Page 113 of Elora and the Crow

“Mama will get you a banana in a minute, Lauren,” Shawna said.

“Why did you go no contact with her?” Cece asked.

“Dark magic has destroyed the person she was. I could see it happening but didn’t know how to stop it, and then…”

“Then what?” Elora asked.

“Bana, Mama,” Lauren said, impatience creeping into her voice.

“She tried to take my daughter,” Shawna said. “Lauren’s magic is already very strong, and my mother wanted it for herself.”

“How strong?” Cece asked.

Before Shawna could reply, the fruit bowl rattled, and Jonah, Elora, and Cece watched as a banana tore apart from the bunch and rose in the air before floating across the kitchen. Lauren snatched it out of the air with a happy squeal and held it out to Cece. “Peel bana, please.”

Lauren’s hands glowed a light orange, and she hummed a tuneless song under her breath. Cece peeled the banana and handed it to her.

“Her aura is stronger than yours,” Elora said, soft amazement in her voice.

Shawna nodded. “I know.” Her fingers reached up and absently stroked the streak of white in her hair. “It nearly killed me, but I stopped my mother from taking Lauren. I haven’t seen or spoken to her since.”

She gave Jonah an earnest look. “I’m sorry for the part I played in what happened to you, and I’m sorry that she’s taken your brother, but I cannot and will not let her back into my life. Not when it puts my child in danger.”

“Yeah, I get it,” Jonah said.

Elora leaned forward. “I get why you won’t help, but at least tell us where your mother lives.”

“I don’t know where she is,” Shawna said. “She used to live in Camryn Heights, but I know she isn’t there anymore. The bank foreclosed on her house about seven months ago. I don’t have a new address for her, I’m sorry.”

“I don’t suppose you have an old hairbrush of hers just lying around?” Cece asked.

Shawna shook her head. “No, but even if I did, I’m sure my mother has protected herself from location spells.”

“Stopping another witch from doing a locator spell on you is really difficult to do,” Cece said doubtfully.

“It is, but it can be done,” Elora said. “She’s been practicing dark magic for a long time, and I’m sure she’s gained plenty of enemies.”

Looking sick to her stomach, Shawna lifted Lauren from Cece’s lap and kissed the little girl’s smooth cheek. “I need to put Lauren to bed, and my husband will be home soon.”

Defeat making his limbs heavy, Jonah heaved himself out of the chair, linking his fingers with Elora’s as they headed toward the front door. Even her touch didn’t soothe him, but he tried to smile at her as Cece opened the door and stepped outside.

Elora followed her as Shawna tapped Jonah on the back. He paused on the threshold as, from the safety of her mother’s arms, Lauren raised her tiny hand and opened and closed her fist several times. “Bye bye, boy.”

“I am truly sorry, Jonah,” Shawna said, remorse shining in her eyes. “I hope you find your brother.”

CHAPTER36

Elora rinsed her toothbrush and stuck it in the holder as, beside her, Jonah did the same. He met her gaze in the bathroom mirror, his face a grim reflection of the worry on hers.

It felt utterly ridiculous to be doing their regular bedtime routine, considering that tomorrow, they’d be battling the most powerful witch Elora had ever encountered. She wished for the hundredth time that her grandmother was here. While Jonah had been showering, she’d called her grandmother’s cell phone despite knowing it was pointless. Even if Helen did answer the phone, it wasn’t like she could get back in time to help Elora. The phone hadn’t even rung, just gone straight to her voicemail and at the sound of her grandmother’s voice, Elora had nearly burst into tears.

Making her voice cheerful, she’d left a quick message for Helen, but her voice had almost betrayed her when she’d told her she loved her. She’d ended the call quickly and then called Sarina’s phone. She’d done an even worse job of keeping it together in her voicemail to Sarina, and her sister would know immediately something was wrong if or when she ever listened to Elora’s message, but what did it matter? By the time Sarina heard the message, Elora would have defeated Malencia, or she’d be dead.

Or a dark witch yourself. You heard Agnes… there’s a darkness in you now.

She took a shuddering breath, ignoring the fear that shot through her. The increase in her magic might be more powerful than she expected, and she might be struggling to control it, but that didn’t mean she was becoming a dark witch.

She’d lit some lavender incense and did a quick meditation while Jonah finished showering. When she’d joined him in the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face, she could almost pretend that she wasn’t terrified.

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