Page 111 of Savior
“No. I burned it and got rid of the remnants. Vanna doesn’t want to talk about it.”
“Fuck, dude.” Viking lets out a sigh that almost sounds like a mixture between sympathy and anger. “Bro, that’s some dark shit. No wonder she doesn’t want to talk about it. The pepper in the stomach… That represents a … Fuck. I don’t even want to say this to you.”
“It’s a fucking hex to bring on a miscarriage.” I mutter, wondering if Legion is behind this as well. Especially now that I know he’s into some kind of dark shit. Though… how would Legion even know she’s pregnant, to do something like this?
“Are you… You know… Okay?”
“If you’re asking whether or not I believe some wax and Cayenne pepper is going to cause Vanna to miscarriage, no. I don’t.”
“Well, I don’t know what to tell you about the shit Lucinda described. But there’s a woman in Southport that could give you more answers.” Viking says. “A little shop down by the water. Easy to miss unless you know where you’re going. There’s a door with bottles and bones hanging from it. A cellar shop below some apartments. That’s her. She might know more about that shit Legion’s into.”
I wonder if Legion is familiar with her as well. Might be worth a visit. Maybe this woman knows where I can find him. I’m sure it’s a long shot.
“Alright. Text me the street she’s on.”
“Oh my gosh, it’s beautiful, I love it!” I say, slipping on the gemstone bracelet Laura just gifted me. “Thank you so much.”
“The Fluorite is for absorbing nutrients.” She explains, pointing to each stone. “Carnelian for a boost in stamina. Angelite for comfort throughout your pregnancy. Bloodstone for a healthy birth. And Amethyst and clear quartz for spiritual connection and protection over all.”
The last group of patrons just left the shop, and we’ve got a short break before the next wave. Laura takes a seat behind her desk, as I sit down in the chair across from her.
“How are the wedding plans coming along?” Laura asks.
“We barely talk about it.” I admit. “I’m not sure if I want to do it before or after the baby. Dean is fine, either way. But my mother is driving me crazy.” I let out a sigh. “The subtle digs at Dean are really grating my nerves. And she wants everything her way. She was the same way when Jack proposed. Though he did it, the right way.” I repeat her words mockingly. “He asked my father’s permission first, and made sure both of our families were there before he got down on one knee and asked me. He even did it during Christmas dinner, right after dessert.”
“Talk about pressure.” Laura says.
“At the time, he had me so convinced I was always in the wrong, it didn’t even occur to me at first, that that’s exactly why he did it that way. If I said no, I’d humiliate us both in front of our families and ruin Christmas for everyone. And to make matters worse, when I did voice my opinion on that, after things really started to change with Jack, I was the bad guy!”
I can feel myself getting a bit angry at the memories of all his subtle manipulations. In retrospect, it had practically been a part of every moment in our lives together.
“My parents called me ungrateful. That Jack was a Prince among men and I was lucky someone like him was so head over heels for me. I was the bitch for trying to make a beautiful engagement story into something other than perfect. Maybe for another couple, it would be a perfect scenario. But I see it now, for what it was. Complete manipulation.”
“I’m sorry, sweetie.” Laura says, “Forget about your mother’s vision for your wedding. What do you want?”
“I’d rather have a low-key handfasting ceremony, to be honest. Dean isn’t religious.”
“That would be beautiful.” Laura smiles, shifting in her seat to pull up images on her computer of handfasting ceremonies. “Oh, look at this. How gorgeous would you look in a flower crown, instead of a tiara!”
“Actually, that’s more the vibe I’m leaning towards. More Pagan. Less prim and proper! Honestly, Dean wouldn’t admit it for fear of crushing my wedding dreams, but I think he’s of the same mind. The less prim and proper, the better. He’s brought up the magistrate’s office, more than once.” I almost laugh.
As Laura scrolls through versions of flower crowns, excitedly showing me her favorites and pitching me her Robin Hood and MaidMarion wedding theme ideas from that Kevin Costner movie, I like the idea of a Pagan handfasting more and more. It suits Dean’s Celtic roots as well. And he was just recently asking me about Pagan practices and traditions.
Our fun is cut short though, when the front door jingles and another customer walks in.
“Welcome to the Ametrine Cauldron!” Laura greets the man.
I immediately notice, he isn’t smiling. Actually, he seems pretty angry when his hazel eyes shift to settle on me.
“You the Witch that told Gina to break it off with me?” he demands.
I’m not sure what to say as I stare back at him. He storms towards me as if he’s going to grab me and I scramble out of the chair to stand behind it, holding onto the back to push it between us as Laura grabs her dagger style letter opener and holds it up to his throat.
“Don’t you dare!” she shouts at him, halting him in his tracks.
He looks from Laura’s ‘weapon’, back to me again. “You keep yourself and that devil spawn you’re carrying, the hell away from Gina!” he threatens me.
“She came to me.” I say, though I don’t want to make matters worse for Gina, it is the truth. I didn’t go seeking them out to meddle in their relationship. “And if you lay a finger on me, this baby’s father will have you convinced he really is the Devil!”
