you couldn’t stop her from practicing wherever there was enough space. What I’d give to see Gwen move a finger, let alone bounce around my room again like a butterfly.

The door clicks, signaling the end of our time with Gwen. I don’t move. It can’t end this way. I can’t leave her to die. “Just one more minute, please; I beg you.”

Someone lets out a low whistle. “That is one nasty death call.”

I bristle at the voice and turn to see my worst nightmare. Levi actually has the gall to be smiling. He shuts the door, and I wish I hadn’t used half my magic on that futile antidote. “You would know, since you’re the one who put it on her.”

“I would never,” he says. “Death calls are way below the belt.”

I’m not sure I believe him. “How did you find us?”

Levi sits on Gwen’s bed, way too close to me. “When she lived through the fire, I figured you’d show up at some point.”

“You’ve been waiting for me?”

He shrugs. “Basically.”

“If you’re on my side, you could have at least made yourself useful and fixed her.”

“Dear Josephine, you know magic doesn’t work that way.” His smile is so smug I want to strangle him right there. “We Shadows may not follow all the rules, but payment is something no one can avoid.”


“Shadows?” Kat says.

He rolls his eyes. “That’s what we call ourselves. It’s obvious, but fitting.”

I shove him. “Do not disrespect her. I’m ready to kill you as it is.”

His eyebrows raise at my touch. “You keep saying that, and I’m still not dead.”

“Quit it, okay?” I restrain myself from stomping my foot. “My grandmother is dying and my friends are at risk and after they’re gone, I’m next. So do what you came here to do and stop pretending like you’re all mysterious and cool.”

Levi frowns. “You’re no fun.”

“I used to be, until you ruined my life.”

“My kind may be at fault, but not me personally. Stop blaming me for the actions of someone I don’t particularly like either.” He fiddles with a stray thread on his shirt. “Your life isn’t the only one he’s ruined, you know.”

“He?” I ask, hoping he’ll just tell me already.

“Yes, he.” Levi bites his lip, seeming to hesitate. “My . . . superior, you could say. If you want to blame someone, that’s the guy to blame. I’m just trying to do what I can for you without getting caught. My life might suck, but it’s better than being a dead traitor.”

I’m not sure what to say. Maybe I feel a little sorry for him, but I’m not about to let him know.

“So . . .” Kat breaks the silence. “Can you two set aside the hate for a second? If Levi can help, I don’t care what he is or what he did.”

Levi and I glare at each other, but she’s right. “Fine.”

Kat stands between us like the mediator in a peace negotiation. “Okay, so Levi wants to fix Gwen, right?”

“Right,” he says. “She’s been called to death—summoned by a Shadow to the darkness that awaits us all. No witch can remove it. It’s a Shadow thing.”

Kat shudders. “And what do you need to stop it? You need something from us, right?”

“Yes, and you won’t like it.”

I fold my arms. “Try me.”

“You have to kiss me.”

My eyes go wide. “No freaking way. Kat can take that hit. Sorry, Kat.”

“Fine,” she says.

Levi shakes his head. “No, it has to be you. I need your magic to save her, and I can get some through a kiss so I don’t have to Curse you. Unless you’d prefer the Curse—that would make everything easier.”

I glare at him, the choice already made. If I have any chance to save Gwen, I have to take it. So I square my shoulders, determined to look stronger than I feel. “I guess one kiss is better than being Cursed. Barely.”

“You have to give it. I don’t take.” At least he has the decency to look slightly uncomfortable.

I force myself forward, though I’m terrified of what this will feel like. Levi’s eyes are dark, full of anticipation as I come close. Desire oozes out of him. I’m not sure if it’s me or my magic he craves, but I don’t like either option. Tipping my chin up, I close the distance and pray this won’t hurt too much.

Levi’s lips press against mine, soft and yet urgent. I want to stop—despite the fact that he is, undoubtedly, a very good kisser—but he puts his hand on my face, as if to say, “Not yet.” I close my eyes, trying not to get lost in this . . . this chemistry.

Then it happens, and my eyes go wide in terror. My magic drains from my body so quickly I have to grab his arm to stay standing. He holds me up, though all I want to do is push him away. He’s taking a part of me, and I hate that I let him.

When he’s taken almost all of it, he guides me to the one chair in Gwen’s tiny room. I can barely move, and tears drip down my cheeks. He wipes one away, the shame in his eyes crystal clear. “I’m so sorry, Josephine.”

“Just save her,” I whisper.

He goes to Gwen and puts his hand on her chest. The shadows around him flare, fueled by my magic. He winces as the spell fights him, but it retreats quicker than I expected. I don’t want to admit that my magic seems stronger under his command, but I can’t deny what I feel. There’s no way I could have done that, even if I were full to the brim. Within seconds, Gwen is back to her normal, non-shadowy self. When her eyes flutter open, I can’t regret what I did.

Gwen takes in the room and her visitors. “Jo? I saw you trying to stop t-the . . . I wasn’t just sick or hurt, was I? There was s-something . . .”

I force the lump in my throat down. “Yeah, but don’t say anything, okay? I promise I’ll explain later. You were in a coma—that’s what everyone thinks.”

She nods, but her lips quiver. “The shadows . . . they were everywhere, pulling me down into a black pit. I thought it was over.” She looks up at Levi. “Then this guy pulled me out. Who are you?”

“Uh . . .” Levi shoves his hands in his pockets. “No one.”

The door clicks open, and I want to die when Winn walks in.